Mehlville Hills "Chillerz" House 1648

The New House

They finally arrived in Mehlville. Cullen dipped his head out the back window. Inhaling the sweet damp air. "This place looks great." Cullen murmured. All the houses were clean and huge. Their lawns were well cut. Cullen was moved by how nice the neighborhood looked. Welcome to Bel - Ridge Estate. A private owned neighborhood. Kimmy's disappointed facial expression shifted to maybe. "Almost there." Mom glanced in the rear view mirror to see the look of disappointment on Kimmy's face. "Aww, honey. Try to keep an open mind." Kimmy rolled her eyes. She had her window half down. Some kids were playing football as they passed by a huge brick house. They waved and Cullen excitedly waved back. "I think this is going to be great." Cullen's excited little voice spurred. "Those kids look nice. "Is our house big? Do I have a big room? Does our house look like those?" Cullen asked a thousand questions. Going on and on in excitement. "It needs a little work, it'll be just fine." "Alright!" Shot Cullen. Swaying his right hand out the window on the passenger side in the back seat. Kimmy shrugged at what she saw after turning on to a new street. They were leaving Bel- Ridge Estate and into a new neighborhood. Cullen dipped his head out the window again. "This town looks creepy." Kimmy murmured. All the houses looked old . One house had no front porch. Another's door ripped off slumped half ajar. "You decided to leave home for this?" Kimmy uttered in despair. "You know how my job is? Plus I got a good deal on it." "Some deal" Kimmy groaned. " Coming up the road the sign said, welcome to Mehlville Hills."1648 Mehlville Drive." Mom sighed." Just a few blocks down." Mom read the addresses aloud. "1642 1644 1646. Ah, here we are, 1648." Pulled up the dusty dirt road into the driveway. Kimmy didn't want to get out. She paused for a moment. Why did we leave? Why come here? We could've stayed. I don't like this. I don't like it at all. "This place gives me the creeps." "I know its a fixer upper, but maybe you can grow to like it." "I guess."Cullen was easily convinced. Wailing "Is my room big? Is it a basement? Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Cullen was still excited. Kimmy lowered her eyes at Cullen as they made eye contact. As if to say knock it off. Your pretending on purpose. Maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe he isn't pretending. I'll try to give it a chance. They began up the driveway. Two windows sat at the top. As if two eyes staring at you. "Weird" Kimmy murmured. "What?" Cullen murmured back. I thought I saw the curtain move." "What?" Cullen repeated as if he didn't hear the first time. "I thought I saw the curtain move." Cullen laughed. "Very funny now let's go." Tugging at Kimmy's arm. He was too excited to pay attention. "Come on Kimmy come on. Come on Kimmy come on." Pulling towards the bitter looking house. "Why is our grass the only one uncut? Why half repaired? Why is it so dark? The trees are blocking the sun. Everyone else has sun. I don't like it at all. How come we had to move? Couldn't she have still manage? "Come on Kimmy." "Oh Hwa." Kimmy moaned. "Freckles!" Cullen shouted. Freckles barked in agreement. Running to Cullen's side. "The porch." "Don't worry, the real estate agent said they will get right on it tomorrow." Cullen stood at the edge of the porch. He gave Freckles a pat on the head. Freckles jumped up at Cullen standing with his paws on his lap swinging his tail in excitement. "Aggh." Murmured Kimmy. "Down boy." With a big smirk on his face. Why is he so happy? This is ridiculous. Am I the only one that thinks this place is spooky. Mom pulled the tote just about up the creaking old porch. "Aha aha ah." Kimmy coughed swiping at the dust particles. Dust crept up from the seeping cracks of old wood. "Give me a hand." Mom demanded Cullen. He was tossing the ball to Freckles. "Come on Freckles." With Freckles on the side of Cullen. "Who's that?" Cullen looked up to see a man come up the dusty driveway on the other side out of the dark bramble bushes. Kimmy still studied the house. "Look the door. The address is missing a number." Still studying the house. Ignoring the fat little man with a hook hand and a limp right foot. "This isn't normal." Murmured Kimmy. Still eyeing the house. Cullen had a tote in his left hand as Freckles followed. The man came into view. Mom let go of of the tote handle to greet the overweight limp. "The Real Estate agent." "Where'd he come from?" Kimmy coughed. It was like he appeared out of thin air. Cullen had a surprised look. Kimmy lowered her eyes to a cold stare. The man was wheezing like he was out of breath. A trickle of sweat fell from his forehead. "Lane Chaney." Followed by a cough and a wheeze. Gulping in a breath of humid air. "Are you OK?" Mom with a concerned look. "It's nothing. I'm fine. No need for alarm." Puffed Mr. Chaney. He had a fat face with a big round head. Some sort of grunt in his voice. He wore a brown jacket that came short of his stomach and a dirty checkered red and green button up that didn't quite fit. From the looks of it, you'd think he'd been doing yard work. His khakis were all worn and torn on the left back pocket. They all stood beside each other. Cullen put his hand on Freckles head. Freckles sat with his tongue out. His ears at attention. He looked at Mr. Chaney in the most unusual way. As if there was a problem. "Finally I get the pleasure. We spoke