chapter 4

chapter 4

the old Mires place.

Looks harmless enough, sort of.

Laurie thought as they pulled up in front of Faded Miller real t sign hung in what used to be the front yard. Now only a desolate, lifeless scrap of land. Most of the windows had been boarded up and strips of white paint peeled from the wood like skin shedding off the snake. The moon cast an eerie yellow light on the two story house as Lori stared in all the house that appeared almost normal from a distance. But as she looked closer, she felt repulsed by its presence, as if it were a giant, fat black insect.

She pointed at the For Sale sign, which creaked on its hinges. Can you imagine living here? One of the stories were true. What? They never recovered his body. Jake stroked his blond hair away from his face. It's been for sale ever since I've lived up here. I've seen two or three families move out just as fast as they moved in. No one can stand it in there. The real estate company comes by every year to clean it up a little, but the local kids always vandalize it and break the windows faster than they can be replaced. Jake paused, lowering his voice for effect. They say it's the entrance to hell. A splintered wooden shutter banged in the wind in the tiny attics of the house, making the girls jump unexpectedly. Jake pointed. This is where it all started. That's the room he killed her in on Halloween night. Killed Sally shivered as she glanced at the window. OK, we've seen it. Now let's come back in the daylight. I don't like this place mats. Adrenaline was pumping furiously as he looked at the creepy old house, not wanting to look like a wimp in front of his girlfriend. He opened the door of his jeep and stepped out. Come on, Jake, give me the grand tour. Sally pleaded. Matt, I really don't think you should go in there. Matt laughs nervously Yeah, I'll bet Michael Meyers is in there waiting for me. You girls just stay out here. We'll be back in a few minutes. I'm gonna prove to you guys once and for all that there's nothing here to be afraid of. Sally and Lori huddled close to the Jeep as they watched Matt and Jake disappear around the back of the house. Lori whispered to Sally, Well, what do you think about Jake? He's pretty cute, isn't he? Sally chewed her nails as she stared into the darkness, feeling a little worried about Matt. I never really noticed him before, but he seems nice. If you like the dark, mysterious type, I like it. All right? Laurie said breathily. But what do you mean by dark? His hair is almost as blond as mine. Sally imitated Jake's voice. Follow me and I'll show you the bloodstains on the wall. Laurie giggled. He's just trying to be friendly and shows a good time. Do you think he likes me? Are you kidding? Did you see the way he was looking at you with those intense eyes? Sally asked. He was really. Laurie beamed her heart, filling light thoughts of Jake's gorgeous face swept freshly through her mind. Matt, follow Jake around the side of the yard to the running back porch steps, his heart pounding with excitement and fear. What was really inside this house? He wondered. The window on the back door was boarded up. Jake pulled and twisted the doorknob. Damn. Somebody must have locked it. Matt Tee's. You come here often. I don't hang out here or anything, if that's what you mean. Jake answered, filling the awkward tension between him and Matt. They came from totally different worlds. Matt was Hadfield's most popular jock. And Jake, well, he was just different. What am I doing here? He thought he smiled to himself, remembering that Laurie was waiting for them. He wondered if he had even the slightest chance with her. Matt peered through the boards over the dusty kitchen window, feeling a wave of relief now that they didn't actually have to go inside. Matt's body suddenly stiffen the knee jerked away from the window. Let's go, Jake. Now what? What did you see in there? Jake asked, scrambling to peer inside the window. Matt Stace had gone pale. He was walking backward and away from the house. Jake Robson dust away from the window with his sleep to get a clear look inside. He gasped. What the. The limp body of a black dog laying in a sickening pool of congealed blood on the kitchen floor. A pair of dead glassy eyed stared back at Jake, making his skin crawl around. The carcass were scattered bits of flesh and blood caked fur, which appeared to have been ripped from the gaping gash in the animal's neck. Across the faded peeling kitchen wallpaper stretched bloody hand scrawled letters which could be read clearly even in the darkness. They spelled out the word revenge. Jake squeezed his eyes shut and turned to Matt. Matt, did you see what was written