The Haunting of Shadow Hill House

by Caroline Clark

  The Haunting of Shadow Hill House

  Caroline Clark

  Spooky Night Books

  “Sleep, those little slices of death — how I loathe them.”

  — Edgar Allan Poe.

  Sleep Well.

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  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  Preview: The Haunting of Brynlee House

  Preview: The Haunting of Seafield House

  About the Author

  Prologue

  May 24th 1690

  Shadow Hill House,

  Crick Howell

  Wales,

  United Kingdom.

  11.02 pm.

  Closing her eyes tightly, Victoria clutched Mr. Good Bear to her chest and tried to shut out the noise. Mr. Good Bear was her favorite toy and the smell and feel of him always gave her strength. He was a brave bear and was hardly ever afraid of the dark. Yet it was so dark that she knew even Mr. Good Bear would be a little scared. Outside, the storm raged against the window threatening to come in and wash her away. She did not know where it would take her but she knew it would not be good.

  The sound of rain on the glass was like a million tiny fingers all trying to get in, all trying to get to her. Try as she might she could not shut out the sound and yet part of her wanted it to get louder. She wanted it to drown out the noise of shouting and crying that had woken her. Why was this happening again? It didn’t make sense.

  Before she could decide on an answer a scream rang out through the night and Victoria backed further under the bed. This was her safe place, this was where she came whenever the shouting got too much or the monsters too close. Usually she could put her fingers in her ears, rest her head on Mr. Good Bear and shut out the noise but tonight she was so frightened. Maybe it was the storm. Maybe it was the flashes of lightning that lit up the room and yet left so many shadows. Victoria hated the dark, hated the shadows. Things hid in the dark and lived in the gloom of the shadows. Things she didn't want to think about but they were creepy, crawly and had hands that reached out and grasped you when you couldn't see them. The monsters came in the dark and the monsters scared her almost as much as Daddy. Yet, when she was under the bed she was safe. It was a bubble of protection that no monster could cross. Mummy had told her she didn’t need it but Victoria knew she was wrong. Under here she was safe and the monsters could slink and slide around the room. Their greedy hands clasping for her but they would never find her if she kept still and quiet. It was hard to keep quiet. With every noise she let out a little gasp and her breath was coming so fast she was sure the monsters would be drawn to her.

  “Safe,” she whispered. “Safe in my bubble.” Tears escaped her eyes and slipped down her face to land on Mr. Good Bear. “Keep quiet, must keep quiet,” she sobbed and tried to still the beating of her heart. Tried to still the blood rushing through her ears but it was no use. As much as she wanted to hide she also wanted to hear. She wanted to go to Mummy, wanted to be safe in her arms. To be told the monster wasn't here and yet Mummy was crying and she sounded almost as afraid as Victoria was. That was one of the things that Victoria could never understand. Mummies weren't supposed to be afraid. They were strong and they chased away the monsters. If Mummy was afraid then maybe she had lied. Mummy always said the monsters weren't real but if Mummy was afraid then that shadow in the corner wasn't just a shadow.

  As lightning flashed Victoria got a glimpse into the corner. It was so quick and so full of shadow that she couldn't really see and yet she did. Big red eyes were peering back at her. Huge teeth glinted and glistened with saliva and then were gone, swallowed by the darkness just as the monster would soon swallow her. Victoria knew she should always hide when the shouting started but tonight she couldn't. Tonight, Mummy was afraid and so was she. It would be better if they were together, they could comfort each other and Mummy would keep her safe. Maybe she could bring Mummy back and they could hide under the bed with Mr. Good Bear.

  “Would you help me hide my mummy?” she asked and automatically she tilted the bear to nod his approval. It made her feel better. She was not alone.

  Another scream rang out through the night. This one was tortured and spoke of pain and fear.

  Victoria knew she had to go, that she must get past the monster and yet suddenly she could not move. The room was so dark and yet the darkness was full of darker and these were the bits that scared her. She could only see the bottom of the room, as she peeked out from under the blankets that she had arranged so they almost touched the floor, and yet she was sure she could see things moving.

  Another scream rang out through the night and Victoria let out a sob. Only now she found she could move. Clutching tightly to Mr. Good Bear she shuffled out from under the bed and ran to the door. Her hand was slick with sweat and it slipped on the handle. Her breath was coming in short shallow gasps and she could feel something behind her. Was it the monster? Desperately, she tried to hold the handle, tried to turn it but her hand kept slipping. Now she could feel the breath of the monster on her neck. It was cold and it smelt bad. Before she realized, her bladder loosened and hot urine was running down her legs. There was no time for shame, it did not even register over her terror and at last the door handle opened. Pulling it towards her she slipped around the door and raced down the corridor towards the shouting.

