#mercey brown

[tallstales]

Day 9 Haunted Places in RI (13 Days of Halloween)

Every place has its tales of terror, especially at Halloween when ghosts are all the rage. Below is a list of 13 favorite local haunts for my state - Rhode Island! Being one of the oldest colonies in the United States, little Rhode Island has its fair share of old buildings and they are full of stories.

1. Byron Read Building - Coventry, Rhode Island

In the town of Coventry, Rhode Island sits an abandoned building on Washington Street. The local historical building located at 706 Washington RI 02816 as been falling to ruin over time. Formally owned by local business owner Byron Read, it has been home to Gorton’s funeral home services, a furniture maker, a Glasswares shop, child carriages builders, and those who sold furs, feathers, carpets and linoleum.This building, has been empty for decades but it does see the occasional short lived tennant. One renter in the 1990’s was using the space as a makeshift recording studio. Afterward, they regretted their decision.

The band knew the building’s history but they didn't give this a second thought. They didn’t expect to encounter anything unusual but what they experienced shocked them. They reported hearing loud banging sounds that would interrupt their recordings.Soon after band members witnessed several apparitions. One of these ghosts was a tall man wearing traditional baggy clothing. They saw this ghost walk right through walls. Another ghost they saw on several occasions was a small man that wore glasses. They allegedly identified this man as an undertaker from a portrait that was left in the building. The undertaker would frequently close the double doors in a room they used for rehearsals.

It is rumored that the creepiest activity they encountered was a woman’s mournful cries. During one of the band’s last visits to their new studio, they heard the doors slam shut behind them and as they began to record they heard other bangs within the building. They also reported hearing a female voice screaming. They seemed to be coming from the top floor but were so loud the band members could hear them throughout the building. When they built up their courage to investigate, the band went up to the 3rd floor and switched on the lights to the large room. Once the lights were on the noises immediately stopped.

Other witnesses state that they have seen lights flicker on and off and several have seen dark entities moving around the building. I myself would love to go in and explore. The building looks like i would make a lovely book shop and cafe. Maybe even one where the books would organize themselves! How fun would that be to own?

2. Nathanael Greene Homestead - Coventry, RI

Going down the road a bit in Coventry, you can find the Nathanael Greene Homestead. This home, now a museum, is located on Taft Street. Dating back to 1770, the historic home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This was once the home to American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene from 1770 to 1776, and then to his brother Jacob Greene and his wife Margaret. Today, the home is owned and operated by the General Nathanael Greene Homestead Association, a local non-profit organization.

A number of strange things are rumored to happen here.The baby carriage in Elizabeth Margaret's room has been known to move on its own. Other reports include apparitions, voices, screams, disembodied footsteps, door latches that open and close by themselves, and the sound of a phantom carriage driving up to the house. And in the unused kitchen, witnesses have reported the smell of bread baking. This range of spooky activity has given the house a reputation of being one of the most haunted buildings in Rhode Island.

The Nathanael Greene Homestead is one of the few on our list that is still open to small tours so be sure to check it out!

3. The White Horse Tavern - Newport, RI

America's Oldest Tavern is serving more than the expected spirits! The oldest, and supposedly most haunted tavern in America, White Horse Tavern opened in 1673 at which point it served as a courthouse, a meeting place for Colonists, British soldiers, pirates, sailors and founding fathers, and lastly, a private residence. According to legend, and some eye-witness tavern employees, several ghosts still occupy the tavern.

The ghost stories here go back decades and the list of sightings is longer than the Tavern’s bar menu! Many staff members claim to hear and see strange things frequently. There have been accounts of being tapped on the shoulder and disembodied footsteps overheard from nearby empty rooms. Ghostly sightings are said to include an elderly man in Colonial garb, a seamen who previously died on the premises, and a female reported floating above one of the dining tables. Would you like to arrange a visit?

4. Belcourt Castle - Newport, RI

Built in 1895, The Belcourt Castle is located at 657 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI. It was constructed as a summer cottage for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont and was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt. The home features a Chateau style and is 50,000 square feet, which leaves plenty of room for hauntings. It was purchased by the Tinney Family in 1956, who used the estate to showcase their expansive art and antiques collection. On July 28, 1957, Belcourt opened its doors to the public for guided tours of the museum.

The Belcourt is rumored to be one of Rhode Island's most haunted spots, it isn’t haunted by an actual ghost, instead it is home to haunted objects and antiques on display. Some antiques on this list are haunted chairs that move and send tingles up the spines to those who sit in them and a monk's statue that allegedly claimed the man's spirit that it was modeled on. There is also a suit of armor rumored to echo with the death cry of its original owner. A guest to the mansion, Harle Tinney discusses his interaction with this suit of armor in Haunted Newport:

"No one was home so I thought it was strange that the lights were on in the ballroom. Being naturally conservative and not wanting to burn the electricity unnecessarily, I went through the ballroom to turn out the lights. After I had turned off the switch, there was a very little light left. As I passed the front of the armor, something screamed at me. It was a horrible and loud, roaring sound. Then the lights went back on and I turned them off again and the armor screamed. When it screamed a third time, I ran as fast as I could from the room. The scream was terrifying. It sounded like someone was being killed."

The amount of paranormal activity at this century-old estate makes it one of Rhode Island's spookiest destinations. If you're feeling brave enough, the house offers tours of the haunted rooms and worldly antiques. And the sixty-room mansion has a lot of them!

