“Of all the crap that could happen. A damn flat”, said a gentleman sitting in his car on the side of the road. Lighting crashed and the rain was a broken faucet pouring down. His hands grabbed the steering wheel and he placed his forehead on his hands turning his head slightly to see a clock that said twelve am. “I’ve been going since five this morning! Can I even get a damn break”, yelled the man! Sitting back and slamming his hand on the wheel, he grabbed for his phone. Calling for triple AAA he waited as the phone rang and rang. “Come on, answer”, said the man impatient. Finally there was an answer and the situation was explained to the operator. The reception was spotty and he had to repeat his location to them and ask them to repeat what they said many times. The voice on the other line was odd to him as he sat there listening to the man tell him the ETA of the tow truck.
Just as the operator was about to finish the conversation, there was lighting strike that was blinding in light and deafening in sound. The man behind the wheel was squeezing his eyes and holding his ears. Once he was able, he brought the phone back to his ear, but it was giving him a dead line tone. He looked at the screen and saw that he had no signal any more.
“Well, at least I got through”, he said. Leaning back and tossing his phone to the passenger seat. Leaning his head back he felt a little relief. Taking a quick look at the clock, it read twelve thirteen. “Hopefully this doesn’t take long, though it would have been nice to know”, he said.
Taking a moment he just closed he eyes thinking to himself. There was a sudden loud crack of lighting that had the man jump in his seat. He looked around trying to get his bearings. Rubbing his head and then looking at his dash board clock, which read twelve fifteen, he leaned back again. He looked over at his phone and grabbed it. Checking it to see if there was signal again. He started to wonder if they were coming or not.
The man sat there for another twenty minutes and was starting to get anxious. “This is taking too long”, said the drive, “I wish they would hurry up.” Looking at his phone again, and still no signal, he went to recent call and looked to see the last call he made. When he clicked on it and looked at its log, it said that the call was out going and lasted only fifteen seconds. He sat back in his chair again rubbing his head. “I could have sworn that I talked to someone”, said the man. He looked again at the phone and then shook his head. Lighting flashed and his nerves made him look away from the phone.
Looking about the surrounding area the lighting flashed in the distance, and he saw what to him, was an outline of a large house or mansion in the distance. Wondering and hoping that maybe they had a phone he could use, he decided to wait till the storm slowed then he would walk over and see if anyone was home.
Out of nowhere a crash shook the car and a blinding light and sparks showered down around him. The man held tightly to the steering wheel, but he was surprised by a tree crashing down onto the passenger side of his car. It broke the passenger rear window and bent the roof in. Quickly he grabbed his jacket and got of his car. Standing back as the lighting flashed he saw that a two store sized tree had been struck by lighting and huge limb broke off falling onto the car. “Fine, whatever”, the man yelled! He wrapped his jacket around him and pulled his hood over his head. Lighting flashed again and again the house outline gleamed at him. This time however he saw something. A deem light was protruding from a window in a top story. With a little hope in his eye he started to walk down the street and towards the entrance of the house.
There was a drive way that curved to a half circle and half up it was a single entry gate and a little further to the left was a larger gate for cars to enter. Walking up he grabbed the gate looking in. When the lighting flashed he saw just the enormity of the house that was in front of him. Though it looked run down and abandoned. The lighting flashed once more brilliant and a loud bang accompanied it as well. When the man got his eyes sight back from temporary blindness he saw once more the house and it looked in good condition. He swore though that it had looked broken down. “God, this weather and I need sleep, is starting to play with me”, the man said dropping his head down exhausted.
The man looked around trying to see if there was some sort of bell ringer, or anything that would allow him to call to someone in the house. Just then he heard the door creek and moan and a gentlemen well-dressed stepped out heading to the gate with an umbrella. The man stepped back wondering how? “Good evening sir, would you like to step in and out of the rain”, said the gentleman. At first the man was tongue tide. “Sir? Are you in need of assistance, are you okay”, asked the gentleman? Finally the man answered, “Uh, yes, my car has a flat. I mean yes, it has a flat, and a huge tree limb as also fallen on it.” “Ah, I’m so sorry to hear that, would like to come in and wait in the foyer till this storm passes”, asked the gentleman? “Well I don’t want to intrude”, said the man. “No sir, there is no intruding, we adore guest”, said the gentleman. The man thought to himself real quick, “We?” He looked back towards his car knowing he couldn’t go back as the rain was pouring in and this weather was not something he wanted to stand in. “Thanks, sure I’ll wait if that is okay”, said the man. “Indeed sir, perfectly alright”, said the gentleman.
