The house at the Crossroads (BxB)

If Walls Could Talk

Karlos had been having reoccurring nightmares, the walls whisper at night, a boy he barely knows feels like he knew all his life, and if things could not get any weirder, his grandmother is acting suspiciously.

It was lunchtime when he asked her about her brother. The air was still filled with the scent of soup though the plates on the table are now almost empty. The carpenters are murmuring how good of a cook is Amalia, and Karlos, just as he swallowed his last spoonful of rice, remember the questions he's been meaning to ask.

"Lola, what was the name of your brother again?"

He filled his glass with water as well as his grandmother's while he waited for her to finish grinding her food. His grandmother took the glass and drank the water.

She looked at Karlos, and he could not understand what that look meant. "Why are you suddenly asking?"

"No reason. It's just, you're always talking about him but I can't seem to remember you telling me his name."

"You know his name."

"Well, as you can see, I forgot. So can you tell me again?"

An awkward silence floated between them. The carpenters have also finished their meals and their attentions were now directed at Karlos and Amalia. Everyone seems to have their breath held.

"Why should I tell you? You're the one who forgot."

Sometimes, his grandmother is irrationally stubborn. "Come on, just tell me his name. It's on the tip of my tongue but I can't get the name out. It's bothering me."

"Good. I hope it does not let you sleep." She stood from her seat and addressed the carpenters. "I hope you enjoyed the meal. I feel tired so I'm gonna go rest for an hour. Karlos take charge of the dishes and make sure the carpenters are comfortable while they work."

The carpenters thanked Amalia and she went on her way.

"What was that? I just wanted to know my granduncle's name. What's wrong with her?" He pouted.

"Mrs. de Vera enjoys teasing you, huh?" Ricky said.

They were now preparing to go back to work, so Karlos stood and started cleaning the table.

"It's just a name I don't get why she's making a big deal about it."

Ricky shrugged, "Maybe she's just sulking because you forgot something that's supposed to be important. I mean, that's your granduncle, how could you forget his name?"

"I don't know...I'm can't seem to remember."

Allan chuckled. "Good luck with that, kid. I'm sure you'll be able to remember it."

Jun thanked him again for the meal, and Gabriel went on his way without a word. As Karlos loaded the dishwasher, the house was filled with the sound of pounding once again.

The house has finally been able to run electricity and the water pump has been fixed. Everything was normal, if Karlos ignores the way the walls seem to breathe at night. The haunt continued, but Karlos was never able to produce enough proof to convince his grandmother. A door would slam, and Amalia would say it's just the wind. Someone was crying, Amalia does not hear anything. A vase fell and broke, it was a rat. It's always the rats, poor creatures. There were drops of blood in the middle of the living room.

"What about this, huh? Is this not enough proof?" Karlos said on the morning they found dried drops of red liquid. It was Karlos who noticed them. It was only a few droplets, but as Karlos squinted his eyes, he tugged Amalia towards the living room.