Daddy Won't Kill You (An Occult Horror)

by Gebbie, Caroline

  Lauren jerked upright, her eyes wide and fear lined her face. “Are you all right?” she asked reaching out to touch Steve’s arm.

  “Look.”

  “Steve, damn it what’s wrong?”

  Steve smiled down at his wives concerned face and pointed out the window. Silhouetted in the headlights was a rocking chair.

  Lauren put a hand to her chest, flooded with relief but annoyed at the scare. “It’s just an old chair, what are you doing?”

  Steve felt a little hurt at Lauren’s cutting remark. He glanced into the rear seat, the children slept on unaware of the drama, at least this time they wouldn’t see him berated. He moved to push the gear lever back to drive but something stopped him, the chair was perfect. He pulled on the handbrake and turned to Lauren, taking a deep breath he said, “It’s just what you wanted for the deck.”

  “The deck of the cabin I have to sell, since you lost your job.”

  The words cut deep, he felt himself shrink. “So you do blame me?” he said shifting the gear lever back into drive and eased off the hand brake. The car started to roll forwards the chair spotlighted before them.

  Lauren let out a sigh. “That’s not what I said. Look I’m tired, but I don’t need a chair.” She leaned towards Steve and touched the brushed cotton of his plaid shirt. She hadn’t meant how this was going and Steve looked so miserable, almost beaten, what had she done? “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  He slammed on the brakes. “Its £5 you’re having it.”

  Steve got out of the car before his courage left him. The cold night air was like walking into a freezer and he hutched his shirt around his neck. He crossed the road and walked up to the chair. Lauren would enjoy this and maybe it would give them some good memories, well worth £5.

  On a crumbling gate post, yellow crime scene tape screamed a warning that he failed to see as he bent over the old rocking chair. He pushed the chair and was pleased that it rocked smoothly, back and forth. In the still night, it soon stopped and he reached down and rubbed his fingers over the chair back. The wood felt silky smooth beneath his fingers, but deep marks were cut across the arms, as if someone had tried to saw across them in lots of different places. Some of the edges were rough and a splinter pricked his finger causing blood to spurt out and splash the polished wood.

  He pulled his finger up and sucked the blood. A quick rub with some sandpaper and they would be fine. Lifting the cardboard with the £5 price tag and headed up the weed ridden path to the old cottage. Still sucking his bloody finger he knocked on the door. It gave a desolate, hollow sound and he knew the house was empty. He knocked again, shifting from foot to foot, cold and impatient to be on his way as the cottages black, empty windows stared back at him. There really was no one home. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash, stuffing £5 through the letter box before returning down the path to the chair.

  As he reached it an owl hooted behind him and the chair began to rock, a shiver ran down his spine as the night was deadly still. For a second he wanted to run back to the car, Jesus man are things that bad? He stopped himself and reached down and picked up the chair.

  The trunk of the SUV was packed to bursting; he grabbed a rope and hoisted the chair onto the roof rack securing it before climbing back into the welcome warmth.

  Lauren’s face was softened with love.

  “I bought your recipe book,” Steve said pride and joy warming him more than the car’s ample heating.

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Because you love to cook, and since... You’ve been too busy taking care of everything, well – This holiday you deserve some alone time.”

  Lauren smiled and relaxed back into the seat. “A few hours in the kitchen would be heaven.”

  Steve was starting to feel more confident and his voice became grew enthusiastic. “Then it’s sorted, me and the pumpkins will give you some peace.”

  “But I love being with them too,” Lauren said.

  Steve’s face imploded as he took the innocent statement as an insult.

  Lauren smiled. “I meant with all of you.” She patted his arm good-naturedly.

  Steve recovered quickly. “Fishing?”

  Lauren laughed, a light, comfortable sound, and put her head back down to sleep.