The gentleman opened the gate and the man and he walked on towards the house. The gentleman opened the door for the man and he proceeded to walk in shaking slightly from the cold of the rain as he enter the gentleman shut the door and locked it. There was soft glow in the foyer as the man looked around.
“Sir, your coat, might I take it for you”, said the gentleman. The man now saw that this gentleman was a butler. “Sure, thanks”, said the man taking it off and handing it to him. Just as he was starting to hand the coat over however, Lighting flashed and thunder sounded. As it did everything around him flickered to decay and run down. The butler in front of him flashed to a decayed corpse. The man jumped dropping his jacket to the floor. “Sir, are you okay”, said the butler. The man had one hand on his hip and the other he was rubbing through his wet hair. “Yeah, sure, I thought I saw something just now”, said the man. “Light has the ability to make you see things when you’re tired sir. The quick flashes cause confusion”, said the butler taking the man’s jacket to the closet. “Uh, how’d you know I’m tired”, asked the man. “Well, um, sir it’s close to one am in the morning. I don’t know many people that wouldn’t be tired, and besides you’ve been stuck outside in this horrendous weather. I out two and two together”, said the butler. “Yeah, good one”, said the man.
“And what name do I call you good sir”, asked the butler? “Hum, what”, said the man still amazed looking around. “I was just asking for a name sir”, said the butler. Just then from the top of a stair case the overlooked the entire entrance of the foyer there came a noise. The man looked up and saw a beautiful woman wearing a black dress walking at the top and stopping just before coming down.
“Thelonious, what is going on, and why do I see a guest among us”, asked the young lady? “Madam, our guest is having quite a bit of car trouble and I was just inquiring as to his name”, said Thelonious. “Um, yeah, sorry, my name is Jacobson, but most people just call me Jake”, said Jake as he walked forward to shake the madam’s hand. The madam stuck her hand out allowing him to grab it gently. “My name is Elizabeth Bruner, and you may call me Miss Bruner”, Miss Bruner said. “Nice to meet you Miss Bruner, and thank you for letting me in your house, and out of the rain”, said Jake. “Indeed, Thelonious”, Miss Bruner called, “Take Jake to the common room by the fire and let him warm up, then fetch him some drink and food. Looks as though you could use some rest Jake?” “A little maybe”, said Jake. “Right this way sir”, said Thelonious.
Jake followed Thelonious as he led him to a room just to the right of the stair case. He opened the double doors and found himself in a room only lite by the glow of the fire place. The room was not too big, with a small round table in the far right corner and a small bar of sorts in the center of the right wall. A couch was in front of the fire place with two large comfortable chairs on each side angled towards the fire.
“Please sir make yourself comfortable, I’ll have something for you to drink and eat soon”, said Thelonious. “The bar”, asked Jake? “Help yourself”, said Thelonious. Jake turned and started to slow walk towards the bar taking in everything around him. He turned to thank Thelonious, but as he did there was something off putting to the face of Thelonious. A smile that sent shivers up the spine of Jake, but he had only saw it for a split second as the doors closed. Jake rubbed his hand through his hair once more. Water was all over him. He shook his hand off and rubbed it on his pants drying it off best he could.
The bar was a welcoming sit as he made himself a drink. “This should relax me”, said Jake as he poured the drink, “Bottoms up.” Jake took his glass filled it once more and then walked over to the couch dropping into it. The fire felt great as he sat. He looked around the room and then saw that phone was near the entrance of the room on a little table. He jumped up real quick and walked with haste to it. Just before he grabbed the phone he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then grabbed the phone bringing it to his ear, nothing. He placed it back down, “Yeah that’s my luck”, said Jake taking another sip of his drink.
Just then the doors started to open and Miss Bruner walked in. She looked around and saw Jake standing to the right next to the phone. “No service now”, said Miss Bruner. “Yeah, I thought I had made a call to the tow company, but if that were the case they would have arrived already. “Well, at least you have our home to keep you dry, which looking at you haven’t yet”, said Miss Bruner. “Yeah it’s taken bit to get there”, said Jake. “Well that will happen if you don’t sit and stay next to the fire. Come and sit with me, come on”, said Miss Bruner. She pulled him over and they both sat down.
