"Did you guys check the basement?" I asked suddenly thinking about the dark, cavernous space.
"We did, and boy, was that fun." Jareth answered with a nervous chuckle. "There was one room we couldn't check because it was locked. Do you have a key to that? I could check it before I leave if you do."
"I don't. From what I understand, that room’s been locked like that for years. No one can get in." I said.
"Hmmm." Was Jareth's only comment. "Well, the basement door has a bolt on the outside. You could lock it from up here. That's what I would do. I sure hope you don't have to go down there for much."
It was strange to see such a large man afraid of the basement. It was so endearing that it actually made me less afraid.
"Do you have a pen and paper?" He asked.
"Yeah, sure." I said and walked to the den. I'd seen a stack of sticky notes and a pen on the desk.
The memory of what had happened a little over an hour ago came rushing back to me as soon as I walked into that room. I decided right then and there that I'd be going to town as soon as Jareth left to buy a laptop. I'd just use the money from the tax fund.
"Here you go." I said and handed him the paper and pen.
"I'm writing down my cell number. If you need anything, call me. I work the day shift, so if you need anything at night and you don't want to call the police, you can call." Jareth said and handed me his phone number. "Welcome to Loburn."
Chapter Twelve
The bus stop was two blocks from my house. I was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, but I'd tied my hair back in a neater ponytail. I needed a shower, but I'd decided to buy the laptop before I changed my mind.
It would be too easy for me to say that I could just use the one in the den, but deep inside I knew I didn't want to spend any more time in that room. That meant that I'd end up procrastinating more when it came to my work. I was going to need the money sooner rather than later if I wanted to stop dipping into the savings that were supposed to be for the house taxes.
I asked the bus driver when I got on if there was anywhere I could buy a laptop on his route or if I was going to have to make a transfer. He said there was a Target in three stops.
"Good enough for me. Thank you." I said with a smile.
Having a Target so close to the house would be a huge help. I could get a lot more than a computer there. The prices were higher than Walmart, but at least it wasn't Pierce's designer grocery store.
When I saw the store come into view, I pushed the button indicating that I wanted the driver to let me off at the next stop. I normally hated being around people for too long, but the brightly lit store and hum of customers felt reassuring after the morning I'd had.
The electronics section was sparse and there were only a few laptops for me to choose from. That was okay, though, as it meant I wouldn't be caught up in analysis paralysis. There was only one computer that would also work for gaming, so that made the decision for me.
I had to pay back in electronics, and that turned out to be a blessing. There was only one checkout open at the front of the store, and the poor cashier was getting her ass chewed by a huge woman waving coupons in the air and yelling about discrimination.
The only other person in that line was a guy dressed in all black. He looked a little out of place in a Target. I guess he was sort of goth looking. He had on a hint of black eyeliner, his fingernails were painted black, and he had a small lip ring.
I tried not to stare at him or the scene unfolding in front of him in line, but his eyes were glued to me. The way he openly gawked at me made me more than a little uncomfortable, so I picked up my pace on the way out of the store.
According to the bus schedule, I'd only have to wait about fifteen minutes for a ride. The weather wasn't too bad, so I plopped down on the bench and pulled out my phone. I figured I could get a round of Timefall in while I waited.
That was when I noticed that creepy goth guy was crossing the parking lot. He was walking straight toward me.
Chapter Thirteen
I quickly tucked my phone into my purse and calculated the distance back to my house in my head. It probably wasn't much more than a half-hour walk if I was remembering the bus ride accurately.
I'd have a decent head start on the creeper if I left right then. With that, the decision was made. I began to walk away quickly.
The light was about to change at the big intersection separating the shopping area from the surrounding residential areas. I had no idea how long I'd have to wait for the light. Cars were backed up as far as the eye could see on all sides.
I looked back, and creeper was nearing the bus stop. If I had to wait, he'd catch up to me. So, I sprinted across the intersection. Instead of walking down the main road, which would have made it too easy for him to follow me, I continued running into the neighborhood. The box that contained the laptop slapped my thigh painfully with each step. One time the corner of the box even jabbed me behind the knee, but I didn't want to slow down.
Running out of breath was the only thing that forced me to walk instead of jog. It occurred to me as I sucked air into my burning lungs and wiped the sweat off of my forehead with the back of my sleeve that while I looked pretty good, I was not in good enough physical condition to survive any kind of crisis.
I turned on the GPS on my phone so that I could make my way back to the house in a zigzag without actually getting myself lost. When I made it about halfway back, I was confident that I had to have lost the creep.
The feeling of triumph rose in my chest. I'd done it. I'd lost him. I could take care of myself. Unfortunately, I patted myself on the back a little prematurely.
When I turned around to look behind me and confirm my survivor girl status, my heart sank into my stomach. I saw the creeper about two blocks back.
Not only had I not lost him, but he was catching up to me. I'd worn myself out or gotten overconfident and slowed down too much. I looked at my phone and in about a half a block, there would be a park on my right. I'd have to cut through a yard on the other side, but it was a shortcut back to my street. I knew that if I didn't lose the guy soon, I wouldn't be able to go straight home. I'd have to keep walking around until I lost him.
