12 Chapter Eleven.
It was a beautiful and calm morning in the town. The birds were chirping, and the sun’s rays were gently shining through the thick forest. You could hear the trickles of water streams that led to the lake through the forest and deer’s calling upon each other in the distance. This forest was filled with game but hunting was not permitted to anyone. Thus, the vast wildlife added an even greater sense of one being connected to nature. It was truly one of the most beautiful things anyone could ever wish for. but after ten years everything peaceful about the town was about to come to an end.
“This is it. You can stop right here.”
The car came to a slow stop on the side of the road. She sat in the car for a while, staring out the window as memories flooded her mind.
“That’ll be 40 dollars and 19 cents” the driver said as he looked at the meter.
“oh, right” she searched her purse and gave the driver 50 dollars. “you can keep the change.”
“Why thank you very much. Have a wonderful day Ms.” He replied.
She got out the cab and walked across the road. She stood right in front of the house with a gym bag in the one hand and a backpack across one shoulder. So many memories were running through her mind at that very moment, emotions that she hadn’t felt in a very long time took over. After 10 long years. Amelia had finally returned home. Everything about the house seemed to be exactly the same, apart from the few broken windows and cracks that formed in the walls over the years. She walked up the driveway with her luggage and froze for a moment.
She felt like she was being watched by someone, so she looked over to her neighbours house and noticed someone quickly slinging the curtain shut. Showing that they did not want to be seen.
Amelia ignored it and continued making her way towards the house, she stopped once more as she noticed that she was standing directly where officer stones body had fallen. She could still remember the bone crushing sound of her body slamming against the hard concrete that very night, with blood oozing from her eyes and her body bent in directions that one would consider incapable for the human body achieve.
Amelia then walked into the house and she noticed that there was still police tape around the kitchen. She could faintly see the blood stains as well. Tears filled her eyes as Amelia could visualize her parents bodies laying there in a tarn of blood. She quickly whipped her tears and regathered herself. She carried her stuff up to her room and the first thing that came to her mind was that nothing had changed. It was left in the exact same condition that she had left it the night of the murder. Although her pink walls seemed to have slightly faded over the years, not much had changed. She looked over at her dressing table and realised the pictures of her parents were still there. Slowly walking towards the table, she then picked one of the dusty picture frames up and blew the dust off it right before she wiped it with the sleeve of her sweater, and there they were. Her beloved parents and her as a little 7-year-old girl. This time tears poured out of her eyes.
She thought she would have moved on after all these years, but she had not. It had proven to her that it was hard to move on from something that has taken everything away from you and you know extraordinarily little about it. She eventually wiped her tears and sat on her bed. Gently touching her it, Amelia imagined what could have possibly happened to her dog Cloe that very night. She looked around her room and let out a big sigh, a part of her was relieved that she had managed to build up the courage to return home after all these years. But another part of her was still terrified. It was not easy for her to return to the house after what happened, but all she knew was that she needed to return home.
“Okay, I think its time to see what I can do in the meantime.” She said to herself as she stood up and looked around.
She decided that she should probably start cleaning the kitchen before anywhere else. Amelia walked out of her room and down the passage. She noticed that the blood stains on the wall were still there and judging by the size of the hand prints, it seemed to be her mothers. She placed her hand on the handprint and it seemed to fit perfectly. She started getting flashbacks of her mother, the time they shared together and the senseless fights she had with her. Amelia then stared at one of the pictures on the wall of her and her mom holding a big grey fish that they had caught when they went fishing the very same year of her death.
“I can’t believe this was ten years ago” she said to herself “I must’ve been 19 at the time.”
She walked down to the kitchen and stood behind the yellow tape. She stared at the blood stains that were all over the place. And could see the white tape that was on the floor which was used to outline her parents dead bodied. she removed all the tape and grabbed a bucket to fill it with water, but the taps were not working.
“Ah right, they must’ve cut off the water.” She said to herself.
She went back upstairs to get her phone and immediately called the water department in her town to get everything sorted out. Shortly after that call, she did the same thing for the lights. After 20 minutes or so both the water and electricity was running.
“Ah great I can start cleaning up now.” She said to herself.
In the meantime. Crawford peeped out his window and noticed that Amelia had returned. He stood there in shock. He quickly rushed to his wife who was sitting in the lounge knitting away.
“Sophia, Sophia!”
“What is it John?” she responded with a blank look on her face.
