“Yeah, I’m ok,” Jess said, sitting up. She looked at her elbow, it was sore from knocking it on the floor. Her hand also hurt from where Bella had scratched her. It was not like Bella to be so aggressive, but then again, she had never moved house. “That’s it, I want to get rid of this stupid rug now,” Jess said. It was easier to blame the rug than to discuss Bella’s aggression. “Who would put a rug in a kitchen anyway? It’s most unsanitary. I don’t care if the floor is bare underneath.”
Jess started to roll up the rug, causing a cloud of dust to rise up over the room. She coughed as she worked. Mickey helped her roll it up. They then opened the back door and put it in the back garden.
“I think I had better sweep this up before dinner,” Jess said. She got a brush and dustpan out and started to sweep the floor. It wasn’t concrete like she had expected from a relatively modern house, it was wooden. She was pleased, this meant they might be able to polish up the floor rather than lay a whole new one. As she swept she noticed a gap in the floor, she followed it along, it was a straight line that went into a right angle. She followed it around and saw it made a square. Then she found a metal handle in the middle.
“You won’t believe this,” Jess said to Mickey who was cooking dinner with his back turned to her. “-But I think I’ve found a door or a cupboard or… something.” Mickey turned to look. He took out his phone, held it up and filmed Jess as she examined the floor. It was a door of about two feet wide each way. Jess lifted up the handle and pulled it. It was locked.
“What do you think it is?” Jess said.
“It must be a cellar, of some kind of underground storage at the very least. I can’t believe this wasn’t picked up by the surveyors, what on earth did we pay them for?” Mickey said. “Here, let me try.” He grabbed hold of the handle and tried to pull it up, but to no avail.
“But this is good, isn’t it?” Jess said. “Whatever it is could add value to the home?”
“That set of keys, have you got them?” Mickey said. Jess handed them to him. He tried each one in turn. “It’s no good, there isn’t one which fits.” Jess was secretly glad. She looked down at the trap door. She really didn’t like the idea that there could be a secret room beneath their feet.
Prying Eyes
The sound of a child laughing can be heard in the distance. She opens her eyes and feels beside her, but she is alone in bed. She gets up and looks around. The room is dark. She feels for a light switch. She can’t find one. She calls out but no sound comes out. The child’s laughter gets louder and louder and louder…
“Jess, can you go sort out your bloody cat!” Jess was woken from her weird dream by Mickey hitting her with a pillow. She looked up at the textured ceiling above her. It took her a minute to work out where she was. She could hear Bella meowing downstairs. Jess got up. The carpeted floor felt rough beneath her bare feet.
“I’ll go and see her,” Jess went into the hallway and felt for the bannister. She found it and started to descend the staircase. “Bella?” she called out. She carried on meowing. Jess’ eyes adjusted to the dark. Outside the wind was howling, but the street was quiet. Jess was too used to the bright lights of Camden and the sound of cars and buses even in the middle of the night. She got to the living room. She felt for the light switch. She found it and turned it on but nothing happened. “Bella? Where are you?” Jess was regretting that they had left the cat carrier open last night. Bella was obviously not ready. Jess looked around the living room. She couldn’t see her. The door to the kitchen was ajar. She pushed the door open further and looked inside. She could see a small shadow in the corner, near the back door.
“Bella?” Jess said. The shadow moved. Jess heard a meow, but it came from behind her. Jess turned around and saw Bella stood behind her in the living room. She turned back to look to the back door, but the shadow wasn’t there. She shut the kitchen door behind her and ran back upstairs to the warmth of her bed.
