Haunted House Tales

by Riley Amitrani

  “Where’s Gemma?” Amanda asked.

  “I’m ready.” Gemma said as she stepped out of the house. She wheeled a small suitcase behind her with one hand and was carrying a precariously balanced pile of Law books in the other.

  “Jesus Gemma, are you heading off to court? This is supposed to be a holiday.” Amanda grabbed some of the books from her, and tossed them in the boot.

  “No. This isn’t a holiday; we’re going away to study remember?” Kim said. “Exams are only three weeks away and some of us actually want to pass.”

  “I’m sorry, Amanda, I just want to be as prepared as possible.” Gemma took a piece of paper and a pen out of her pocket. “I just need to double check that I have all the recommended reading materials, spare memory sticks, flash cards-“

  “I’m sure you have.” Amanda interrupted, grabbing her suitcase and putting it in the boot. “Let’s get out on the road. I’m sick of this city.”

  “Gemma just wants to be prepared, Amanda. I doubt you’ve thought about what supplies we need to last us.” Kim said, glaring at Amanda. Kim and Amanda, being the highest grading law students in their year at Cambridge University, had an unspoken rivalry. Kim, daughter of a top family of Solicitors from London had the law in her blood. She aced every exam and won every possible scholarship. Amanda on the other hand was the daughter of a model and a wealthy TV producer. She had inherited her mother’s looks and the favour of her father’s friends. Amanda did well in life, being well connected, and Kim resented her for it. It was only their mutual friendship with Gemma that kept them from fighting.

  “As it happens, I have come prepared.” Amanda shot Kim her professionally whitened smile as she pulled a blanket off a crate in the boot. In it were crates of beer and wine. “Let’s go.”

  “Are you sure this is the right way?” Gemma said. It did appear that the unmarked gravel road Amanda had taken them down couldn't possibly lead to their destination. Amanda leaned forward, struggling to see through the heavy rain shower relentlessly hitting her windscreen. It was after ten and the sun had long set.

  “This is where the Sat Nav is taking me.” Amanda said, starting to regret this whole idea. Amanda’s father, who orchestrated all Amanda's achievements, had become worried that Amanda’s shortcomings may finally be showing. He had paid for everything; the all-girls private school and college, the best tutors, and arranged internships. It was all to give his daughter, who lacked any real drive and ambition, the best start in life. But what he couldn't help her with was passing her final exams at Cambridge University. That she had to do for herself. What he had done was arrange for her and her friends to get out of Cambridge for a few weeks. A friend of his had agreed to let his daughter and her friends rent a house he owned. Amanda had been reluctant to take him up on the offer at first, but being promised free rein of a large house in the city of Bath had appealed to her. But why was the Sat Nav taking her past Bath and towards a forest just outside of Bristol?

  “I thought you said we would be in the Royal Crescent?” Kim said. She smiled at the prospect of Amanda being taken down a few notches. “Did Daddy not want to pay up?” Kim looked to the back of the car where Gemma sat. Gemma, however had her nose in a book and headphones on, oblivious to the catty conversation taking place at the front of the car.

  “Well, I’m sure wherever he has booked us will be grand. Father has impeccable taste.” Amanda said. She had assumed they would be staying in a Georgian townhouse and would be able to spend their days shopping and going out for brunch instead of studying. Inwardly she was panicked at the thought of where they were driving. She hated forests and the outdoors and doubted she would find a house befitting of her status in this one. In fact, they hadn’t even passed a house for the last two miles.

  The Sat Nav beeped, informing them that they had reached their destination. Amanda looked through the rain and could make out a shape ahead. They were approaching a dilapidated mansion, which once would have been a fine art deco house. The red brick work was covered in vines; The roof was covered in moss; The windows were dirty and the paintwork was peeling off the frames. Rose bushes in the garden had grown into thick gnarled branches with brown-spotted diseased red petals. Amanda pulled up on the weed covered driveway, the car jolting as it went over the broken bricks underneath.

