My Story: The Winchester House [Completed]

24:Earthquake

I bounced Syren on my hip as I tried to calm her down from her nightmare that she had. She wouldn't even let Max hold her. She held onto my shoulders and screamed whenever Max tried to take her.

"Can Papa hold you?" I asked. She shook her head and I kissed her hair.

"Syren, you know Papa loves you a lot," Max said as he tried to touch her hair. She squealed and tried to move away from him. He sighed as I whispered sweet nothings to her.

"Syren, do you want to hear a story?" I asked. Luke ran out of his room and held on to my leg.

"I want to hear a story!" Luke said and I looked at him.

"Why are you awake?" I asked and he looked at Syren. Max walked towards him.

"Let's go back to bed, Luke," Max said as he tried to grab Luke but Luke and Syren both screamed, effectively making Max stumble back.

"Max, go to bed. I have them," I told him, lovingly. He nodded and walked to our room. Syren looked at me with her big brown doe eyes.

"Story?" she asked. I nodded.

"A long time ago," I started before a spirit showed up and the children looked at him.

"The spirits have the best stories," Luke whispered and I smiled at the spirit.

"Will you tell the children a story?" I asked him as the children and I got comfortable on the couch to listen.

About myself? he asked and I nodded. There isn't much to tell.

"How did you die?" Luke asked and I grabbed his chin.

"Luke Jameson! You can not just ask that of the residents," I chastised him and he looked down.

It's quite fine. Children are curious creatures that must ask questions to understand, the spirit stated and I let go of Luke's chin. My father killed me because I... didn't wish to marry a woman since I enjoy the company of men. Luke nodded.

"That's fine, right?" Luke looked at me for confirmation. Father and Mother told me about homosexuals and how they could ruin families. I personally never saw anything wrong with them since they didn't bother me and my life.

"Of course it is, Luke. Shunning people away because of who they love is wrong," I told him but looked at both children since I wanted to make sure that they understood.

"Love," Syren stated and I laughed as I watched her bounce in my lap. I hugged my children as the spirit disappeared slowly.

*

"Mother! Look at the dress Mrs. Winchester gave me!" Syren yelled as we woke up on the 18th of April of 1906. She was my little five year old and I shushed her as she spun around. She was wearing a maid's outfit but she was acting like someone made her a princess.

"It looks absolutely beautiful, my darling. Come here so I can do your hair," I told her.

"Mother, can I help with the dusting today?" she asked as we entered the house at 5 am.

"I do not see why not," I stated, "Once Mrs Winchester wakes up, we will start cleaning the Daisy Bedroom." We had just reached the top of the stairs when the house started to rock. I held Syren close to me as I realised what it was.

"Earthquake!" Josh yelled as Braxton and he stood in a doorway.

"Syren, go to Josh," I said as I pushed her and she ran to Josh with little trouble of the rocking. Josh held her as I got into the doorway.

When the shaking stopped, there were orders from the butlers to get outside and group everyone together. I took Syren's hand and headed down the stairs to get to the front lawn.

"Samantha! Syren!" I could hear Max's voice yelling out. I looked towards it and Max ran towards us with Luke. He hugged both of us and kissed my forehead harshly. "Thank god you two are well."

"We need to do counts," I said. "Everyone line up so we can do counts." Madalynn looked at me with my niece, Adalynn. I smiled as she pulled Adalynn close to her.

"All the carpenters are here," Josh said. I nodded and Max looked around.

"I can't find my aunt," Marian told us as she ran towards us.

"Syren, Luke, stay here. Do not follow us, am I understood?" I asked and Luke looked at me as he held his sister's hand.

"Yes." I turned towards the house and ran in. Madalynn come in right behind me and we started knocking and trying to open doors.

"Mrs. Winchester?" Madalynn asked as she knocked on the door to the Daisy Bedroom.

"Help," Mrs Winchester said and we tried to open the door.

"Samantha, go get the carpenters to the door," Madalynn said and I ran.

"We found Mrs. Winchester!" I yelled and Connor and Braxton started following me to the door.

"The door won't open," Madalynn told them and Connor lifted his crow bar.

"Step back," Connor said. The spirits were restless as Connor starting prying the door open. Madalynn grabbed onto me as we watched them panic because of the earthquake. The door opened and Madalynn and I surged forward to go to Mrs. Winchester. She grabbed our hands as we started to escort her to the garden.

"They are angry! We've spent to long on the front!" Mrs. Winchester yelled. I looked at the tower that was fallen. "I will go to the winter home until new rooms are added. Board the front of the house up! I don't want anyone in there ever again." Syren and Luke ran to me and I pulled them close to me.

"Mrs. Winchester-" Josh started.

"Do it now!" Mrs. Winchester yelled and Josh nodded.

"Get our clothing and belongings," Marian said as Connor got a seat for Mrs. Winchester. I sent in Gill and another maid which both ran in with no questions asked.

"Samantha," Max whispered as he hugged me close to him. I smiled and let my eyes close was he kissed the top of my head.