The Fire Within—An Original Urban LegendA Chapter by Steven Cash Another Urban Legend folk In Alexandria, Virginia, on the corner of Temple and Market Street stands an antiquated storefront. It is a building dating back to the 1800s, as are most in that famed ‘Old Town’ area, but this one is the only one, on that block at least, with the distinction of being haunted. On a cold night in December 1882, when the storefront was Nelsons General Store, there was a particularly horrific event that went on. Albert Nelson and his family lived on the second floor above the store. It was just after midnight when Albert heard a noise in the store. He grabbed his riffle and prepared to head downstairs. Before doing so however, he told his wife and two sons to stay in the bedroom and lock the door. “Don’t come out,” he said, “No matter what you see or hear. I will let myself back in.” Albert headed down the stairs and into the store, where he found two hoodlums trying to get open the cash register. He shot once at the criminals, knocking over the gas lamp they held. Unfortunately, they shot back at Albert and killed him instantly. Even more tragic was the fact that the broken lamp grew a blaze that quickly engulfed the store. Upstairs, Mrs. Nelson and her sons waited, praying that Albert would return. He said he would come back. He never did. They never realized about the fire until they saw the smoke coming through the floorboards. As soon as they opened the doors too, the flames came into the room. They died shortly thereafter. It is said to this day by locals that anyone that visits that location, which is now a Wells Fargo Bank, could run into the ghosts of the Nelson family. While Mrs. Nelson and her sons are placid, Albert Nelson is said to be a vengeful spirit, seeking revenge on anyone who wants to cheat or steal from that place. The story was just folklore, or so assumed, until February 23, 2007 when a man came into that Wells Fargo Branch and attempted a robbery. He was quickly cornered by police, and tried to flee up the stairs to the second level�"which has since been converted into a vault among other things. When police arrived upstairs they found the would-be robber shot to death. But the coroner found the most unsettling details. One, he was shot to death with an 1800s rifle bullet. Two, his internal organs were charred and burned. The coroner said it was as if he were electrocuted. Or as if he’d died in a fire. People say the man met the same fate at the hands of Albert’s ghost. Seeing as Albert was first shot, then burned in the blaze
© 2012 Steven CashFeatured Review
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Steven CashA Secret Location, ILAbouthttp://www.writerscafe.org/writing/changetheworld/1061316/ That's my poem. Goodbye everyone. Don't cry because it's over... smile because it happened... more..Writing
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