Slowly but surely the left portion of the property started showing its true colors. Brian could hardly believe that under all those branches was a tiny circle, set out in stone, that had concrete benches all around the perimeter. And around the circle were actual flower beds, old, overgrown, rock hard, but flower beds, and dotted in the flower beds were old concrete bird baths, the basins completely covered in moss. None of the boys knew how long it took them to clear the area that led to the first house. But all of a sudden there was the boundary wall, set out in stone. Brain came to his senses and looked around him. They had cleared everything around the boundary, all the grass was mowed, and the edges were clean, how was it possible that they did not see the house all this time that they were working? Brian turned towards Luke, who was wiping sweat off his brow with the t-shirt that hung from his belt. “Do you think we have permission to go in?” Brian asked Luke carefully. “Yea
For three days every evening at dinner, the boys were asked who was pacing the halls at night. For three days the boys denied ever getting out of bed. On the fourth day, without anyone’s knowledge, Joe decided to set up cameras in the hallways. He too was getting tired of the footsteps in the hall and the whispers in the kitchen every night when everyone was supposed to be asleep.His wife and kids had gone to town to put up flyers to ask for help with the garden. The boys had gotten permission from the elderly ghosts to bring outsiders into the garden but there had been a couple of conditions, all of which were stipulated on the fliers of course.The family got home and almost instantly the boys ran off to what they discovered was a house with a big number one painted next to the front door. The number was dainty and had all kinds of curls and swirls to it, so much so that the brothers had a very interesting argument about whether it was a flower or a number.The house itself was col
That evening was different from other evenings when everyone would normally retire to their bedroom after dinner. The boys decided instead to carry their Wii game consoles and pillows out to the sitting room and hang out. Fairly soon Nadine joined them and along came a presence.“He’s stuck like glue.” Luke teased his sister.“He’s a nice guy,” Nadine replied and plopped down on the floor next to her brothers.“He’s your cousin,” James said.“He’s a ghost.” Brian reminded her.“Oh hush it. What are you playing?” she asked them.“Tennis.” Luke grinned at her and tossed her the other controller.“You’re on!” Nadine accepted.“Oh, this is going to be good,” Brian commented drily and sat back to watch his sister get punished.Joe and Cynthia heard the laughter in the sitting room.“It’s been a while since they’ve done that,” Joe commented and glanced at his watch.“Sure is. When can we expect your uncle darling? Shouldn’t he have been here by now?”“I’m not sure. I tried calling him but h
The entire household woke up at exactly four-thirty the next morning. All the doors of all the rooms rattled ferociously as if something was trying to break the doors off the hinges. The occupants of the rooms sat in their beds, staring at the doors, wondering what exactly was happening. Joe and Cynthia worried about their kids, but a calming presence made them relax slightly.It was only when the kitchen started sounding as if it was exploding that they became worried. Joe jumped up and tried to rush out of the door, but it was firmly locked and wouldn’t budge. Hurried footsteps could be heard in the hallway outside their door and then there was a shout, an unknown voice demanding whatever was rattling the doors and windows to leave.Whatever it was ignored the command, in fact, it almost appeared that someone was trying to push through the doors and another was holding the door shut. Joe felt himself being picked up and then taken back to his bed. He turned to look at his wife, who
Cynthia sat outside on the back porch, having a coffee with her husband and just looking over what their sons had done.They watched Uncle Sam approach, he was mesmerized by the garden itself, so much so that he did not hear the three kids that hurried after him. It took one look from the parents to know that something was horridly wrong. Brian carried his sister more than he supported her, all whilst Luke hurried to the other part of the property with balled fists and a red face.Joe somehow missed the porch steps, he was next to his oldest kids in a flash.“What happened?” he asked quickly.“Bradley,” Brian said simply and allowed his father to help him carry Nadine up the steps.“Bradley?” Cynthia asked confused and followed them in.“He attacked Nadine because he wanted one of his guitars and I said we’ll get to his place when we’re done with number one,” Brian told his father and carefully lay his sister down on her bed.Brian saw the veins pop on his father’s head and neck, his
Out of all the unnerving things that could happen in a haunted house, the most unnerving thing is silence, and that was exactly what Joe came home to a few hours later. The garden was quiet, and no sounds from the whippers, no chainsaws, and there was no one on the porch. Everything was just silent.A minibus stopped close behind him and the doors opened cautiously.Joe looked around him and then he felt a presence close by.“Are these the volunteers?” it asked.“Yes.”“Good. I’ll get your boys to get them. Your wife needs to talk to you.”The presence vanished and then Joe turned to the teenagers getting out of the minibus.“My kids will be here shortly.”“Uncle Joe.” A deep baritone voice suddenly spoke directly behind him.Joe whirled around and stared at the pale teenager with shoulder-length black hair.“Who are you?” Joe asked ad felt his knees go weak.“Bradley, sir. I thought I should introduce myself.”Joe stared amazed at the boy. The audacity!“You and I will talk later. Do
Back at the house, Joe was seeing his uncle and cousin off. Daniel had absolutely refused to stay after his encounter with Bradley in the hall, and Uncle Samuel had agreed readily when Daniel had started packing. The lone guitar had scared him, and he was ready to go back home.Joe had tried to argue, but Cynthia had silenced him gently with a hand on his arm and wished the visitors a safe journey before excusing herself to check on her biscuits in the oven.His wife’s demeanor confused Joe, but he let it rest until his uncle and cousin had left. He then went looking for her and found her in the kitchen with Bradley, they were chatting and laughing as if they were a mother and son.Joe gave Bradley one look that made him vanish.“Was that necessary?” Cynthia asked upset.“Why would you react that way to Uncle Sam and Daniel? You hardly said goodbye.” He asked her furiously.“Most probably because I couldn’t wait to see the last of them,” Cynthia responded quickly.“Why? What have they
The three brothers were very surprised the next morning when they were not tossed out of bed, instead, their lights flicked on and they were told to get up and have breakfast. In the kitchen three mugs awaited them, filled with steaming coffee.“Mom isn’t up yet,” Luke said confused.“No, she’s having a sleep-in with your father. I made it for you. I can’t wander far into the garden, but at least I can try and help around here.” Bradley said from the pantry.James stared at Bradley. The boy had gone through some clear changes. Bradley did not look miserable or dark anymore, he looked happier and brighter, even the color of his skin had changed from pale to a deep tan, certainly a tribute to his Vietnamese heritage.“Close your mouth James, it’s going to be a fly trap.” Bradley teased him.“I think he just finds it strange to see you like this. All we had the last couple of months were shadows and voices, and now you are walking around as if you’re alive. We can see you, we can touch y