The House

Prologue

1940’s

Tom took his time as he pulled out his uniform from the closet. It seemed like it was yesterday that he had walked across that stage and saw his parents with their eyes beaming love. He was proud that we were graduated and somehow was gifted with his new job as part of the construction company that had landed a great job. They were going to help build 15 houses in the next two years and that meant he would be made in the shade and when he found the right girl maybe a wife. Heck if everything went well, he would have a few ankle-biters Soon he would have his pad but for now he stayed at his parents’ house to help. His dad had been sick and unable to work. Fastening the overalls, he picked up his cap and walked into the kitchen. His mother was already up cooking breakfast for him. He could smell the eggs as the cooked on the gas stove they had just installed a few years. He knew that as soon as he could he was going to replace that stove but for today the stove would be just fine. He had his eye on a new refrigerator

Without a word, his mother placed a plate of eggs and toast in front of him. She patted his head as she turns back toward the stove to try and fix his dad something to eat. “Oh shoot. I am sorry son. Do you want some milk?”

“Sure Mom. Anything would be great.”

Tom watched as his mother went to the Kelvinator that he had bought with his after-school money a year ago. He was so proud of that. His mother had cried with happiness and his dad looked sad for a second, but he had smiled and said thank you. With the sun hot on his back the man jammed the shovel into the dirt that was beneath his feet. The air was cool around him despite the heat and he knew that would make for a better day for the build on the house. He watched as children run up and down the street yelling and screaming. He heard some laughter coming from a bunch of teenage girls that didn’t look much younger than he was. Having no idea what they were laughing at him pulled the door handle of the truck he shared with his dad. He had to make sure he to his job bright and early. Part of him wanted to find out what the girls were saying but there was no sense in hearing the boss who happened to be his dad come down on him for “being lazy.”

Tom remembered his last date with Linda on his ride to work. She had wanted to see one of the houses that the company had started to build. She had begged Tom to see the house that had sat right next to the empty lot they had begun to break ground today. The house was old, and the owners wanted to redo the basement, so they had left the house in their care for a few weeks. Tom had taken her to a small alcove of the basement to show her that they found something strange. There was small lettering that was etched into the cement walls.

“Tom that looks like Latin.” Said, Linda

“I think so. Can you speak Latin? I can but I don’t understand it.” Grinned Tom

Old toys were scattered all around the small room and the moonlight reflected off the small makeup mirror that sat on an old wooden desk. But when it came down to, they both had made the mistake reading it out loud. When nothing happened, Tom didn’t even give it another thought but Linda began to act strangely.

“Hey, Tommy boy. Why don’t we try this couch out?” grinned Linda as she pats the back of the old orange couch. She even wiggled her eyebrows in suggestion.

Tom wasn’t sure what to say to that so he ignored it hopes that it would go away. “Linda what are you talking about?” asked Tom

“Oh, that’s right. You are a goody that won’t give in to your basic needs. But that’s ok. She wants it. Well, she wants anyone that wants her. She is a bit of a whore.”

“Linda that’s no way to talk. What would your mother say?” scolded Tom

After that, it was time for Tom to start the conversation about how Linda was going to get ready to head off to college and there wasn’t going to be anytime left to spend any time together. The best part is at first Linda agreed or so he thought. Thinking everything was ok Tom had ushered her toward the door when things changed. Linda tried to attack him. She hit him and spat at him in rage that came out of nowhere.

“Linda stop it!” pleaded Tom

Linda was a wild animal as she tried to make Tom bleed. But the light caught Tom’s watchband and that made Linda stop in her tracks. “Tom, what’s going on?” cried Linda

“Linda, I think you are just tired. It’s not easy to break up and I hurt you. I am so sorry. Will, you ever forgive me?” asked Tom

“Yes. I am going away to school and it would so much easier for both of us. I know deep down that you and I would only ever be friends.” Smiled Linda

“Oh, Linda I am so glad you understand.”

