Return To Hill House
Disclaimers: I don't own the story or the characters, the plot line belongs to me, everything else belongs to Shirley Jackson and Jan De Bont.
Warnings: Reflecting on their Conversation at Dinner, he recalls things leading into when they became a sextet as they got to now each other. For the story it's mostly in his point of view. But this story is based off the 1999 version of the Haunting as in the storyline they created the movie and it's reflecting a 'life imitating art imitating life' scenario as the story starts heating up from here.
As they return to the house, but this time, not only Todd and Mary there for the entire thing, but Malcolm Keough, his family and the three quarters of the cast of the movie are along for the ride this time. As
Chapter 9: Pranks At the Table and Conversations
"Got it, but this next one should be interesting right now, but who is going to believe them that what happens this week has nothing to do with them. When we all heard what the fight was going to be and we show this to the cops right now, if I write a book about this trip?" I asked her and she nodded to that. "Yeah that's just my point, who's going to believe that they never wanted her dead to get the money now."
"Or try to kill the true heiress of the family, and said heiress's husband and the people connected to her, if they gave her a 20 year old car. Reason being is those bars on the fence are made of iron, it would take a bulldozer to break it down, so who's going to believe them. And when he gets arrested so often, for public intoxication charges and repeated DWI's?" she asked and I nodded in agreement sternly then gently at that.
"Yeah I agree with that, but if we're your new sextet, he just ticked us off at the moment, they both did." Todd said to her gently and I nodded to that. "Mom did that on purpose right now, that she put us together, but the bonds tend to reach the point you never want to let go now here now. But if the four of us are all stationed in Boston, and I'm also working at the hospital, get ready for what you heard over the phone."
"As that's a common occurrence in the lab, it happens all the time." she said and I started laughing at that. "Alright, we better tie this up, but get ready for the upcoming dinner conversation, I just came along to help him out, but like you, we got the same personality traits and as does Theo and Luke. So this should be interesting, come on, we better check the house out, for anything dangerous." Todd told her and she nodded as we ended it at that...
The Present-Eleanor's POV:
"You remember us asking about this after we got a taste of haunted houses, as we both went to them, to discuss this with them, before they left. And as they now saw us acting like a couple, though we were getting to know each other?" I asked and he nodded with a smile at that. "Yes, and I could see we had a connection this soon after meeting, but everything Malcolm told me was proving true now."
"But I never expected things to get this wired after just meeting that first night, but come on, things changed pretty fast after barely six hours. It's you were calling me by name then my title." he said and I nodded in agreement then to that. "The link between us snapped into place, but you hearing my thoughts meant the connection between us was correct." I told him and he nodded softly to the news then at that remark.
As I remembered our first conversation with Mrs. Dudley before she left and her husband with her, as we developed a bond with the caretakers that night, before we spoke the following morning, on what we learned so far...
Conversations And Trust-Eleanor's POV:
After seeing what I saw, Todd, Theo and I went into the kitchen, and I saw the duo in there. "I take it you heard that a bit ago?" I asked with a slight smile and they nodded. "I don't suppose you remember the last time you saw me up here do you?" I asked and they nodded. "The house belongs to my mother, but my name is Eleanor Vance, but you know me by another name." I told them and they nodded gently to me at that news.
"We're used to this, but that was unexpected honey, so Eleanor Vance, as in Christopher Robert Vance?" Mr. Dudley asked me and I nodded. "Yeah my dad is Robert Vance, but his friends all called him Rob." I said and he nodded to the news, smiling. "I'm starting to understand your warning, so let me guess that was to scare off the non believers of the type like the new kid in Hocus Pocus?" I asked and he nodded gently to me at that question
"Yeah that's why alright honey, but if this means you understand us this easily now, it means you're like us now, what's your mother's job if she was here when exactly?" Mrs. Dudley asked me and I sighed as I said it to her then. "She was parapsychologist with a severe degree in psychiatry, the last time was 11 years ago, I was in my junior year of college." I told them and they nodded in shock to the news at my remark then.
"Guys listen to me, the last time we saw each other was 15 years ago, before I left for college, mom said she was coming up here for some reason. During the week of Halloween, 1987." I said and they nodded slowly. "Was this when you were either 21 or 22?" Dudley asked me and I nodded. "Yeah, I was planning on joining mom's department, but after the accident, that forestalled my finishing college, though I still work the lab." I said to him and he nodded.
"My boss and Dave's boss is Dr. Malcolm Keough, getting on range, my father possessed the snooker table and mom with him right now in truth here. In possessing their own favorite color balls, I remember the last exchange we had together, before I stopped coming up here, and now with the show out. Our little friends are about to take the appearance of the kids playing the power rangers in the first 4.5 seasons." I said and they nodded as I saw her eyes soften.
