The House That Never Was

III.VII V: A Strange Disappearance

The friends found themselves together in the hallway. There was barely any lighting. What lighting there was kept flickering. They all looked at each other.

"You guys heard that, right?" Joanne stammered.

"We did." Steve replied. "At first, we thought it was a joke."

"So did we." Jack added. "Scared the crap out of us."

Everyone shook their heads in agreement.

As he wiped his hand from his mouth to his chin, John looked around. "There's something very weird going on here."

"No kidding." Angie replied.

John shook his head in frustration. "No, seriously. I mean think about it." Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. " We're here in the middle of nowhere. This is the only house for miles. In fact, the only sign of life for miles. I find it odd that two old people living here alone wouldn't have a phone."

"Yeah." Jack said, nodding his head in agreement. " I find it odd that the old man said to not go wandering around, then we hear a scream from out of nowhere. And also, what's up with all the strange markings on some of the furniture?"

"Maybe they're witches." Lisa replied with a chuckle.

Putting his hands up as if he were motioning for everyone to stop, John made a point. "Regardless of what they are or aren't, and regardless of what markings are or aren't on the furniture, something is very wrong in this house. We need to get out of here."

Just then, the lights went out, and a spine tingling, blood curdling scream was heard again. This time the scream sounded as if it was right there in the hallway where they were at. Frantically, everyone tried to feel their way around.

"Oh my God!" Joanne shouted as she felt along the wall. "That sounded like it was right here."

"I know." John replied, tripping over something. "Shit!"

A loud thud and a crashing noise was heard. Then, the lights came back on and John was lying on the floor. He had tripped over a little stand that had been up against the wall. Pieces of a vase that was sitting on the stand were all over the floor. A mirror that had been hanging on the wall next to the stand was also knocked down and shattered when it hit the floor.

Walking over to John, Steve helped him up. "Broke a mirror. That's seven years bad luck."

"Shut up." John said as he lightly pushed Steve back.

"Hey, Guys?" Angie said as she looked around. "Where's Lisa?

"Babe?" Jack called out. "Babe?!"

Everyone began looking around. Jack checked the room they were supposed to sleep in, and everyone else checked theirs. They began checking other rooms up and down the hall as the lights continued to flicker. After checking all the rooms in that hallway, they had found nothing.

"Where the Hell is she?!" Jack asked in a panic.

Running his hands along his head, John tried to reassure him. "We'll find her." But, inside John didn't feel so sure. A feeling he kept to himself. Everyone was already scared enough. He didn't want to make it worse.

Putting her face in both of her hands for a brief moment, Joanne asked. "What do we do now?"

Looking at her, then everyone else, John came up with a plan. Pointing down the hall. "Okay, Joanne and I will go this way. We'll head right. Steve, you and Angie go the same way, but instead, turn left. Jack, do you want to go with us, or with them?"

Hesitating for a moment, then responding. "I'll go back the way we came. I'll see if maybe I can find the old couple and find out what the Hell is going on."

Nodding in agreement, John responded. "Alright, but be careful." Then he looked at everyone. "No matter what, we meet back here in an hour." He paused for a moment. "Remember, one hour."

Everyone nodded, then went on their way to find Lisa, and hopefully, some answers.