Tom took his time as he walked Linda to the car. He made sure her seat belt was fastened, and she was safely tucked inside. Linda stayed quiet on the ride home and Ton had no idea how to break the ice. The only thing he could do was hope she would be ok in the future. But now he had himself to worry about. He had been thinking about joining the Army but with his dad being sick he wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. The only thing that matter at that time was to make sure that Linda had made it home safe and sound. He watched as she opened her front door and stepped inside with a small wave and a smirk she disappeared. It seemed like only seconds before he saw her bedroom light flip on. He was satisfied that she would be safe for the night. He jumped in his truck and made his way back home. Something told him it wasn’t over by any means.

Chapter One

The Birth

“Tom!” screamed a balding man as he stumped up the dirt driveway.

Tom turned to see Paul coming straight at him. He could see the anger in his eyes and the steam that could be latterly pouring out of his ears he knew he had a bunch of explaining to do. Tom had dropped Linda last night. They had talked and figured out that they weren’t right for each other, but something had overcome Linda. She had attacked him. She had pressed her red lips against his and she tried to stick her tongue down his throat.

“Boy what did you do?!” screamed Paul

“Sir I don’t know what you are talking about?” stuttered Tom

“Don’t play stupid. Linda woke up this morning and tells her mother that she wants to go to a convent. She wants to become a nun. She vows never to marry nor give me and her mother and grandchildren.”

Tom had no idea what to say to Paul. To Tom, Paul was one of the best people in the world. He never tried to make Paul mad, but Tom could tell by his red face and his heavy breathing he was going try to kill him.

“Sir Linda and I broke it off last night. She was going away to school and I wanted to make sure she had the whole experience of college without worrying about me.” Said Tom.

Paul looked at him. Tom had been his best employee for the last few years. He had been seeing Linda for the last few years and he knew she would be safe with him. There was a part of him that thought they would be married, and he would have grandkids running around his knees. But that seems to vanish in front of his eyes.

“You both went out last night and she was so happy about that and now she is haunted.”

“Sir I have no idea what’s going on. Do you want me to talk to her?” asked Tom

Paul thought about it and he knew nothing could go wrong with that so with a shake of his head he knew that Tom would do his best later that night. Now called for a full day of work. It would almost back-breaking working, but they would headway on the new house that was to be built.

Paul was quiet for the rest of the day. Different people came in droves trying to make small talk. Paul replayed his only daughter ‘words repeatedly.

Tom knew it was almost quitting time they go their last delivery of wood so they could finish the frame in the morning, He looked forward to putting up the rest of the frame and get an upstart on the plumbing.

Like clockwork, Tom had pulled up to Linda’s house. It was quite just like normal. But Tom could feel something different. It was so strange that he couldn’t put his finger on. To just chalked it up to the fact they had just broke up last night and he thought he wouldn’t be back so soon. Walking up the cement walkway Tom thought of what he would say or even do. He knew that she was going to ask why he was there. He debated on telling her the truth or give one of those whoppers.

“Better go with honest. Less to remember.” Whispered Tom

Getting out of his truck Tom walked slowly up the path that leads toward Linda’s door. With a gulp, he knocked on the front door excepting to see Paul answer the but when it opened it was Linda. She was pale and her green eyes looked troubled. Tom knew something was wrong.

“Linda, what’s wrong?” asked Tom

“Oh, Tom nothing. What are you doing here?” wondered Linda

“Well, your dad was worried about you. I told him that we broke it off last night.” Said Tom

Linda should have been angry that they had been discussing her but for some reason she didn’t care. She knew she was tired and the only way to fix that was to go away. She knew that she needed help and Doctors wouldn’t help her.

“What is this about you going to the convent?” asked Tom

Linda didn’t know what to say to Tom. He would never understand. “Tom do want to sit in the swing?”

“Sure.”

Linda made herself comfortable in the wooden swing and waited until Tom sat next to her. She had crossed her ankles and made sure her hands rested in her lap. Tom slowly began the swing waiting for the answer to his question.

“I feel like that’s what I need to do. I want to devote my life to God. I want to be clean.”

Tom had no idea why she felt like she wasn’t clean. They had never gone far. His father had taught him

“Did I make you feel bad? Or unclean? Because if I did, I am so sorry.” Tom stared at her in worry.

“No. You are a dear friend and I have always known that. You have always had my best intertest in your heart.”