  Chapter Five

  The SUV bumped over the rutted gravel track, passing through the sentinel pines before breaking out into the open. The headlights lit up a majestic valley surrounded by imposing hills. Over to the left, grass rolled down to a mirror black lake that nestled beneath the pines. To the right a cabin sat on a hillock before a backdrop of deciduous trees.

  Steve pulled the car over in front of the cabin and turned off the engine. He relaxed against the head rest, breathed out and enjoyed the quiet.

  “Are we there?” Lauren asked her sleepy eyes blinked in the semi-dark.

  “Yes,” Steve looked down at her, with her hair mussed up and barely awake she looked so beautiful.

  Steve got out of the warm car and stepped into the chill night. The wind whispered in the trees and crickets chirped in the bushes. He smiled at Lauren and hauled the chair from the car roof. He carried it effortlessly to the deck in front of the cabin and placed it next to a table and four chairs. He tossed the rope over the banister that ran round the deck and returned to the car.

  Grabbing a book from the back seat he guided Lauren to the Rocker. “Here sit.” He handed her the book. “Pick out a recipe for tomorrow while I take care of the Pumpkins.”

  She sank into the chair and opened the book, absently skipping through the pages as he unlocked the cabin and put the children to bed.

  She rocked absently, back and forth relaxing as she wondered which pie she would cook tomorrow. She couldn’t decide between two, both family favorites. From deep within the woods an owl hooted somewhere behind her. She stopped rocking and shivered, something felt wrong. She sat up alert and looked around. All seemed fine so why did it feel wrong? She let out a sigh, it was just her nerves playing up, and she relaxed back rocking gently in the cool breeze. She closed her eyes and surrendered to the gentle rocking.

  “One hot choc,” Steve said handing her a steaming mug and pulling up a chair beside her.

  “Thanks are they settled.” Lauren sipped the warming liquid.

  “They never even stirred.” He picked up her recipe book and scanned the pages. “I have a friend who says there’s a big market for cookbooks. Your pies are legendary, maybe it’s time you put these together.”

  Lauren turned to see him better. “I know I’ve talked about it, but what do I know about writing?”

  Steve leaned forward and moved a stray curl from her cheek. “We're a team.” He said. “In my job I wrote enough reports, I would love to help you.”

  “You... really?”

  Laurens tone cut deep and for a second Steve felt belittled.

  “I’m sorry that’s not what I meant,” Lauren said not wanting to spoil the mood. “You think you could do this?”

  “I have hidden talents,” he said with a suggestive smile.

  Lauren laughed a deep and provocative sound. “Really?”

  “That sounds like a challenge. Why don’t I give you a demonstration?”

  “I should be so lucky,” Lauren teased as she started to rise from the chair.

  Steve held up his hand. “You will be lucky, give me ten minutes.” He dashed from the deck back into the cabin. “Get your ass in here in ten,” he called over his shoulder.

  Steve stood in a rustic bedroom. The queen sized bed sported a purple patchwork quilt and was flanked by matching oak cabinets. A small wardrobe and a dark throw rug finished the furnishings. He stacked the two suitcases beside the wardrobe and checked his watch.

  He had completed the preparation in exactly twelve minutes. He smiled to himself as anticipation thrilled through him. This was going to be a great night, a night for them to reconnect and to start anew. He had plans that would bring in some more money and
allow Lauren to relax more and who knew if her cookery book took off—anyhow they would be fine. He checked the room again, it looked great, now where was Lauren? I bet she’s fallen asleep, just my luck.

  He left the room and walked down the short, dark hallway to the kitchen. The rustic room looked homely, a table and four chairs surrounded by rough oak units, a range cooker and an old fridge. The sides were minimal and clear, but a bottle of wine stood alone next to the sink. He grabbed two glasses and quickly poured some drinks.

  With the glasses in his hand, he walked out of the cabin. The sight took his breath away. Lauren was relaxing in the rocker. She seemed to be bathed in moonlight. Her eyes closed her golden curls cascaded around her shoulder as she rocked forward serene, beautiful. His love for her was written all over his face as she rocked blissfully, peaceful and unaware of his presence.

