Scream of Fear-Paris, France, 1955

Chapter Two-Dinner-1961

***

The dark red colored Dining Table had ten black colored chairs. Doctor Gerrard, Jane Appleby, and Bob all sat down, as they talked about the disturbing events of the past hour or so.

"Do you care if she misses Dinner?", Jane asked Bob.

"No, but she has had a scare...".

"Une fois qu'elle se reposait, elle ira bien". He informed them that Penny would be rested. He saw the roast chicken, gravy, potatoes, green beans, and red colored wine that was clean white colored glasses.

The chandelier didn't move, as it hovered above their heads.

"The village is full of sick people. In France, there's a certain decorum that must be addressed. As for myself, there's the matter of lawyer's fees as associated to Penny's parents' estate". Bob shivered at the news; Doctor Gerrard was uncomfortable.

"She's in the room asleep. And you want money!".

"It is part....".

"Look, I know she's in bed...but...".

"But, you think I'm too hasty...".

"Yes".

"Fine...In two days' time...all matters shall be settled". And then they eat and drank their dinner in peace...just as a cold draught blew from the north end of the Music Hall...and a dark shadow used phantom hands to bang on the 19th century Grand Piano in anger.

***

Penny awoke.

She peered out of the window.

The sound of laughing came from the pool. Laughing! She frowned. She removed the covers. Then she walked past the red colored rug.

Someone was in the attic.

She wondered who was inside the empty room. She opened the window. She got into her wheelchair slowly...and left her room.

***

 Penny shivered.

Her feet was cold.

She stared past the pool.

"Bob, are you there?", she asked.

Silence.

She reached the entrance to the creepy room. She heard the creak of the door. It opened by itself. The blast of cold wind hit her face.

She moved forward...

...Slowly.

Penny flicked on the light.

The attic was full of old items from decades ago: old photographs from the 1940's, (at the early part of WWII); framed black colored photos of her Father and Mother during their wedding day in 1941; rotten looking sofas that was ripped to pieces; doorknobs that were warped beyond recognition; and a mirror that was broken in the middle of the room.

And, while she headed further inside, she saw the body of her dead Father who was in a wheelchair. His eyes opened wide...and she screamed yet again.

She fled the room.

And, as she did so, a figure pushed her into the cold water of the pool...and attempted to kill her. Her arms flailed in terror...while the attacker thinking that she was dead...fled the scene...and headed into the gloom of the villa.

***

Bob left the room.

To his horror he saw Penny lying in the pool in her wheelchair. "PENNY!". He rushed to the pool's edge. He grabbed the wheelchair out first.