The next morning Jess awoke, and groaned when she realised where she was. She put her hand out and felt for Mickey, but he wasn’t there. She reached and grabbed her phone from the bedside table. It was 8:20, Mickey had long left to get to his job. He was a car mechanic working in Enfield. This house was closer to his work than the Camden flat, but he still left early. Jess cursed him for not waking her up. He probably thought he was doing her a favour letting her sleep in, but she needed to get up and write. She also wanted to start work on the house. She hadn’t felt clean since they had moved in. Jess got up and wrapped a dressing gown around her. She went downstairs. She went into the living room. Then she heard a noise behind her on the staircase, like something bouncing down it. She turned around and went back to the hallway. There was a small ball on the floor, that rolled towards Jess’ feet. She bent down and picked it up. It was small and blue and made of rubber. It was a child’s toy. Jess looked up stairs. She must have knocked it when she was coming downstairs, there was no way it rolled down by itself. Jess went into the living room and put it on top of the fireplace. It was too early in the morning to think. Jess went into the kitchen and made herself a coffee. It was eerily quiet. As she was stirring her coffee there was a loud bang behind her. She swung around and looked at the double doors leading to the garden. There was a dusty mark on the glass where a bird had flown into it. She looked outside. On the ground was a blackbird. It was on its side, stunned. It then started to twitch. Jess opened the back door to the kitchen and went to it. As she did so Bella ran out of the door.
“Bella!” Jess called after her. She ran out into the garden but Bella was too fast. She picked up the blackbird in her mouth and ran. She jumped over the fence and into next doors garden. Jess looked through the gap in the fence she had looked through the day before. The woman wasn’t there. But the back door to the house was open. She saw Bella on the patio, playing with the bird. She dropped it and pawed it as it twitched and distorted. It then tried to fly. It zig-zagged a few feet above the patio before flying inside the house. Bella ran after it. “Bella,” Jess called. “Come back here.” Bella didn’t come out. As Jess was leaning against the fence she felt it move with her weight. The fence panel was broken and easy to move. She pushed it. It made a gap of about two feet wide. Jess got onto the floor and crawled through the gap, ignoring the fact she was barefoot and wearing her dressing gown.
Once in the garden she looked around. There were terracotta plant pots everywhere, mostly containing dead or dying plants. There were bird feeders hanging off of a leafless tree. A wind chime moved with the wind. Underneath it were two garden gnomes with grins and beady eyes. Jess looked to the house. The double doors were still open.
“Bella?” Jess whispered again. She walked up to the back door and peered inside. Staring back at her was the old woman. Jess jumped back in surprise, not sure what to say. The woman was holding Bella, who was happily lying in her arms, nuzzled into her chest. At her feet was the blackbird, its wings outstretched, a few spots of blood next to its beak. Its eyes were open and staring. It was dead. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to trespass, I was just looking for my cat.”
“Don’t worry dear,” I understand, she said, giving a smile showing a missing tooth. The woman was in her seventies or so, and dressed in a skirt and cardigan which looked like she had owned for many years. She was waiflike in her figure and looked like she barely had the strength to lift the cat. “I am guessing you are my new neighbour?”
“Yes,” Jess said. “I must apologise, I normally get dressed before leaving the house.”
“Don’t apologise at all, in fact, why don’t you get dressed and join me for a cup of tea?” She spoke in a way that sounded insistent, rather than a question. She kept hold of the cat, walked back inside the house. Jess stood there for a moment unsure what to do next. She looked around the garden. She saw an empty fertiliser bag near the plant pots. She retrieved it and used it to pick up the dead bird off of the woman’s carpet. She took it outside and placed it in a dustbin. Je
ss was surprised at the woman’s boldness, but knew she had to get Bella back. She went into the garden and crawled back through the gap in the fence. She put some clothes on and headed back out, but this time through the front door. She headed to the house next door. She stood on the porch and rung the bell. It rang with a jangly tune. Eventually the woman opened the door and invited Jess in. It was exactly the same layout as her and Mickey’s house. But this house was full of bookcases and seats and pictures. It smelt like lavender. The woman showed Jess into her front room where there was a pot of tea and ginger biscuits waiting. Jess took a seat on a green armchair with lace covers over the arm rests.
