The Haunted Inn (Haunted House Ghost Story): The Hauntings of Kingston

by Michelle Dorey

  For a few minutes, she did just that, breathing deeply while her lips moved in some sort of silent chant. When she opened her eyes, the vivid green was a sharp contrast to the paleness of her cheeks.

  “Would you like a glass of water?” His other hand rose to cup her cheek. Her skin was hot and dry and he swore he felt her body tremble despite the warmth of the day. If he’d thought she was feigning this or even just over-reacting he didn’t now.

  “No. No water.”

  “Come over to the veranda and sit on the step for a moment. Maybe the heat is getting to you. It’s over eighty in the shade. That has to be it.” He led her slowly across the driveway and held her hands firmly in his while she lowered to sit on the wide, wooden step.

  Her eyes closed once more and a tear trickled down her cheek. “So much sadness and rage here.” She pulled her hands from his and cupped her face with them. “Oh God...those poor children. Their screams and absolute terror.” Her voice was muffled behind her hands. Her shoulders began to heave.

  Brad’s blood went cold hearing her words. How could she have known? He’d had the odd, niggling thought of those kids every time he was in the house, but Sophie? Her response was off the charts and she hadn’t even set foot in the place yet!

  When the door opened, Tim and Carly spilled out onto the veranda, the laughter they’d shared doused like the flame of a candle, gaping at Sophie.

  Tim stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. His eyes bored into Brad’s. “What’s going on? Are you okay, Sophie?”

  “I’ll get her some pop. There’s a cold one in the cooler.” Carly backed away, her hand on her chest, going back into the house.

  Sophie’s hands lowered and her eyes were red rimmed, looking first at Tim and then back to Brad. “You can’t stay here. This was a horrible mistake buying this place.” She pointed at the front door. “A whole family was slaughtered here! This place is evil!”

  Brad’s chest was tight and his heart raced in his chest at her words. His fingers laced through his hair and he stared at the ground for a few moments.

  Tim stepped back and his arms crossed over his chest. “What the hell? It wasn’t a mistake. This place is going to be great! We certainly are staying here.” He thrust a finger at her. “You’ll see! People will pay big money to stay here too.” He glanced over at Brad and did a huge roll of his eyes. “You told her, didn’t you?”

  Brad’s mouth was suddenly dry. He shook his head slowly from side to side. “I didn’t tell her a thing, man.” Somehow, she’d picked up on something and she knew. She’d told him that she sensed things.

  A scream pierced the stillness behind them, coming from inside the house.

  Brad’s heart jumped into his throat and Tim spun around, but before he could reach for the handle of the door, it opened and Carly was framed in the dark woodwork. Her eyes were wide and in her hand was a can of pop, bubbling over the lid and onto her fingers.

  “It was a mouse. I freaking hate mice.” Her cheeks became pink and she looked down at the floor, stomping her foot for emphasis.

  Sophie stepped away from the step and turned to face them. She made the sign of the cross over her forehead and shoulders, her mouth a straight gash in her face. “It was more than that. Your house is possessed.”

  “No, Sophie. C’mon. I’ll walk down to the lake with you. We’ll sit on the dock and dangle our feet in the water. “Brad stepped towards her and folded her in his arms, patting her back gently.

  He could feel her silent sobs in the racking of her shoulders. Oh God. This was a nightmare. Little by little he eased back and then kissed her forehead. With his thumbs he wiped the tears from her eyes and led her down the path to the water.

  She clung to him, walking silently beside him. “Brad, there’s an evil presence here that you can’t mess with. Murder and death live on in that house. I saw something in the top window staring down at me. It wants you gone or it will kill you.” She glanced over her shoulder at the house again before stepping onto the dock. “It’s still there, watching.”

  Brad’s skin felt like a million ants were scraping over him. He knew what she meant. How many times had he felt the same thing, that someone or something was watching him? But even if it was a left-over energy of that last family, the tragic horror, it couldn’t actually hurt them. Creep them out, sure. But actually kill them? That was preposterous. Who ever heard of a ghost killing you?

