The boy shook his red head sending his hair over his face. “My stop is the last one.”
“We just move in the old farmhouse with the cornfield next to the woods.” Ryan told him. The kid put his hand to his mouth and looked around. “By the way my name is Ronnie but everyone calls me Ron. You guys live there but no one has lived there in years since what happened.” Casey jumped in and asked. “What happened?”
“All I know is some girl there did something really bad and her family sent her away and then they moved shortly after.” Ryan looked at his sister. “Don’t get freaked out its probably just some fairy tale because the place hasn’t been lived in for a few years, next there will be ghosts in the closet.” Ryan joked. Ron looked at Ryan. “Seriously man no joke. Just ask anybody around here and they will probably tell you more. I’m just a kid so I get bits and pieces.” The bus stopped and Ron looked out and saw it was his stop. “I didn’t get your names but remember I’m Ron and nice to meet you!” When their stop came old timer said to them on the way out. “Don’t listen to Ronny boy he’s a good kid but he likes to spread stories. Don’t you children fret now you hear?” Ryan nodded as the door closed and the bus drove away. “Do you think that really happened?” Casey asked her brother. “Nah silly it’s just like old timer said. Just stories by the campfire kind thing. Nothing to worry about. Let’s go get some food I’m starving aren’t you Missy?” He asked the doll to get her mind off the subject. Mom had already made them snacks at the table.
“Eat your food and then homework before dinner you two.” she said as they walked in. While eating Ryan asked his sister how her day went. “My teacher was mean, the kids were meant and it was just a mean day all over.” Ryan smiled and said his day was the same way and that it would get better over time. That they had to just grin and bear it. “We better just tell mom we are having a great time at the new school or she will want to complain to the teachers and principals which won’t help us any.” There were moments when they both agreed on certain things and this was one of them. Their mom could be a bit temperamental when it came to them which in more cases than not spelled disaster in the long run especially at school. “Ryan do you hear weird noises at night when you are sleeping?” He was surprised by her quick change of subject but he answered just as quickly. “Yeah I do squirt it could be the wind or this old house. I’ve seen crows flying about too. It could be anything but nothing really scary.” She came closer to him and whispered, “No I hear my name like this Ca-ca see-see.”
“Like I said squirt it sounds like crows to me don’t worry about it besides you have Missy to protect so you will be fine.” she smiled at that remark as mom came up she ran and hugged her. Meanwhile Ryan was thinking about what Ron had said and what his sister was saying. All coincidence just nature and stories. This was definitely a different place than Indiana that he could say was definitely true.
Chapter Seven
Laurel Heights child and adolescent facility in Atlanta, Georgia is where her parents sent her. The hospital specialized in complex psychiatric and behavioral problems. For weeks, months and years they keep visiting hoping for her to get better and to tell them what happened to her brother… their son. There was nothing wrong with her. What happened was an accident but what happened with the Old lady in the cabin and the straw wasn’t an accident. The behavioral programs and treatments at the hospital didn’t make her better in the way they wanted instead it opened her up to something she never knew she had. An unknown power within herself. As the years progressed and she got older she studied and practiced getting stronger. In the process she learned what she had done and why the old woman in the cabin wanted her to do it. Miles away she had a feeling that it was about to happen again to someone like her. Little did they know but her parents had saved her life by sending her away. It was so sudden the old lady didn’t have to get to her. This time though who would help? If she could she would try. The bond with her brother was still there. He was still alive in a manner of speaking. Not as a human but as something else. Something she had created with her own powers and those of the old woman’s. She had to put a stop to this and give her brother the peace he deserved. Stopping this and preventing it from ever happening again was her only priority. She had to be ready when the time came.
Chapter Eight
During dinner that night Casey brought meeting Ron on the bus and the conversation they had. Ryan forgot to tell his sister not to mention that as well to his parents. Ryan chimed in with his explanation of the story and luckily his parents agreed with him and his reasoning. “It must be one those urban legends like the Slenderman and Bigfoot.” his Dad said.
“No need to go into details honey. I think the kids know what urban legends are.” Giving him a death stare. When it was time to go to bed for the night Casey wanted to sleep with her parents. “Its ok sweetie we are across the hall and your brother is next you.” Mom said.
“Ok mommy as long as you come walk to me to my room and read me story or sing me a song.”
“Consider it done my sweet lil one.” she said tickling her and leading her upstairs. His dad sighed and Ryan looked at him. “So dad did that really happened with the girl?”
“I actually don’t know son I just know the place was old and cheap at a good deal that we couldn’t pass up. Besides it’s in the past and this is the present. It was probably the Flintstone era when this happened. We are in the Jetson’s phase. People back then didn’t know anything about reasoning or science so they just made things up to cover what they didn’t know. Now time for bed young man school tomorrow right?” Ryan shrugged his shoulders and slowly walked up the stairs passed his sister’s room and overheard her asking his mom the same question. “It’s just like your father said an urban legend filled with suspense like Scooby doo. And you see it always was never anything but some person creating drama. So stop worrying please and sleep now and in the morning it will be out of you mind.”
