The Skylark Bell

In today’s episode we read Chapter 25 – A Fete and a Feather - in which Lucas joins Farfalla for a memorable celebration at Meadow Lane

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

Merch: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/store

This week's Boopod Network podcast partner is Murder Roadtrip: https://anchor.fm/shannon-quinn6

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 25 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.

In our previous episode, Magpie toured the house at Meadow Lane that her mother has converted into an Artist’s Retreat.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 25 – A Fete and a Feather - in which Lucas joins Farfalla for a memorable celebration at Meadow Lane

Be sure to listen through to the end of the episode for a preview of a podcast I quite enjoy called Murder Roadtrip, which, like The Skylark Bell, is part of the Boopod Network of paranormal and true crime podcasts.

Now, it’s time to settle in... grab a blanket, and a warm drink... and let’s get started.

Lucas navigates Cormorant up the long dirt path to the house on Meadow Lane. After all this time he still feels a small tickle of fear at the back of his neck as he steps off the road onto the lane. All those years of being told not to go there, of listening to the terrifying stories, and knowing how it all ended with Magpie saving the town from the spreading silence by ringing the Skylark Bell... He heaves a deep sigh and looks back up at the house. His fear is quickly washed away when he sees it all lit up, music and laughter pouring out from every crack and crevice.

He suddenly recalls Magpie telling him about one of her visions where she saw Meadow Lane all lit up, like there was a celebration of some kind. He turns Cormorant around to look back at Magpie’s house, or rather, the house that would become Magpie’s, across the road. He looks up at the small attic window... it seems like only yesterday he and Magpie were going up the creaking stairs, hearts pounding with excitement at what they might find in the secret attic! Scarlet had followed them on velvet feet, knowing her secret would soon be revealed. He shakes the thoughts from his head and turns Cormorant back around, guiding him all the way up the lane to the back of the house.

“I’ll be back soon old friend,” he says gently to the horse, tying it to a fence rail at the back of the house away from all the commotion.

Lucas makes his way to the front door and gives it a knock that sounds far more confident than he is feeling. The door swings open immediately, and Lucas is hit with a wall of sound and smells; laughter, music, the clinking of drinkware and dishes, the smell of beer, roasting food, pie... It’s almost an assault on the senses and Lucas recoils slightly but a large arm encircles him and pulls him into the house. “Marius! Come on in my boy! It’s great to have you!” Mr. Shearwater slurs as he pulls Lucas into the house. Lucas stumbles in and smiles awkwardly. Parties have never been his thing. Someone hands him a glass full of beer and a woman shoves a plate in his hand, filled to the brim with what looks like some type of stew and a couple of thick slices of bread. He doesn’t even have time to thank her before she moves on to her next victim.

Lucas looks across the room and sees Charlotte and Edward Carnifex, they catch his eye and smile warmly. Charlotte looks stunning an emerald green dress, and Lucas recognizes the ornate dragonfly shaped comb in her hair as the one he and Magpie found in the secret attic all those years ago. Lucas suddenly realizes that Edward’s pocket watch, the one he checks multiple times a day, was also in that old trunk, 90 years in the future. He marvels at the fact that he can see and speak to these people, people he read about in books, in letters, people he saw in creased and faded photographs... people with real feelings, real lives. Something about the realization breaks his heart.

Lucas shakes off the sad nostalgic feeling. Skirting along the perimeter of the room, he manages to make his way toward the dining table where he puts down the plate and glass of beer. He has no intention of partaking in all the food and drink, he is here for one reason only... Just then he sees Farfalla watching him from across the room, a smile teasing the corner of her mouth. She has caught...

Magpie has an uncomfortable encounter with one of the locals, and gets the sinking feeling that earning the trust of the residents of Pocket may not be as easy as she hoped. On the bright side, she manages to learn just a little bit more about the mysterious abandoned farm across the street!

Music: Nightbridge and The Early Bird by Cannelle (www.cannellemusic.com)

Find The Skylark Bell online: www.theyskylarkbell.com

Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Twitter: @melissaoliveri

Patreon: www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

TRASCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions, with the support of Whimsical Productions and Collected Sounds presents: Episode 3 of The Skylark Bell. I am your host Melissa Oliveri.

If you recall our last episode, Magpie met her next door neighbour, Lucas Starling, who took her on a tour of the town, but remained guarded when it came to sharing information about the spooky abandoned house across from them, and the mysterious Farfalla. When we left them, the pair had just arrived at the restaurant.

In today’s episode we’ll continue our adventure with Chapter 3 – The Early Bird – where Magpie has an uncomfortable encounter with one of the locals, and gets the sinking feeling that earning the trust of the residents of Pocket may not be as easy as she hoped. On the bright side, she manages to learn just a little bit more about the mysterious abandoned farm across the street!

