The Haunting of Shadow Hill House

by Caroline Clark

  The house was still quiet, and she tried to tell herself that it was normal. Maybe she should set her iPod up and fill the place with music. It would take her mind off things but that would have to wait. She walked down the long corridor towards their room. Whenever she came close to it she felt her chest tighten and her breath catch in her throat. Only today she did not have to go in there. Today she was going past it and that thought did not make her feel any better. As she approached the small stairs that led to the loft she felt the hairs on her arms raise. It was such a strange sensation. As if a feather had been run along her skin, and yet it was not pleasant. Should she turn back, should she forget this or do it when Mason was here?

  Then she imagined his face if she told him that she was too scared to go into the loft because her hair stood on end. Mason would laugh at her and right now she didn’t think she could take that.

  The staircase was built into a corner and twisted back on itself. It was done to save space but it also made it impossible to see all the way up the stairs. Jenny put her foot on the bottom step and felt her heart kick up a beat. What was wrong with her? Why was she being so childish?

  Ignoring her feelings, she walked up the seven steps and then faced the wall. She could feel her jaw and shoulders tighten as she hesitated before taking the corner. It was as if she expected to be attacked. Breath held, heart pounding, she wanted to turn back. Every instinct told her this was the wrong thing to do and yet what did she expect? A ghost to jump out at her! The girl with eyes the gray of a dead fish and the evil sneer came to mind. Was she really frightened of a child? Would she let a child destroy her future, her family’s future? No, she would not, she could not let these feelings stop her from investigating the house and so she stepped forward and turned the corner. Her whole body tensed and she felt herself cringe back.

  There was nothing there. Just seven more steps and then a door into the attic. Letting out a gasp of air she suddenly felt better. She was behaving like a child and this was foolish. There was nothing in the house that couldn’t be explained. It was just the silly women filling her head with ghost stories, that was all. It had simply set her nerves on edge.

  Jenny reached the door, her heart still pounding. Though she knew she was being silly she could not seem to stop it. Her hand moved down to the handle and a gust of cold air rushed past her. Her hand froze, she wanted to turn, she wanted to run and yet she knew she could not. Somehow, she knew she had to face this but she did not know why. Turning the handle, she pushed, but the door would not open. Then she noticed a bolt, there was a bolt on the outside of the door. Why would that be? The only reason would be to keep something inside and yet that made no sense whatsoever. So, she slid the bolt open, having to work it from side to side as it had rusted in place. It looked like nobody had been up here for many years, or at least not for a long time. Why haven't the contractors checked out the loft? Surely, that was one of the jobs they were supposed to do? It didn't matter now, they had gone, with no real explanation. Then she wondered, had they found the house creepy, scary? A smile came across her face. They were big burly men, what could frighten them?

  She pushed the door open and darkness seemed to rush towards her. Like a shadow crossing over the sun it cooled her skin and dampened her spirits. She reached out to find a light switch and her hand scrabbled about on the wall. The darkness was so intense she felt like she was newly blind and panic rose as the switch eluded her. Fighting down her panic she reached for logic. Why had she not thought to bring a torch? Then she remembered her phone and pulled it from her pocket. Two quick shakes and the torch app came on. Hanging directly in front of her was a light cord. Pulling it, a dull yellow light blinked on and chased away the worst of the darkness.

  Jenny stepped into the attic and moved towards the light. It felt safe. As if the shadows were danger and the patch of sickly light was a sanctuary. What was wrong with her thinking such crazy thoughts?

  The place was filled with boxes but there seemed to be a path between them. It was covered in dust and yet the center of the path had been disturbed. It was not exactly footprints but more, as if something had been dragged across it. Jenny followed deeper and deeper into the attic until she came to the gable end. The path followed around behind more boxes, but there was a large trunk in front of them.

  Jenny was drawn to the trunk and she knelt down and reached her hand out to open it. Cold air rushed past her, lifting her hair and staying her hand. Breath held, she stood as it rose into the eaves whistling as it passed over the tiles and then came back toward her. Jenny closed her eyes and raised her hand expecting an assault. The air pushed her and sent a shiver down her spine. It chilled her skin but then it was gone. It was just a breeze, maybe from a loose tile, and it could not really hurt her.

  As soon as it came it was gone and the loft was suddenly airless and claustrophobic. There was a scratching noise behind her and she turned to find nothing but boxes and shadows. What did she expect? The girl? Rats?

  Admonishing herself, Jenny turned back to the trunk and bending, she reached out once more. Though she was drawn to it she really did not want to open the crate. What did she expect to see? Taking a breath she reached down once more and just as she was about to touch the crate the jarring ring of the house phone jerked her to a stand.

  Feeling suddenly relieved to have an excuse to leave the attic, Jenny turned and ran. She raced down both sets of stairs and along the corridor to the master bedroom. Part of her wanted to run downstairs and pick the phone up there, but she knew she wouldn't make it. Reluctantly, she walked into the master bedroom and once again felt strangely disturbed. It was a pressure, almost like walking into a room when everyone was whispering about you. Like knowing they didn't want you there but knowing there was nothing you could do about it. She felt like the unpopular girl at school, the one no one wanted on their team. The one who was always chosen last and then ignored throughout the game. Yet, the phone sounded urgent and hearing it ring set her stomach turning. So, gritting her teeth, she walked across the room and yanked it out of the station.

