Resonance

Katie placed her paintbrush down into the paint stained wooden box that sat beside her after thoroughly cleaning it and let out a satisfied sigh. A portrait of a smiling family of four with an autumn backdrop done in oil paint still glistened in the light of the setting sun that streamed through the windows of her studio apartment. She felt completely satisfied with the finished piece and she couldn't wait to deliver it to the family that had commissioned her to do it.

Smiling to herself, Katie stood from the wooden barstool she had been sitting on for the last hour or so as she cleaned her hands on a paint stained rag. Her back, shoulders, and neck were stiff from sitting slightly hunched over for that long and all she could think about was a steaming hot bath and a rather generous glass of red wine but first, she had one more task to complete before she could make that a reality.

Downstairs sat her main source of income, an art shop that garnered to almost all different types of art; from painting to sketching and pastels, to even sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Mimi's Art Shop had been started by her Grandmother, becoming a town staple, and she felt honored when her Grandmother handed her the keys before she had passed away; her Grandmother was the one that had taught and encouraged her to be the artist that she is today.

Katie began to hum a soft melody as she moved behind the counter to print out the transaction history of the credit/debit cards that was received that day to finish the books. This is all she had left to do before she could actually call it a day and start a relaxing evening.

"My mother told me...." She hummed softly under her breath as she plopped down onto her chair in her tiny little office.

She didn't bother with the antiquated computer that sat on the surface of the desk and instead, pulled out a work book that was filled with spreadsheets that she liked to do her finances on; she was traditional in that sense and didn't care to convert everything to a digital copy.

Katie went into autopilot as she began inputting all of her credit/debit transactions for the day into the appropriate column; she had already counted the money in the cash register when she closed and deposited into her bank across the street before she had retreated to her apartment.

Suddenly, there was a knock on her office's open door that had her jumping in her chair. She had been so wrapped up in what she was doing that she didn't even hear the front door to her shop open and close but when she looked up, her uneasiness was quickly replaced with joy at who stood in the open doorway.

"Hey, twat waffle."

"What's up, fuckface?" Katie responded with a slight grin at the man she has been with since High School.

Simon smiled brightly, lighting up a boyishly handsome face with puppy dog brown eyes that fit nicely with his dark brown hair that was always slightly messy. He is the town's whiz kid, excelling in math and science and completely dominating the field of information technology; he should be running his own department at a multi-million dollar corporation but instead, he had decided long ago that he wanted to stay close to his roots... but Katie knew that it was because of her that he stayed.

"You done workin?" Simon asked her as he crossed his strong arms over a broad chest.

"Yes. On both accounts, actually."

Simon raised one eyebrow. "Oh? You finished the painting?"

"Yes." Katie smiled and nodded her head excitedly. "I did a few minutes ago. The paint is still drying on the canvas."

"That's great!" Simon came further into the office and leaned down onto her desk with a certain look in his eyes.

Katie recognized that look and let out a sigh as she leaned back in her chair. "I'm not getting a relaxing evening tonight, am I?"

Simon gave her a somewhat sheepish smile in response.

Another sigh. "What did you plan?"

"Well.... I might have promised a co-worker that we would go have a dinner with him and his wife tonight." There was a brief pause where he rolled his bottom lip between his teeth, something he did when he is nervous. "Aaaaaand.... I might have mentioned your gift to them."

Her body stiffened at his admittance with her blood running cold. There was one more thing that she had inherited from her Grandmother and it was something that she didn't particularly like to use.

"Oh, Simon." Katie groaned. "You didn't."

"I'm sorry, Katie!" Simon automatically apologized as he came around her desk to crouch before her. "It just slipped out when he was talking about all of the weird stuff that has been happening in his house."

"It's probably just the house settling or old pipes or something else." Katie argued. "You didn't have to tell him about my secret."

"No, Katie." Simon shook his head. "Him and his wife has been living in this house for two years now and they had everything updated and repaired when they moved in." He took her hands in his and had an almost pleading look in his gaze. "They are at their whit's end, Katie, and they've invested too much money into this place to move. They desperately need your help."

Katie stared down at him and she really, really wanted to tell him no, that they would not be attending this dinner but the longer she stared into his pleading puppy dog eyes, the more she felt herself caving.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do." She sighed in defeat before giving him a pointed stare. "But you owe me big time for this."

"Of course!" Simon smiled with relief. "Anything you want, sweet cheeks."

"Anything?"

Simon recognized that look in her gaze and grinned mischievously before raising up and claiming her lips in a suggestive kiss.

Katie watched the rolling hills of the open plains pass by from the passenger seat of Simon's old Ford pickup, still curious as to who this co-worker is; she's never heard of this person until today and when she asked her boyfriend about it he told her that he's only worked with this person a couple times and didn't know much about him.

Eventually, the GPS informed them to take a right onto a dirt road that led them deeper into the secluded countryside.

