Chapter Eleven
Last night I had another strange dream. Mom, dad and I moved into Grandpa’s house, but the house was haunted! Faucets in my bathroom would turn on and the water would run. I know it seems like a typical cliché but it scared the hell out of me. At one point, mom and dad left and I got into my bed for a nap, I think. I had a baby monitor, for some reason, and began hearing a woman on it. But there was no one in the house!
Suddenly, something came into the room. I don’t know what happened next because my parents came home. But something else stood out at me: the house. It changed shape during my dream. I remember it being two stories with a cute and cozy layout. There were lots of windows along one side of the wall. Then, I realized I was in the room: dark leather furniture took up the right side of the room while a tiny bar was in the far right corner. I think there was a room beside the bar, making the room an L shape. I can’t remember specifics though, I woke up soon after.
It was past two o’clock in the morning and I trembled from tonight’s dream. Though it was nothing like the dream I had last night, the fear was still the same. I rubbed my eyes and took a sip of water. It always helped to keep water on my bedside.
I definitely was not living in the house of my nightmares, like my dream suggested. I searched this house yesterday when daddy and I cleaned, including Grandpa’s room, and I never saw the room of my nightmares. Yet, the house might actually exist and be located in Lee.
Ohhhhh, I needed to stretch and get some fresh air! I felt trapped in my tiny room. The house was air conditioned, but it didn’t work so well upstairs. I gathered my shoes and journal, and opened my door. I crept slowly past my parents open room. Thank goodness they were in deep sleep otherwise they might have heard me. The stairs stayed silent as I came down them. Once I was safely on the first floor, I hurried past the living room and into the kitchen. My socks softened my footsteps, so the floors did not betray me by making noise as I skidded across them.
Once I was safely outside on the sunporch, I walked carefully to the patio under my window. The Texas summer breeze was amazing at this time of night. In the darkness of the country, there where hundreds of thousands of stars. I never saw stars like this in New York. I inhaled the clean country air and sat down in the chair. It felt good to be outside again. I opened my journal to write down my dream as the breeze gently cooled off my skin.
My dreams are getting stronger and stranger. Much of my dream tonight takes place in the future – a future that will happen?? I’m shopping in a mall but end up in ‘the house’. A living/entertainment room on the second floor of a house with large windows on the far right side. They open to a large wood deck and a distinct tree line. The house is not haunted this time but full of people. They are watching me and chanting some sort of voodoo words.
They’re wearing shiny, silky black capes with hoods. I can’t see their faces or the color of their hair but I think I know these people. I can’t get closer to see them clearly because my legs and feet are tied up. This doesn’t worry me for some reason.
To my left, a man is holding a large silver knife. It was beautiful as he stood in front of me and pushed it into my chest. The red rubies were from the knife, not my blood draining from me. What were those yellow things on the knife? I guess it doesn’t matter now. The point is he stabs me with it, into my chest and through my heart.
The pain feels real as I look into the face of the man.
It’s my grandfather!!
And though my dream ends, I’m left with a lot of questions and fear.
Am I going to live in this house one day?? It’s getting pretty creepy – I’ve dreamt of the house on many separate occasions, but never like this. Never has grandpa been evil in my dreams!
Once again, I shut the journal. It was almost three in the morning. I shifted my back in the chair. My back felt stiff at my shoulders. I rubbed them as I listened to the wind moving the water in the tank. If I listened to it hard enough, I could pretend it was the ocean. Yet, as I listened to the water, I heard the silent whisper of the trees. I stopped moving to listen closely to the words. I could not make sense of it, but I know I heard them whispering. The overwhelming sensation someone was watching me forced me to leave the patio and go back inside. I tried to shut the patio door softly while locking it.
I felt relieved to be back inside and let out a sigh of relief. I walked into the house and through the kitchen and living room. The stairs looked like an exhausting climb and I groaned when I saw them. I had not gone two steps up the stairs when I heard a laugh from the living room. I stopped and snapped my neck down to view the room. Chills ran up my spine. No one was in here, but I knew I heard it. The living room was dark, but grandpa kept the lights highlighting the artwork lit, giving the room a warm orange glow. Everything was quiet and still. I waited for a few moments, searching for any signs of movement or voices. My heart started to slow down a little. Maybe it was the wind making noise in the chimney? Grandpa said the house was over a hundred years old and things do go bump in the night due to the age.
I liked the lies that I told myself. It was comforting.
I turned to go back up the stairs when I saw her standing at the top of the landing. A torn mouth smiled down at me. Her teeth and eyes glowed brightly in the light. The rest of her body was hidden by the dark shadows, covering her like a co-conspirator. I saw water dripping from her hair and clothes. My ears caught the sounds as it fell onto the carpeted stairs. I could see the outline of her ghostly body as she stood there, watching me. Her breath was slow and raspy. Since the house was silent, her breathing was the only sound that could be heard. My knees shook just as hard as my hands as I stood there, mesmerized by her. My heart pounded terribly as a cold sweat worked its way to my face. I didn’t know what to do. I was completely frozen where I stood. Screaming would normally be my first reaction, but I was surprised at the sudden appearance of her that I could not remember what the logical response was. She walked slowly down the stairs. One foot came down the top step, then another. Her wet feet squished the carpet as she descended.
