Darkness Beckons

Part 1

It usually started late at night, after Octavius Barthello's wife, Marlana went to sleep. She usually didn't wake up right away after hearing the sounds that Octavius often heard. The sounds usually made him wake with a start. At first, it had been downright scary, but since he kept hearing the sounds more often, they became familiar to him and he became used to them. However, it was still hard to sleep at night. And sometimes he felt a little guilty because there were certain things he hadn't bothered telling his wife about the house they were currently living in. The house was more familiar to him than she'd ever know and full of memories of a past he had before ever knowing her. He know found himself with deep regret at ever having moved back into the house. He had no idea how dangerous it would become.
When Octavius moved in the house he had once shared with his first wife, Isabelle, he had intended to put all past memories aside and start a new life in this house and had every intention of making it into a dream house for Marlana and their baby daughter, Abigail, who was just three months old. He just wanted to make a fresh start and create new memories. He should have known better than to move into his old house, knowing what he'd been through with Isabelle. But something had been calling him, almost conjuring him to buy this house for some reason. An undeniable urge made him want to live in this house again, despite the memories it held for him. He had never disclosed the fact to Marlana that he had once lived there years ago. And since the original real estate agent that had sold him the house previously, had retired, he felt no need to mention he had once lived there previously. He was secretly relieved about that. It saved him a lot of time it would take to explain all that had ocurred in the past to Marlana. He knew though, someday he'd have to tell her. For secrets, never stayed secrets for long. He dreaded the day he'd have to tell her. He hoped the truth wouldn't scare her to the point where she'd leave him. That was one of his worst fears.
They kept Abigail in her own room, next to their bedroom. They kept a baby monitor in both the baby's room and their room, so that they'd be aware of her waking hours and in general, for her safety. Marlana and Octavius each took turns caring for Abigail's needs at night, so they'd both get plenty of sleep during the night.

Strange things began to happen shortly after Abigail was only a few months old. And they often happenned after midnight. Octavius was usually the first person to hear them. It would be a while before Marlana would start hearing them too.
At first, Octavius would hear the crackle of the baby monitor. Then he would hear the sound of the baby crying. By natural instinct, he'd slowly get ready to go to Abigail and see about her needs. That first night that that had ocurred had become eerie to him. Shortly after Abigail started crying, he started to hear the sound of the slow and gentle creak of a rocking chair. He found it particularly eerie because he had packed that chair years ago. He thought he could hear soft murmuring as well. It gave him the chills just hearing the slow, steady sound of the rocking chair back and forth. He could not figure why he heard soft murmurs and who they were coming from.
He looked to Marlana's side of the bed and noticed she was still asleep, oblivious to everything.
He decided not to disturb her. She took care of Abigail during the day while he worked as a restaurant manager. She needed all the rest she could get. He waited a few seconds. Abigail's cries had subsided. He knew he had to check on the baby, but fear made him hesitate with nervousness. His forehead began to sweat as well as his palms. His heart beat wildly. He slowly got up to his feet and turned to look at his wife one last time. She slept so peacefully. He quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.
He walked into Abigail's room. The rocking chair was still moving slightly and he felt the the seat to discover it was still warm as if someone had actually been there recently but there was no one in the roomat all. The room itself felt chilly. He looked more closely at the rocking chair. To his horror, it looked exactly like the one he had custom made for his first wife, Isabelle, down to the last detail ! How is it that it's here in this house again ? I thought I got rid of it already. I knew I should gave destroyed it with my bare hands or burned it, he thought to himself. He walked over to the window and doubled checked it to make sure it wasn't left open or tampered with. He examined it and saw that the window was securely locked. He breifly looked out the window and could see no one lurking outside in the shadows. He checked the closet too. No one hiding in there or waiting to jump out at him. He felt a great sigh of relief. Abigail looked absolutely delighted to see Octavius, despite the late hour. She gurgled and cooed. He marveled at her tiny features. She had azure blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and little blonde ringlets of hair. She was a sight he adored. He gently picked her up and held her close to him. He talked softly and lovingly to her. He walked around the room with Abigail. He glanced at the rocking chair and was tempted to sit in it but hesitated and thought better of it. He could never bring himself to sit in it ever again.
He stayed up with Abigail for a while, fed her and changed her. Soon she began to feel tired and he placed her in her crib to rest. As he started to leave the room, he thought he saw the rocking chair move slightly and someone murmur, "Traitor." It had to be my imagination, he had thought to himself at the time. He never knew how much more sinister it would become.