Paranormal Intruder

by Caroline Mitchell

  Alice twiddled with her long brown plaits, looking puzzled. ‘Is it a ghost then?’

  I sat on the bed and sighed. How on earth do I approach the subject of ghosts to a child? I recalled Neil telling me the children were at home for part of the day, and although he removed them as quickly as he could, they had already seen far too much.

  ‘Look. As far as I know, this could be a spirit of some kind that is playing up. But, I don’t think that it’s able to cause us harm,’ I paused. ‘At least you know, no matter what happens, there is life after death and that’s a very good thing indeed.’ I nodded to Joe who had crept in, and was resting on his elbow in his sleeping bag on the ground. He nodded in return, understanding the silent gesture. I knew I could trust him not to frighten the others, and got up to leave before they asked any more awkward questions. I opened the small bedroom window, hoping the sound of the sea would lull them into a deep sleep. Joe and Sarah slept on the floor, while David and Alice shared the bed. It was not ideal, but at least they were safe. I changed out of my uniform into a mismatched top and jogging bottoms, and joined Neil’s parents in the living room. Neil had already left with his brother Mark to check on the dogs. Mark had driven from London just to be there, and I guessed he wanted to witness the activity for himself. Half an hour later the buzzer system activated to signal his return. I was surprised to see Mark accompanied by his two teenage daughters, *Lily and *Kathy. ‘You didn’t allow the girls inside the house did you?’ I asked Neil.

  ‘No, we stayed outside while Mark went in with Lee to check on the dogs.’

  ‘Were they OK?’

  ‘Oh the dogs are fine,’ Neil replied with a grin. ‘Nothing seemed to happen in the house while we were gone.’

  ‘What are you grinning at?’ I said, puzzled by his expression.

  Neil leaned forward to whisper. ‘Mark and Lee looked in on the dogs and then went to the kitchen to check it out. A cup smashed to the ground and frightened the absolute crap out of them. You should’ve seen the speed they both ran out the front door,’ he chuckled.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Recall

  I wandered into the kitchen feeling exhausted. Neil and Mark puffed on their cigarettes; the exhaled smoke curled from their lips through the open window. Fighting the urge to join them, I distracted myself by helping Valerie make tea. We planned to sit down together to discuss the day’s events. Neil’s father Ben retired to his bedroom to watch his portable television. He was worried about his son, but did not want to hear any more upsetting details.

  Valerie nodded towards the bowl of sugar on the top shelf of the cupboard. ‘Can you get that down for me please?’

  I smiled, happy to oblige. Valerie’s hands were swollen from regular steroid treatments for her arthritis, and lifting anything heavy was difficult. I admired her tenacity. Doctors advised her she would be wheelchair bound years ago, but she refused to give in. Valerie brought the steaming cups of tea to the living room, and we followed her in. I perched on the sofa beside Neil with my cup of tea in hand.

  Mark stared expectantly, waiting for Neil to recall the story in full. ‘So tell us then, how did it all begin?’

  Neil cleared his throat. ‘I was watching a paranormal programme on television with Lee when the postman knocked on the door. I answered, and then checked on David who was playing upstairs on his computer game. When I went downstairs, the remote control had disappeared from the arm of the sofa. I asked Lee if he’d seen it, and he said he hadn’t.’

  I smiled, knowing just how precious the TV remote control was to my television addict husband.

  ‘We both spent about five minutes looking for the remote, under the sofas, and even pulled out all the cushions. After a while, we gave up looking and went out to the back garden for a cigarette. I joked with Lee that perhaps a ghost had moved it. A few minutes later, we walked back into the living room and I noticed my car keys on the step aerobics box on the floor.’ Neil stopped to take a swig of his tea.

  I glanced at Mark and Valerie. They were rapt, hanging on his every word. Neil put his cup down and continued with his story.

  ‘Lee was surprised by the keys being moved and joked that whatever moved them should do it again. I knew he didn’t believe anything paranormal had happened, but neither of us could explain it. I played along for the laugh, and we went back into the kitchen for a coffee. David was still upstairs playing his game. When we returned to the living room, the keys had moved, from the step box to the fireplace. We started feeling a bit uneasy, although we still didn’t know what it was.’

