5 Old habits die hard

I

Little Jaypee Kailmunn was the only child in the Kailmunn family, after trying for so many years the married couple was finally blessed with a son. They gave him everything from fancy toys to expensive educational plans whenever he gets to college in the future. His parents would dote on him endlessly and both of them couldn't get enough of the blessing they had finally been given. Jaypee would spend his hours at home sketching characters and landscapes, shading colors in coloring books and would often show his creations to both his parents. They would complement him and would teasingly demand him to show them a better piece, and he would nod vigorously in obedience. Sometimes his father caught him talking to himself but little Jaypee was only so immersed in what he was doing, reenacting stories he himself created with toys gifted to him.

He dreamed almost every night.

It wasn't until he almost reached his 7th birthday that in one of his dreams; he tried to seize what he sees and made things possible for him that in the real world is impossible. In his dreams he decided to fly, then, conscious to himself that he was dreaming, he jumped in the air and decided to stay there, and flapped his tiny arms imitating a bird. He flew.

II

He morphed into a shark and swam in the ocean, reverted back to being a tiny boy and conjured a huge rabbit to ride on, he shrank himself to talk to the faeries, and decided to visit them in their hidden kingdom. He stayed and left as he wished, and did many things inside his dreams; grew longer ears, lengthened his nose, morphed into an animal, and grow wings on his back. It continued like this every time he slept, and when he decided to wake up, he would.

"Mom, I dreamed that I could fly last night, and I did everything that I wanted to do." The child beamed.

"Where is my good morning charm?" his mother teased as she knelt near to his cheek.

The boy kissed her and continued joyfully. "I dreamed I could fly with the faeries, at first I could only float then I thought I'd grow wings and I did!" he beamed and his eyes widened.

His mother laughed and kissed him on both his cheeks. "Oh, love you are just a handful! Come sit and eat your breakfast." She said as she moved his tiny chair for him to sit on. She watched him with all affection and love as he took a spoonful of cereal. She sighed at such happiness. Their only boy, the light of their home.

III

One morning his mother saw him slouched on his bed, he looked tired and very sleepy. "The goat man saw me again, mum." He said lazily and yawned. "He tried running after me but I flew away." he finished, his eyes drowsy and didn't look at his mother. His mother's brows furrowed and didn't know what to say, this had been the second time Jaypee talked of the goat man in his dreams. He brought Little Jaypee into a hug and kissed him on his head.

"Tell him to leave you alone, okay? Tell him to leave you or else mom will come and spank him plenty, you tell him that?" she asked and raised her son's face to look at her. He replied a gentle okay.

IV

Jaypee was flying two meters above ground, flowers and greenery glow bright around him, yet in front of him there's a vast darkness that he couldn't make out in his dream. The goat man insisted to come with him, he promised to reward his obedience with lots of gifts and chocolates more than what his parents could give him, and again the boy said no. This time, he said that he would tell his mom if he ever dare to touch him again, the goat man growled and tried to persuade him one more time yet, the more he said the more the boy grew scared and withdrew to himself. Without finishing the goat man's words, Jaypee flew away. He unleashed his eagle wings and flew away fast, despite the distance he could hear the angry snarls of the goat man-irritated by his rejection. He flew faster and faster, yet the snarls grew louder and louder. The boy panicked and breathed harder, furiously flapping his wings to hasten his escape. And he was stopped midair by a strong grip at his ankle. He was slammed to the ground, and despite the pain he tried to turn on his back and crawl away. The shadow before him grew taller and bigger. In his panic, the boy forgot to wake up from his nightmare, and instead decided to run. If he had woken, it would have been over quickly. But what does a boy know.

V

After his mother cooked his favorite breakfast she went to his room. The father, startled by his wife's scream, spilled his coffee on his lap. He put the cup down and hurried to his wife in their son's room. There they found little Jaypee Kailmunn laying on his bed, eyes wide open, blood smeared his mouth down to his chin. there was a thin red line forming around his neck.

VI

Krishna, a beautiful, long haired Indian girl migrated in Angel City two years ago, she was offered a better position and a salary she could not refuse. Her normal schedule was nine to five in the evening. But overdue workloads and deadlines forced her to work overtime. She went out the building at about ten thirty p.m. and took a cab to the building she rented an apartment in. As she waited for the elevator to pick her up, her phone rang.

