Page 10 of Eldritch

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Pauline parked the van down the road a little so that they weren’t blocking the entrance to the circular driveway. Sybil had already contacted the sheriff’s department on her cell phone, and the dispatcher had advised them to stay in the van with the doors locked.

“That was weird as shit,” Pauline said. “I mean, there has got to be someone in there.”

“I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.” Maria shifted in her seat next to Sybil. “Is this going to make Clarice mad if we don’t finish any cleaning done today?”

Sybil stared at the house, awash in sudden nerves. She hadn’t shaken the disturbing moment when her image had smiled at her.

Sybil said, “No. She said to take as long as it takes.”

Letisha twisted in her seat to face Maria and Sybil. “She didn’t expect us to do more than unpack our stuff.”

Maria rubbed her arms. “If someone busted into the house, we’ll need a locksmith to redo the locks ASAP.”

“Good point,” Pauline said.

Sybil wanted to scream with impatience, not enjoying the extra complications. “Let’s consider that after the cops tell us if anyone is really in there.”

At least the video on her phone showed someone in there, and Sybil wouldn’t have to defend what she’d seen.

Letisha patted the fireplace poker next to her in the passenger seat. “Good thing we still have these. Just as good as the baseball bat I usually keep next to my pillow.”

Sybil almost said it. What if they were fighting ghosts? The thought came unbidden, and as most times, she didn’t say her psycho thoughts out loud. That way led nowhere good. She touched the cold metal of the fireplace weapon she’d also brought with her.

Letisha shifted in her seat. “Should we call Clarice while we wait?”

“She can’t help us with anything, and she’s supposed to be in Denver today,” Sybil said as she leaned back and propped her head on the black faux leather.

“Well, something weird is going on.” Maria sounded and looked perturbed. “I saw something, Sybil saw something, and then we all heard that song. I think there’s at least three people in there screwing with us.”

Maybe more. The thought came to Sybil. There could be so many people in there. So many ghosts. So many souls crying for help.

Well, you didn’t see any, did you? At least, not more than the one in the window.

Sybil said, “I hate to leave our little fortress, but I need to go to the bathroom.”

Silence.

“You’re going into the woods?” Letisha asked.

“Are you sure?” Maria said. “I mean, there could be someone in the woods, too.”

“When ya gotta go...” Pauline’s opinion came. “I thought you didn’t believe in bogeymen, Maria.”

Maria threw a perturbed look at Pauline. “I said I don’t believe in ghosts. Living creeps, yeah.”

“I’ll be back in no time.” Sybil said and left the van without the fireplace weapon.

She slammed the door and Pauline reengaged the locks. No chance the bogeyman would get inside.

Sybil smirked and remembered she needed toilet paper. Whatever. Thank God for tissues in her belt bag. As she walked away from the van to the woods just behind them, her mind turned to horror movies. Her favorite genre.

A woman walking into the woods. Alone. After all, who ventured outside the safety of a van when there were maybe bogeymen in the spooky, immense mansion down the road? Who did that? Stupid women in horror movies, right? The difference was that Sybil didn’t want to pee her pants, so she’d have to be the horror movie heroine. The thick trees in front of her acted as a wall. She looked for an opening.

“Come on. Let me in trees. You know I’m your friend.”

There. Just to the left. Thank you. She stepped between two vast trunks and swiftly noted she didn’t have to go far to feel instantly surrounded. She’d always loved the forest, but for a second she had to take a gasping breath. This place could be suffocating.

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