  As they lowered themselves down onto the rough worn slats of the dock, she glanced over at him. “The money is not worth your life, Brad. Leave. Come back to town with me. I don’t expect Tim to believe it but you? Surely you trust me on this.”

  He put his arm around her and pulled her close.”Sophie, I can’t.” His gut felt like someone had given him a good punch. This was it. The moment of truth. “It’s not that I don’t think you’re sincere in what you believe, but I just don’t think this place is as dangerous as you seem to think.”

  She pulled back and her eyes were narrow slits staring at him. “Oh yeah? Then why did I sense such terror and pain? People died there! I know it! I sense these things, like a dog can smell footsteps on a trail or hear sounds we can’t. Don’t you see that?”

  He held his hands up in partial surrender to her point. “Okay! Say, I agree that you feel or sense things? That doesn’t mean I feel threatened physically in the house. A ghost, if that’s what it is, can’t physically hurt me. It’s smoke and mirrors. I’m flesh; I’m alive.”

  She huffed a sarcastic sigh. “You think you’re all macho, all rational and immune. It doesn’t work like that.” She turned slightly and the next thing he knew she was standing, looking down at him. “I can’t stay here and watch this happen to you. Even to Tim. The longer I sit here, the sicker I feel.”

  He went to stand up but her hand on his shoulder stopped him. “Don’t bother. There’s nothing more I can say. Good bye.”

  He watched her leave, striding by Tim and Carly who had wandered down the path to join them. After she passed by them, she broke into a sprint, jumping into her car and throwing gravel and dust up from the wheels of her car as she gunned it up the driveway.

  Well, that was that. There was no doubt in his mind, nor in his heart they were through. He closed his eyes, willing the tears back, and took a deep breath.

  Chapter 10

  Tim

  “Possessed!” Tim voice was low watching Sophie stride by and get in her car. His arm went around Carly’s shoulder and he pulled her close. “She’s possessed!” He grabbed the can of pop from Carly’s hand and downed half of it in a few swallows.

  Brad joined them watching the plume of dust rise behind Sophie’s car.

  “That was kind of strange.” Carly looked from Brad to Tim. “What is she? Some kind of a witch or something?”

  Tim’s risked a peek at Brad. The poor guy...but what the hell did he expect? It was just so typical of Sophie, to be so theatrical about seeing the place. She had to go and try to spoil everything, didn’t she? “She’s says she’s a witch, or sensitive or whatever bullshit term they’re using. To me, she’s just a damn drama queen.”

  Brad ambled over to the step. His hand rubbed the back of his neck and his smile was sheepish when he turned to face them. “Well, that’s that. You were right about what she’d think.”

  Big surprise there. Tim’s jaw muscle ached, he was clenching it so hard. “Maybe her reaction is a good thing. If she gets that freaked out, we know we got something. “ He looked down at Carly and kissed the top of her head. “How ‘bout you? Any bad vibes in this place?”

  Her chin rose and she smiled up at him. “Just the bloody mouse, so far.” She turned to gaze up the driveway where the dust was just now dissipating. “Too bad. We could have used her help.”

  Brad turned and gave Tim a funny look. “Nice to see Carly’s part of the ‘us’—helping out and all.” His shoulders were slumped when he stepped into the house, carrying the weight of the world.

  Oh
shit. Tim’s sighed. It wasn’t like Carly was trying to horn in. And now was not the time for any lecture on his retinue of girlfriends.

  She pressed her hip into his, turning them both around and gave his butt a swat. “Come on slacker. Those rooms won’t clean themselves.”

  He laughed and grabbed for her waist, trying to tickle her above the waistband of her shorts. When she squealed and raced ahead, her ebony pony tail swaying from side to side, he couldn’t help compare her to Sophie. Carly was full of life, always smiling and laughing, whereas Sophie was just too weird. A body could only stand so much seriousness and drama.

  When he entered the kitchen, Brad turned to face him. “What the fuck?”

  Holy shit! Every door of the oak kitchen cabinets was open and the drawers were extended out to their fullest length. But not only that, water hissed loudly from the kitchen faucet. Tim’s legs were suddenly weak.

