I went inside and closed the door. I placed the recorders onto the small table, and then opened the door again and carefully hobbled back out to the sidewalk.

Bringing only my flashlight, I limped to the end of my street and turned right for the dead end. As I started along the quiet, dirt road, the only sound made was the exaggerated, staggered sound of my injury – stepping with one leg and dragging the other.

At the fork I turned left, my full focus directed at Cortland Bridge. Its shadowy appearance, slightly obscured by the light fog at its entrance, and the gentle lapping sound of water against it, was daunting, but the uncertainty of what I'd find once I stepped foot back inside was what bothered me the most.

Intentionally blocking Zil's warnings from my thoughts so I wouldn't change my mind and leave, I approached the bridge slowly. Though I knew returning there was a stupid thing to do, and that a sane person would back down and not return, it was personal. I'd experienced too much not to have questions, so whatever I found inside; human, something else ... or both, I'd deal with. Otherwise, the bridge won, and I lost.

I stopped at its entrance.

I clicked on the flashlight and cautiously entered the empty chamber. Keeping my light shined directly toward the darkened bend, I guardedly moved further in. Echoes immediately began, and I wondered if the chance I was taking wasn't a dangerous one, being in there alone. Halting a few feet from it, and stonewalling against the instinct to run, I called out, "I'm back. Is anyone here?"

The repeating of my voice was the only sound.

I swallowed hard. "I was at the barn. It was haunted – and I know Cortland Bridge is, too. You're not going to chase me away. I'll just ..."

Behind me, in front of me – all around me, came the sound of laughter.

I shuddered. Telling myself to not give in to fear, I called out again, "Are there people in here?"

A voice replied sharply in my left ear, "No!"

My breath caught. I whipped around, but dropped my flashlight. It hit the floor and the clattering noise it made went to my bones.

The sounds gradually faded.

Unsure which I disliked more, the voice of an unknown person breaking the dead silence from a secret place, or how unearthly still the bridge had become once again, I tried to soothe my shattered nerves by whispering to myself, "Don't run. It's a prank."

Grateful the flashlight hadn't shut off, I cautiously went to retrieve it while keeping a watchful eye on my surroundings. I picked it up and shone it along the walls and floor, and into the dark depths, as far as it would reach. By appearances, I was alone. By intuition, I knew I wasn't – not only because of the person's voice, but because of the sense of a close, unwelcomed presence. Fighting to keep calm under the stress, I said, "You don't scare me. I came back because I want to talk to you."

Sounding oddly without menace, but no less scary, someone else whispered, "Leave."

Determined not to surrender to the intimidation, I replied slowly, "No. I won't."

"You must," the same voice answered.

Unsure if I was talking to a person or a ghost, I decided to try and find out. "I never get past this spot. I'm going further in and you won't stop me."

A soft, low rumble of laughter started and grew steadily louder until it reverberated throughout the bridge's hollow hull.

To my core, I was frightened. My mind screamed for my body to listen to it and run, but I refused. Having just faced a ghostly inferno where I'd believed I was dying, I would stand my ground and face whatever element was inside Cortland Bridge, no matter what. "Who are you?"

"A friend. Come."

Torn by indecision between surrendering to my curiosity and going to where I'd heard the voice, or to hesitate at the unexpected invitation to go deeper, I took one tiny step forward and stopped. My voice quivered, "Whose friend?"

A burst of cold air, strong enough to push me backward, swept out from around the bend, and then quit. I waited to see if it would happen again. When nothing did, I cautiously started toward it, but just as I was about to reach the turn, a sharper burst of wind flowed from beyond it and I was once more forced back a few feet. It ceased. Wary, but morbidly curious what was causing the gusts, I decided to try for a third time.

I'd just started to take a step forward when something heavy landed onto the floor behind me, and was quickly followed by the sound of someone running. The boards began to spring under my feet. I wheeled around to see who it was, but lost my balance and landed against the wall and onto something searing hot. Clutching my left arm, I quickly moved away from the wall. "Stop!"

The strange sounds ceased, and only my voice filled the covered bridge. As it gradually quieted, I frantically searched the darkness for who or what it was, mortal or otherwise, amazed at the ability to remain wholly concealed while doling out terror so effectively.

Barely noticeable, even within the spooky silence, a noise from the direction of the entrance caught my attention. Within the moonlight at the mouth of the bridge, an enormous snake had slithered inside and was headed toward me!

Rhys' words, that they nested in remote places like Cortland Bridge, played through my mind. My instincts kicked in and I backed up to the wall, but was seared again. Hobbling away from it to the center of the floor, my mind raced ... faced with the snake or the scary something that lay further in, there was only one option for escape– go around that bend!