I needed to get home and shower before Brian showed up on my doorstep and I also kind of wanted to avoid getting violated or murdered by the weirdo pursing me. Things had definitely gone to shit since I'd moved into that fucking mansion.
"Fuck you, Vivian." I murmured just before I took off across the park.
As I ran across the neatly trimmed grass, I longed for my old crappy apartment. Yeah, the pipes leaked sometimes, it smelled like old bread in the summer, and I could hear every time the neighbors got in a fight or got it on, but at least I had never had to deal with any of this bullshit.
I tossed a look over my shoulder when I reached the other side of the park and the creep wasn't there. My feet began to move before I even finished the thought. I ran the rest of the way home without stopping despite the fact that my eyes burned with tears, and I felt like I was going to throw up.
Half a block away from the house, I did stop. I turned around in circles searching for the man. I was not going to walk up to my front door if he was still somewhere nearby.
I didn't see him, so I ran up the front steps and shoved my key into the lock. Earlier that day I'd wanted nothing more than to get away from that house, but now with the solid oak door locked behind me, it felt, at least temporarily, like a sanctuary.
The clock on my phone told me that I still had some time to get ready for Brian's arrival. I needed to grab some clothes from my suitcase and take a shower. That's when a terrible thought struck me.
Chapter Fourteen
I hadn't seen a bathroom on the first floor that had a shower. If there wasn't a shower in the formal part of the house, I'd have to go upstairs. I didn't want to go upstairs.
Logically, I knew there wasn't anything horrible up there. The police had assured me that m
y home was safe, but I still felt nervous. It was almost as if the stairs were the boundary between what was okay and a terrifying nightmare of epic proportions. I knew I'd worked myself up over nothing, but I wasn't ready to go up there yet.
There was one small hallway on the back end of the parlor that I hadn't explored yet. I hoped that there is where I would find a guest bedroom and bathroom. I couldn't remember from my childhood visit if there was anything there. I wasn't allowed in the formal part of the house when my mom and I had been here before.
Tucked at the end of the hallway behind the parlor was what looked like the old servant quarters. There were a couple of small bedrooms with a tiny bathroom in between. It didn't have a shower, but there was a small bathtub. The tub was ancient, and I really wanted a shower, but it still seemed like a better option than going upstairs.
With a great deal of hope and bated breath, I turned the old knobs of the dilapidated bathtub. The pipes shuddered and groaned, and eventually, a stream of thick, brown water spewed from the spigot.
"It's probably just been a while since it was used." I said to the air. "I need to let the pipes clear."
The water stunk. I don't know how to describe it other than to say that it smelled like a mixture of vomit, sewer gas, and curdled blood. Speaking of blood, the water didn't stay brown. It slowly turned a deep shade of crimson. It stayed that way for a great deal longer than I expected. I thought I'd just have to run it for a minute and the water would clear. Nope.
That foul smell filled the room to the point where I felt my throat burn and tears fill my eyes. I quickly shut off the water and ran from the room, slamming the door closed behind me.
There was only one choice left. I needed to get my butt upstairs and take a shower before Brian showed up or there was no way I was getting in his pants. I wasn't ashamed to say that was my ultimate goal. Well, along with getting my yard work done.
I was in the middle of a long dry spell, and the hot men coming out of the woodwork were making me thirsty as hell. So, I took a deep breath, gathered up my clothes from the guest room bed, and made my way to the bottom of the stairs.
"Just do it." I said and put my foot on the first riser.
Chapter Fifteen
Every single stair creaked on my way up. It echoed through the entryway in a way that made it sound as if someone was walking up the stairs behind me.
There was no turning back, though. I kept putting one foot in front of the other until I got to the top. When I reached the top, I laughed at myself.
The upstairs did not live up to my expectations. There was a ton of sunlight streaming through the hallway windows, and the wide landing was open and bright. One wall was lined with dozens of paintings in gilded frames. The works of art were a kaleidoscope of flowers, fruit trees, and naturescapes.
I didn't have to look for a bathroom for long. The second door on the right was a large, elegantly appointed room with a glass-walled shower lined with hand-laid masonry. At least I found something modern in the house. I went in and locked the bathroom door behind me.
The shower was empty, but I found bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and a bar of French soap in the closet along with fluffy towels that were still pretty fresh considering that they'd been in that closet for at least a month.
I vowed to use the toiletries I found sparingly because they were not something I could afford. When they ran out and I had to go back to using store brand stuff from the clearance rack, I knew I'd be sad.
The water that came streaming out of the rain-shower showerhead was not brown or smelly. Someone must have used this bathroom regularly. It was then that it dawned on me that the large shower was wheelchair accessible. I shivered when I thought of a nurse bathing Vivian in here at the end of her life, but I pushed the thoughts out of my mind.
Once the glass was steamed up, I opened the shower door and stepped inside. I hadn't realized how tense I'd become until the hot water soothed my aching muscles. I felt the knot in my neck from sleeping on the sofa release.
