Merge

“Sweetheart are you sure you don’t want to just come home?” Chanel Crane ask her daughter, Isador Crane; her voice strained with the emotions of a mother wanting to fight the world to protect her child.

The pain in her mother’s voice clutches at her heart, Issy knew that her mother had been wanting her to return home but the ideal of being around her family wouldn’t do any of them any good. Her mental breakdown was to fresh, so she much rather work through the issues that lead her to this point in solitude. It was why she had opted to go to her family ancestral home in Sleepy Hollow, there she could figure out what went wrong. I hadn’t been able to save them.

“Do you truly think being alone is a great idea, Isador?”

Persistent. Chanel Crane was unwavering when she set her mind to something. It was something that Issy had always admired about her mother. In fact, Issy could imagine her mother perfectly right now. Her natural dark brown waves will be pulled into a high messy bun on the top of her head as her arched eyebrows slant over large round green eyes and thick eyelashes. A pen would be stuck between her thick lips and perfect teeth as she shuffles through the madness of the creativity within her mind. A white chef apron wrapped around her slender frame over whatever jeans and fancy top she was wearing that day.

“Mama, I will be fine.” Issy sighs, completely understanding her mother’s concern but wishing that she could understand her decision.

Insisting for what was probably the millionth time since her mother had called when she had missed her flight to Calabasas. She truly hadn’t meant to worry her mother. As she had been about to board the red eye flight home she had so been full of anxiety and dread that she had all but ran out of the airport terminal seeking sanctuary from her mind and the fear that was consuming her. Every dream that she had worked for was simply gone. Tears threaten to escape from her own green eyes, but she pushes them back. Issy didn’t need to worry her mother any more than she had already done.

“Baby, I know that you are hurting but you did everything that you could. Sometimes things are just out of our control.” Maybe she should have gotten on the plane home, her mother’s words seek to comfort her, but it seems pointless without the warm embrace of her mother’s arms.

“Mama,” Issy’s words catch within her throat, as she gathers her thoughts, no words seem right so she settles for the only thing that can get her out of this conversation. “I have made it to town, I will call you once I am settled in.

“Isador, you…”

“I love you mama. Talk later.” She doesn’t give her mother time to finish her sentence, as she quickly disconnects the call. Her mother was harmless but no matter how many times she tells Issy that the circumstances surrounding her walking away from the bureau wasn’t her fault, it wouldn’t change the fact that it had been her fault, just like the time before. I didn’t save them.

Sighing Issy push the demon that was constantly sitting in the shadows of her mind back, as she glances out of the window of the 2018 Toyota C-HR that she had bought to make the four-hour drive from Quantico, Virginia. Sleepy Hollow, NY is a magazine perfect modern village. The Crane’s ancestral home town was located north of New York City along the eastern shore of the Hudson River; thanks to Sir Washington Irving and his famous legend of the Headless Horseman the town saw plenty of foot traffic from tourist all year long. The unique blend of nature, historic landmarks crosses with modern attributes and urban vibes, creating a picturesque time warp.

Despite her parents relocating to the west coast when she was five, Issy had always felt a connection to the town whenever they would visit her grandmother there. During the winter months Grandmother Crane would serve them cocoa with wonderful tales passed down through the family. In fact, the last time her family had come to Sleepy Hollow it had been winter, and the last time her grandmother had been around. She remembers the large pond on the Crane’s estate that served many purposes; fishing and swimming during the spring and summer and ice skating once the pond froze during the winter months. Ironic that she would return when fall is beginning to transition into winter. Perhaps there was a reason that her subconscious had urged her here.

Deciding that she should get supplies before she makes the remaining journey to the manor, Issy pulls into an empty parking spot across from the Organic Orchard Market. Stepping out of the car, the bottom of Issy’s shoe connects with thick layers of snow as harsh cold wind kisses her face. Winter was truly upon them, and the dread was quickly spreading over Issy’s mind. Maybe coming here wasn’t the best option. Shutting the door to the car, she walks towards the market anxious to get to the manor as fast as possible.

The Crane estate was on the edge of town surrounded in trees giving it a sense of seclusion. It is a two-story colonial home of gray stained wood with vines creeping across its front along with small multi-paned windows on either side of the door. Two white wicker chairs sit near the door along with two large clay pots that holds dead flowers. Feelings of nostalgia brings a soft smile to Issy’s face as she stares up at the house.