Squish, squish.
She stopped a few steps above me and whispered, “Run.”
I howled from fright, she did not need to tell me twice. My feet bolted for grandpa’s room. I looked back as I threw his door open and she continued to stand on the stairs, watching me. Her head followed my every movement.
“Grandpa!” I screamed as I burst into his room and jumped into his bed. “There’s someone out there!”
His anger was mighty. No one had ever woken him like this before and he was greatly pissed off, even at me. “What is going on? What the hell is wrong with you, Regina?”
“Grandpa, someone’s in the house! On the stairs!” I pointed to the door. Just as I said it, footsteps ran hard across the living room floor. We were in full view of the room and though we could hear the footsteps, we didn’t see anyone. Grandpa reached instinctively for his gun in his nightstand. It was an old pistol, his favorite, and always kept loaded right beside his bed.
“Stay here.” He grumbled. I nodded, there was no way I was going anywhere.
As he advanced on his doorway, the footsteps erupted into a full on run across the dining room and kitchen. We heard the kitchen door slam with such ferocity it shook the house.
“Dad?” Daddy called from upstairs.
“Lynda up there?”
“Yeah. What’s going on?”
“Get yer gun. Someone broke in.” Grandpa called.
Daddy and grandpa searched the house from top to bottom. It was empty except for the four of us. They asked me to describe in specific detail what the person looked like. More importantly, they wanted to know what I was doing in the house at night.
“I had a nightmare.” I explained. “It shook me enough that I went outside for some fresh air. When I came back in, it was on the stairs.” I will never forget Jeff’s lesson in telling stories. K.I.S.S., meaning Keep It Simple, Stupid.<
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“You let someone in the house?” My mother asked incredulously.
“No, Lynda. Regina wouldn’t do something like that.” Grandpa stuck up for me. “They were probably in the house before she went outside. Was the kitchen door locked when you went out?”
“No.” I admitted.
Daddy spoke up with a guilty voice. “That’s my fault. I went outside for a cigarette when Lynda went to bed.” Mom looked at him sharply. She made him quit smoking a year ago. It pissed mom off that he was killing himself with those things.
“Well it’s locked now. Ain’t never heard of no thief who locks the door behind them.” Grandpa said.
I laid my cheek against the arm rest if the couch while the adults talked. They contemplated calling the sheriff, but decided it could wait till morning. Grandpa seemed sure they were not coming back. I, on the other hand, was scared out of my wits. The girl’s eerie voice replayed itself in my head the rest of the night. It was frightening. After checking all the doors and windows, they went back to their rooms.
On the way back up the stairs, my father called out, “Regina, be careful bringing drinks upstairs! It’s wet up here!”
The next morning, we had visitors for breakfast.
Their peals of laughter floated up to my room. It was only eight in morning on a Saturday. My shoulders hurt terribly this morning. I groaned and put my head under my pillow to drown out their voices, but my head slapped the journal I left there a couple of hours ago. Ouch! This day was not starting out well.
The smell of grandpa’s biscuits and fresh expensive coffee was the only thing that got me out of bed. I turned over, put on my robe, and brushed my teeth before it could compute to me that we possibly had company. I opened the armoire and chose a cute Prada dress with blue Manalo shoes. I felt grumpy, but I looked unbelievably cute. I left my room, walked downstairs, and into the kitchen.
They sat at the dining room table, eating breakfast, and sipping coffee. My grandfather was at the one end of the table, daddy was at the other. Mom and some lady were on one side, having a good time. The smile on my mother’s face indicated she was quite happy. It pained me. I never saw her so happy when dad and I were with her. Mom and I are pretty close, but that closeness felt as if it’s dwindling down.
The woman who made my mother so happy was a pretty, petite red head. Her hair was cut fashionably short to her chin line. Her pretty hazel eyes were filled with sunshine, as well as her smile. Those perfect white teeth were evidence of many years wearing braces. Her tiny nose and thin lips made her face look beautiful.
When I walked in, she was telling a story. Her hands were wild with gestures, just like my mother did when she told a story. The brown sweater hid her emerald green short sleeve shirt. I could not see the rest of her, but chunky jewelry hung from her arms and fingers. Her fashion sense was pretty cool. This woman must be my mother’s sister, Rachel. The two brats sitting across from them must be Rachel’s children, my cousins. I walked into the room a little further.
“Good morning Regina. Um, did you sleep well?” My mother asked.
Giggles rippled across the table at my mother’s joke. I guess they heard about the invisible intruder last night. When aunt Rachel smiled, I noticed her dimple was gone. In fact, her cheeks were pretty hollow. They matched her thin body and her hair dye job was pretty good. She was a brunette in her younger days and a red head now. She looked chic.
