by Sable Ridge
The Haunting of Chambers House
By: Sable Ridge
Copyright © 2017 by Sable Ridge
All Rights Reserved
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The material in this book is for entertainment purposes ONLY. Enjoy.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Also By
About the Author
Chapter One
Logan left the hospital and went out into the muggy evening air. The doctor’s words left him with an excruciating headache. He kept trying to extract parts of his memory that held the keys to the foundation of Delia’s visit. There was nothing that he could use to build on.
The country air was warm and the sky blazed an orange gold hue. Logan could not help but marvel at the arrangement of colors in the vastness above him. He stood for a few moments and gazed up and secretly hoped to fly away. He imagined being suspended on the warm breeze flying through the golden clouds.
He brought his gaze down to the four lane suburban street below. He stared down the road as far as his eyes could travel. It was urging him to travel to the unknown. This was the feeling any true car enthusiast was sure to have every day, but this evening was different. He spun around and hopped in his Tesla Roadster. It eagerly purred with anticipation of the open road ahead. Logan distinctly knew where his lady love was taking him as they journeyed on the smooth paved concrete. Logan rode until there was only green tall pine trees on both sides of the now two lane rural road. The Roadster made a turn to a hidden small trail that cut between the prickly pine branches that Logan hoped would not scratch his perfect car. Although this route was hidden from the main road, Logan was very familiar with it, however he didn’t know why.
The heated air was circulating down in the greenery and was making no attempt to leave any time soon. Logan could feel beads of sweat roll down his neck to his chest. He pulled up his black t-shirt to wipe his neck. The only light came from the headlight of his roadster, but Logan knew where he was headed without knowing why he knew. There was no hesitation as he rode further down this dirt trail. The life of suburbia was far away and it was only Logan and his car in this forest. He stopped to take in the denseness of the nature that he was surrounded with. His exposed muscled arms were sticky with sweat that he rubbed away with no effect. As he swiped a buzzing mosquito from his left ear, he saw a light illuminating through the tall pines. That was his point of interest.
Logan drove on slower toward the glowing light. As he made his way closer, he could clearly see a circle of people talking and then immediately look in his direction. His father, Fitz Chambers II was leading the discussion. A familiar feeling came over him as he drove nearer. He knew this feeling well, it was filled with anticipation, curiosity and dread.
Logan cut off the engine and quickly threw his leg out of the Roadster to stand up. He walked over to the small circle that was standing in between the thick undergrowth. Lee Chambers, his brother, was grinning at Logan, while his father gave him a fierce stare as he made his way into the middle. Delia’s glossy words at his office and now hearing their words in this dense forest, brought a faint recollection to his memory of what this meeting was about. This was not the first time he did this. He had to act like he knew what he was doing or they would figure out his private torment.
“You always take your time to show up, Logan. You think we’re going to keep this up without you? You may soon find yourself gliding in here on a dark cloud,” his father yelled out.
“These woods are hard to see through,” Logan said
“You don’t need to see them, you should have them memorized,” his father said in a harsh tone. “We don’t have much time give us the information.”
Logan gave hard stares to all five of his family members in the circle. He recalled for a split second who they really were. They represented his earlier evil self. His stomach turned over on itself and made him want to vomit. It was beyond the hour he wanted to be with them. Time was whispering its existence away as the full moon hung in the night air.
Chapter Two
Two hours later he and Delia arrived at a large, stately house that stood tall and mean in the night. It wore tattered peeling white paint. The windows had large rectangular eyes and glared at the couple as they stopped the car in front of the double dusty black doors. None of the windows had blinds in them and the glass appeared jet black from the darkness looming inside the house. A darkness very familiar with the malevolent temperament living deep within the walls.
“Your family home is quite dated,” said Delia as she stepped out into the night air.
“Yes, it has a lot of character. You could say it is a lively storyteller of stories meant to raise the hairs on the back of your neck,” said Logan.
“I want to hear all about it and I want to see if this home can live up to the horrid reputation it has held for so long,” Delia replied. She walked to the dusky door.
“As I’m sure you have heard, my father was a very jealous man. He always felt my beautiful mother was having an affair with some man behind his back and was simply using him for his money. The accusations did not stop with men outside of the family, my father extended them to members of his own family. This included accusing his own brother of falling for my mother’s charm,” said Logan. He turned the lock on the wooden door and allowed Delia to step into the house.