  He stepped forward, a smile on his face and a lump in his throat. He swallowed trying to talk, but his throat was dry at this vision of perfection, at least to him.

  The chair rocked slowly, languorously backwards and a vicious gash appeared on her forehead. Blood spurted from the wound and poured down her face. A black eye and bruised cheek were quickly hidden by the slickly spreading liquid, which dripped from her face to the floor. Her hair was subtly different a tad shorter with fewer curls.

  Steve felt a knife in his heart and the glasses smashed to the deck. He rushed forwards but felt as if the world had stopped, everything was in slow motion and the second seemed to last forever. A scream formed in his throat as the chair began to rock forwards.

  Lauren turned towards him, startled by the sound of breaking glass. Her eyes pleaded through her bloody curtain and then she was normal again, unharmed, his perfect wife.

  Steve stumbled towards the chair. “Oh god Lauren.”

  Lauren jumped up. She was fine and rushed towards Steve, a look of concern marred her face.

  “Steve, what happened? Did you have--?”

  He pulled her into his arms and felt the warmth of her against him, pulling her head into his shoulder. He was shaking slightly and just wanted to hug her and know that she was fine.

  “Steve are you all right? What happened?”

  He held her close, willing the vision to go away, but if he closed his eyes he saw her bleeding. “Nothing,” he said. “I must be tired that’s all. Fancy a glass of wine?”

  Lauren extracted herself from his embrace and kicked at the broken glass. “That’s two less to pack,” she said with a laugh in her voice.

  ***

  They lay naked next to each other on the bed. The patchwork quilt had been kicked off and their bodies were covered with a fine film of sweat. Lauren leaned down and pulled the covers over them and snuggled down with her head on Steve’s shoulder. She closed her eyes and relaxed. “That was nice,” she said.

  “Nice, Ha...” Steve replied and pulled her close. It had been so long since they had made love and this was just what they needed, to rediscover each other, to remember what they loved about each other and to relax without the pressures of the outside world.

  “I love it here, I just love it,” Lauren said.

  Steve sighed if only they could stay here, but they couldn’t still at least they would have memories from this last holiday.

  Chapter Six

  Steve was watching Lauren as she slept. A single curl had fallen across her face and her eyelashes twitched to the beat of her dreams. He had been awake an hour but had kept still not wanting to disturb her. She had put on this tough persona, but he knew how tired she was. Tenderness and love squeezed his heart as she mumbled incoherently.

  She stirred her blond curls falling across her face. He reached out a hand and smoothed the hair away, smiling at the curve of her face, the lips he loved to kiss and her elegant neck that she loved him to nuzzle. She was gradually coming awake and smiled up at him. He returned the smile watching as she luxuriated in the filtered sunlight.

  “I feel close to my parents here, even to mum,” she said her eyes only just open.

  Steve felt a little nervous, they never mentioned her mum, and he laughed subconsciously. “Me too,” he said. “In fact I think I saw a ghost last night, maybe your Mum’s playing tricks on me?”

  Lauren sat bolt upright. “Outside?” she said a little nervously.”

  Steve misread her nerves, was she making fun of him? Well, he could play that game too. He put on a spooky voice. “On the deck,” he said.

  “I felt something too, a presence, it was weird,” she said.

  “Really?” Steve was unsure now. He thought what he had seen had been fatigue, or maybe even a symptom of his meds, was she humoring him?

  Lauren was leaning towards him, a strange look in her eyes. He could see she wanted to speak but was nervous.

  “Go on,” he said.

  “I felt evil and yet at home. Then you dropped the glasses and I thought you had collapsed. I was so scared...” Her words trailed off and she avoided his eyes, looking down at her hands.

  “I’m fine... I’m fine honest.” Steve took her hand and held it, waiting till she looked up and he met her sky blue eyes, eyes so blue that he could fall into them. He smiled and held her gaze to reassure her all was well.