So get comfortable... grab a blanket, a warm drink... and let’s get started.

Magpie and Lucas have stopped in front of a short walkway. At the end of it lies a quaint building with turquoise siding and a bright, hand-painted board that reads ‘The Early Bird’ in large, bold letters. Magpie notices the Open sign in the glass door and heaves a sigh of relief, she was getting nervous that they were going to be too late. They walk through the door and up to the lunch counter where they each sit on a bright red swiveling stool. Magpie looks around; The Early Bird has a great retro feel, with rows of booths lining each side of the restaurant, black and white tiled floor spreading across the expanse of the dining room and brass light fixtures glowing along the turquoise walls. Being in there almost feels like travelling back in time...

“What’ll ya have?” asks a dry, scratchy voice. Magpie turns to see a petite, older woman in a white vintage-style waitress uniform, cap and all, staring at her from across the counter.

“Oh! Ummm... I guess I haven’t seen a menu yet,” she says politely.

The woman looks at Lucas, and with a nod in Magpie’s direction says, “She ain’t from here, is she?” in a disapproving tone.

“Magpie just moved here, she’s living in the house next door to mine,” says Lucas, meeting the waitress’ gaze with steely eyes. The waitress mutters something under her breath and pushes a paper menu across the counter.

“We close in twenty minutes so yer prolly gonna wanna hurry up and choose. And we’re outta the meatloaf, just so ya know,” she adds drily.

“I... we... I guess just a medium cheese pizza... to go, please.” Magpie can barely speak, she’s completely thrown off by distrust emanating from the woman. The waitress grabs the menu and scribbles on a ticket, slips it across the shelf between the lunch counter and the kitchen and rings a bell to alert the cook of her order.

“Have I done something wrong?” whispers Magpie, turning to Lucas.

“Nah. You know, the people of Pocket have lived here for generations, there hasn’t been a new family in town since... well, I guess mine, when my great-great-grandparents moved here... and they’re just barely starting to trust us!” he says, laughing. “I’m just kidding about that last part, it’ll be fine, just give it some time,” he adds in a reassuring tone.

Magpie smiles at Lucas’ joke, but she’s only half listening. Through the opening in the wall between the kitchen and the lunch counter she can hear hushed whispers between the waitress and the cook, who both keep glancing suspiciously back her way. Finally, the waitress comes through the double-hinged door to the right of the lunch counter, a pizza box in tow.

“That’ll be ten dollars,” says the waitress, holding out her hand. Magpie pays for her order, grabs the pizza box and she and Lucas leave the diner. The waitress stands behind the glass door, her eyes fixed on Magpie, and flips the sign to ‘Closed’ as the diner’s brass light fixtures go dark behind her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is now sunset and the sky is quickly getting dark. Magpie and Lucas walk swiftly down the main street toward their homes. As they near the old abandoned house, Magpie opens her mouth to ask Lucas if he knows anything about its history, but before she can say a word a flock of blackbirds lifts out of the grass, startling them.

“Whoa, that was weird!” says Lucas, his brow furrowed, “You don’t usually see birds near Meadow ...

In today’s episode, The Harlequin, we hear about a series of eerie premonitions that seem to indicate that a death has just occurred.

Music: Nightbridge and Kaleidoscope by Cannelle (www.cannellemusic.com)

Find The Skylark Bell online: www.theyskylarkbell.com

Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Twitter: @melissaoliveri

Patreon: www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions, with the support of Whimsical Productions and Collected Sounds presents: The Skylark Bell, Fantome Friday. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.

Fantôme Friday episodes are bonus episodes that feature a real-life supernatural, or at the very least unusual and unexplained experience.

In today’s episode, The Harlequin, we hear about a series of eerie premonitions that seem to indicate that a death has just occurred.

Now, it’s time to get settled in. Grab a blanket, a warm drink, and let’s get started...

The minute my hand touched the door handle of The Harlequin nightclub I knew something was wrong. “Someone died”. The thought popped into my mind, unbidden. I have no idea where it came from, but it was clear as day. I pulled on the handle only to find the door to be locked tight. It was a Tuesday night in January, typically not a busy time for the bar to be open, but it was always open none-the-less. I was standing outside in the frigid Quebec City winter with a handful of friends now wondering what we should do. After a brief discussion we decided to trek through the snow to a different nearby bar.

We enjoyed a few drinks on the main floor, chatting and laughing, but the heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach stayed with me the entire night. As we were about to leave, I decided to head to the lower level where a friend of mine was DJing. He was between songs, so I went to say hello and asked if he knew why the Harlequin club was closed. He got a sad look on his face and told me one of our mutual friends who worked there had passed away suddenly the night before.

