“Yes Mr. Scott, I knew your father in law,” the garage owner replied.
“My car’s been... vandalized. Can you come up and repair it?” There was a long delay. Steve wondered if they had been cut off.
“I’d be better to tow you in, but it will be three days before I can get to you.”
Steve felt panic flare in his stomach. “My wife’s not too well. Could someone come and pick us up?”
“Doc’s away. Is it serious?”
“She’s behaving strangely,” Steve knew how weak that sounded, but what else should he say?
“Strange huh, guess you don’t’ know much about women. See you in three days.” The phone went dead.
Steve looked back at his family, what should he do? He could call the hospital, call back... He stared at Lauren. She was sat on the blanket with Lucy in her arms. They both looked so happy. He popped the phone back into his pocket.
Lauren saw he had finished and walked over. “Well?” she asked.
“Three days.”
“That’s okay, I’m fine now.”
“You sure?”
She reached up and pulled him close. Her lips glided across his, opening his mouth for a long passionate kiss. She pulled away leaving him breathless. “How’s that feel?”
It felt good. It felt like they were finally getting over all the problems, he dared to allow himself to bathe in the happiness.
Chapter Twenty-One
The children sat around the table outside the cabin. Chase had his head in a book and Lucy played with Bunkie. She walked the rabbit across the table, chattering about the forest and the day’s journey. It was almost dusk on a cloudless night and the wind whispered gently in the trees.
The cabin door banged open and Steve rushed out carrying a steaming pot. He placed it gingerly on the table. “Right, Mum’s pot roast, prepared by bumbling Dad, so no complaints.”
Lucy dropped Bunkie onto her lap and grabbed a bowl. She handed it to Steve. “No wormies?”
“No it’s all good.” Steve served her a share and looked for Lauren. She was in the chair. She wore a white summer dress and she looked fine, in fact, she looked perfect. She nodded and got out of the chair and walked to the table.
“Chase,” Steve said.
The boy passed his bowl, his eyes never leaving the page of the book he had missed on the long walk. He picked up a spoon and began to eat. Steve chuckled to himself as Lauren served her own portion.
“This smells great,” she said.
Steve nodded and tucked into his own meal. The table was subdued as they ate. They were all hungry and tired from the long walk, but the silence was comfortable, it felt good. Steve finished his meal and poured a glass of wine for him and Lauren. It smelt fruity and light, a taste of summer. He clinked glasses with his wife as they watched the children finish their meal.
“You two must be ready for bed,” Lauren said.
Lucy looked full of energy after the meal. “Can we go on the boat?” she asked.
Steve inwardly groaned. The sun was nearly set but it was still light enough for a time, yet he was tired. “I don’t know, aren’t you tired?”
Chase shook his head, his mouth too full to speak.
“Go on,” Lauren said. “You know you’ll enjoy it. I’ll do the dishes.”
Steve felt uneasy leaving her. “I’d rather you came.”
“I’m okay. Kids life jackets and wait for your Dad.”
Bunkie was thrown onto the table and Chase closed his book with a bang, then the kids ran for their jackets, giggling as they raced each other.
“I’m so tired, you’re killing me,” Steve said.
Lauren smiled a knowing smile. “You love it really. Maybe I can give you a little massage later, ease any stiffness from the walk.”
“I’m feeling stiffer already.” Steve felt a warmth flare below his gut. “But I’m concerned about you. You had me really worried.”
Lauren looked down at her hands, and sighed, it was hard to understand. “I think it was the stress of losing the cabin,” she said. “It was like losing Dad all over again. I think I just flipped, but it’s gone now.” She smiled at him, trying to show him she was fine.
“You sure? The Chair?”
“Yes, we have a possessed rocking chair.” She waited for that to sink in. “Go, have fun, come back and have more.”
He drank the last of his wine and set off down to the lake, turning back he could see her surrounded by the last rays of the setting sun, she glowed red. She moved towards the rocking chair, it seemed to rock towards her as she turned to sit in it. She sat down the lady in white, her golden curls framed her perfect face. She was shrouded in sunshine. As the sun sank further she appeared like a golden girl rocking, a picture of perfection.
