This Old House Chapter 4
Damn you firefox and ! THere is no way I'm writing all of the stuff I just did again! To make things short I'm sorry that I couldn't post this chapter up earlier.
I also want all of you who reviewed, faved, and alerted my story, I want to thank you and tell you that you guys are awesome. (I'm sorry that these messages are so rushed today, I'm really tired and pissed off because the stupid site didn't save the first messages I wrote D:)
"A-Arthur, are you sure it's the same man?" Alfred glanced over his shoulder at his relative incredulously.
"I'm positive Alfred. I don't think that I can ever forget the hatred in the man's eyes."
Mesmerized by the picture of the lone suspect, the two continued to look at the article, trying to gather as much information about the case as possible from what they had. Unfortunately, they were unable to find very much because at the time of the felony, there was little evidence and a lack of a body to suggest anything other than the idea that the boy had run away.
"This is getting us nowhere Arthur!" Alfred complained after rereading the article for the third time. Even thought they had found a possible suspect in the form of General Winter, their frustrations began to build again due to all of the dead ends that kept popping up.
"I know, Alfred, but it's the only thing we have that can tell us anything." Arthur, just as tired and discouraged, said as he slumped into his chair.
The two let out a discontented and collected sigh. Suddenly, Alfred straightened and jumped up from his chair. He suddenly had an epiphany.
He faced his cousin, excitement on his face as he exclaimed, "Arthur! Why don't we go straight to the source?"
"What do you mean?" Confusion was written all over his features.
"Matthew! Why don't we ask Matthew what happened?"
By then, Alfred had run over to his cousin's side of the table, dancing a little as he went.
Arthur's face brightened up as he thought over what Alfred had said.
"Of course! Why didn't I think of that? For once Alfred, you had a good idea."
"Thanks!" He exclaimed, a large grin plastered to his face. "Hey…Wait a minute. Did you just insult me?"
"Maybe…"
The two gathered up their belongings and walked out of the library. Even though their search had revealed scarcely anything, they were happy that they still obtained some information about the house and a few questions to ask the little spirit manifesting itself there.
"Hey Arthur," Alfred asked as they were speeding off towards his residence, "what are we going to do if Matthew isn't in the house? Like, what if we, can't find him? How are we going to contact him?"
"That's easy Alfred. I'll just get in touch with him using my spiritual powers. I'll even set up a notepad and pen so that he can write out what he wants to tell us."
"Wouldn't it be easier to just do that in the first place? Then we wouldn't have to search the entire house."
"We could only do that, but it takes energy from both parties to make the connection. If we can find him without having to do a séance it would save us both the energy, so it would be better to seek him out even if it does take up more time."
"Oh…Then I hope he's in the house so you won't have to rest later."
"Umm…thanks? You're being very uncharacteristically thoughtful today, Alfred"
Alfred turned and looked out of the passenger side window of the car at the scenery that passed by.
"Well, you know. I just don't want you to get hurt or something. You're the only thing that's keeping the bad spirit away from hurting me."
After his little comment, the car fell into a silence, neither person wanting to talk, not because of what Alfred had said but more because of what he had brought up. The other spirit, the one that actually wanted to kill them both, weighed heavily on their minds and they both realized that as of now, they had no plan to somehow dispose of it.
The two finally pulled into the driveway of the pre Victorian house and in the process, they managed to break the uncomfortable silence. As the two exited the car, Alfred went to open the door, while Arthur closely followed him. The two walked in and as they passed the dining room, Arthur deviated from their little couple and placed a pad of paper and a pen onto the table. Alfred soon joined him, Kumajirou in hand (where he had found the bear, Arthur didn't know), and took his cousin's arm, instructing him as he did so.
"Come on. Let's go look for Matthew." Alfred suggested as he eyed the pen and notepad carefully.
The two cousins went through every nook and cranny of the house, calling the little boy's name and carrying around Kumajirou with them, hoping that the bear would attract the boy somehow. They were, however, sorely disappointed to find that the small soul was nowhere to be found. They soon found themselves back in the dining room, on the floor and a pad of paper between the two of them, making a small two man séance. Arthur had taken the liberty to take some candles he had found and set them up around them. He lit them and had dimmed most of the lights as well.
Alfred looked around the darkened, candle lit room. Nervously he asked, "Arthur, are you sure about this?"
"It will be fine Alfred. Don't worry too much. I have done this before and besides, Matthew isn't malevolent. He's just a sweet little boy, unable to pass into the afterlife. He has no reason to hurt you or me."
Arthur took Alfred's hand and grasped it tightly in his own. He looked at Alfred and maintained eye contact with him as he spoke.
"Alright, looks like we're ready to start this. Just keep your cool and don't say anything. Oh and if you see the pen start to move, don't freak out. You might scare Matthew, although, I think he likes you so maybe not. Just don't do anything rash and we'll all be fine."
The two men closed their eyes and Arthur started the séance while Alfred listened to his voice. He heard his cousin say a few words in a language that he had no understanding of as well as Matthew's name and before long, Arthur asked him to open his eyes. Alfred did so and he watched in amazement as the pen they had placed besides the paper was picked up.
Alfred observed as it danced across the paper as it spelled out a message for the both of them.
Hello Alfred, Arthur. I'm assuming that you want to talk to me?
Once the question was finished, the pen stood there, on its own, waiting for the question to be asked.
"Yes we have a few things we want to clarify with you Matthew." Arthur spoke so that Alfred wouldn't freak out or ask the wrong things. "You were murdered, correct? Because according to the papers and books we found at the library, they stated that you just disappeared one day. People believed that you had run away."
The pen then started to scribble on the paper.
I would have never run away from my mother! She was the only one I had! No one else loved me as much as she did. Why would I throw that away? I was murdered and by one of our permanent tenants too. He didn't really like me all too much. He thought I was a nuisance and that I tied my mother down.
"Really? How did you exactly tie her down, according to him at least?"
He thought that since I existed, she would always be reminded of my father, even though he had passed on. He, my murderer, believed that I was the one who caused her to reject him when he told her that he loved her. He blamed me for his rejection and because of that he tried to hurt me whenever he could.
"Didn't your mother realize that this person was hurting you?"
Sometimes, but only when he hit me on the face or other parts that showed like my arms. Normally, when he would hit me, it would be on the chest or back since no one could see it. He also only hit me when Mother wasn't there in the house.
"Can you tell Alfred and me who this person is?"
Yes, it's Ge-
All of a sudden the pen froze, mid word, and fell to the floor. Afraid for the little boy Arthur called out, looking at the paper that rested between him and Alfred.
"Matthew! Matthew are you still there?"
Suddenly, the pen shot up and scribbled heavily onto the paper.
THE BOY IS MINE!
"Arthur?" Alfred asked, fear evident in his tone.
"Not now Alfred, I'm trying to regain contact with Matthew." Arthur continued to look at the paper. What was this message? Where was Matthew?
"Arthur?" Alfred's voice was softer and feebler than the first time he had called out to him.
"What! What is it Alfred!"
He looked up from the paper only to see Alfred, floating a few good inches in the air, hands grabbing at the cold ones around his neck. He tried kicking at whatever was holding him up but was unable to connect with anything. All the while, General Winter stood there, eyes glaring at Arthur as the cold he emitted began to whip around the room, making his presence known.
"Can I freak out now?"
Yes, a cliffhanger, but don't worry, I'll probably have a new chapter up by Sunday. Oh, BTW, I have never been to a seance, seen once, etc so my description may be off. If it could be made better, (or anything as a matter of fact) please send me some advice via review or something that way I can make the story better! :D
Anyway please review!