  Surely Mummy and Daddy wouldn't shout if she was there. She knew Mummy had told her to ignore them. That it didn't matter and that no matter what, she must never to come when Daddy was shouting. Only they would understand because of the monster!

  The corridor was dark and long and curled around the house. There was a banister to her right and doors opened on her left. She thought there were six but was not sure as she could not count. Hers was the furthest room from Mummy’s and sometimes she hated that. At night she would lie awake and wonder if they would hear her if the monster came. What if she was asleep and the monster came? Would she be eaten before she could wake?

  It was hard to run in the dark and her bare feet slapped on the wooden floor so hard it almost hurt. As she raced onward it felt as if she were falling and she wheeled her arms and saw a glimmer of light ahead, a ray of hope. That was Mummy and Daddy's room; that was a sanctuary from the monster. Would she make it in time?

  Fear gave her legs speed and she raced towards that light, towards safety.

  It seemed to take forever to run the length of the hallway and every step of the way the monster got closer. Victoria could feel it behind her, could hear it behind her and she ran faster and faster, blind with panic. Her legs were flapping, her arms were flapping. Mr. Good Bear was clutched tightly in her right hand; he seemed to be willing her along. She raced as fast as her legs would carry her and yet the light seemed so far away. Would she make it? Would the monster eat her just moments away fr
om safety? At first, she thought the monster was making a noise, it was a little huck, huck, huck. Soon, she realized that it was her and she tried to stop the crying. Everyone knew you had to be quiet when the monster was there and so she ran faster, ignoring the shouts and screams that she was running towards.

  Mr. Good Bear was urging her on. Willing her to safety. In her mind she could hear him telling her to run faster, just a little faster. Though he could not stop the monster he could help her with that and he did. Soon they would be safe with Mummy for she could see the door ahead. Tonight, it was open, which was unusual and for a moment she faltered. Then the monster roared and the house seemed to quake beneath it. Crying out in alarm she raced towards the open door.

  As she reached the door, lightning lit up the room and the sight before her was almost as bad as the monster.

  Mummy was lying on the floor in front of the bed. Blood and bruises covered her face and there was terror in her eyes. Victoria clutched Mr. Good Bear, holding him to her chest she sucked on his ear. Normally this would calm her but not tonight. Tears were streaming down her face and she wanted to go to Mummy but she could not move because the monster had gotten around her and was blocking her way. It was bigger than she remembered and twice as scary. Once more, the monster roared and Victoria wanted to cover her ears and dive beneath Mummy's bed but she could not get to it. She tried to point, tried to talk, to tell Mummy to get under the bed but no words came out and Mummy just sat there. Didn't she realize it was safe under the bed?

  Lightning flooded the room and the monster turned to Victoria and suddenly it all made sense.

  The monster was Daddy and he was going to eat her.

  Light glinted off a blade in his right hand and then the room was plunged into darkness once more. A flickering lamp in the corner barely chased away the gloom. Victoria could hear moving but she could not see anything. Standing as still as she could she tried to make herself small. That was another way to beat the monster. If you were so small, quiet, and so still, it wouldn't see you. Maybe it would go right on past you so why was Mummy crying, didn't she remember all the tricks she had told Victoria to beat the monster?

  Victoria stood in the dark, trying to be small and insignificant as she listened to her mummy sobbing.

  "Victoria baby, go back to your room," she sobbed out the words. "Everything’s okay, baby, just go back to your room and Mummy will come and see you soon."

  At first the words were just noises and Victoria couldn't make them out, but then she gradually understood them and she wanted to turn and run but her legs would not move.

  The daddy monster growled again and almost immediately the house was filled with light. Victoria let out a scream as she saw the monster stalking closer to Mummy. A long claw in its right hand was raised and just before the darkness fell it slashed down. Victoria screamed and felt something warm and wet splash across her face and arms. It covered Mr. Good Bear and that made her want to cry.

  Monster juice all over her bear that should never happen.

  As her eyes became accustomed to the dark she saw the monster turn towards her. She knew she must run, must get back under the bed and yet her legs would not move. The monster approached her and roared again, only this time it was not as loud and she knew it was words, only she could not understand them. Shaking, she clutched Mr. Good Bear to her chest and tried to stop the tears. Maybe she could talk to the monster, if it was talking to her, and yet she could not understand what it was saying.

  "Have you wet yourself again?" The monster roared. "You are such a pathetic child." The monster roared again and this time they were no longer words it was just a stream of vehement anger and filth.

  As Victoria tried to sink into the floor the monster grabbed her and she was yanked from her feet. She knew it was the end, that she was going to be eaten and she let go of Mr. Good Bear, hoping that at least he would escape. In the foyer below, the old grandfather clock chimed the 15 minutes. It was 11.15 pm.

  Chapter 1

  April 3rd, 2017.