I can still recall the ringing in my ears. A swirl of thoughts entered my mind... then a specific memory came back to haunt me. Two nights prior I had been at the bar, it was very busy, and he was racing to keep up with orders. I had just gotten a new job and was excited to share the good news because he knew I was struggling at my previous job. I shouted to him over the sound of music and loud chatter, and he grinned at me and congratulated me – he then held up a finger and said “give me a minute!”. I waited a brief moment, but he was so busy, and it was so loud, and I needed to get home... so I left. I distinctly remember thinking “I’ll see him tomorrow.” But for him, there was no tomorrow.

My next thoughts flew to two events that had occurred within a week of each other about two years before when I was still living at home with my parents. We lived out in the country, and one night we were driving home from town down the long, dark country road. It was about a 30 minute drive and I was sitting quietly in the back seat. We were going to stop at a family friend’s house to grab my house key which I had left there after going on a horse ride with her the day before. As we were nearing the turn to go to her house I had a sudden thought of “Someone has died”. Out of nowhere. I sat up in the back seat and looked out the window at the pitch black fields and forests all around. Where had that thought come from?

I shook off the eerie feeling the thought had brought on as we pulled up to our friend’s house. My parents told me to run to the back door and grab the key while they waited in the car, since it was so late and we all wanted to get home. I knocked on the door and the tearful woman opened it and handed me my key. I asked her what was wrong, and she told me her husband had just died. His body was still out in the field and she was waiting for the authorities to come.

Of course, I was shaken, not only by the news (her husband was a lovely man) but by the fact that I had a premonition about it just a few minutes prior.

About one week later as I was riding the bus to school I suddenly had the same thought. I remember the sinking feeling in my stomach and hoping against hope that it was a coincidence, that I was imagining things. The rest of the bus ride felt interminable. Finally I got to school and went to my first class of the day, theatre. The teacher was a funny, expressive, kind man and I always looked forward to his class. On this day, however, I walked in to his room to find him very somber and quiet. Once all the students had arrived he sat us in a circle and informed us that the father of one of our classmates had passed away suddenly the night before.

Three premonitions about three sudden deaths.

There was only one other somewhat similar instance, where I was sitting in the passenger seat of a car going through a busy intersection, a...

In today’s episode we read Chapter 32 – Today’s Special - in which Magpie once again finds herself in the town of Pocket, where she comes to a startling, and devastating realisation.

The Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

Official Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/store

This week's Boopod Network podcast partner is Mums, Mysteries, and Murder: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mums-mysteries-murder/id1578866284

Something (Rather Than Nothing) podcast: https://allmylinks.com/volanteunion

Ken Volante's interview with The Skylark Bell creator Melissa Oliver on the Something (Rather Than Nothing) podcast: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-jbynw-1054d07

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 32 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.

In our previous episode, Lucas comes face to face with the infamous Dealan-de, who has long been thought to be responsible for the Vanishings at Carnifex House.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 32 – Today’s Special - in which Magpie once again finds herself in the town of Pocket, where she comes to a startling, and devastating realisation.

Be sure to listen through to the end of the episode for a preview of a podcast I quite enjoy called Mums Mysteries and Murder. I also want to mention a podcast called Something, Rather than Nothing, which discusses art and its role in our lives. I was interviewed by Ken Volante for Something Rather Than Nothing last year, just check the show notes for links to that interview, Ken’s podcast, and Mums Mysteries and Murder.

Now, it’s time to settle in... grab a blanket, and a warm drink... and let’s get started.

Magpie keeps her eyes closed but loosens her grip on the trunk of the oak tree at Meadow Lane. For some reason, her arms don’t seem as outstretched as they were when she first encircled it, like the tree has grown smaller somehow. She opens her eyes and looks around. Her heart sinks when she sees the dilapidated house at Meadow Lane up ahead. She releases the tree and turns to walk quietly back down the lane, wrapped in the now familiar silence.

Magpie feels relief wash over her as she steps onto the road and hears the gravel crunch beneath her feet. The sound of an engine causes her to look up, and she sees a vintage turquoise pickup truck breeze passed her on its way toward town. “You don’t see those every day!” she says to herself, turning to follow its trajectory.

As Magpie nears town, she feels a growing sense of unease. In the time it has taken her to walk from Meadow Lane to Bunting’s General Store, she has seen four more vintage vehicles. Three pickup trucks, and a convertible car driven by a woman with oversized sunglasses and a colourful scarf in her hair.