Steve could only stare, he loved this woman with all his heart, and this was a vision he would never forget. He turned to walk to the lake but took one last look back. The chair rocked back and the breath was torn from his lungs. A terrified child was tied to the chair. A young girl, maybe twelve, blood covered her battered face and splattered down her clothes. Her face was a mask of sheer terror. She screamed silently as the chair reached its zenith.
Steve stumbled forwards, tried to run towards the chair, but the image was gone. Lauren sat there, was her hair shorter? Her face seemed strained. But her white dress was perfect. No blood spoiled its flowing symmetry as the chair rocked forwards. Something grabbed his arm. Steve pulled it away violently and looked down, his fist clenched.
“Daddy we’re waiting,” Lucy said.
Steve cursed under his breath and stopped the blow he had intended on whoever grabbed him. Sweat ran down his back as he realized he had nearly hit Lucy. He turned back to the chair. “Sweetie wait here.”
Lauren rocked gently backwards and forwards, looking so comfortable. Steve felt a sharp pain in his chest and looked back at Lucy. She smiled expectantly up at him, he looked back at Lauren, nothing she just rocked back and forward. It was just Lauren, it must have been a trick of the light, he shook himself and looked again.
“Just five minutes, and then I’ll do the dishes, go slave driver,” Lauren shouted.
She smiled and closed her eyes. Her grin set his teeth on edge and strummed his nerves like a nail scratched across a black board. Lucy tugged his arm again.
“Daddy is you okay?”
His heart raced against his chest as he watched Lauren rock for a few more seconds. She was relaxed, comfortable and presented an idyllic picture., The nightmare image didn’t return. Maybe it was him that was going mad? “Yes Daddy’s fine.” He reached down and swooped Lucy onto his shoulders, his right hand clasped his chest as they walked to the lake.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Steve sat in bed frustrated. An empty glass of red wine had left a stain on the bedside table. He found himself staring at it as the red soaked into the white cotton it looked like spilt blood. He looked away, at the wooden bedroom door firmly closed. He was getting annoyed. Lauren promised to come to bed over half an hour ago, but had still not appeared. He tutted loudly at her absence and wondered if he was being selfish. He threw back the covers and walked to the kitchen.
He had left the hall light off, not wanting to disturb the children, which left the kitchen dark. As he approached a strange glow was coming from one corner. He walked through the door and shivered slightly as his pulse kicked up a notch or two. Things were just wrong here, he could feel it. His steps had slowed, he was reluctant to move, to discover what caused the light and the room seemed to darken.
From the corner came a noise, a shuffle. Behind him, a malformed shadow leapt across the wall. He turned towards it, almost pulling his neck, but it was gone. In the opposite corner a soft light silhouetted a shape, this must have caused the shadow. What new danger lurked in wait?. His arms rose with goose bumps and he clenched his fist and stepped towards the corner, every nerve on edge. There was movement in the shadows.
He inched toward
s the movement, his fist raised, ready to let go with all he had. There was a whooshing sound and a figure appeared, he jumped towards it and stopped himself just in time as the fridge door finally closed and his eyes adjusted making out Chase. The boy had a glass of milk in his hand and walked groggily towards his father.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Chase said, “night Dad.” He walked past his dad and down the corridor, the door closing as he went back to bed.
Steve looked round the kitchen, everything was so normal. The rustic wooden units, the oak table, the curtains drawn against the world, so why was he on edge? Was it him seeing things, had the pies really happened? He knew they had, knew there was something wrong with Lauren, but was there something wrong with him also? He had nearly hit both his children and he was seeing impossible things, things that just could not be there.
Lauren’s recipe book lay on the bare counter side. He straightened it and as it moved a cockroach walked away from the book. Its stubby little legs made it glide across the counter and its shell gleamed in the dark. Steve pulled back in disgust.