  My thoughts turned to David. The idea of him being alone upstairs while something prowled in our home was a feeling too horrible to contemplate. I swallowed back the tightness in my throat. ‘What about David, did you check on him?’

  ‘Yes, I was coming to that bit,’ Neil said. ‘I turned off the television and checked on David to see he was fine. Then I went downstairs and followed Lee into the kitchen. He pointed to some furniture polish in the middle of the floor and asked me if I put it there. I told him I hadn’t touched a thing. Lee was getting really nervous by now, and said he wanted to leave. I told him to wait as I would get David and go with him.’ Neil frowned as the story unfolded. ‘The phone rang and I looked at the display. Instead of giving the caller’s number, it just said call. I answered to hear a strange echoing sound. I put the phone on speaker and Lee said we should ask it to tap three times if it was a ghost.’

  ‘I thought he was trying to leave,’ I interrupted.

  ‘Lee was just trying to understand what it was. Anyway, just as he said it, three tapping noises came from down the phone. It was weird, like someone was tapping on the outside handset with a long fingernail. We both freaked out when it did this, as we were convinced it was paranormal.’ Neil paused as his eyes met mine. ‘I tried calling you on the phone but you said you weren’t able to talk to me.’

  I nursed the mug in my hands, taking comfort in the warmth.’ I was working Neil, and had I known, would have come.’

  Neil gave my knee a squeeze and continued, ‘Lee shouted he was leaving and I told him I would get David and go with him. Lee went to lock the back door in the kitchen. As I came downstairs with David, we both heard a weird noise coming from inside the living room, like something being dragged across the floor. We slowly opened the door, not knowing what to expect. The step box was propped up against the wall on its side. I didn’t want to frighten David as he didn’t know what was going on. I had him in my arms at this stage, and we just wanted to get out. The problem was that we didn’t have a car as Caroline had taken it to work.’

  Valerie nodded as she sat forward in her seat, concern etched on her face.

  Neil continued, ‘We decided to get a bus to pick up the car. As I went to the front door to leave, I noticed David’s glove was placed on the door handle. It had been drying on the radiator in the hall before that, and I knew someone had moved it. I didn’t like it touching David’s things, although I still didn’t know what it was. We picked up the car and brought David back to Mum’s. Later I went back home to check on the dogs with Lee. The house phone rang from inside the house as we walked up to it. I answered the phone, but there was nobody there. I got this horrible feeling, like someone was watching us. We were really shook up to see the knife embedded in the kitchen drawer.’

  I shuddered. Cups smashing were one thing, but knives suggested an evil intent. I did not want to think about the consequences had it been thrown in their direction. I stared out through the large bay windows overlooking the sea, reflecting the glow of the winter moonlight. Time stood still as I sank deeper into thought, contemplating the implications for our family. My focus returned to Neil, who was rubbing his eyes in tiredness.

  He stifled a yawn and carried on with the rest of the story. ‘The microwave door was halfway open and a carton of milk was balanced on the top edge. That’s when Mark called me. I had been ringing him on and off all day. When I mentioned the knife, he tol
d us to get out of the house as we could be in serious danger. He thought it was demonic.’ The room fell silent as Neil paused for breath. ‘Leaving seemed like the sensible thing to do, so we put the dogs to bed. The next thing, a loud growling noise came from upstairs. It didn’t sound human, and it frightened the hell out of us. I don’t know why but…’ Neil’s voice drifted away, as he recalled what happened next.

  I was gripped by now. ‘Carry on, what don’t you know?’

  ‘It seems daft now,’ Neil said, ‘but Lee armed himself with a roll of tinfoil from the kitchen and we both crept back into the hall.’

  I sniggered. ‘Tinfoil? What was he going to do with that?’

  Neil smiled. He could laugh about it now, but I imagined it was not funny at the time. ‘Lee was in front of me and he looked upstairs. Whatever he seen frightened him enough for him to drop the tinfoil and start shouting at me to get out. He was screaming, “Get out, I’ve seen it.” We both barged our way out of the front door together. I still had the home phone in my hand and managed to lock the door. As I walked away from the house, the phone rang. I looked at the display and again, it didn’t say where the call came from. I was shaking so much by now, I didn’t answer.’

