1 November 2012
This was a story I wrote last night but was too tired to finish.
.........,........................................
It was the house of their dreams, run down and in need of renovation but it was theirs; an imposing Georgian villa on the outskirts of the town. Its perfect red brick symmetry, panelled front door and central portico. It still had the original twelve pane sash windows, never in her widest dreams did she think they could ever afford a home like this; and that's what it was a home; a home for their growing family. It was when they were returning from visiting relatives in the summer that they saw it. The 'For Sale at Public Auction' sign nestled in the overgrown bay hedge outside. They stopped and looked through the gate. Then through the windows as the house looked unloved and unoccupied. All the original features were still there, the plasterwork, the doors and the fireplaces, but ceilings and walls were black and in a terrible state if disrepair. Evelyn and Chris looked at each other; they knew instinctively this was the home for them. "Let's have a look online when we get back, Harry's tired and Niamh needs her medication. "
One month later and they were sitting in the auction house, the guide price was far less than they had anticipated and the cash deposit needed would clear all their life savings but this was their once in a lifetime opportunity. Lot no 501, their house, came up just after ten o'clock. They were the only bidders. They had never been to an auction before so they were unsure of the procedure, they didn't want to look round and tempt fate. "Going once, going twice, ... Sold to the gentlemen in the blue shirt."
And that was that. They were the new owners of number 31 Douglas Avenue or Masterton House as it was called.
It would take a total of six months to complete the full renovations but they were able to make it habitable for them after a few weeks; putting in a basic kitchen and bathroom and clearing one of the five bedrooms for them all to live,sleep,and eat They had no alternative. The first day they moved in the neighbours came round and chatted politely, saying their glad its now sold so everyone could move on. Evelyn thought it a strange comment but as Harry was playing up, and her joints were aching from this difficult pregnancy she just wanted to get inside and sit down.
The children loved the house; there were so many rooms and doors to explore. They were thrilled there was an attic with a window and a cellar too, but Evelyn wouldn't let them play there until the test of the rooms were complete.
It was October 31st, Halloween and the children wanted to go trick or treating, but as Chris was working late that night, Evelyn explained to Harry and Niamh that they couldn't. However, they could decorate the rooms they used with pumpkins and paper ghosts and they could have their own little party. They didn't know if anyone would knock on there door as they had only been in the house for a few days and the children were due to start their new school until the following week.
Harry had dressed as a zombie with a skeleton mask and an old wig he had cut up and Niamh was a little witch. They bobbed for apples, ran up and down the stairs and danced to loud music Evelyn had put on the stereo for them.
There was a knock at the door. Excitedly the children ran to the large panelled front door. Evelyn opened it. Standing before them was a little girl with a Frankenstein mask on and some white fairy wings, over her back duffle coat. Harry laughed, and Evelyn chided him for being rude. The little girl didn't say anything, she just stood there. They thought she must be shy so Niamh put some sweets in her paper bag. Then she just turned round and walked away. No thank you, no nothing. They all looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and closed the door. Evelyn returned to the kitchen, preparing supper for when Chris got home, while Niamh and Harry ran around the house being careful not to go to the rooms that were being renovated. They ended up at the attic door which was ajar. They knew they weren't allowed to go in but curiosity got the better of them. It wasn't full of exciting things like they had imagined but just a few dusty boxes and an old dolls house. They were trying to see out the window when they heard: "Do you want to play with me?" They looked around, but couldn't see anyone. "C'mon, let's go." Said Harry as he made his way over to the door, but it slammed shut. A trail of marbles then rolled across the floor. Out of the shadows came a slight figure.
"Play with me. Please don't go. No one ever plays with me now."
It was the girl in the Frankenstein mask and wings.
"How did you get in here?" Asked Niamh. "Did mum let you in?"
"Play with me." She said again.
"Ok but take your mask off" said Harry nervously.
The little girl stepped forward and took off her mask. The moonlight from the window illuminated her disfigured face.
Niamh screamed but didn't mean too. But it was too late. The girls face changed.
"Your just like the others. Mummy didn't want to play with me either. She liked playing with fire. "
Harry tried the door again, but it wouldn't open.
"Why won't the door open? What have you done?" Harry asked, while Niamh clung to his side.
An invisible smoke began to fill the space, they started to cough; the air was thick as they struggled to breathe.
"Play with me"
But Harry and Niamh lay rasping on the floor.
.......
Evelyn heard another knock on the door.
"Harry, Niamh, some more at the door!" She shouted.
There was no response so she opened the door herself. It was the little girl in the Frankenstein mask again.
"Oh hello" said Evelyn
But the girl just stood silent.
"Are you lost? Where are your parents?"
Still she stood.
"Why don't you come in and I'll call them for you?"
The girl followed Evelyn into the kitchen, while she asked questions, what was their name, what was their number.
"Will you play with me?"
Evelyn taken aback turned round to see the girl without her mask. She couldn't help show her horror to the burns covering her face.
"Oh my. How did that happen?"
"Mummy" she said "play with me?"
Evelyn shouted for Harry and Niamh again.
"They wouldn't play with me either"
"What do you mean? Where are they" Evelyn now realised something wasn't right.
"Wait here, I'll be back in a minute." She ordered.
Evelyn headed towards the double doors to the hallway but they slammed shut.
"Why won't you play with me?"
"I will, but I just have to find my children do they can play too" panic was now in her voice and she instinctively rubbed her growing bump.
"Just like my mummy, she didn't want to play either.
Again the invisible smoke filled the kitchen. Evelyn grasped at the door handles in a failed attempt to escape.
"Please" she pleaded collapsing on the floor, clutching her tummy. "Please, the baby"
Rasping she looked at the girl with pity and horror in her eyes.
.........
Chris pulled into the driveway, it had been a long day; but seeing home and his children's smiles would take it all away.
"Hi honey. Trick or treat!"
Silence.
"Aha. Your hiding. I'm coming to get youuuuu"
"You'll play with me?"
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