He swept them both to the floor. The book landed with a loud thump and appeared to be slick, covered in blood. He stepped back and stamped on the cockroach with more vehemence than was necessary. The book looked normal. He shoved it aside with his foot. As he did a shadow appeared shrouding the doorway. A deep chill ran through him and he froze. It coalesced around the doorway a darkness that flowed and moved, darker than the rest of the room yet opaque and insubstantial. Grey shapes formed and moved within its depths, like figures turning and reaching, grasping from within the dark. Through the inky shadow he could see Lauren, sat in the chair, she looked different.
He stared at the shadow, afraid for Lauren, did it threaten her? Was it stopping him from getting to her? He wanted to run from it, but he had to get to her and he tentatively stepped towards the door. He took little steps, moving inch by inch towards the shape as it shifted and reformed darker now with silver shadows, and now lighter. His heart pounded, and blood rushed within his ears, but as he got closer, looked harder it seemed to slink away. It was as if it was never there. He walked out onto the deck wondering if he was losing his mind.
Lauren sat in the chair. Her hair looked different. Was it shorter, straighter than it had been earlier? It didn't matter a sense of relief overwhelmed him, she seemed fine.
She was looking away from him, rocking gently in the pale moonlight. He wanted to go to her, to pull her to him, but something stopped him, he sat down at the table. “When did you change your hair?” he asked.
“I haven’t.”Her voice seemed deeper than normal.
“Are you coming to bed?”
Lauren looked away from him, rocking gently back and forth. She looked wickedly happy with herself as she continued to rock. Her right hand was clenched over something. As she rocked it went to her mouth and slipped something in, as a child would a favorite treat. She rocked backwards and crunched down on the tasty morsel as she replied. “You can’t make me stay in the house.”
Steve was confused. “That’s not what I meant, just come in its late.”
Lauren stood from the chair, as she turned the manic grin dropped from her face, and she faced him as his loving wife. He tried to return her smile but the white dress reminded him of a shroud, and a shiver crept down his spine. He looked at his arms they were covered in goose bumps and he could smell that disgusting pie again.
She walked past him into the cabin. He rubbed his hand through his hair, what was happening? He followed her into the cabin, it felt normal, no oppression, no shadows, he really was losing it. Of course, the stress would affect him too. The tension between them, the money worries, his health and now selling the cabin and what he knew it meant to Lauren. Fatigue was like a coal sack on his back and he headed straight to the bedroom, his thought of a romantic evening overshadowed by exhaustion.
“I’ll just kiss the kids goodnight,” Lauren whispered.
“Don’t wake them.” He stopped in the doorway to watch her enter each room, still afraid to leave her with them.
“Nothing will wake them tonight,” Lauren called over her shoulder as she stepped into Lucy’s room.
Lucy slept like an angel. Bunkie was grasped close to her chest and her golden curls framed her face. Her breathing was steady, her face relaxed. Lauren bent over and kissed her forehead, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from the girl’s forehead.
As she stood she slipped a cockroach onto the bed and watched as its abhorrent, shiny, black body scurried across the pink sheet and under the covers. “Snug as a bug in a rug,” Lauren said.
She pulled a Kitchen knife from her sleeve. It’s wickedly long blade gleamed in the moonlight. She rubbed it across Lucy’s forehead and raised it as if to strike.
“You done in there?” Steve asked from the doorway.
Lauren tucked the knife back into her sleeve and turned to face Steve. “I could watch her sleep all night,” she said. “She’s just so cute.”
Steve smiled. “Yes she is, now let’s get some sleep.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Steve was walking with the children along a forest path. The sun shone and the woods were beautiful but his legs felt heavy. Taking a big breath of crisp clean air he looked down, concrete blocks were tied to his shoes. Confusion was his first emotion followed by fear, he started to shout, but snapped awake with the scream still in his throat. The fear had lined his throat with acid and his heart raced in his chest. Take deep breaths it was just a dream. As his pulse slowed down he noticed, the cabin was quiet. Good the kids were sleeping in after their long walk. He snuggled down again, the walk had taken it out of him too and he wanted to stay asleep for just a little longer. He reached over for Lauren, intending to pull her close. He touched material, not her night-dress, but something coarser.