  Nobody spoke as he placed his empty cup on the coffee table. ‘Just then I felt a burning sensation on the back of my neck. It stung, as though something had just cut me, so I asked Lee to take a look. Lee freaked out as he said there were three bad scratches on the back of my neck that were starting to bleed. The cuts were razor sharp – see?’ Neil rolled down his collar to reveal three long scratches on the back of his neck.

  ‘Oh my God.’ I raised my hand to my mouth. These were no accident. It was not possible for Neil or Lee to have caused the injury as they both bit their fingernails to the quick.

  Neil rolled his collar back up. ‘I could hardly breathe by now. My heart was pounding so hard, I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. After I calmed down, I picked Alice up from school. We had to wait for Sarah to walk home as she was taking a shortcut with friends. The more I thought about what was happening in the house, the more annoyed I got. I sat there thinking, how dare this thing drive me out of my home. I told Alice to stay in the car and keep an eye out for Sarah while I went back inside. I told Lee it was time to face this thing and send it packing,’ Neil said, his forehead creasing from the memory of his frustration.

  I placed my hand on his. This was more like the man I knew. He would never give up without a fight.

  ‘As we walked towards the house, the home phone started ringing. It was still in my pocket from earlier on. I opened the door and walked inside, answering the phone. It was the same echoing noise that I heard earlier and I was really angry by now. I started swearing and shouting down the phone, calling it all sorts of names. Then I shouted, ‘Come on then, fucking show yourself,’ down the phone. Then – there was the most frightening sound I’ve ever heard.’ Neil’s voice lowered as he stared at the floor, his discomfort obvious. ‘It was very loud, a deep growling sound, and it sounded pure evil. I dropped the phone and shouted at Lee to get out.’

  My stomach twisted into knots as I imagined the horrors Neil had been through in our home. Valerie looked equally uncomfortable and exhaled softly. Mark quickly checked on his daughters, who were in their sleeping bags in the hall. When he returned, Neil continued with the story.

  ‘My legs were shaking so much; they felt like rubber bands. Sarah had arrived home by now and was walking inside asking everyone what was going on. I pushed her outside and told her that she couldn’t go in. Slamming the door behind me, I got Sarah into the car. I tried to start the engine, but my legs were shaking so hard I couldn’t work the pedals. Sarah kept shouting, asking me what was wrong. Lee told her to calm down as we would explain it all later. He asked me what I heard on the phone, but I didn’t want to say anything in front of the kids. I took a few deep breaths and tried to pull myself together. After that, we came back to Mum’s place. I told her things were really bad in the house, and she wanted to see it for herself.’

  I shook my head in disbelief. ‘No wonder you were so shaken when you called. What happened next?’

  ‘At half four we went back to the house as I had to pick you up at five. Lee was still with us as he was worried about going home on his own. The three of us went inside. We checked on the dogs and I showed Mum into the kitchen. Just then, a fork shot through the air over our shoulders. All three of us had our backs turned to the cutlery drawer. I wanted to leave, but Mum was really calm and told me to stay where I was. We decided to stay together. A loud smash came from the kitchen as a wine glass smashed on the floor. Cups and glasses were thrown too. Every time we turned our backs something was thrown and smashed. Not long after that, we picked you up from work. You know the rest,’ Neil said, stretching his weary limbs.

  I nodded, with a better understanding of why everyone was present in the car when Neil picked me up. ‘Maybe it was just a one off and that’s the end of it,’ I said, trying to be optimistic. Little did I know my optimism would be severely tested during the months that lay ahead.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A Glimmer of Hope

  February 2010

  I awoke to the unfamiliar sounds of seagulls screaming in the morning sun. Memories of the previous day flooded into my consciousness, and I lay back into my pillow, trying to process them. The sofa bed in the living room was cramped, but we were grateful for it. Neil stirred, and we both lay in silence, neither one of us wanting to face the day ahead. We returned home after breakfast and scoped the house while the children waited in the car. Neil checked upstairs while I attended to the dogs. I crouched down to receive their wet kisses as their tails wagged in appreciation. Everything appeared normal, apart from the jagged broken cup on the floor from the night before. Neil joined me, satisfied that for now, we were safe.

