by Paul Seiple
The pizza delivery couldn’t have been timed any better. Just as the music stopped in the movie and the killer stalked his victim, the doorbell rang. Jess sprang to her feet. Daniel fell to the floor in laughter. She nudged his side with her foot.
“Shut up. That was some scary shit. I almost pissed myself.”
Daniel, still laughing, got to his feet and went to answer the door. He returned with the pizza to see Jess on the couch with a blanket pulled up to her chin. The movie was still playing, but the lights were on.
“You’re such a chicken.”
Jess cut him a look and went back to the movie.
“Can I turn the lights off, or is it too scary for you?” Daniel asked, placing the pizza on the coffee table.
“Turn the damn lights off and sit down.”
The movie left a lot to be desired. That was evident by Jess’s snoring. It was her snoring that woke Daniel. He always joked with her, asking how the snore of a 300-pound man could come from a 110-pound woman. The room was dark except for the gray hue coming from the static on the television and the bright red glow of eleven-thirty flashing from a clock. Jess was sleeping soundly. Daniel placed a blanket over her legs and feet and went to bed. He didn’t want to risk waking her. She would come to bed, on her own, when she woke.
At three a.m., Daniel sat up in bed. A sharp pain radiated through the left side of his body. He wiped his eyes. Jess was not in bed. Just as fast as the pain came, it subsided. With a dry mouth, he went to the kitchen for a glass of water. A faint light bounced through the dark hallway, cutting the silence with eerie precision. The glow led to the living room. It wasn’t from the television. Daniel remembered turning it off. He called out to Jess. There was no answer. He peeked around the doorway to see Jess sitting, her back to him, in front of the coffee table, surrounded by candles and the Ouija board.
“Jess.”
She didn’t flinch. Daniel walked closer and reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Jess, what are you doing?” He shook her.
“Huh?”
“What the hell are you doing messing with that thing?”
“I was sleeping and something woke me up.”
“What woke you up?”
“I’m not sure. Something brushed the hair from my face and led me to the Ouija board.”
Daniel felt a burning in his throat, the taste of pepperoni in his mouth. A chill hit his spine. He feared the board wasn’t safe and now he knew without a shadow of doubt. Guilt riddled him. I should have thrown that fucking thing away, he thought.
“Did you communicate with anyone?” he asked.
“I think so. It’s all a haze. Do you know someone named Mrs. Williamson?”
Daniel’s knees buckled. He braced against the couch. I never mentioned her to Jess, he thought, sitting on the arm.
“She was my neighbor growing up.”
“Well, she is in trouble. We need to help her.”
Jess had a look of determination that was only overshadowed by the black aura the candle created behind her.
If you would like to continue reading The Dark Stuff, you can purchase the book here.