"Add the 12 years to my appearance, I just hit 33." I told them and they nodded and did that and she pulled me into a hug and I tightened my arms around her. "How are you holding up baby?" he asked and I sighed. "There's a lot of questions I need answering here, but I came up to get out of Boston for a few weeks right now. But if this answers those question I'm moving on once I get the truth, as I possibly found my new soulmate."
"She never told you what caused the triple bypass?" she asked and I nodded. "After what I just saw, that I can handle, but who else is haunting this house right now?" I asked and she sighed. "This continues in the same direction and all haunted house and curse stories have a basis of fact baby, even horror movies. But before you go digging in to the history of the house, you need the piece prior to it now, as you adjust to this now."
"If you're really my adopted baby, and before you find out on your own and from the wrong person, you need to learn that history on the house." she said and I nodded to her gently. "And that's a big if, but things are starting to get unlocked, but I remember enough of moms lessons to see where the attack is coming from right now." I said and they both nodded to the news at my remark then gently at that.
Just as I was saying it, Dave walked in then with a bemused smile on his face as he and Luke also walked in then. "First night encounters took poltergeist intrusions a little too far right now, because I wasn't expecting 1869 preteens acting like our decade's preteens. In where action shows are concerned and turning it into a teenage controversy, but this is too much right now, so with that at the moment, Sir, Mam."
"So what curse films exactly?" Dave asked for me and she explained that. "If this was a family curse, it's like Briarville, Greenlake, Salem and Springwood, there was a curse. And on the town or family this connected to now, which is what this really is, and at the moment, that just got worse right now. But in this case what you saw a bit ago is just the beginning." Rick told him and he nodded sternly as I went over that.
"So that's the reason for why you lock the gates?" Todd asked for me and he nodded. "Yes it is son, in fact, it's like trying to prevent the idiots from doing it, and telling them just how to do it. And till their curiosity causes them to do it and they unleash the town legend on themselves and the unsuspecting townfolk. Or worse, the outsiders never take that legend seriously and it gets unloaded." he said and we all nodded to the news then.
"To answer the other question, yes it is why we left the doors locked at the moment, because it's like Krueger, his only way out now. It was by getting into his daughter's head so he can get to her patients and kill them now, which is why they put the town in quarantine right now. He may not have tried to attack anyone yet, but we're still worried and we decided to keep it locked." he said and we all nodded to him gently at that.
"In other words, we're the only thing standing between him and the kids in town, and I got to lock up the bastard for good?" I asked and he nodded to me. "Chapters 1, 3 and 4, is what this is, but your personas are like you figured, the heroines of the first, 3rd and 4th films, before she got pregnant." Mrs. Dudley told me and I nodded to her. "Great, it's going to be a long night." Mary said for me and I nodded to that remark then.
"Yeah and I want to hear what happens in the morning after we get back up here, before we find something broken or what wasn't there before." Mr. Dudley said to that and we all nodded to the request at that remark. "Sure thing, but no more evasiveness, and you can trust us, if you're my..., Elizabeth, you remember the last time you saw me, you and Rick, Jack?" I asked and they nodded slowly at the drop of formality then.
"You knew me by my nickname, and said was Ellie, the last time you saw me was before dad was killed in the explosion." I told them and they nodded. "Alright then we can do this together, if you ever need to talk, just come to me, if Becky and your mother are one and the same." she said and I nodded smiling. "Strong bond, and both my parents are gone, if you're my godparents it's fine." I said and she smiled gently at the remark then.
"Some of this of this was case of matchmaking, which is why my name was top of the list, he's my type." I told her and she chuckled at the remark then. "Alright wise guy, if you're the future husband of my daughter, take care of her, after we leave after we leave for the night this week." Rick said and Dave chuckled and nodded as we ended the conversation at that remark then...
Dinner Conversations-Marrow's POV:
After a gentle conversation between us and the Dudleys, I realized this was going to result in us growing close to the caretakers as we all developed a bond between us and as I looked at Eleanor with a smile. As we settled at the table as Todd looked at me as he and Luke brought the food to the table and we settled in. "I found out from the Dudleys that what we just saw was a common occurrence in this house David." Todd told me and I nodded.
"You get the feeling that's not the only ghost we got running loose around here though?" Eleanor asked him and he nodded to her. "Anybody pick up on our seating positions though, because we're in the exact alignment in Clue here?" Luke asked and looked sideways at her and Theo chuckled as Mary answered that smiling as Eleanor looked at her in amusement then as the guys and I chuckled at this.
