Haunted House Tales

by Riley Amitrani

  “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. If I could just come in for a minute to take Bella, and I can put these in some water for you.” Jess stepped forward. But Mrs Hobbs pushed the door closed.

  “Sorry Dear, but not today.” She shut the door and locked it behind her. Jess stood on the doorstep, bemused. She wasn't sure whether to be angry that she wouldn’t let her in, or frightened that she couldn’t get Bella back.

  The next day Mrs Hobbs hadn’t answered any of her phone calls. Or the next. She tried the front door and there was no answer. It was Saturday and Mickey was off work. Instead of doing any of the jobs around the house, he insisted that he wanted to spend the day in the garage, sorting out his tools and making shelving. They had agreed that the garage would be his man cave, but Jess was peeved that he had prioritised making his space habitable over the rest of the house.

  It was only half ten. Jess needed to distract herself. She decided she needed to try and get some work done. She had put it off long enough. She had not even set foot into the second bedroom for a couple of days. She made herself a cup of tea and went upstairs. She opened the door and was shocked at what she saw. Her freshly painted walls were again covered in crayon scrawls. The walls were covered in them from floor to ceiling. If that wasn’t bad enough her desk was covered in crayon as well. In the corner of the room was the doll. It was facing her. Its eyes were looking in her direction, its face in its perverse grin. Jess put her cup of tea down on the desk and stormed downstairs. She marched out into the garden and went to the back door of the garage. It was locked.

  “Mickey! Why the hell have you got the door locked, I need to speak to you.” She pounded on the door.

  “Hang on,” Mickey said from the other side. He opened the door and stepped out. “Sorry, I have lots of sharp tools out, I didn’t want you to run in and hurt yourself.”

  “My study,” Jess said. “Have you scribbled on the walls?”

  “No. What do you mean? Why would I do that?”

  Jess marched back into the house and up to the study, Mickey following. “There, is this some kind of joke? Because I’m not painting these walls again. You can.”

  “I didn’t do it,” Mickey said. He stepped into the room, camera in hand. He looked around it. “Have you been sleepwalking or something?”

  “No. I haven’t been sleepwalking. Since when do I sleepwalk?” Jess said.

  “This is getting weird now. The scribbles on the walls, the trap door shutting suddenly. The doll. Maybe we should…” his voice trailed off.

  “Maybe we should what? Invite Most Haunted round to have a look? Or what about a Priest to perform an exorcism.”

  “If that is what it takes to reassure you that this place isn’t haunted, then yes.” Mickey said. “That isn’t a bad idea Jess. See if this place has got something spooky going on.”

  “That is rubbish and you know it. Forget your stupid garage. You’re painting this study.” Jess stormed downstairs and headed out of the house. She got to the end of the road, then really regretted not picking up a jacket. She crossed her arms around her. She needed some time away from the house. From Mickey. She hadn’t even picked up her purse, just her keys. So all she could do was walk. She walked and walked through endless streets of near identical houses. As she was walking she passed a primary school. Something caught her eye there. The primary school was an old red brick building. It had a pointed roof and long ached windows. She crossed the road to look at it. The Old School House the sign outside said. Jess noticed hanging baskets outside and pictures on the windowsill. It was no longer a school, it was a home. The wrought iron gate was still there. She looked in the garden which would once have been the school playground. She noticed a statue in the garden. It was of a girl. She was holding a doll. Jess could see there was a plaque below it. She reached her hand in through a gap in the gate and wiped the moss off of it. Sarah Summers, Forever Young. Jess looked at the statue of the girl. She looked like she was five or six years old. She was so busy staring that she didn’t notice a man open the front door and come outside.

  “Sad, isn’t it?” The man said. Jess turned and looked to him. He was in his sixties, wearing trousers with braces. He was holding a cup of coffee. He held it out to her. “Here would you like one?”

  The living room of The Old School House was double height, with the ceiling exposed high above. Even with the soft rugs, shelves of hard backed books and soft furnishings there was a coldness to the room which was evident as their voices echoed around.

  “I get a lot of architecture enthusiasts coming here,” the man said. “I like to invite them in to see the inside of the house. Especially since my Maud died, it’s good to have the company.” Jess sipped her coffee.

