The House of Wood

by Anthony Price

  As she made her way to the bed, the shrill ringing of the telephone filled her ears. No doubt Becky saying she wouldn’t be home tonight, Rachel thought. She bent over and picked up the receiver. It was a man’s voice.

  Behind her there was a bang at the door.

  “Hey, let me in.”

  Rachel wandered over, her body on autopilot, as she opened it.

  Becky entered, a curious look on her face, as if she was wondering the same thing as her friend. Who the hell would be calling at this hour?

  Holding the telephone to her ear, Rachel’s eyes fixed on her room-mate, widening with every second.

  “Okay, thank you,” she said, placing the receiver back on the base.

  Suddenly, her knees buckled beneath her and she slumped to the floor, bile burning her mouth and throat.

  “Oh my God, Rachel, are you okay?”

  For a second she didn’t know where she was. She couldn’t breathe. The room span. She felt Becky pulling her up on to the bed.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Rachel took a deep breath to try and calm herself.

  “M-m-my parents,” she started. Tears welled in her eyes. “T-they’re dead.”

  Chapter Two

  “This place looks really creepy, Rachy-Bear,” Becky said, glancing out of the passenger window.

  “Welcome to Willows Peak.”

  The two friends, in a black Ford Focus, sped down the old dirt track, twisting and turning along the road. The dust cloud spewed from the Continental tyres like a mushroom cloud, out of the back of the vehicle. The road was ancient. It carved its way through the forest surrounding the hillside like a scar on flesh. The trees stood tall next to the track like age old sentries. Their limbs hung over the road like frightening hands, as if they were waiting to snatch anything that came within their grasp. Every now and then, a flock of blackbirds would soar in to the sky, their dark silhouettes standing out from the grey above. They rushed to get out of the tight confines of the woodland, wanting to get away. It was as if they knew something the unwary newcomers didn't.

  Rachel fixed her eyes on the twisted road stretching out in front of them. This was the last place in the world she wanted to be. Not after what happened the last time.

  “Are you alright?” Becky asked. “You’ve barely said two words all afternoon.”

  “I’m fine.” Rachel wiped her hand across her eyes. “Just tired, that’s all.”

  “Okay, well do you want me to take over driving for a while?”

  “No, it’s alright. Besides, you don’t know the way and we’re not far now.”

  “Where are we anyway? All I can see are the trees.”

  “We’re in the woods just outside,” Rachel answered, her gaze fixed to the road in front, but seeing nothing in particular. “We’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”

  “Good, it’ll be nice to get out and stretch. It seems to have taken forever to get here.”

  Rachel didn’t answer. There was nothing nice about this place, she thought, trying hard to suppress her urge to swing the car around and get as far away as possible. They would be going past the hill soon; she could feel it looming in the distance. Her only small mercy was that she wouldn’t have to see it standing there.

  “You know, it’s okay to grieve Rach,” Becky said, turning to her friend with a sympathetic smile. “I’m here for you if you want to talk.”

  “What? Oh yeah. Thanks, but I’m okay.”

  “They were your parents. You’re allowed to be upset.”

  “I know, but I’m fine. Honestly, I am.”

  “If it’s not that, what’s wrong?”

  What’s wrong? Everything is wrong, she thought, biting her bottom lip. She didn’t want to talk, why couldn’t people understand that?

  “Nobody can criticise you for being upset about losing loved ones.” Becky continued, putting her hand on Rachel’s shoulder. “I’m worried about you Rachy-Bear.”

  “Don’t be.”

  “I’m your best friend. I don’t know why you can’t talk to me.”

  Silence.

  “Please talk to -“

  “It’s this damn place alright,” Rachel snapped, causing Becky to jump in her seat. “I hate it. Nothing good can come out of being back here, nothing.” She slammed her hand down hard on the steering wheel, sobs tumbling from here in frustrated bursts.

