Disclaimer: Not mine.
Note: This story originated from the 'real' haunting of Johnny Johnson that I recently heard of (I have, however, changed many of the aspects of the story so it could fit properly into my plot).
I hope everyone enjoys this story! Reviews are always welcome
I
Edgar A. Guest
I am the careless foe and mean;
I am the selfish rival too;
My enmity to me is seen
In almost everything I do.
More courage it requires to beat
Myself, than all the foes I meet;
I am more traitorous to me
Than other men could ever be.
-
Sunnyvale, California
2 Weeks Ago
-
"Daniel! Nathan! I swear if you two don't stop this instant, I will – "
Giggling and a loud crash was the only reply that met Alison's ears as a toy bicycle in the adjacent aisle fell from its designated spot upon the shelves. She could hear its cheap frame crumple upon impact, and she winced. Any minute now, she expected the manager to have to remove her and her two sons from the department store.
Alison rounded the corner to the next aisle, her blonde curls bouncing in step with her heels. She stopped short, however, seeing the broken bicycle on its side; her children nowhere to be seen. Her eyes narrowed, not feeling in the mood to be playing Hide 'N Seek with her kids.
"Daniel! Nathan!"
Her voice rang clearly through the second floor of the old building. Besides the light music overhead, it was silent, and she could only justify that the place was empty because it was nearing closing time. A large, dusty giraffe was plastered on the wall in front of her with the slogan TOYS 'R US painted by its neck. Its toothy smile seemed to mock her present situation.
Footsteps tapping on the tile flooring, she hurried her pace, checking each aisle with a growing intensity for her boys. The sound of their footsteps had vanished; their giggling had gone. They couldn't just disappear into nowhere…
Could they?
Her hands were shaking by the time she reached the end of the building, and just as she was about to reach for her cell phone to call her husband, a voice called from behind her.
"Honey?"
Relief poured through Alison's veins as she caught sight of her husband, standing beside Daniel, and holding Nathan up on his shoulders. She nearly ran to them, relief slowly fleeing to be replaced with irritation.
She looked to her children, hands on her hips, "If you boys ever cause such a ruckus like this again – "
"Honey, what are you talking about?" Her husband's confused eyes met hers.
"Jason, these two were running through the aisles, knocking over everything in their tracks. I couldn't find them anywhere."
"Ally, that's impossible. Danny and Nathan were with me."
"Yeah, mommy," Daniel's small voice interjected. He scurried over to his mother, holding out a small plastic toy, "Look what daddy bought me! The Red Ranger!"
Alison's laugh was forced as she patted her son's head. Her gaze never broke with her husband's, "I could have sworn – "
"Excuse me."
Alison jumped as an unfamiliar hand touched her shoulder. As polite as the voice sounded, it was, at the moment, unwanted in their conversation. She briefly turned and glanced at the woman's blue outfit. A name tag (Manager: Lisa) was pinned neatly to her chest.
"I'm sorry," the woman said, "But I'd like to let you both know that we're closing the store in two minutes. The exit is downstairs."
"Thank you," Jason spoke for his wife when she couldn't seem to find her voice for responding. Grasping his wife's hand, the couple walked to the stairs, until Alison quickly turned around.
"Wait," Alison face the manager, "I think there's another child playing around up here. I could have sworn it was my boys, but…"
"Oh, thank you for telling me, but don't worry," Lisa's smile was sincere, and she brushed the observation off with a wave of her hand, "I'll take a look around before I close the store."
Lisa watched as the young couple descended the stairs, and within minutes, she was the only one left in the building. Slowly, she turned, and walked into the middle of the floor.
She called out to the unseen figure, "Johnny!"
She waited for a response. None came.
"Johnny!" She called again.
When no one answered again, she began to walk the aisles, making sure to keep her voice steady and her footsteps even and slow.
"Johnny, I cannot have you scaring off my customers."
Something brushed the skin on her ankle, and Lisa jumped with surprise. She glanced down, and saw him. A small child, whose hands were cold as ice, whose skin was as pale as a sheet of paper, sat cross-legged at her feet. A small sigh escaped her, and she knelt down next to him.
"Johnny, I know you only want to have fun, but you can't keep doing this."
"I only wanna have fun."
"I know that. But you are scaring off my customers. This is the third time this week, and I've gotten more complaints this month than I can handle."
"I only wanna have fun."
Lisa shook her head, "If you can't stop your behavior, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"But I only wanna have fun."
"Johnny, stop it."
"I wanna – "
"Johnny!"
The child sat looking at her, his eyes clouded with a sudden anger. Lisa stood and brushed off her skirt, "Johnny, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
The clicking of Lisa's heels was the only sound in the building. It echoed against the fat, concrete walls which absorbed the noise with ease.
But when the knife entered her back, when the small, icy hands encircled her neck, when she screamed for her life, the walls entrapped her cries.
By sunrise, the job was done, and the child slowly walked back to his corner on the second floor. Ghostly arms encircled the knees that he brought to his chest, and he stared at the bloody knife by his feet.
"I only wanna have fun."