As fast as I could, I headed for it, but immediately halted when something I couldn't see brushed across my face. Doing my damnedest to not become hysterical, I reached up to wipe it away and dropped my flashlight. With a booming thud it landed to the floor and then twisted so that its beam shined in the direction of the entrance.

I looked over my shoulder. The snake wasn't there, but my relief was short-lived when I recollected that I'd once heard that some could climb walls. Not wanting to leave it to chance, I swiftly bent and scooped up the flashlight. Madly, I shined it from bottom to top on both sides, including the ceiling. I didn't see it. Unsure if it'd successfully scaled the wall and then hid within the rafters, I didn't have time to wonder as strange whispers began. "Gregory, all this, and for what? Let her in."

"It is forbidden."

They were coming from around the corner! Slowly, I turned and raised the flashlight ...

I felt the impact of it being smacked from my grasp! Crying out, I took a stumbling step backward as my flashlight flew from me, struck the wall, clicked off, and fell to the floor. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to run, to get the hell out of there, but to stay instead. My body tensed and my eyes strained to see within the pitch blackness what caused it – but there was no movement.

Bit by bit, the loud, terrifying sounds within the bridge quieted.

Doing my best not to let the creaking wooden flooring, and the echoes that followed, get to me, I crept over to where the flashlight lay. With my hand shaking badly, I reached out and picked it up. But when I tried to turn it on, it wouldn't. Hoping it wasn't broken, I gave the flashlight a solid shake and then pushed the button again ... still nothing. Feeling the minute control I'd had over my fear beginning to slip, I continued to repeatedly push the button. "Damn it! Give me some light!"

Suddenly, and inexplicably, it did ... and immediately, I wished it hadn't as I gaped at something that hadn't been there moments before. A hideously grotesque, massive web, thick, with bright silken threads, was canvassed from one wall to the other, and from inside it, an indistinguishable noise started ...

I started to back away ... but paused when I saw movement.

Pushing against the webbing in its struggle for freedom, the form of a human face started to take shape, and the sticky fibers began to rip and snap as the thing within began to burrow its way out!

I screamed – the sharp, ringing echoes terrified me thoroughly. Cursing my injured leg, I turned to run ... and halted. At the entrance, within the moonlight, was the silhouette of a man standing very still.

My voice cracked. "Zil?"

"No."

I recognized the voice. It wasn't Zil's, but that of my attacker – smooth, unhurried ... and menacing.

Desperate to escape Cortland Bridge, and refusing to allow him to keep his identity a secret any longer, I tightened my grasp on the flashlight, prepared to use it as a weapon. I started to lift the beam to his face ...

The flashlight extinguished as the batteries fell out and thudded onto the wooden floor. The soft tickety-tack sound as one rolled, and then came to rest gently against my foot, scared me. Quietly, I demanded, "Who are you?"

I buckled at his laughter. "I am the one who belongs, pretty miss. You are someplace you should not be. While I have no problem with you going in, others do not feel the same."

"Do you live here?"

He was there, my arm in his vice-like grip – and I hadn't even seen him move! He didn't bother to conceal his face, but in the dark, all I could see clearly were his eyes – so unusual; shiny, golden irises around widened black pupils ... and in them, a warning against more demands. "How fortunate you've been looked after. The next time may not be so sweet – for you!"

Determined not to become his victim again, I yanked my arm free of his hold and in a pathetic half run, half limp, I hastened toward the entrance. Just as I exited, a shadowy figure moved across the dark path before me. Terrified he'd somehow beaten me there, I skidded to a painful stop.

"Ashe?"

Recognition wasn't immediate, but then I realized who it was. "Zil – why are you here?"

He looked upset. "I will ask you the same. I told you the bridge is dangerous. Why would you still come, knowing that?"

"Because if I want to hunt the paranormal, I have to step out of my comfort zone, and I just did, although I wasn't very good at it." I looked over my shoulder at the bridge and then turned to face Zil again. "There's something else ... things are happening in there. Someone, who isn't a ghost, spoke to me and he moved unbelievably fast!"

With hardened eyes, Zil looked past me into the bridge. "You saw someone?"

I did not like the strain in his voice. "Yes."

"Did you hear anything?"

"Why? What aren't you telling me?"

"You cannot be here." Zil took my arm and I let him lead me away until we reached the fork, and then I pulled back. He stopped, positioning himself between me and the bridge.

"I don't like how suspicious you're acting." Before he could reply, I blurted out, "Do you have something pointy you stab people with?"

His eyes became steely. Slowly, he asked, "What did you see just now?"

"Before I tell you, let me make this clear ... I wasn't hallucinating! One night, I came here and was attacked. The pain felt real, but there was no wound. Someone, a guy ... said something I didn't understand; that I'd gotten what I wished for, even though I already possessed it, and to make it stronger, it had to hurt. I've heard voices and seen two ghosts inside that bridge. Don't lie to me, Zil. I know you know something, or you wouldn't have told me to stay away."

