House of Monsters

Chapter 2: An Unsolved Mystery

  We watched Evey dissapear up the creaky stairs, disturbing thick layers of dust, sending them up in little clouds. 

  "Evey!" Caroline called after her as Amber dashed up the stairs, accidentally breaking a stair or two. I ran up the stairs after her, pulling out my flashlight like I was unsheathing a sword. 

  The upstairs was in the same condition as the first floor, no more, no less. There was a sitting area, a bedroom with a door about to fall off, another bedroom, and two closed doors. I heard the others coming up, when Amber poked her head out of the door closest to us, and frantically motioned for me to come inside. Whatever this was, it couldn't be good. I made my way over, carefully stepping around holes in the rotting wooden floor. I opened the door, into what I assumed was an office. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, and in the opposite end of the room, there was a simple desk and chair. Above it was a window, which moonlight was flooding through. No need for a flashlight, I thought as I turned mine off.

  "Oh my gosh!" Adeline said as she rushed over to the bookshelves and carefully pulled a book out, and started flipping through. 

  "Guys, over here," Said Sahithi, who was gathered around the desk with Evey and Amber. On the desk was an open book, the open two pages filled with handwriting, getting almost illegible in in the last bit. 

  "What is it?" Anika asked as she came over. 

  Evey looked up. "I think it's a diary," She said. "See, it's written in first-person and it has dates before every entry."

  "Yeah, but what does it say?" Anika asked as she leaned over for a better view of the diary.

  "I'll read it." Evey said, and cleared her throat. 

                                                                                                                                                              "June 17, 1892

  I am very scared. Tonight is the ninth day I have been hearing things in the woods at night. Ma and Pa told me it was just my imagination. I am still scared and I cannot sleep at night. 

                                                                                                                                                                June 18, 1892

  Last night, I awoke out of thirst, and as I reached for the glass on my nightstand, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Outside my window, I saw a devilish creature standing at the outskirts of the woods. It was as tall as a small tree, and had no body. In fact, it just had a very long neck. That is all I could see. I did not dare tell Ma or Pa, for they would tell me it was just my imagination yet again. But I know that devilish creature I saw last night was not my imagination.

                                                                                                                                                               June 19, 1892

  I am very scared even though I heard nothing tonight, I have a feeling deep in my heart that I am not safe. I also have a feeling that Ma and Pa will not be safe, too. I pray God keep us safe.

                                                                                                                                                                June 20, 1892

  This morning, as a was making my way to breakfast, I heard Ma talk to Pa about something she had seen last night, and wanted to leave as soon as possible. Pa told Ma that she was just dreaming things, and to not worry, for God shall protect us. I do hope so.

                                                                                                                                                                June 21, 1892

  Last night, I saw it again. It was in the woods. I am scared about what it will do.

                                                                                                                                                                June 29, 1892

  I have not recorded my days for a while. That is because I was busy helping Ma around the house. She needs help because she says I am having a brother soon. Pa is overjoyed to have a son. 

                                                                                                                                                                June 30, 1892

  Today is of my birth date! I am now of seven years and feel very old. Also, this morning, Ma and Pa were speaking together in hushed voice in which I could not hear from the stairs. But when I came down they had a troubled look on their faces. I imagine they have seen the creature."

"Skip ahead to the part when they move out." Sahithi said. "I think that'll be the answer to what happened to this house."

  "Alright." Evey complied. But Anika stopped her.

  "What about the monster?" Anika asked. "It's probably the reason the family moved out. What if it's still here? We need to get out of here, NOW."

  "This is why we're reading the last part, Anika. To see if it's still here." Amber calmly said.

  "But what if it's still here?" Caroline said. "What do we do then?"

  "This. Is. Why. We're. Reading. The. End." Amber said with a clap between every word. "Evey, read the end."

  "No." Evey abruptly said. 

  "Huh?" Amber questioned.

  But Evey's eyes were wide, staring at something outside the window. "Look." She pointed towards the woods. At the outskirts of the woods, illuminated in the moonlight, there was a figure, the height of a small tree, with a faceless humanoid head resting on top of a long neck reaching down to the ground with no visible torso and limbs.

  Run.