...and there's a house there. A sanctuary of death. A cradle of fear and chaos. The house imprisons its master so that he becomes his servant....
(excerpt from the notes of Dr. F.H. Bielski, a patient at the psychiatric home in Manice)
***
"Vampires? That's good. Ha, ha!" the tall man burst into laughter. "And what else, werewolves and those little... Well... Dwarves.
" "Funny." the young woman looked up from the stone tablets. "My first reaction was identical."
"I don't believe it, show me." the man almost pushed his colleague away.
"See for yourself, unbeliever." the woman deftly moved out of the way. "Just don't forget, I taught you to read hieroglyphs.
" "That doesn't mean you can't make fun of me."
"Believe me, I don't find such things amusing." the woman folded her arms across her chest. "And what, Mr. Archaeologist?
" "Fuck! Indeed." "The man took a closer look at the poorly carved hieroglyphs in the stone slab. "Who found these?
" "Guess." A sly smile appeared on the woman's face.
"Probably some professor," the man mused aloud. "But which one? Qatari? Right? One hundred percent, that fat guy. Right? Did I guess?
" "Unfortunately, it's a box, sir." The woman smiled triumphantly. "Kids.
" "What?
" "These tablets were found by three boys playing.
" "Seriously? Where?" The man's eyes widened with curiosity.
"Have you heard about that church on the outskirts?
" "The one every two... No, three days ago, it collapsed from old age. If I remember correctly, a priest died there.
" "I see you're watching the news, Tomasz." The woman smiled ironically. "Exactly that little church. Apparently it was very old. So old, in fact, that none of the local residents could tell me when it was built. Personally, I'd estimate it to be somewhere between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries." The priest who cared for him was supposedly insane. The Vatican excommunicated him. No one would tell me why. I only learned that they were going to demolish the church. And now that it collapsed on its own and that priest died, it could play into the hands of various people. "
As usual, you've done your 'homework,'" Tomasz looked at his friend. "I'm full of admiration, Kasia. "
"You know me, after all. You know I like to know what I'm dealing with.
" "Their hunger is immeasurable, their only desire is to tame it..." The man read the two selected lines again, leaning over the old writing. "That really sounds like a vampire fairy tale to me."
"But what were those vampire fairy tales doing in that old church?"
"You said that priest was insane, and they excommunicated him."
"You think it's his work? He probably didn't scrape it himself. Unless it was about eight hundred years old. And I suggest we reject that hypothesis outright.
" "So he probably found them somewhere and dragged them to the church.
" "Or he didn't have to drag them out of nowhere, as you said, because he could have simply found them somewhere in the church."
"One thing we know for sure: someone must have brought them to this church at some point.
" "How do you know?" Katarzyna looked at Tomasz curiously.
"What do you mean, archaeologist?" The man tried to make the word "archaeologist" sound almost like an insult. It was his way of repaying his colleague for her "archaeologist." "But you yourself said, Kasia, that the church is at most five hundred years old, and the inscriptions on the tablets are eight hundred.
" "Indeed. That's obvious.
" "You know what?" The man left the table. "I see you need a break." "Come on, let's go to Mateusz's at this hour, I don't think he's serving dinner anymore, but maybe he'll make an exception for friends."
"Believe me, he will. Oh, right. You're paying the bill today. I paid yesterday and the day before, I remember correctly. I won't let you fool me anymore."
"Disgusting woman," Tomasz whispered with a smile. "After we eat, we'll go near that ruined church; maybe I'll find something the lady deigned to overlook.
" "Your sense of humor is pathetic." The woman turned off the lamp. "Let's go to that dinner, but then I'm going back; I still have three more tablets to translate. If you want, go to that church yourself. I'd probably just be bothering you anyway."
They smiled at each other; they loved these little squabbles; at first glance, they formed the core of their friendship. But somewhere deep inside them lurked something they hadn't yet noticed. Something that remained hidden and attacked at the least expected moment, mercilessly entangling its victim. However, for now, they were unaware of the presence of this eternal power.
They dressed and left the lab.
***
Fuck! He cursed under his breath as another door slammed in his face. "Kasia was right—a true conspiracy of silence," he thought.
He looked around. Five farms lay within his sight. He'd already visited four, but this one remained. Although the distances between the houses were only a few meters, he preferred to travel by car, so he would always be nearby if one of the farmers got the idea, for example, to set his dog on him. He preferred to be on the safe side in this strange, unfamiliar territory. He got into the car and drove to the last cottage. He got out. The front was dominated by a ruined house. The windows were boarded up, and broken roof tiles lay everywhere. "Does anyone even live here?" he thought. He approached the door. Before he could gather the courage to knock, the door swung open with an unbearable squeak. A chill ran down his spine.