Tom was confused but chalked it up to be a girl. But something told him he should keep that in the back of his mind. His mom had always told him that girls have all these thoughts and there were call hormones. By the end of the night he understood that she had a dream that Mary had come to her telling her that it was the right thing to do. With a hug he left her and climbed back into his truck. He saw her walk back into her home safely. He saw that the light went out on the living room. Closing the door seemed hard for Linda but it was what was best for them both. He took his time as he drove home. He walked up the cement walkway that his father had built many years before. In the moonlight Tom saw his child sized handprint with his name scribbled next to it. He remembered that day. His dad had helped him press hard enough so it could stay forever. His mother had found a stick and wrote his name in the wet cement laughing and telling him how happy she was that they all were a family.

Unlocking the front door Tom walked in only to close the door as softly as he could. He saw the light on in his dad’s study. He knew that he would be in there trying to read the paper. But lately headaches had been getting in the way. Tom walked to the door knocking softly he stepped in. There he saw his dad. He was asleep on the green couch. He had a glass of water that sat on the corner table.

“Dad. You should go to sleep.” Whispered Tom

Tom watched as his eyes fluttered open. “Oh son. Right. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

Smiling Tom looked at his dad. He had always been there for him, strong of character and faith. Tom had hopes of being that way as he grow up. “Yes, dad I am fine. I spoke with Linda and I will tell you I am confused she took things so well.”

“She did?”

“Yes. When we were on our last date, she wanted to see the houses we were working on, so I took her the Larson’s place were we redoing the basement.”

“Son, did you show her the basement walls?”

“Oh yeah. I think everyone knew about that strange poem that was etched into the wall.” Replied Tom

His Dad looked like he was pale. Fatigue had set in and Tom knew he had to get his dad to bed. “Dad I think it’s late. I have to work in the morning so why don’t I walk you to bed.” His dad smiled shaking his head yes, they walked toward his parent’s room. In the moonlight they both could see his mother sleeping soundly.

“Tom, I want you to know that I love your mother so much. I hate the fact I haven’t been working to help the family.”

“Dad I know that and so does she. So, stop worrying. I have it all under control. You taught me well. I just hope I am making you proud.”

“More than you know son.”

Tom watched as his father opened the door and just stare at his wife. He sat on the side of the bed and begin to unlace his shoes and pried them off his feet. He knew that Tom would take care of his mother. He hadn’t had the heart to tell hm that he wouldn’t be in this world much longer. He had a few things that he needed to get done before he went away.

Part Two Coming Soon

Chapter Two

As the neighborhood slept a black figure stayed in the shadows as it skipped up the sidewalk and made their way toward the construction site. The figure just stood there stared. They knew that it was soft dirt that would in the bottom floor of the soon to be house would be the softest dirt. Light boot stepped into the gravel and dirt. They bathroom pipe stuck absurdly out of the dirt floor. It began to dig with a vengeance flinging dirt behind it. Sitting back on its heels the figure fished around their black leather pocket and pulled out a small object silver and gold piece with a long chain attached and jammed it in the hole that sat deep in the ground. The figure made quick work as he filled in the dirt hole and grinned with satisfaction. Patting the dirt mound, they had made sure they left without a sound. No sense in waking up the whole neighborhood they thought.

The figure took its sweet time as it skimmed the shadows. It had to make it to woods so they could disappear. It turned back to watch the neighborhood once last time knowing this night would be the last night anyone would see any peace. With a grin it saw as the streetlights as the each began to switch on almost lighting the way toward Tom’s house. With a wave it hands the woods became quiet. There were no footsteps or twigs breaking as the figure was swallowed up by the night. The one would be showing up soon.

The sun spilled into his room warming up the air. Tom’s stretched and swung his legs over his bed. He could smell the scent of coffee that hung in the air. He knew his mother would be up making breakfast and dad would be at the table trying to read the newspaper. He would make faces at her when she would hand him the small plate that held his medication the doctor had given him. Tom had been worried about his dad ever since he passed out at work four weeks ago. He remembers like it was yesterday what the doctor had told him.

“Mrs. Holland, your husband is sick.”