by Cia Leah
“Get me out of here,” Brent said, his voice weak.
“Are you all right?” Kim asked as Drucella joined her to help her get Brent out of the casket.
“Yeah, just one hell of a headache. Ralph asked me to come down and show him the casket once more and when I bent over to lift the lid, he hit me from behind. That’s all I remember.” He said, his voice full of pain, as the wail of sirens sounded from outside.
Kim closed the coffin lid and helped him to sit down on it. “Are you sure you’re all right, honey?”
“I need some aspirin, but I’ll be all right. Just a little dizzy and queasy,” he said as Marckus brought Ralph past them as two police officers entered the basement.
“I can’t believe all this,” Kim said, as Ralph was taken away. She looked at Drucella. “I don’t know whether to call you Drucella or Madeline.”
“Maddie is fine. God, you don’t know how good it feels to be able to have someone call you by your real name once again. It’s been so many years since I have felt this free. When I received the note on Halloween day twenty years ago, I knew I had to leave and not wait until it was too late. I ran and I never looked back until I met Marckus. He is such a sweet man and now that this is all over, we will be married. I wouldn’t marry him under my assumed name, knowing that one day, one way or another, this whole tirade would end.”
“But how did you know when to make your move? Why did you sell the house to us?”
Maddie laughed. “Markus did a background check on you two. He said you were honorable people and that from all the information he had acquired on you two, that you were the ones to sell the house to. There had been several offers and Ralph had put in several bids for it. Markus found it surprising that he would even want it. Ralph didn’t have the money for it, and he was single, but it soon became apparent that he was obsessed with owning this house. That’s why I cut and dyed my hair, gained about thirty pounds, then came back here for this year’s Halloween party you were giving. Marckus figured that somehow Ralph was connected to the killings, and he wouldn’t recognize me twenty years older and with black hair instead of blonde and heavier.”
Kim shook her head. “So, you wouldn’t sell the house to anyone that had lived here when you did. We were strangers and you knew that we had nothing to do with the deaths of your family members.”
“Exactly. I’m so sorry we put you in the middle of it, but Brent assured Markus and I that he wanted to help in any way he could. That’s why when Brent received the first delivery with that message inside, he contacted us and we came as the Mayor’s guests. We knew that whomever was behind trying to kill me was ready to make his move tonight.”
Kim glanced at Brent. “You knew!”
Brent winced. “Don’t yell at me honey, please. It hurts.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, but why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I figured you’d be better off not knowing. I never knew it was Ralph. It could have been any one of the guests upstairs, but now that I think back to it, the first couple years we were fixing up this place, he kept asking me if I found anything hidden in the house. When I asked him what kind of things, he just said since the house was so old, people sometimes hid things in walls and in basements and stuff and he found that amusing. Well, with Ralph’s sense of humor, I believed him, until he hit me over the head and about killed me.”
Kim looked at Maddie. “Why didn’t you warn Brent that you suspected Ralph?”
“Because we didn’t want Brent to act any different around Ralph. There were others in town interested in the house too and we weren’t completely sure, but both Marckus and I were keeping an eye on you two. That’s why when we couldn’t find Brent, then you came up missing, we started checking all the rooms, and ended up down here, after Marckus called the police.”
Kim put her arm around Brent and hugged him. “Let’s get you to the hospital and make sure you don’t have a concussion. We can talk about this later.”
“I’m not going to argue with you, but we have guests upstairs,” he said, as the special sound effects howled through all the rooms above.
Kim jumped as an ethereal picture of Dracula appeared on the cellar wall in front of her accompanied by a demonic laugh reverberating through the air. “I never want to see another Dracula as long as I live!”
Brent laughed. “Happy Halloween, honey,” he said, as the clock in the parlor chimed midnight.
“Happy Halloween, honey. It sure is one I’ll never forget!”
The End
HALLOWEEN MYTH
By Cia Leah
Jenna Anders hung the skeleton on the front door of her house and smiled. Halloween was going to be grand this year. She had her own house to decorate and even though she didn’t have everything unpacked yet and put away, Halloween was only three days away.
“First things first, huh Chica?” She smiled, looking down at her Chihuahua. “And I know you’re all excited because you always get lots of goodies on Halloween’s Eve.
Jenna walked back into the house and sighed. She still couldn’t believe the incredible deal she had gotten on the house and the two acres of land that went with it. It was an old house, but still held a charm of days gone by, from the flowered wallpaper that hugged the walls and the hardwood floors that she had just scrubbed and shinned yesterday. Soon, she would change the wallpaper to those of her choice and make the old house shine once again, but she didn’t want to change the old-fashioned charm it held.
“Well, Chica, lets take this box up to the attic. We have some exploring to do too and the realtor said there were things in the attic that stayed with the house, so we will see just what that is.
Jenna bent over and picked up the box of odds and ends that she wouldn’t need and headed upstairs with Chica right behind her. Once in the hall, she walked to the end and opened the door that led to the attic. She hadn’t been up there yet and was thankful when she flipped the light switch and dim light flowed at the top of the stairs.