“So Jake tell me a little about yourself”, asked Miss Bruner. Jake proceeded to talk about what he does and as time went by he started to remember how tired he was. Thelonious brought food for him as well. Something about the butler was off putting the face and that voice. Something about it was familiar, yet he couldn’t place it. However, Miss Bruner was a pleasant being. He was relaxed and calm around her and enjoyed the talk as he ate.
When Jake was done eating Miss Bruner asked, “How was it?” “It tasted great, but I must be hungrier than I thought, because I don’t even seem to be sort of full.” “I can have Thelonious make up some more”, said Miss Bruner. “No I’m tired and it’s been a long day might as well stop. Don’t want to overdo it”, said Jake. “As you wish”, said Miss Bruner.
Jake rubbed his hand through his hair once again relaxing more, and found his hand wet still. “Man, I just can’t seem to get dry. Ah, dang it, I’m getting your couch all wet to”, said Jake jumping up. “No, no, it’s no problem”, said Miss Bruner grabbing Jake’s hand and pulling him to sit back down. Jake sat back down. “You just sit here and you’ll be fine”, said Miss Bruner. Her voice soft and echoing slightly as she whispers towards him. A haze starts to envelope him, but then Lighting flashes a decomposed corpse flashes in front of him where Miss Bruner sits.
Jake jumps up looking around. “What’s wrong”, asked Miss Bruner not stirred from his reaction. “I, I keep seeing things, dead things”, said Jake. “Dead things, Jake”, she asked smiling? “Uh, yeah, sounds crazy I know”, said Jake. Again she grabbed his hand and pulled him down to the couch. Rest is what you need Jake and you should rest now”, said Miss Bruner. Again he heard her voice echoing and bringing him into a haze. Soon he was asleep.
A screeching scream wakes Jim frightening his heart to jump to his throat. Looking around he sees a room that is broken down and torn apart as if abandoned for years. He sees a mirror and starts to walk towards it slowly. Something else is in the mirror as well. Some dark figure in the corner of the room, but when he looks to the spot that it is standing there is nothing. He walks closer to the mirror and looks closely at it. It stands there in a black tattered dress pale gray skin and white dirty hair. It’s face hidden under the hair, but it points at him in the mirror. He looks back again to see if it is in the corner but nothing. He looks back and there is nothing there, then turns to look back at the corner and standing next to him it is there face screaming through a black jagged mouth and solid hazed black eyes. Jake falls back trying to back away from the being, but as he falls he suddenly finds himself on the ground next to the couch and fire place.
Jake scrambles up looking around for the being that was trying to get him. Nothing, there was nothing in the room but him. Jake started to worry more and more. He wanted to make his way out and back to the car, even if it was wet it wasn’t here. As he approached the door to grab the knob it turned just before he did. Thelonious was at the door and greeting Jake.
“Why hello sir, are you okay”, asked Thelonious? “How, how did you know I was at the door”, asked Jake? “I actually didn’t sir, I heard a scream then a thud as if something fell and started to the door to see what the matter might be. Me opening the door as you were about to was pure coincidence sir”, said Thelonious. Jake nodded his head saying, “Okay.” He was still nervous and wanting to leave. He proceeded to move out in to the foyer. “Where is Miss Bruner”, Jake asked? “She left you sir to rest, and she herself to rest”, said Thelonious. Jake looked up at the stair case, once more the lighting rang out and he saw the flicker of a decayed building about him. He felt his head and his hair was still wet. “That’s it, Thelonious grab my jacket I will be needing it. I have to head back to my car and wait for the tow truck. “I wish you would stay inside sir, but as you wish”, said Thelonious.
There was a scream from upstairs, the same direction that Miss Bruner came from. “Was that Miss Bruner”, asked Jake. “It must have been sir, she is the only one upstairs”, said Thelonious. Both started to run up the stairs but as they did Jake looked back and Thelonious was gone. Jake again heard a scream and his name being called out. Without thinking he went on ahead taking a left at the top of the stairs. Running down he kept trying to listen and see where the scream was coming from. It happened again and he took another turn, then another as the scream kept happening, soon he was turning around and around trying to figure out where it was coming from, as well as he found himself lost. His heart was pounding out of his chest, he didn’t know what to do.