"Well if that tells us anything it's about to turn into an interesting week, because we don't have a butler in this house." she said with a laugh. "Yeah, Plum was sitting between two of the girls and Scarlett was sitting between the colonel and Green, Mary. Though if this says anything, we're going to be looking at movie jokes and unexpected scares all night. Then again, with our personalities, I think that is saying something here.
"Especially if we keep it up like this tonight." she said to her laughing. "Less than three hours and you're already opening to us, and this is certainly helping now, but what is going on Nell, huh?. Alright what gives exactly?" Todd asked her smiling and she smiled. "Nice to be away from Boston for once, and at the moment, if you already know about Jane, than its enough you're really going to be pissed later, if Malcolm mentioned you."
"But at the moment, I'd rather enjoy the night and we can get know each other here. Because if this says anything, you, and the quartet, are my closest friends now, while we're here, but this is going to be nice." she said to him and he nodded to her. "Yeah you're right about that and to answer your question, I know about Webster alright. And a friend of mine said he's an asshole." he said to her gently and she nodded to him.
"I take it you checked into him huh?" she asked and the duo both nodded. "We did and frankly every person who comes into contact with him in the courtroom are ready to kill the bastard at the moment. Though if he's your brother in law, and he ever touched you at all like that, and I'll kill the guy myself." Todd said with a protective growl in his tone then and Luke between them and Mary and said it for the three of us gently.
"Who is this guy, if you chose to get away from Boston for a week, especially if I over heard that conversation anf you were ticked about something?" Luke asked and he answered that with a growl. "Louis Webster is a hot shot lawyer who's been milking people for all they're worth in the court room and a few of my friends at the lab. I work at the antiques artifacts office at the museum in Boston, have lost theirs to him."
"And because either their spouses or whoever they did business with, sued them." he said to him as she finished his sentence, and I knew she, Mary and Todd were growing close, if she told him this information first, before telling me, Theo and Luke. "The part you over heard was the piece that it was no matter what I said, they're selling the apartment as soon as the probate went through on the will, but I found the necklace."
"Before someone contacted me over the project." she said and Theo looked at her at that. "Was that what you meant by in between jobs right now, your job as a nurse just ended, but you're a prodigy on parapsychology. And decided to take up the position in volunteer work, before realizing the doctor was connected to your mother's boss?" she asked and Eleanor nodded to her smiling as I leaned forward to hear this information.
"Yeah it is, just ended two months a ago, just after she passed at the time here, but in between this stuff over the will I was working on my disrotation. I was considering getting a job in the field just to get enough to prevent those two from trying it. But whoever contacted me and the person that did sounded like you, Doctor. But finding the ad in the paper, I contacted Malcolm, before getting in touch with you and Mary there."
"After Mary phoned me back, she and I got together after I came into the office, and Todd was at work that day. After telling him what I knew, regarding him, he decided to have the cops and the court run a background check on him. What he just told you was part of it, but psyche evals, you're looking at a chronic drunk that can't hold his liquor. And trust me, once he gets drunk, it takes five to six guys to subdue him here."
"And is acting like the booze-hounds in the Outsiders, Lane's remark to her boyfriend is the exact case and he's been like this since high school." she said and I nodded to the news. "That maybe why Rebecca chose me now, I'm a medical psychiatrist and in addition to my own expertise, I, at times help, Rick. But if this is why, and he touches you again, and Malcolm and I are making good on his threat right now to him."
"He's a lawyer, but I'm a psychiatrist and the possible son in law to another, relative in law to the chief of police in another town and said chief is friends to the high judge. To my future wife's adopted relatives in this city. So Webster, you want to test me you're facing a losing battle if you ever touch her like that again." I said with a firm tone and Todd nodded in agreement as she said it for the three of us at that remark.
"Great, that's just great, well that explains Malcolm's remark, that he touches you again like that, he's going to kill him, before throwing him to Jared and Rick." Mary said for me and I nodded in agreement. "Yeah and as for Jane, she's not any better, but you remember Sarah Jessica Parker, in the First Wives Club?" she asked and he nodded. "That's her right there, but she's got a seriously high level of jealousy in her, Lou now."
"He's my sister's husband Luke, and at the moment I'm the latest victim and I'll tell you tomorrow, okay." she added to him and Theo said it for both of them. "Fair enough, though I swear, if he did any type of damage to you, and he's getting it by all of us later. If this results in an unbreakable friendship between us now." she said and we all nodded in agreement to that remark as she shifted subjects then.
