“The two things are not mutually exclusive, you know.” Tim took a deep breath, anxious to change the subject.
The day was overcast with heavy, grey clouds, threatening rain at any minute. There’d be no lunch on the dock or swimming that day. Which was just as well, since Carly had to work and it would only be the two of them at the house.
“Hey! What’d you do with the little girl’s dress that was in the lake?”
Brad snorted. “What’d you think? I sure as hell didn’t throw it out. I hung it up in the garage to dry. Not sure what we’ll do with it but I’m sure we’ll come up with something.” He let out a small chuckle. “It sure scared Carly.”
Tim felt his neck grow tight. “Us too. That must have been horrible for her. I can’t imagine a worse death than drowning, man.” His eyes narrowed. Clawing for air and feeling your lungs fill with water, ugh! When his number was up he hoped he died in his sleep. At the age of a hundred and ten.
The first day out there was anything but a picnic for any of them. First Sophie, then the taps turning on by themselves, Carly almost drowning and then that stupid rocking chair.. He could have sworn on a stack of bibles he’d seen it rocking when he looked up at the attic window.
But he’d taken care of that. The chair was now in the parlor, where it should be.
“You think the house will be ready for us to move into by the end of the month? I’m not sure we should have sublet the apartment so soon.”
Tim wheeled the car down the lane and threw a scowl at Brad. “Four days? That’s plenty of time. The fridge and stove arrive today, and after that, there’s no advantage to staying in the apartment. We’ll be on deck all the time and get more work done.”
“I probably should buy my own car. Even an old clunker like Sophie’s would do. I hate to see one of us stranded out here, in the middle of nowhere.” Brad unhooked his seat belt and reached for the door handle. “Did I tell you what Sophie said when she stepped out of the car?”
Tim forced a smile, even though he wasn’t the slightest bit interested in what she’d said.
“She said it was like stepping into pea soup. That’s weird, huh?” Brad’s eyebrows rose and he got out of the car.
“She’s a little weird.” He hurried along to the front door when a clap of thunder boomed across the sky. Maybe he should ask Carly if she had any girlfriends to hook Brad up with. This thing with Sophie was probably not going to work out.
When the door swung open, the results of their efforts the day before filled his nostrils. Instead of the usual musty smell, the scent of soap and pine drifted in the air and he breathed deeply—it smelled more homey already. They just needed pizza in the oven and the smell of stale beer. He listened but the only sound was silence, no hissing of taps spewing water.
“I guess we should tackle the top floor. Get our bedrooms ready at least.” He walked through the arch to get the vacuum from the library, where Brad had left it the day before.
When he stepped into the parlour, he came to a grinding halt. The rocking chair was angled at the window, at the opposite end of the room from where he put it yesterday. His voice was low and he kept staring at the chair as he asked, “Brad? Did you move the rocking chair?”
Brad appeared next to him. “No. I wouldn’t touch that thing if I didn’t have to, not after the fright it gave me. Why?”
The pancakes he’d gobbled for breakfast, rose higher in his tight gut and he swallowed hard. But he couldn’t let on to Brad. Not after Sophie’s theatrics yesterday and Carly’s skinny dip from hell. He grinned and continued on to the window. “It’s nothing.” He scowled at the chair and continued on to get the vacuum.
Hoisting the machine up the stairs, his heart started to race. That damned chair! He should break it up and build a bonfire.
His eyes closed for a moment and he shook his head. But that was the point wasn’t it? The creepiness of the chair was what they’d wanted. If it mysteriously moved, then so what? It wasn’t hurting him—not unless making his skin crawl off his body counted.
Actually, he could have some fun with this. Brad need never know. He’d move it and see where it ended up the next day. Under his breath he whispered. “How creative can you be, Mr. Ghosty?”
He started to laugh and had to pause at the landing at the top. Listen to him! Now he was playing games with the ghosts, talking to them! But after yesterday, he had to admit that something odd was happening.