“So, you’ve moved into Magnolia House I see. Do you take sugar?” She said, as she poured a cup of tea with her shaking hands. Jess was busy looking around the room. It was full of hard back books and white china ornaments. Bella was sleeping peacefully in a corner, on a blanket.
“Yes, I suppose I am. Oh and no sugar thank you. I’m Jess by the way.”
“Yes, I know dear. I’m Francesca Hobbs,” she said, passing her a cup of tea on a dainty saucer.
“Thank you for having me round Mrs Hobbs,” Jess said. “-And sorry again for coming into your garden unannounced.”
“That is quite alright dear. Your little Bella seemed to have had a fright. She is quite welcome to come to my house whenever she wants.
“She hasn’t liked the move,” Jess said, looking to Bella who was now sleeping so peacefully. “So have you lived here long?”
“Over forty years now, since they were built,” Mrs Hobbs said.
“So you must know the people who lived there before us then?” Jess said.
“Yes I did,” Mrs Hobbs said.
“We never met who sold us the house, why did they move?” Jess said. Mrs Hobbs was sipping her tea and didn’t answer for a moment.
“The house has been empty for many years, the owners moved out in the 1970’s and left it vacant. It was only put up for sale when the owner died last year.”
“So who were the owners?” Jess said. “Can you tell me about them?”
“I’d rather hear all about you Dear. I don’t get to meet new people very often.” Jess obliged and told Mrs Hobbs all about her recent years. How she had graduated from Brighton University with a degree in Literature. After graduating she had moved to Camden to be with her partner who ran a car mechanics. She was determined to be a freelance writer and write articles. But she was still waiting for her first break. They talked for so long it was soon almost midday. Mrs Hobbs stood up as a sign they were reaching the end of their conversation.
“We will have to do this again Jessica, it has been lovely to meet you.” Mrs Hobbs said. Jess went over to Bella who was sound asleep. She went to pick her up but Bella turned away and snuggled up to the blanket. “She can stay with me for a few days if you wish. She will probably be happier once you have unpacked and it will smell of your home again.” Jess stood up. She was right. If Bella was happy then this was the best place for her. As she stood up she noticed an old black and white picture on the wall. It was of Mrs Hobbs house and Jess’s house next door. The houses were both neat and tidy and freshly painted. Standing outside was a younger Mrs Hobbs. She was still bird like in stature but more upright. She was dressed in a smart suit and stood next to a woman of a similar age. They were laughing together. The other woman had a small child next to her and was holding her hand. “Would you like me to look after her?”
“Oh sorry, I drifted off,” Jess said. “No that is too much to ask.”
“Building work can be dangerous for a cat, much safer for her here. You can come and visit and have her back whenever you want.” Jess thought about it, perhaps it was the safest place for Bella to be for a few days. Mrs Hobbs seemed very nice.
“Well if you don’t mind. But only for a few days whilst we settle in. I’ll pop round her food and bowls this evening.” Mrs Hobbs walked Jess to the door. Jess said her thanks and her goodbyes. She took one last glance at Bella who was now back fast asleep, and headed home.
It was strange for Jess being back in a quiet, empty home. She missed knowing Jess was there. She set herself to work instead, and started tidying the house. She got the vacuum cleaner out and vacuumed all of downstairs. There was so much dust she filled up a whole hoover bag. She went upstairs. She vacuumed two of the bedrooms. She was working in the third one when she heard a knocking sound. She turned it off and listened. There was nothing. She turned the vacuum cleaner on again. She finished the bedroom and started on the hallway. Then she heard the knocking sound again, but clearer. It was coming from the bedroom. She turned off the vacuum cleaner and listened out. It was coming from above her. She looked up. She knew there was an attic here, but they hadn’t looked in it yet. There could be rats up there. Jess looked in the hallway but there wasn’t a hatch. She went into the bedroom and looked up. There was a hatch in the corner of the room. She went downstairs and got a chair from their kitchen. She carried it upstairs and put it on the floor. She stood on it and pushed the hatch. It was locked. She remembered the keys they had been given. She went back downstairs and into the kitchen. They were on the table. She picked them up and went back upstairs. One of the keys worked. She unlocked the hatch and pushed it open. Dust and loft insulation showered onto her. She shook it off her hair. She reached inside and grabbed onto a wooden board. It felt sturdy. She pulled herself up a bit and looked inside. She saw a pair of eyes staring back at her.