5. Fort Wetherill - Jamestown, RI

Fort Wetherill is another one of the most haunted places in Rhode Island, but it may have the oldest haunt on this list. It is told that when the British took control of the Fort in 1776 they were terrorized by a black dog who prowled there. In British folklore, a black dog is said to be an omen of death so they were understandably kept on edge by his appearance.

He is still spotted on occasion at Fort Wetherill usually glaring at people before disappearing through a wall. To this day, people still report growling, barking, and howling there.

Rebuilt as a park in 1899, Fort Wetherill is located on Conanicut Island and sits on the East Passage of Narragansett Bay opposite Fort Adams State Park. Almost a century later the Fort would see death again when four women were found murdered and dumped in the water near the docks in 1985, all of them just in their 20s. Ever since the tragic incident, there have been over 200 police reports regarding paranormal activity.

Despite the violent history, the former artillery fort can has long been an interesting place for locals and tourists alike to hike through during the spring and summer. There is a museum’s worth of graffiti on the walls adding to the atmosphere. You only have to worry about staying after sundown if you don’t want things to get weird.

6. Chestnut Hill Cemetery - Exeter, RI

This is perhaps the best known haunted place in Rhode Island. Nestled in the Chestnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, flowers and trinkets adorning her well-worn tombstone, lays Mercy Brown . In 1892, when Mercy Brown died from tuberculosis it was nothing abnormal. In fact, she wasn’t even the first in her immediate family to suffer through the same sickness. Mercy, her mother, and two of her siblings all died of consumption and her brother was at the time sick as well. This was during a period when there was a great deal of hysteria surrounding vampires in New England and rumors persisted that one of the Browns must be undead.

This hysteria led to the families’ bodies being exhumed.But as more and more people began to die from the dreaded disease, suspicion arose that supernatural powers were to blame. Mercy’s mother and sister were dug up for inspection and after seeing sufficient decomposition to the bodies, were deemed safely dead. But Mercy, whose body was being stored in an above ground vault due to the frozen ground, seemed merely sleeping. When they cut out her heart to examine it, the frozen liquid was still bright red and that seemed to prove it. To the town, Mercy was a vampire and the only way to heal the evil she had spread and stop her victims from dying was to burn her heart and liver and mix the ashes in a tonic to feed to those victims. Even to some locals, this was too much. The story soon spread nationwide and even crossed the pond, allegedly inspiring Bram Stoker’s famou tale, Dracula.

Today, Mercy's grave is protected by a metal band connected to a post imbedded into the ground to prevent it from being stolen. Some visitors still claim Mercy’s ghost has been seen around the tomb wearing a dirty, ripped gown.

In one instance, a visitor to the cemetery managed to record a young woman’s voice in EVP form saying, “Please let me rest in peace”. Whether this was Mercy’s ghost or not, I think we can all agree that the poor young woman has been through enough in life and death and should be left to rest in peace.

7. The Ladd School - Exeter, RI

The Ladd School, formerly known as the Rhode Island School for the Feeble Minded, was founded in 1908 . Over the years it came to be home to criminals and other people society felt would be best removed from the general population. This included everyone from the mentally ill to promiscuous women. The school became known for horrible and often immoral acts against those who were being cared for.

Those acts included but are not limited to forced sterilizations, lobotomys, and other barbaric treatments including murder of disabled children. In addition to staff harming the patients, many of them committed crimes against each other as well.

This abandoned building is now known to be one of the most haunted abandoned places in the united States. It is common for electronic items to be drained of power and many locals report hearing moaning, footsteps or shuffling feet and crying throughout the main building and other surrounding buildings. Witnesses have also claimed to hear disembodied voices murmuring, whispering or crying out. Doors have been seen opening or closing without explanation. These same doors also seem to lock at times even if there is no lock on the door itself.  Eerie growling sounds have been heard in patients' former rooms, when no animals are present. Some visitors here have also claimed they were touched, shoved, or they've had items knocked out of their hands by some unseen force. 

Outside, visitors have claimed to see human shaped shadows moving across the field and into the woods. Voices have been heard out there as well and many have photographed glowing orbs. Car radios are said to go haywire or stop working all together and a few people have claimed that their car alarms or horns have gone off for no reason. Best to leave the roaming of these grounds to the spirits and stay away.

8. Providence Athenaeum - Providence, RI

Dating back to 1836, The Providence Athenaeum first opened as a member run library out of the Providence Arcade in downtown. Eventually, the library moved to its current location at 251 Benefit Street in Providence, RI. It is this location that has been the site of reported paranormal activity. The library was loved by both H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe. Poe in particular has left a significant impression.

The well documented romance between Edgar Allan Poe and poet Sarah Helen Whitman highlights many a visit to this famous library. It's said the ghost of Poe himself haunts the top floor. Poe died not long after he and Whitman ended their engagement in the Athenaeum and Whitman is said to have summoned his spirit in the library. If you believe this then it may not surprise you that years later a man was found sleeping on the Athenaeum steps. When asked to move, he proceeded to yell out Poe’s poem The Conqueror Worm before vanishing into thin air.

There is also a cursed fountain on the premises. Legend has it if you drink from the fountain outside the Providence Athenaeum you may leave Rhode Island but are guaranteed to always return. Since the fountain is from 1873, it is not in the best condition and is recommend by the staff that you don't test this legend out or you may never return to life itself.

9. Cumberland Public Library - Cumberland, RI

Another haunted library on our list is the Cumberland Public Library. The most infamous haunting in the town of Cumberland, settled in 1635 is on the grounds of a former monastery and current library. Common reports of paranormal activity include disembodied screams, a phantom monk on the grounds as well as moving from one place to another on their own. Many of the people who live locally actually believe that it is not just the building itself that is haunted, but the entire surrounding area.