While I had my eyes closed letting the water soothe away some tension in my lower back, I heard a scratching at the bathroom door. I instantly froze in place. For a minute, I thought it was my imagination because as soon as I opened my eyes, I didn't hear it.
I turned off the water, and thought I heard it again. I could tell, though, because the hot water handle made a bit of a squeak when I turned it off.
The next sound I heard was a knocking at the front door. Brian was early. I figured I must have heard him at the door and thought it was scratching since I was in the shower.
Relieved, I threw on my clean sundress, put my hair up, and hurried down the stairs to greet Brian.
Chapter Sixteen
I looked out the peephole and confirmed that it was Brian before I opened the door. Creepy Target guy hanging around outside was still within the realm of possibility.
When I opened the door, I caught a whiff of Brian's body wash. His wet hair was tied back in a messy ponytail. He'd also just taken a shower. That made my heart skip a beat because he had to have done that for me. Why else would he have bathed before coming over to do yardwork?
"Yeah, I showered before I came over, but don't worry. I still plan on working in the yard." He said with a smile. "It was just a particularly sweaty day at work. We just met, and I couldn't abide subjecting you to that."
"I'll help you outside." I offered.
"Wearing that?" He pointed at my dress.
"Well, you've seen me in it and that was the whole point. So, now I'll just change into something I can work in." Something like hunger flashed in his eyes, and I knew I'd hit my mark. I'd been petrified for the millisecond before I saw his reaction that he'd be disgusted.
"Pants, not shorts." He instructed. "And if you don't have work gloves, I've got an extra pair in my truck."
"Come in." I said and stepped out of the doorway so he could enter. "There are drinks in the fridge if you want something before we go out."
I went down the hall and pulled an old concert tee and a pair of jeans out of my bag. I didn't have work boots, so my old sneakers would have to do.
Dressed and ready to watch Brian work, I started down the hall. When I was almost back to the kitchen, I heard the shower come on upstairs. Brian came out of the kitchen, looked at me, and then looked up the staircase.
"Is someone else here?" He asked. "I assumed you lived alone."
"I do live alone." I said. "I must have left the shower on in my hurry to come greet you?" It was a question. I was sure I'd turned the water off, but how could I be sure of anything anymore?
"I'm pretty sure I heard it come on." He said. "Stay down here. I'm going to go check it out."
A couple of minutes later I heard the water shut off. Brian walked back down the stairs and shrugged. "Maybe you did leave it on."
"Let's go outside." I said. The house had begun to feel like a fickle lover. One moment it was warm and inviting, and the next I got the feeling that I wasn't wanted there. I needed to tell Brian about the incident earlier in the day, but for some reason, I really wanted to be out in what was left of the day's sunshine to do it.
"What's going on?" Brian asked once I closed the door behind us. I pulled the key out of my pocket and locked it.
"After you left this morning, there was someone in the house." I said.
I told him the rest of the story and then debated about whether to tell him about the guy at Target. All in all, I'd had a pretty shitty day once I started to think about it.
"There's more." I said. "I took the bus to Target this morning and some creepy guy saw me and followed me home. I don't think he knows where I live because I lost him, but I can't be sure."
"Do you think it was the same person?"
The thought hadn't crossed my mind until Brian said something, but I guessed it was completely possible that creepy guy had followed me to Target. Again, I got that exposed feeling.
"I don't know. I guess that's entirely
possible." I said and wrapped my arms around myself protectively.
"Well, I live about a block away on the other side of the street. Come here." He said and I followed him to the front sidewalk. "It's that one." Brian said and pointed to a house that was about a quarter of the size of Stonebridge Manor. It had probably belonged to someone who worked for my family a long time ago. Most of the houses in the surrounding area were built to house my family's employees. The old Stonebridges liked to keep their associates, and enemies from what I've heard, close. "Do you know how to use a gun?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. I'd be more likely to have it used against me."
"I still think you should consider it. If things get worse, you've got to either move or protect yourself, Violet. I can show you how to use a gun. That's not a problem." He said, and I felt better having him look out for me.
"Let's get some yardwork done, and then maybe you'll let me make you dinner?"
"Sounds like a plan."
Chapter Seventeen
I hadn't planned on cooking a meal for more than one person, but fortunately, I had what I needed to make spaghetti and meat sauce. I'd planned on having leftovers to pick at for a couple of days, but having Brian there to eat with me was worth it. I promised myself that the next day I'd pick up some extra work to pay for the groceries and his lawncare services. I kinda hoped he'd take dinner and a roll in the hay as payment, but I wasn't going to presume.
I freshened up in the sink and put my sundress back on while Brian went home for a quick shower. He wasn't sure about leaving me, but since we were having dinner, he wanted to get the grass out of his hair and put on clean clothes.
I hadn't done that much of the actual work, so a splash of water on my face and a fresh swipe of deodorant was all I needed. Since I'd finished getting ready before Brian returned, I went ahead and got started on dinner. It always seemed to take forever for the water to boil.
Dark Ends: A Horror Collection Page 3