  “Hey it’s alright, I’m here with you. We’ll get the funeral out the way, then we’ll head back to college.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  The car swerved in and out of the lane. It had picked up speed. Tears burned Rachel’s eyes.

  “Slow down, Rach.”

  “I haven’t even got my family anymore.” The words fell from her. “I miss them so much. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. I’ve got nothing left.”

  “You’ve got me, just slow down before we crash.”

  The words seemed to sink in. Within a few seconds, the car was back in the correct lane, cruising along the deserted road.

  “Thank you, I’m sorry.” Rachel wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “It’s not easy for me to come back here. I don’t have many good memories about this place.”

  “You want to talk about them?”

  “I’d rather not.”

  Becky didn’t push the subject any harder. For a time, the only sound in the car was the dull hum of the engine and the occasional thud, as the tire hit a crevice in the road. The sun was slowly dipping below the horizon. It would be dark by the time they got to the bed and breakfast in town, Rachel realised. She just hoped no one would recognise her, even though she hadn’t changed much in the three years since she had left. The scars were a constant reminder of that.

  “Have the police said much about the fire?” Becky asked.

  Again with the questions. “No not really. They think it might have been faulty wiring, but they’re still investigating.”

  “But it happened weeks ago.”

  “Willows Peak is a small town. Things move slowly here. Anyway, can we drop it?”

  “Sure.”

  Again there was silence. The trees along the roadside were beginning to thin out and the road had started to climb upwards. Rachel’s heart thundered in the prison of her chest. Her breath came in rapid bursts. Thank God it was gone, she thought, as the car broke out of the trees. She had no idea if she could cope with seeing it right now. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. As the car reached the top of the hill, she could feel her pulse slowing. Her eyes opened.

  “No, no it can’t be.”

  “What is it, Rach?” Becky asked, her voice full of concern at the sudden outburst.

  “It’s here, it can’t be, it’s not possible.”

  The words fell from Rachel’s lips in an incoherent torrent, as the car started to swerve across the road again.

  “Whoa, calm down, or you’re going to kill us.”

  The car continued to thunder along, the speedometer needle indicating an ever increasing speed. They swerved in and out of the lane, the tires screeching as they struggled to find purchase on the slippery tarmac. A horn blared out.

  “Jesus Christ,” Becky screamed, bracing herself.

  A pick-up was coming in the opposite direction. But Rachel didn’t care. It didn’t matter anymore. She’d rather die.

  “Rach, get a grip!”

  Her friends terrified voice broke through, just as the truck skidded around in a cloud of dust.

  At the foot of the hill, Rachel slammed on the brake and jumped out as it skidded to a halt. She ran straight for the nearby bushes. After ten minutes of puking, she heard Becky’s footsteps approaching.

  “What the hell happened, Rach? What’s wrong?”

  “It shouldn’t be here,” Rachel said, rocking back and forth on her heels. “It was all gone, how is it back? It’s not possible.”

  She felt Becky’s hands yank her up right.

  “Rachel, what’s back? What are you talki
ng about?

  “I can’t, I can’t. It’s not real.”

  “You almost killed us back there,” Becky shouted, shaking her friend by the shoulders. “I think I deserve some answers”

  “The house of wood, up there on the hill.”

  Rachel couldn’t fight back the tears any longer. Her sob riddled body collapsed in to her friend’s arms. Her mind racing with questions.

  “It’ll be okay, I’m with you,” Becky soothed, her own fear subsiding. “Let’s get to town. I’ll drive this time. I’m sure I can find it from here.”

  Rachel allowed herself to be lead back to the car. She took one last look at the house before ducking down in to the passenger seat. Its black lifeless eyes starred back at her. Watching. Mocking.

