Curious [For Halloween].22:28 Oct 31 2021
Times Read: 284
The pub was small smoky and friendly, to those who frequented the bar or lounge, which is where the the t.v sat high on a shelf, only able to acces via remote.
The lounge is where the toilets where, which Cillian sought, asap as it where.
He'd had a Hobgoblin real ale one two many and his bladder felt it badstyle.
Back at his table where Jeanine and Alec sat six pints till sat waiting, after all 'last orders' had been called a short while ago.
Jeanine wore a lot of purple and black, though hated being called a goth as it labelled her. That, the rebellious teen thought an annoyance and one she could do without.
The front of her dark hair was short and tufted, the sides and back were smooth and long. All her hair was a kinda flouresant green.
She had had almond shaped eyes, heavily made-up; and intent.
“Do you you think he'll be back soon?” She asked her companion, a muscled youth of indeterminaate age, camera still held loosely in his right hand.
Alec Frankels eyes's were glassy, but he was ready to go.
A surreptious smoke in the beer-garden with some 'very nice pollum' had somewhat affected his to think, talk or walk; but he was still ready for the night.
“Better be, or I'll drink his,” he muttered with a smile, that did not reach his eyes.
Minutes passed and the ashtray finally filled, before Cillian returned breathless, “Okay peeps, let's finish these, then get out on the road, eh?”
Jeanine gave an eye-roll. It was alway's the same. He held them up, then encouraged them on, as if it wasn't his fault at all.
“I'll drive,” she announced, as they neared the end of the six pints.
Cillian shifted uneasily. He didn't like to argue, but...
“You've drunk almost as much as us,” he opined.
“Almost is the operative word,” she informed him, with a Cheshire Cat grin and snatched his van keys from the table.
“C'mon, last one to the van buys the petrol.”
It had proved the incentive Jeanine intended and her friends followed her outside to the car park, where Cillians battered, olive green VW camper van sat.
She couldn't help but smirk as the fresh air did it's work on the two guy's with her and Cillian nearly faceplanted; except that surprisinly swiftly, considering his own state, Alec had leapt forward and caught him with his free arm.
Jeanine slid the side panel door open, so that she and Alec could bundle Cillian into the back and onto the padded bench seating.
“Bagsie shotgun,” Alec announced, as he slid the door shut.
“Fine by me,” Jeanine retorted, “I don't know this area and I'll need a map reader.”
At this he groaned, then asked, “Is it far from here?”
Jeanine sighed.
“I've just told you I don't know the are, dimwit.”
“Ah... yes,” he muttered, looking to the toes of his DM's.
“Let's get in and check the map,” she suggested, tactfully.
“Yeah,” he conceded, “and it is geetin a bit parky.”
“Oh great,” she muttered, as she opened the drivers side door, “everytime the heater on in this thing, I'm sure I can smell wet dog fur.”
As he got in the passenger side Alec wanted to grin, he knew the story, but had been sworn to secrecy, 'at the pain of death, or a red hot poker's insertion.
Cillian had never been too clear about which option he had favoured.
Jeanine started up the engine, shifted gear with some difficulty and the headed for the road onto the moor and their destination.
“Remind me why we're doing this at this time of night someone?” She called out, as she sought a sign, any sign that they were heading in the right direction.
“'coz anyone can film in the day at a spooky location,” Cillian called from the backseat, where he lay spawled.
“But shooting at night sorts the men from the boys,” Alec finished, for him.
“More like the berks from the jerks,” Jeanine quipped and, all three laughed.
It was three miles later that the vans headlights illinated black leters on a white sign, with a welsh name that no-one could pronounce, although all of them tried, several times.
“The house isn't far from here,” Alec enthused, aleady checking that he had extra batteries for the camera, 'just in case'.
“Cool,” Jeanine mumbled, the added in a louder voice, “Cillian, there's a flask of coffee in my backpack. I figure we could do with the boost and I need a break from driving for awhile.”
“And I can build us a doobie,” Alec suggested helpfully, as Jeanine pulled the van into the side of the road, where she killed he engine, she was sick of the smell of wet dog and, without the engine being on, no heater.
“Erm no Alec, you've had enough,” she scolded.
“An besides,” Jeanine added in a lighter, more encouraging voice, “I want your hands steady alright?”
He nodded assent and Jeanine poured strong black coffee for all three of them.
“Great, gotta pee now,” she chided herself, quarter of an hour later.
“The toilets outside,” Alec reminded her with a grin.
“That ryhmes with witty, cheers Alec,” Jeanine snapped, cursing her bladder, as she opened the door and walked round to the back of the van, where she dropped her jeans and crouched, wary of every sound of the night.
An owl hooted and she nearly fell down onto the widening wet patch beneath her.
“Stupid owl,” Jeanine snapped, as she finished her business, prior to dressing.
Upon entering the van both Alec and Cillian laughed.
“Nearly fell there,” they said in unison and she glowered at the pair.
“You were watching!” She growled.
The pair giggled and she blushed.
“Children,” she said, then sat back in the driver's seat and started the engine.
The night sky was clouding over and the trees either side of the narrow road seemed to encroach upon the passage, toward the old house.
It was red brick, Edwardian and although it had several owners, it had finally become a sanitorium for the criminally insane. Then after a financial scandal, the building had stood empty, for over forty years.
It was a dark monolith there on the top of the empty moorland and, the three were determined to find it and film, what few had seen.
Finding the place at almost one in the morning ws harder than they had thought and it was with a degree of relief that Jeanine found the 'keep out' sign, at the head of a gate and a long drive on the other side.
“I'll get it,” Alec told the others, as Jeanine turned off the engine and he sought his bolt cutters, brought 'for the job.'
As it happened though, his tools was not needed, as there was not the expected chain on the gate, which he opened easily enough, to allow the old van egress.
Once through, Jeanine steered the old vehicle down a long gravel drive, toward the old imposing building.
“Okay, try all the doors and windows, alright? I really don't want to break in,” Cillian pronounced, leaving a 'what if' in the way he phased it.
As it was, the front door was not locked. After all, the house welcomed company, after being alone so long.
Their van was found, three years later.
COMMENTS
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CuRsEdToDaRkNeSs
05:47 Nov 01 2021
Ohhhh.... a cliff hanger! Love it! :D