"Wow, they really do live out in the middle of nowhere." Katie commented.

"Yeah, he told me that they like their privacy and are not much for city living." Simon responded and sent her a smile. "I don't know, I kind of like it out here. It's scenic and peaceful and best part, there's no traffic."

"Yeah, it is beautiful out here." Katie agreed. "But could you imagine the commute from here? They must spend a fortune in gas!"

"A small price to pay for peace."

Katie silently agreed with him just as they crested over a hill.

The house that rested at the bottom of the hill is a classically cute two story country home with a wraparound porch and a swinging bench on one end. The structure of the house looked inviting with its creme colored walls and its light wood accents, and Katie could picture a family making memories here.... until the pulled up directly in front of the house.

A dark red film encased the country home completely like a shroud and Katie's body immediately stiffened, her breath hitching in her throat and her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the raw anger that radiated from the house even from the Ford, making her stomach churn. Simon noticed the immediate change in his girlfriend's demeanor and he reached over to clutch her hand, wincing slightly at the ice cold feeling of her skin.

"Katie? Are you alright?"

Katie shook her head vehemently and looked at Simon with wide eyes. "I-I don't want to go in there, Simon."

Simon opened his mouth to say something, to tell Katie that he wasn't going to force her to go into that house with the fear that is so evident in her wide gaze, but before he could do that the front door to the country home opened and out stepped their hosts.

The husband stood a head taller than his wife, both of them had lean statures in plain blue jeans and T-shirts. Usually Katie would take the time to study someone she has never met before, but her attention was drawn elsewhere. The air around the couple shimmered like heat that comes off the asphalt on a hot summer day. Katie has never seen that before and her apprehension about entering the country home became even stronger.

Simon was out of the Ford before Katie could say anything and was walking towards the couple with a friendly wave. She watched him for a moment, seriously debating on staying in the vehicle, but decided against it; she couldn't bring herself to embarrass her boyfriend like that.

Hesitantly, Katie stepped out of the Ford and closed the door with a little too much force that was necessary. Her gaze never connected with the couple's as she made her was to them, too caught up in the shimmering air and the pure anger that radiated from the house.

"And this is my partner in crime, Katie." Simon said as he place a comforting hand on the small of her back.

Katie could only manage an awkward half smile and they fell into a tense silence until the husband took a step forward.

"It's nice to meet you, Katie. I'm Ben." He said and stepped to the side. "Please, come in. Donna has made an excellent dinner for us tonight."

Simon expressed gratitude as he stepped through the open doorway, practically forced Katie to move alongside him.

The inside was modestly decorated with warm brown tones and pictures of the smiling couple that would make any home cozy, especially with the brick fireplace in the corner, but it didn't matter to Katie. The intense anger was so thick within the house that she could barely breath and her hand went to the rose necklace around her neck for comfort.

"You already sense something, don't you?"

Katie's attention is drawn to Donna, who is staring at her with wide brown eyes and a smile that showed yellow and broken teeth.

Katie slowly licked her lips and answered in a hoarse voice, "Yes."

"Really?!" Donna seemed a little too excited by that and clasped onto Katie's hands.

Screams from women and men tore through Katie's skull and the only thing that came out of her mouth was a gasp as her body doubled over. Pain mixed with raw anger as Donna continued to hold her hands, not even bothering to release Katie from her hold as she watched with excitement shining in her eyes until Simon finally pulled her away.

"Katie! Babe, are you alright?!" His words are laced with concern as Katie tried to regain her breathing.

"Yes." She said once she felt like she was no longer suffocating. "I'm fine."

She then pulled away from her boyfriend and stepped towards the hallway.

Murderer....

Katie froze at the hissing voices within her mind and her heart began to pound against her sternum. Shadow's clung to the end of the hallway and she desperately wanted to turn around and flee this place, but she didn't. Instead, she walked down the hallway on shaking legs until she came to stand in front of a door. All of the anger and hate that filled this place radiated from this door and every single one of her instincts told her not to touch this door.

But she did anyways.

An explosion of pain ripped through Katie's body as soon as her palm touched the wooden surface as screams echoed within her mind, causing all of her muscles to lock up as he back bowed. Visions of blood and torture flashed rapidly like a photo reel and she could feel tears begin to slip down her cheeks as she watched men and women being brutally tortured by faceless beings.

Murderer....

Run....

Suddenly, Katie was pushed back from the door with so much force that she collided with the wall behind her. The pain didn't even register as she slid down to the wooden floor, her mind still a whirlwind of those images.

"Katie!"

Simon's concerned face appeared in her line of vision as his hands clutched her arms. It took her a moment to come out of the fog she was in and when she did, she lurched forward with a panicked look in her eyes and gripped onto his shirt with her shaking hands.

"We need to leave! Now!" Katie whispered urgently.

"What, why? What did you see?" He asked her.