  “The same thing in the powder room! The cabinet doors are all open and the water’s running full blast!” Carly’s voice called from the hallway.

  “It was like this when I came in. We were all outside...” Brad’s eyes were wide and his mouth fell open. “Sophie? Was this because she was—”

  “I don’t know what’s going on here.” Tim strode forward and turned the tap off. He shoved the drawers closed and shut the cabinets with a bang. “And I don’t care!”

  Looking at the dazed look on Brad’s face, he felt a surge of anger rush through his muscles. “Snap out of it and check the upstairs. Start with the bathroom.”

  Brad gave his head a shake. “Yeah,” he said and went upstairs.

  Tim turned and leaned against the counter, his eyebrows tight while he stared at the floor trying to gather his thoughts. This was totally off the wall. He took a few deep breaths and looked up to see Carly wander into the kitchen, a puzzled look on her face.

  “Tim? This place is weird.” She slipped her hands in the back pockets of her jean shorts, standing in front of him.

  “Yeah, that’s part of the charm, right? But we can’t let this hold us up. As you said, we’ve got work to do.” His hand rose to rub the back of his neck and he chuckled. “If we could only control whatever energy opened the cabinets and turned on the water...it’s exactly what we want when guests are here.”

  Brad’s footsteps thudded on the stairs and then he showed up in the kitchen, a perplexed look on his face. “The sink and the tub faucets were on full blast as well. Whatever’s in this house, it sure has a thing for water.”

  Tim decided this wasn’t getting them anywhere, standing around speculating on what had happened. He pushed away from the counter. “Who knows?”

  At the sound of water running full force in the kitchen sink, he turned to watch Carly, standing there, filling a bucket. “Don’t worry. It’s me this time.” She laughed and shooed him away. “I’ll do the kitchen and these drawers better not fly open or assault me, or I’ll sue you guys.”

  “Good luck with that one. After buying this place we’re tapped out.” Tim picked up a broom and dustpan to head out to the greenhouse to begin cleaning there. From the corner of his eye he noticed Brad drag the vacuum across the floor and disappear into the hallway.

  He stepped into the greenhouse and his head jerked back, staring with wide eyes. “What the...” There was an open book laying on the shelf next to the old pottery. He flipped the cover to see what it was. The Alchemist book. The last time he’s seen the book was three weeks ago and he’d put it back in the box.

  Taking a deep breath, he shook his head a little. This was just more of the same. He clapped the book shut and set it back in the box under the table.

  ***

  It was mid-afternoon by the time they decided to break for lunch. They carried their food down to the dock, dangling their feet in the water while they ate.

  Carly looked over and grinned. “You know...sitting out here in the sun, it’s hard to believe the stuff that happened.” She kicked her feet splashing droplets of water. “If I go back in there and things are messed up or something weird is going on in that kitchen I cleaned, I’m gonna be pissed.” She chuckled and then the smile dropped from her lips. “Seriously...that was spooky.”

  Tim looked over at Brad. “Shit. We should have taken pictures of it. I’m sure that would have come in handy at some point...maybe in marketing.”

  “Yeah, probably. We’ll know for next time.” Brad’s voice was soft and he looked distracted.

  He was still hurting from that blow-up with Sophie. Why the hell should a guy let a girl get under his skin so easily? There were plenty of fish in the sea after all.

  As if Carly sensed it as well, she grinned and kicked once more in the water. “Wish I’d brought my bathing suit. After slaving in that kitchen, the water sure is tempting.”

  Tim polished off his soda. “There’s no one around, other than Brad. He and I will be going up soon. Peel off and skinny dip, if you want.”

  Brad got to his feet and looked down, smiling at Carly. “Help yourself. I’d say you earned it. The kitchen’s so clean you could eat off the floor.” His footsteps reverberated on the stillness of the water as he trudged across the wooden platform.

  She smiled and winked her eye, looking at him. “Come with me.” In a flash, the tank top was up and over her head.