  Jenny was clutching the phone so tightly that her knuckles were white.

  "Hello," she said, but her voice was barely a whisper.

  "Mrs. Evans, this is the school. I'm sorry to bother you but I think you need to collect Abby. She's been very upset today and crying constantly. Something about missing her friend."

  "I'm so sorry," Jenny said. "She did leave a lot of friends behind and it must be very difficult."

  "We understand totally and are sure that she will settle down soon. Only, maybe today you could pick her up and perhaps she could speak to Victoria on the phone."

  Jenny felt her blood run cold. Abby had no friends called Victoria... except for the pretend one.

  Chapter 8

  When Jenny picked Abby up from school, she refused to say anything and just wanted to go back to the house. Only, it was not long until they needed to pick Mason up so Jenny took her shopping. Normally, Abby would have loved the trip. She could be a real little princess wanting everything and anything. Shiny object syndrome was what Mason called it. Abby would flit from one trinket to another like a bright little butterfly. Everything would delight her, everything would intrigue her and she never sulked if she was told no. That in itself made it hard to deny her and yet today she walked around the shops like a zombie. Her eyes were looking down at the ground her feet shuffled along and she stumbled every now and then.

  "Let's go get a hot chocolate," Jenny said. This was another thing that would normally have Abby jumping around with delight. Only today she simply shrugged.

  "Are you all right? Are you poorly?" Jenny asked.

  "I just feel lost without Victoria. I just want to see her again."

  Jenny took them into a café and having ordered two hot chocolates, she sat them at a booth.

  "Tell me how you feel, exactly."

  Abby looked up at her. There was a pallor to her skin and her eyes were dull
and lifeless. Jenny's chest clenched with fear as she looked at her little girl. What was wrong with her? Was it just the move, was she missing her friends, or was it something more insidious?

  "I feel weak and so lonely," Abby said. "I just want to go see Victoria. She makes me feel strong and happy and she's my friend."

  "What about your other friends?" Jenny asked.

  "They are not like Victoria," Abby said.

  "No, maybe not, but why not ring them tonight or we can Skype them and you can talk as long as you want?"

  "Victoria doesn't want me to. She says they lie and that they don't really like me."

  Before Jenny could think of an answer, her mobile phone rang and she was almost relieved to see that it was Mason.

  Soon, she had picked him up and they were driving back to the house. He was excited, it looked like he had found a good job for at least a few months. The money would certainly help and yet, the first thing Jenny thought was that it was not enough for them to move out of Shadow Hill House. What was wrong with her? She wanted this move, this had been her dream for so long and now it was so close and yet she wanted to run away. Was this just her sabotaging her future? Maybe it was, maybe she was looking for problems because she was frightened of success. Or frightened of failure?

  When they got back to the house Jenny put a cottage pie in the oven. She wanted to speak to Mason and was relieved when Abby went straight to her room.

  "How was your day?" Mason asked.

  Before Jenny could answer he was talking again and she could see an excitement in him that had been missing for some time. Though she wanted to talk to him, to explain her fears, she hadn't yet got them sorted in her own mind. So, she let him speak and tried to work out what she needed to say.

  It seemed Mason had got a position as an accountant for a small engineering firm. The man who was doing it before him had had some accident while on holiday and wouldn't be coming back to work for at least a few months.

  "Andrew, from the Chamber, thinks that by the time that happens I can have built up quite a nice clientele of my own. I think this could be a really good move," he said as he helped to lay the table. "He's already put me in touch with a few people. I think I can get my first client by the end of this week. Okay, it might be difficult for the first few months working a job and taking clients on the side, but I really do think we can do this."

  "That sounds fantastic," Jenny said. She was pleased and yet worried. How could she tell him that there was something wrong with the house? That… oh, exactly what was it she wanted to tell him? The problem was she didn't know. When you tried to put it into words it all seemed like nothing. She was scared of the house, scared of the master bedroom, scared of the loft. Abby was getting a strange attachment to an imaginary friend. Was this all just in their heads or was there something more? She really wanted to ask that question, to confide in Mason and yet she feared that he would just push her fears to one side and maybe even laugh at her.

  Mason continued to chat and soon it was time for dinner. He called Abby down and they sat around the table a family again. Something had definitely changed with Mason. The confidence of getting a job so quickly had brought him back to the man he used to be. At first, the meal seemed so normal. Mason pulling faces at Abby, her sticking her tongue out at him and laughter all around the table. The longer the meal went on the more Jenny relaxed. Maybe she had invented the problems, was looking for them and therefore finding them. Maybe things were going to be all right after all.

  Jenny had bought a cherry pie while they were out shopping and it was warming in the oven. Grabbing the oven gloves she opened the door to get it.

  "Why were you in the attic, Mummy?" Abby asked.