Locals believe that it is haunted by the spirits of nine militiamen who are said to have been flayed there. Too little is known about the event to be certain but flaying does seem violent enough to warrant a few screams now and then. I have been on the grounds before and though I haven’t seen monks or moving books or heard screams, I can say that there is a lovely wooded path to walk along. And though beautiful, my husband and I did keep turning around because we felt like we were being followed. Weird!

10. THE BILTMORE HOTEL - PROVIDENCE, RI

Since opening in 1922, this haunted hotel has been the inspiration for not one but two horror hits! It Both the Bates Motel in Robert Bloch’s horror novel “Psycho” and the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s book “The Shining.” were inspired by stays at The Biltmore.

In October 2017, the iconic hotel in downtown Providence became the Graduate Providence, but the ghosts have stayed checked in. The Biltmore Hotel was named as America’s most haunted hotel in 2000. When you look into the hotel’s history it is easy to see why

When it was built, The Biltmore was financially backed by rumored Satanist Johan Leisse Weisskopf. It has been said that he oversaw rituals in the building and there were even rumors of human sacrifices having taken place. The hotel also became a hot spot during Prohibition and a number of high profile murders took place amidst the rowdy parties involving police officers and even the mayor. All of this has led to a range of paranormal activity. Guests often report the sounds of rowdy parties coming from empty rooms long after the hotel bars have closed. There have also been instances of guests vanishing from the halls as recently as 2008. I don’t know about you but I think this seems like a great place to attend a party or take a tour but maybe not where I want to spend the night.

11. Slater Mill - Pawtucket, RI

Dating back to 1793, this historic Mill is located on the banks of the Blackstone River in Pawtucket and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. This historic textile mill complex was modeled after cotton spinning mills first established in England.Now operating as a history museum, the site is recognized as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. It's also said to be pretty haunted by those who died at the factory while working on dangerous machines.

During the time period that the factory was in operation, children were allowed to be employed as workers and because of their size, they would sometimes be forced to clean out the machines when they were jammed. Haunting reports here include dark figures as well as the sounds of children running around and child’s screams.

12. Governor Sprague Mansion - Cranston, RI.

Located at 1351 Cranston Street, the historic Governor Sprague Mansion is a stunning former mansion and current museum. Birthplace of two Rhode Island governors, this mansion has seen a lot of history but also its share of violence. The mansion is said to be haunted by a former resident after his mysterious murder in the 1800s.

Amasa Sprague, successful textile merchant and brother of governor and US senator William Sprague, was found beaten to death outside the mansion in December 1843. John Gordon was accused and found guilty of the murder and sentenced to death by hanging. Gordon would be the last person executed in Rhode Island. In 2011, the case was researched and Gordon was pardoned postmortem based on the lack of evidence supporting his conviction. It seems that when reviewing historical documents, there is much more evidence for a clear anti-Catholic and anti-Irish bias than there was Gordon having anything to do with the murder. But Gordon’s ghost might be holding a grudge stronger than a pardon given too late. Sprague Mansion is said to be under the power of a poltergeist ever since the hanging.

Witness reports run the gamut from the mysterious unmaking of beds, flickering lights and shuffling footsteps to actual ghost sightings, disembodied whispers and objects moving on their own.

13. The Perron House (The Conjuring House) - Burrillville, RI

Last on our list is the internationally famous Perron House. In the 1970s, a family called the Perrons moved to a beautiful house on the border of Harrisville and Burrillville to raise their family. They might have not picked the best place to bring their children however. According to the legend, the property belonged to a deceased Satanist named Bathsheba who killed her own daughter to appease the Devil.

The Perron House has become a worldwide sensation thanks to the movie based on true events that occurred in the home of Roger and Carolyn Perron. It’s a pretty solid choice if you’re looking for something spooky to watch this Halloween.

As the story goes, it wasn’t long after the couple and their daughters moved into the home that they started seeing terrifying things. Mrs. Perron once woke to find an old woman in a gray dress with her head hanging at an awkward angle standing over her bed. Famed paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren were brought in to help and quickly concluded that this was the spirit of Bathsheba Sherman who hanged herself after murdering her daughter in a ritual to bind her soul to the property. The Perrons went through some insane happenings in this house but it is believed that the Warrens did manage to separate the ghosts of the past from the property. So, though this used to be a major haunting hotspot, it seems to be a peaceful place to live today.

Readers be warned. This is not a tourist spot to go and explore. This is a private residence and ever since the release of the 2013 film the family residing there have been besieged, not by spirits but by trespassers. Do not disturb this family. It isn’t fair to them, they did not profit from the film at all and you would not want strangers in your yard looking through your windows at all hours.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SPOOKY SPOTS IN RI? DON’T FORGET TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND PICTURES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

13 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN IS A SPECIAL TREAT FOR ME AND MY READERS. ON HALLOWEEN, THERE WILL BE A VERY SPECIAL GIVEAWAY I’D LOVE FOR YOU TO TAKE PART IN. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO ENTER IS COMMENT OR SHARE THIS POST TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING AND BEST OF LUCK!

[anchanted-one]

The One where Arro Met Nine A Tale of Arro and Lana

Rishi

Lana held Arro’s head in her lap, patting his hair gently as the medicine finally began to take effect. She hated using tranquilizers; not only was there always that danger of overdose, there was also the risk of addiction. And her lover had already skirted that danger once before.

But there could be no helping it any longer. The screams in his head had reduced him to a whimpering mess. Ever since the return of his memories as a Sith tool, he had become less functional by the day. He could no longer clear his mind, no longer reach out to the Force, no longer seek even the respite of the trance that Force users could--short term--use as a substitute for sleep.

