July 16, 1819
That day, the island was shaken by the tragic news of the death of Thomasina Clarke, another member of the Chase family. It was announced that her body would be buried the following day in the dreaded Chase Crypt. It was then that a wild idea formed in my mind, but to carry it out, I needed to make contact with the right people. My first stop was to speak with Lord Combermere, though his initial response was negative. However, he eventually agreed on the condition that he would witness what would happen when the crypt was opened the next day to place Thomasina Clarke’s remains inside. His final decision would depend on what he saw, as well as the approval of Reverend Thomas Orderson and, above all, the Chase family.
After my conversation with Lord Combermere, he approached the Reverend, and together they met with the members of the Chase family. They presented the following proposal: at the moment of Thomasina’s burial, if the same anomaly with the coffins occurred again, I would be granted permission to secretly enter the crypt and spend a week inside. It was an idea that no one would dare to execute, except for someone mad enough like me, who hadn’t fully considered the consequences of my audacity.
On July 17, amidst a torrential downpour, the whole village gathered near the cemetery to witness the reactions of those who would enter the crypt. Among the “fortunate” who attended this event were myself, accompanied by the governor and the Reverend. We were three, along with the group of family members responsible for moving the coffin, who entered the vault.
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It was at that moment when I realized the incoherence of my idea and my lack of courage to carry it out. The coffins were scattered around the vault in different positions. Most of them lay face down, another was leaning against the wall, standing. However, what terrified us the most was seeing Thomas Chase’s coffin open, with his mummified figure inside.
The Reverend repeatedly made the sign of the cross, and more than one of us felt the urge to flee the place. It was necessary to call the cemetery workers to place the heavy coffins back in their designated spots, while the governor took my arm and, torn between horror and fury, gave me his approval to carry out the plan.
That night, when the streets were deserted and silence enveloped everything, Carter Jr., Governor Lord Combermere, Reverend Thomas Orderson, the cemetery caretaker, and I gathered in front of the crypt, which was sealed. I was prepared with all the supplies I might need: food, water, blankets, a lamp, and a weapon.
Lord Combermere expressed his concern:
—"Are you sure you want to do this?"
I looked at Carter, who signaled with his head for me to reconsider. I took a deep breath and answered:
—"Yes. Let’s do it."
Despite the doubts and warnings, I was determined to carry out my plan, without fully measuring the consequences of my actions. Uncertainty and fear intertwined in my mind, but something pushed me to move forward. We ventured into the unknown, ready to face the mystery that lurked in the depths of the Chase Crypt.