"Why do I feel like that remark is enough he's winding up dead when I see the bastard?" Luke asked and she sighed. "Because you three are not going to take what I have to tell you well at all. As to that he's a gold digger, mom knew, like I did, he's only married Jane for mom's insurance money, but depending on how much is in it. Since we were on a very mild income, though if it's higher than mid middle class I bet it's enough he'd kill the sole heir just to get every dime for himself and Jane now."
"I may be the youngest, but my parents doted on me in the way the Evans treated Harry's mother in the book. So proud of their youngest, I'm everything Jane isn't actually. But depending on what my parents left us, I don't doubt I'm the heir getting everything and she's only getting 10% of whatever inheritance our parents left us. Though why choose me for this project, I don't know yet." she said to him and he nodded as he pulled the seat out for her and she sat down as he took the one next to her as he gave her shoulder a squeeze and she smiled at him.
"I'd hate to be the idiot if you're the sole heir in this case though, if this house belonged to your mother though, because everything, going by just the looks of this place and what we saw earlier is worth millions in dollars. Though whatever revenue the builder had has got to be worth more than millions or billions, but a few trillions and higher with it 130 years since the civil war." Theo said and she nodded in agreement. "Yeah well if the revenues are that high and this was a set up from the get go."
"So mom chose in advance who to give the entire inheritance to. And I'm it, though if I am and dad, if he was alive, would skewer Lou, than give his side of what familial inheritance there is, because my maternal side is descended from Frederick Craine. Though I don't know who the descension is starting from here, though if this was their house I probably ended up at the family home." she said and we nodded to that.
While sitting down where I was I saw that Eleanor was between Todd and Luke and across from me. "Hey where did you get that necklace from exactly, if they recognize it?" Mary asked and she smiled. " Mom left it to me actually, I'm not sure what the initial stands for, but I knew my grandmother had this necklace, it's a family heirloom, though I'm not sure how many generations though exactly." she said and we nodded to that.
"Well whoever this March family is, I bet that's why they responded to you like that." Todd said and she hid a chuckle. "Hey did anyone check the painting upstairs when they were exploring a bit ago?" Luke asked and we shook our heads. "No why exactly?" Theo asked and he looked at her. "Whoever owned this house, there's a painting of a woman in the corridor offf the east wing staircase and her pendant looks like that one.
"So if she's the wife, or second wife of the owner of this house, I bet the descension started with her and worked its way down to your mother, if she gave that to you Nell." he said and she nodded. "My grandfather's records never mentioned who was the previous owner of that necklace was, when he passed it to my great grandmother, but the descension is starting from Frederick, but the March, that's easy to figure out, as to why and why the kids decided on greeting me specifically like that."
"That's my mother's maiden name actually, my parents are Rebecca Sarah March and Robert Christopher Vance. Though if the file she left for me says anything, I think she tacked on the Craine to her name as well. So Rebecca March-Craine Vance, I get married, and it's Vance-Craine and my married name with it." She explained and he nodded to her as I hid a smile at the remark, knowing if this kept up now in that.
And she was either going to be my girlfriend or fiance, and my last name became her married name after that after the things ended. "Wherever the family was from exactly, that I don't know, but for whatever reason they recognize my necklace, I think it has to do with my mother's previous visit up here while I was in college." she said and we nodded as we went over their backgrounds and I hid a smile at her relaxed demeanor.
"Anyone catch the memo that now that we've met face to face, you're coming out of that shell finally, since Rebecca passed?" Mary asked and she smiled. "It's because that like the quartet you saw me in conversation with, this is what I was like as a teenager. But you guys are so much like them it's definitely helping now." she said and Luke looked at her smiling as he answered her as he exchanged looks with me and the quartet.
"Well then who do I remind you of, if your best friends as a kid were two each of both of us?" he asked and she smiled at him. "You're Tony and Todd is Peter, Carol was Mary and Janet was like Theo, all in all that's why I connected to you so quickly. But it's like I'm a kid again and the way things are now, this keeps up and you know the side effects, once the week ends, Luke." she said and he smiled as he answered her then gently at that.
"Yeah don't worry, I'm heading for Boston, my first job sent me there at the moment, so best friend and possibly adoptive brother, though he touches you. And he's a dead man, what about you guys?" he asked and the duo and I smiled. "We also live in Boston, and Mary and I are working at the hospital that Malcolm is running." I said as she continued going over it and seeing the difference of being with them I knew it was working now.