  Jenny froze. She could feel the heat from the oven as it hit her face and yet she felt cold as ice. How had she known? Quickly, she racked her brain going back over all their conversations. Had she mentioned going into the loft? No, she was sure she hadn't.

  "How did you know I went into the loft?"

  "Victoria told me. She says you mustn't go in there, that it’s private, and that bad things happen in there."

  Jenny felt the breath catch in her throat. Her hands were still poised in front of the pie and she knew that she must move but right at that moment she did not trust her fingers enough to dare lift the pie. With shaky hands she shut the oven door and leaned against the sink.

  "Abby," Mason used his stern tone. "Don't use this imaginary friend as an excuse to be rude to your mum."

  Jenny heard Mason admonish Abby but she did not know what to think. Her daughter’s words went through her mind again and again. "Bad things happen in there." What did she mean? What bad things?

  "I'm sorry, Daddy," Abby said.

  "Tell me what bad things happen in the attic?" Jenny asked.

  Abby looked as if she was talking to someone and then her face crinkled with frustration and she turned to face her mum.

  "Victoria doesn't want to talk about it anymore. She said if you don't go up there you won't find out. She's not sure if she wants you to be her mummy anymore and she doesn't even want to talk to me."

  "Abby, that's enough," Mason said, "now go to your room."

  Abby got up and stamped her feet before walking out.

  "What has gotten into her?" Mason asked with a smile on his face at their daughter’s behavior.

  Jenny retrieved the pie from the oven and placed it on the table. She cut them both a slice as she tried to work out what to say. Whatever happened, this was going to be a long and difficult conversation.

  "I need you to listen to me and to keep an open mind," Jenny said. "There's something about this Victoria that worries me."

  Jenny explained everything she could as well as she could and waited for Mason to laugh at her. He didn't. Though he didn't believe the house was to blame for Abby's behavior he could understand her worries. He promised to keep an eye out and an open mind and he promised to listen whenever she needed to talk.

  It was a start and Jenny felt a weight lift off her mind. Maybe just talking about this could solve the problem. She really hoped so.

  Chapter 9

  Abby had been in her room for over an hour and she had not yet asked to come out. This was unusual. Normally when she was sent to her room she would manage about half an hour and then she would come down. Her hands would be clasped together and her mouth would be closed tight. It was as if she wanted to talk but knew she mustn’t. So she would clamp her lips tight until she saw them smile. Then she would say she was sorry and they would open their arms. It was the signal that she was forgiven and she would run to them and be hugged for the rest of the evening.

  Jenny didn’t like it that she had not followed her normal pattern. So, after an hour she crept up to her room. Abby was talking to herself but she could not hear what she was saying. It was a strange feeling but she was afraid for her little girl and a little afraid of her.

  Bad things happen in there. Where did that thought come from?

  Jenny listened at the door, her hand poised on the handle. Should she go in? Should she leave Abby a little longer? Then she thought about all her daughter had been through and she knew that she needed that cuddle even if Abby didn’t.

  Gently, she knocked on the door and stepped into the room. Abby looked angry. There was a fury in her eyes that Jenny did not recognize and she felt herself recoil from it. What was happening?

  “I thought I was supposed to be left alone,” Abby snapped.

  "I just wanted to see how you were," Jenny said, surprised that her voice cracked with emotion and a little fear. Had bringing her child here caused this? Or was it just the inevitable stress of Mason losing his job? In many ways they had had no choice. The chances of him getting another job in London were slim and the expense of living there was exorbitant. Though he was reluctant to make the move, Mason had agreed that it was the right choice to make and now he had a job here and things were moving on. They could turn their family around and ye
t when Jenny looked at Abby, she saw the malicious spite of Victoria staring back at her and it chilled her to the bone. She was also holding Mr. Good Bear in front of her like a shield. The blood splattered across his front as obvious as always. For a few more long seconds they stared at each other. Like strangers fighting over the same cab on a cold rainy night. Their eyes locked and neither one would back down. Then the air seemed to crackle with static. For a moment, the room cooled and then it was like the storm had passed. Suddenly, Jenny could breathe as she saw a smile on Abby's face. What had happened? Abby was no longer the same, it was as if she was a different person. Only how could that be possible?

  "I'm sorry, Mum, I don't know why I say these things, will you forgive me?"

  "Always," Jenny said as she rushed forward and scooped her into her arms. Abby smelt of apples. It was a shampoo they used for her hair and it was so normal and so Abby that Jenny felt tears running down her face. As she hugged the child, she knew she had to find out what was happening in this house. Something told her she must go back to the loft, to the trunk there. She was also going to the library, to see what she could find out. Something told her the battle lines had been drawn and if she did not accept the challenge then she was bound to lose.

  "You want to come and join us for a while?" Jenny asked.

  "I'm really tired, can you read me a story?"

  Jenny nodded and watched as Abby got ready and climbed into bed. She took Mr. Good Bear in with her and Jenny shuddered. When she sat down on the bed and placed the book between them Jenny managed to pull the bear out and toss it behind her. Maybe she could throw it away? She knew Abby would be upset but was sure it wouldn't last too long. Maybe she should just get another bear and replace this one and yet somehow, she knew it would not be that easy.