Magpie sees a couple walking out of the store, the man dressed in pleated wool pants and a jacket, the woman wearing a green tweed skirt suit with matching hat, her hair peeking out from under it in a perfect bob. Magpie continues down the street, not oblivious to the looks she is getting from people as she walks by. Everyone she sees is dressed in vintage clothing. Finally, Magpie finds herself standing in front of The Early Bird diner, it looks the same as it did the last time she was there. She allows herself to feel a small sense of relief at the familiar sight and a smile forms on her lips. Her joy is quickly replaced with shock when she sees the sign posted in the window “Wednesday, June 13^th, 1962 – Today’s Special – Blackberry Waffles!”

Magpie starts shaking, unsure what to do next. Suddenly, she hears hushed whispers coming from the sidewalk behind her. She turns and sees a crowd gathering, everyone looking at her and whispering to one another behind their hands. She picks up bits and pieces of their hushed conversations “she’s back”, “how is it possible”, “where has she been all this time”. Suddenly, a hand grabs her arm and pulls her into the restaurant.

“I’m sorry to have taken a hold of you so abruptly, but you looked like you could use a hand,” says a petite woman, her silky brown hair curled into a perfect flip at the ends. The woman looks vaguely familiar, but Magpie can’t place her. The woma...

Today’s episode of The Skylark Bell was made in collaboration with The Haunted UK podcast. It is a little different than what you’ve become used to at The Skylark Bell; it is recorded in Audio Drama format as a phone call between two characters, and features an introduction and voice acting by the host of The Haunted UK podcast. Fair warning, this episode may also be slightly scarier than a typical episode of The Skylark Bell.

Story and Script by The Haunted UK

Find The Haunted UK podcast's 2021 Halloween Special here *We suggest listening to this FIRST*: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0bvnvqkUCIxmFA2DWuomp2?si=f4LImIeoTJ6zKeMJa6WUlg

Find The Haunted UK podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hauntedukpodcast/

The Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

Official Merch Shops: http://www.melissaoliveri.com/store

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings productions presents – A Special episode of The Skylark Bell, in collaboration with The Haunted UK Podcast. I’m your host, Melissa Oliveri.

Before you begin this episode, I strongly suggest you hit pause, and go visit The Haunted UK podcast’s 2021 Halloween Special episode, the link is in the show notes. It is a fantastic episode retelling a story that will give you chills. Then, come back here for an epilogue of sorts...

Now, today’s episode of The Skylark Bell is a little different than what you’re used to, as it is recorded in Audio Drama format as a phone call between two characters, and features an introduction and voice acting by the host of The Haunted UK. This episode may also be slightly scarier than a typical episode of The Skylark Bell.

Alright, you’ve been warned! Now go grab a blanket and a warm drink, and let’s get started.

Halloween 2021 saw the Haunted UK Podcast publish a bonus episode which told the unbelievable story of an author and his terrifying experience with something completely out of the ordinary. Going by the name of Robert Crawford, this individual tried to gain some sort of normality back into his life...but those experiences on an isolated farm in England’s Peak District would continue to haunt him every minute of every day.

Little by little Robert's life began to fall apart because of the impact of what he'd witnessed, and also the fact that Gwen and Bernie knew where he lived. He had no idea what had happened to both of them after he left the farm on that final fateful night.... did they both get out of the tunnels under the barn... or did they die down there?? Every day was a waiting game.... would someone come looking for him to make sure that he never spoke of what he saw?

Just how long had the existence of this bloodline of creatures been kept secret, and how many actually knew about what was going on at the farm. Maybe it was paranoia, but since the events witnessed by Robert Crawford had happened, he began to record his phone calls and document any events which he felt were strange.

From his diary notes he mentioned a number of times that he felt that he was being followed, but never actually saw anyone. He also says that his house phone would ring a number of times every day, but nobody would speak... there would just be light breathing. Was this someone from the farm, or was it someone else entirely? Crawford would have his phone disconnected and would then rely completely on his iPhone, which few people had the number for.

What you are about to hear is a telephone conversation which allegedly took place a few months ago. The audio file for this conversation was on a USB drive which had been posted in a padded envelope. We've taken the liberty of re-recording this conversation to protect those involved and to also keep the real name of the farm under wraps. There was also a written note enclosed which simply read "Seek out the Book of Aldaraia".

After a little bit of digging regarding the book mentioned in the note, the Book of Aldaraia is also known as the Book of Soyga....or The Book That Kills. It's not known who actually wrote this book, but it was part of the extensive library of John Dee until his death in 1608. Legend has it that a medium by the name of Edward Kelley was used by John Dee to help translate the book, which was mostly in Latin, in 1582.

Kelley offered John Dee the chance to ...