I put on a show for the boys and it seemed that they didn’t know any better. Logan was doing fine but Lucas was always a struggle when Jacob stayed overnight. He was already asking when was Daddy coming back. Will he be there to tuck me in tonight? I tried to explain over and over again but he just couldn’t seem to grasp the concept that Daddy would not be coming home tonight or even tomorrow night for that matter.
We ate our cardboard like frozen pizza in mostly silence. The news was on the living room television in the background. I found that having the television on helped when dealing with loneliness. The illusion of company I guess.
It was spring but the weather still had not begun to warm up significantly. Most days were still in the high seventies, some even in the high sixties. Normally, I would have the windows open in the living room and the back of the house to create a nice cross breeze. It filled the house with the smell of the woods and also it cooled the house down quite a bit. Not today though. There was no way I was having any windows open. All the doors were locked as well including the deadbolt on the front door.
The boys scarfed down their pizza and were asking to be excused after only a few minutes of sitting at the table. I didn’t have the energy to fight them tonight so off they went to what looked like downstairs to play some new videogame that they’re into.( I had told them not to go outside and play until Daddy comes back home. )
I sat there at the table staring at the television not even really paying attention. There was some bank robbery about fifteen miles from here in some part of Carolsburg I’d never been too. As I sat my thoughts kept wandering back to my nightmares, to the times that I woke in the middle of the night, to the gut wrenching feelings I got when walking the halls at night.
--
It was nine at night and the boys were in their bedroom, hopefully asleep by now. Lucas was a chore to put to bed. Jacob usually read him a story every night before bed. I tried my best to read one of his favorites but it was either my weariness or the fact that I was not daddy, but Lucas was not having any of it. I gave up after a few tries, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and told him to sleep well. Logan was already practically asleep before I left the room and turned off the light.
I sat in bed with my back against the headboard. I was unable to sleep, unable to do much of anything. My mind was racing. This was the time of day that I feared most. When the light of the day was gone and darkness had taken its place. I scooted down the headboard of the bed and lowered myself into the bed hoping that I would be able to sleep.
An hour passed and there I lay staring at the ceiling with a small sense of fear tingling through my body. Nothing had happened and nothing had changed. I just laid there staring. After another half-hour passed I got fed-up with it all and left the bedroom.
I checked on the boys and they both seemed to be passed out on their beds. There were no issues. I was envious of their restful sleep. I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Once there I pulled out one of the kitchen stools and placed it in front of the refrigerator and climbed up top. There was something that I needed in the cabinet above of the refrigerator.
A moment later I had it. I climbed down the stool holding onto the bottle carefully. There was a dirty cup sitting out on the counter but I didn’t care. I pulled the cup forward, opened the bottle of brandy, and poured about three or four shots into the glass. (We kept all of the liquor above the fridge so the boys wouldn’t be tempted.) I threw some ice cubes in for good measure and took a sip. It had the bitter taste that I expected but also had the sweet sugary taste of aged brandy. If this wouldn’t help me sleep I don’t know what would.
I staggered over to my computer in the kitchen and fired it up. I’ll get some writing done as I drink. I might as well be productive as I give the brandy some time to take hold and then I’ll go to sleep.
Chapter 16
It was ten o’clock and I was sitting at my kitchen table with a book in my hand to help pass the time. It was one of those historical mystery novels that were popular a few years back. Every few pages that I read I would look away from the book and casually glance over to my family’s house. All I could think about was tonight’s visit, about approaching Hazel, and finally getting to admire her up close.
It was typically lights out at their house just before ten, closer to eleven or midnight on weekend nights. That was not the case for tonight. For about an hour all lights were out throughout the house but then a little while after ten I noticed the kitchen light flick on.
There she was. Hazel’s silhouette greeted me from afar. The light was rather dim and I could barely see her. I could not tell what she was wearing but I could see her shape, her hair, and her outline.
Once she turned the light on she just kind of stood there for a moment not really doing anything. Almost as if she was in some kind of trance or contemplating her next move. After a minute or two she seemed to snap out of it and dragged one of their stools over to the refrigerator and climbed atop. A moment later she had retrieved what she was looking for. I couldn’t quite make out what she had her in hand but to me it looked like some kind of glass bottle, liquor most likely.
I watched as she poured herself a glass of liquor. I watched as she staggered over to the light and flicked it off. I lost track of her for a second in the darkness but then her computer fired up and I could see the dim glow of the monitor reflecting against her.
I took a sip of my coffee and started back on my book. I could wait all night for her to drift to sleep if I had too. I was seeing her tonight and there was nothing that could stop me.
--
One thirty in the morning. That was the time when I noticed the computer screen was no longer glowing. I had gone through few hundred pages of my book and must have had at least four cups of coffee waiting for her to sleep. Now was the time to act. The world was quiet and their house was quieter still.
I slid open my porch door with ease and made my way over to their house. I reached their porch back door with surprising speed. I whipped out my key chain, found the match, and slowly opened their back door and stepped in.
