Light and Darkness23:07 Aug 25 2011
Times Read: 774
Slapping my hand to the beat on the sterling wheel, I slowed down to take the curve on this unknown road when I looked to my left to see a glimpse of a two story large house between the tree branches. Seeing a grave drive way only a few feet ahead, I applied the brake so I could slow down, seeing while it was washed out a little, I could still make the drive. Turning, I looked upward and seeing the house in full view once I cleared the tall weeds growing along and in the road, the tree line. Pulling to a stop I notice the old siding on the house, the broken windows glass in the old wooden windows. How the front porch sagged, clearly an abandoned building. Feeling excitement filling me, I turned off my car and retrieved my cell phone from my purse. Getting out of the car, I check for bar- none. Great, when does it every work, I asked myself, knowing no one knew where I was.
Shutting the car door I yelled out a loud Hello, listening for any reply, or noise that would let me know I was not alone. Nothing in return, no foot steps, no movement in the bushes that spotted the ground around the home. I glanced around, seeing no other houses within site, the country road even out of view. So this was not an old house some family left as they built a newer one on the same piece of land. Was this an old farm house? Wouldn’t hurt to just look around a little, take some outside shots.
As I opened the trunk of my car, reaching for the camera bag and tripod, I was reminded of the storm blowing in as leaves fell from the tall tree branches above me. Shutting the trunk I looked up to the sky, seeing the gray clouds where growing darker as the daylight was going into twilight. Just a few shots outside, surely that can not harm anyone.
Walking toward the front of the home, the wooden steps broken down from rot, the porch dipping, waves of rotted wood making its state one I would not trust to hold my weight, I set the tripod up, and snapped a few shots of the old weather stained wooden door, open a few inches, the two small narrow windows busted out by uncaring hands. Just inside I could see a little corner of a table. In my mind’s eye I could see a father coming home, opening that nice wooden door, and placing his keys on that table as he called to his family he was home.
Looking upward I notice the lace curtains blowing in the wind allowed in by the broken window panes in the windows, aged brown and torn. Thinking of what a wonderful shot that would be, I picked up the camera bag and slip the 45 lbs bag strap over my shoulder, letting the weight settle on my lower back, taking tripod in my hand to continue around the house. Lace curtains seemed to be the theme of the owner, could just imagine the windows open to the summer breeze, the newly washed lace floating like a dancer while the wooden floors sparkled in the sunlight hitting it. I could just see the play of light and shadow it would make.
Rounding a corner I see an old barn in an overgrown field, its doors open, and vines growing to cover the openings. So it was a farm at one time. I notice not path to the barn, none of the tall grass, around the house being trampled on, a sign that no one had been here in a while. Walking around a wild rose bush, I stopped the metal gate. Fence long gone, the gate hung between two wooden posts, leaning to one side. What a nice gate to find- its metal scroll detail making it a touch of grace along the weeds and overrun land. But why such a fancy gate to, what looked like, a path to a barn at one time? Maybe there was a garden there? A vegetable and herb garden perhaps? The lady of the house would open this fancy gate, enter into her sanctuary of growing her own food. As I sit up the tripod, bending down to get the small green vine that was just starting to cover the bottom rung, I felt eyes on me. I turned, expecting to see someone behind me, asking what I was doing on private land, but no one was there. Still feeling the tingle, the apprehension of someone being about, I looked toward the house. Second floor window lace moved slowly, this side of the house blocked by most of the wind coming from the west. But still, there was a window glass broken, and the home would have drafts. The feeling slowly left me as I turned back to the camera, mounting it onto the tripod.
After taking those few shots, It was time to look at the back of the house. Walking in the tall grass, hoping the dear ticks would not attack me, I found the back door. Only a step lead into what clearly is a screened in porch before you went into the doorway into the house. Wooden door, peeling paint this time, was open all the way. The glass in the window in the door broken, leading me to send up a few cuss words to those who damage property just for kicks. Sitting the tripod up for another shot, the camera bag at my feet, I used the lens to zoom inside the house to see an old kitchen table. Metal legs, speckled top with gold, like my grandmother use to have. Formica, it never dies.