Instead, he spent his days and nights with a fog around his head, slowing his wits and his movements alike. He endlessly offered whispered apologies to one of the many victims of his own personal demon, Lord Trykhgar.

And of course, he rarely ever slept. On the rare occasions that raw exhaustion put him to sleep, he would wake up screaming.

After six weeks like this, he was in such bad shape that her medical training had insisted on the drug.

He sighed as he finally drifted off to sleep, and Lana could finally feel the tortured tangle of emotions at the back of her own head find rest at last. She brushed his hair with her fingers, then kissed his cheek.

The torment had stopped. No more pain, no more voices, no more hallucinations.

Peace. Blessed peace!

She reveled in the quiet, astonished at how bad it had gotten. The difference between the extremes was stark. On this end, her own mind had also been hampered by his ailments. The link which at first had thrilled her as if it were her firstborn babe now affected her own mental health, and she hadn't realized just how severe it was until now.

It would be so easy to fall victim to the drug's false promise of a fix. To use it more and more regularly so that Arro--and she herself--could find a respite from the voices. But that was a slippery hole.

A very small part of her agreed with Arro when he told her she didn't have to suffer alongside him. She didn't owe him that. No one did. That tiny traitorous part wanted to find a way to reseal her mind and leave Arro to fend for himself.

But the larger part of her could no more excise Arro from her psyche than it could stop breathing. She loved him with a deep passion she had never known. He meant everything to her. Everything.

Come hell or high water, she would stay with him.

And thanks to their bond, she knew that this was exactly how he felt about her. She could feel his love, like a warm infusion of morning sunlight, like dewdrops catching the rays and scattering a colorful rainbow in her heart. Like a music that she could never tire of. Like life itself.

If it had been her in crisis, he would have been as steadfast an ally in her recovery as she was being in his.

She sighed contentedly. It felt so good to be able to trust someone like this. Her life had revolved around secrets, deception. Her best friend had unknowingly abused Lana’s trust on a number of occasions, it just went with the job. Arro was someone who she knew--even without the bond--she could trust.

A kind voice spoke to her, muted and echoing as though coming across a long tunnel. "So he's asleep at last?"

Lana almost howled in shock. She looked around foolishly, but there was no one there.

"I'm over here," The voice said, and a translucent body of soft mist and light formed in the empty space before her. A Force Ghost. She knew that face, had seen it featured prominently in every one of Arro's biographies.

"Jedi Master Orgus Din," she stated.

"Lana Beniko," he answered with a nod. "You've been taking good care of my former Padawan."

Lana shrugged. "He's mine now. I'm not giving him back."

"You look angry."

"Oh, you can tell?" she snarled softly. "Do you see how badly your little revelation is affecting Arro? I'm all for conquering your demons, but in his case we could have made an exception! And the timing couldn't have been poorer! It--"

"Actually, the timing couldn't have been better," Orgus said. "Because for the first time in his life, he has someone nearby who can and will help him through the darkness. No one else can do for him what you are. Not me, not Kira, not Satele, and not even Rana Tao'ven. Only you." Lana swelled up a little at that. "And make no mistake. He has to confront it. And Lord Trykhgar. For He is returning."

Lana jumped. "Trykhgar?"

The ghost's words sounded forced. "The Sith Emperor. He stirs again."

Lana felt the cold grip of dread seize her stomach. She knew He was still out there of course. "How long do we have?"

"I can't answer that one," Orgus admitted. "My perception of time is… Different on his end. What I do know is that Arro will be forced to face Him again. And if the time ever comes for a final epic clash, he will need to defeat this enemy first. He will need to conquer Trykhgar." He made as if to brush Arro’s hair, but his fingers passed through his scalp like a hologram. The air around the virtual point of contact shimmered blue. "Ah, my poor, young friend. If only you could have the quiet life you deserve."

Lana’s outrage completely melted as she studied his expression. "You love him," she said.

"Yes," he answered simply. "Is that so strange?"

She had to consider before saying "No, not as much as I once believed."

All throughout her career she had heard Jedi preach a dispassionate, ascetic way of life. They scoffed at the Sith wherever they faced them, saying that their use of emotions to seek greater power was a brittle route to power. Even moderates like Darths Prowle and Nox had lost patience with Jedi preaching their nonsense.

Arro, she thought, was different. He wasn't afraid to feel, and even less to admit it. He had told her on a number of occasions that he didn't fit in among the Jedi, which had been something she knew from her own days in Intelligence.

But was he unique? Satele Shan--Grandmaster of the Jedi Order herself--had fallen in love. Theron and Jasme were proof of that, not only the fact they existed, but also the care Satele demonstrably but subtly took to look out for them. Surely there were more such Jedi out there?

"Even after I died, I've watched him, you know. I watched Bengel too. I remember how you were there for him when no one else was."

Lana's jaw dropped. She choked on her words, unable to speak. "What do you--" she finally got out.

The ghost smiled. "You know exactly what I mean," he said simply. "I remember Cipher Nine. I remember what you did for him. And I remember that day when you--or she, if you'd prefer--finally chose to meet him, and give him hope. Do you remember?"

She chewed on her lip, hesitating before nodding. She did. Oh maker, but she did.

*

Ii Juupa Cantina, Tatooine. Some years ago.

