Subj: DS: Legend 5
Date: 2/15/02 2:13:03 PM Central Standard Time
From: Aesgaard

Grace Collins (lara parker) opened the first school in Collinsport for all the children thirteen years of age and younger to keep them from getting hurt on the docks. Isaac's men built the one room cabin for her in less than a week and Joshua and Ben brought the supplies from Boston she wanted. As the teacher, she taught simple writing, reading and math with very little tolerance for under-achievers. Her son, August (david henesy), was around to help control the children in her absence, but he only had eyes for Benjamin's daughter Victoria (kathy cody). Her younger sister, Violet (denise nickerson), however, helped to indulge Angelique (sarah smythe) into mischief.

"Angelique," Grace hovered over the girl. "Read from the book."

"I don't wanna." the child glared hotly at her.

"Listen here, you little witch." Grace was starting to lose her patience with her. "You have been a thorn in my side since I arrived. Now read !" She turned her back as the book flew over her shoulder. She whirled around as the kids broke up laughing.

"Did you throw that ?"

"No," Angelique giggled. "The ghost did."

"Ghost ?" Grace's eyes came to her level as she reached for the book.

"I see dead people." Angelique whispered solemnly as she stared into her teacher's eyes. She broke into childish laughter.

"There are no such things as ghosts." Grace straightened and returned Angelique's book.

"Yes there is !" Violet chirped up.

"The 'dults don't like to talk about it." Angelique continued. "But a man got killed on the docks. His ghost comes back looking for his head !" She stirred up the room. Grace tapped her desk with a ruler to secure the room.

"You are an evil child." She looked at Angelique.

"But at least I'm not a teacher !!" She hurled her book again and stuck out her lip.

That night, Magistrate Stokes rode into town on horseback. His breath formed in the air as it had been miles without seeing a solitary mark of inhabitation. As he neared Frenchman's Bay, he began seeing small huts and small sheds lit by lanterns. He patted the pouch with Isaac's deed to make sure he had it as his horse suddenly became spooked and reared up.

"Girl, girl, what is it ?" He clicked his tongue to calm her, but she bucked him off. Stokes landed in the mud as his horse fled back to Boston. He gripped the pouch as heard other horseshoes galloping to meet him. Far to the tree line, a midnight black stallion with glowing red eyes charged. It's rider wore Hessian attire that flapped in the wind.He waved a rapier as some sort of demented swordsman. The horse snorted and breathed smoke as it came closer and closer. Its rider laughed the most unearthly laughter as Stokes' eyes rounded in shock. The horseman didn't have a head !

"God take me !!" Stokes (louis edmonds) ran into the brush as the horseman swung his rapier at him. It split the air with an unholy aura as the horse dove into the brush after its owner's target. The specter and horse were almost one and the same as it leaped a ditch and charged through the trees.

Scared for his life, Stokes ran trying to scream. He couldn't catch his breath as he looked for signs of people. He finally noticed a light.

Chloe Harridge(alexandra moltke)drew her bedsheets to her chest as the mad knocking began at her door. Her husband, Joshua (james storm), took a minute to rise. He listened to the strange frenzied screams for help as he grabbed his flintlock. The noise suddenly stopped as suddenly as it began.

"My love," Chloe reached to him. He silently instructed her to stay in her bed, as he listened to the door.

"Who is it ?" He yelled out. He flung the door open as a body fell through. Chloe began screaming.

It's head was missing !

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.