Revelations
Jess stepped backwards, forgetting she was stood on a chair. She fell backwards and closed her eyes, bracing herself for hitting the floor and injuring herself. Instead she landed on the bed. She hit the mattress, and fell without pain. She stood up ready to face whoever or whatever was in the attic. It must be a rat, it couldn’t be a person, could it? She looked around the room for something to use to protect herself. She saw an open cardboard box beside her. She looked inside at the clothes and shoes in there, throwing out items which weren’t suitable. She selected a stone dolphin ornament. She stood up and climbed on to the chair again. Her legs wobbled, nervous of falling and nervous of seeing who the eyes in the attic belonged to. She pushed open the attic hatch again, where it had fallen closed. She looked inside. Instantly she met those eyes again. But this time she did not back away. She raised her arm in the air, and bought the ornament down, ready to hit whatever it was that was staring at her. She paused just in time. It was just a doll. It was old, made of porcelain rather than plastic. Its brown hair had clumps missing. Jess took the doll out of the attic. It was a girl. Her blue eyes were looking in different directions. She was wearing a dress which had holes in from moths. Jess chucked the doll on the floor. She laughed out loud at being so scared of a doll. She climbed back onto the chair and took her phone out of her pocket, shining her light around the attic. It was empty except for spider’s webs and bricks. How strange that the only item up there was a doll?
Jess shut the attic and picked the doll off of the floor. She walked downstairs and through the kitchen. She headed outside to the dustbin and opened it. She paused for a second, feeling a pang of guilt. Maybe she shouldn’t throw away the doll? It was once someone’s toy. As she was thinking she noticed something moving behind the doll’s eyes. It could be an insect. Jess dropped the doll in the dustbin and put the lid on it.
The next morning Jess was awake, dressed and at her desk by nine. She was on her laptop trying to send articles to newspapers and magazines. It wasn’t the same without Bella sitting by her feet. Jess looked out of the window at Mrs Hobbs’ house next door. She imagined the old lady sitting there, stroking Bella. What on earth possessed her to let that strange woman look after her cat? It had seemed a good idea at the time, but now she wasn’t so sure leaving her pet with a stranger had been a good idea. She was leaning back when she felt something come into contact with her foot. She looked down. It was the bouncy ball she had found the other day. How on earth was it now in h
er study? Jess realised she had been moving so many things around the house the past couple of days, she had most likely bought it upstairs by mistake.
Jess couldn’t concentrate. She decided to stop working and to clean the study. Perhaps when it was looking more modern she would feel more like working. She looked at the wooden cladding around the room. Who on earth thought that would be a good idea? She went downstairs and got a toolbox out. She took it upstairs and set to work removing the cladding. She forced it off, piece by piece, paying no thought to the wall behind. It took a while, but she eventually managed to strip one wall of the wood. She sat on the floor and surveyed her work. She looked at the bare walls behind. They had the remains of a white wallpaper decorated with pink and blue flowers. She noticed there were drawings on the wallpaper in a crayon, like a child had been naughty and scrawled on the paper. Jess got closer and had a look. She could make out scribbles but couldn’t see what they were. This looked like a room that had once belonged to a child. As Jess sat on the floor, she heard a noise coming from downstairs. It sounded like a child crying. Jess went to the hallway and look down. There was nothing there. She went back to the bedroom and looked outside the window. She could see a woman pushing a buggy in the distance. The noise must have been from outside.
Haunted House Tales Page 25