  ***

  Neither of them had said a word since the incident on the road. Rachel had just sat in the passenger seat, watching the world blur past the window. Every now and then a familiar landmark or building would fall in her eye line, stirring her back to life. She couldn’t believe the house had survived. As hard as she tried, there was no pushing the old forlorn building from her thoughts. It was a mistake to come home, she realised, but there had been no avoiding it; she was an only child, so it was down to her to sort out the funeral arrangements. They were her parents after all.

  Becky had been brilliant since the incident, not asking questions, or losing her temper. Rachel realised she had a good friend sitting next to her and she owed her a proper explanation for her actions at least. But how could she explain the impossible?

  “Are you cold,” Becky asked. “I can put the heater on?”

  Rachel hadn’t even realised she was shivering. She smiled. “No thanks, I’ll be fine. The bed and breakfast is only a little further down the road.”

  Within five minutes, the black Ford Focus pulled up in the gravel courtyard of the only bed and breakfast in Willows Peak. Rain drops gently fell from the dense grey clouds blanketing the moon. Becky hopped out the car and began unloading the trunk.

  “You going to help, or are you sleeping in the car tonight?”

  “Gimme a sec, okay?” Rachel replied.

  She needed to get her thoughts in order before facing the next few days. So what if people recognised her? It wasn’t as if she had done anything wrong; she was the victim in it all. At the funeral, familiar faces would be unavoidable. It had all happened three years ago and the past couldn’t hurt her now, she reminded herself. But the damn house. She couldn’t shift the sense of dread she felt at seeing it standing there, as if nothing had happened.

  A tap on the window shattered her reverie. Becky’s face beamed back at her.

  “Come on Rachy-Bear, let’s get inside.”

  Rachel followed her friend up the few brick steps and in to the quaint little building.

  Stepping inside was like going back in time. The reception room looked like a movie set for a 1930s film, with its yellow walls, oak staircase and black and white photos dotted sporadically around the walls. Along one wall was a dresser, covered in a beautiful lace doily. On top, sat a blue vase with a bunch of perfect, white lilies.

  A little old lady shuffled in from the living room. “Can I help you girls?”

  “We’re looking for a room, if you have one?” Becky informed her. Rachel stood quiet, not wanting to draw any of the woman’s ice cold attention.

  Mrs Ryan glared at the two girls, squinting as she did so. “I only have the one room and it’s one-hundred and twenty dollars per night.”

  “What? That’s way too steep,”

  “I’ll give you a ten percent weekly discount. Take it, or leave it?”

  Becky turned to Rachel. “What do you think we should do? There must be somewhere else we can stay?”

  “There isn’t. The nearest town is Merryville, but even that’s miles out. It’s this, or the car.”

  “So, you’ll be wanting the room then?”

  “Yes please,” Rachel replied.

  Mrs Ryan smirked. “I’ll fetch the key. Wait here.”

  She shuffled back off in the direction of the living room. Rachel felt like she had been in a blender. It had been a rough day and all she wanted to do was go to sleep; she could do without the old dragon making things difficult for them.

  After a few moments, Mrs Ryan returned. “Here we go. It’s room three, straight up the stairs and to the left.”

  Becky took the key and started to make her way up the wooden staircase. Rachel followed close behind. She had made it up three steps, when she felt a tug on her wrist.

  “I know your face,” Mrs Ryan declared, looking in to Rachel’s eyes. “Are you from around here?”

  “Y-y-yes, I am. I lived on the other side of town. Long time ago now.”

  “I see. There was a fire over there a short while ago. Nasty business. The papers say it was arson.”

  “Well, don’t believe everything you read,” Becky snapped, pulling Rachel’s other arm.

  “Wait, I know who you are now.” Mrs Ryan let go of Rachel’s wrist as if she might catch some awful disease. “You’re the young girl from the news a few years back. You had some trouble out at the old farmhouse. Now I don’t want any nonsense from you two while you’re under my roof. Is that under -“

  “Look, I don’t mean to be rude,” Becky cut in. “But we’re tired after a long drive. So, if you don’t mind, we’ll be going now. Come on, Rach.”

