Authors Note: I do not own the characters or even the original idea. I write this for some fun and because it is the only way to stop the voices! Enjoy and please R&R.
Chapter one
Driving my large station wagon through the little town in the middle of no-where makes me miss New York even more. I tighten my grip on the steering wheel – like I always do when I cross the small bridge that takes you into Winter River.
The butterflies in my stomach haven't settled since I saw the sign for Winter River, a town where my sixteenth year became my most interesting and my most frightening to date.
The sun is streaming through the thin clouds and feels warm on my bare skin. I slide my large rimmed glasses further up my nose and take a deep breath as I start ascending the large hill towards my final destination.
"I can't do this!" I pull the car sharply on to the grass verge. "This was a really bad idea." My lightly tanned hands are shaking, as I turn the ignition off.
Leaning over to the passenger's seat I route about in my bag and at the very bottom I find a very beaten and dented packet of cigarettes
"Please let there be one!" I pull it open and nestled inside sits one very sorry looking cigarette. Placing it between my lips, I easily find a lighter. Taking a long drag I lean back in my seat.
"Why am I doing this. . ." I take another drag. "I should have told them no. It's a simple word but I couldn't say it." I take another drag and look up at the big white house. "Oh Hell!" I groan, as I hear the noise of a car behind me.
Looking in my rear view mirror I can see a familiar blue station wagon. The driver looks exactly as I remember her. Winding my window all the way down I wait for her to pull up alongside me. I fix a smile to my face and wait for her to come to the window.
"Well hello there." She leans into the car. "Haven't seen you around here for a long time."
"No, I moved back to New York went to college got a job that sort of thing." I take a final drag of my cigarette and stub it out in the cars ashtray.
"What brings you back here?"
"Well Jane I would have thought you would already know." I give her my brightest smile.
"I was on my way up to the house, you know just to make sure that everything is O.K." She glances from left to right and then leans closer into the car. "There have been some strange going on's in that house. I mean lights going off and on, voices can be heard."
"Really?"
Dear God please don't let me laugh, don't laugh.
"I can't help but feel that I am being watched every time I go up to that house."
"Maybe you shouldn't go up there." I snap. "I mean, you don't have to worry about going up there anymore. I am going to be back for at least a few weeks." I shrug.
"That's very kind of you." She nervously smiles.
"You don't by any chance have a spare key? I left mine in New York" I sigh.
"Yes, you can have mine." She removes it quickly from her car keys.
"Thanks Jane." I take the key; hopefully she won't have several copies at home. The last thing I want is her turning up unexpectedly.
She turns to head back to her car, when she stops.
"Everything O.K Jane?" She has aged quite well but there are bags beneath her green eyes.
"Yes, I was just thinking."
"About?" Why you can't just get to the point – I really should stop being rude to her, even though she can't hear me.
"It must be at least twelve years since the passing of Adam and Barbara. I can't believe it has been that long." There is a sad tone in her voice.
"Well it has." I tut. "Look I am going to have to go, I have a lot of unpacking to do."
"Yes of course." She states distractedly before climbing in to her car and pulling away.
"Looks like I have no choice but to go to the house. Crap!" I slam my hand on the steering wheel. "But before that." I smile, shove the car into reverse "I have to pick something up."
I head into the centre of town.