"We ever do a movie created from this trip, the next conversation is going to have it getting a bit out of hand next. But at least this isn't a take on Poltergeist, since Craine never set up power plugs, though we have power in the house." Todd said and she chuckled and nodded to that. "Yeah that's an understatement, but at the rate this is going we got our first taste to poltergeist intrusions here, though what's next."
"That I don't know, but it follows the pattern on the movie and whoever the adult ghost is haunting the place, I think he's acting like whoever punched a hole through the realm. And grabbed the girl at the moment." she said and he nodded to that. "Yep, well stay close if this lunatic targets you while we're here, with the fact we now know. In why the entire group is fascinated with you right now." he told her and she nodded to him softly.
"So who else was having trouble sleeping exactly, because staying up until 3 in the morning is going a little too far. When we all have to get to work and we're looking like the kids in the nightmare series from sleep deprivation?" she asked and I chuckled at the comparison. "I wouldn't call what's going on inside this house a case of A Nightmare on Elm Street movie metaphors right now, then again, with what we've seen so far."
"Nice word for it, but this isn't a dream stalker we're dealing with, but trying to slow our minds down, and so we can get some rest here, is next to impossible." Theo said as she started laughing. "This house reminds more of the House On Haunted Hill actually, but seriously who in this house is suffering from that. Somebody want to get that started, because one all nighter is fine, two is pushing it, and however many we each had."
"That is going a little to far here, but this isn't the clinic on the movie at the moment, so who wants to go first." Luke said and she started laughing at that. "I don't think you should have dragged that up Nell, because your thesis took on a who new meaning now." Todd said and she started laughing as she nodded as they went over it then. As we all relaxed, as we had things spread out across our side the table, as we settled at that.
Halfway through the conversation, it went from family and hobbies and switched to their reasons for sleep deprivation as Theo did hers as she was bringing a bottle of wine to the table. "You know the rest of you may hate your insomnia, but I'm not sure I want a cure for mine, that's where I get all my best from, is waiting to fall asleep. I'm lone, occasionally, with no distraction, my minds racing with creative ideas and come three a.m. I feel like a genius." She said and Luke answered that with an amused look.
"Are you kidding me, by three a.m. I feel like I'm losing my mind watching those infomercials on psychics or listening to Tony Robbins and the psychic hotline, you ever seen that on late night tv?" he asked and I nodded as she poured me a glass of wine. "Oh yes, thank you." I told her and he continued. "I swear you get a steady diet of that crap and soon you're planning on becoming a character on survivor or moving to Montana and becoming a survivalist." he said and we started laughing as she answered him. "That's why God created barbiturates honey?" she said with a smile to him.
"Nebutal?" he asked and she shook her head and he started teasing her. "You know Todd I think we got a classic Seconal woman on our hands, in fact I think see a bit of Jackie Suzanne in Theo." he said and the look she gave him was a bemused look. "Ouch." I heard him utter and I decided to end that as I was holding in my laughter. "Alright you two, enough about pharmaceuticals. Okay so what do we need in life, what are the basics, food, water, shelter." I said and she answered that in a joking manner.
"Sex." she said and he smiled as Eleanor hid hers as I went further. "And sleep, sleep, I've been working on a five year study, with the help of Mary here, making profiles of bad sleepers. I'm looking for a good psychological link. I hope the work we do here will be able to help other people like yourselves." I said and she smiled. "God knows I'm all up for helping people saving the planet, but doesn't everyone have a probably sleeping these days, life's to frantic." she said and Mary looked at Eleanor then.
"What about you Nell?" she asked and she sighed. "Well it seems like your lives are complicated and exciting and you think about it when you go to sleep, but I don't know, nothing's really happened to me, so I don't have a reason to sleep badly." she said and I thought over what I read so far about her. "But in your application you said you had trouble sleeping." I said and she sighed and I knew she was about to let go whatever information I needed to know to help her now.
"Well yes, but it's not like them, it's just..., there was always someone calling me, someone always banging, ever since I was younger I took care of my mother, she'd wake up in the middle of the night, and bang with her cane on the wall. It, it was like this relentless banging all through the night. It's weird, but though she's gone somehow I can still hear it when I wake up." she said and I thought that over. 'Two months and she still hears that, whatever information I need to deal with this I'm working it out.'
'Seeing her like this it's obvious she needs to be around other people and if this works it's going to help her heal.' I thought and I knew Mary thought the same then. "Well that's why we're here Eleanor to try and help you." I said and Luke, who was standing behind me, smiled. "Yeah Nell I think what Dr. Marrow is trying to say is, you're a basket case like the rest of us." he said and we chuckled as I got ready for step two then as she looked at me and Mary then to explain a few things then.