"Blood and pain." Katie slowly licked her dry lips. "Murder." Her grip on his shirt tightened as the panic really began to set in. "Get. Me. Out of here!"

Simon didn't ask anymore questions on her urgency and helped her onto her feet.

"Is everything alright?" Donna asked when they came back into the living room.

"No." Simon answered as Katie clung to him. "Katie is no longer comfortable here. We are leaving."

"But you can't leave." Donna pleaded in a sweet voice, but there was something in her tone that Katie didn't quite like. "We need her help."

"I'm sorry, Donna." Simon apologized. "But it seems that it is just too much for her. I suggest you find a new home."

"Oh, y'all are not going anywhere."

The tone in Ben's words had the blood in Katie's veins turning cold as the word murderer was repeated over and over in her mind. She knew she should've never stepped foot into this house, she knew she should've told Simon to turn around as soon as she felt the pure anger radiating from the house, but it was too late. As soon as she had that realization, a resounding crack filled the air as a baseball bat collided with the side of Simon's skull.

"Simon!"

Simon's body crumbled as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, bringing Katie down to the hardwood floor with him. A sob escaped her throat as she shook her boyfriend as everything became too much and she could feel a panic attack coming on.

"You can sense all them, can't you?" Ben purred, his tone filled with excitement, as he lowered himself to eye level with the bat between his legs.

Katie looked at him with fear and in a whisper answered, "Yes."

Ben smiled, flashing yellow teeth, and leaned in a little closer. "Are they still in pain?"

The look Katie gave was of pure disgust and refused to answer.

Suddenly, Ben is forcefully clutching her chin in a painful grip causing a whimper to escape her lips. "Answer me!"

And Katie did with a quivering lip. "Yes."

A look of pure bliss crossed Ben's face and it made Katie want to vomit.

"Oh, we are going to have so much fun with you." He told her. "And your boyfriend too."

Katie's heart sank at the realization on what this sick couple had in store for them and her mind couldn't help but think that they weren't going to make it out of this.

Bassssement....

Moving her gaze from Ben, Katie looked towards the hallway to see the shadow's coalescing around that door.

Help....

Katie didn't want to listen to the voices, her instincts screaming at her that that was a bad idea, but what choice did she have?

Now....

Right as Ben pulled away from her something came over Katie and before she knew it, she was jerking forward and shoving Ben back.

Ben fell with a startled yelp just as Katie was scrambling to her feet. She did not hesitate to began moving towards that door but came to a brief stop as Donna stepped in her way.

"You-"

Donna's words were cut short as Katie's fist connected with her nose and sent her flying back. Katie didn't even notice the blood gushing from Donna's now broken nose as she rushed to the door, adrenaline now pumping through her veins making it to where she didn't even hesitate when she got to the door and ripped it open.

Her feet pounded down the old wooden steps as the door slammed shut behind her and her nose didn't even register the smell until she was already down there. She had to cover her mouth as the smell of rancid meat invaded her nostrils and she had to resist the urge to empty her stomach on the bloodstained concrete.

Help....

Katie looked around at all the equipment, chains and shackles, and operating table as a sob racked her body. This was straight out of a nightmare and she didn't know what to do.

Help....

"What do you want me to do?!" Katie screeched as she gripped her hair in frustration.

Let us take control....

Katie's back stiffened as the most important thing her Grandmother taught her was to never let the supernatural take control.

We will guide you....

No time....

Help....

She didn't have a choice as she heard multiple footsteps move across the floor above; it was either grant these souls access or become the next victim.

"Okay." Katie whispered just as the shadows on the wall began to move and began to form the silhouettes of multiple different people of varying heights.

There was a moment where the air around her became still and the breath that escaped her mouth was the only sound that could be heard before the shadows converged on Katie.

A blast of artic air froze Katie's lungs and a fresh wave of pain rocked her to her hands and knees; the pain was so excruciating that she wanted an end no matter what it is. But as quickly as the pain came, it was replaced with a revigorated energy.

She could feel all of the anger and hate that these poor souls had buzzing within her body, bringing about images that normally would have her paling but had her smiling a wide smile instead just as the door to the basement opened.

"This is the worst place you could've ran to, darlin." Ben stated as they stepped onto the concrete.

"And you broke my nose, you bitch!" Donna spat.

"No." Katie said in a voice not quite her own, ignoring Donna as her body carried her over to the wall that had multiple different tools hanging from hooks. Her fingers were guided over the cool metal of each instrument until they came to a stop on a sinister looking axe.

"I think," She pulled the axe from its hook and turned around with a smile so wide that it had the couple taking a step back. "This is the perfect place."

Katie switched the axe around in her hands as the temperature dropped and the air thickened. "You wanted to really know if they still feel the pain you gave them?" With each word, she stepped closer to the couple and saw a glint of fear appear in their gaze. "Then let me show you."

And the door slammed shut.