  ‘Are you sure you’ll be OK here alone?’ he said.

  I smiled, touched by his concern. ‘Yes. Now go, I need to get ready for work.’ His strong arms wrapped around me, and I relaxed into his embrace. ‘You go ahead; any problems and I will leave.’

  ‘OK then, I’ll be back as soon as I’ve dropped the kids off to school,’ Neil replied, eyeing me warily before making his way out the front door.

  I picked up the remnants of the smashed cup and allowed the dogs into the garden to play. Cleaning up any evidence of the night before, I gave the worktops one last spray and wiped down the tiles. The smell of lemons lifted my mood and the house seemed much less threatening in the soft morning light. I climbed the stairs to our bedroom to get changed. Buttoning up my crisp white shirt, I wondered if we would get any sleep that night. I could not envisage allowing our children to sleep in different rooms. An idea floated into my head. I walked to their rooms and dragged two single mattresses out. Placing them side-by-side at the end of the bed, I worked out that Sarah and Alice could share, Joe could have a mattress of his own, and David could sleep with us. Smiling in satisfaction, I admired the made up beds. They may not be thrilled about it, but at least I can keep an eye on them. The familiar rumble of our car caught my attention. I grabbed my warrant card from the bedside table and sighed, it was time for work and I could not afford to be late. I passed Neil in the hall, holding David in his arms. ‘Call me if you need me,’ I said, giving them both a kiss on the cheek.

  David wrapped his small hands around my neck, giving it a tight squeeze. ‘Mummy, I don’t want you to go,’ he said.

  I drew back slowly, taking his hands in mine. ‘I have to work sweetheart, so I can make money to buy you nice things.’

  David nodded and wriggled to be let down to play. It was a conversation we’d had many times before, and my heart ached to stay at home with my young son. I consoled myself he was safe with Neil, who worked flexible hours to look after him.

  Work was busy. I checked my phone numerous times and was relieved there had been no calls. I would not let my husband down a second time. A look of relie
f crossed Neil’s face when I arrived home, although he explained the day passed without event. I inspected our kitchen, which was as I left it. The black worktops were still gleaming from that morning, and the cutlery safely put away in the drawer. The ring of our telephone jolted me from my thoughts, causing me to relive the disturbing calls of the previous night.

  Neil had a quick conversation with his mother and joined me in the kitchen. ‘It’s the fourth time she’s called me today,’ he said with a hint of embarrassment.

  I was grateful for their support; it must have been hard for Neil staying in the house all day. The children stayed upstairs as Neil and I cooked a roast chicken for dinner. I chopped vegetables with the same knife that was jammed in the kitchen cupboard just twenty-four hours earlier. ‘You know, I don’t understand why this all started up, out of the blue. It’s not as if we just moved in. If someone’s unhappy about us being here, why wait until now?’

  ‘I know, it makes no sense,’ Neil said, placing a saucepan of water on the stove.

  ‘I can’t help wondering if it’s something you or Lee started in the house? I mean, were you dabbling in the Supernatural for a joke or something, did you use an Ouija board?’ I asked, trying to be tactful while mercilessly chopping the carrots.

  ‘No, of course not,’ he said in a tone which suggested he did not like being accused of encouraging such mayhem. ‘The only time I’ve ever used them was when I was a kid. I’d never bring anything like that into the house.’

  ‘I’m not blaming you, Neil, just trying to understand why it started up. Do you think it could have been anything to do with that ghost programme you were watching on TV?’

  ‘There must be thousands of viewers watching that, they can’t all be haunted as a result.’

  It was a fair point. ‘OK, but we won’t be watching them in future.’ I looked down at the carrots, which were in tiny pieces. Plopping them into the bubbling water, I hoped the children would not notice my over zealous chopping. I turned to Neil, curious. ‘So tell me what happened when you were young.’