"Hey, babe. I'm already here, I'm just waiting for the lift then I'll call you back when I'm in my room. No, I haven't looked it up yet, No, not yet either. It's just that it's a little too hectic this time at work? No, Okay. Okay bu-bye, I love you too, honey".

She hanged up and pushed the button for the 9th floor in the elevator. The lift arrived and she went in. The lift stopped and the doors opened. Krishna frowned as she looked at the darkness from inside the lift, she looked at the floor indicator and the number 6th was lit up. She pushed the 9th again and the lift closed and moved. Not a moment later and it stopped again, the doors opened to the same darkness where she was before. She looked again it seemed the lift didn't went up; she was still on the 6th floor.

"Psssst."

someone hissed from the dark. It was slow, lingering and calm.

Krishna's eyes widened, her face suddenly went pale as cold shivers crawled down her neck and arms. Her heart throbbed to life. She pushed the close button in the elevator then the button for the 9th floor again, this time not taking her eyes off the glowing indicator. The floor went up to the 7th, and then stopped at the 9th floor. She breathed a sigh of relief as the doors opened from the middle. She noticed that the overhead lights in the hallway of the vicinity were all turned off. The only illumination in the halls was from the glass windows, blue and dim courtesy of the late night. Her room was the last door on the next turn in the hallway, beside the glass window at the end of the building. As she turned right to proceed to her room she saw, to her surprise, that her door was slightly opened. Images of numerous Hindu gods suddenly flashed in her mind, then as a defensive mechanism to calm her nervousness, she started to rationalize based in her beliefs that her gods are millions in number and the devil is only one. She licked her lips and started to walk slowly, almost to a tiptoe towards her room; her hands shook as she pulled her phone from her bag and turned on the flashlight. She raised her trembling hand to light her way, half stepping as she proceeded.

She slowly pushed her door open and lowered her phone, illuminating the floor of the room. A tall figure in the corner was silhouetted by the dim night from the windows. It was bristly and hairy, something long and sharp stood up from its head. She heard it breathe heavily, like a horse but only steadier and eerily calmer. The image before her eyes froze her in place, and it looked at her with glinting eyes. And she screamed. Her phone falling off her hand. She ran away as fast as she could, heart pounding and gasping for breath. She stumbled on her step and fell down; she frantically struggled on her feet and made her way to the elevator. She paused and decided not to use it and turned around to make for the stairs. As she was about to go down a third set of stairs, she saw the same figure in the darkness crouching just a few steps below her. It was pure black and had very long horns; the other was cut before it could curve. Its eyes glinted and looked at her. The face of her mother flashed in her mind as she screamed her last.

VII

He was woken up by the whistling noise made by the kettle. Mr. Dale Dodd removed the newspaper covering his face and lifted himself off his worn gray couch. His wooden floor creaked as he made his way to the stove and turned it off. He poured the hot water onto his cup and raised it to his face so he could feel the rising steam. It was raining heavily outside and thunders grumbled in the distance. Droplets of water continuously poured from the corner of his roof. Dale grunted and muttered something inaudible as he centered with his foot the metal pail under the steady drops of rainwater. He looked over to the tall, dark house he was tasked of watching from his window; he brought his face closer to see it better through the thick night and the heavy rain.

"Why, I oughtta! Damn kids!" He cursed as he saw from his shack that one of the windows on the third floor was flickering with yellow light, as if some people lit a bonfire inside the house. He immediately grabbed his thick and furry gray coat that his late wife made for him, he went back to his couch and got his old man's hat and made for the door. He grabbed his black umbrella and slipped on his sandals as he made his way out. The rains continued on furiously as he slowly walked his way towards the empty house. He looked up to it as he continued to make his way, the warm glow were flickering still and his lips curled in anger as he saw the light. He trotted on faster.

"Mister Dale! Good evening, sir! Where are you headed?" asked Goodie the roving security guard as he came across and greeted Dale on the same road. He was dripping in his rain coat. He lifted the brim of his hood to look at the old man better.

"Off to the house, these damn kids just won't give me a damn night's rest! You're dripping like a statue on a fountain, Goodie!" he grumbled aloud to the guard, the noise of the heavy rain making it hard for them to hear each other.

Goodie turned and looked at the tall, mysterious house that the old man was paid for as a caretaker, he felt lucky that in all the years he's been a security guard in this town, he was saved a roving watch from this eerie and silent property, thanks to the old man and his job of overseeing it. He turned to Mr. Dale.