  “It certainly is a beautiful home you have here,” Jess said.

  “Thank you. My children used to go to school here. When it closed and the chance came to buy it, I couldn’t resist.”

  “The statue outside, can I ask about it?” Jess said.

  “Sarah. Poor little girl. One day she just disappeared. Her parents were getting ready to go out and Sarah was playing downstairs. But when Evelyn, the mother went to say goodbye to her she wasn’t there and the front door was wide open. They didn’t know if she had been abducted or if she had ran away. But she was never found again.

  “Really? Where did she live?”

  “Close to here. In a house at the end of a street which backs off onto the railway line. I think it was called Magnolia House.”

  Intervention

  Jess felt her coffee catch in her throat. She started coughing, drink came out of her mouth. The man passed her a napkin. She regained composure. “I’m sorry, I think I have to go. It was nice meeting you.” Jess stood up and headed out of the door. She looked once again at the statue as she ran past it. She noticed the doll the girl was holding. It looked like the doll she had found in the attic. The eyes of the doll statue seemed to follow her as she ran past. She started to run back home. She was confused and frightened at what she had just heard. She had pushed the argument with Mickey out of her mind. As she was almost home she had an idea. Instead of turning up the drive to her home, she headed next door to Mrs Hobbs house. She knocked on the door hard, the sound echoed around the hallway inside.

  “Jess is that you?” She heard a voice say from inside.

  “Yes, can you let me in please?” Jess shouted.

  Mrs Hobbs opened the door a crack. “Now isn’t a good time dear.” She said. Jess pushed the door open and walked past her.

  “That’s ok. I’ll only take a minute of your time.” She went and sat down in the living room. Instantly Bella jumped up onto her lap. Jess hadn’t even seen Bella was in there. She wrapped her arms around her and luxuriated in the warmth she emitted. Mrs Hobbs came into the room and sat down.

  “I suppose you are here to take your cat back. It’s a shame really, I think I should keep her a bit longer, until you are really settled in.”

  “Why do you want to keep Bella? Are you lonely, or are you trying to protect her?” Jess held Bella close, wary that Mrs Hobbs was more foe than friend. “What is wrong with the house that you aren’t telling me?”

  “I knew this day would come. Tea. I think we need tea.” Mr Hobbs got up to leave the room. Jess softened, she was an elderly lady, not a predator. Jess was unsure what she was so worried about. It wasn’t like Mrs Hobbs was keeping Bella hostage, she was probably just lonely. She came back in holding a tea tray that rattled as she walked. Jess jumped up and helped her set the tea set down. After pouring them both a drink she sat back down and looked to Mrs Hobbs.

  “A long, long time ago a woman lived at the house you are in now. She had a daughter, Sarah.”

  “The girl whose statue is outside of the school?” Jess said. Mrs Hobbs nodded.

  “She was a lovely girl. Beautiful. She was young for her age but very sweet. But her Mother Evelyn, she was spoilt. Too preoccupied in her own social life
to realise what a wonderful daughter she had been blessed with. One night, Evelyn was getting ready to go out. Sarah was playing downstairs, or so they thought. When Evelyn came downstairs to say goodbye, the girl wasn’t there. The front door was wide open. No one knew if the girl had left the house by herself, or if someone had come in and snatched her. The little girl had just disappeared. We all helped search for her, all of the neighbours. But we couldn’t find her. The police questioned the parents, but decided they were innocent. Evelyn and her husband lived in the house for a year or so after. But then they couldn’t cope anymore. They moved out, and the house has been empty ever since. Except….” Her voice trailed off. She took a sip of tea.

  “Except what?” Jess said.

  “Except even though the house has been empty for years, it hasn’t been. I have heard noises several times. I hear someone running up and down the stairs. A child’s laughter. It is like the girl never left. Sometimes I hear her crying and crying. Like she had been left all alone. Over the years it has gotten worse and worse. When I saw that the house had been sold, I didn’t know what to think. I was worried. Have you heard anything?”

  Jess thought about the crayon marks on the walls, the hidden cellar she didn’t know existed, the sound of steps in the attic, and most frighteningly, the creepy doll she had discovered. Sarah’s doll.