Most everything looked as it always did. The usual papers scattered across the kitchen table, a few dishes here and there cluttering the counter, and a rather large superhero action figure strategically placed right to the side of the back door almost as if it was guarding from unwanted intruders.
I glanced to the right of the patio door hoping to find my shoes, but they were not there. The whole section of floor was blank. There was just hardwood, nothing else. I wasn’t too concerned though. After all, if they really suspected something I wouldn’t have been able to get in the door tonight.
There was one thing that caught my eye. There was a calendar just to the right of their refrigerator hanging above their coffee maker. On the calendar there were two dates circled in red and just to the side of that red was some text that said, 'Jacob Business Trip - back Thursday afternoon.’ So it was true. Jacob was really gone. I had my new family all to myself. No possible interference. Best of all I had Hazel to myself.
I didn't waste much more time downstairs. I needed to get upstairs and see my Hazel. I climbed the stairs with speed all the while still being as quiet as possible. My target was the end of the hall, the room with the door slightly ajar. It was just barely open but it was enough to allow a little bit of light from the moon and street lights into the hallway in an almost eerie glow.
Before I met Hazel I had to check on the boys. Mostly because I wanted to see them as well, but also to ensure that they were fast asleep. I didn't want them to stumble upon me and Hazel. How awkward would that be?
I twisted the doorknob and swung it open with grace. (I was getting used to this.) There they were, fast sleep; Lucas on top and Logan on the bottom just like last time. Lucas's foot was hanging off the top bunk and looked like it had been wedged therein between the boards but he didn't seem to mind.
I walked into the room and approached their beds. They wer
e definitely asleep, that was for sure. I doubt a tornado ripping out their neighbor's house would even wake them. They were in the sandman's land now and it would take some effort to recover them. I gave them both a kiss on their cheeks and then left the room. It was show time.
The end of the hall beckoned me and I answered it's calling by stepping forward and into the glow of the moonlight that had trickled into the hallway. Before I did anything I put my ear as close to the crack of the door as I could and listened. I listened for anything, for any sign or warning that Hazel might still be awake. Nothing but utter and complete silence greeted me. There was no snoring, no rhythmic breathing, nothing.
I was still debating internally with myself if it was better to swing the door open as fast as I could to minimize hinge squeaking or to open it as slow and steady as I could and avoid the gust of wind that happens when a door is flung open. At this point I decided to use the slow and steady approach. I had never been in Hazel's room before when it was occupied and I needed to be careful.
The door worked its way open and I took my first steps into foreign land. It all looked the same as the other day. The windows with their half open shades shone the moon and streetlight into the room against the yellow painted walls, the night stands were still there cluttered with junk as usual, and the ancient alarm clock that saved me from being caught not too long ago cast a small red glow across Jacob's side of the bed.
I reached Hazel's side of the bed and prepared myself before I looked down. This was my Hazel and she was all mine. No one could separate us. I lowered my gaze towards the bed and there was nothing, just blankets and pillows. Hazel was not there.
--
Where was she? Where could she have gone? The house was dead and empty. There were no lights on. Had she heard me approach? Was she lying in wait waiting for just the right moment to pounce? Why Hazel? Why? I just want to be with you.
I was near panic and didn't know what else to do. I walked back over to the room entrance and flicked on the light switch with a loud thud. The room filled with white and somewhat blinding light. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust but when they did I could clearly see that there was no one here. The room was completely empty. The only place she could be hiding was in the bathroom or in the master closet. The hunt was on.
If she was in here she most definitely knew of my presence by now. The light was on and I was just standing there in the middle of the room with a confused look on my face. I looked like I had just been hit in the head.
The bathroom was the next logical place to look. As I entered the bathroom everything looked just as it had last time, even more so now with the light shining brightly. The shower to the right of the room had its doors closed off but I could tell just by looking that there was no one in side. It had one of those translucent set of glass doors that you couldn't quite see through but you could make out a silhouette.
To the left of the room it was the same story. The sink and counters laid there with their usual assortments of toiletries, towels, and other random things. Although I did notice that Jacob's side of the sink was missing a tube of toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, and his cologne.
The closet door was halfway open. Could she be hiding in here? Had she heard my presence and ran into here to hide before I entered the room? I stood in front of the slightly ajar door contemplating my next move. I didn't want to confront her and scare her. That was not my intention. I just wanted to meet her, to visit with her, to be with her.
The light for the closet was on the outside wall and was already flicked to the on position. My palms were sweating now either from nervousness or excitement, I couldn't tell which. I wiped the sweat from my right hand down the leg of my faded jeans and reached up to push the door open. The door swung open with ease. I was greeted by no one. The closet was empty except for all of the usual assortment of dresses, slacks, dress shirts, and shoes there was nothing. Hazel was not there.
Confused I leaned against Jacob's sink counter for a minute and tried to think where she could be. Where was she hiding? I knew she was here. She wouldn't just leave the boys here by themselves. I HAD to see her tonight. It was our night together rather she liked it or not. There were only a couple nights before Jacob came home. This was my chance.
