Three Men And A Grave

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Perhaps I am not the right person to be narrating this story. After all, how many people would actually want a person lying in a coffin in Hale Corbin Cemetery to tell them an anecdote?

But I guess I am the only one who can tell the story, so here goes.
One night, I was lying in my grave – like I was supposed to be – when trouble began brewing. The cemetery is always guarded by three watchful, yet slightly corrupt watchmen, who are given strict instructions not to let anyone inside after midnight.

On this particular night, however, a man named Stan walked into the cemetery. It was a chilly night, and not the perfect time for a stroll.

Yet Stan carefully walked through the cemetery, trying his best not to upset any dead chaps lying in their graves. Finally, he reached the centre of the walled cemetery, considerably distant from the nearest living being.

With a small sigh which you might see school boys give as they start their homework, Stan took out a spade that he had concealed beneath his cloak, and began to dig.

It was 12: 15 when he started, and I think it took him about twenty five minutes to finish removing the soil…

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

A month earlier, there had been an amazing scandal that shook London. Not literally, of course, but the events that took place filled every major newspaper in town.

Four men were involved in a bloody murder, the kind that would make even the toughest of men shriek with fear. They had conspired to kill an extremely rich business man, take his wealth, and live happily ever after. The usual kind of stuff.

What was unusual was how they set about murdering the poor fellow. After intruding into his house and overpowering him, they set about cutting him up. Later, the body was disposed off cleanly, and the perfect murder was over.

However, just when the four men had decided to enjoy their new found wealth, the law decided to ask a few questions. All four of them were charged with murder, and the case made headlines.

That’s when things took a really nasty turn…

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Stan had finished digging the first grave, and paused to take a break. Wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead, he was about to continue, when he seemed to hear the rustling of leaves. Instinctively, he turned around. Obviously he couldn’t see anyone.

‘Stupid graveyard,’ he muttered to himself, and continued digging…

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Two of the four men, Rupert and Sebastian, were the prime suspects in the murder case. They were offered a deal by the prosecution. Reveal who committed the murders, and they would be set free.

Rupert and Sebastian already knew what they had to do. Jeffrey Wallace was the least brilliant among the four of them. He would have to be the scapegoat.

It was all carried out swiftly. The Prosecution was granted an arrest warrant for Jeffrey. They wasted no time in setting out to capture him.

Unfortunately, Jeffrey wasn’t as dumb as everyone thought he was. He knew his game was up, and did the smart thing before the police would lay a finger on him. Jeffrey committed suicide.

The murder case fell apart from then onwards. The prime suspect had committed suicide, and the prosecution couldn’t harm Rupert and Sebastian. It all seemed to be going according to plan.

Of course, nothing ever goes according to plan. The prosecution may have been on the right side of law, but they were just as cunning as the murderers. Rumors were leaked that Rupert and Sebastian were cold blooded criminals who had gotten away with murder. That was enough to damage their reputation. The wealth they had looted was still safe, but what was the use now?

And like all good plans turned bad, this one too had a sad ending. The newspapers squashed the business by announcing that Rupert and Sebastian had died of excessive drinking. It was a sad end to a bloody story. Or so it seemed…

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

It was close to 12: 30 when Stan finished digging both the graves. Then, sinking the spade into the soil, he took out a lock pick, and got to work.

Although he had practiced it a hundred times, it was still difficult. Finally, the locks were broken. Smiling with glee, Stan opened the coffins…

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
The doctors knew it was possible. Reducing the heart rate, slowing the breathing, changing the coloring of skin. Everything was scientifically possible. But could it be pulled off?

However, as they soon learned, there was nothing that couldn’t be pulled off, without the help of money. The coroner was bribed for his medical report. The morgue officials were bribed for their help. Even the coffin maker received a heavy tip.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

“How are you, mates! Fourteen hours inside the coffin is one hell of a thing, isn’t it?” Stan asked.

The two figures rose from the coffin, looking pale but decidedly cheerful. They hugged their friend, and enjoyed the moment of triumph. To the outside world, Rupert and Sebastian were dead and buried. No one had seen them step out of their own coffins. Officially, Rupert and Sebastian no longer existed.

“Alright, now first things first,” said Rupert, looking around to see if they were truly alone. “We have to put these coffins back into their places, and close them up before leaving.”

“Hey, I’m sorry, but I just finished digging the two of you out,” said Stan. He looked visibly exhausted.

