Curiosity Kills

Chapter 2

We were pretty busy over the next few days so I never got a chance to check up on Juliana and her family.  I had heard that they were having a little trouble getting settled but that seemed normal at the time.  We saw Tara playing outside with Vix once or twice but then they stopped coming out.  I have to admit it was a little out of the ordinary.  We aren't like other towns where everyone stays inside and plays video games or sleeps through the day.  You could call us old fashioned in some sense but we liked it that way.  

Mother had tried to get into contact with Juliana but to no avail.  It was like they just disappeared without a trace.  I understood the house was creepy but I didn't know it could drive people away like that.  It actually wasn't that bad after you get used to it.  Mother called us over one day. "I'm worried about the Riddls." Luke had been sulking since the day Tara disappeared.  The kid was crushing hard.  I found it amusing and made fun of him often.

"I'm worried too.  Tara and Vix haven't come outside for a week now.  I miss her."

"I wish we could do something." I was trying to think of why this might be happening but nothing really stood out.  Suddenly, mom's eyes lit up.

"I know!  Why don't you three go over there and invite them over for dinner?  Maybe they just aren't feeling accepted into the neighborhood yet."  

"We can do that.  It would be nice to chat with Juliana again."  We immediately headed over.  Luke was leading.  He was very anxious to see Tara.  I have to admit it was funny to see my little brother head over heels for a girl.  He had never crushed on anyone before so I wondered what made Tara different from all the other girls at school.  I don't mean to brag but my brothers and I were considered to be some of the most attractive guys at school.  Even Hayden scored pretty high with the girls.  I had had a few girlfriends over the years but the current one was sticking around longer than the others and I really liked her.  

We carefully went up the steps to the porch.  Last week they had looked somewhat repaired, now they looked like they had sat untouched for the last hundred years.  I looked at the door.  Something about it was off.  I don't know why but it was giving off some pretty creepy vibes.  It was nothing like it was last time we were here.  I cautiously approached it waiting for something to jump out at me or something.  I went to use the knocker again.  It was ice cold despite it being a hot summer day.  Luke was watching me the entire time and eventually grew impatient with me.  "Just knock, David!  Why are you acting like it's going to bite you?!"

I glared at him and knocked.  The entire house seemed to tremble when a sudden gush of wind came out of nowhere.  It was so cold that we all clutched our arms to our sides and shivered.  "That was really weird."

"I know, it's like this house has its own weather."  None of this was making any sense whatsoever.  Hayden hadn't said anything since we had left the house.  He was just staring at the door.  I looked back and watched it slowly creak open.  I was thinking we would see Juliana or Heath standing there, but there was no one.  Hayden looked fearful.

"Doors can't open on their own, right?"

"Of course not, maybe it was the wind.  The door might not have been shut all the way."  I was making up excuses because I didn't have any better explanation.  

"Tara?  Are you in there?"

"Juliana?"

"Vix?"  Nobody answered.  The house was dark and seemingly empty.  I peered inside.  All the furniture was covered by dirty white sheets.  It looked like none of it had been touched since it was abandoned, but how could that be?   There was no way they would have been living here without touching anything.  This was just too creepy.   I turned around to grab my brothers and leave but I only saw Luke there.

"Where's Hayden?"  Luke didn't answer.  He was fixated on something in front of me.  I followed his gaze to the door.  Hayden was standing in the doorway.  I watched him start to walk inside of the house.  "Hayden don't go in there!"  He ignored me as if he was no longer in control of his body.  He looked stiff and his legs didn't quite bend as they should as he walked farther into the house.  Then the door started to shut.

I grabbed Luke's arm and pulled him behind me into the house before the door could shut behind Hayden.  As soon as we were all inside, the door slammed behind us and clicked.  Then everything went dark.