  “Wow. Where the hell have you bought us, Amanda? This place looks abandoned.” Kim got her phone out and took a photo, no doubt to send to her friends back in the city, who would laugh at Amanda’s embarrassment. “This isn’t exactly the five-star accommodation we were promised.”

  “I don’t understand. Father promised me we would be staying in luxury accommodation.” Amanda said, checking that the destination was correct.

  “Can we just get inside? It’s been a long journey.” Gemma said, setting her book down.

  “Oh no I am not setting foot in this house. There must be some mistake.” Amanda got her phone ready to give her father a piece of her mind until he agreed to let them stay at the nearest five-star spa instead. When she looked at her phone however, her father had sent her a message, predicting her discontent at his choice of accommodation.

  Amanda, I know this isn't what you were expecting, but it is what you need. This house will give you the isolation you need to do your revision. I can only do so much to help you in life. Now you must use your brain and initiative. Oh, and don't even think about leaving before the end of the three weeks, I have blocked your credit cards. You will stay and you will study.

  Amanda’s face reddened when she read the message. She gripped the phone tightly in her hands till her knuckles turned white. She then composed herself and turned to Kim and Gemma.

  “I’ve changed my mind.” Amanda said, flashing a smile. “I fancy an adventure.” Amanda got out of the car, ignoring the relentless rain. Kim and Gemma followed. As the lights of the car turned off, they were plunged into darkness.

  “You didn't bring a torch by any chance?” Kim asked Gemma.

  “No, I didn't think it would be needed.” Gemma replied, a faceless voice in the dark. Gemma gripped Kim’s hand in the dark, and they followed in the direction that they hoped was the house. They felt their way across the uneven path with careful footsteps. Kim could sense Amanda was just ahead of them.

  “Amanda, have you found the door yet?” Kim asked.

  “Yes it’s here.” Amanda replied. Kim reached out and begrudgingly found Amanda's hand. The safety of travelling in numbers trumping their rivalry.

  “Well, can you let us in?” Kim said. A bolt of lightning illuminated them for a moment. Amanda stood drenched through, mascara running down her face. They were standing under the porch of the house, a grand wooden door in front of them. Lightning struck again. A metal sign hung next to the door, Amanda wiped the dirt from it with her sleeve. It said “Prescott House.” Before she could take anything else in, they were plunged back into darkness.

  “I have a slight problem. I don't have a key.” Amanda said.

  “Haha, very funny. Just let us in.” Kim said, not in the mood for games from the ever-manipulative Amanda.

  “I’m not being funny. Father didn't send me a key.”

  “Then how did you think we were going to get in the house? Was Lurch going to meet us at the door?” Kim was used to Amanda's reliance in the world revolving around her, but this foresight was unquestionably stupid.

  “I’m getting cold now. Can I go back and wait in the car?” Gemma said. Kim realised that Gemma's hand had become deathly cold.

  “No!” Amanda shouted. “If Father didn't give me a key, it must have been for good reason.” She tried the door but it was locked. “It must be hidden out here somewhere.” Amanda felt on the wet floor for a door mat for it to be hidden under, or a plant pot under which it might be concealed. She frantically pawed at the floor.

  “This is ridiculous.” Kim said. Kim was about to turn to leave, when another lightning bolt struck, illuminating the sky
once again. Kim and Gemma saw Amanda on hands and knees on the floor, her clothes muddy. Over her stood a man dressed in a black cloak that was draped over his head, his face in shadow. He towered over Amanda, his arms raised. In his hand he held a weapon ready to strike.

  Truth or Dare

  Amanda turned around, alerted by Kim’s screams. She saw the man over her. She fell onto her back, rolling off the porch and landing in a rose bush. A light shone on. The man had a torch in his hand not a weapon, which he shone on the girls. Kim stopped screaming, realising she had been mistaken.

  “Amanda?” The man said as he offered her a hand. “I’m sorry if I startled you. I was coming to meet you at the car, but I mistimed it.” Amanda pushed his hand away and pulled herself up.

  “Who the hell are you?” Kim said, not trusting the stranger.

