by Sonia Harper
PANDEMONIUM
Sonia Harper
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Sonia Harper /A Wandering Fox Press Incorporated
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.
First Edition, 2019
ISBN : 9781704117201
A Wandering Fox Press Incorporated
www.awanderingfoxpress.com
DEDICATION
To my mother and grandmother. Thank you for always being there for me.
In memory of my grandpa. I miss you every day.
Chapter One
“Well, I see you're keeping all of the local fast-food restaurants in business,” Kate eyed the many take-out bags and containers in the trash as she threw away her gum wrapper.
“Fast. Cheap. Fattening,” Adelyn mumbled from under her blanket across the room.
“I can understand being depressed because you lost your job, but hiding under a blanket on your couch for months on end isn't going to help,” Kate glanced at the brown lump on the couch before she turned around and started cleaning up her friend's neglected kitchen.
“How do you know? Have you ever tried to solve all of your problems by hiding under a blanket before?”
“Can't say that I ever have,” Kate replied airily, carefully unbuttoning and rolling up her sleeves before tackling the pile of dishes in the sink first. “How goes the job search?”
“Excellent. I start my new job tomorrow as 'woman forcefully evicted from apartment' on the local news,” Adelyn mumbled.
“Have you called your mother for money yet?” Kate continued unperturbed.
“No. Piss off.”
Kate sighed and placed the last dish in the dishwasher before starting it. “Sweetheart, you know I love you, right?”
“Yes,” Adelyn sighed warily.
“Then why didn't you listen to me when I told you it was a bad idea to trust that back-stabbing boss of yours?” Kate whipped a towel off of the counter and began wiping away at the crumbs and stains on the counter.
“I don't know,” Adelyn sighed again. “Because I'm stupid? Because I'm too trusting? Feel free to pick something else if any of those excuses aren't good enough.” She wriggled under her blanket and tucked her head in closer to her pillow. “I made a mistake, and I'm paying for it. You don't need to rub it into my face and make me feel worse.”
Kate stared sadly at her friend for a moment. She slowly put the towel back on the counter and carefully considered what she was about to say. She'd do anything to help out her friend, but she felt hesitant to share the business card that she had brought with her.
“How desperate are you for a job?” Kate slowly eased into the conversation, tapping the counter anxiously with a perfectly manicured fingernail.
“Desperate enough that I'm about to ask if I can borrow those boots to walk the street corner.”
“Hey!” Kate glared at the blanket lump. “Leave my boots alone! They cost more than your entire wardrobe put together, thank you very much.” She glanced down to make sure her beloved boots hadn't stepped through anything dirty in the unkempt kitchen.
“They scream 'hooker', and you know it,” Adelyn mumbled.
Kate narrowed her eyes. “Then I guess you're not interested in hearing about a job interview that Erik lined up for you?” Her eyebrows arched as she reached for her handbag.
“I'm awake!” Adelyn sprang up from the couch, letting the blanket fall off of her body. “I love your boots. I really do! They're the height of sophistication, and I won't tell anyone that you stole them from a prostitute!”
Kate eyed her friend's wild hair. Her once lovely brown curls were now nothing more than a chaotic frizz atop her head. She glanced over her tired and bloodshot eyes before finally taking in a baggy shirt and sweatpants that looked as if they hadn't been washed in days. Adelyn was never one to fuss about her appearance, but Kate could see that the past few weeks of unemployment had hit her the hardest. Clearly, she had given up on caring.
Kate sighed and set her handbag back down on the table. “Erik wanted to help you out. He knows of someone urgently looking to hire someone reliable, and he thought of you. I told him I wasn't sure if you would want the job, but I would pass the information along.”
“Your boyfriend is a saint,” Adelyn clasped her hands together and leaned forward anxiously. “What kind of job is it?"
“It's a personal assistant job for a small group of investors. The minute I heard the word 'office work', I knew you would be perfect for it. I know it's a major departure from your journalism career, but at least it will pay the bills in the meantime.” Kate opened up her bag and pulled out the business card, waving it in the air as Adelyn eagerly stepped forward to retrieve it. “It's up at Monridge Manor, and it's-.”
“Monridge Manor?” Adelyn stopped cold in her tracks. “As in that creepy old mansion off the highway?”
“Yes,” Kate held out the business card.
“You mean the monstrosity of a house that was owned by the Moore family before the father went insane and killed his family before shooting himself in the head? They turned that haunted house into an office building?”
“Oh, calm down, it's not haunted,” Kate rolled her eyes.
"That place gives everyone the creeps and you know it," Adelyn pointed her finger at her friend.
"That's only because of the murder-suicide," Kate waved her hand as if to dismiss Adelyn's concerns. "And quite honestly, these people were smart to take advantage of it. I'm sure they got a steal on the purchase price."
"Yes, because nobody from around here will go anywhere near that property! Just thinking about it creeps me out," Adelyn sighed, eyeing the business card that Kate was still holding out for her.
"Well, you'd better get over it because you'll be there all the time.”
