Hellmare - Short Horror Stories

The Babysitter

Danielle, a couple of minutes late, arrived at the Johnson's residence.  Frost left her lips as she stood at their front door. After Danielle fixed her hair and tidied her shirt, her hand reached for the doorbell. 

Ding-dong!

The doorbell chimed. 

Danielle shivered as a icy gust of wind pushed against her chest. Almost a nudge, the wind blew. Her hands  warmed both of her arms.  Danielle was about to reach for the doorbell again but stopped. 

The front door squeaked open. 

"Well, hello there," a elderly woman said, smiling from ear to ear. "Come inside, dear, it's cold outside." 

The elderly woman worn a pearl necklace  and diamond earrings. Her dress was elegant and long. The elderly woman's face appeared ripe and fresh like a baby's bottom. She looked younger than Danielle could've imagined.

Danielle nodded as she stepped inside. 

BAM!

The front door slammed shut. 

Danielle jumped, looking bug-eyed at the elderly woman. 

"Oh, dear...  the wind pulls the door shut, sometimes." The elderly woman smiled. "Did you have trouble getting here?" 

Danielle shook her head. 

The elderly woman stared into Danielle's sweet chocolate eyes and smiled. 

"You seem very shy," she softly spoke. "You'll do fine."

Danielle smiled.

"I know," she said. 

"Ah! She speaks," the woman jokingly said. She pointed Danielle to living room and told her to take a seat on the couch. As Danielle reached the couch, she turned her head. Someone stood in the living room. A girl. She stood there and stared at Danielle. She didn't blink nor make any sound. She only stared.  

Danielle smiled as she sat on the couch. She couldn't help noticing that she sank into the couch a bit. Although she was light as a feather, the couch made her feel like a stone sinking to the bottom of the lake.  

"And what is your name?" she asked the little girl. 

But the little girl just stared at Danielle. Her lips didn't move. Her eyes fixated on Danielle. 

"I"m Danielle," Danielle said, placing her palm to her chest. 

But the little girl said nothing back. She didn't even move. Nor did she even bat a eyelash.

Danielle's stomach became queasy and unsettling as the little girl stared at her. But she tried hard to remain polite as possible. Then footsteps were heard against the hardwood floor in the hallway. Danielle glanced over her shoulder and smiled. 

"You have a lovely daughter," she said. 

The elderly woman furrowed her eyebrows. 

"I beg your pardon?" she asked. 

"The little girl in the red dress... she's beautiful." 

"Oh," the woman said, laughing to herself. She headed over to the fireplace and held a picture frame. 

"Isabella," she said. 

She gently stroked the picture frame with her finger then kissed  the picture. The elderly woman smiled warmly and handed over the picture frame to Danielle. "She's an angel, alright." 

Danielle could see Isabella's cheesy smile and smiling eyes from the picture as Isabella swung from a swing set. She ware a long elegant red dress and bow ties in her hair. The swing was tied to a large tree branch. The grass seemed freshly trimmed. The day was cloudless, and the sun was out to play. From the photo, Danielle guessed the picture was taken in the afternoon. Danielle handed back the picture frame. 

"She's very beautiful. How old is she?" she asked.

The woman sighed. Her finger tapped against her chin. 

"She would've been ten years old." 

She would've been ten years old? Danielle thought. 

"But... she's resting in a better place." 

Danielle swallowed. Her eyes darted to the corner of the room. But Isabella wasn't there. No one stood there. 

"What is it, dear?" the woman asked. 

"I... I..." Danielle was lost for words. 

The woman smiled. 

"You saw her?" she asked. 

Danielle nodded. 

"She does that from time to time. I hope that doesn't bother you." 

Danielle shook her head. 

"Well, then... I'm glad you two are acquainted. So, you'll take the job?" 

"Huh?" Danielle asked. She looked like a dumb ox. 

"You'll babysit Isabella?" 

Danielle couldn't answer the question. But since, she walked one mile from Oak Lawn, Illinois to get to the Johnson's residence. She may as well stay. It'll be pointless to walk back on a chilly night, she thought. 

She nodded. 

"Fantastic," the woman said, smiling from ear to ear. "She shouldn't cause you any trouble. But if she does, you let her know that mommy will be very angry at her. Okay?" 

Danielle nodded. 

I'm babysitting a ghost, she thought. Yay... this should be a great conversation with my therapist next week. So, Danielle... how was your first babysitting job last week? Oh, I don't know Dr. Hein... I babysat a ghost. Danielle, it sounds like you're having some hallucinations again. You're goddamn right I am, doc! I'm glad you're able to tell. Hey, while you're at it... jack up my Haldol and throw me into the loony farm.  Oh, just in case I see pink elephants flying around the room. What do you say, eh? 

"I won't be out too long," the woman said. "Oh... she likes to play with her dollies, too." 

Danielle nodded. 

"I will call while I'm arriving home," she said. "Okay, Tiffany?" 

"I'm Danielle." 

"Excuse me?" the woman asked.

"I'm Danielle... not Tiffany." 

The woman placed her hand to her chest, exposing her 24 karat diamond ring. 

"I'm so sorry... Tiffany... poor child." 

"What happened to Tiffany?" Danielle asked.

"Oh, darling... you didn't hear?"

Danielle shook her head. 

"She was on the news. She was once a babysitter. Rest her soul. Over in the town not so far from here: Old Willows Brooke, she ended her life."

The woman stopped for a second. Her head shook. 

"Anyways... I didn't mean to call you Tiffany. She's been on my mind. Well, I can't waste anymore time. I must go, Danielle. If you need anything, you give me a ring." 

Danielle smiled then nodded.

Tiffany... Old Willows Brooke, sounds so familiar. But why?  

The front door opened and slammed shut. Danielle breathed in then out. Isabella wasn't around. The house felt empty like a ghost town.  

Well... this job should be easy. i'm babysitting a ghost.

**  IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO WRITE MORE ABOUT THIS SHORT STORY, LET ME KNOW. **