Hopelessy Devoted

Chapter Two: Before The Light Came On

Back in the 1900's, tradgey struck Senonia when the first murder had ever occured in the small town. A man by the name of Ellis, was a low life piece of scum. Notorious for stealing cars and shooting up drugs- Ellis and his family moved to Senonia in the Summer of 31'. His wife Norma and their two sons moved into a neighboring shack beside the Greene Family Farm. Ellis was known to have a short temper and on many accounts threated half the people in town that he would blow their brains out.

On the night of September 8th, 1934, Ellis was seen leaving the Hightown Bar stumbling and assumably drunk. He arrived home a quater passed midnight and turned on the upstairs light. At 12:30 that night, several gunshots went off in the home and at exactly 1:00 the lights went off as a final shot occured.

The lights never came on again.

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Driving to school this morning, I look out my window amd slow down as I approach the rundown shack that is my neigh ors house. It's been here for as long as my Daddy can remember- he said bad things happened there, but that was a long time ago. Looking at the gray, splitting beams that are the skeleton to the old home, I can't imagine a light in there still working.

Shaking my head of this nonsense, I drive to school and it doesn't take long before Zach pulls me from my truck and shoves his tongue down my throat for everyone to see.

Is this what having a boyfriend is like?

"Hey sweet thing!" He says as he pulls away from my mouth, wiping spit from his lips. I feel like my mouth got a shower of tobacco tasting mouthwash. Yuck! Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, he starts walking me into school- without even asking if I have everything.

I don't.

"So my summer was awesome! I was at this football camp and was like the coolest guy there- not to mention the only one who didn't throw the ball like a girl." Wow, sexist much? It's like he's an idiot trying to sound like he's intelligent. But then again, he's a guy. "And then my brother totally broke his nose- it was awesome!"

Oh right- he was still talking- and we're already at the gym for announcements. The gym is crowded with every grade, the Seniors usually sit at the top, but Zach shoves some Freshmen off the first bench and we sit down. I feel bad for those Freshmen- Seniors are making their scary adventure worse. As the Principle comes out and begins talking, Zach has his arm around my shoulders, but now he's trying to grab my breast. I keep knocking his arm off with my shoulder, but he doesn't seem to understand. Guys really do only think about one thing.

"Come on- first period- Babe." Zach pulls me from my thoughts and we go to our first period class- unfortunately three of my four classes are with him. I mean, I'm glad we can hangout, but if he keeps trying to distract me from my work- then this isn't going to work.

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As the final bell rings, I walk out of my last class and sprint to my Truck. I really don't have time or the desire for another kiss of tobacco. Starting my truck up, I head out of the parking lot and head home. As I drive down my road, I slow down as I approach the creepy neighbor house. It really is creepy, even in the day time. Suddenly two hands and a face smack up against my drivers window causing me to jump in my seat.

"Hahaha I totes got you!" Zach yells as he laughs and runs around to the other side of the truck to get in.

"Zach! You scared me! What the heck?" I ask as I hold my chest.

"I followed you home so you got there okay. Considering the storm that's coming." He scoots closer to me and lays a hand in my lap.

"That's very sweet, but I'm fine- thank you." I say and move his hand off of my lap, which takes his gaze away from me. "I have to go do chores and help my Daddy out with patients, so if you could go now..."

"Yer Daddy? Ha...okay. I just have a question- anyone live in that piece of shit?" He gestures to the shack and I shake my head no.

"No it's been abandoned for decades."

"Interesting. You ever go in there?"

"No- that's Breaking and Entering."

"It's not breaking if you can just climb through the window." He snakily says and gets out of the truck after kissing me hard once more. He walks back to his car and speeds off down the road passed me. Dust blows in my windows and I nearly choke on it. As the dust clears, I swear I seen something out of the corner of my eye on the property, but I honestly don't know.

After helping out with the animals, filling out school paperwork, and dinner- I wait for my Daddy to go to bed and at midnight, I take my run.

My feet pound against the dirt road as the stormy moon barely lighys my path. I feel my chest rise rapidly and with every beat my foot meets with the road. I go my normal route and turn back to go home. As I an approaching my property, again I stop in my place from the light in the window. What makes it even more scary is this time, I see a masculine figure silohuetted by the light. I really can't move. No one lives in that house. The lights shouldn't even work.

Looking down at my FitBit, it's 1:00. And the light goes out. The figure is gone. Without a second thought, I race back to my driveway, up my steps and into the house- not caring if I wake Daddy.