  “No. I haven’t. I’ve heard nothing. Haunted houses and ghosts don’t exist. I think the noises must be your imagination. As sad as it is that the girl has diapered, I think you want to keep the memory of her alive. She is gone.” Jess said the words so convincingly, she almost convinced herself. She stood up and held Bella close to her. “I’m going now, and I’m taking Bella with me. Thank you for looking after her.” Mrs Hobbs stood up, so suddenly that it surprised Jess. She grabbed hold of Jess’ sleeve.

  “Please leave Bella here with me. I don’t think the house is a safe place for a cat. Sarah’s spirit is still there. She is angry and she is bitter and she vengeful. She’s a little girl who has waited for her Mummy to come home for forty years.” Jess shook Mrs Hobbs off of her. She fell back into her chair. Jess felt a twinge of guilt, but also felt frightened for herself. She wanted to get home and pretend that the whole day hadn’t happened. She headed out into the hallway and out the front door. She ran to her home and banged on the door. Mickey opened the door to find Jess hysterically crying into Bella.

  “What on earth is wrong? Here, come inside.”

  After a long bath and a cup of coffee Jess felt much better. She decided that the best course of action was to not spend any more time talking to the locals. She sat in the living room with Bella sitting purring on her lap. Mickey was outside in the garage. Jess had needed time to think. Jess was surprised when he came into the living room and sat with her.

  “How are you feeling now Jess? Ready to talk?” He said. Jess nodded. She told him all about the events of the day, the people she had met and what they said. At the end of her story Mickey sat in silence. Then he started laughing uncontrollably.

  “That is quite the story… you don’t believe them, do you?” He said.

  “I just don’t know. I don’t believe in ghosts. They’re not real. But there has been a lot of strange things going on in this house. I mean the secret cellar for one thing.”

  “Yes, the cellar was a surprise, but it doesn’t mean the house is haunted.”

  “And the doll, I mean, how on earth did Mrs Hobbs know there was a doll here? That doll is so creepy. And I heard footsteps the other day… maybe the house really is… haunted.” Jess said the last words in a whisper, as if saying them too loud would mean that it was really true. Mickey sat quietly for a second.

  “Well, you did have an idea earlier.” He ran his hand through his hair.

  “What? Jess said.” Whatever it is, let’s do it. I can’t stand being unsettled like this. This is supposed to be our home.”

  “We could get someone in to hold a séance, like in the films. I met this bloke at work the other week. He does it for a living I thought he was having me on at first, but when he showed me videos on his phone of the ghost hunts. He could come into the house and like, y’know speak to the girl and ask her to quieten down a bit.” Jess sat quietly for a minute. This wasn’t what she had hoped for when they had looked into buying a house.

  “I think we should do it. Make the call.”

  Is There Anybody There?

  They heard someone knock at the door, three times. Between each knock was a long pause, which would be comical if it wasn’t for how frightened Jess was feeling. She went up to the door and opened it slowly. The man on the doorstep was wearing a fedora and a trench coat. He looked like a spy in an old comedy film, trying to blend in with his surroundings and failing.

  “Are you the woman who wanted an exorcism?” He said as she opened the door.

  “Yes, I suppose I am,” Jess said. He stepped in without waiting to be invited. He looked around the hallway as he went. He then stepped into the living room and looked around, examining the ceiling and the floor, and running his hand across the walls. He then went into the kitchen.

  “Her presence is strongest in here. This is where we shall conduct. I will need time to set up.” Jess sat in the living room, feeling like an outsider in her own home. She watched as he made a circle with chalk on the floor. He took the doll and placed her in the middle of the circle. He lit a candle and started chanting. He was in his twenties and wore an earring that glistened in the candle light. He waved Jess into the room. Mickey came in from the garage. “Sit,” he said. Jess and Mickey obeyed and sat cross legged on the floor, facing each other and forming a triangle.

  “Jess, I need you to repeat after me.” The man said. “If there is anyone in this place.”

  “If there is anyone in this place.” Jess repeated, feeling rather silly.

  “Make your presence known to me.”

  “Make your presence known to me.”

  “Show yourself to me.”

  “Show yourself to me.”

  “And I will set you free.”

  “And I will set you free.”

