The Last Room on the Left

One warm Tuesday afternoon, Trisha and Dave Milton, and their daughter Hanna were on the way to their new home out in Ciderville. Story has it that this town generated from the great colony of Derville, in 1666, who are known to be the founders of one of the most famous ciders in all the land. Since, it’s been renamed Ciderville by honoring Jacob Jetton for his famous cider recipe which brought the town great wealth.

As the delightful, rural home came into view, Hanna screamed with joy, “Finally, we made it!” Pushing her face against the window to get a better look she exclaimed, “WOW! It’s so colorful. I hope my room is HUGE!” Mom filled with bliss by her excitement said, “You’re gonna love it, hun. There’s room for everything here.” Big eyed and hopeful Hanna asked, “Even a trampoline?” Both Mom and Dad consumed by laughter, Dad responded, “Yes even that!” Several trees filled the pathway to the front yard, and the flower bushes were so angelic. Hanna with exhilaration screamed, “I love it already! I wanna stay outside all day!” Mom and Dad both infatuated by the joy she had for the new move, Dad responded with a giggle, “Well not all day baby girl.”

Later that night when Hanna woke up to use the bathroom, she heard a faint noise down the hall. Her eyes still sleepy, she glanced back and forth but saw nothing. She paid no attention to it and proceeded back to bed. As she was falling back to sleep, there was a hard gust of wind that blew from above her. Quickly, she opened her eyes, but all she saw was the ceiling fan. Assuming it was the fan, she turned to the wall to get back comfortable for bed and noticed it was 1:37am. There was a sudden creek in the far corner of her room. Hanna jumped around so fast she almost fell out the bed. Shaking in fear, Hanna screamed! “Dad! Mom!” she repeated. She knew this wasn’t a dream. There is no way she could be asleep. Those glowing red eyes and long black hair shook Hanna so hard she couldn’t move. Busting through the door came Mom and Dad. At the flick of the switch, “What’s wrong, hun?—Are you okay, baby?” they asked frantically. “There’s a scary lady in the corner!” Hanna whispered still crying from fear. Dad walked over to the corner looking from wall to wall, “I don’t see anyone, princess. Maybe it was just a bad dream.” Dad said with comfort. “But it wasn’t a dream, Daddy. I saw her” she said shaking, memorizing those red eyes. “Try to go back to sleep, baby,” Mom said with a kiss, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll just plug in your night light.” Hanna was fast asleep in no time.

The next afternoon, Trisha was making lunch, but ran low on ingredients. “Dave, can you run to the store real quick for me please?” Trisha asked as she handed out a list. “Can I come, too?” asked Hanna. “Of course, to both of my lovely ladies,” Dave spoke with a smile. Not long after, Trisha heard footsteps upstairs. She turned the fire down low, and crept to the top of the staircase. Standing at the threshold from the stairs to the hallway, Trisha peaked around the corner. Looking from each door across the hall to the other side, she saw nothing until her eyes landed on the doorknobs at the end of the hall. Seeing as though she couldn’t see how open the doors were, Trisha took a step up into the hallway. Looking back up at the doors, there was a woman with black hair walk from out of the right into the left door. Instantly, Trisha ran to see who this woman was in her house, but when she reached the doors they were closed. There’s no way someone could’ve walked in and out that fast and closed the doors with no noise. “I guess I am just super hungry,” Trisha said mentally as she walked back down stairs.

Later that night in bed, Trisha tried to explain to Dave what she saw earlier that day, but he just assumed it was a prank about Hanna’s nightmare. Little did they know, it was neither a prank nor a bad dream. Back in 1666, in the colony of Derville, there was a woman named Dalila Jowett who live in this once serene country home. She was the actual founder of the most famous cider in the land. Jacob Jetton was a shop owner then, but he was about to go out of business. He tried to buy her recipe several times. Every time she denied. One day Jacob decided he couldn’t do it anymore. Tragically, Dalila came to the shop to get more ingredients that same day, and she was in for a wicked surprise. “Good afternoon, Dalila. I bagged all your usuals up for you already. No need to waste your precious time,” Jacob said generously. “Thank you, Jacob. Here’s the money I owe you,” Dalila said with appreciation. “Don’t worry about it. They’re on the house,” he said with a grin. Jacob stood at the shop door as Dalila road off in her stagecoach. With haste, he followed her home while keeping his distance to remain unnoticed. When he arrived, Jacob watched outside her window as she cooked the cider. When she completed the drink she filled her cup and proceeded upstairs to her office. While she was sipping her cider in the last room on the left, Jacob snuck in and was coming up the stairs. As he heard the glass hit the table he bursted in announcing his devious success. “I told you that one day I will know the recipe to your cider. You should have sold it to me when you had the chance. We could’ve been partners. Now it’s all mine to spread wealth down for generations to come.” “You poisoned me! How could you?” she said as she struggled for air. With her last breathe, Dalila cursed her land and his generations to come. “I will not stop killing until I have ended your entire bloodline.”

Dave woke up bright and early to start some work on the car. Frequently, he looked around because he continued to have the feeling of someone watching him. He glanced up at the house and noticed a woman standing staring at him through the far left shutters. Rubbing his eyes for a split second, Dave looked back up but no one was there. The shutters were even closed. Brushing it to the side like a simple day dream, he ran inside ready to eat.

Trisha was cooking up a storm when she called Dave to help. “Can you come in here real quick before you turn your show on?” Simultaneously, Hanna skipped in asking, “Can I go play with my dolls?” “Only for a few minutes the food is almost ready,” Mom insisted. Upstairs playing tea party, Hanna heard a noise in the hallway. She grabbed her favorite doll and tried to peak around the door frame to see what is was. She could see that the last door on the left was cracked open, so she slowly walked down the hall against the wall. “Is someone in here?” she said nervously. Without a whisper or even a creak, Hanna was pulled inside and the door was closed.

Meanwhile in the kitchen downstairs, Trisha and Dave were about to set the table. Trisha said, “Hey, can you finish up the plates? I’m going get Hanna.” Kissing her he replied, “I got you, babe.” On the way upstairs Mom called out, “Hanna, food’s ready,” but there was no response. Once she reached the top step she heard her respond, “Okay I’m just fixing my dolls.” Trisha reached her bedroom door, but it was empty. “Where are you?” Trisha called out hearing laughter from down the hall. The last door on the left was open, and Hanna’s favorite doll was inside. “Where is Hanna?” She was shaking at the sight of the empty room as she bent down to pick up the doll. The door slammed in silence.

Dave completed the plates at the table, “Come on ladies,” he yelled, “the food is done.” Neither Trisha nor Hanna responded, so he went up to get them before the food got cold. “Hey. Y’all need to come on I’m hungry,” Dave jokingly shouted before he shockingly walked into an empty room. Confused and worried he called out, “Where did y’all go, Trisha?” From the last room on the left came whispers that drew Dave near. Slowly pushing the door open, he glanced from side to side but saw nothing. As he walked in for a better examination, the door SLAMMED. Panicking, Dave quickly turned around for another way out when he jumped back startled by something frightening. In the far corner stood a woman with long black hair. “Where did you come from? Where is my family?” Dave tried to yell with force. She hovered a few inches off the ground and started to turn around, floating towards him. As she came closer and closer he could see veins in her red eyes as if she was sickly. “You’re real!” Dave screamed. She bolted to towards him in a black smoky silhouette body, and it was forever black for Milton’s.

Several months later, the cursed, yet majestic, house was sold fully furnished and on sale due to the previous family’s disappearance. Now purchased by an anxious and eager family of 4, they have no idea what they are signing up for.

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