“Here we go, Chica. Just think of it as an exploration into the unknown. Maybe we’ll find out more about the people who lived here.”
Once at the top of the stairs, Jenna stepped up onto the attic floor. The attic was full of boxes and different items from a time gone by. “Wow, Chica, this is a treasure of past memorabilia. It will take days to go through all this stuff,” she said, sitting the box down.
Jenna walked over to the small window at the front of the attic and pushed it up to let some much needed air in. Dust filtered through the sunlight that shone in from the window and she sneezed, laughing when Chica did too.
“Let’s see what’s in this old trunk first,” she said, walking over to the right side of the window in the corner where the old trunk sat. It must not be very important though since there isn’t a lock on it.”
Jenna sat down Indian style on the floor as Chica hopped onto her lap and wagged her tail. She lifted the latch and pushed the lid up and peered inside. “Oh, Chica, this is a beautiful blanket and look,” she cried, lifting it out and unfolding it. It has something embroidered on it.”
Jenna unfolded the black silk blanket with orange fringe and read the words embroidered on it in a bright orange that still hadn’t faded. “It says Happy Halloween Myth,” she said, frowning as a feeling of déjà vu slithered up her spine and Chica whined, looking up at her with wide brown eyes.
“Oh Chica, you know Halloween is fun and full of treats, so don’t you worry none. I think whoever made this blanket loved Halloween just as much as we do,” she reassured her and petted her before reaching into the trunk and lifting out an embroidered stand scarf. It too was black silk and had the same words embroidered on it and inside was several others.
Jenna sat them each on the floor beside her. “I’ll wash these up today and we can decorate the living room with them. “Now, let’s see what else is in here.”
She rummaged around inside the trunk pushing aside some material that had never been us
ed and just as she was about to call it quits, thinking there was nothing more interesting or of use in the trunk, she saw a small red book. She picked it up and gazed at the sinister pumpkin and witch painted on the red leather. The words Halloween Myth were written in black lettering that had been hand painted on and in small letters written at the bottom were the words, read at your own risk.
Jenna lifted Chica off her lap, stood, and stretched her cramped muscles from sitting on the floor so long. “This looks like a diary of some sorts. It is locked but would be easy enough to cut the flap in between the back and the gold lock. So let’s go downstairs and get some lunch and see what’s inside,” she told Chica, laughing as she wagged her tail in expectation of food.
She went down the stairs, switched off the light, and went into the small kitchen. Sitting the book on the table, she made herself a sandwich and gave Chica a can of chicken dog food.
As she ate, she kept starting at the book and as soon as she finished, she couldn’t resist opening it. She got her scissors and cut open the book feeling like she was intruding on someone’s private thoughts as she sat down and opened the first page.
“Oh, Chica,” she gasped, as the Chihuahua jumped up onto her lap. “This is a little weird! This page says read at your own risk, just like it said on the front of the diary, and it has a skeleton painted on the first page. Inscribed in painted words below it says, you are the chosen one now and if you dare enter the pages beyond, you do it at your own risk and will surely die!”
Jenna was about to go to the next page, since she wasn’t that superstitious when Chica began to growl. “What is it Chica?” She asked, when she jumped off her lap and raced to the door barking.
By the time Jenna walked to the door, she heard the knock. She opened it to find herself staring into mercury colored eyes grayer than rain clouds on a stormy day. “May I help you?”
“Are you Jenna Anders?”
“Yes.”
“The realtor told me that you bought the house and land. I’d like to know if you’d like to sell?”
Jenna shook her head. “No I don’t want to sell. I just bought this place and I love it here.”
“I’ll give you double what you paid. More than enough for you to buy another house.”
Jenna stared at the man. She judged him to be around thirty-five, forty years old at the most. He was handsome with close-cropped hair, a handsome, rugged face, and eyes the color of molten steel. He definitely worked out since there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him, but rippling muscles defined their presence every time he moved. “Excuse me for being so blunt, but I am not going to sell my house.” She started to step back inside when he raised his hand and grabbed hold of the door.
“I don’t mean to be rude. Forgive me if I sounded that way or if I sounded pushy. It’s just that my Great-Grandmother used to own this place and I couldn’t get home from overseas before they sold it.”
“Overseas?”
“Yeah, I was in the Marine’s. Now I’m out and I came here as soon as I could but they’d already sold the house.”
Jenna frowned. What could she say? She caught the glimpse of hope in his eyes and she hated to be the one to disappoint him, but she loved this place and she wasn’t about to sell it. “Why don’t you come in and have a cup of coffee?”
“Does that mean you might consider my offer?”
“No, but I’d like to hear more about your Great-Grandmother. I found some things in the attic that I found especially interesting and a Halloween blanket and stand covers that were beautifully done. I was going to wash them up and decorate the living room with them, but if you want them, you can have them, plus I’ll let you go up into the attic and if there is anything you want, then you are free to take it,” she said, turning and walking back into the kitchen as Chica growled low under her breath. “Chica, it’s fine, Mr., you never did tell me your name.”