there? Matt was still walking backward in shock. Pure evil seemed to pore through the very walls. Look out. Jake screamed. Matt tumbled backward down the rotting steps and landed with a hard on the muddy ground below. Jake rushed to his side. Matt. Are you OK? Talk to me, man. Matt lifted his head from the ground, still startled by the fall. What? What happened? Come on, let's get out of here. Jake said. Matt sat there in a daze, trying to brush the mud off his clothes, which only made the soil sink deeper into the fabric of his jeans. He stared at Jake for a moment, his eyes becoming cold with anger. That was a really sick prank. Wait until I tell the guys about this at school, man. Damn, you're you're crazy. What are you talking about? I had nothing to do with that. Jake yelled, We've got to report this. Let's call the police. They stared at each other for a moment. Jake broke the uncomfortable silence. What, you really think I did this? Yeah, right. My bike just happened to break down. And you just happened to drive by and offer me a ride. And then I talked you into coming up here to show you this. You're wrong. That dead wrong. I'm out of here. Matt rubbed his head feeling like he was going to be sick as he thought it over. Was Jake capable of something like this? The coincidence was nearly impossible for him to a plant. Matt shook his head, feeling confused. Wait a minute. Stop. He said. Jake kept walking. Matt continued. Hey, I'm sorry. I guess you couldn't have planned it. It's just that I don't really know you and everyone at school says, you know. Never mind. Jake rode around. Thanks, Matt. What do they say? That I'm crazy. That I never talked to anyone. That I'm a loner. His voice sounded hurt. Let me ask you a question. Do you always listen to what other people say? Do you always follow the crowd? Matt didn't like being wrong, that he was truly sorry for blaming such an awful thing on Jake. But Jake didn't do it. Who did? The thought made his blood run cold. Matt answer no. As a matter of fact, I don't always follow the crowd and I don't always believe everything they say. Matt serious expression melted as he held out his hand held me up already. He said Jake's anger faded as he pulled man up to his feet. Let's get out of here. We can call the police from my house. No, Matt said it was probably just some sick college prank. Besides, I don't want to spend the next 48 hours being interrogated under bright lights. He placed a hand on Jake's shoulder. Don't say anything to the girls about this. I don't want to scare them. Jake protested. What about the writing in The Dead Dog that wasn't here last time I came here? What if. In his mind, he was thinking, what if Michael Myers, Matt, placed a finger on his lips? Forget about it, helped me brush some of this, started off my clothes. Before we go back to the car Nat cell, Jake. Looking at the house, he was nervous. No, frightened. Matt stared harder at Jake. He looked almost normal, except for the black leather among here. Matt thought he wondered what Jake would look like, dressed in a polo shirt and a pair of khakis. He smiled. Maybe they were wrong about you. The kids at school. You're all right, Jake. The moon light shown down upon the clearing in the woods behind the old house. Voices, teenage voices were laughing and talking and laughing. He'd heard them. The dark shape silently moved among the trees at the edge of the clearing to get a closer look. Through the darkness, he could see the girls laughing. And Sally leaned against the Jeep. Sally side. What's taking them so long? Maybe we should go find them. It's getting pretty cold out here. Lori was warm in her pink sweater. Why don't you wait in the car and I'll go get them. Sally agreed. OK, after all, she didn't want to go near that awful house. Laurie carefully made her way through the weeds and vines that cover the front lawn of the house toward the front doorway, the old house creaked in the wind, sending chills down her spine. Matt. Jake. Are you guys in there? She called. There were no sounds from inside the house. Maybe I should go around back. She thought nervously.

She took a deep breath and peered into the tiny window on the front door. Hello. Can you hear me? On her tiptoes, she strained to see into the dark house. A faint running smell suddenly invaded her nostrils. Lori felt nauseous and her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Her eyes search the tattered wallpaper inside and made out what appeared to be a. Before she could finish your thought, there was a loud crack and she screamed as a beam in the rotting wood porch below her feet suddenly crumbled, causing her to lose her balance and sink down several feet.