“You’re right; we should take a break right now. We’ll dig after a while” said Sebastian.

And that, if you were to ask me, was a bad decision. They should have finished their business and gotten the hell out of the cemetery. But no, instead, Stan had to attend nature’s call. So be it.

Walking towards a slightly isolated part of the cemetery, Stan began whistling as he urinated. Suddenly, something caught his eyes.

A few meters from where he was standing, almost completely hidden beneath leaves and grass, was, what Stan assumed….the body of man.

His face turned pale white. He tried to move, but he was frozen with fear. Straining his eyes, Stan could see it clearly now. A tall, well built man lay in the grass, stiff as wood.

Just as his mind finally grappled with the eerie sight in front of him, Stan spotted a coffin nearby, wide open, next to a large dug out grave. He screamed in terror.


Stan should have understood what was going on. After all, he was looking at my body. I lay there limp in the bushes, looking quite out of place outside my coffin. If only I could tell Stan how I ended up there…

Still screaming with fear, Stan began running, hoping to meet his two friends quickly. His mind was racing. Some sick monster was digging out dead men. He knew he had heard someone when he was digging. Now Stan was certain. A cold chill ran down his spine as he wondered. Was there a ghost around?

He couldn’t find the answer though, for at that moment, he was struck in the face. After having his throat slit, Stan was carried over, and ironically – placed in the coffin where I should have been lying. Sometimes weird things happen…

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Where on earth are Stan and Rupert? Wondered Sebastian. Rupert had gone looking for Stan, and it was about time for the two of them to return. Feeling restless, Sebastian began to walk around.

He had heard, just three days ago, that the cemetery was haunted. For some reason, strange men visited the cemetery at odd hours, and eerie noises could be heard at times. Suddenly feeling cold, Sebastian drew his cloak tighter around him.

As he began wandering around the cemetery, Sebastian glanced at the names on the tomb stones of the graves. Most of them were unrecognizable. Then, seeing a name that was all too familiar to him, Sebastian smiled. He was standing in front of the grave of his former friend, turned enemy, Jeffery Wallace.

Looking at the surprisingly fresh soil covering over the grave, Sebastian couldn’t help but chuckle. Jeffrey had been a fool. So foolish that he blindly trusted his friends. So foolish that he committed suicide instead of seeking a way out.

“Ah, Jeffrey, I wish you could be here now. You would be so jealous,” Sebastian muttered. He looked up, and standing in front of him, pale, ghost like, as though part of the chilling air, was Jeffrey.

His heart racing with overwhelming fear, Sebastian ran as fast as he could. He didn’t know where he was running to. He didn’t care. The only thing that stayed in his mind, was the image of Jeffrey, hallow, deathly.

Finally Sebastian stumbled, and fell near his former grave. Standing up, he saw one of the graves was sealed. His blood began to turn cold. Both the graves were supposed to be open. Now, only one remained. His.

“You know, there is a short cut to reach here,” said a high, hallow voice. It came from behind Sebastian, but he dared not turn and look. Instead, he kneeled down, wondering what would happen next.

“Your friend Rupert was similarly surprised. So was Stan. Now, I don’t like wasting time, so shall we just get it over with?”

Sebastian could feel a spade being lifted above his head. Just then, he turned around and looked at his executioner.

“Are you the ghost of Jeffrey?”

I didn’t reply. I merely smiled.

“Please, I know you’re the ghost of Jeffrey. You should know we had no part in your death. I mean – I mean, it was a suicide wasn’t it?”

I smiled even more, looking menacingly at my victim. Just before I slammed the spade into his fore head, I paused to ask, “Why on earth would you think I was dead?”

Ten minutes later, Sebastian was safely sealed in his own grave, this time, actually dead for a change. After collecting the spade, I walked out of the cemetery, paid the two guards their promised fee, and began walking down the street.

I knew Stan, Rupert and Sebastian would sell me out to the court. I knew they had faked their deaths.

What they didn’t know, was that I had faked my death as well. A suicide, the papers said. How much more wrong could they get?

I had spent three weeks in my grave, occasionally getting out with the help of a grave digger at midnight. It was a harrowing ordeal, but I knew it was worth it. It surely was. Rupert and Sebastian were now officially dead. No one would be able to find Stan’s body. I was part of the history books. I was free now to start a new life.

Revenge is sweet…

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