over the phone since the last time I gave you a tour of the house." "My pleasure." Extending her hand to meet his. "Grrr!" Freckles growled at the hooked wheeze. "That's odd; never done that before." Mom sighed. Mr. Chaney jerked his hand back. With a scary look on his face as if he knew something we didn't. "Down boy." Cullen stood over Freckles. Freckles glared at Mr. Chaney. Eyes locked on him. Standing at attention. "Come on Freckles. Come on boy." Cullen held his collar. He ignored Cullen for a moment before standing down. Letting out a low squeal sitting back on all 4's. Kimmy had a look of suspicion. "Here's the key to the house." Cullen started wrestling with Freckles. Freckles jumped at his chew toy as Mr. Chaney led us into the house. The key clicked in the door. Mr. Chaney pushed the door slight. Crack! The front door hung from the top screws missing. "Something's weird about that real estate agent." Kimmy whispered to Cullen. They followed behind as Mr. Chaney finally pushed the door open leaning it stable against the wall. Cullen pushed his way pass into the living room. Kimmy looked disappointed. "Just a little work and good as new." "Tuh" Kimmy rolled her eyes. Mom hugged her shoulders with a sincere smile. Cullen raced through the living room and Freckles chased after. "Is my room big? Is there a basement? Where's my room?" Mom already knew where everything was. She and Mr. Chaney met two weeks prior. How come she didn't tell us til the last minute? What's she doing? What secret is she holding? Kimmy mind raced. Maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe it won't be so bad? Maybe I can adjust? Maybe I'll make new friends? But who'd I meet in this ghost town? All the houses looked creepy and lifeless. But not like ours. Ours had only shade. Dark and scary. The tree branches hovered over the house covering the sunlight. "Ahh! Here it is. Coughed Mr. Chaney. Stepping into the living room. Mom and Mr. Chaney rambled while going over the bit of paperwork. He carried a manila briefcase. Kimmy watched them disappear into the kitchen. She studied the living room. It had an old dusty brown recliner in the corner but still in good shape. You could see the stairs when coming through the front door. The living room was huge. A crystal glimmering chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling. She took her time browsing the room carefully. A few dusty old books were left on the side of the wall across from the recliner near an old iron cast heater. The window was good for sitting. A beautiful view. But who could see anything with all those hovering tree branches? Dark lume sucking the life out of its potential? The floor was solid. Nice and polished. "Roof roof!" You could hear Freckles loud barking echo from upstairs. "I think this is my room." Shouted Cullen. Kimmy heard them but still ignored. Observing a tall rocking chair in the corner farther into the living room. She brushed a piece of hair from her lip. Did that chair just move? Maybe it's my imagination? Her eyes glued on the chair keeping close to the wall. She picked up one of the books that sat in the corner. It was old and heavy. Couldn't make out the words. "Wuhua!" Blowing dust particles into the air. "Life After Life." Kimmy murmured in a low tone. Who use to live here? This place is weird. I hate feeling creepy. Tossing the book back in place. "Tap! Tap! Tap!" She heard a tapping noise. It was coming from behind a door into the hall of the living room. Her shoulders dropped. Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! She took a deep breath. Took a small step. Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound became louder. Like a thumping kaboom. Her eyes lowered. A little perspiration trickled down her forehead. She slowly made her way to the door. The tap tap kerplunk grew louder and faster louder and faster. She now stood in front of the door. Her heart was beating fast. A musty odor filtered the room. An old furnace smell traveled passed Kimmy. Frowning at the distorted stinch. Reaching for the knob. The tap tap kerplunk stopped. Frightened. With an unstable hand yank the door open. "O no. Oh no. Oh nooo!" Kimmy pushed the door back. To see the awful horror. She couldn't believe what she'd seen. A dead cat swinging by a rope from the ceiling in the closet. His tongue out dripping into a pool of blood. Head tilted to the right. Maggots oozed out of the lifeless cat."Mom! Mom!" Kimmy yelled. Mom came dashing out the kitchen. You could hear Cullen and Freckles feet trample down the stairs. "Honey what is it? " "Mom!" What's the matter. With a surprised look kneeling down beside Kimmy pointing. "Look." She kept scooting back using her hand as a shield falling back in to the wall. Cullen stood in the doorway with a concerned look. Mom's expression faded from surprised to suspicious. Kimmy had her arm over her eyes blocking the hideous site. "Mom, a dead cat. A dead cat!" Spilled Kimmy. "Don't you see it? A dead cat." "Huh." Mom drew back the door stepping into the small closet on the other side of the steps. "What's in the closet? " She dropped her arm to see Mom towering over her with sincere eyes. "Honey it'll be OK. Probably a little shaken up from the new move." Ignoring her plea. Mom pulled the string. Clicked the light swinging from the ceiling. "See, there's nothing there." "But it was there. I seen it. But it was there. I seen it." She kept repeating over and over. Again and again. In shock.