“Are you all right?” Brad peered up at him from the bottom step. Hanging from his hand was a bucket of soapy water, where a yellow sponge bobbed up and down.
The sight of his friend, a veritable ‘Mr. Clean’ in the white T shirt and jeans, was comical. But it was the lumberjack hands in the bright pink gloves that really put him over the edge. Tim doubled over laughing, letting the vacuum slip from his fingers.
He fished in his pocket and held the cell phone high, taking a picture of Brad. He’d have to get it printed and frame it. Mr. Jock Macho McDude in pink rubber gloves.
He was still laughing, ignoring Brad’s insults to his mother, when he clicked the button to see the photo. His smile vanished and he stopped breathing at what he saw. Oh my God.
“What? You think you’re so funny, don’t you!” Brad was thundering up the stairs, trying to hide the grin.
The photo showed Brad, but he wasn’t alone. Above Brad’s shoulder, the face of a bearded man was staring directly into the camera with narrow eyes, smiling. Actually, it was more like a menacing leer.
Tim’s fingers shook, flying to erase the image before Brad got there. He clicked the trash bucket icon and it was gone.
He managed a smirk when he looked at Brad standing next to him. “Sorry Bro, it must have been too fast and in this lighting, nothing showed.” Sucking in a gulp of air, he forced a cheerfulness he sure didn’t feel. “Too bad. I was going to blow it up to poster size for a laugh. Maybe put it on Facebook.”
He turned away and the smile fell from his lips picking up the vacuum. That pic made his blood turn cold. If he was creeped out, what would Brad have felt if he’d seen it? He’d put more credibility in what Sophie had said, that was for sure. Brad was skittish enough right now.
He shuddered and the food in his stomach roiled. Oh God. The fucking guy’s face had been right next to Brad’s.
The taunting grin lingered in his mind’s eye. A trickle of cold sweat coursed down his spine. Sophie’s words echoed in his brain. “Your house is possessed.”
Chapter 12
Brad
Brad peered at his friend. Tim was never good at lying. If he was pretending he hadn’t got the picture, and was going to post it later to embarrass the hell out of him...well....
Actually, Tim’s face was pale and he had a strange expression. What the hell was bugging him now? Best to let it go. “C’mon. Let’s get these rooms done. That is, if you’re through goofing around.”
Tim’s eyes flitted to the foot of the stairs and then he turned to go up the last flight without saying a word.
Whatever. Tim was acting a little strange, though.
Brad lugged the bucket, the water sloshing in it almost going over the side as he followed his friend. “You know, I think we should set up the surveillance equipment before we move in. Being way up here at night, in the middle of nowhere...I’ll sleep better if I know what’s going on below. At least put them at the entries. Maybe we can set up a motion detection alarm.”
Tim paused at the top step and turned to peer at him. “Yeah. I guess that makes sense.”
“Hey! We were going to install them anyway. I just think we should do it sooner rather than later, that’s all.” Brad jerked his head to the side, indicating for Tim to keep going. The loneliness of the house, just the two of them living there alone for a month at the very least, was starting to bug him.
When they entered the first bedroom he set the bucket down and plucked his phone out of his pocket. They needed some music to break the stillness. Tomorrow he�
�d bring the speakers out but for today, they’d have to make do with the phone’s sound system.
When Tim plugged the vacuum in, he put the phone back and walked over to the window to start there. He wiped the damp sponge over the glass, and years of dirt came off.
It might have been a good idea to take before and after pictures of the rooms. He’d mention it to Tim when he finished with the vacuum.
Outside the rain was a steady downpour, transforming the lake and dock into bleary gray sheets. There was a crack of thunder, a flash of lightning and suddenly, dark quiet enveloped the room.
“Well, that’s it for the vacuuming for a while. The storm must have knocked the power out.” Tim dropped the wand of the cleaner with a ringing thud. “And it’s too dim to even sweep.”
“Great. I wonder how long it’ll be out.” Brad tossed the sponge in the bucket and turned to face his friend.