"What does that mean?" Adelyn's voice dropped lower, frowning.
"It's a live-in personal assistant job," Kate explained. “Erik said they've converted a portion of the Manor into an office space and continue to live there as well. I can't imagine it's for the tax benefits, though,” Kate surmised.
“Are you capable of having a conversation without speculating on financial matters?” Adelyn raised an eyebrow.
Kate's eyes narrowed. “Would you like me to speculate on yours, instead? That'll take less time.”
Adelyn's face scrunched up. “Who the hell has a live-in assistant?" She asked, incredulous. “I've never heard of something like that before. Is that even real?”
"It is if you have enough money," Kate shrugged. “Ever heard of a live-in nanny? A live-in maid?”
“How on earth did Erik find out about this?”
“Some friend of a friend," Kate shrugged. "Probably somebody from that snobby club he belongs to."
“Careful now, you've been with Erik for quite a while. Pretty soon you'll be a part of that snobby club," Adelyn piqued as she leaned against the counter.
“Oh yes, aren’t I the perfect fit for an old boys' club?" A corner of Kate's lips turned down in distaste.
"Well, not with those boots."
Kate snarled. “I'd kick you with them, but I don't want them anywhere near those disgusting sweatpants of yours. Is that soy sauce?” She pointed to a brown spot near her knee.
“I'm starting a new fashion trend: 'slobby chic',” Adelyn replied, distracted as she looked back at the business card once again. She was in desperate need of a job, but...
“It's either this or you lose your apartment,” Kate warned her, sensing her hesitation. “Not to mention you'd lose Sinatra. The humane society doesn't take kindly to those who can't feed their dogs.” She paused and looked around. “Speaking of which, where is the little runt?”
“He's at my mother's,” Adelyn sighed. “She came by yesterday and saw that I was feeding him leftover Chinese food out of the container. She asked if she could take Sinatra home with her for a few days so that I would have some uninterrupted time to search for a job."
"Well that's nice of her," Kate's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Not really. After I told her that I didn't want her to take Sinatra, she told me that she was afraid he'd get taken away by rats," Adelyn sadly looked around at the state of her apartment. "I guess this place has been pretty bad lately."
"You think?" Kate took another look around. "You might want to consider showering and doing laundry before the job interview."
Adelyn sighed and eyed the business card in Kate's hand. This was her only opportunity to get another job. Her boss had probably already blacklisted her at every other news agency within commuting distance. The local job market was bereft of other employment opportunities.
Adelyn started chewing on her lip. “They usually pay extra for live-in assistants, right?”
“They should,” Kate nodded.
Adelyn sighed. There was no other option. She had already received an eviction notice, and her utilities were days from being turned off for non-payment. She sighed again and held out her hand for the card. “I'll do it.”
Kate smiled and put the card in her hand. “Good girl. Erik already told them all about you and gave you his highest recommendation. He said they sounded very impressed and were eager to meet you. The interview is tomorrow evening at five, but he said it should just be a formality.”
“At Monridge Manor?”
“Yes," Kate nodded.
Adelyn forced a smile on her face.
“I'm sure it will be fine,” Kate pat her friend on the arm.
“I'm sure it will. Once I get those ghost stories out of my head,” Adelyn stared at the card. There was simply a phone number embossed in gold lettering. The name “Gregory” had been scrawled underneath with black pen.
“Don't worry about it,” Kate picked up her handbag once again and glanced at her watch. “And there are no such things as ghosts. One crazy guy blew away his family decades ago. I'm sure they've scrubbed the blood out of the floors and replaced the furniture.” She walked towards the front door. “It will be fine!”
“Easy for you to say,” Adelyn grumbled as Kate opened the front door to the apartment. “You don't have to go anywhere near Monridge Manor.”
"Shower. Do some laundry," Kate punctuated her command by pointing her finger at Adelyn. "And wear something professional!" she added, stepping through the door to leave.
"Yes, mother!" Adelyn shot back before the door shut. Alone once more, she glanced down at the sad state of her clothing. "I guess I should start now," she sighed and trudged towards her bedroom, trying to remember if she still had any of Kate's blouses that she had borrowed and never returned.
Chapter Two
“Sinatra, I swear, if you even so much as breathe heavily during this interview, I will take away your rubber duck and never give it back.”
A tiny Yorkshire Terrier peered up out of the large purse he was sitting in and promptly yawned.
“That's what I thought,” Adelyn grumbled, reaching over towards the passenger seat and petting him on the head. “You're lucky it's freezing outside. Otherwise, I'd just leave you here in the car.” She silently cursed her mother. She had left enough time to drop Sinatra off in her newly-cleaned apartment before the interview. Her mother had taken her dear, sweet time in collecting all of Sinatra's new toys whilst criticising her daughter on the state of her life. Adelyn had run out of time, and she had no choice but to bring him with her.