“Yes, I have heard of the jealousy matter. I just want to have a more personal connection with the haunted history. I don’t want to just talk about it on my show, I want to tell my viewers how I experienced it first hand,” said Delia. She began to squint her eyes trying to adjust her eyesight to blanket of blackness.
“Well, to give you more insight, I will let you know my father was always following my mother without her knowledge I believe,” said Logan. “I heard she divulged to others she rather enjoyed the chase of being followed by a hunter of sorts in my father.”
“Some women find it exciting,” said Delia. “I find it rather exciting to be the hunter of the story behind haunted houses.”
“I can assure you the hunt will go well tonight. However, I am not sure who will be the victor in this ghastly pursuit,” said Logan leading the way into the large parlor.
“No need to scare me. I don’t scare from talk of haunts. I like to be ready and exhibit an organic fear. I can tell you it hasn’t happened often. That’s why my search has led me to your family home,” said Delia following Logan. “Can you shine your flashlight on the subject?”
“You want an organic fear and I shall not disappoint you. So why would I shine light on the subject?”
“I don’t want to trip over any old heavy furniture or upturned rug.”
“I can’t have you suing me later over the small issue of you tripping over my family furnishings, now can I?”
“How often do you come here?”
“You could say I wish it was my home away from home. However, the gory memories have caused me to put it in the recesses of my mind. I’m only doing this for you and a few others who have something to gain from your ghost hunt.”
“Who are those others, Logan?”
“Others that have an invested future in this property. That’s all I a
m prepared to say at the moment. Now, back to the story at hand.”
“Yes, lead me to where it happened and tell me more along the way,” said Delia. She felt along the wall of the staircase.
Logan led Delia upstairs in the crisp air of the house. “My jealous father was lurking in the dark second level hall waiting to watch my mother ascend the staircase accompanied by his brother. They were discussing how they wished to retire for the night and enjoy the rest of the evening alone. My father took those words as if they were going to sleep together in his brother’s quarters. As my mother and uncle arrived at the top of the stairs, he saw my mother’s hand in his brother’s hand.”
“Your father sounds like a stalker,” said Delia. She let out a giggle as they neared the top of the staircase.
“He was a lurker, but he didn’t stay in the shadows for long. He lunged for my mother’s throat and commenced to strangling her. My uncle fought to get my father off of her. My grandfather heard the commotion and came out of his bedroom and sought to break up the brawl. Before any of them could free themselves of the entanglement, they fell over the banister into the hallway of the first level.”
“They didn’t all die instantly, right?” asked Delia. As she felt the broken banister of the second level. “I don’t think we ever heard how they really died.
“No, they did not. I have never told anyone how the dastardly deed was done. However, I trust you will do the right thing with the information and not make my family look any worse.”
“You know me well. Thank you for making me feel so privileged and honored.”
“You’re welcome, Delia,” said Logan. He cleared his throat. “This is difficult for me to say…my grandfather saw me run out of my room to look over the banister and he ordered me to get his gun. I obeyed and running with the gun, I accidently shot my grandmother as she stood in shock looking over this very banister. She fell to her death. My grandfather yelled at me to shoot them all to relieve them of their painful injuries. I obliged and shot them all. I placed the gun in my grandfather’s cold hand and walked out of the house into the night and erased it from my memory.”
Delia looked at Logan in horror. “How can you recall it so well now?”
“It all floods back to me when I step foot in this wretched place,” said Logan as he fixed his eyes on the spot where his elders fell. “It was a duty I was called to perform and now I must oblige again.”
“I am not following you.”
“Yes, you are following me and you have followed me to this very spot where you will meet your fear. Who shall be the victor Delia?” asked Logan in a monotone voice.
Delia stood stuck as an uneasy feeling took over her body.
Chapter Three
The landing became icy cold and spread throughout the house. Delia felt chilled to the bone. Logan’s newfound stony demeanor was invading her self-assurance. She was no longer capable of making a determined action. She was experiencing the organic fear she had spoken of before. She began to shudder as she stood next to the man she trusted and who was now eroding her bravery.
Logan’s blood was beginning to boil. He could hear instructions being whispered to him as he stood there. He tried to block them out before, but they were becoming more audible. Logan knew who they were and knew what he had to do.
As if Delia was reading Logan’s mind, she jumped back from the broken banister and clung to the wall behind them.
“Are you afraid now?” asked Logan turning to look at her. His eyes were cold and hard.
Delia could find not her voice. It had sunk deep into her soul.
“Now is not the time, Delia.”
She felt her skin crawl at the creepy way he dragged out her name.
