I think I have edited this piece about twenty times. Only because I know there is so much more of a story here yet to uncover. As I continue to read and rewrite it, I know I will come back to it someday and create more of a world for Johnna and her monster.
Keep an eye out for more of this one in the future, Creepsters.
House For Sale - Nightmare #41:
It wasn’t until the third mortgage payment, that Johnna knew for sure. She knew things had to change. That’s when she began to work longer hours; leave the lights on all night; pray a bit more.
After six months in, Johnna knew she had to move. There was no more denying it. She realized this when the ceilings cracked and splintered without cause; when the various power outages could no longer be explained; when the shadows started to play peek-a-boo.
She could feel the eminent danger swelling up in that haunted house like hot air in a balloon. So, she called the realtor and made arrangements. Then, she called a friend and packed what she would need for the next couple of weeks. She went to bed that night, pleased that she would be free of this awful place by morning’s light.
Hours later, Johnna awoke with a jolt. She sat upright in bed, surrounded by darkness, unable to focus.
Her mind wrestled with a faded dream; or nightmare; or noise?
What happened to the lights?
Or her backup lanterns?
Everything was on when she fell asleep.
Everything was working then.
Was there another power outage?
Maybe a storm?
She knew better.
But what was it that woke her up?
What was it that got her attention?
An odd, gurgling sound answered her. This awful sound filled up the room, sounding like an army of bullfrogs by their pond.
Johnna gasped.
The noise stopped.
A minute of silence passed.
She heard it again.
The gurglings were back and this time they were closer to her.
Johnna’s heart raced, smacking against her chest like a hammer to a nail. Beads of sweat trickled down her hairline and before she could grab for the flashlight on the nightstand, it grabbed her.
A hand - from out of the darkness - took hold of her forearm. Its grasp on her was firm and cold - freezing, in fact - as though someone had placed a frozen slab of meat against her skin.
Johnna shook her head furiously, like a child refusing to eat vegetables, hoping to rid herself from the nightmare.
But this was no dream. She was awake now, wide awake, and she was not alone. Whatever lived here before her wanted her gone.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," she screamed into the darkness. "Just let me go."
She struggled, trying to pull her arm free of the cold grasp.
Johnna whimpered.
She begged.
She cried.
She pleaded for her life.
Through her tears, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror.
The beginnings of a scream gathered in her voice box, as a huge, decrepit figure came out of the wall behind her. It was an enormous creature with hollow eyes and a jelly-like form. It spoke not a word out of its drooling mouth. Rather, it reached around her shoulders with its numerous, bony arms and placed one of its hands over her mouth to keep her from releasing that scream.
~Deevious~
