Peculiar Occurrences

Two

Thursday

Paying a visit to the silent house

“Clipboard; check, pen; check, boots; Check...” Mel listed the things they needed on a small piece of paper.

“Why do we need boots?” Sean asked, clearly not keeping track on the list.

“Well, Sean, if you were listening properly, we need boots because the house is right next to the River Ouse and the house does tend to flood sometimes and thus, we may get our feet and ankles drenched in reeking water, which is why I ticked boots off our flippin’ list.” Snapped Mel; she hates being interrupted.

 George was sitting at the table, staring at his soggy cornflakes glumly; not saying a word.

“George, stop being a pessimist! I thought you liked doing this; you used to work at a housing estate agency, I don’t see any differences in that.” Mel pointed out, whilst packing her bag with everything that a woman needs; lipstick, purse, phone, business cards, hand cream... you get the idea. 

George knew that if he tried to explain why for the millionth time, Mel would still say that it is utter rubbish.

11:00 AM – Arriving at the house

Mel was clapping her hands and squealing like some mad hatter whilst jumping up and down on the spot. George was having a cigarette whilst Sean was sitting on the car bonnet, buried into a book.

“George! Stop smoking that dirty cigarette! Sean! Concentrate!” Mel screeched; immediately snapping out of the squealing and jumping sequence.  

Sean groaned and tossed the book in the car window and George dropped his cigarette and stamped on it.  

All three of them began to walk to the house and realised there was a gate in front of it. Damn it.

“Great. Just great! I make all this effort and get all excited and turn up to this?” Mel said sarcastically, throwing her arms up in the air.

George was relieved; you could almost hear him say “Great, no thriller tonight!” through his mind.

“Wait, hang on a second; I can see a gap at the side; leaning against the wall.” Mel pointed out, pointing at the gap.

“Fudge!” George exclaimed in horror.

“What?” Mel asked, irritated whilst scowling, she clearly doesn’t care what George thinks right now.

“Erm, I thought I forgot my phone.” George hesitated, whilst lying through his teeth; pretending to pat his pockets. Truth is; he hadn’t forgotten his phone.  

Mel ignored George and asked Sean to go first though the gap; he was the smallest. Mel went second and George went through the gap last. Then they all sat next to the river on the grass and got out their papers and pens; theories and plans.

11:15 AM – After the theories and thoughts

 “Ok troops! Let’s go inside!” Mel declared optimistically.

George and Sean walked inside first through the entrance and they were pretty blown-back at the scene. The entrance was already immense; with faded crimson red wallpaper on wall; most of the color was engulfed by the growing mould on the walls.

There were two large chandeliers hanging off the walls; but then again, the wonderous beauty of the chandeliers was concealed by the mould growing on them. There were some burned out candles in some of the holders; most of them were empty.

The carpet was emerald green but gave off a gut-wretching squelching sound when you took several steps in it; like the sort you would when you step into mud.

“How rank! This house sure has been neglected; Says so on the walls, mouuldy.” Grimaced Mel; hunching her shoulders as if she was going to catch the plague.

“Calm down, Mel; stop hunching your shoulders like that; you look weeiird.” Stated George; stretching the word weird as he rounded off the comment.

“Anyway, I don’t think it will be as bad when we go to the main room.” Interposed Sean; looking calm as possible; trying not to laugh at Mel’s and George’s bickering.

The trio fell silent when something shocking was heard.