by J. A. Areces
Jesse glanced at the address one more time just to make sure he was at the correct house. For some reason, he couldn’t retain the information, or maybe he subconsciously didn’t want to remember.
Jesse took a deep breath and climbed the steps with the small bag he promised to deliver.
It was a typical Mount Dora Bed and Breakfast home with a tidy porch, white walls and perfectly outlined black trim. Most of the lights were lit inside the house causing Jesse to believe that more than one person resided at this address which made him feel more at ease.
Jesse rang the doorbell just once and waited.
The front door slowly opened just enough to reveal a wrinkly, grey eye.
For an uncomfortable moment, Jesse and the eye stared at each other without saying a word.
“Well?” The eye blinked nervously.
“I’m doing Rob a favor and delivering these batteries to you, ma’am.”
“And who are you?” The eye studied Jesse carefully.
“Jesse Alexander, I work at Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store.”
“Ira Lefkoff’s old house?” The door slammed shut.
“Ma’am I just wanted to ask you a few questions.” Jesse called out to her through the closed door. “I was told you think the store is haunted and…”
The door swung wide open and a tiny old woman filled with wrinkles and bent over in a perfect curve stood glaring at Jesse. “It is, and if I were you, I would quit tomorrow, no, tonight. Now gimme my batteries.”
Jesse held the bag away purposely. “First tell me about the lights you saw…green lights?”
“Spooky lights, that’s what I call em. Ever since my husband was scared to death in front of that store strange things o’cur. I’ve told the police chief, but he don’t believe me. I told’m that it wasn’t Ira. I always suspected the mailman.”
“The mailman, Mr. Jones?” Jesse didn’t know why he asked, he wasn’t sure what she was talking about.
“No, it was a new mailman, a temp and a real creepy fella.” The old lady squinted as she paused. “He kept tellin scary stories and always grinnin real lunatic-like. He always happened to come by and tell those stupid, scary stories every time we were at the bus stop. They would keep my poor husband up all night, but not me. I’m as tough as a nail, I am. Nothin scares me.”
“I heard you were having nightmares too?” Jesse interrupted.
The old woman gasped. “It was them lights I saw. Spooky lights… I see em from my bedroom window. They came from your room up there. I made nothin of’em at first but then they began to shift and change, and I saw that grin, that same awful grin that the mailman…” The old woman shuddered. “He murdered my husband, he scared’m to death and I think I’m next. He knows that I know.”
Jesse stood speechless. There was fear in her voice and her eyes grew wide and white. Jesse reached out and gave the old woman her batteries without another word. He heard enough. The old woman took the bag and slammed the door shut. Jesse heard the bolting of multiple locks before he turned and left.
Chapter 10
Another Nightmare