"Though what she told you, before you chose me, is dual layered, and this reason happens to be one of them. And mom and I were really close and up until eleven years ago she was completely healthy at the time. Those two have no clue what it's like to watch your favorite parent go through something like this, it's like watching someone suffering cancer, stage four. And they're dying and knowing the treatments are just going to slow it down and there's nothing you can do to stop it, so just make the best of what time you have left." She said and sighed as she vented a bit of it to us then.
"As if that's not enough, my father died four years before and while I had three years left of high school, Jane was in college and partying for weeks on end out at the clubs by her college and flunked five classes in the first semester every year. But I grew up a bookworm, not a party girl, my chosen expertise was meant to help others. And protect them from a poltergeist or or a psychotic outburst, let alone drugged. or drunken here, here, as to that I was training to be a medical psychiatrist at the time."
"While I was acting on a normal high schooler, mom left me her textbooks and was training me to take her place when she retired at the time, though she was head of the parapsychology team at the psychiatric hospital. My father was a fire fighter and I was going to grow up to be a civil servant, but something cut that short at the time and I'm not entirely sure what it was, so coming was enough I could put my knowledge to use."
"But this me showing now is what I was like in college and high school at the time, so whatever mom told you, if her imprint is hanging around now, is the truth, my classes were parapsychology and psychiatry." she said and I nodded as I hid a smile, knowing we were beginning to make progress if she told me that. "So I guess, if you just told us that, that means we're both sides of your personality traits huh?" Luke asked her and she nodded smiling as she answered him.
"Yeah, though for whatever reason there is, it's feels like I already know you and Theo in a way, if I'm acting like this around you guys. Though if that's true mom did that on purpose and your parents were friends of hers, we just can't remember that, because we're a couple years apart in age and we can go into trio dynamics at a later time." She said and he nodded as she looked at him and he gave her a smile and she smiled back at him as Theo looked at her smiling and I hid mine, already seeing the bond between them growing and knowing that this was going to be worth the added side project.
Looking into her eyes I could also see a glow start to light up and I knew that just being around us it was starting to help. 'I wonder, no not yet, it couldn't be, its too soon right now. But he's so cute.' I heard and I knew that thought was focused on me if she was thinking that and looked at her gently. 'Whoa, that shouldn't have happened, Doctor can you hear me?' she asked and I hid a nod as I looked at her.
'Yes, I can, well whatever bond we have it's going to get stronger this week, don't worry, we can just keep it like this.' I thought back to her and she gave me a smile and I smiled back at her. 'Baby that's the first portion of it honey, once in range of the right one they activate automatically, you just found him, he's the right one.' I heard and I hid a smile at that, knowing I was her mother's chosen therapy for her as was the quartet as he answered her vocal remark as I though to my mother in law then.
'Rebecca is that you, because I just spoke to Robert after I arrived?' I thought and heard a gentle tone as she answered me. 'Yes David it's me, don't worry, I've got her notes and study guide regarding the house ready, but part if this job is a room by room search for information and the suitcase is hidden in the rec room, ready for use, so we're all set now honey.' she said and I nodded in relief at that.
After hearing her explanation of her insomnia and her remark regarding her mother, I figured this was why she wanted in on it as Luke looked at her with a smile, and I knew he was about to start getting playful then. "I know you needed that, so what's next emotional venting?" he asked and she looked at him. "Are you asking to get smacked Luke?" she asked him and he chuckled as he answered her smiling at the question.
"Not really, but a good tension breaker helps." he said and we chuckled. "Uh oh, alright I see where this is going if you guys start acting Arquette and Sagoes in the movie. Although if that's the chosen therapy with us together, I see your patients, David, are about to acting like a bunch of over grown teenagers here this week as well as tonight. Though with what Robert said we don't need it turning into a circus this week."
"So with that fact in mind you guys, watch where you aim that pillow or we're getting caught in the crossfire, and I get hit and you're really going to it." Todd said with an amused smile at that. Hearing that remark I couldn't hold it in and started laughing at the remark as Theo answered that with an amused smile as she looked between her trio smiling then, as she added on to that remark with an amused look on her face.
"Alright, before you start going at it, ease up you two, because we're not doing this at the table and second if I'm the third member of your trio and Todd our quartet, if this is meant to change things. Though if from what he said is true, you start going at it and we're going to wind up in the middle, so I think tonight, let's just head it off here. Although I'm starting to think if this was that movie whatever this is just activated."
"With a week together I think we can get used to being around each other's personalities, but don't start acting like a couple teenagers when that happens okay." Theo said to them with a smile and I hid mine. Being around the duo was doing a lot of good and I knew the duo could see that now. 'Well that helps, she's around others with a different personality than hers and it's helping her to open up now.'