  The two girls left Mrs Ryan to watch them with disdain, as they made their way to room three. Becky closed the door gently behind them.

  “God that witch is awful. Are you alright?”

  “Yeah I’m okay, just tired,” Rachel replied.

  “I’m really sorry, but I have to ask, what happened to you here? Does it have something to do with that creepy old house? I’ve never seen you so afraid before.”

  “I’m sorry, Becky, but I’m really tired and would rather not get in to it right now. All I want to do is avoid any more drama and get in to bed.”

  “Okay, but only if I get the left side.”

  Rachel feigned laughter. Her mind was several miles outside of town, as she undressed and got under the covers.

  “Night, Rachy-Bear.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Her mind was still at the house long after she had fallen in to a fitful slumber, full of spectres from a past she had long suppressed.

  Chapter Three

  “We therefore commit their bodies to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life.”

  A chorus of amen rose from the gathered mourners. Rachel watched as her parent’s coffins were lowered inch by inch, into the dark pit in front of her. She wondered why they were bothering; it wasn’t as if her parents were actually in there. The police had told her that her parent’s remains had been ‘removed’, as there had been very little left to bury. But it had been insisted in their will that they have a full ceremony. So, here she was, playing the obedient, loving daughter.

  She looked up at the faces standing around the graveside. Becky was standing next to her, resting her hand on Rachel’s shoulder. She was glad her friend was there for support. Every now and then, she could feel eyes boring into her skull. She didn’t recognise many of the people; a few Aunts and Uncles, some old family friends, but that was it. And even those she did recognise gave her nothing but scornful looks, or avoided all eye contact completely. Nobody wants to associate themselves with a crazy person, she realised, as the coffins landed with a final dull thud. It was just the way she liked it; no awkward moments, or any people offering her pity. She would just get the funeral out of the way and then go as far away from the town as she could. In a way, she was thankful that she would never have to come back to Willows Peak ever again. The place held too many memories of that night.

  After the priest had said his final words, the mourners shuffled away. Etiquette decreed that Rachel be the last to leave. She waited with Becky until the f
inal person had left, before wandering over to the priest.

  “Thank you Father, it was a beautiful ceremony.”

  “Your parents will be sorely missed on a Sunday. Such tragic circumstances. Have the police found the cause of the fire?”

  “They said no one could have prevented it, just one of those things,” Rachel replied, her voice almost catching on the words. “It was faulty wiring that started it.”

  “My thoughts and prayers are with you, Miss James. Will you be staying in Willows Peak for long? It would be nice to see you in church?”

  Rachel noticed the raised eyebrows. She smiled. “I don’t think so, Father.”

  The two friends continued walking toward the cars. A gust of wind blew the fallen leaves across the field, creating a patchwork of browns and oranges. Rachel closed her eyes and let the tension in her blow away on the breeze. The silence of the afternoon filled her.

  “Are we heading to the wake?” Becky asked, snapping her out of the moment.

  “I suppose I should.”

  “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I can go back and -“

  “For God’s sake, stop fussing over me,” Rachel yelled, wrenching her arm free. “I need to do this, they’re my parents not yours.”

  “Okay, there’s no need to snap at me. I was only asking.”

  “Well don’t, alright?”

  “What the hell is wrong with you? Ever since we got here you’ve been different.”

  Rachel walked off. She didn’t bother to look back; Becky would follow eventually. She was used to Rachel’s off moments by now. It wasn’t fair that everybody just assumed she was too frail to cope. Well screw them all, she fumed, they would just have to get over it. She had.

  “Rachel, stop, please tell me what’s wrong? I’m trying to understand, but I can’t.”

  She spun on her heels. “Oh I don’t know, maybe my parents died? Just maybe I didn’t get to…” She stopped short, taking a deep breath. “Just forget it, okay. I’ll see you at the hotel.”

  “Aren’t you coming in the car?”