He opened his eyes and peered across. The light seemed too bright and he blinked trying to focus. Lauren was sat up, silhouetted by the morning sunshine, she was fully dressed and watching him. “Hi Honey, you been up long?” he asked.
“I like to watch you sleep, you’re so vulnerable.”
“Thanks, I think.” He sat up, she looked different again, he had to keep up. No wonder she was mad at him if she tried so hard and he kept missing the changes. “You look great,” he said, knowing the compliment was weak he searched for something better, but she interrupted his thoughts.
“Let me make breakfast.” She smiled her hand over the side of the bed held the kitchen knife. She reflected the light as she turned it over and over just out of his sight.
“That’s okay, it’s my turn.”
“Okay,” she said. She slipped the knife up the sleeve of the old fashioned blouse and walked out of the bedroom.
That’s what it is. She’s been wearing skirts a blouse and scarves. She’d been really trying to look special and he hadn’t even noticed that she wasn’t in her normal jeans. No wonder she was pissed, his attitude would not help with her stress.
***
Steve stood in the cabin doorway. He watched Lauren rocking in the chair. Lucy snuggled up on her lap, her face buried in her mother’s neck. She clutched Bunkie tightly to her chest. It was a sight any father would love, but it froze his heart and he waited for the worst to happen. The chair rocked backwards and forwards a wonderful sight, yet his stomach and shoulders were clenched. He took in a deep breath and forced himself to relax, everything was fine, he could hear Lucy giggling as she enjoyed the time with her mum as they rocked backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards. Steve turned and went back into the cabin.
Lauren and Lucy continued to rock. The chair was caught in the autumn sunshine which was bright today and a gentle breeze would gently lift Lucy’s curls as they rocked backwards dropping them on their return.
Steve stepped back into the sunshine the camera in his hand. He knelt down to get the right angle and watched the girls through the view-screen. He waited for the perfect shot the chair in
mid flight, Lucy’s hair raised. He took a picture just as the chair rocked forwards and she looked towards him, and it froze her laughing face.
Steve felt his heart sing, it was a beautiful shot, one he would treasure. The chair rocked backwards and he froze, through the view-screen he saw Lucy covered in blood. In shock he took the picture, the camera flashed over the horrendous image and froze it in his mind. Her bloody face distorted in pain or was it terror.
The chair rocked forwards and everything was normal, Lucy was fine, laughing as she cuddled close to her mum. Steve could not move, sickness had settled in his stomach and his hands shook.
The chair slowly rocked backwards. It seemed to be mocking him, seemed to be moving in slow motion. The girl covered in blood was back, he realized it wasn’t Lucy but someone similar. She turned to him, a gash in her cheek poured blood, a deep sick red over the pale white of her face. Her eyes pleaded, for help or was it for mercy. He rushed forwards, the camera dropped to the floor and flashed. For a second, the screen showed the horrific image and then it just showed the wooden deck.
Steve grabbed Lucy from her mum’s lap and held her out in front of him. He searched her face and body for cuts and for blood. She laughed; delighted to be scooped up into the air, but her Daddy’s expression was frightening.
“Daddy put me down.”
Steve continued to search, for any sign of a wound. “Sweetie are you all right?”
“Yes, want to go rock.”
“No, you keep out of that damn chair.” He was holding her away from him, his grip too hard.
“Daddy you’re hurting me.” She started to cry.
Lauren pulled the girl into her arms and comforted her gently against her shoulder, her hand stroking her hair. She gave Steve a look. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“I saw...” His face showed his confusion, what had he seen. “Something’s not right here. I keep seeing things. Horrible things, things that no Dad should ever have to see.”
Daddy Won't Kill You (An Occult Horror) Page 8