'We're already connecting now and with the way things are going I don't doubt we're going to be really close friends now if this keeps up.' I saw Todd thinking at the amused look on his face then as he patted her shoulder gently and she smiled at him. Just as he got ready to answer her I heard another slight crash, before hearing a loud splash and we exchanged looks as we heard several explosions of water in there.
"Great, first a hockey game and now a water fight, if this was that, the third film, and..." Mary started to say and Eleanor nodded. "The seven just got reunited with each other, their possible adoptive big sister just got reunited with them. And now the first session the latest arrival just had, results in a case of anger management at the moment. Said management, first a pillow fight and now this." she said as we heard the noise then.
"Well the wiseacre fooling around with the billiard balls just got into a water fight in there." Todd said and she nodded in agreement. "With a bunch of twelve year olds in this house it's either pillow fights or water fights, and they've been pent up too long. So I bet with me arriving now, they get the chance to let loose, if that explains what's going on in there." she said and we nodded to that as she called out to our invisible charges then.
"Alright whoever started that, I'm ending it guys, now cool it already." She called out and we chuckled as she looked at us. "Kids, sooner or later the wiseacres screwing around with the pool table are going to come in here and start a bickering match. And in over who caused that water fight in the kitchen, if this is what being in a house full of preteens is like at the moment." I said to her remark and she chuckled as she answered me.
"Yeah well don't give them any ideas here, otherwise they are going to do that, and with that. Though at the moment I don't think it's just that one group of preteen ghosts let alone my relatives, the place has to have several running loose in it, or someone else." she said and he nodded, before he could answer the salt shaker jumped off the table in answer to that and tried to get out of the room as I looked at it walking away.
"Again cool it wise guy, get back up on the table or you're getting sent to your room." Luke said and it put itself back the table at his stern tone and she exchanged amused looks at this with him as she answered him. "This keeps up I think he's trying to test your patience with practical jokes in the punchline guys." she said as she tried to keep from laughing at this as I answered that with a slight smile on my face.
"Yes well the practical jokes certainly seem to be lightening up the mood at the moment here. Though you guys start trying to scare us and you're in a time out, you rascals." I said, before Theo answered that with a smile. "Yeah so what's next exactly: the salt and pepper shakers getting into a fight next, because this is getting ridiculous here after what happened in the foyer?" Theo asked and she smiled as she answered her at that.
Before she could though I heard a slight crack of marble on marble, followed by a thunk and looked over my shoulder to see the kids knocking each other into the wall and into the cabinet by her chair as the quartet exchanged amused looks. "I don't believe this, I think they got the message, but I think your remark hit the table." Luke said to me smiling while Todd said what I thinking with a chuckle as he looked at the seven smiling.
"And you had to ask Theo, again with the asking for attention to be used now, and evidently they never get to be after dark here either up until now, and they're looking for some attention and want to be played with. Just as regular billiard balls, though if we're they're designated guardians, I think we got chosen to act as their guardians for the week." Todd said with an amused look and I looked at the 32 balls with a stern look.
"Do I need to repeat myself you guys, we'll play with you later get back on that table right now, tonight is just meet and greet, tomorrow you get some attention. Now no more of this and you keep this up, and we're not using you at all this week, get back in there." I said and they left the room slowly, like they were sad to leave us and the red one rolled up to her and bumped her leg to ask a question to her.
Before she could say it Andy and Eddie started bumping each other back and forth and I knew they were arguing, as I watched them fight, I didn't have to hear their voices to know my remark came to the fore as she said it for me as she looked at the duo gently. "I don't care who started that water fight, I'm ending it, I hear any more crashes come out of that kitchen or another fight that results in you getting thrown across the room."
"And you two, guys, are both grounded for a week and we're not using you at all this week." She said and the sixteen turned their numbers up to her as she finished her remark sternly as she looked at Andy and his gang then firmly. "Now I want that kitchen cleaned up by the time the Dudleys get back." she said and the trio jumped as the duo left the room as Robbie bumped her in the foot to ask a question.
"Sarah where in the series are you exactly, if you had a secondary version of yourself and a purple ball added to the group?" she asked and she tapped that to her. "When your character met her replacement and your character lost her powers and gave them to her friend. Alright let me take a guess, Rosie is playing your character's replacement and the purple ball was meant to signify her new color?" she asked and she jumped once to that.
