Shadow of the Mind

Chapter 17: Shadow of the Past

The wind howled through the streets of South Chicago, swirling fallen leaves around the two figures huddled together beneath the dim glow of a flickering streetlight. Jamie and Alex, both seventeen, stood just beyond the rusty gate that demarcated the overgrown yard of the dilapidated house. Peeling paint clung to the weathered wood like old scars, and the windows, dusty and cracked, stared out at them like hollow eyes.

"Are you sure about this?" Jamie whispered, nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He tugged at the sleeves of his oversized Bulls hoodie, the fabric worn and faded from countless adventures. Dark hair fell messily into his eyes, obscuring his anxious expression.

Alex, always the bolder of the two, shot him an encouraging grin. Her brown curls bounced with energy, as if urging them to take a step forward. "C'mon, it's just an old house. No-one has been here in like 2 years.  Think of it as an adventure! Might be some cool left over stuff. I heard an old woman use to live in there. Could be money somewhere." Her tone was playful, but a flicker of uncertainty danced in her eyes. "We can't just let it sit here while we're out looking for something fun to do."

Jamie scanned the surroundings. The street was quiet, a car passing by, as he turned his back to it.  The distant echo of a train rumbling somewhere far-off and the occasional bark of a dog. "It looks... dangerous, like look at that broken window" he muttered, eyeing the crooked fence and the gaping front door that hung ajar, as if inviting them in while simultaneously warning them away.

"I did that, to see if anyone was going to fix the window. How else do you think I know, no-one is here. It's just a house," Alex insisted. "What's the worst that could happen? We poke around, check it out, and then we leave. No one will even know we were here." She started moving closer, her curiosity pulling her forward like a magnet. 

Jamie felt his heart race, his instincts telling him to turn back. "What if someone sees us? Or what if it's haunted? what if the cops come? I don't want to go to jail for breaking in." he half-joked, but the idea sent a chill down his spine. He pictured dark shadows lurking in the corners, remnants of lives once lived in the house, now overshadowed by neglect.

"Haunted? Seriously?" Alex laughed, her voice breaking the heavy quiet of the night. "You've been watching too many horror movies. Besides, wouldn't it be cool to say we explored a haunted house? Imagine the stories we could tell. And  if the cops come, just think as it a good story you can tell your future buddies at the bar." pushing his arm.

Jamie took a deep breath, fighting against the excitement building in his chest. He admired her bravery, but the way the house loomed in front of them, shrouded in darkness, felt more foreboding than exhilarating. "What if we just go back to my place? We can binge-watch something on Netflix and forget about it."

"Or," Alex countered, raising an eyebrow playfully, "we can uncover whatever secrets this place holds. I dare you. Let's show a little bravery for once. Its Senior year, we need to make one last memory together, before we are officially adults." She gestured toward the door, her challenge hanging in the air like the mist creeping along the ground. "I double dog dare you," as she walked up to the steps of the house. 

After a moment's hesitation, Jamie glanced at the house again. The lingering thrill of the unknown tugged at him, and against his better judgment, he found himself stepping forward. "Okay, but if we get caught, it's totally your fault," he said, trying to mask his fear with a façade of bravery.

Alex grinned widely, her eyes shining with mischief and adventure. "That's the spirit! Let's go!" With that, she pushed the door open wider, its creak echoing through the night as they stepped onto the threshold, crossing into a world of uncertainty and thrilling possibility.