The Maid

The Positions Open

Callie had many interesting things transpire over the next couple of weeks. She heard bumps, bangs, crashes, and constantly felt eyes peering at her. She was jumpier than ever and tonight a storm was setting in, this wasn't helping her nerves. She was sitting in her room when a knock at her door caused her a great freight, she slowly approached it and looking out the window she sighed in relief to see Old man Tarry. She opened the door, "My dear, you look as though you've seen a ghost." He exclaimed. "I don't know about a ghost but I have been uneasy for days... I can't sleep, I feel like I'm being watched, and maybe I'm being paranoid but Apollo has been on edge too." His hand came to his chin and he stared thoughtfully at her, "Well... It appears to me you need friends." A smile broke across his face, "You are spending way too much time alone, you need what you young'uns call a life." She started to laugh, "You might just be right. You want to be my friend?" He brought his hat to his chest, "Now miss Callie I'm much too old to be calling on you, you'd do better with a younger man, like... say... Austin?" His eyebrows went up and his voice was filled with mischief. "Now Mr. O'Connor..." He shushed her, "How many times have I got to tell you, Tarry, my name is Tarry. My pappy was Mr. O'Connor, and last I checked I'll never be as old as him, I'm a young man of 81." A sly grin spread across his face, "You flip the numbers and I'm just 18. So, that means no Mr. O'Connor. Got it?" She rolled her  eyes and smiled, "I'm sure there was a reason for you stopping by?" His eyes sprung open wide, "Right!" He smacked his leg, "I needed to ask you to cover the hardware shop for me this weekend, I have to head out to the city to get a few things, would that be alright? Or do you have plans with Austin?" He winked at her. "No, I can assure you I am completely free this weekend." He frowned, "That's a same, a young woman must make plans on the weekend. Make sure you have plans next weekend, for my sake if not yours." He tipped his hat and gave his leave. "I'll try to, for your sake." She laughed and bid him farewell.

Callie had worked in the house several days since she started and each passing day the eerie feeling in the pit of her stomach grew stronger. She felt as though she was in danger with every passing moment. Austin, her neighbor, began to notice she would lock all her doors and windows at night. She would pull the blinds shut, and he said that he would see her look out the windows multiple times. She had transformed into a completely different person and no one knew if the old Callie would ever grace their presence again. She began saying things like, "Make sure no one is following us.", "Did you hear that noise?", "Are you sure you didn't see anyone?". Lena at the diner said that Callie didn't come in anymore, and if she did she was looking around like a mad woman. There was just no telling what was happening to her. She began to complain about hearing someone outside her bedroom window at night. She talked of shadows and a man's frame, and every time she would also speak of the mansion. "There just is something wrong with that place, it's like it knows when you are there. You know what? I haven't even met the owner yet!" Each moment with her was just as nerve racking as the last, she was always a soaked in sweat because anxiety and fear. Then one day something flipped, she walked into the diner so happy, she was almost euphoric. "Lena I've made a decision." She proclaimed sitting down at the bar. "I am moving in with my aunt Edith. That's what she wanted from the start, and I just quit my job. I'm gonna pack up Apollo and I, we will move by the end of next week! Isn't it exciting?" Lena looked on in shock, "Are ya sure darlin? I mean, ain't you being a bit hasty there? You just got yerself settled ere and ya just wanna up and leave? Why don't cha just give it some thought first." She nodded in approval, but Callie spoke up, "I gave it enough thought, I need to get as far away from here as I possibly can Lena. It just isn't safe for me in Covington. I am heading over to Texas." Lena paused looking at old Tarry who sat in a booth not too far from them.

Callie was heading home after the diner, she was elated about her decision. When she arrived home there was nothing but silence. She didn't hear Apollo's usual enthusiasm at hearing the truck pull in. She got out of the truck approaching the barn, a feeling of dread pouring over her, she stepped there the stable door and hit her knees. The sight before her was quite grizzly, her horse, her companion was laying on the floor in a pool of his own blood. She began to sob uncontrollably. She heard a bang and started looking around frantically, "Hello?" Her voice was shaking. There was no response, she got up running into the house she grabbed the essentials and rushed to her truck. She threw the truck into reverse and backed into the road. She immediately put in drive and sped away. She drove to the edge of town through blurred vision hoping, and praying, that whatever did this was far behind her. She held her breath crossing the town line making her way to her aunt's house, but whether or not she was free has yet to be seen.