by Lora Darc
“Like I said there’s a living area. Come on.” Michael waved for them to follow down a hallway to their left. Terri and Victoria followed behind with David at their back, caring the work light at his side. Grace went last. Before she entered the hall, she looked up at the central stairs going to the second floor and paused for half a second. She frowned slightly and shivered, feeling like she was being watched. She laughed softly to herself as she hurried to keep up with the others.
“The dining room was here.” Michael pointed his light through a doorway as they passed. “And I think this was the kitchen.” he pointed to the doorway opposite it.
The walls to the hallway were cracked, its paint faded and peeling, but Grace could see it was once colored a lovely sky blue. She imagined the house must have been rather charming in its prime. She never cared to live in a big house (Too much unnecessary space filled with unnecessary things) but looking around and seeing what the house could have been, she felt allured by it.
If one could take time to renovate it, Grace thought, a place like this, especially in upstate New York near the water, could really be something.
The group entered a room at the end of the hall and stopped, looking around in silent wonder.
“Damn,” David whispered. “This is cooler now than it was when we were like eight and Dad forced us to move the old antiques out, you remember that Mike?”
Michael nodded while shifting his flashlight from one side to the other and then up and down. The group crept farther into the room, near its center, and David placed his work light on the ground, pointing it up to the ceiling. The room was large enough to hold many groups of people let alone just the five of them. Rows of long windows sat closed and shuttered at every side with a tall, whitewashed ceiling and the remnants of a chain from a chandelier that was no longer there. The floors—though dirty as the rest of the house—were clearly made of polished wood. Grace knew that at some point large parties and balls must have taken place there.
The group threw their backpacks to the ground. Michael and David took out a giant tarp and set it on the ground, then took several large blankets and set them on top.
“Glad it’s mid-July and not mid-January or we’d be freezing our asses off,” claimed Victoria.
“If it were I bet we could get a fire going.” Terri pointed to the fireplace set between two windows.
“I’m pretty sure if we tried we’d burned the whole place down,” said Michael.
“You’re sure your dad won’t come here?” asked Victoria.
“He’s down in the Keys with his girlfriend probably getting shit-faced on Captain Morgan,” David said while taking out another High Bay work light and placing each at different corners of the room.
“I still can’t believe he never thought to renovate this place.” Micheal sat down on the blanket and tarp floor. He grabbed his pipe and a lighter from his pocket, lit it and took a hit. “Especially with the stories about this place.” He exhaled and smoke blew out, rising to the ceiling. He passed the lighter and pipe to Victoria who kneeled beside him.
“Yea, didn’t you say it’s haunted or something?” Terri said, sitting down next to Victoria.
“What house this old on the east side isn’t,” commented Grace who sat beside Michael, watching them each take turns with the pipe. She smiled playfully at Michael who winked at her.
“I mean it’s not Amityville haunted or anything, but it’s got a story good enough for any of those ghost hunters to come running with a hard-on.” David plopped down between Grace and Terri.
A small figure suddenly shot from under the fireplace and into the hall. Grace and David jumped and Terri screamed.
“Great, at least we won’t have to deal with possession we can just deal with rats.” Victoria handed the pipe over to Terri.
“Why did we agree to do this again?” Terri asked.
David smirked and hugged Terri with one thick, muscled arm. “Because we can have a little fun while getting creeped out.” He bent down and kissed the side of Terri’s neck.
“No, seriously though, why couldn’t we just hang out at your house like usual?”
David shrugged. “Moms got family staying at the house and Dad said…” he looked over at Michael.
“They are finally tearing this place down. Going to put something new up.” Michael went into his bag and took out two bottles of Smirnoff and several plastic cups. “So we are giving it a farewell party.”
“Not much of a party,” said Victoria.
Grace looked around and frowned, disappointed to learn about the fate of such a house. “I want to hear about it,” she said softly.
“About what?” asked David.
