so long and goodnight

chapter 2: Jesse

The car ride was quiet. Josh seemed to have changed a bit. He wasn't weird or quirky anymore. he wasn't as talkative. He seemed more egotistical, and quiet. He seemed to care more about what people thought and he was just basic. It was saddening in all honesty.

Josh's house was old, and it was obvious. Every step you took made a sound. Mold grew in areas of the ceiling and the lights flickered. It looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Honestly, I didn't feel very safe here. I guess it's better than being home alone, because Josh was here.

Josh had a dog. Actually, I don't think it's a dog. I believe it's a demon that somehow spawned on Earth and then a lovely family adopted it because they were blinded by its cute face. If you weren't petting it, it growled. If you tried to pet it, it bit. I don't think Josh's family really picked up on this, because they named the terrifying creature "Daisy." Usually Daisy barks a raucous, but orotund bark and growls her gravelly growl. Oddly enough, tonight the devil dog didn't make a sound. She stared at the door, as if she could see right through it. She was concentrated, a word I thought I'd never use to describe her, on a certain spot. She didn't even blink. Weird.

"Need anything?" Josh asked across the room, adding supplies to the fireplace.

"I'm okay, just tired. Where will I be sleeping?"

It was 12:00 and I was somehow exhausted. Josh gave me directions to the guest bedroom; upstairs, second door to the right. He said he had to walk the dog but then he'd be right up. I followed the directions to the bedroom and lied down on the bed. I opened my eyes and noticed a terrifying face, and i bolted up. Seriously, Josh? A creepy painting? If I didn't know him and his family, I'd say they had the worst taste in houses, dogs, and art I've ever seen. The eyes seemed to follow you everywhere you went. The face was the worst part. The man in the painting had a ghoulish looking face, with barely any fat and deep, sunken eyes with terrible bags. His skin was as white as a ghost's. It looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. I stared at the man, and he stared at me. I noticed that the scenery of the painting was night time, maybe midnight. there were a few trees as well. Utterly terrified of this chilling face, I taped a piece of paper over the painting. Better. I tried to wait for Josh, but i was too exhausted.

What I didn't know was there was a secret in this painting. I should've figured it out sooner, but I was too tired to think. Instead i drifted off into a deep sleep. Bad idea.