Obviously, she was not in the master bedroom. I had looked it over thoroughly. The question was where was she? The only other place to check would be downstairs or perhaps in the basement. Well, there was only one way to find out. I left the bathroom and the master bedroom and re-entered the hallway.
--
I had started descending the stairs lost in my own thoughts when I heard it. It was the lightest and smallest noise. You really had to strain your ear to hear it. It took me a moment to even realize what that noise was. It was snoring. It was very quiet and distant, but it was definitely snoring and it was coming from the bottom of the stairs.
I saw her when I reached the last few steps on the stairs. She was just to the right of the stairs fast asleep on the long living room couch. The couch was pushed up against the far living room wall resting right below the large windows that looked onto their stone porch with the metallic table.
In front of the couch there was a rather small coffee table that had a darkish brown, almost black, color to it. Resting on the table was a small empty glass along with a rather large bottle of what looked to be some kind of liquor. (I couldn't read the label as the only light had been coming in from the street.)
The couch was made of leather had a rather ugly dark red color to it. It had definitely seen better days and maybe it looked halfway decent when it was created but now it looked old and the red color looked to be the color of blood.
I had walked right past this couch on my way upstairs. I don't know how I missed her, but there she was sprawled out across the couch with one arm above her head and one leg hanging off the couch. I'm not sure how much she had to drink but it definitely seemed to have an effect. I doubt she was waking up for much anything over the next few hours.
She was just as I had imagined all of these months. Watching from a distance is one thing but being able to be within inches of her face and her body was a whole different experience. The light from the street lamps crept its way through the window and cast an almost heavenly glow to her.
Her hair shone a bright red. There were a few errant strands of hair flowing down her face covering her right eye partially. I reached over and ever so slightly brushed the hairs out of her face and pushed them back behind her ear. Now I could see her full beauty. Now I could revel in her splendor.
There was a simple beauty to her. She wore little if any makeup during the day, and wore nothing that I could tell right now. There were a few unilateral freckles on her right cheek just below her eye. Everything about her was perfect.
She was wearing what looked like some kind of pajama pants along with a gray tank top. There were no blankets on her and the house was already starting to get cold from the night. I had better do something to fix this. I didn't want her to get cold during the night, especially after a night of drinking.
I thought about it for a moment and then knew what I had to do. I kneeled down between the couch and the coffee table and stared at her for a moment longer watching her chest going up and down with each breath. Then without much force I stuck one hand under her shoulders and another hand just below her hips and scooped her up into my arms. She was light, even more so than I would have imagined. The smell hit me at once, her smell; the aroma of strawberry shampoo, of an unspecified deodorant, and just the smell of her.
With Hazel in hand I turned and began to climb the stairs. I took the stairs one by one and went as quietly and carefully as I could as I didn't want to lose my balance or grip. I could her feel her warmth against my chest as I carried her. I could hear her breathing as she slept. The whole time I carried her up the stairs I never broke gaze with her. I couldn’t break away from staring at her face. Those closed eyes, her freckles, her lips t
hey were all I could think about.
When I reached the top of the stairs I headed towards the end of the hallway into our master bedroom. I felt like a newlywed husband on his honeymoon carrying his wife through the threshold of the bedroom where great pleasures awaited.
As we approached the bed I slowly lowered myself down to a squatting position and lowered Hazel into her bed. She fell into the soft bed with a thump but did not stir in the slightest. (She must really be out tonight.)
There she lay. She was on the bed but in a bizarre manner with half of her sleeping on her side and the other half on her back. Her right arm was being crushed under her own weight as well. This wouldn't do. I reached over and pulled her arm out from under her as fast I could. Her whole body shifted and seemed to burrow deeper into the bed.
Towards the bottom of the bed lay the various blankets, sheets, and bedspread. I lifted her feet up so I could get full access to the blankets and then lowered them right back down underneath the layers. I then pulled the blankets all the way across her body up to shoulder level. She should be nice and comfortable now, no getting cold for her tonight.
Once the task was done I kneeled down in front of her and admired my work. I had rescued Hazel from the cold of the night, carried my Hazel up the stairs, and tucked her in. I leaned my face in towards her and gave her the softest kiss on her lips. She tasted amazing. Everything in my body told me to continue, to go for more. I went for another kiss, and yet another. All were done with utmost tenderness and care of a loving husband and partner.
After a moment I stopped and leaned towards her ear whispering, “I love you, sleep well.” With that I stood up and backed my way out of the room and headed back downstairs.
I grabbed the glass of liquor and the empty glass that were still left out on the living room coffee table. I brought them both into the kitchen and flipped on the light switch to get a better look. The bottle was some unheard of brand of Brandy made in Mexico. The glass still had some ice leftover in the cup and there was an obvious reduction in the brandy bottle.
Close Your Eyes: A Horror Story Collection Page 20