Chapter Nine
The next school day on the bus by the time they had gotten on, every kid now knew where they lived. Ron had had spilled the beans and Ryan was sure he had added a few spooks and scares to his story. One girl said a few years ago they snuck up to the house and were scared away by a thousand crows. Casey pretended to be talking to missy while Eric just listened. He didn’t really have a choice. Either listen to it now or later or so he wanted the early bird option. The going story he was hearing was that years ago a family had moved there with there two kids a boy and a girl that were twins. Something happened they think to the boy and the girl was blamed and sent away because she was cursed. One boy said it was the crows again. Another said it was Big Ma who lived in the cabin beyond the cornfield in the woods. The consensus was nobody really knew anything except that something had happened and everybody who was part it of was gone in some form or fashion. When the bus arrived at school Casey was almost in tears and Eric had to calm her down before a mom trip was necessary. Waiting until everyone got off the bus, old timer stopped them again. “Like I said kiddos just bunch of stories I hear them all the time been hearing them for years, gets kind of old after awhile. Cheer up there little girl! I know what you need!” and he pulled out an unopened bag of twizzlers and gave her two, one for her and Missy. Eric said no thank you and they got off the bus and started their wonderful school day.
Chapter Ten
Weeks passed and the stories didn’t stop they actually got weirder and worse .The accidents still happened at school and Casey’s teachers were still mean. It seemed even his parents were having issues as well. The locals wanted them to join the town church but Mom and Dad were not the religious type which didn’t help the opinion of the other adults of them in town at all. Dad finally got a job at a factory across the bridges in Dublin doing what he did in Indiana. Mom wasn’t exactly looking for a job but neither were jobs jumping out at her either. Ryan and his Dad spent guy time going through the woods and trails on their property. The cornfield was pretty big and i
n the middle was an enormous scarecrow with a top hat and a faded ace of spades card in the brim. The hair under the hat looked very really but he knew it was probably one those real hair wigs. Around its necks was a long rope with a skull necklace hanging. Whoever made this scarecrow went to a lot trouble. Strangely enough there were crows all around it. It seemed all that work didn’t pay because there spooky creation wasn’t doing its job. Ryan wasn’t really and outdoors kid but he liked this alone time with his Dad who took to taking pictures of everything unique and pretty and later posting it on his face book and twitter pages. Mom stayed inside and cleaned and rearranged things. She also wanted to get started on her on little getaway room upstairs. Casey played in the house mostly with Missy and her other dolls. She was still wary of outside because of the stories the kids were still telling. Eventually Mom did find a job as a secretary at an insurance office in Dublin. It was easy job with easy hours, so she liked it for what it was. One weekend Mom had to go in on a Saturday to do a report which was due Monday and that would leave Casey alone in the house. Instead of going with mom she decided to go with the guys exploring this time. Eric didn’t mind as long as this wasn’t going to be a constant thing. It was a sunny fall day and it wasn’t hot or cool but long sleeves were needed just in case for the trek into the woods. Casey dress herself and Missy in matching colored sweaters and they started off. The trees were lending their leaves to the ground with the aid of the wind. With his camera ready, Dad led them through a trail that lead upwards around bushes, weeds and large trees. They came to a point with a step incline almost cliff like but if you fell Ryan was sure you were done for. Casey was starting to freak out at the height and that very possibility he thought. While Dad was trying to calm her down he went ahead and explored. Pulling out his binoculars from his survival backpack, he could see a cabin in the distance .Coming back to them excitedly he yelled,” Hey guys someone lives up here!” They made their way through forest growth while Casey no longer was as close to the drop-off was not as frightened but clanged to Missy tightly. Of course Dad was taking pictures of everything from the chimney to the door it self. Ryan asked, “Can we go inside?”
“Well since whoever lives here is in the area they count as neighbors so sure why not. We better knock first just in case.” Dad knocked a couple times and the door flew open and a number of crows flew out and landed on the trees just outside the cabin watching them.
“Did you guys know that a group of crows is called a murder?
I learned that on Jeopardy the other day.” Dad said laughing. He was the only one laughing as a matter of fact. Looking worried Casey asked,” Can we go home now Dad?”
“Where’s your explorer’s spirit? Like Dora after when we are done we can dance and sing we did it we did it! We did it!” Ryan watched his dad having fun. He had to admit he was curious as to who was in the cabin if anyone was but he also saw how his sister was reacting.
“Dad will take your hand and I will walk behind you and Missy while we go in. You’ll be protected all around squirt.” Ryan said with reassuring voice. Dad took her hand and walked in with Eric right behind as he promised. The air smelled old the nursing home were their grandparents were in Indiana. There was barely any light except for the opened door. The windows were covered with all kinds of jars and pots. Plants of all kinds hug from the ceiling and were placed all over the floor. Not to mention it was much colder inside than it was outside which Ryan thought was strange.