  He looked away, but not before he’d caught a glimpse of the lacy white bra and the swell of her breast. It was so tempting to give in. But there’d be plenty of time for fooling around with Carly after they’d put in a full day’s work.

  “Maybe later. Don’t swim out too far.” He stood up and strode off the dock, waving his hand over his shoulder at her. There was no way he’d risk another look as she peeled the rest of her clothes off. A guy could only take so much.

  He smiled hearing the splash of water and her shriek at the cold temperature. His hand was on the railing of the veranda when a blood curdling scream pierced the stillness of the day.

  Spinning around, his heart was in his throat. He scanned the water near the dock for some sign of her. His feet flew on the flagstone path. The only indication that she was in there were the bubbles that roiled to the surface.

  “CARLY?”

  Brad was right behind him, his footsteps pounding. “What happened? Where’s Carly?”

  When his foot touched the first plank of the dock, she bobbed to the surface, a web of dark hair streaming over her cheeks. Her arms were like windmills, pulling through the water to reach the dock.

  “Are you all right? What happened?” He knelt and extended his hand to pull her closer.

  She was white as a sheet, her eyes wide with terror as she grasped his hand. “Something grabbed my ankle! It tugged me under!” Naked, she was actually climbing his arm to get back on the dock, way past caring that Brad was also there.

  As she struggled to get out of the water she began to scream.

  “It still has me! Get it off! Get it off of meeee!”

  With one final heave, Tim pulled Carly out of the water and onto the dock. She lay on her back, kicking her legs. “Get it off! Get it off!”

  Wrapped around her foot was a sodden, filthy piece of fabric. Tim grabbed it and yanked it from her limb, tossing it aside onto the deck. He tore his t-shirt off and in a flash covered her up.

  She was terror stricken, her eyes huge. “Wha—what is it?” she said, goggling at the sodden heap on the deck of the pier.

  Brad bent over and picked it up. Holding it by its edge, he shook it out.

  Although it was torn and smudged with algae and mud, it was plainly a young girl’s dress. Old fashioned, trimmed with now ragged lace, it reminded Tim him of photos he’d seen of little girls in first communion dresses. What the hell was a little girl’s dress doing in the lake?

  “Eeew! Throw it away!” Carly tugged the hem of Tim’s shirt down and scrabbled away on the deck, disgust oozing from her pores. “That fucking thing almost drowned me!”

  Tim signalled with a nod and a look for
Brad to take care of it.

  Brad held the dress with the tips of his fingers, striding away. Rather than toss it in the trash barrel next to the back door, he kept on walking, disappearing around the corner of the building.

  Tim’s mouth fell open when his gaze flitted to the attic. There had been a silhouette in the window. His skin prickled while his heart hammered fast in his chest. Carly didn’t see it, she was curled up in a ball on the deck, clutching at him.

  Tim glanced up at the attic window again. Still as dark as ever. They hadn’t made it up there yet to remove the rocking chair. His eyes narrowed into slits. That was going to be the next order of business when he went back in the house.

  Chapter 11

  Tim

  Day 2

  Tim looked over at Brad and rolled his eyes before turning back to watch the road ahead. Brad’s fingers were flying sending a text message to Sophie. When they’d got back to the house the previous evening, Brad had tried to get her on the phone and by text but to no avail.

  “Give her some time, Bro. She’ll come around and if not, there’s plenty of other fish in the sea.” When Brad flashed him a scowl, Tim decided to change tactics. “Look, after we’ve lived in the house for a while and she’ll see that she was being melodramatic. I agree, that something really weird happened yesterday when she was there, but everything will turn out fine. She’ll change her tune when we start making some serious money.”

  “Somehow, I doubt that.”

  Tim’s stomach lurched lower. “What? That we’re going to make a go of this?” Jeeze! Was Brad having second thoughts on all of this? He flipped the turn signal, seeing the sign for Loughborough Road up ahead.

  “No! Not that. We’ll do great. No, it’s Sophie. She’s not into money. She’s more about being happy, living a full and peaceful life.” Brad’s mouth pulled to the side and then he looked away at the fields they skimmed by.