“Blade West.”
Jenna put on a pot of coffee as Blade sat down at the table, and then she joined him just as he picked up the book.
“You didn’t read this, did you?”
Jenna noticed the set of his hard jaw line where a muscle twitched with agitation. His eyes were the color of a cold winter’s day sky. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude on your Great-Grandmother’s privacy, but I didn’t think it would hurt since the realtor told me that the stuff in the attic went with the house. I suppose it is a diary and a very unusual one at that.”
It isn’t her diary, although I know the one she had has to be upstairs somewhere.”
Jenna rose from her chair and fixed two cups of coffee and sat one down in front of Blade. “Would you care for anything to eat? I made some chocolate chip cookies. Would you like some?”
At his nod, she placed the plate of cookies on the table along with cream and sugar and then sat back down as Chica laid at her feet. “If that isn’t a diary, then what is it? I mean it looks like a diary and was locked like one.”
“It’s a myth book. I’m afraid my Great-Grandmother believed in this kind of stuff and from what my Grandmother and mother told me, no one should open that thing unless they are prepared to face the consequences and with Halloween being a couple days away, I guess we’ll find out.”
Jenna reached for chocolate chip cookie, took a bite, and stared at him. “Okay, let’s get this straight. I love Halloween and the ghosts and goblins and all the scary stuff that goes along with it. You aren’t going to scare me into selling you this house, and that’s another thing. Why was the house for sale in the first place if your Great-Grandmother owned it? Why didn’t she leave it to family?”
“Because as I said, I was overseas. I didn’t get notice until last month that she had died and the lawyer who contacted me told me that the house was sold.”
“But why didn’t she will it to you?”
“Because she was mad at me for being in the Marines. She didn’t believe in stuff like that. She said I was her only living heir and that if I joined the Marines then she’d leave me out of her will and that’s exactly what she done.”
“But why didn’t she leave it to your Mother or Grandmother?”
“Because she outlived them all.”
Jenna shook her head. “So there are no other living relatives besides you?”
“Only one but that one doesn’t matter. Grams wouldn’t have even have thought of him.”
“Why is that and just how old was your Great-Grandmother?”
“She was one hundred ten years and two days old when she died.”
“I’m sorry,” Jenna said, reaching over and picking up the book. “Do you know what it says in here?”
“I’ve never read it. My Mother and Grandmother forbade me to and from the stories they told me, I never wanted to. Now, though since you have opened it, I do know from those stories that you are going to have a Halloween that you will never forget.”
***
Jenna took the laundry clothesbasket full of washed clothes out into the backyard. She watched as Chica roamed around the yard. As she hung the clothes, she looked at the camper that was parked on the other side of the old apple tree. Why she had given her permission for Blade to stay there, she really didn’t know, but she couldn’t refuse him when he asked if he could camp out in the yard for a few days.
Maybe she felt sorry for him or maybe she just wanted the company. After all, he needed to go through the stuff in the attic and take what he wanted and that would take some time. Maybe she just felt sorry that she now owned his Great-Grandmother’s home and she knew he loved it here.
Jenna sighed as she hung the last piece of clothing and bent down to pick up the basket. Blade’s truck was gone though and she had no idea where he had went, but he had mentioned this morning that he was going to go into town and get some things that needed taken care of around the place. She hadn’t objected because she didn’t want to see the disappointed look that would be mirrored in those silvery eyes of his. It wouldn’t hurt to be nice to hi
m and let him stay for a while, she thought as she turned towards the house.
Jenna stopped cold in her tracks as a man stood right in front of her door and held Chica in his arms. Her heart did a little flip-flop. “Chica, come here,” she called, and watched the dog jump to the ground and come running at her with a leap right into her arms.
She felt her dog tremble and she couldn’t help but feel the same way as she stared at the man who blocked her path into the house. “May I help you?” She asked.
“Yeah you can. I came for the book.”
“The book?”
“Yeah and I think you know the one I’m talking about.”
“Well you can’t have it, so if you don’t mind leaving now…”
“I’ll not leave until I get the book.”
Jenna held Chica close and bent down and retrieved the basket. In her estimation, any weapon was better than none. “Like I said, you can’t have it,” she said, when the sound of an engine came from the road. She turned to see Blade coming up the road in his truck and she turned back to tell the man to leave again, but he was gone.
Jenna walked slowly to the door of the house and peered inside. Had the man gone into her house? In just a blink of an eye, he was no longer there. She set the basket down and held onto Chica and called for Blade as he stepped out of the truck.
When Blade stepped up to her, she felt safer. “There was a man here looking for the book. He was right here a minute ago and when I turned to see you coming up the road and turned back, he was gone.”
“And you think he went inside the house?”
Jenna nodded. “He might have.”
