Through the Veil

Chapter Two

It wasn't much longer before Quinten pulled into the driveway the GPS indicated, the creamy white of the house starkly contrasting the bright red of the front door. He snorted a humorless chuckle, "Wow..." Jynx looked at him, confused and concerned at his tone, "What's wrong?"

" I don't know I just... for some reason I wanna paint it black." Jynx's face fell into an irritated scowl as she rolled her eyes, "Oh... my god, Q."

"What?"

"I think that is the lamest joke you have ever made, and that's saying something." He laughed as he slid from the car and slammed the door shut. "Aw c'mon, that was funny and you know it." Jynx shook her head and smiled at him, looking over the house slowly to see if she could get a bead on what it would be like inside. "Yeah yeah, sure. Keep tellin' yourself that." Quinten shot her a self satisfied grin, "I will... because it's true." He followed her gaze, looking over the house and making no effort to hide his distaste. "It's... old..." Jynx playfully shoved him and started towards the door, "Oh c'mon, it's..."

"Old?"

Jynx chuckled and smiled, "It's quaint." Quinten raised an eyebrow at her, "That's what you say about houses that look old, baby girl." Jynx shook her head, "No... Not always." He sighed and continued looking over the place, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "It's disturbingly bland."

Jynx gave paused and shot him a puzzled look, "Waddya mean?" Quinten shrugged as he pulled his duffle and one of the camera cases out of the back of the Jeep, "If you think about the other places we've worked at, they were all old, creepy lookin, busted-ass places, right?"

"Yeah... so?"

"It don't bother you that this place looks just like every other house on this block?"

Jynx shrugged, "I dunno I guess I haven't really thought about it." Quinten heaved a sigh, "It just seems to me that a place that's seen as much shit at they say would look a little more—

"Haunted...?"

He chuckled and followed her up the walkway, "Well yeah, I mean , don't you think it's a little weird that this place is actually nice and yet no one wants to buy it?" He gestured to the house, "This looks like a fuckin Instagram post but it's the house that everyone avoids?" Jynx scanned the house with a critical eye, his words sinking into her mind. He's right... there's something wrong here. It's so... inviting. Like it's luring people in... it looks so homey... so safe...

"Jynx ...?"

She startled out of her trance and flashed Quinten a cheery smile, "Maybe the spooky is on the inside." He snorted a chuckle and followed behind her as she started sauntering towards the door, trying to peek in through the windows but finding it difficult with the rising sun casting a glare across the pristine glass. Not even a single damn smudge... something is definitely wrong here...

* * * *

Watching from the shadows, she smiled. Showtime... Straightening her blouse and skirt, she twisted her neck and rolled her shoulders, the bones going off a gut twisting crunch. She walked down the concrete sidewalk towards the house, looking over the two figures standing on the porch with intense, dark eyes. She took a deep breath and painted a sickly sweet smile on her face. "Hello!" She said in a sing-song tone that made her own flesh crawl. Jynx turned to face her and smiled warmly, "Oh hello, are you the-

"I'm the Realtor, you must be the team I hired to investigate the house." Jynx smiled, feeling the insincerity dripping from the woman's demeanor, shaking her hand politely. "Yes, I'm Jynx and this is my partner, Quinten." The woman turned her unsettling stare to Quinten and reached out her hand, "Partner, how lovely. It must be nice to be able to work together." Quinten cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable and gently shook her hand, damn near gagging at how cold and clammy her hand was. "Pleasure to meet you but, uh... We're not life partners, just business partners and best friends." The woman put a hand to her chest and breathed a plastic laugh, "Oh! My apologies! You both look so comfortable together I assumed..." She shook her head and cleared her throat, "My mistake. Anyhoo, it's a pleasure to meet you both." Jynx exchanged an awkward smile with Quinten before looking back at the odd woman in front of her. The woman clasped her hands behind her back and looked back and forth between the two, her movements stiff and unnatural, "So, is there anything I can do to assist you, or should I leave you to do your work?"