A loud pounding broke the stillness. Both of them jumped, their eyes wide as dinner plates. Brad stood for a moment, like a deer in the headlights.
“HELLO?” A booming voice drifted up to the attic.
They both stared at each other in terror.
“HAALLOOOOO! Anybody there?”
“What the hell is that?” whispered Brad.
“ANYBODY HOME? Potter’s Appliances!”
“Oh my God, it’s the delivery guys. I’d forgotten about them.” Tim turned and his feet were a fast drumbeat on the stairs.
Slowly, Brad started breathing again. He smiled. The place was so creepy that even a delivery guy had scared the hell out of him.
He picked up the bucket and walked down the stairs to join the others. From the window he passed, he saw the large white truck parked in the driveway, the rain still coming down in torrents.
When he stepped on the last stair, the hair on the back of his neck tingled and cold seeped into his chest. There was an odour that drifted in the air, like rotten meat. His stomach tightened and he breathed deeply through his mouth to keep from retching. Where was that stench coming from? Was there a dead raccoon in the walls?
Voices from the kitchen intruded into his senses. Taking two more steps, the smell disappeared. Oh God. Whatever was in the air in that spot was rank.
He noticed wet footprints on the floor and followed them to where Tim stood talking with a burly man in a blue shirt and pants, while a younger rail thin guy shifted from foot to foot watching them.
“If we give it a few minutes, it might let up a bit. That is...if you don’t mind waiting.” Tim smiled at the older man.
“You won’t get any complaints from me.” The guy looked around at the kitchen, from the cabinets to the floor. “Nice place you got here.”
Brad slipped by them stepped over to one of the counters. When he turned, Tim’s eyes met his, and he winked.
Tim leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s haunted.”
The guy’s eyes went wide and his mouth fell open. For the first time Brad noticed the name sewn over the pocket of his shirt. “Elroy”. The man’s gaze flitted between Brad and Tim and his head drew back.
The skinny guy stepped closer to his partner and looked around, over his shoulder. He looked like a scared rabbit, ready to bolt at any minute even though it was pouring outside.
Elroy cleared his throat and managed a tight smile. “Who told you that? I mean, how do you know it’s haunted? Sure, it’s old but that doesn’t mean—”
BANG! The windows shook from the force of the thunder clap.
Now the skinny guy was so close to his partner that their arms touched. “Maybe, we should wait in the truck. We’re keepin’ these guys from—”
“No, no. It’s fine. The power’s out so we’re kind of at a standstill anyway.” The corners of Tim’s mouth twitched in a smile. “Would you like a tour of the house?” He stepped closer to the two men, the personification of the friendly host. Mr. Carson in Downton Abby had nothing on Tim.
“Fuck off. This place isn’t haunted. You’re makin’ this up.” Elroy shook his head and gave his friend a dirty look, stepping away from him.
Once more, Tim glanced over at Brad. He’d been challenged and damned if Tim didn’t love a challenge.
“A family was murdered in this house.” He walked across the room and turned to beckon to Elroy and his helper. “C’mon. I’ve got something to show you...if you dare.”
“Not me. I’ll be out in the truck when you need me.” The thin guy scampered past Tim and was out the front door like a shot.
Brad smiled when Elroy shrugged and followed Tim across the hallway. This was bound to be good. Brad followed them past the parlour and into the library, watching as Tim lifted one of the two books off the shelf.
“See this? It’s a book about summoning the devil.” He held up the copy of The Alchemist they had found in the garage. The previous owners used this. Who knows what evil they brought here, but whatever it was, it killed the whole family.” He leaned in closer to the guy who was staring with golf ball eyes. “When we first looked at this house, this book was in a box in the greenhouse. When I came here yesterday, it was laying open on the table.”
“Hmph.” The older man tore his gaze from the book and looked at the floor for a moment. “But someone may have left it there without your knowing. That doesn’t prove anything.”