"I think you should let it pass, for now at least just, for this night mister Dale! The rain is heavy and I think it's better if you stay inside your shack, I mean, house! Your house!" Goodie said, his hand still holding the brim of his hood.

The old man shook his head fervently. "I've been a caretaker of this house for years, boy! I'm not afraid of it even if it had a witch's bloody head nailed on its roof!" he said trying a smile. "Besides it's my responsibility, these kids be lighting up the goddamn room like its riding bonfire! The owners might get mad if something happened to 'dem house!" he said out loud.

Goodie didn't reply but looked again towards the house, this time seeing the yellow and orange-y light flickering from the highest window. He sensed the old man started to walk past him.

"Want me to come with you, sir?!" said Goodie.

Goodie knew that there hasn't been a visit from any of the owners of the house, if there is still any. The place was vacated since he was assigned in town, and was vacated longer before he even came. Although, he argued in his mind that there really is an owner, else how did mister Dodd get paid?

"No thanks, Goodie! I'm good! I'll just tell 'em kids a thing or two then I'll be right home! My tea is getting cold!" he said aloud without looking at Goodie behind him as he started walking again. Goodie turned on his heel to look at the old man as walked past him.

"You take care of yourself Mister Dale! I'll be in my post if you ever need me!" Dale Dodd waved his hand in goodbye as he continued walking.

VIII

He closed his umbrella and laid it against the door frame then he went inside. He removed his hat and looked up the long set of stairs. The house was silent and brooding, the wooden floors creaked as he made his way up. He felt for the penlight in his jacket's pocket and turned it on to light his way. Dale began to lighten his steps almost to a tiptoe as he walked up the stairs; he kept his eyes peeled and his palms sweated. Halfway up he paused in his steps and contemplated the decision of going back, yet, he's already here and the well-being of the house is his responsibility as the sole caretaker. But the owners haven't been in contact with him for so many years, he tried calling or any form of communication but they are forever silent, the only proof of their existence ever since they left was the salary sent to Mister Dale's account every month. It was eerily silent. It felt as if the house was watching him in silent observation.

But duty comes over all, even feelings.

He inhaled deeply and decided to make his way up. He couldn't risk a bonfire accidentally lighting the whole place and put the neighborhood at risk. The door was slightly open and he could see the light flickering from inside. He slowly pushed the door open to see more of what is happening.

IX

The rocking chair was facing the opposite window of the room, making it impossible for Dale to see the one who was sitting and swaying it back and forth. His eyes adjusted from the blank view of the chair's back and glanced upward trying to see the head of the person. Two black and long horns peeked from the rocking chair's backside. The other horn seemed to look cut just before it could bend like its pair. Dale's eyes widened and he held his hand to his chest, his mind is in disbelief as he tries to understand what he just saw. Dale decided to run for the exit, but his eyes held him in place that he paused before taking his second step, a flicker of tempting curiosity made him look one more time. His eyes rolled sideways and saw the large hairy hands resting at the tip of the arm rest. It was pale and very old looking, the back of its hand hairy and bristly. Claws; long, serrated and black hanging from the tips of the fingers.

Dale Dodd's heart skipped as if he would have a heart attack. Seeing what he needed to see, and regretting why he did so, he stumbled back and rushed down the stairs, cursing as he became aware of the noise he made on the creaking steps. He was almost at the door when lightning flashed in the sky. And for that brief moment it silhouetted the figure blocking his way out. Glinting eyes reflecting the flash. Two long horns, Hairy shoulders and very long arms ending in sharp claws, its legs and calves were like the hind legs of an animal, the feet are hooves. And chains dangled from between his ankles.

X

Goodie looked at his watch, it was 9:05 p.m. He stood from the stool chair he sat upon and looked at the tall house where Mister Dale was last seen heading towards. He was missing for three days now. Goodie sighed. He opened the door of his tiny, guard shed and just as he was about to get out, something round and big rolled towards him from the bushes across. He turned on his flash light and pointed the light on the rolling object as it got closer. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. The rolling object hit his feet softly and stopped. He stumbled back inside his shed and fell on his back, causing clutter, he gasped as he struggled on his feet. He screamed for the first time in his life as he saw the head of someone familiar.