  “I’m Mr Beateman. I’m the estate agent instructed to sell this house. I organised the short-term rental on behalf of the owner. He instructed me to meet you girls here to give you the key.” As he spoke, the torch cut out. He hit it a couple of times and it turned back on. “Damn batteries. I have more inside.” He went to the door and unlocked it. “Come on in, let’s get out of the cold.”

  Amanda stood up. She was covered in mud and her bare legs were scratched and bloodied by the thorns from the rose bush. She somehow managed to compose herself and pushed in front of Mr Beateman to be the first to enter the house. It was pitch black inside. There were three torches inside the door, one for each of the girls.

  “The storm caused a power cut. It should come back on soon enough.” He explained, sensing their unease.

  Amanda turned on a torch and shone it around the hallway. It was grand, with a sweeping circular staircase; a large chandelier hung from the double height ceiling, which was covered with intricate engravings. A floor length mirror hung on the wall with a chaise lounge against it; a table held a vase of fresh flowers which made the air smell sweet and summery.

  “See? I knew my father would only let us stay in the very best accommodation.” Amanda had a sickly smile spread across her face as she relished the fact that this place was far better looking on the inside.

  “When was this last lived in?” asked Gemma. She and Kim were now inside and shining their torches around.

  “Not for many years. The owner, Mr Weston, purchased this place about twenty years ago. He planned to move his family here from the city. But his wife visited once and refused to live somewhere so rural. He held onto the home hoping she would change her mind, but she didn’t, which is why he put it up for sale. As you can see, it comes furnished. I had the interior cleaned before your arrival, you will have to overlook the outside. It is rather unkempt. I have a gardener booked to tend to the grounds next week.”

  Amanda opened a door to a room and shone her torch in. It was a dining room in which stood a mahogany table which could seat at least ten. Another chandelier hung in this room. The large fireplace in the corner was surrounded by painted teal tiles. The room smelt of lemon cleaning products and wood polish.

  “I must say, Amanda, this isn’t half bad.” Kim said rather ambiguously, so it wasn’t clear whether she was pleased with the liveable state of the house or disappointed that Amanda hadn’t had her comeuppance.

  “Yes this will do nicely,” Gemma said as she surveyed the large table, which would be a suitable studying location.

  Amanda opened another door to find a living room furnished with three cream sofas. A cast iron fireplace with an art deco painted tile surround, was the centrepiece. The floor was dark wood and covered with Persian rugs. The place was old fashioned in style, but opulent and large.

  “If you ladies have everything you need, I will be on my way.” Mr Beateman said. He had brought Kim and Gemma’s bags in from the car. He placed a set of keys on a table in the hallway.

  “Aren’t you going to show us upstairs?” Amanda asked, “-And what about the electricity?”

  “No.” He said. “I mean, you don't need me to show you upstairs, it will be quite self-explanatory. You have full rein of the house and gardens. Just be careful; the garden is a bit overgrown. Oh, and stay out of the attic”

  “What’s in the attic?” Amanda said.

  “Personal belongings of the Weston’s which they haven’t had a chance to collect. They have been locked in there for safe keeping.”

  “Wow, look at this,” Kim said. Amanda and Gemma ran into the room Kim was calling from. It was a study filled with several bookcases, full of old books. In the middle of the room was a grand wooden desk. “This will be perfect to study in.”

  “What about the dining room?” Gemma said. “There’s a big table in there.”

  “No, here will be perfect.” Kim said. “We are surrounded by books and the window is bigger so we will get more light.”

  “Amanda? Where do you think we should work?” Gemma asked.

  Amanda looked from Kim to Gemma. “You can decide, I’m going to get a drink.” She said, heading back to the hallway. It was empty, the front door open. Mr Beateman had gone. She went to the door and looked outside. She could make out the lights of a car disappearing into the distance. “Mr Beateman’s gone.” She shouted to the others.

  “That’s weird,” Gemma said. “You’d think he would have at least have said goodbye.”

  “Or told us where the electric box is so we can reset it.” Kim said.