“That’s true, I guess. But it doesn’t explain how when we stepped outside yesterday, all of the cabinets were open and the faucets were turned on by themselves.” Tim smiled, meeting Elroy’s gaze.
“Get out!” Elroy’s head jerked back. “Are you kidding me?”
Tim drew an ‘X’ over his chest. “Cross my heart. Every faucet, both on this floor and the upstairs bathroom were all turned on, and...” he leaned forward, “nobody was in the house!”
Elroy straightened up. He licked his lips. “You’re full of it.”
Tim turned, affecting an air of casual nonchalance, looking out the window. “I think it’s cleared for a bit. Maybe we should move the stuff inside.” He smiled at Brad and then turned once more to Elroy. “I’ll help you if you want.”
Brad’s eyes narrowed as he watched Tim walk away, following closely on Elroy’s heels. What was Tim up to? If anyone should be helping the guys it was him, not Tim. He was the fitness guru.
The lights flickered on and broke the gloom of the room. Well that was one thing at least. He walked back to the kitchen to get the cleaning bucket of soapy water. Above him, the vacuum whined, ready to finish the job. He shook his head; Tim forgot to turn off the switch when the power went out, that’s all. He hoped.
Tim opened the front door and stepped to the side when the fridge appeared, perched on the dolly. When Elroy followed it into the house, he gave Brad an odd look before his gaze skimmed over the stairs.
Brad smiled and continued carrying the bucket up the broad staircase. Whatever else Tim had told the guy, had sure made a believer out of him. The nervous look in his eyes and quick movements hurrying to get the job done was plain to see.
He’d have to ask Tim about it later. It was bound to be something that they’d use again.
Chapter 13
That same day...
Sophie
She didn’t know if her eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed from crying or from the lack of sleep. She shrugged the rain cape from her shoulders and carried it to the back room of the store.
When she returned to the main area, Aphra stood up from dusting the lower shelves of the Chakra display. Her deep brown eyes showed concern looking over at Sophie. “Did you find the newspaper article?”
Sophie nodded sadly and held out the copies she’d made. “There were a couple.”
Taking the pages, Aphra adjusted her eyeglasses and read silently as Sophie watched her. At one point, Aphra’s eyes widened, and a moment later she let out a quiet ‘oh my’. She glanced up at Sophie, her mouth thin as she flipped to the second page. “Hon, go in the back and make a pot of tea.”
Aphra appeared at the door opening. “Sophie, from what you told me this morning and now this...it’s worse than you thought. Those boys are in serious peril.”
Sophie’s eyes filled with tears. “Now I know what it was that I felt when I was there. I’ve never experienced anything sinister like it before. It’s an ancient evil! That family...it killed them...it possessed the father and—”
Aphra stepped over and put her arms around Sophie, held her close while rubbing the base of her spine. “Easy child. Be still and let this negative energy flow out of you.”
Sophie sighed and began to control her breathing. Before long she felt calmning warmth fill her chest, as she drew from the serene strength of Aphra. She let herself be led to a cushioned chair and eased down into its depths.
“Deep cleansing breaths until you are at peace and then we’ll talk. I’ll get the tea.” Aphra’s voice was a soft, soothing balm.
Sophie inhaled, her palms cupped and turned up to gather the positive energy that pervaded the store. Gradually, she felt her thighs and neck muscles relax and grow warm. She opened her eyes and Aphra sat across from her, extending a small cup of tea.
“Feeling better?” When Sophie nodded, Aphra’s hand seemed to float up and her fingertips grazed the centre of Sophie’s forehead. A tranquil smile graced her lips and her eyes were soft, gazing at Sophie.
Sophie leaned forward, “I have to show this to him. If he sees these newspaper articles, he’ll understand the nature of the power he’s toying with and leave before it’s too late.”
Aphra’s head tipped to the side and she looked down at her lap for a moment. “Maybe.” She smiled sadly. “But I’m more inclined to believe that he won’t.”
The Haunted Inn (Haunted House Ghost Story): The Hauntings of Kingston Page 7