Issy’s feet seems to move on their own without any instruction from her mind, as if she was in a trance. It isn’t until she sees the tree with the carved heart and the initials K.V. and E.R that she realizes where she stood. Their tree. Issy recalls the tells of a tragic love lost to hate and war as her fingers brushes across the initials with a sorrow filling her heart. Why did life have to bring such pain? Images of the past and present starts flooding Issy’s vision to the point that she has a hard time distinguishing the two. What is happening? Issy thoughts are chaotic as she begins to hear different voices, feel different emotions and smell scents that didn’t pair with the current setting. No words escape her as she is dragged back into time.

Two months prior, Quantico, Virginia

“Agent Crane, do you copy?”

Issy could hear Sam’s voice coming in loud and clear but for some reason she couldn’t seem to find her voice to answer him. She knew that he would worry but still she couldn’t bring herself to ease his worry; instead she keeps walking. Something didn’t feel right in fact she could practically feel the evil seeping from the walls of this abandoned factory. Why had she agreed to split up? The smart thing would be to answer Sam’s call and return to him but just as she can’t seem to reassure him, she can’t seem to keep her feet from pressing forward. It was like some invisible force held on to her, commanding her to its will.

Gosh the smell, what was the smell? Even with the light beaming from the flashlight in her hand, it was too dark to see anything ahead of her. Just turn around, Isador. Her inner voice is practically screaming at her in protest; she felt like one of those stupid women in the scary movies right before they are stabbed repeatedly by the crazy serial killer ex-boyfriend. She already knew why she couldn’t turn around; that little girl was counting on her to find her, to save her. With that in mind, she taps down her fear and go forward into the darkness continuing her search.

“Issy, damn it. Will you answer me?” Sam yells at her through the earpiece in her ear for a final time. He was protective of her and she couldn’t let him keep worrying about her.

“Sam, I am...” Her words are cut off as she goes sprawling to the ground.

Issy lands so hard that it knocks the oxygen out of her lungs and she swears that she blacks out for a split second. What the hell did she trip over? Using her hands, Issy feels around for her discarded flash light but her hands are greeted with something warm and thick. What the hell? Pushing the panic out of her mind, she continues her search until she at last finds the flashlight. Pointing the flashlight towards her hands, she confirms that it was blood coaxing her palms.

“Issy?”

No words form from her mouth as her eyes stare back at a pair of light blue eyes frozen in a state of horror. She was to late to save her! There was no body, only a head just like the rest…

October 28,1776, Battle of the White Plains

Miss. Van Tassel are you well?”

Van Tassel, that name seem familiar. It’s like someone slaps Issy in the face as recalls the name Katrina Van Tassel, it was her name a lifetime ago. Which meant, her thoughts trail off as she takes in her surroundings. No longer in the warehouse with Sam, instead she was outside with snow falling around her like a blanket, but no warmth comes only cold. There are trees dead from the harsh winter that had come to Sleepy Hollow, darkness and the frozen pond that she had fallen to in the despair that had welcomed her like a long-lost friend. Why was she here in this moment again? She lived it once and it was just as painful as the ache that was going through her now.

Ms. Van Tassel, can you hear me? Are you well Madame?

Isador can’t seem to answer him despite being able to hear his questions but grief from the past, this exact moment seems to overpower her. Just as before her hands are warm, sticky and she knew without even looking what coaxed them. She knew that the love of her life blood seeped into the edges of her black dress, turning it darker as well into the fallen snow. Despite knowing what she would see, Issy gaze turns to the still figure that laid only a few inches from her; dark brown eyes that once held so much adventure and love stare lifeless at her.

“Elias.” She cries out, the agony piercing the heavens as she cries for a love lost. Cut down before it got the chance to fully bloom. She had not been able to save him. They had ruined the man she loves unconditionally discarding him like the sewage that was flung into the streets of Sleepy Hollow. His head and body no longer one.

“Ms. Van Tassel, you will catch your death.”

She knows the moment that Mr. Crane witness what her eyes had discovered only moments ago despite feeling like hours of excruciating pain because he falls silent, only to bring upon words of prayer. It wouldn’t matter who he prayed to there was no one listening because if they had then Elias would still be here with her. Tears stream endlessly down her face as she reaches to close the eyes that no longer held life in them.

I should have protected you better. Her better. I should have been able to save you both.

Issy head spins and her vision unfocused as she comes back to the present; unsure of why but something calls for her to turn, her gaze focusing on the frozen pond ahead. Blood drains from her body as she stares at the sight before her, the decapitated bodies of a man and little girl laid out on the surface of the pond. It was starting again!