Author: Willa LeBlanc 
Date:   10-14-04 14:04

Yesterday

Drifting in and out of sleep she heard the music as it thrummed through the air. "Damn neighbor kids," she muttered. The sounds repeated over and over. Trying to be the newest garage band in the high school party circuit the kids kept playing the current hit at a rather loud volume. As if volume could make up for lack of talent.

Turning on her side Terri grabbed the spare pillow and slammed it over her head trying to blot out the noise. This only succeeded in dampening the higher pitches. The base tones still vibrated her to the bone. Unable to return to her sleep, she climbed out of bed and got dressed. It wouldn't do to call the police again, they had told her one more unfounded complaint this month and they would fine her for false alarms.

Going to the kitchen she prepared to make coffee. Glancing at the clock 11pm. She was running late. Even through the noise she had over slept. Returning to her bedroom she hustled to get ready to leave. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. The sounds in the attic were back. No matter how many times she investigated or had the cops look for intruders no one was found. Tonight she had pegged her patience meter.

Looking up at the ceiling Terri shouted, "Cut out all that racket, I trying to get ready to leave. You can stomp after I go." Suddenly the room grew cold and an ominous male voice shouted back,"Your not leaving this house tonight or any night you tramp!" Screaming she ran for the front door but something grabbed her hair and slammed her into the wall...

The Kids next door continued to practice their music and heard nothing.

Today

Police and Crime Scene vehicles clogged the narrow street as Detective Samson went up to the beat cop taking a witness report and asked "So what's the story?" "Well, Sir," replied the cop, "When the victim, Terri Hines, failed to report to work one of the managers called but only got the answering machine. Unable to leave work, he stopped by to check on her after the shift was over and found the place a mess. Knowing she was ultra tidy, he knew something was wrong and called the cops."

Pausing for a breath, the cop shook his head. "Forensics have been combing the house for clues but it's really weird... Several things just don't fit. The girl seems to put up a great struggle. Based the condition of the rooms the CSI's said there should be blood and lots of it. But none has been found. Also where there should be blood it glows. Also the only finger and palm prints the found in the rooms were the victim's. Also there's no body. All her things are still here..."

Detective Samson nodded noticing the growing crowd. Many had been asked if anyone had seen anything. Most were just lookie loos but one caught his eye. She was old, really old. Her eyes were filled with fear and her lips trembled. Going over to her Samson asked, "What is your name and what do you know about this?"

"Most around here just call me Granny Barnes," said the old lady and then she began to cry. "It's happened again didn't it? Another girl is missing from that house." Hearing this Samson perked up, "What do you mean another!!!" "Well," Granny Barnes continued, for the last 60 years I have lived on this street... Back when I moved here there was a young couple who lived in that house. The husband was extremely jealous and in a fit of rage one night he killed his wife. He then went to the attic and killed himself."

Looking fearfully at the house Granny continues her story, "For several years it was quiet and then on the 20th anniversary of the murder suicide another girl was taken. And ever since every twenty years a girl disappears. Sadly they are never seen again. I tell you that house is cursed! Mark my words in another twenty years another girl will disappear in that house." With this Granny Barnes left.

Later after the police and others left the house seemed to glow and then it burst into flames. The fire department tried but was unable to put the fire out. Now only ashes and a mystery remain.