"Good morning! My name is Tomasz Banicki, I'm a scientist. I'd like to ask a few questions," he shouted from the threshold.
"Come in!" a pleasant female voice came from the back of the room.
He took the first step, then a few more, and found himself in the middle of the dimly lit cottage. He looked around for the innkeeper. He spotted a massive wooden table against one of the four walls. A candle stood on it, its flame illuminating the face of an old woman.
"What do you want to ask?" the old woman smiled, but the smile was lost somewhere in the tangle of wrinkles etching her face. "You're probably interested in this church. Just like the woman who was hanging around here yesterday. Only she avoided my house. But everyone avoids it. And yet, I have my ways of finding out why someone comes here.
" "I, as you can see, haven't avoided your house.
" "Indeed," the woman looked at Tomasz. "That says a lot about you. People have it too good these days. They live in all their luxury and can't imagine anyone living in such a shack. But you didn't come here to listen to the ramblings of an old madwoman."
"As you guessed, I wanted to ask you about this church," Tomasz admitted. "But maybe first you could tell me something about yourself. Who are you?
" "As I said, I'm a crazy old woman. "
The man looked at the old woman.
"Please don't talk about yourself like that.
" "When it's true," the woman giggled. "Okay, ask whatever you want, but I have one condition. "
Tomasz looked at the woman in surprise.
"Don't be afraid; it's not an unreasonable request. I'd be happy if, after we've finished this whole interview, you'd sit and talk with me for a while. About nothing in particular, just to give the crazy old woman a few minutes of your time.
" "Of course I'll stay," he promised, taking a notebook out of his pocket.
***
"Ha! He's screwed you again!" The slightly overweight man handed Katarzyna the bill.
"You know what, Mateusz," the woman said, grimacing. "He'll get his way someday. She'll simply kill him someday." (As she uttered these words, she had no idea they were prophetic...).
"What's that sly bastard up to this time?" Mateusz took the calculated sum of money for the meal from Katarzyna. "And where's the tip?
" "You know what, you're being mean," the woman feigned indignation. "Do you know how much an archaeologist earns now?" "Pennies, and besides, I've been feeding this freeloader for three days. Where have those gentlemen gone?
" "Apparently they heard about the feminists and ran away," Mateusz continued, sneering.
"You mean creature," the woman smiled, shaking her fist at the restaurant owner.
"You'd be mean too if you wore such a stupid jacket." The man gestured to his work clothes. "But wait, you are mean."
"You really do look stupid in that reflective jacket. But no one's forcing you to wear it." You're the boss here, you're in charge.
" "But you know how he attracts customers.
" "Are you surprised? People like going to the circus.
" "Now I feel really offended, you witch!" This time the man feigned insult.
"Okay, it's nice talking to you, but I have to go." Katarzyna rose from her chair.
"Exactly!" Mateusz made one last attempt to stop his friend. "What have you dug up recently? Some mammoth. You never brag about anything. What are you working on, some secret government projects?
" "Nothing interesting. Some fairy tales about vampires.
" "Or maybe werewolves?
" "I've heard that somewhere before." The woman burst out laughing. "Believe me, you won't deny knowing Tomasz. Well, I have to get to work.
" "Goodbye then.
" "See you later."
She put on her coat and left the restaurant.
***
"What?" Tomasz jumped up from the small bench he was sitting on. "He was your... I mean, your brother."
"I knew this would surprise you," the older woman smiled. "Yes. Father Karol was my brother. His funeral was yesterday.
" "I'm sorry," the man sat back down.
"Me too." The woman lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment before adding. "Karol was an unhappy man."
"Will you tell me more about him?" Tomasz asked cautiously. "We found some strange old tablets with legends in the church."
"Legends..." the old woman fell into thought again. "Karol knew many legends. He often told them, but it had been so long since he'd been here. He'd become somewhat nervous. The last time he visited me was a year ago, he was exceptionally restless. He wasn't the same man. I remember him jumping from tree to tree as a child. He was so happy and carefree then. Something had changed him, frightened him to the point of shaking his sanity. I saw the fear in his eyes. This wasn't Karol.
" "What could have happened to him?" Tomasz looked at the woman curiously. Something told him this woman possessed the information he was now beginning to desire. He didn't know where this feeling came from, but it was incredibly strong. It burned with some primal urge. He had to have this information; he was ready to crack the woman's skull if it would help extract it from her mind. These thoughts frightened him. A chill ran down his spine. His head spun. He shuddered.
"Did something happen to you?" The woman sensed something was happening to him. "
Everything's fine." He stood up, resting his hand on the rotten table. "I'll go outside and smoke."