Grace shifted her eyes over to Michael. “Why it’s haunted.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Can’t we just chill. Terri gets paranoid easy when high. I’m pretty sure a ghost story will freak her out.”
Terri coughed from the inhale of smoke and passed the pipe to David. “That’s not true. I wanna hear too.”
“I mean, we don’t know everything exactly, just what Dad and Uncle Brian told us,” said David, lighting the pipe.
“We have family records at home,” Michael told him. “I’ve read through them.”
“Shit, news to me,” David murmured. He passed the pipe and lighter to Grace who took it gingerly, holding the pipe firm in hand. She lit what little was left and took a short, generous intake of smoke then quickly exhaled. She gave the pipe and the lighter back to Michael who stashed them back in his pack.
“So back in the eighteen-eighties,” Michael unscrewed the bottle of vodka and poured some in a cup, “There was this wealthy gun manufacturer. Think like a competitor to the Winchesters. This wealthy guy’s son is to inherit everything. Including this house.” Michael hands the vodka over to Victoria and pours out another. “The son’s name was like Nicolas or something. Anyway, he inherits all this wealth so of course he has all these big elaborate parties, becomes this big bachelor, has ins with the mafia and the like.”
“Seriously?” Terri says wide-eyed as Michael hands her a cup.
“Serious. The guy was a beast too. Six and a half feet tall, could probably murder you with just a look. Had his own personal guard. Think the family was Italian too, so they would call him Don Nicoli.”
“Sounds hot,” Victoria said, then took a swig of her drink.
Michael smirked and poured another drink, handing it to David. “So he’s this pretty big deal. Could have any woman he wanted, but—”
“How the hell do you know all this?” Terri asked.
“The records must be pretty detailed,” Grace replied. Michael nodded. Handed her a drink, which she took and sipped steadily.
“There were several accounts from family members, friends, and even servants in the records. It’s pretty in depth.” Michael made a drink for himself, took one large swig then poured more. “So, as I said, the guy could have any woman he wanted. The ladies loved him—”
“Wanted that big, rich dick,” David interjected. Terri snorted and Victoria elbowed him.
“And he wasn’t secretive about his affairs either. The guy didn’t need to be,” Michael continued. “But he never marries. Thinks it’s too risky with the kind of company he keeps... or maybe it was just a play for a guy who loved the bachelor life, who knows. Anyway, the guy didn’t have much family left to begin with. His mom died when he was young and his father passed not long after he gave over the business. But he did have a few aunts and uncles left and a young brother named Marcus.”
“Yea his brother was like his right-hand man or something right?” David said.
“Pretty much. He was like his vice president for the business. Marcus was smart and knew how to handle money well. He was smaller and less intimidating than his brother, but he made up for it with charm and looks. Unlike his brother, he did eventually marry and settle down, but he never stopped with the family business... and his own secretive affairs.”
&
nbsp; “Figures,” Victoria said. “Typical.”
Michael shrugged. “He had to keep up appearances for the business sake. The mafia expected it. They had these huge parties every week, doing dealings on the side. That’s how they would meet with clients.” Michael took another swig of his vodka while the others sip at their own. Grace let her eyes wander around the room, imagining elegant men and women conversing—maybe even dancing—while servants passed around wine and champagne. She imagined the sounds of glasses clinking, the soft laughter of women, and the heavy whispers of men in the background.
“So our guy, Nic, gets into it with this rival family, who deals with black market jewels. Marcus convinces him to supply this family with guns so they can guard their property in South Africa somewhere, with several hundred people just mining diamonds for nothing. Funnily enough, as ruthless as the guy is, Nic’s got some weird morals. He doesn’t mind murdering and making illegal deals for the sake of protecting his family and business, but he can’t stand the idea of this family that deals in slavery.” Michael leaned back against his pack and laughed softly, the drugs playing with his head. The others too laughed a little. Only Grace leaned in with curiosity.