It was a pleasant enough evening here in Mos Osnoe, Mercei supposed. The crowd in the Cantina was the affable kind of loud. Drunken singing, loud laughter, the lively music the Bith were playing on their clarinets, the cheers for the Twi’lek dancers’ sensuous performance, and the bell-like sounds of glasses clinking was much friendlier in this town than in many cantinas she’d had the misfortune of visiting lately.

She was coming to love this quaint settlement; one could never have suspected that there was one on Tatooine that wasn’t a haven for criminals, violent or otherwise. People frequenting this place were usually the honest citizen type. At least so far as Tatooine went.

So calm, so peaceful. No blaster fire or bombs or poison darts or daggers or any sort of lethal weapon aimed in her direction. It was perfect!

She did hope that the guest she was expecting chose not to upset that careful peace. She was fairly confident that he wouldn’t: she had been observing him closely for ten months now, and was certain that she already knew him better than he did.

She took a sip of her broth, then took a bite out of her caramelized pork pot pie. She chewed slowly, trying to identify the herbs used in the seasoning. Brown thyme of course, which was grown in the nearby moisture farms. Nutmeg, cinnamon, bayleaf, cloves. And something else… But what was it? She just couldn’t figure it out!

The door opened and a new patron walked in, air blowers coming online to both rid him of the sand on his clothes, as well as to prevent sand from entering the Cantina while the door was open. He wore a light colored poncho covered in the zigzagging motif that was common on the planet. Underneath the cloak, his clothes were the typical, utilitarian workman’s outfit; breathable and loose fitting; perfect for long hours in the Tatooine’s twin desert suns. He carried only a long staff in his gloved hand, with no visible weapons on his belt or boot. It took a trained eye to find the Lightsaber hidden in a holster up the loose sleeve.

The young Jedi Knight, Arro.

He had never seen her before, but his eyes instantly turned and found hers. She smiled and raised her glass slightly. She watched as he casually made his way through the crowd to her, admiring the grace in his step. A master swordsman by training despite his young age, the young Knight had incorporated the agile footwork from the Lightsaber forms into his step, as many swordsmen did.

However, while most walked like dangerous predators, Arro walked like a dancer: friendly, inviting. And while there was nothing overt about it, many eyes nevertheless turned to watch his hips, his legs, his flow. She noticed a regular patron lick her lips hungrily, and understood the sentiment: watching this teenager walk across a room was enough to set hearts racing.

He eventually reached her, and stood beside the empty seat opposite. She gave him a thumbs up, and he sat down at the silent invitation.

“My name is Arro,” he said softly. Close to, he looked half-starved, malnourished. “Of the Jedi Order. But you already knew that. You’ve been watching me for at least five months now, haven’t you?”

“What? Really?” she smiled. Well, by habit there was always a disconcertingly wide smile on her face, carefully arranged to exude maximum confidence while instilling just a hint of unease in the ones who saw her. “A Cipher Agent is far too busy to observe a single target for extended lengths of time. There’s always some plot or other that needs my attention.”

“A Cipher Agent?” he asked, eyes narrowing quizzically.

“We’re ghosts, enigmas, riddles,” she whispered, gesticulating dramatically. “And we live to keep the Empire safe from hostile ghosts, enigmas, and riddles.” She finished the rest of her drink in one go, then signalled to the waitress, catching her eye. “Honni, would you mind getting me a refill?” she called. “Oh, and you can serve that second dish too.”

The Twi’lek woman nodded sourly. She was always a bit sour, but she never messed up an order, and never gave anyone lip unless they were being truly obnoxious and the guard too was busy to intervene. Mercei liked her.

“You can call me ‘Sei’, by the way,” she informed the Jedi Knight, who was staring at her suspiciously.

“Well then, Cipher Agent Sei,” he said. “Why have you been watching me?”

“Maybe I simply like what I see?” she teased lightly. He didn't blush, but he did smile back. A neutral, courteous smile, the sort you saw from politicians and diplomats.

“I’m not that interesting.”

“Really? I suppose it was just my imagination that so many heads turned when you sauntered in.”

“You’re avoiding the question.”

“Oh, so you spotted that already!” she winked. “I am a spy, my young friend. Avoiding straight answers is in the job description. Section One Aurek. C’mon, let’s play around a little! Like you did with Watcher One!”

He bowed his head, uncertain. “That was a field mission,” he said. “This… well I’m not used to a verbal sparring ground.”

“Then maybe you can use me as the starting point,” she smiled sweetly. “I guarantee that this kind of thing will come in handy someday. As handy a skill as saber mastery.”

His smile became a tad uncertain, then he inhaled. His eyes darted behind closed lids as he searched for what to say. Minutes ticked by, and Honni appeared by their side, carrying the covered tray Mercei had requested.

“Why didn’t you run? You could have. I'd never have found you, if you'd a mind to evade me." His eyes widened as Mercei pulled off the lid. "Is that…?"

"Four cheese pasta!" she smiled at him. "Your favorite! And an orange soda. My treat. Dig in! You're looking even thinner in the flesh. You need the extra bites."

Uncertainly he took a bite, eyes widening with pleasure. "This tastes so good!"

"This establishment uses a unique blend of spices in most of their meals," her eyes widened as a thought occurred to her. "Oh, maybe you can identify them for me?"

"Can't think," he said, eagerly taking a second bite. "Can't tell. All I can say is that this just tastes so good!"

She deflated slightly. Well, growing up on a farm world didn't automatically make one an expert in identifying herbs, apparently.

"And you're not worried its poisoned?"

"No," he said, his voice amused. “Good at spotting that kind of threats.”

“Yeah, the Force does throw a wrench in our plans every once in a while,” she acknowledged glumly. “Every time I have to fight one it’s so kriffing I all but run screaming!”