His eyes glinted as he looked darkly at the bridge again and then back at me. "If I go inside with you, will you give me your solemn vow that you will not return? By going in there, you are dealing with something you cannot handle. I am asking you to trust me."

Given how serious he was, but still willing to go, I'd promise almost anything. I'd even lie, if I had to. "Fine. But this seems like an elaborate hoax to scare me away so you can keep it for yourself."

Clearly dented by my accusation, he replied, "I assure you it is not. Cortland Bridge is not like any other place."

"You've said that." I crossed my arms, ready to call his bluff. "What are you hiding, Zil? What don't you want me to know – that it's haunted? That, I already know!"

"Wait here." He looked at me pointedly, and something in his voice told me he wouldn't compromise when he said, "No argument. If I find it too dangerous, we will leave."

Before I could tell him I wasn't about to take orders from him, he went back to the bridge, stepped in, and disappeared from my sight.

It was quiet ... too quiet, and I started to feel anxious imagining all of the bad things that could happen ... he and the snake finding each other ... getting tangled in that web ... or, being attacked like I had.

Finally, unable to stand the suspense, I limped back to the entrance. Just as I reached it, Zil came out. "It is safe."

"What took so long?"

"I was looking for anything that would be a threat. Do you still want to go inside?"

Fear had turned to anger. I moved past him into the dark bridge. Waiting for my eyes to adjust, something occurred to me ...

I slowly turned to him. "You said it was safe, but you don't have a flashlight – so how could you know?" There was hesitation. His expression ... secretive. "Don't – none of that vampire talk! I don't need it, being in here – and stop looking at me like that. It's unnerving."

"I apologize for being ... unnerving. I will try not to be."

I turned my attention back to the bridge. Trying to sound brave, I called out, "Are you here? You hurt me, but you did not scare me off!"

I waited to hear, to see ... something. But all was silent. I regretted Zil being there. Just like with Rhys, his presence seemed to have driven away whatever was inside. After a few moments passed with no response, I asked Zil, "This might sound weird, but did you have anything to do with this?"

"I do not understand."

I turned to face him. "Just minutes ago it wasn't dead like it is now."

He looked at me strangely, but said nothing.

Frustrated by the lack of activity and answers, I turned to face the hollow chamber again. "I know you're here! I heard you and saw that disgusting web. Show yourself!"

Before my mind could comprehend it, a person was suddenly there. "You called, demanding Mortal?"

His voice – it was my attacker!

From behind me, Zil shouted, "Montague – no!"

A hand before my face ... an unhurried pause ... and then a snap of his fingers ...

I was somewhere ... a room, in muted light. I felt ... trancelike, as if I had no will of my own. Unable to look away, I stared straight ahead as a shadowy figure slowly emerged from a dark cloud and came to stand before me. I recognized him by his outline. It was the man Zil had called out to. Both of us silent, he held my gaze.

My mind swept clean, I had only one involuntary thought ...

Looking like a slick villain in a black and white movie, he showed himself to me – tall, medium build, dark hair, a thin mustache and slight beard that outlined his jaw, but didn't conceal his good looks. His skin was light and his smile ... almost too perfect to be real. But it was his eyes, the same as I'd seen at the bridge, that held my attention ... peculiar and hypnotic, unusually widened black pupils encircled by the bright color of gold. As I continued to look at him, his smile turned smug, knowing ... and then the pigmentation of his irises began to change – odd hues; red, blue mixed with pink, purest black, even emerald green with silvery centers, identical to Zil's – and then back to the color of spun gold.

His image faded into a mist and my mind cleared.

I was inside the bridge. The person in my vision was there. He smiled – and my breath caught as I felt a stab to my abdomen. Grasping it, I buckled. Then another, more severe pain, swept through my body. With nothing to support me, I staggered against the roughened wall and slid to the floor.

Though he remained where he was, his chilling whisper was in my ear, "My image, burned into your mind, pretty miss."

With a penetrating stare I couldn't tear my gaze from, the man backed away until all, except his eyes, had blended with the shadows. "I'll await your return to this enchanting bridge – because, as you've said, you won't resist the temptation."

Smiling wickedly, he gave an exaggerated bow ...

I cried out and clutched my stomach tighter as more torturous, intermittent waves of searing hot, and then piercing cold began to ravage my insides. Gasping for air to help fend off the pain, I watched as he turned. With an air of superiority, he started toward the entrance ... and vanished before he'd even reached it!

"Chere!" Zil was next to me.

I looked up into his worried eyes ... and then everything went dark.