“So yea, Nicolas isn’t happy about it. It’s the first time he begins to doubt his brother; realizing he is starting to get in too deep with business affairs; making risky, off the wall decisions.” Michael shrugged. “Marcus was in it for the money real bad.”
“Didn’t he make Nic kill some guy too?” David said.
“Dude, hold up you’re going to spoil it.” Michael put up his hand. “ Yea so Marcus then starts gambling. He loses a near fortune to some guy named Christian. This guy comes from old money, not some business type. And when he finds out Marcus owes him money, he comes calling to collect. It’s the first time Marcus loses it, calling him a cheat. Guy says if Marcus doesn’t pay up he’s going to have his men knocking at his door. The great Don Nicoli isn’t having any of this. He stands by his brother and calls Christian out. Since they both don’t care to lose their men in a fight, they agree to a duel.
“They meet at Christian’s home, take up their guns and have their shoot off. Of course, Nicolas wins because he’s a goddamn gun manufacturer and knew how to shoot since he was like five. So they take Christian’s body away and, right after, Nicolas tells Marcus he has to stop gambling,” Michael leaned forward and laughed, “Marcus willing agrees.” The others laugh too, not so much because it was funny but absurd.
“So things go back to normal,” Michael added.
“Until Nicolas’ thirtieth birthday party,” David said.
“Hold up.” Michael put up his hand again. “So yea, Marcus plans out this huge party. The day comes, everybody who’s anybody shows up. They get shit-faced, Marcus makes some grand speech about his brother, drinks the wine for the toast and…” Michael merely raised his arms. The girls look at each other.
“Yea, and?” Victoria said.
“Drops dead. Dies right there,” David finished.
“Shit,” Terri whispered.
“What happened?” asked Grace.
“Poisoned,” Michael said. He poured more vodka into his cup. “Nicolas was enraged. He went looking for the killer, became consumed with revenge. Later found out that Christian guy he had killed wasn’t just some nobody with money. Marcus had forgotten to mention he was a cousin to the rival family from South Africa. They wanted Nic dead for it. Too bad the assassin put the poison in the wrong cup.”
“Damn, that sucks,” Victoria said taking more vodka from Michael.
“So what did he do when he found out?” Grace asked.
“Got his men together and went to take out the men who were hired to kill him along with the head of the family who orchestrated it. Was a total blood bath. Records say he survived to make it home, but that was it. Died shortly after from several knife wounds.”
“Total badass,” David said.
“So what? Do they haunt this house now or something?” Terri asked.
“Not the brother, at least no one thinks; no one’s ever seen him. Only a really tall man who they assume must be Nicolas.” David said. “Grandpa said they’d call him the Shadow Man. Said he would see him when he was a kid while playing on the stairs.”
“So after Nicolas died what happened?” Grace asked.
“House was put up for sale. Was vacant for a while until our great grandfather bought it. Don’t know much else. Think the wealth and business got distributed to whatever family was left.” Michael drank the last of his vodka and set it aside.
“How long did your grandpa and his family live here for?” Grace asked.
“Not long, only like ten years. Maybe fifteen,” David said. “Things kinda went down the shitter with the great depression and they decided to live in a smaller home for a bit while renting out the place. Rented it out for a few years, but most people didn’t stick around too long. Too many weird ‘happenings.”
“Oh, like what?” Terri asked.
“Seeing the Shadow Man more often. Things getting thrown around and smashed on their own, walls shaking, doors slamming. Shit like that.” David finished his drink and threw the cup over his shoulder.
“Great. Not like I want to sleep tonight,” Victoria commented.
“Yea right. With the amount of vodka you just drank you’ll be passed out in an hour anyway.” David laughed.
Grace finished off her own drink and suddenly felt energized. She placed her cup to the side and got up. “Come on, let’s explore the house. I want to see it!” She tugged on Michael’s shirt to get him up. He staggered to his feet.