Adelyn turned off of the highway and slowly came to a stop at the end of the ramp. She paused and looked around at the empty intersection before making a left and driving under the overpass. It was difficult to tell with the overcast sky, but she surmised that the sun had already set judging by the darkening grey sky. The crisp fall weather had been interrupted by a few days of heavy rain and cloudy skies.
Adelyn cursed as the pavement gave way to a loud dirt road and she went over a large pothole. For all the money that the Moore family had spent on their secluded property, they had never bothered to pave the long private drive that led up to the estate. When she was younger, it was a popular activity amongst the teenagers in town to go out to the gates of Monridge Manor and scare each other with rumours and ghost stories about the place.
She realised as she grew older that they weren't just superstitions told amongst children. Strange things happened around the Manor that just couldn't be explained. Eventually, the property became something of a local legend, with ghost hunters from all around visiting the old estate in the hopes of glimpsing something paranormal.
Over the years, the hype died down, and Monridge Manor became a sad, abandoned estate far beyond the outskirts of the city. Nevertheless, every once in a while, a new bizarre story would make the rounds in the newsroom and scare away potential buyers.
Shivering at the thought of ghosts, Adelyn tightened her grip on the steering wheel and looked up at the sky once more. “I wish this interview took place earlier in the day,” she complained out loud and glanced at her watch.
Sinatra turned and stared at her, clearly bored in his bag and oblivious to her rising anxiety.
A tall, wrought-iron fence came into view as she slowly approached the end of the dirt road. She brought her car to a stop just before the gate and paused. She could see the paved driveway just beyond the gates, but she had no idea how to enter the grounds. She looked around in vain.
“Where do you suppose-,” Adelyn was cut off as the gates suddenly gave out a piercing screech and slowly rolled backwards, opening on their own. Cringing at the sound, she cautiously moved her car forward.
Sinatra whined and crouched low into the purse, something he usually did when someone he didn't like came near him.
“What's wrong, Sinatra?” Adelyn glanced at him as she drove up to the elaborate circular driveway before the manor's sprawling entrance. “You scared?” She looked up at the giant building. “I don't blame you,” she whispered under her breath.
Monridge Manor was old and slightly run-down, but there was still a sense of ominous power that exuded from the Gothic-style architecture. The smooth limestone walls blocked out most of the sky with their amazing height, marred only by the occasional protruding bay window or decorative brick pattern. Atop the manor stood several pinnacles, chimneys, and decorative pointed arches.
Every cell inside of her was screaming for her to run away from this place. Adelyn stopped the car once she had gotten as close as possible to the front entrance. She turned off the engine and removed her seat belt before turning to Sinatra.
“Remember, one little noise, and the duck gets it,” she told him firmly.
Sinatra whined and crouched lower in the bag.
“Good,” she quickly zipped up the purse, leaving it halfway open so Sinatra could breathe. She paused and took a deep, calming breath, trying to focus her anxiety on the interview, and not the setting. She closed her eyes and quickly opened the car door. “Let's go.” She picked up her purse and smoothly exited the car, taking a moment to adjust her blazer.
Shutting the car door behind her, she walked briskly up the stone steps and stared at the massive oak doors before her.
Colour caught her eye, and she glanced down at a blue, worn-down mat that probably said “Welcome” at one point in its life. Next to it, and slightly away from the door, sat a green pot with a very neglected plant inside. A sense of calm unexpectedly washed over her, pushing away the anxiety she had been holding in her chest for the past hour. She nee
ded this job. Being afraid of ridiculous ghost stories was irrational. None of those stories could be true. They were just made-up stories from people trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame by cashing in on the building's reputation.
“I need this job,” she reminded herself and clutched her bag tighter to her body before she reached out and swung the iron knocker on the door. She knocked three times and then stepped back, holding her bag under her arm as Sinatra's warm little body re-adjusted inside of it.
The door lurched slowly creaking inward. Adelyn peered into the small dark void between the doors, but no friendly face appeared.
Keeping the image of her eviction notice firmly in her mind, she stepped forward and placed her palm on the door. She shoved the heavy door open a little further and stuck her head inside.
“Hello?” She called out before gazing into the empty entryway. Frowning, and feeling her anxiety spike again, she squeezed her way through the opening and turned around to shove it closed.
“Welcome.”
Adelyn gasped at the sound of a voice and spun around as the door clicked shut.
“I apologise, I didn't mean to scare you.”
“That's...it's no problem,” Adelyn clutched her bag's strap with both hands and stared at the man in front of her. He looked pleasant, Adelyn noticed very quickly, skimming over his expensive, blue suit, well-groomed beard, and piercing green eyes. What stood out the most, though-quite literally-were his somewhat large ears. He gave her a warm smile as he regarded her, his entire stance and demeanour exuding a sense of kindness that seemed to spill over her as well.
“Am I correct in assuming you are Ms Montéclair?” He stepped forward and held out a hand, his well-polished shoes reflecting light from above as he walked.
“Yes,” Adelyn pried her hand away from her bag and shook his hand. “Please, call me Adelyn.”