“Come here, Delia,” said Logan as he walked to her.
“I didn’t come here for this. If you’re some psycho, I won’t tell anyone ok. Please understand I am a professional only here to do a job,” said Delia. She had her arms outstretched as if she was holding up the wall with her back. She feared to leave her safe spot on the wall.
As Logan paused walking towards her, a figure of a man stood between them. He had long stringy hair, squinty red eyes and a face revealing a heinous toothless grin. He took steps toward her on the wall. She tried to melt into the wall. Her horrified frame trembled from her eyelids to her toes. Delia squeezed her eyes shut and felt a clammy hand on her arm.
“I said it’s not time,” said Logan.
“Time for what?” Delia blurted out. She hoped her outburst would make the horrendous figure disappear. Delia slowly opened her eyes to see Logan standing in front of her. “Who was that?”
“Delia, I’m not ready,” said Logan grabbing her arm.
“What are you talking about?” she asked in a high pitched voice. “Didn’t you see that hideous man in front of you?”
“That hideous man was my grandfather,” said Logan. He now gripped both of her arms and pulled her away from the wall.
“Your grandfather is dead,” Delia said. She gasped. “So I saw my very first ghost.”
“It won’t be your last,” he said. He grinned. “I’m going to make you an expert on ghosts. You will learn all you have ever wanted to know beginning tonight.”
“I don’t want to see anymore ghosts, Logan. I want to get out of here. I believe the story now. Your house is haunted. Can I please leave?” pleaded Delia.
“You’re living out your dream. I’m successful enough to make dreams come true for others. Have you ever dreamed of your death?”
Delia began shaking her head from side to side many times. She wanted to shake him from her consciousness.
“I have dreamed about your death for some time now, but I never knew why. Grandfather just reminded me,” he said. He gave a deep guttural laugh.
Delia squeezed her eyes shut once more hoping to squeeze this nightmare out of her life. She strained against Logan’s pull. He wanted her close to him. His strength overpowered her. He stopped yanking her arms when they heard many doors banging shut throughout the house. It was as if the house was closing in on itself. Delia uttered a cry.
“It is time,” whispered Logan into her ear.
Delia never heard his voice sound as raspy and harsh as it did.
Logan looked over to the staircase. To Delia’s amazement she heard footsteps running up the stairs and from down the hallway of the second floor. She could not see anyone, she could only hear the heavy pounding of footsteps coming nearer to them.
Delia struggled to free herself from his grip. He was strong. As she sank to the floor to escape his tight grasp, Delia saw shadowy figures surrounding them with glaring stares. She was overwhelmed with fear and crouched to the floor.
Logan saw his family too. He knew the crushing responsibility. They needed him to perform his duty again. To supply their appetite for death. It was all for the family name. If he tried to leave and save Delia, the house would crush them both with an overpowering evil force filled with his family members.
They would let him go free, only after he did what he was raised to do when asked. They had a reputation to uphold. To haunt anyone brave enough to step into their home.
“Why are you on the floor like a child, Delia?” asked Logan. His voice sounding low and soft.
She was frozen to the floor and could not utter a word.
In the outside world, Logan was master of his environment. In Chambers house, he was no master, only an obedient child to his elders. He was not a successful businessman with a secret to hide about his blackouts. He only knew when he stepped inside these walls, he was their child again and he felt safe. His willpower shriveled to nothing.
Delia screamed as the shadowy figures began to hit her and pull her hair.
“Stop, let me go!” she screamed in panic.
“Do it now,” they said in unison filling the entire house with their voices.
Delia attempted to raise herself from the floor and get a
way from Logan and his evil ghost family. They were strong and so was Logan. They crushed her to the floor. She could barely breathe. She tried to scream, but to no avail. Her throat burned as she sucked in air and ushered a whimper.
They lifted her high into the air and threw from the second floor to the first floor below.
Delia tumbled over in the air. She felt like she was gliding down like a feather to a pillow in slow motion. As she was falling, she saw Logan with his ghost family members standing on both sides of him. They watched her wearing vile looks of pleasure on their faces.
She fell to the cold hard marble floor below. Her body hit with a loud thud. Blood streamed out from the back of her head and covered the grimy floor. Delia felt her heart beating out drumbeats to a rhythm that slowed to an end. Her eyes were open wide staring up at Logan. She could see he was laughing, but she could not hear a sound. The world had fallen silent. Only a weak exertion of air came forth from her bloody lips. He continued to stand over her broken body at the edge of the second floor to make sure no life was left in her.