“Liar,” he accused, though he was smiling again. “You’ve beaten Force users before.”

“A couple of times,” she admitted. “It’d be so much easier if I had a Lightsaber.”

He searched her face. “The Lightsaber is just window dressing. A distraction from our true advantage.”

“The Force again?” she asked, wrinkling her nose, allowing her smile to wry.

“Honestly? The Force is all-powerful and all, but few can use it to its full potential. Power, yes, but also imagination. I’d say the best thing anyone can bring to the table is a sharp mind.”

“That’s a surprise!” she laughed. “Isn’t that the sort of thing that can get you kicked out?”

“I don’t know what can get us kicked out,” he said, eyes clouding.

“Maybe you should do what Kira proposed,” she suggested. “Install a buzzer on Master Shan’s seat.” He gave her a very guarded look that quickly melted back into amusement. They'd get along just fine, Mercei thought.

“You’ve done quite a thorough job, haven’t you?”

“You certainly didn’t make it easy,” she tutted. “Like you said, you’re not very interesting. I had to work to keep my attention!” She took on a dramatic pose of exaggerated sorrow, and he chuckled again.

But he went quiet for a bit after that, and she was content letting him. For the talk of expulsion had got him thinking, Mercei suspected, about his loss of control during the fight with Angral. Well, that was an understatement. He had taken hold of his self control and crushed it like a bug. He had chosen to become vengeance incarnate, utterly devastating Angral and his retinue: Mercei had managed to arrive in time to see that.

She watched him enjoy his meal with a small sense of satisfaction. She had been watching this boy on the Emperor's own orders, and had felt pity for the young man. He had been forced to shoulder burdens he was not quite ready for, and it had broken him. She had seen his attempt to continue living after what he had witnessed--the death of a world, his homeworld--and was reminded that this could have been her. If she had been a hair slower, Jadus would have gotten the launch codes for his Eradicators from his puppet. If she'd had just a little less nerve she may have gone ahead with Watcher Two's desperate plan to allow Jadus a small victory just to earn some breathing room. And she'd have been responsible for millions of deaths across the Empire. Watching him suffer had often made her think This could have been me.

She spent days watching as he screamed out at night, begging for his ghosts to forgive him. Or fainting from the severity of his panic attacks. Or the steadily decreasing amounts of food he ate each day. The pain in his eyes when he thought no one was looking.

She had actually intervened in a few of his attempts to end his own life. Why though? He was the enemy. A Jedi at that. And broken people were a credit a dozen these days--some of them even broken by her own blood-soaked hand. So why was she so concerned for his well-being in particular?

… Because the Emperor himself is interested in this one, she thought. That alone makes him… Special.

No that wasn't completely true.

She sighed. Maybe it was time to talk business.

"You've gotten Imperial Intelligence's interest, boy. I know there was no helping it. No one else was available to meet that threat. But a sixteen year-old defeating one of the Empire's most prominent Darths? Foiling a plot seven years in the making? Sniffing out one of our best spies? Anyone would see that you pose a potential threat."

"Why send a Cipher though?" he frowned. "Aren't you a valuable, limited resource?"

Clever boy. She almost wished she could tell him the truth.

"You can see then, just how dangerous a threat we fear you are? And we weren't wholly unjustified. You were admittedly distracted before your rehabilitation, but afterwards you always knew I was looking. The first few times I saw you turn glare at me right through my scope from two miles away, I thought I was done for!"

"I could sense your eyes," he admitted. "But knew you weren't an immediate danger."

"Very lucky for me," she nodded. "If I'd been ordered to assassinate you, I'm sure you would have chased me down. Especially on Coruscant. But you always let me go. Until today."

"Yes," he agreed. "Today I did seek you out. But you didn���t run. If you had, I'd never have found you."

"Luckily for me, I was certain that you wouldn't kill me. Or even hinder me. We're not at war after all, and I wasn't doing anything wrong."

"But you still…"

"Yes," she sighed. "My mission is over. I've been recalled to Dromund Kaas. I leave tomorrow. Why did I stay? I guess I've grown a bit fond of you." She was surprised to hear herself admit it. "I watched you go through it all, you know. The PTSD, the panic attacks." She pursed her lips. "That suicide attempt."

He gasped. "You were the one who cut me down! You were the one who called TeeSeven!"

"Indeed. I don't know why though. I guess it's like I said. I grew fond of you, and didn't want to watch you end your life while I could stop it. I guess I'm human after all." She sniffed. "There, I said it. But please can you not tell anyone what a softie I am?"

His mouth was hanging open. He closed it with effort. "After you saved my life? That is the least I can do to repay you. Please, can I do anything else? I really am so grateful…"

She wondered if she should plant a seed, to get him to consider defecting. The way she'd gotten Havoc Squad. But looking at his honest, open face, she found she couldn't do it.

Damn it, you really have grown too fond of him! Lucky for her she wasn't as much older than him as she pretended. She could admit her attraction to him--at least to herself--without feeling revulsion. She sighed. At least she could have his respect. She found herself appreciating having that consolation prize.

"My job," she said instead. "It twists us up. Makes us cold, cynical, calculating. Ruthless..." Voicing that thought aloud made her pause. Even through Korriban she'd maintained her code of ethics, hammered into her by her father since her childhood. To admit that she might end up losing them anyway… She cleared her throat. "I might have to do some terrible things to protect my people. And that's if… if I even live that long. I'd appreciate it if there was someone out there who remembered that I was a person. Please… no matter what becomes of me, can you promise to remember me as a woman who didn't turn away, someone who could even feel compelled to help an enemy? Someone with compassion? Can you do that for me?"