“You won’t believe it; the prophecy was right. She has returned Sophia, I saw her walk into the house a few seconds ago with her bags, it’s her.” He said to his wife as he rushed through his own words and quickly running out of breath.
“Are you trying to give yourself a heart attack? Slow down and explain everything to me properly. who’s back John?” Mrs. Crawford responded as she put her knitting down.
“Amelia, she’s back.” He said as he tried to catch his breathe. “the prophecy was truthful. That in the year of the red moon (solar eclipse) the devils daughter shall return, and she shall rise to take her place as ruler of this world.”
“it has been over 15 years, we’ve been trying to awaken her from her eternal sleep, but her parents have been protecting her. how do you expect us to do this now?” she responded.
“That’s exactly it, she has no parents to protect her now, she has no one to turn to Sophia, she probably doesn’t even know the truth about her parents, or else she wouldn’t be here.”
(THE VERY SAME MORNING AT THE HARPERS HOUSE)
Diane woke up earlier than Jake and Hailey and made some breakfast. After her morning labour, she grabbed her mug of coffee and a newspaper and went to sit outside on the patio. She sat there for a good 15 minutes before she heard a loud crash through the woods. She got up and went to stand at the edge of her garden to see where it came from. Diane could see someone chucking out some old stuff out of the Flint’s house.
“Hm, I guess someone finally decided to buy the house after all these years.” She said to herself as she took a sip of coffee out of her mug.
“What in the hell is going on out here.” Jake said as he walked up to his mother.
“It looks like someone decided to move into that old creepy house after all” Diane replied.
“Oh, wow. I would not do that. That house is creepy as hell.” Jake said standing next to his mom as he grabbed her mug of coffee out of her hands and took a small sip before handing it back to her.
“Good morning everyone.” Hailey said as she walked to where Jake and Diane were standing “I see everyone is admiring the beautiful view”.
“That is definitely a beautiful view.” Jake said with irony as he pointed to the girl chucking some furniture out of the flints house.
“Ha-ha very funny.” Hailey said as she Gave Jake a Little nudge on the shoulder.
“Instead of standing here like helpless beings, why don't you two go offer to help her, I mean she’s doing that all by herself. You never know she might pay you for it.” Diane said to the both of them.
“Come on mom, we just got here.” Jake said to her.
“Actually, I think it’s a good idea.” Hailey said.
“See there you go Jake; it won’t be that bad.” Diane said as she walked off towards the house. “Just make sure you’re both back for lunch okay?”
“Sure thing” Hailey responded.
“What did you do that for?” Jake said to her.
“Don’t you want to go have a look around in a so-called haunted house?” Hailey said with a slight grin on her face.
“Oh, you’re good”. Jake responded.
The pair started making their way towards the house, they saw Mr. Crawford Getting the daily newspaper from his front door.
“Good Morning Mr. Crawford” Jake Smiled and waved at him as they both walked by.
He looked at them with intensity in his eyes and said nothing. He turned around and walked into the house, slamming the door behind him.
“Oh, that was weird” Jake said in confusion, trying desperately figure out what he said wrong.
“He really is creepy” Hailey said.
They both walked up to the house and stood there for a couple of seconds, contemplating whether it was a good idea to go on with their plan or not. Well at least Jake thought it was a bad idea. Hailey grabbed him and skipped towards the house.
“Come on, it can’t be that bad. It was just an article after all.” Hailey said to him with a smile on her face.
“Hello! Hello!” Hailey yelled as she smacked her hand on the door a few times.
No one seemed to answer, and Jake was getting a bit restless. Something about the house just made him uncomfortable. The article really got to his head and all the events that have been happening over the past week made it even worse for him. He found it weird that Hailey pretended that everything was fine.
“Okay, I guess she doesn’t want anyone bothering her let’s just head back ho –”
“Hi, can I help you?” the door swung open and she stood their with a warm and welcoming smile on her face.
“Hey, we’re really sorry to bother you. My name is Hailey, and this is my Boyfriend, Jake. We just moved in the neighbourhood yesterday and we saw you taking all that stuff out the house from our garden. We figured since you’re also new and trying to clean up the place you might want a bit of a helping hand.” Hailey said to her.
“Nice to meet you. Uhm I don’t have any money to give you guys though so –.”
“No, don’t worry. It’s just one Neighbour helping another.” Hailey said with a smile on her face.
“Oh, wonderful Uhm. Yeah, I guess I could use an extra hand.”
“Well, lets get to it then.” Jake spoke for the first time ever since she had opened the door.
