Read Online Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum by Stephen Prosapio - Free Book Online

fires.”
    Someone gasped. Members of both teams were
riveted.
    “I know, right?” Wendy said. “Moreover, the
Pullman Market Hall, just blocks away, was destroyed by fire in 1973. Blocks
from there , in December of 1998, a homeless man torched the main Pullman
Factory building. Never having been in trouble for anything else, the one-time
arsonist didn’t even flee the scene of the crime. When they asked him why he
did it, he claimed he heard voices that demanded he burn it
down!”
    “Demonic voices?” Bryce asked theatrically.
    “Uh, no. Maybe. Anyway, those fires are just
the beginning. Yes, friends, Rosewood and Pullman have a long, long history of
fires. Arson fires. And now, the State of Illinois wants us to
investigate mysterious ones burning the property of the oldest, most famous,
haunted place in Chicago. You might be asking yourselves, why not just tear it
down? Well, legally, they can’t! In 1969, Pullman received State of Illinois
landmark status. In 1971, the entire town received National Historic
Landmark designation.”
    “The whole town? I didn’t know that, Wendy,”
Zach said.
    “Wrap it up,” Sara called out.
    “Lastly, adding to Rosewood’s mystique, back
in 1983, some high school students snuck onto the property and attempted to
stay overnight. They were caught and arrested before completing their
adventure. But from that actual event, all sorts of urban legends sprang up. A
popular myth claimed one of the kids died that night. Another rumor persists
that one of the girls eventually went insane. None of those rumors could
be, in fact, confirmed.”
    Zach deftly winked at Ray who subtly flashed
his middle finger.
    “Regardless, barbed-wire-topped fences were
put up and, since then, no one has been able to investigate the property. Until
today.”
    “Awesome job, Wendy. I can’t wait to see
what else you will uncover with your continued historical research,” Zach said,
over the rising cheers and barks.
    The ritual had gained a couple of converts.
Both Matthew and Turk hooted and were pounding their fists together in Demon
Hunter fashion. To Zach, it didn’t appear they had even made the decision
consciously. Before he could stew on that thought, Wendy pulled the sleeve of
his shirt and moved her mouth toward his ear.
    “I left something important out,” she said.
“I need to tell you as soon as we’re alone.”

 
    Chapter Eight
     
    Custodian Grant Winkler pulled up in a
white, state maintenance pickup truck minutes after 9 AM.
    “Where’s Zach?” he asked, exiting his van.
“Which one of you is Zach Kallinski?”
    Dressed in a gray uniform and grungy White
Sox cap, he was hardly the tour guide that Zach had expected or ventured that
the network had planned on. Considering his sunken cheeks and overall
disheveled appearance, Zach thought he looked like a cross between a creepy
scarecrow and a—creepy scarecrow.
    “I’m Zack Kalusky. Mr. Winkler?” Zach
offered his hand.
    “Well, I ain’t Santa Claus.” He appeared
reluctant to accept the handshake, but briefly did. “ All these...” He
paused to spit, “people planning on coming in?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Looks like a damn field trip.”
    Sara had moseyed up oozing the charm she
saved for the most difficult of people. “Hi Mr. Winkler. I’m Sara Chen. I’m the
producer of this show.”
    “What a joy that must be.” He fumbled for
his keys and headed toward the chain-link entry. After a few steps, he hollered
back over his shoulder. “Where’s yer security?”
    “Security?” Zach and Sara asked in unison.
    Winkler stopped and looked to the sky as if
mentally imploring to be beamed up. He turned toward them and cocked his head.
“Well, you don’t expect me to leave these gates open and unattended all night
do you?”
    “Oh shit,” Sara muttered under her breath.
She reached for her cell phone. “My bad. I’ll call someone!”
    “Or, I could just lock you in all night if
you want?” Winkler chortled and