His eyes were round as saucers, filled with sorrow. But he nodded. He didn't even hesitate. "I swear," he said. "I'll never forget what you did for me."

"Thank you," she smiled. Her throat felt a bit tight. What was wrong with her? "I have to go now. Enjoy your meal. Maybe I'll see you again someday?" There really was little more she wished to say. She had to run, she realised. Before her admission of her humanity took root, and caused her to question her choices.

"I'm sure we will," he said. He smiled again, hesitant, tremulous. "I Sense that we will be working together someday."

She waved and walked away. Yes, she could Sense that too… that was a smaller part of why she'd saved him, though of course she could never admit it. Never in a million years.

*

Rishi. Modern day.

Lana was startled back into the present by the Ghost's gentle voice. "Did you know he went on that mission because I reached out to him?"

"He told me that," she confirmed. "He told me that the Council took as proof that he needed to be on Braga's mission…"

"Unavoidable side effect," Orgus shook his head. "No, I told him to go on that mission, so that he'd meet you." He paused as the words sank in. Lana's eyes opened wide.

"Oh my…" She whispered. "Are you telling me…?"

"If he'd stayed on Tython, you'd have been called away before you could meet. Tatooine though. Legitimate Jedi business. Neutral planet, sparsely populated, meaning that you might consider not running. I thought it would be a huge benefit to both of you, if you were to meet."

"But Rana Tao'Ven…"

"I could sense even then, that she wouldn't live too much longer," he admitted. "Besides this wasn't just about him, you know. After you saved his life, got him the help he needed… I grew to deeply admire you. To seek to repay your kindness. I wanted your paths to cross for your benefit as much as his own. Everything else?" he grimaced. "Well, to me, Braga's mission was of less importance. Way less. Especially since I could already sense that it was going to fail, and that Arro would suffer."

Lana was dumbstruck. She just… Couldn't even think.

"I am not that woman anymore," she managed at last.

"Perhaps you are even better," he countered.

"I… I!" she stammered.

Arro stirred in her arms. Comforted her a wave of Calm sailing across their Link. She was startled to know that he could sense her distress even knocked out like this. I love you, his voice whispered in her head. In her soul.

"You don't have to say anything," The ghost said gently.

"Maybe not to you… But I think I want to tell him about that first meeting. That I was… Nine."

*

[holy-fate-worse-than-death]

my first (published) fic

Just posted my first fanfic on AO3 and I’m really excited about it! It’s about 34k words long so far and it’s nowhere near finished, but I wanted to share a part that I’m particularly proud of:

“Nestled snugly between the Midtown and Downtown isles of Gotham, Mercey Island rose like the splinters of a shipwreck from the murky depths of the Gotham River.

Reflected in the river’s brown-and-green surface, the lurching, crooked buildings on the outer perimeter of the island seemed to form a face. Rickety and wooden, they were faded to the colour of straw, their darkened windows like eyes. Between them, treacherous, winding alleys barely as broad as a man twisted and contorted into the shape of a great mouth. From a distance, you could be forgiven for being reminded of one of the island’s former residents: Jonathan Crane.

Occasionally, the flicker of a candle flame would briefly light up a sole window frame, a blip among hundreds of other darkened portals into the realm of the lost souls who dwelled there.

In his mind’s eye, Jason saw the cheap wax candles – mostly handmade – that Mercey Island’s residents used to light their way to and from the bathroom at night. He thought first of Alfred, who sometimes used an antique candelabra while he trudged around Wayne Manor in his homely two-piece pyjama set. Then he thought of Amadeus Arkham, hunched over scrolls of paper by candlelight. He was the man who had once drawn up the blueprints for the grandiose mansion at the centre of Mercey Island; the one this great slum had expanded out from. The island’s streets were like strands of a sprawling cobweb and the mansion was the spider itself, dwarfed now by its own creation.”

It’s a plot-heavy story that borrows from all my favourite depictions of Gotham and iterations of DC characters. I’d say it falls somewhere between Earth-0 (New 52/Rebirth) and Earth-12 (DC Animated Universe) in terms of canon.

It follows the formation of an unlikely friendship between Jason Todd and Superman, and the way this friendship changes them as people and alters the trajectory of their lives.

P.S. In the immortal words of Jake Paul: link in bio

[sonyclasica]

JACK LENZ

BANDA SONORA ORIGINAL DE LA PELÍCULA SHELTER

Sony Classical lanza SHELTER, un álbum con la música de la película documental de Ron Chapman sobre los refugiados judíos que escaparon de los terrores del Holocausto, para sobrevivir y construir un refugio para generaciones de inmigrantes. La música de la película, compuesta por la leyenda de la música canadiense Jack Lenz, galardonada y reconocida internacionalmente, será lanzada en todo el mundo por Sony Classical junto con el estreno de la película en el Festival de Cine Judío de Toronto el 3 de junio de 2021.

De la música, Ron Chapman dice: "La compasión de Jack por el sufrimiento del pueblo judío y su resistencia como comunidad resuena en toda la grabación. La música traza de forma convincente la notable historia de unas personas que lo perdieron todo y no sólo tuvieron que reconstruir sus vidas, sino que también se elevaron en sus contribuciones a la vida cultural de su nuevo país".

"El tema de Shelter se basó en el sentimiento de esperanza que inspiran estas familias. Su conmovedor viaje, desde los horrores que vivieron hasta la nueva vida que tuvieron que construir aquí, su perseverancia, incluso su heroísmo al superar tales obstáculos está grabado en esta partitura. Estoy orgulloso de esta obra y del violinista Hugh Marsh y la violonchelista/vocalista Jorane, que han aportado sensibilidad y corazón a sus interpretaciones".