“Actually, I didn’t sleep so well, but Grandpa’s biscuits woke me.” I smiled at my grandfather. The two heads in front of me turned around and looked at me. The girl looked about my age, with blonde hair and blue eyes. When she saw me, she smiled as if she was glad I finally arrived. The little boy could not be older than ten. When our eyes met, he glared at me in fury.
“Sweetie, this is my sister, Rachel, and these are your cousins, MeKayla and Michael.”
“Good morning.” I said acknowledging all of them. “It’s nice to meet you.”
The ice was broken with my kind smile and polite words. It seemed like everyone waited with baited breath for my reaction.
“Go on ahead and get ya a plate, hon.” Grandpa said as he patted my hand. I loved grandpa’s little southern accent.
My breakfast waited for me on the antique gas stove. I took a good whiff of the biscuits before I took a lot. Grandpa made these from scratch every weekend morning. Since he got up so early to tend to his vegetable garden, he made these perfect and delicious biscuits. I sat down eager to gobble these things down!
There wasn’t a seat was available at the table so I guess I don’t have to sit with them. I suppressed a giggle and started scarfing the food down in the kitchen. Daddy gave me a toxic look as he sipped his coffee. What was up with him this morning?
Mom and aunt Rachel started talking again and the brats talked with daddy. Only grandpa came over to me to ask how I was doing. I was beginning to love my grandpa deeply. He would talk to me about anything: his youth, life, marriage, life in general. I told him about Jeff and my life in New York. We had a lot of things in common. We loved old black and white movies, pork chops, watching TV late at night, reading, and the ocean. A carpenter by trade, he loved to show me how to use my hands.
“Regina? Why don’t you sit with the family?” Daddy’s voice rang out through the room. I have to say, my daddy knew exactly how to push my buttons. The problem is he never does. I told him yesterday I wanted to know our family and I’m so not a morning person. His tone was calm and mocking. No one would be able to understand it except me.
Hiding my curled lip of anger, I picked up my food and went to grandpa’s chair. Grandpa was already out the door to work on something outside. I desperately wanted to follow him and get away from daddy’s terrible looks, but I knew I could not get up and leave. I turned to the family and put on my best fake smile. I was very good at it.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Regina! Mom told me all about you and New York City! How exciting to live in New York. I would love to go one day!” MeKayla squealed.
“Well, we’re cousins! You should come visit us.” My fake smile was plastered on my face, but I only did it to make my parents happy. I did want to know MeKayla, but I was in too sour of a mood to make a real attempt. “Tell you what? Let me get back to normal today and later, we can have dinner in town! You can tell me all about the people here and what there is to do. I can tell you about New York.”
“Sure! I don’t have a car, though.”
“You’re sixteen!” I gushed, finally happy to find something in common.
“Yes, mam. I turned sixteen last Christmas. Getting my driver’s license was the coolest gift ever!” Pride stretched across her face as MeKayla told me this. I had less than one month to go.
We talked a little more about Lee and what there was to do here. My other cousin, Michael, talked to my father the entire time. They looked in heavy discussion when I checked on them. Daddy sat with his legs crossed, engrossed in what the kid was saying. What did that kid have to say that was so interesting? I wondered with some jealously. I answered aunt Rachel’s questions while constantly checking my father’s gaze as I did so, but he was so enamored with Michael he didn’t hear me.
Breakfast ended shortly after that. We walked aunt Rachel and my cousins out to their car. It was a miserable little Plymouth. It sat next to our perfect Mercedes in shame. I think the color was green. I was not sure because it badly needed a new paint job. When aunt Rachel started it up, I didn’t think it would make it down the driveroad, but I saw it disappear safely over the horizon.
“Did you enjoy meeting your aunt and cousins?” The pleasant words came out of mom’s mouth.
“Yes, thank you. Mom? Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Can it wait sweetie? Grandpa and I are due at the funeral home in an hour.”
“Sure mom.” It was the only reply I could think of giving. “So, daddy? How ‘bout a driving lesson today?”
Mom a
nd grandpa disappeared quickly in the car and down the driveroad. Yikes! That was quick. Mom tapped the accelerator so hard, rocks flew out from the rental car. The clouds turned gray as daddy turned to me with eyes hard as stone. My evil father had returned!
The sky was definitely gray now. Thunder rolled in from the distance. I smelled the rain in the air. I inhaled the magnificent scent and took a moment to enjoy it for it only lasted a moment. Daddy’s back hunched forward, his head fell into his neck slowly, and his hands went deep into his designer pants.
“Uh, never mind. I think we’re done for the week.” I turned around quickly on my five hundred dollar heels and escaped to the house. I ran to the safety of my room for it was the only room with a lock.
I need to get out of here! I’m totally going crazy!
After I shut my door tight, it felt silly to lock it, I sat on my bed and tried to skype Jane. I needed to talk to someone, but the sensation of someone staring at me stopped me. I looked around but did not see anything out of the ordinary. My eyes searched the room for any signs of movement, but I found nothing.
I waited. I know someone was watching me, I felt it so strongly.
The sensation left as quickly as it came. I waited another minute and went back to my phone. Maybe it’s time to introduce myself to the boys and girls of Lee.
Regina Page 11