After taking those photos I stood, listening to the sounds. Crickets, bees, the distant car, a cow moo, but no human sounds. A clash of thunder made me jump, surprised at how close it sounded. If I was going to do this… now or … grabbing my camera bag in one hand, tripod with the camera leaning into my shoulder, into the home I went. Anyone who took the effort with fancy garden gate, lace curtains had to have some special details inside their home.
I step into the home, just inside the door way and opened my senses up. “Hello? Anyone here?” Nothing, both in my hearing and feeling for any energy, inside these old walls. It was a dead space to me. I step into the home as the rain started to fall. Softly, making me think of just how lovely this place would have been back in its day, a home for those to come into out of the storm. “Little did you know you would be that for me today, old gal.” I said softly, setting up a few shots of the nice open kitchen, the tree outside throwing shadows on the dirty tile floor from the curtain less window. A few pots left behind to keep the table company. The cabinets where wooden, the deep single sink and appliances long gone. Still- the tiled floor, the few ceiling tin tile that remained, and cabinets with trim showed a large classy kitchen for it's time. Good sign that this kind of details would be in other rooms.
A step thru a doorway lead me into a dining room, empty now but for the built in cabinets in the wall, center around a fireplace. Lace curtains stood still, the windows in tacked, as I bent down to pull out another lens, changing it as I listen to the house take the blunt of the wind that had picked up. The cracks in the wooden floor lead to a show of dust particles floating about, the stale air scent of mold as I looked at the patches of wallpaper on the walls. Lifting the camera off the tripod I lean backwards, taking a photo of the ceiling center medaling, a tingle of awareness had me looking to my left. A rat running over the dirty floor to the only other doorway out of the room other then the way I came in. “Oh fun.” Thinking gloves might be a good thing to put on, I also pull out a mask to hook around my wrist in case the odor got too bad. Zipping up the camera bag, I moved onward into the home, knowing it would not be long before the sunlight was too weak for me to take any photos.
Moving forward I step into a large room, the front door to the left, the sight of a stair way with wooden banister making me happy. Living room I take, maybe a sitting room for this room. In my minds eyes that would put two more rooms on the bottom floor on the other side of the stairway. This room being empty of any details but the windows with the dirty lace curtains blowing in the wind, I put the camera back onto the tripod, and pulled its legs out for several shot of windows, doorways, the peeling paint on the walls, the front foyer.
Moving closer to get closer shots of the foyer I felt the eyes on me again. I looked around, something small moving along the stairway wall. “Look rat- we are going to share this home for just a few more minutes, Ok?” Smiling I snapped several more shots, the darken skies making the light just right for some great creepy mood shots. Just wishing I had not parked my car in the way, the red shinny car out of place. Angles, just need to find the right one…dust raised in the air, stirred up by wind coming in from the open door and my movement. Suddenly, the door slams shut with a bang. Falling backwards I hit the small table against the wall I saw from outside, landing us both into a heap on the floor. Why the hell would a door close when the wind is blowing from the other side? Must have been a cross wind.
I slowly stood, the camera standing in its place on the tripod with the camera bag at its base, untouched by the events. Turning I looked down at the worn table, two of its legs broken. “Sorry about that.” I said, sadden that I had damage this homes last trace of its past. Dusting off my pants, I knew it was time to go. Feeling the energy raise in the air, felt this storm was going to turn nasty fast. But still… leaving behind the equipment, I went to look at the last two rooms on this floor, slipping on the mask as the musky odor and mold became stronger. One had the look of a bedroom, but no bath. The other another living room type layout, both with not furniture at all. Noticing the light was fading fast, I returned to the tripod and picked up the camera bag, thinking it was time to go.
That is when I heard the sound of a soft sigh near my ear, just enough to make me turn my head and look at the stairway. I reached out, using all my senses to see upstairs. Four doors lead off the walkway at the top of the stairs. Stepping up to the bottom of the stairs I notice the dust on the stairs, dust on the banister. Been a long time since anyone had been up those stairs, the banister wood hard and solid under my gloved covered hand.