Thunder and lightning shook the house and it changed to a ruined wallow. Jake stopped reaching out and touching the wall. It flickered to new then back to ruin. Scream jolted him and the looked down the hall. Running towards the scream tired of it evading him, he found himself coming to an intersection of hallways. The halls started to rotate and then it stopped as he starred down one. The being in black was back. Lighting started to go crazy about and as it did the being was flickering in and out. It was on the left wall, then ceiling, and then right wall. Suddenly the being was running at him and just as it was about to hit him the lighting flashed once and it disappeared. Jake’s heart stopped as he stood there. The lighting flashed again and the being ran was there running through him. Jake lifted off the ground and was slammed to the floor. The floor broke and he fell down blacking out from the impact.
There was a tapping and Jake started to open his eyes, but there was a bright light shining in them. He raised his hand to shield his eyes. He noticed that he was in his car seat. He looked around and shook his head. The tapping happened again. A person wearing a tow company uniform was in the rain. Jake rolled the window down. “Hello”, said Jake. “Yes Sir, you called for a tow”, said the driver. “Yeah, I must have fallen asleep”, said Jake rubbing his face and hair. He noticed that his hair was wet, and clothes to. The Tow driver came back to the window and Jake rolled it down. “All right sir, this won’t take long”, said the driver. Jake was dumb founded and didn’t say anything. “Don’t worry so much sir. We will take good care of you”, said the driver smiling. Jake didn’t move and his heart hit his throat, “What, what did you say.” “Ah Sir Jake glade to see you coming too”, said Thelonious dressed as a Tow truck driver.
Jake jumped then felt pain on his back. Again he was in the broken down house. Rain leaking through everywhere. Lighting flashed and the house flickered to pristine condition then back. Gingerly getting up and having to use the wall to help him steady. He looked around, back and forth down the halls. He turned and Miss Bruner was standing wrapping her arms around his neck. “Why what’s young Jake. You need to sleep, sleep with me”, she said leaning in towards him. Lightning flashed and she became a corpse. Jake through his hands up swinging them about and scream, “Who are you? Why are you doing this?” There was no answer but a screeching scream. Jake grabbed his ears crouching down and not able to stand the sound. He stay there not moving. “Jake, Jake”, said a disembowel voice. “Join us, live forever with us”, said the voice. Jake stayed crotched starting to scream and yell about. “You will join us Jake”, said the black dress being running at Jake. “Noooo”, Jake yelled back just as the being hit him.
Jake jumped as he was awaken sitting in his car again. He frantically looked around in his car. The back was unbroken and there was nothing going on. He grabbed for his cell phone in the passenger seat. He looked at it and saw that it had a signal. Then he pulled up recent calls and saw his call that he had made. It stated that his call lasted seven minutes. His head dropped back in relief, and just then some lights started to pull up behind him. He froze wondering, as the driver got out and walked towards his window. Jake rolled it down as he got there.
“Sorry it took so long, this storm is something else isn’t it”, aske the driver. Jake felt relief as he said, “You have no idea.” “Well, this won’t take too long to hook up, and when I’m done we can just hop in my truck and head on”, said the driver. “Thanks”, said Jake sitting back and rolling the window up and sitting back. Looking around as the lighting was still flashing about. He could see no mansion in the dark. His relief was sweeping over him. He jumped as the driver tapped on his window holding a thumbs up to him. Jake grabbed his phone and put his jacket on getting out and running to the tow truck.
The tow driver finally finished and jumped into the driver’s seat. “All right Sir, let’s get this thing moving”, said the driver. Jake looked over at him but he was still the driver that he saw at first. “Seem like you could really sue some sleep Mr.”, said the tow truck driver. “You could say that, but right now I believe it would just be a nightmare till I get home, and in bed”, said Jake. “Well it won’t be long now Sir, and we will be right where we need to be”, said the tow truck driver. Jake slowly looked over at the driver. “You just sit back and relax Sir Jake. Your home will be there for you forever”, said the driver starting to sound different. Jake started to shake his head saying, “No, no, no.” Lighting flashed in the sky and the mansion loomed in the darkness. Once more there was a single light in a high story window. The gate opened and they drove in with rain flowing and lightning flickering about.