“It stinks like grandma and grandpa Daddy can we go home now? We came inside. We did it. Yeah Dora,” Casey said trying to sound enthusiastic.
“A few more minutes kiddo while I take some pictures. You never know what you could find in a place like this!” Ryan wouldn’t admit it to his Dad or sister but he wanted to get out the cabin too. Casey let go her Dad’s hand and waited in front the door. While dad clicked his flash on and started taking pictures. Ryan decided while he was to look around for himself. Skulls and skeletons were found buried under the plants and other debris of the house. In the exact middle of the cabin right in front the door was a rocking chair. Right behind the chair was a spot for a fireplace that looked like it hadn’t been used in a long time. By the smell alone he knew an older person was living here or at least had lived here. After the seeing bones everywhere Casey went outside under the tree where the crows were still watching. She sat down and started playing with Missy. Between the smell, the bones and lack of heat in the cabin, Ryan was having his fill of the place and decided to go outside and keep his sister company. “Be right out guys just a few more pictures. I should have brought my camcorder too! This is great stuff!” he said still squatting and squirming trying to get good shots with good lighting.
“How many pictures is he going to take Ryan?” Casey asked. “No idea squirt you know how Dad gets when he’s like this. I’m sure he wont be much longer.” as he sat down next to her while she continued to play with Missy. He surveyed his surroundings looking up at the crows that had not moved. His neck got a tingling sensation like someone was watching him and he turned all around but didn’t notice anyone. “Do you hear it now?” Casey asked. ‘Caa caa see see’ its coming from the crows I think. Eric was already spooked himself and his sister just spooked him even more even though he didn’t hear anything. He kind of believed her because he was not seeing anyone or anything looking at him but he knew there was. He didn’t want to freak his sister out even more. “I don’t hear anything or see anything squirt. Just your imagination running wild.”
“You are so deaf Ryan!” she replied with her stuck out tongue.
Finally after what seemed like forever their Dad came out of the cabin still taking pictures. They were wondering if he hadn’t reached his limit or if his battery was ever going to die. But they knew their dad came prepared and had an extra everything including medical kit with a flare gun in his survival backpack. On the way back home their Dad couldn’t stop talking about their find and the pictures he was going to have and how he couldn’t wait to tell Mom about their day but he didn’t get a chance to tell her about his day because at dinner the main topic was about her crappy day at work and the people of the town and the weather and everything in-between. Eric and his sister ate their meal in silence and pretended to listen. His Dad having enough excused himself to go work on his pictures in the basement. Mom unbothered by his departure kept on until dinner was over and it was bedtime. That night was quiet in the house in every room except outside where he could here the echoes of the crows in the shadows.
Chapter Eleven
Ever since their trip to that cabin, Dad became obsessed with the pictures he had taken. He was an amateur photographer and one room in the basement he had turned into a darkroom. The pictures he developed were good and still showed the weird things that were in the cabin in great detail. It wasn’t as bad as being there in person but looking at them again made the kids even more freaked out. Mom focused on her hobbies as well which were her sewing and craft making. If she wanted to do so she could start her own little glass making and design business but for her it was just a hobby and because of her hobbies she sometimes brought fast food or pizza instead of cooking. Her glass making calmed her down from being at work all day with people she didn’t like and who didn’t like her. Glasses also calm her down as well. Red or wine she had no preference. And it didn’t matter if it was daytime or nighttime. She called it her adult privilege. Nights at the table were usually quiet unless Casey brought up a subject and then everywhere was obligated to chime in. Afterwards it was usually bath and bed time for us while they went back to whatever they were doing. Dad had made charts and diagrams of designs and a list of things he wanted done or needed done for the house. The panting was done and all the windows fixed but there were still plenty of things left to do. Besides his photography he also played video games with Ryan and Casey but mostly by himself…
Chapter Twelve
Ryan and Casey explored the house together sometimes or even separ
ately but Casey usually wanted Ryan with her as an extra companion. Ryan noticed that her pretending with Missy was getting longer and more often than usual. Missy used to sleep during the day sometimes when Casey played with her other toys but nowadays it was more Missy than anything. Her parents considered it a normal thing. A Doc Mcstuffin’s kind of issue they had told him but to Ryan it made him a little worried as it seemed she was drifting away from reality more each day. One day after school on a cold rainy autumn day Ryan and Casey were waiting for there parents to get home from town. Ryan was on his tablet watching you tube videos and Casey was as usual talking to Missy. He tried to make out the conversation but when she noticed him trying to listen she stuck out her tongue and shouted “No eavesdropping!”
“You do know Missy can’t hear a word you are saying right?” he said.
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