Mysteries of the Black Book

I stand across the road watching the new neighbors move in. They’re the Ronses if the mailbox cover is any indication. After listening to all the ruckus I’ve heard four names. Joe,Mary, Casey and Josh.

Joe and Mary are obviously married. They look to be in their late thirties, early forties. Casey looks similar which makes her either the niece or daughter. Josh looks completely different but comfortable like he’s known them for a while. He’s either the friend or boyfriend of Casey.

I’ve watched this scene so many times,new neighbors don’t excite me anymore. I used to offer my help on moving in but they would all disappear after a few months with one or two or all of them missing. I didn’t understand why until I started noticing a little black notebook would always just be brought back or leave the house. It was always the same thing in the reports. One of the victims was clutching a black notebook.

I study the family, deciding that Casey will probably be the one to find the notebook and be the demise of her family. Sometimes it’s been the father;other times it’s been the mother. It just all depends. I’ve gotten good at guessing who will cause the move in the end. I let out a deep sigh turning my back on the neighbors, inevitably shutting my door on the notion that I’m interested in befriending them. I made a promise to myself after the third family was wheeled out on gurneys covered head to toe that would be the last time I’d be the friendly neighbor. That was one time no one in the family survived. I never know what happens inside that house but I know that little black book is the cause.

A few days pass and the Ronses have a house welcoming party. I haven’t seen that notebook leave the house yet but maybe it’s not there anymore. It’s a ridiculous theory. One that wouldn’t be ridiculous in a perfect world.

An hour after the party starts there’s a knock on my door. I walk over while drying my hands. I open the door in the middle of the visitor knocking again.

“Hi. My name is Casey. This is my best friend Josh. I live across the road and my parents wanted me to come over and invite you over.” Casey’s arms are in front her and her hands are clasped tightly together. Josh is standing next to her without a care in the world.

I nod and follow them across the road. Maybe if I can get in the house by myself then I can grab the book before this ends in bloodshed. I feel Casey touch my arm bringing me back to reality.

“Feel free to look around and explore. We just want guests to stay out of the bedrooms , considering that’s where we sleep.” I watch as she nods her head and I stand there watching as she walks away.

“I know. She’s something else. How old are you anyway?” Josh asks seemingly out of nowhere.

“Um, I’m twenty-five.” I say turning my head to study Josh. He’s about five foot,eight inches sturdy like he worked out. He has dark brown hair and brown eyes. A very non descriptive type of guy. He’s average. If I was a highschool girl then he would be hot but I’m not. I’m an adult male.

“Nice dude. Anyways come on. I found this hidden room yesterday and want to show you. Casey doesn’t know about it though. “

My heart rate spikes. Hidden room? The book must be there somewhere. I’d know when I found it.

After Josh makes me turn around so he can do his secret magic I follow him inside and my mouth drops. It was much bigger than I anticipated. It was most likely underneath a set of stairs so it would be harder to find this. After looking around a minute or two I noticed that this space wasn’t so much a secret room as it was a safe room.

“Josh...” I pause to wait for his response. I get a grunt in acknowledgement. “I think Casey needs to know about this place. In case something happens. She can hide in here. “

“Sure dude.”Josh says and it falls silent except for the sounds of rummaging. “Holy shit!”

I jump and head his way hesitating when I notice it’s the book. The one that has ended so many lives.

“There’s hints and clues in here. Someone wrote in here about twenty-thousand dollars.” Josh looks at me and I see his eyes are light. I’ve never seen the look but I know this is a done deal.

“I think I’m going to head out now. It was nice hanging with you Josh.” I find my way back through the house and almost make it out the door before Joe and Mary catch me in small talk. We talk about the neighborhood and Casey and Josh. We talk about the schools and my age for the house I’m living in. They were polite and didn’t press too far into my life. I especially didn’t want to be involved anymore now that Josh threw a curveball and found the book.

A week later my doorbell rings and I look to the top left corner of my phone. It’s only eight a.m. I walk to the front and let out a sigh before opening the door. As soon as the door is open someone is pushing their way in rambling about I don’t know what. “If you help me I’ll split the money. Please?”

It takes me a few seconds before I realize it’s Josh and he’s late for school. “Sure. But leave. You have school and you barged in.”

“Please help me.” Josh asks pleading with me.

“Come back after you’re done with school I’ll have an answer. “ thankfully he didn’t hear me say sure before. He’s too caught up in this hint.

I already know the first hint and answer. I know I could help him and even possibly keep a tragedy from occurring. The only thing that scared me is that I’m being brought into this and I’ll more than likely be the tragedy.

Eight hours later Josh shows up at my house again. We talk about the hint and I tell him the answer.

Another two weeks go by and Josh is almost done. He’d been coming to me everyday. I know everything because I’ve done this before. I didn’t get the last hint. I didn’t get the money. He’s almost to the money but we get into an argument.

“I’m not helping you anymore.” I can’t. This is going to end badly for me. “You can keep all of it. Tomorrow he’ll have the last clue. The one I couldn’t figure out. The one that drives people mad.

My family noticed that I was going mad and took the book. I was involuntarily admitted to the psych ward.

A month goes by and it’s quiet. I start to get hopeful but I’ve been keeping myself inside and refraining from looking out the window. I went out to go and adopt a dog since I had been feeling lonely lately and saw two sets of adults across the road. I walk over hesitantly.

“Are you the one Josh was coming to see? Is your name Matthew?” The second woman asks.

“Yeah. Is everything okay? I haven’t heard or seen from Casey nor Josh in a while.” I had a bad feeling.

“We’re moving out. Casey was found dead and Josh was found hanging from his ceiling.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say or even know what else to do.

“Josh wanted you to have this. He said you helped him with a lot of the questions.” Josh’s mom hands the book over to me. I felt myself getting down in the dumps. It was as if all the happiness was being drained from me.

“Thank you. I’m very sorry for your loss.” I share my condolences with both parents and excuse myself. The book was resting in my pocket waiting for me to open it. I look on the way to the pound and the answer hits me. Of course I wouldn’t have known before. I never cared to know.

I go to the location and find an envelope with a baggy inside. I open the baggy to find the twenty-thousand dollars. I hide it in my pocket along with the book.

I return home a few hours later with my two new best friends and the correct supplies for them. After I sit down in my chair and the dogs jump in my lap I pet them lovingly.

“Goodnight Casey. Goodnight Josh.” And we watch t.v. Until I fall asleep with my best friends.