Jake grabbed Matt by the arm. Come on. I heard one of the girls screaming. Matt and Jake found Lori sobbing on the front porch as she struggled to free her leg from the jagged boards. There's something in here. She cry. Help me. Help me. Get out of here, please. Help me. She thought Jake Paul Norris from the hole in the porch. You're OK. He told her tenderly. He gently inspected her ankle. It's just a scratch. Fear pumped through Matt's blood as he looked through the dust caked window. What had she seen? He reminded himself that he was one of the strongest guys at school and could take on any grown man in a fist fight. He hoped he didn't look as scared as he felt, though he strained to make out the dark shapes inside the house. His heart thudding heavily There. There it was. He suddenly laughed with relief. It's a jack o' lantern. He cried on the table. And there it's just a stupid pumpkin. Laurie snuggled into Jake, surprisingly strong arms as he scooped up in the porch. What a night. I'm glad you're here. She breathed Jake felt the electricity, traveling through his body again as he held her tightly. I'm glad you're here, too. But it's all my fault for bringing you guys up here in the first place. I'm really sorry about all this. And Lori turned her head slightly to look back at the house and her lips brushed against Jake's cheek. She lowered her eyes, embarrassed by the contact. Don't be sorry, Jake. Jake carried Lori to the Jeep following Matt's brisk pace. Sally stared at them as they piled in. Look what the cat dragged in. Sally explained that. What happened to you? Why are you all covered in mud? He slipped in a puddle of water. Not a big deal. Jake, quickly explain. So how was the tour? Did you guys find anything spooky in there? Sally asked. Matt winked at Jake? No, nothing in there, but a lot of dust. Although Larry had quite an adventure. Yeah, he said, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere. Laurie Rob Trinkle. Oh, my gosh, Sally. I was so scared. I saw something in there. And then I slipped and fell down to the porch. It was so freaky that Matt said it was only a jack and lantern. And then Jake came and saved me. That's all. Sally stared at her chattering friend, noticing a faint pink lipstick print on Jake's cheek. Wow. Sounds like I missed all the excitement, she said. Laurie laughs Yeah, it was pretty wild. You should have been there. Thanks, but no thanks. I'm glad we're leaving that creek pit. Sally said what was going on with Lori and Jake? She wondered. She hadn't seen Lori this excited in a very long time. Lori breathed. Then the delicious smell of Jake's leather jacket still damp from the rain. Hey, Jake. The three of us are having a big Halloween haunted house at City Hall this Friday. Do you want to help us this week with the decorations? She asked. Matt laughs Watch out for these two girls, Jake. They'll work you to the bone if you're not careful. He glanced sideways at him, but we really could use your help. Lori says you're an artist. Jake was enjoying all the attention from his new friends, especially Lori. Yeah, I'd love to help. I worked for the art department at the Haddonfield theater for the last three summers and can rig up some great props and special effects if you want. I'm also a musician. If you want a little live rock and roll, Laurie was impressed. Really? Wow. What instrument do you play? She asked eagerly. Jake smiles guitar. But I'm really a singer. I've been practicing with my band Xen in my garage studio since summer. We're getting pretty good and I'm sure the guys in the band would love the chance to play a live gig, especially on Halloween. Oh, this is perfect. A live band, Sally said, excitement glittering in her eyes. Our party is going to be the best. So who's in your band? Matt asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. I don't know of any musicians around here except for the geeks and the school band. Jake answered. I played with two guys that go to the university and a guy from Bluff with High. You probably wouldn't know them. Matt pulled the jeep into Jake's driveway. He still wasn't entirely sold on Jake, although he was interesting, a little weird, but interesting. Jake certainly wasn't the beer drinking belching jock type that Matt was used to hanging out with. In fact, Matt wasn't sure what type Jake was. Matt casually nodding his head. Thanks for the unusual outing. Jake gave Lori's hand a little squeeze. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Laurie. Bye, Sally. Catch you later, Matt. Thanks for the ride.

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