The woman watched Tomasz go.
He stepped out onto the veranda and leaned against the beam supporting the veranda roof. He was breathing heavily. What he had experienced a few seconds ago was terrifying. He felt someone interfering with his mind. This person he had become, for a split second, was capable of killing. Death was his entire being. He shuddered again at the memory of that terrible feeling. He reached for a pack of cigarettes and lit one. He leaned against the wall of the house and took a drag.
His hands were shaking.
***
"But what exactly is wrong with you?" Katarzyna asked.
"I don't know," came the voice from the receiver. "It's the first time I've ever had anything like this. I'm telling you, it's like something's on my mind. A terrifying feeling.
" "I see that too much work isn't good for you," the woman laughed. "You pulled a few all-nighters and your little brain is already picking up the satellite.
" "Very funny," the man said, not laughing at all. "I hope you're right and it's just exhaustion.
" "What were you thinking? You have to pay for the satellite; it's bad enough you're already eating for a sucker.
" "I'd rather pay our bills for a year at the most expensive restaurant in town than go through the same thing again."
"Oh my! That really sounds serious," Katarzyna laughed into the receiver. "You need to get some good sleep.
" "And how's the translation coming along?" Tomasz changed the subject. "Are you managing without me?
" "I see your spirits are returning," Katarzyna said happily. "I managed to translate less than the first three lines of the next table. They say something about some rituals. About human sacrifice. Give me a few more hours. I'll call you back when I figure it all out.
" "Okay!" came the voice from the receiver.
"Could you tell me exactly where you are now?" Katarzyna asked.
"In that old cottage you missed," Tomasz explained. "With the sister of that priest who's been lost under the rubble.
" "In the old cottage..." the woman thought for a moment. "...there wasn't any cottage there.
" "Please, don't joke!" the voice in the receiver grew serious. "Are you trying to scare me? You won't succeed; I'm immune to your jokes."
"That's nothing." Katarzyna was deadly serious. "Father Karol's sister has been dead for fifteen years. That's what the locals said.
" "Stop it.
" "I'd give anything to see your face right now. You're probably shaking like jelly." Katarzyna burst out laughing. "You fell for it like a child."
"You know what? You're cruel." Tomasz exhaled. "And I didn't believe your story for a second."
"Yes, yes... you coward." The woman was still having a good time.
"Okay, I'll stop," the man announced. "I'm going back to the ghost house." He tried to make a joke.
"The landlady might actually be offended by the lack of attention.
" "So call me if you find out anything. "
She heard a beep. Tomasz hung up.
***
"About vampires?" The older woman was surprised. "No. He never mentioned anything about them. Although... He told all sorts of legends. But about vampires? I don't know."
"I'm asking because the stone tablets found in the ruins of the church speak of these terrifying creatures, straight out of horror movies."
"Oh yes!" The older woman slammed her hand on the table. "I remember. He used to scare me with a story like that when we were kids. No... I think it was about werewolves. I guess I can't help you after all.
" "Well. Thanks anyway." Tomasz smiled warmly. "I'm sorry to bother you and make you talk about your brother, who died just a few days ago in such tragic circumstances.
" "For me, my brother died a year ago," the old woman said sadly. "The person who visited me a year ago wasn't my brother anymore. He looked like Karol, but as I said, he was changed.
" "I don't understand.
" "Me neither." The woman wiped the tears welling up in her eyes with her hand. "There is someone who should help you, though."
Tomasz looked at his interlocutor curiously.
"Karol mentioned something about a nearby estate. Apparently, some wealthy man lives there. Karol once mentioned him as some eccentric scientist. I don't know where the house is exactly, but it can't be far.
" "Thank you for the information," Tomasz said, rising. "I'll go now."
"You promised you'd talk to me."
"Indeed, I'm sorry." The man sat back down.
The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon.
***
"There's something on the map," Katarzyna said into the receiver. "I think it's this house. Apparently, the guy doesn't like visitors. He built the house right in a clearing in the middle of the forest. You can't get there by car. There's no road on the map. You'll probably have to wade through the forest. I doubt you'll find it; you'll get lost faster.
" "Trust my instincts," she heard the reply in the receiver.
"Wait for me," Katarzyna said in a tone that brooked no argument. "I'm getting in the car and I'll be at your place in an hour.
" "Come on. I'll manage. I used to be a Boy Scout," Tomasz boasted.
"You have to wait for me there."
Tomasz hung up.
"Idiot," Katarzyna muttered under her breath.
She put on her coat and ran down the stairs. She got into the car.
It drove off with a screech of tires.
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