Terrify Me...

Chapter 3: My Unpleasent Paranoia.

Upon arriving at our ‘new home’, I made a few quick assessments of it. It was a three story high building, with detailed intricate designs on it. The building itself was constructed in a manner full of class, elegance, and yes, age.

But something about this house…

Something doesn’t feel right…I thought to myself as we rounded the drive. I noticed three cars and a truck parked in the garage.

“Good, we beat the movers.” Mother breathed, staring fervently at the house. I swallowed back the regret that was trying to bubble up my throat. I began to pop my thumbs and fingers nervously, the manor suddenly becoming intimidating. I felt like everything was closing in. I bit my lip nervously and tried to take slow calming breaths. I felt distant-

“Stop that!” Mother scolded, slapping my arm. I looked at her startled at first, but looked down, realizing she was referring to my nervous ‘joint popping’. The cab slowed to a stop and she threw open the doors, ushering Wendell and me out of the car. We walked around to the back, and pulled out our boxes and bags.

At that same instant, the U-HAUL Movers showed up, and one by one they began jumping out of the big rig and threw open the receding garage-like door on the back of the truck.

It was like a new woman had taken control of my ditzy, unorganized mother, and she began barking out orders.

I stared at her, surprised at how together and intelligent she had become. She suddenly turned to me with a kind smile.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you go pick out a room and go ahead and start unpacking!” She suggested brightly. I managed a small crooked smile and something in her snapped as she glanced to the side. “HEY YOU!! SCRAWNY GUY WITH THE MULLETT-YEAH I’M TALKING TO YOU!! WERE ARE YOU GOING WITH THAT LOVE SEAT IT GOES IN THE DEN!!”

I quickly scrambled away from my mom as she unleashed havoc on the poor man. At this point, I was more afraid of her, than the house, and I planned on staying out of her way until this was all over.

I carefully walked up the polished wooden steps leading to the porch that wound tightly around the house to form balconies on the top two floors. I walked through the open front door which had a gorgeous mahogany wood Victorian design to it. I pushed past it gently, and it gingerly creaked open further.

I heard the scuttling of the movers putting furniture in place, so it eased my tension slightly. My hand found the light switch and I flipped it on. The more light the better.

The natural light through the open windows just wasn’t enough, in fact, it gave an eerie feeling off.

Chills shot down my spine and I shivered in automatic response. I sighed, mentally slapping myself.

Get it together Lexi! There’s nothing to be worried about!!

At that exact moment, I heard a deep chuckle echo from above, and then footsteps stomping down the halls, and suddenly the chandelier began to sway and shake.

“I stand corrected,” I muttered, watching wide-eyed at the display of events before me. I took a deep breath, bracing myself and started up the stair case, where the rooms began.

I reached the top and noticed two maids were here, both talking in their nasally high pitched voices, their accents obviously double coated with French. I would lightly push open each door I came to.

Each room had it’s own color, style, and theme.

As I did so, I heard running up and down the stairs. I snapped my head around and noticed the maids were still hovered over a phone, giggling and squealing at pictures or numbers.

There was nobody on the stairs.

I saw something race out of the corner of my eye sight and I whipped around to catch what it was, but there was nothing there.

This house is going to drive me mad.

I closed my eyes struggling with my fear and anger, and opened them again. I breathed again and started down the hall. I heard more devious giggling and finally, I snapped.

“SHUT UP!!” I screamed, pulling my hair and closing my eyes as tightly as they would go. Then everything was quiet. Silent. I gasped, and spun around and saw the maids staring at me in shock and worry. “D-did you hear anything?” I asked tentatively. They slowly shook their heads. And I groaned throwing my hands in the air.

“Great!” I spat. “I am going crazy!” I stomped on to the next room, throwing open door and continuing on to the next.

I rested my hand on the final doorknob and twisted, pushing it open. My eyes widened as I took in the room.

It was definitely me. There was the aged shelves, with old books here and there-trust me I had more packed away, I’m a book junkie- that lined the near ceiling of the room. Everything about this room seemed a little aged and rusted, with power pink and white walls, and empty frames. It wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t tiny. It was perfect, down to the walk in closet, and complete, big bathroom. There also something about this room that felt safer than the rest of the house. I set down my bags and few boxes and started to unpack.

Every now and then, the floor boards would creak and shift, and that irritating, childish laughter would echo through the house. Though, the noise didn’t quite belong to a child as it sounded like it belonged to a young man.

Movers would come to me from time to time-probably trying to escape my mothers wrath-and would exasperatedly ask we where certain things would go, if some furniture and boxes were mine, etc. And if they did belong to me, I’d kindly take them, give them a warm smile, and tell them thank you.

Finally I was done.

I collapsed on my bed and hummed happily to myself. Though my eyes grew tired, and I knew I suffered severe jet lag, and I fought to stay awake, since it was only six ‘o’clock in the afternoon here.

However when I pried my eyes open, what I saw made me let out the most blood curdling, bone chilling, petrifying scream of terror.

Because as I looked at the ceiling, a pair of stunning green eyes stared back.