My Collection of Short Horrors

Same Place

Same Place

The air had a musty tint from the lake as it brushed against Annabelle's cheeks. At first, the scent bothered her, but now she had grown accustomed to it. There was a certain peace about living by the lake, and she would live anywhere as long as she could be with her husband, Harry.

His warm hand brushed against hers, squeezing between her fingers. She smiled and squeezed his hand back.

"You know I have to leave sometime," Harry said, brushing his smooth brown hair.

Annabelle shook her head. "You can be a little late. I'm sure no one will notice."

He sighed. "With the war going on, we have less people in the factory. I need to be there."

"But you are the one running it," she reminded him. "I'm sure the men will be just fine for a few minutes without you."

"Well, with less workers I've had to be a little more hands on, lately," he pointed out with his head down.

Annabelle huffed, but Harry pulled her in for a kiss. For a moment, she felt the same bliss she felt on her wedding day. It had only been three months, but to Annabelle it could be forever or just yesterday. Time was meaningless. She never imagined she would be so happy in married life, but Harry was the most charming, caring, hardworking man, she had ever come across.

"I best be off," he said with a small smile.

"I'll miss you," she whispered back. "You know you're leaving me all by myself for the day."

He put his finger on her chin to tilt it up. "Come now. Minia will be here in an hour for her choirs and..." he shot a hard look behind his wife and added, "well... you can take a walk around and see if you can meet some of our other neighbors?"

Annabelle turned her hand and glance over her shoulder to the house next door that once glowed, but now looked like a beaten shack. The bottom was covered in growing vine. The tree branches nearly touched the ground while the grass grew like a wild jungle. Her neighbor, Marlene, had lost her husband to a plague. After about a months passing, she began to put back on her happy face, but could not manage anything on her own. Annabelle always thought Marlene to be strange. Now, she watched her step outside with her brown hair in perfect locks, clutching a water pitcher. Annabelle could see her vivid plum lips pop in the sunlight. When Marlene caught sight of the couple, her hand flew in the air and she waved it enthusiastically. Annabelle gave her a small wave back and a polite smile.

Harry gave her a curious look but said, "You'll be fine. I'll see you later, okay?"

He gave her one final kiss before leaving for work.

Letting out a breath, Annabelle returned to her large clean home and sat in a small chair next to the empty fireplace to read. After she turned the first page she heard a light rap on the door. The knock picked up its speed as she stood up. Hoping it was Minia here for her choirs, Annabelle opened the door and tried to keep a straight expression when she saw who it was.

"Well hey there, kind neighbor?" Marlene said, waving her right hand enthusiastically, while her other held a woven basket.

Her heavy southern accent sometimes pierced Annabelle's ears. However, she still managed a smile.

"I made muffins," she exclaimed, thrusting the basket over to Annabelle. "Would you like some?"

As she took the basket with one hand, Marlene seemed to take that as an invitation to come inside.