As the thunder and lightening grew stronger, I knew I did not have the time to debate this. Up or leave, this is your choices old girl. I slung the camera bag onto my hip, and grab the tripod. Time to see what was upstairs. Maybe a period bathroom, the sink plumbing fixtures of old. Going from the rest of the house it did not look like any remodeling had been done since it was built. With visions filling my head of what was to be found upstairs, I slowly crept up one step at a time. While I was running out of time, care had to be used. One floor going thru rotted wood and I could end up with a sprang ankle. Creaking under my weight, hands running along the banister and wall of drooping wallpaper, I came to the top of the stairs onto the upper hallway. To my right was a room, dark. Turning on the flash on the camera, I look down on the screen to see nothing in the room. What looked like a window long boarded up. Must have been broken, someone boarding it up when the place was being looked after.
Turning back toward the hallway I step forward, standing in front of a darken doorway. Just enough light came into the room for me to see a glass doorknob in the door, and what looked like a cabinet with a sink… the bathroom. Right size, now to see if care had been given to the rest of the room, those small details that make beautiful photos, tell a story. Standing the tripod straight, aiming in with the flash on to get the layout before playing with the settings to take it with a longer shuttle… what the hell? In the back corner, a black shape. It was a man, tall, big. I hear a sound like a growl coming from him, heavy foot steps.
I screamed, turning to run for the stairs, camera bag banging against the wall, tripod dragged as my hand stayed on it. I could hear it coming, could feel it on my heels. I had a second to think this is what a animal feels when it is being hunted as that is what I felt like- it wanted me dead. Four steps down, just a few seconds after that flash went off and the bottom fell out form everything… literally. I grab at the wall, tearing wallpaper, as the stairway collapse under me. The split second felt like a few seconds as I pushed off with my legs, trying to get back on the landing before I landed in the rubble of the stairway. I grab frantic for the doorway to the one room I had just been in, using my hold to pull myself onto the upper hallway as the terribly loud noise and dust flew everywhere.
Then the growl came again. Using the last of my strength I crawled into the room, and leaned against the wall, beside the door. I waited, moving my camera bag into my hands, holding it above my head. What was the plan? Hit it, him. Him. It was human, it had to be. Right? Breathing in, the sound of the crashing stairway turning into a few snaps of wood, I waited. And just took deep breaths in and out.
After what felt like hours, I lowered the bag, my arms weak from holding it so long. I stood, trying to be as silent as I could. What happen? Why would the stairway fall when it was solid? Was it on the stairway when it fell? Was it hurt? Lightening filled the house for a second, the boom of thunder shaking the window in the room. The window. Walking over to the window, watching the doorway, seeing dust still hanging in the air, I stopped to look. The hallway floor was leaning at an angle downward, the last of the banister hanging on by a few stubborn nails. Had it fallen?
I took a deep breath and open myself again, listening to the sounds. No, I could hear its breath. It was close, not in the room but in the bathroom. Was it trapped like me? Was it unable to get out? The damaged hallway stopping it? I knew it was not, saying no to the questions even as my mind asked them. It was waiting, for what I did not want to know. I knew that in my heart, as I knew time for me was running out. I reached the top of the window, the light just barely there to outline the top of the plywood. Just room for my finger tips, pulling on the wood to find it solid, nailed tight. I felt my heart sink, letting my finger feel for any lose corner. Nothing. My tripod, I can use it as a level… no… it feel, along with my camera to the bottom floor. Anything in the bag? Think… think, damn it. Don’t let fear take over.