“Yea, me too!” said Terri. She too took one last swig and threw her cup towards the fireplace.
“Whoa there, alright!” Michael said, fumbling for a light.
“You guys go have fun. Me and Vicky are gonna pass.” David laid himself out on the covered floor, his hulking mass covering all off one side. Victoria nodded in agreement, she helped herself again to Michael’s pipe and stash. “Have fun,” she chimed.
***
Grace and Terri followed Michael up the main stair to the second floor, each with a flashlight in hand. The stairs creaked heavily with every step, the wood so aged and worn Grace worried they might fall through. When they made it to the landing, Grace felt a chill run down her arm and whirled around, pointing her light to the hallway to the left. Grace stepped toward the corridor when Michael caught her arm.
“Let’s go down here,” he said, pointing his light down the right side instead. Grace nodded and they went down the hall to the right.
The walls were bare. Each room they came to was empty except for the occasional broken piece of furniture or crumbled portion of ceiling or wall. Dust covered every inch of space. A light wind tugged at them from a room where the window hadn’t been shuttered properly. All was still and empty.
“Wow, you weren’t joking, your dad really cleaned the place out,” said Grace while lifting her light to another bare room with mosaic tile and bent, rusted piping, which she assumed had once been a bathroom.
“Yea, really not much to see,” Michael stated, pointing his light toward the hall. “Let’s check out the rest anyway.”
They went down the opposite hall, past the staircase. Grace paused as a light touch of air gently brushed against her face and neck. She shivered again and followed the two down the left hallway.
The rooms were bare just like the right side. Grace realized all the doors had been taken off their hinges, leaving each room doorless and open. All except for one. At the end of the hall one door remained; a dark, thick-wooded door with a silver knob.
“Okay, there has to be something good in there.” Terri pointed.
“Hope it isn’t locked.” Michael walked over to the door and turned the knob. He pushed on the door, but it didn’t budge.
“Here let me help,” said Grace. She came up beside him and pushed on the door. The door swung open just as she placed her shoulder to it, causin
g them to stumble inside. They stood in the room, their eyes widening.
“Oh, wow,” said Terri behind them, looking in.
The room was impressively large, with a ceiling almost as high as the party room below it. Two tall windows sat opposite the door. Between them, a large bed stood with a canopied roof and dark burgundy drapes. Opposite the bed was a vanity sitting in the corner of the room.
“I thought you said your dad took everything out?” said Terri.
“I guess not,” said Michael, his brows furrowing as he stared at the bed. “Me and Dave have only been here a few times as kids. Dad didn’t really allow us upstairs. Maybe the bed was too heavy or fragile to take out.”
“But then what about this vanity?” Grace stepped over to it and shined her light on the mirror. She could barely make out her figure; her golden brown hair and deep blue shirt looking faded in the mirror‘s dust-coated surface.
“No idea,” Michael said stepping over to it. his blond hair and grey shirt just a blur in the reflection. Neither could make out their faces with the thick dirt covered over it.
Terri went over to the bed and shined her light up at the canopy. “How old do you think it is? It looks ancient.”
“Great observation, Terri,” Michael said while getting closer to the vanity mirror. He wiped at it with his hand to clear some of the dirt and dust away.
“Maybe we can find something else to clean it instead. I don’t think your hand will be very efficient,” commented Grace.
“It’s fine, I got hand sanitizer back in my—”
They both jumped and whirled around, Grace let out a short gasp. Terri jumped as well from their sudden reaction.
“What? What is it?” Terri said nervously.
“A figure... in the mirror. We saw his reflection behind you,” Grace said looking back at the now partially cleaned mirror.
“Oh fuck, seriously?” Terri whispered turning around to point her flashlight near the opposite side of the bed. No ones there, but Grace knew she had seen him. An elegantly dressed man with piercing green eyes.
“Well, that’s enough for me then, I’m going back downstairs.” Terri rushed out of the room and down the hall.