 TRACKLIST:

1. Shelter  2. Reflections  3. Song From The Shadows  4. Escape Into The Night  5. Where There Is Hope  6. What Was Is Gone  7. The Crossing - A New Land  8. Reign of Terror - The Drums of War  9. Separation  10. Escape - On The Run  11. Descent Into Darkness  12. Between The Lines  13. Liberation

14. Shelter - Reprise

15. A New World  16. Girl On A Bicycle  17. Waltzing  18. Bathurst Street Blues  19. New Horizons  20. The Towers Rise  21. Gut in Gesheft  22. Welcome  23. Hope Lives  24. The Gift Of Life  25. Never Forget  26. Shelter - Closing Theme

Shelter es una historia de personas que lograron sobrevivir, y luego prosperar, y en el proceso, convirtieron a Toronto, una "pequeña ciudad rodeada de granjas", en una de las ciudades más habitables del mundo. En una ciudad que en su día tenía leyes que prohibían a los judíos circular por la calle Yonge, construir era algo que a los judíos no se les impedía hacer, y así construyeron, basándose en planteamientos de sentido común, como situar los rascacielos cerca de las estaciones de metro. Entre 1952 y 1975, los constructores judíos construyeron medio millón de apartamentos de alquiler en Toronto.

 Utilizando los recuerdos de unos pocos visionarios que quedan y de sus descendientes, con una convincente mezcla de historias en primera persona, algunas nunca escuchadas y otras nunca habladas hasta ahora, apoyadas visualmente por imágenes y fotos de archivo mejoradas. La película recorre el viaje desde Europa del Este hasta Norteamérica, desde Dachau hasta Toronto, y está filmada con un reparto y un equipo internacional de ambos continentes con recreaciones dramáticas. Shelter nos lleva a través de sus primeras vidas y sus increíbles escapadas.

 Sobre Jack Lenz

A lo largo de su prolífica carrera, Jack Lenz ha producido películas y series de televisión y documentales basados en la música, además de haber compuesto música para películas, televisión, documentales, programas de noticias canadienses y programas de premios. Su mayor amor es hacer música para la comunidad bahá'í, desde "We Are Baha'is" hasta la música del Congreso Mundial y "Mona with the Children".

Es más conocido por la canción temática de los Toronto Blue Jays, "OK Blue Jays", para la serie "Goosebumps" y su partitura para "La Pasión de Cristo". También ha escrito canciones para Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Buffy Sainte-Marie y los Canadian Tenors. Su serie actual es "Good Witch" y acaba de ganar el ASCAP Screen Award en Los Ángeles por su música para "Good Witch", una de las series con mayores ingresos.

También ha producido muchas series de televisión, sobre todo para niños, como "Nanalan" para CBC, "Mr. Meaty" para Nickelodeon, "Ooh and Aah" para Disney, "Big and Small" para BBC y Treehouse TV y "What's Your News" para CBC y Nick Jr.

Jack también ha producido dos películas con Ron Chapman: "Who the Bleep is Arthur Fogel" para Epix y "The Poet of Havana" para HBO.

Su proyecto más reciente es el Baha'i Feasts and Holy Days Songbook, que consta de 33 canciones para el Calendario Badi. Puedes apoyar su proyecto en jacklenzmusic.com.

Su principal interés es apoyar a los niños y a las familias que sufren graves discapacidades, y su hija, Mercey, le ha dado este sentido de misión para los discapacitados.

 Sobre Chapman Productions

 El director y productor Ron Chapman es un galardonado cineasta de Toronto. Sus largometrajes documentales han sido aclamados en todo el mundo y se han emitido en las principales cadenas y plataformas, entre ellos: Who the F**K is Arthur Fogel, en el que aparecen Lady Gaga, U2, The Police, Madonna, Rush y personas clave de la industria musical; The Poet of Havana, con Carlos Varela, Benicio Del Toro y Jackson Browne; The Forbidden Shore, una exploración en profundidad de los principales artistas musicales de Cuba.

 La última película de concierto de Chapman, Carlos Varela Live in Havana, se estrenó internacionalmente en enero de 2021, junto con una caja especial de edición limitada que incluye The Poet of Havana, Carlos Varela Live in Havana, y un álbum doble del concierto en directo. Y su último documental De la Tierra al Cielo, la historia de ocho arquitectos indígenas de la Isla de la Tortuga, se estrenará mundialmente en TVO el 21 de junio de 2021, Día Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas.  

 Actualmente está produciendo un nuevo documental musical que investiga el renacimiento del rock de Toronto en 1969 -lo que la revista Rolling Stone llamó "el segundo acontecimiento más importante de la historia del rock"- con John Lennon y la Plastic Ono Band, Bo Diddly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, The Doors, Chicago y otros, que se estrenará en 2022.  Chapman comenzó como músico, luego se convirtió en mánager de artistas, productor discográfico, propietario de clubes y promotor de conciertos; y evolucionó hasta desarrollar su propia productora cinematográfica, y agencia de publicidad, donde produjo y dirigió anuncios para marcas internacionales. Su álbum de canciones originales, As Worlds Collide, está en Current Records, con el reciente single y vídeo "Turn Away".  Shelter tendrá su estreno mundial como película de apertura del Festival de Cine Judío de Toronto, el 3 de junio de 2021.

 Hashtag: #ShelterFilm Facebook @shelterthefilm

Instagram @shelterthefilm Youtube