Subj: Dark Sanctuary Chapter 3
Date: 11/6/98 8:25:21 PM Central Standard Time
From: Melody

This was Marissa's favorite part of the sonata. The slow, measured rise of the notes, and the yearning sound evoked such a great sense of peace in her that she didn't see Julia hobble in. Julia Hoffman now in her early seventies, frowned and fettered over to a chair across from Marissa.

"So there are two more." Julia helped herself to some tea. Marissa awoke from the trance she was in and looked at her. "Julia! I didn't hear you come in."

"I noticed!" Julia looked annoyed. "You've been doing that a lot lately. I was 'saying' I noticed you hired two women."

"Yes." Marissa nodded. "Meg and Gabi, two very nice women from the west coast."

"I don't care if each of them offered me a kidney, I bet they won't last two weeks." Julia slammed the delicate china cup on table, causing it to break. "With the way you and Willie embrace the ghosts of the past, I'm surprised you are still able to find help."

Julia got up, and slowly walked out of the room.

Marissa switched off the stereo and sighed. "Why can't she understand?"

Meg sat at the desk that was in her room, which was completely furnished in Early American. The only sign of modern conveniences were the phone and clock radio on her nightstand and the semi modern looking bathroom.

The door suddenly let out a long and agonizing creak causing Meg to jump.

Clutching her heart, she turned to see Gabi in the doorway. "Don't do that!" Meg said between breaths. "You nearly scared me to death!"

"So this place 'is' getting to you." Gabi looked somewhat vindicated.

"No! Its NOT!" Meg emphasized. "I was just lost in my thoughts when you came in."

"Your room looks pretty much the same as mine." Gabi surveyed.

"I think it's beautiful." Meg sighed dreamily. "You can almost feel the history here."

Meg got up to look out the window.

"What a wonderful view!" She exclaimed. "And look! There are two kids running around the edge of the woods. It looks a like a boy and girl."

Gabi went to look as Meg went to the bathroom to pour herself a glass of water.

"I don't see any kids. " Gabi said.

"That's weird." Meg remarked as she glanced out the window. "They were there a second ago. Maybe they went exploring in the woods."

"I suppose that's what you would like to do." Gabi looked slightly annoyed.

Meg's face brightened. "I'd love to go riding right now. Want to join me? It'll be fun!"

"Might as well." Gabi sighed. "It looks like they don't have satellite TV, let alone a satellite dish. Do I need to change for it?"

"No, you're dressed fine." Meg said. "Lets go."

Willie was standing by the door, undoing his coat, as they came down the stairs. His appearance….startled them. Dressed in a plaid shirt and a pair of faded, soiled jeans, he looked more like a grizzly old lumberjack who needed a good bath. "Well hello there!" His voice was gruff. "You must be Abby and Peg."

"Actually," Meg said a bit nervously. "Its Gabi and Meg. I'm Meg and this is Gabi."

"Nice to meet you." He held out his hand.

Not wanting to offend him, they both shook his hand.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out what appeared to be a bottle of cold medicine.

"You have to excuse me." He said. "I can't seem to shake off this cold."

He suddenly coughed but Meg and Gabi both knew it was put on.

"I can attest to that. Willie's been battling the same cold for a little over twenty years now. "

They all looked up to see Julia smiling at them from the top of the stairs.

"Don't bother introducing yourselves." Julia instructed as she slowly walked down the stairs. "I know who you are."

"And you're?" Gabi asked.

Julia smiled. "I'm Dr. Julia Hoffman, family friend as well as resident of this museum."

Willie seemed to get annoyed at that last remark and excused himself to his study.

"You are Gabi." She told the young woman. "The faithful friend. Just by reading your face., I can tell you harbor some reservations about being here but you will continue to support your friend because you want to be there for her."

"And you ." She stared at Meg. "You are the troubled one. The deep never ending despair that rages within you , prompted this…excursion. You needed a sanctuary, a place to think and help your balance to return. Well, it remains to be seen if this dark sanctuary can help you find your salvation but I wish you the best of luck nevertheless."

"How do you so know much?" Meg was surprised.

"My dear, for the past twenty years, every person that has roamed the halls of this place have always been burdened by some secret or heartache. But there's plenty of time to talk about that late on. Where are you both off to?"

"We're going riding." Meg said.

"Have a good time." Julia's voice became more cordial. "And Gabi, If I may suggest if you feel a little nervous about your lack of experience. Ask the stable manager for Ginger. She's ones of the gentlest."

"Thanks for the tip." Gabi replied.

They watched Julia as she made her towards the parlor, shutting the doors.

"Wow! She kind of reminds me Ricardo's mother." Gabi remarked.

"I once read that as people get older it becomes easier for them to read people because of their own life experiences." Meg said.

"Come on." Gabi said. "Lets go. I'm actually looking forward to this."

"I'm glad!"

They both went outside and as soon as they shut the door, Julia walked out of the parlor. "There's something different, I just can't explain it. They aren't like the others."

Meg rode along the path of the woods, enjoying the scenery as Gabi struggled to keep up, for the horse she was riding on was obviously aware of her lack of riding experience.

"This horse was supposed to be a gentle one." Meg overheard Gabi gripe.

Meg noticed an opening in the woods and headed in that direction. The horse suddenly grew agitated and nearly made her fall off.

"Whoa." Meg took hold of the reins. The horse calmed down. She climbed off him and led him to a tree. After she tied the reins around it, she followed the path. Suddenly inspired, she sprinted through the brush. The air was thick with the smell of the sea.

Hearing the sound of the ocean, she increased her speed, not seeing the rock, which made her trip and tumble down this hill.
"Are you all right?"

Coming to her senses she looked up to see man holding out his hand to her. His hair was silver and he was holding a cane with his other hand. As he helped her up she scrutinized his face which was scarred on one side. "Thank you." She whispered.

"It was fortunate that I was out on my daily walk. This area…. it draws people to it. You have to be careful. Many people have died here."

"What is this?"

"Look down below."

Meg was horrified to see the ferocious waves crashing against the rocks. "Had you rolled down further, Widow's Hill would have taken you as well."

"Widow's Hill?"

"It's a long story." He explained. "And I'm sure you are quite repulsed by my appearance as it is."

"No I'm not." She smiled. "What's your name? I'm Meg. My friend Gabi and I are the new housekeepers at Collinwood."

The man looked surprised. "You mean you aren't afraid of me?" He asked. "Most tend to shriek and run off when seeing my face."

Meg could see the sadness in his eyes. "Well I am NOT anybody." She smiled holding out her hand.

The man smiled and he shook her hand. "My name is Barnabas. Barnabas Collins."

"Marissa and Willie never mentioned you." She remarked. "Neither did Julia."

"I live in a cottage deep in the woods." He explained. "As for Julia, she is very protective of me while Marissa and Willie have banished me from Collinwood because I do not share their passion for cavorting with the ghosts of the past."

Meg looked confused.

"I better head off." He said, when seeing Gabi walking her horse in the distance.

"Meg, you seem like a very sweet and endearing young woman, I must warn you. If you see anything that goes beyond your scope of reasoning, don't be afraid and don't hesitate to come see me. My cottage is easy to find. Good-bye now." He bowed and Meg watched as he disappeared into a section of woods she had not explored.

"Meg!" She turned to see Gabi running towards her.

"Who was that?"

"Barnabas Collins." She said, gazing at the direction of the woods he went into.

To be continued.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.