  “You don’t have to repeat after me now, I will take control.” He paused. “If you are here, then knock three times.” They sat in silence for a minute. And then Jess heard a knocking sound, coming from the cellar. She was shocked. She tried to let go of Mickeys and the man’s hands, but they held tight.

  “You have to hold on! If not, it won’t work!” The man said. She felt sick. He continued. “Sarah, you need to leave this place. We know that you were lost. We know that something happened to you. But you cannot live here anymore. Do you understand? Knock once for yes, twice for no.” There was a knock.

  “Sarah, do you agree to leave this place?” Knock once for yes, twice for no. There was a knock. Jess felt sick. How could this be happening? How could they be communicating with the dead?

  “Sarah I am going to count to three, and when I have blown out this candle, I want you to be gone. One… two…. three.” He blew out the candle. They sat in stunned silence for a minute. Then Jess got up. She went over to the fridge and got out a bottle of wine. She poured herself a giant glass. Mickey got up and put his arms around her.

  “I’ll let myself out. My job is done.” The man said. He collected his things and left. Jess was still stood at the sink. “The spirit is gone, she will no longer be a problem.” She heard the man leave.

  “Jess, it’s done now. Whatever was in this house is gone. We can start a new life together now, you see. I’ll just have to go outside and pay him” Mickey left her. She downed her glass of wine and poured another. She went into the living room and peeked outside. Mickey was talking to the man. He had taken off his fedora and was holding it. He was laughing. They were looking at something on Mickey’s phone. Something wasn’t right. Mickey had claimed that he was just a customer but they were acting as if they knew each other well. The man left and Mickey waved goodbye. Jess
stopped watching and sat on the sofa.

  “Are you ok Jess?” Mickey said as he came in. His face switched to a look of concern.

  “I’m ok. I think I just need some time by myself to have a rest.”

  “Is it ok with you if I go outside to the garage? I just want to tidy away a few things before I go to bed.”

  “Of course,” Jess said. Bella jumped up onto her lap. She sat and stroked Bella as Mickey went outside. She couldn’t help but think he was hiding something.

  It was a good two hours later before Mickey came into the house. Jess was in bed. The lights were off but she was wide awake. She heard him shut the door behind him. He crept up the stairs and got undressed in the dark before slowly climbing into bed to avoid waking her. He wrapped an arm around her. It was cold from being outside. Jess didn’t respond, she just concentrated on pretending she was asleep. It took what felt like ages for Mickey to fall asleep. For his arm to become heavy, his breath to become louder and to slow down. But still Jess waited. She wanted to be really sure he was out. Eventually she creeped out of bed. She crept around the bed to his discarded jeans on the floor and took out his set of keys. She then crept downstairs, picked up a jacket and put it on over her pyjamas. She put on a pair of trainers then went out the back door.

  She went to the side door of the garage. She tried the keys one by one. She realised that she had never been in the garage since she had moved in. It was Mickey’s space. She had felt no need to go there until tonight. She unlocked the door. She felt around on the wall until she found the light switch. A solitary lightbulb flickered into life. When the light came on she gasped.

  She was expecting tools, the lawnmower and car parts. What she found was different. There were pin boards on every wall. They had pictures on, newspaper cuttings, screenshots, notes. Jess went over to a pin board and examined a newspaper cutting. Anniversary of missing girl. Candlelight vigil held in her honour. She looked at a pamphlet pinned up next to it. Haunted London: Your Definitive Guide. There were photographs on the walls of their house, of her study and the crayon marks on the walls. Underneath a pin board was a desk with a computer on it. Jess didn’t even know that Mickey owned a computer. The light on the computer was on, but the screen was off. Jess clicked the mouse and the screen lit up. The computer was locked. She sat at the desk and clicked in the password bar. She didn’t know his password. She tried his birthday, then her birthday. It wasn’t either. She tried the names of his favourite cars. They she noticed a little red notebook next to the computer. It wouldn’t be that easy, would it? She opened it up. It was more notes about the house. She found a scrawl in the back ViperSR1. She typed it in. It was his password. The computer started to load up and made a loading noise which made her jump. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for. She found lots of files saved. All to do with the house. They were password protected. She opened the internet browser and looked through the history. He had been on YouTube a lot. He was already signed in. She could see that he had a series of videos saved which he had not uploaded. She clicked on it.