  “Oh well,” Amanda shrugged. “We can look tomorrow when its light. Let’s look upstairs.” Amanda headed up the staircase, the others following.

  “What about tonight?” Gemma said.

  “There must be candles in the kitchen, if not we have torches.” Amanda said.

  “Who would go to the trouble of completely decorating a house, and never moving in? It looks like a show home.” Kim said.

  “Must be someone with more money than sense.” Gemma grumbled. Gemma came from different beginnings than her friends. The daughter of two teachers, she had attended a comprehensive school. She made her way to Cambridge using nothing more than her intelligence and plenty of hard work. She was sometimes bitter about the luxuries her richer friends took for granted.

  “It is strange,” Kim said. “To go to all the trouble of decorating a house, staying here for a night, then moving back to London.”

  Amanda wasn’t listening, she was too excited to explore the rest of the house. She opened the first door. It was a guest bedroom sparsely furnished with a made bed and a bedside table. Next door was a room dressed similarly; then there was a staircase leading up to an attic room. Amanda ran upstairs and tried the door. It was locked, as Mr Beateman had said. Amanda ran back down and tried the handle to the last room. It was unlocked. She opened it and looked inside in awe. It was a master bedroom, and far grander than the other bedrooms. It contained a dressing table, a large wooden wardrobe and another chaise lounge. In the middle of the room was a grand four poster bed.

  “That looks like it’s an antique,” Gemma said. Off the bedroom was a large en-suite with a ball-and-claw bathtub.

  “Perfect,” Amanda said, conscious of the mud which was drying on her. “This will be my room, and if you excuse me I’m going to test out the bath.”

  “This is beautiful. Can I try the bath later in the week?” Kim said.

  Amanda wasn’t listening. She went over to the tap and turned it on. Nothing happened. “Great. So, I can’t have a bath.” She kicked one of the clawed feet in anger.

  “Never mind that you can’t preen yourself. We need water to drink.” Kim said. “Did you not check where you were taking us?”

  “I bought juice, that will last us for tonight.” Gemma said.

  “Relax. We just need to find a valve or something.” Amanda shrugged.

  “If this house has been empty for many years, it would make sense that the water would be turned off.” Kim said.

  “It would have been nice of that man to have told us.” Gemma said. “He was
strange, he couldn't get out of here fast enough.”

  “A house like this probably has a distribution board outside and somewhere to turn on the water.” Kim said.

  “Outside, that’s the last place I want to go.” Gemma said, looking out the window where it was still raining hard, and pitch black.

  “Why don't we wait till morning?” Kim suggested, looking at Amanda.

  Amanda looked down at her dirty clothes and muddy limbs, then thought about going back outside again. “Tomorrow it is.”

  The girls sat on the sofa in the living room, lit by the light of the candles they had found in the kitchen. Amanda’s supply of alcohol had been well received, as it helped to warm them up.

  “So Gemma, truth or dare?”

  “Seriously Amanda? We’re twenty-one, not sixteen.” Kim said.

  “Hey, I was asking Gemma, not you.” Amanda said, knocking back the last of her second glass of wine.

  “You don’t have to answer, Gem, we can go back to talking politics.” Kim said.

  Amanda rolled her eyes at the thought of continuing the kind of intellectual conversation she had been so keen to leave behind in Cambridge. “Kim, you really have to learn to have a bit of fun.”

  “I think you have enough for all of us, Amanda.” She paused to take a sip of her drink. “Some of us actually have to work hard to get our grades.” Kim said her last words quietly.

  “What do you mean by that?” Amanda said, voice rising.

  “That you party and drink and do what you want, so you don't have to work as hard as the rest of us.”

  “Bitter much? I’ll tell you what I really think of-”

  “Truth!” Gemma shouted, stopping Amanda’s sentence before she could say something she might regret once the alcohol had worn off. Gemma’s raised voice shocked both Amanda and Kim into silence. They looked at each other and laughed. It wasn’t like Gemma to raise her voice, and they found it amusing.