  “So what was it?” she asked.

  Steve wanted to lighten the mood, he wanted to forget the feeling he had last night and to prevent the shudder that threatened every time he thought about it. “Like you said, it was just fatigue and memories of your Mum and her cookie ideas.”

  “That’s not fair,” Lauren snapped.

  Steve tried to lighten the mood again. “The ghost of too much stress and a long drive came to haunt us, it was nothing.”

  “Just mock me won’t you.” Lauren pulled her hand from his and turned away. “So much for a fresh start and trying, maybe we should just end this?”

  Steve felt a fear threaten to swamp him. “Are you serious?” He stared at Lauren’s ridged back. He stretched out a hand to touch her but pulled it back when she remained quiet. “You want a divorce?” he asked, his voice close to breaking.

  “You do,” she snapped back at him.

  His world was tumbling down the rabbit hole, tumbling away from him just out of reach, how could he stop this. “No, Lauren no. Look I...”

  She cut him off. “You’re so damn lazy. We’re losing the cabin because you lost your job, and now you mock my dead mum, how could you.” She straightened her back even more, and started to shake slightly.

  He wanted so much to reach out to take her in his arms and tell her everything would be okay. He put a hand on her shoulder, for a second she swayed away, and then she leaned back against it.

  “I don’t want to sell,” she said.

  “I know.”

  “Then we can keep the cabin?”

  Steve was so used to giving in and he desperately wanted to say yes, but they needed the money, he had to stand his ground. “We have to sell. You should work less.”

  “Or you more,” she snapped.

  Steve took his hand off her back and leaned back against the bed head. He crossed his arms both frustrated and sad. She looked around at him and smiled an apology before cuddling up close against him. Steve held her tight in his arms and felt her warmth give him strength, they would get through this.

  “What did you sense last night?” he asked.

  “It was nothing,” she said.

  Chapter Seven

  Steve left the bedroom and walked down the small hall to the bathroom. His head was spinning. He had seen something last night and if Lauren had felt something too, then what was it? As he approached the bathroom, the door moved slightly open and then closed again. He did not see it, he was too busy in his own thoughts. Were they both just stressed and suffering from emotional fatigue? Would that cause them to see things? If it had just been him, he could have blamed it on his health, but as it were both of them, what had happened?

  A shadow moved behind the bathroom door, with his
head down and deep in thought it passed unnoticed. His slippers slapped on the wooden floor, echoing off the paneled walls and hiding the whispers that emanated from within the room.

  He pushed the door and it moved slowly away from him. He walked into the small, all wooden bathroom, still deep in thought. As he pushed the door closed something leapt from behind the shower curtain. He felt a pain in his chest and fear shocked him backwards. He fell to the ground banging his hip as he went down fighting the pounding of his heart and the prickling of adrenaline that raised the hairs on his arms and neck.

  He let out a sigh of relief as Lucy and Chase jumped all over him, squealing with delight that their surprise had been a good one. With one hand over his heart, he pulled them close and hugged them tight.

  ***

  Lauren was busy making breakfast, her back to the door as Steve walked into the kitchen. He looked a little worse for wear. The shock in the bathroom had shaken him and left him with pain in his left arm and an ache in his chest.

  He kissed Lauren’s cheek and stepped back to admire the woman he loved. Her golden curls cascaded around her shoulders and she looked great in a T-shirt and tight jeans. “You look good enough to eat.” He nuzzled Lauren’s neck.

  “Dad, that’s gross,” Chase said from the table.

  Steve spun around to see the kids waiting patiently for their breakfast. Chase had his head in a book and Lucy was fidgeting with her cutlery, pretending they were people. She was having a game with a knife and fork man, walking then across the table and back again. “Gross is it,” Steve said. “Well, maybe I should eat up you and your little sister then.” Steve ran at the table making monster faces. Lucy broke out in delighted giggles. Chase tried to resist, he stared hard down at his book, but his lips started to curl and soon he had to join in the laughter.