  Shadow Hill House,

  Crick Howell

  Wales,

  United Kingdom.

  3.02 pm.

  Jenny Evans felt her tummy tighten as they turned off the small lane and onto the long sweeping driveway. Trees lined each side and sunlight dappled across the bonnet of the blue Cavalier as they accelerated up the hill.

  The atmosphere in the car was thick and heavy and she feared things could only get worse. Mason was angry with her, angry at himself, and instead of looking at this move as a new opportunity he had become more petulant than Abby who sat behind them playing on her tablet.

  Jenny could understand Abby being upset. At 7-years-old this was a big move. She had left behind all her friends, her school, her home. Everything that was familiar had gone and Jenny understood why her daughter was hurt. Turning, she smiled at Abby. They had the same brown eyes and the same long black hair. As slick as a raven’s wings Mason once told her and she remembered how it made her feel uneasy. Abby had her dad’s lips which were fuller than Jenny’s but that was where the similarity ended. Jenny gave her daughter a smile and was rewarded with a grin. It lifted her sadness and filled her with hope. They were a family and they would get through this.

  Of course, they had to; this move had left them in serious debt and with nothing to fall back on. Jenny felt a moment of doubt. What if she failed, what if her idea, her dream was just that? What had she done to her family?

  As they climbed the hill to approach the house the sun went behind a cloud. Would it rain while they were moving in? Jenny hoped not and she sneaked a glance at Mason. Beneath a mop of short and always unruly brown hair, his jaw was clenched tight and his hands gripped the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles showed white. Steel blue eyes stared out the windscreen and she heard him tut when he saw the house sign.

  It was hung at an angle and looked old and battered. Shadow Hill House was barely readable beneath the peeling paint. Weren’t the contractors supposed to have changed it? Jenny noted that it would need to be changed. She wanted her guests to have a good impression and this was the first thing they would see.

  Then she thought of the contractors. How they had promised what would be done and then how George Draper had rung her just two weeks ago and told her they could not finish the job. That something had happened and they would return a percentage of her money. She had been unable to get an answer from him as to what the problem was and wondered if one of the men had been involved in an accident. George had assured her that enough of the work was done for them to move in and so Jenny had been relieved. It reduced the amount of overdraft they needed to get this place up and running.

  The car continued to climb up the hill before turning a corner and the gothic mansion came into view. The sun came from behind the clouds and seemed to spotlight the house. It was just as beautiful as Jenny expected and she drew in a breath. A large white house stood before them surrounded by green. There was a circular turret on each side of the front door topped with the cutest pointed roof. For a moment, she just stared and took in the beauty of the place. They were at the crest of the hill. The house surrounded by its own gardens and then countryside. She could see a woodland to one side and fields spread out below. It really was a most idyllic setting and instantly Jenny saw the lawn filled with artists. All painting the wonderful scenery or even the house, their house.

  She turned to her right as Mason slowed the car and pulled it up on the circular driveway. His mouth was open and there was a look of wonder on his face. Before she could feel happy, it was gone, replaced with a look of worry and then even that was gone, replaced with his now familiar scowl.

  Once more her stomach tensed. This was supposed to be a new start for all of them and yet without his help, without his support, it would be so much harder.

  “Wow!” Abby said from the back seat. “It’s so big and like a castle. Can I have the room in the turret? Please, please, please, I will be li
ke a princess.”

  Jenny let the tension go and got out of the car. There was a slight breeze but it was warm and invigorating, the clouds had passed over for now. She took a moment to look around. This was the perfect place to paint and the perfect place to raise a family. No crime, no pollution, and plenty of fresh air and places to walk.

  Abby was already out and running towards the house.

  “You’ll need the key, silly,” Jenny called, and then felt a moment of panic as Abby opened the front door and disappeared inside. “It’s unlocked,” she said, but Mason was taking no notice. He was unloading cases from the boot and could not hear her. Feeling uneasy, Jenny left him to it and walked up to the house.

  The driveway was old tarmac and weeds were showing in places. It was not bad but still gave an impression of neglect, and she realized it would need to be cleared. Maybe they could spray?

  As she neared the house she could see the paint was a little faded. Again, it was not too bad but did it give the right impression? It didn’t matter. There was no more money. They would be living on next to nothing as it was until the first guests arrived and she received some income. How long was that? Just over six weeks. Luckily, some had already paid and that would have to tide them over for the foreseeable future.

  The door was open as Jenny approached but just before she got to it, it slammed shut with a resounding crash. A shock raced down her arms and her pulse rocketed. “Abby,” she called and reached out to the handle. At first it would not turn. It felt as if someone was holding it on the other side and Jenny felt her panic rise. It fluttered in her chest like a trapped bird as she imagined her little girl hurt. The door had been open. Was someone here? Had someone got Abby?