Easier said then done when you can feel it in the next room, waiting. Hunger, I felt its need to kill me. And he would do it slowly and painfully. Was looking forward to it, would enjoy it. It had been so long since anyone came… a soft scream came from me, answered by what can only be called a laugh from it. A laugh like a hyena, but more growling sound. I ran to my bag, feeling my time was up, pulling off my gloves, the mask. I unzipped the bag, dumping out the content in the weak light the doorway gave me. Cell phone, please god let me get signal. I flipped it open only to see the phone with line thru it, no signal at all. I dialed 911, hoping it would send out something, anything as I looked at the rest of the pile. Lens, batteries, a cleaning cloth of the lens, bag of cookies, car keys. I picked up the keys, leaned out enough to see if I could set off the car alarm. Nothing, the closed front door blocking any view I had of my car.
A growl made me move back into the room, having seen a large black hand coming out of the bathroom doorway. It was angry, and getting madder by the second. Shit.. I had to climb down what was left of the stair way. I had to jump, chance a broken leg or something. Yes- it was my only way I was going to stay alive. I looked back down to the floor, seeing a small flashlight. Yes! That is it, I needed to get the light to work, and I will be safe.
I could hear it moving, coming out of the bathroom now. I stood up, step forward to only be blocked by its body. I step forward, my hands going to push him, only to be shoved backward by his longer hands. I stood up off the floor, going deeper into the room as its heavy footsteps started into the room. I had waited to long, oh god no. It was then I realized I should have let the fallen stairway take me away from this evil, not to it. A split second decision, natural reaction to keep myself from harm, lead me here. But in my gut, I knew I would have never left this old house. Looking at this thing as it step closer and closer to me, I knew this with all my soul.
The light in the door way was almost gone, only the outline of its tall shadow showing. I flicked on the light, but nothing. Shaking the light I screamed at it. “Stay away from me! HELP! HELP ME!” The light flickered to light as it stepped down on the lens, crushing them like an empty soda can. This was no human, this was something more… evil then a human ever could be. It was shaped like a human with two legs, two arms, a torso and head, but that is the only way it was anything like a human.
I turned the light onto it, and only the darkness remained, swallowing the light as I realized it could never save me. Nothing could save me now. The light hit it mid chest, my eyes going up to its chest to where its face should have been. Red eyes, a mouth open to show sharp knife like teeth of white. I knew my life was over as the light flickered out, the thunder shaking all the windows in the house as my screams filled the empty walls, as if the house was expressing its own opinion on what was happening.
Sunrise found the rat eating the cookies, its sharp claws making little work of the bag. Near by the broken plastic, glass of the lens lying on the floor, was surrounded by the wet blood flowing toward the lowest part of the room from the darkness. The open cell phone beeped, showing missed calls as the battery slowly died.
COMMENTS
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Requiem
00:45 Aug 26 2011
Oh, lovely! Well done! ♥
CHills and beautifully painted word pictures. :D
PandorasBx
00:45 Aug 26 2011
This was great :)
Joli
01:53 Aug 26 2011
I would stomp your foot so hard right now if you were here. I TOTALLY bought this. Not until nearly the end did I think this might be a story. I was SO scared for you...thinking how I was going to fuss at you for taking such a chance. You scared the everliving crap out of me you bad, bad woman.
LadyChordewa
03:40 Aug 26 2011
PhoenicianDream
11:24 Aug 26 2011
This... THIS goes through your head, and you still hang out in abandoned buildings? O.o
Vampirewitch39
18:46 Aug 26 2011
Wow... Uhhh.. yeah PD, it is. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing.
*pulls Badger in front of her to keep Joli and Lady C back*
It was under my story sections....
:(
Joli
20:20 Aug 26 2011
Yeah, but I usually just jump in from Favorite Journals...I didn't see the heading. I'm almost still ready to stomp your toe. You're REALLY good. The details like the garden gate and the lace curtains...the table inside the door. You completely sucked me in. I'm really impressed.
Vampirewitch39
21:08 Aug 26 2011
Ahhhh.... *blush* Thank you.
*wiggles my PJ footie covered foot, wiggles my toes, from behind Badger*
;)
Elemental
23:58 Aug 29 2011
JUST the reason why you better not ever go into a place alone....just saying.....dang it.
Nightgame
01:44 Sep 16 2011
I love the spookiness of this story but am really glad none of these wonderful ladies saw us last weekend getting you over that fence gate :)