"How many portions of the series are you in exactly, because I counted ten of you?" she asked and she, Rose and a yellow stripe moved next to each other and she smiled. "Yeah okay I get it, it's the week that your character wrote that letter, and came to see Andy's, before it arrived and you and your friends, your quintet. They are either choosing both sides or taking sides in this scenario, and that's why Andy and Eddie were going at it."
"Andy was telling him it's private and what goes on between you two is between you, Annie and Robbie, and you alone?" she said and the trio, Robbie, and a yellow standing next to the stripe all jumped at that. "Robbie, is this like four months before your look alike came back in the alternate reality version to that break up letter. If you got gold dots all over you?" she asked and he jumped once to answer her and we nodded gently.
"I get you're ticked that he hurt her, but you do what Andy did and you're in big trouble, clear." I said and jumped once and then tapped out a sentence to us at that. "Sorry kiddo, you heard him, go back into your playroom, we'll play with you tomorrow." Eleanor said in answer to the silent question as he bumped her foot a second time to ask for something and her tone turned firm, as she looked betwern the 12 at that question.
"Who else took both sides in this situation between you and Andy and your characters exactly?" she asked and Billy rolled in and with him was another red and a black. "So that makes eleven, so seven chose both sides while Jenny and Eddie chose sides. In this situation and Andy is telling him it's not his business and to but out, it's private. Alright I'm just repeating the advice of our generation if you were kids living in our timeline."
"Long distance relationships never work in order and to prevent that relationship from falling apart, best to take a step back and rebuild the bond. Till you're back together and pretend you are, if you got a vulture looking for a freebie. If that's the reason you threw Daniel into the fountain and he knocked him across the room. So you just want us to act like your parents if you were still alive?" she asked and the nine all jumped together.
"Alright we will then and with that, if this results in someone getting blown across the room I'm learning what it is he said and they're in big trouble. But we're dealing with it in the morning, though I hear another crash come out of that kitchen. Especially if the boys get into a fist fight and you're grounded and we're not playing with you when you're like this." I said to her and she jumped as Eleanor finished her sentence then gently.
"No not tonight, tonight is just meet and greet between us adults, then tomorrow you guys get attention, now again no more of this. At the moment the quintet and I are in the middle of getting to know each other and we need a chance to do it alone. Now go on, go join your playmates." she said gently and they rolled out of the room and she looked at me in amusement at this as she gave her thoughts on this.
"What was that about if Andy was knocking Eddie back like that, I could hear the furious tone in the taps?" Luke asked and she explained to us with a look of bemusement on her face. "They're doing an alternate reality version of that Dear John letter episode, and the stripe was the secondary replacement. But regarding this that explains the explosions and crashes in the kitchen." She told us bemused and I nodded as I hid a smile.
"I guess that answers your question here Theo, though at the moment I don't doubt that's going to keep up tonight, or the rest of the week. Though I'm not entirely sure yet, but what I can say is that with playful stunts like this are. We got a bunch of kids hanging around us at the moment and it's kids that are from eight to early teens. So preteen to teenage years here, as to that, that's why they're getting aggressive with each other."
"But in their timeline, instead of acting like twelve year olds they acted like they were thirteen to fifteen at least. And no less, so there's going to be disappearing acts with the food and staples, possessing the equipment that, as adults, we like to play with, like the pool table. In addition to water fights, and now a fork getting launched across the table, if they try that next, though they do try that and it's the stern parent act next."
"Then again for us we're like our parents and Dad would see this as a reason to be acting like the man that played Jason's father on that episode, mom was like Kim's mother. But two alphas and Omega and at the moment, the secondary alpha is so pissed. He's likely going green ranger and throwing his original secondary beta across the room here now." Eleanor said, and she nodded to her as Luke answered her with an amused look.
"Yeah well if it's pranks at the dinner table, than what's next exactly?" Luke asked, and before she could say it, I saw the basket of rolls shift position as it started edging it's way off the table. "It's our food trying to escape, before it gets eaten. Alright wise guy, put that back, we're not done yet." Todd said in answer to that and it stopped and edged itself back into position as Theo hid a laugh at this as she looked at Eleanor.
"You get the feeling this is going to keep up all week here though?" she asked Eleanor nodded to her. "For gods sakes this is getting ridiculous at the moment." Todd said and I nodded in agreement to that as the shakers started knocking each other. And back and forth, watching them as the jolts had them moving closer to the edge of the table. "Anyone want to bet that this keeps up and we're acting like parents for real here."
"As these guys are acting no older then high school students?" Mary asked and she nodded. "No bets, we're no doubt going to have to and guys, guys, you do that you're going to knock each other right off the table. And make a mess, so stop the wrestling, you're not human at the moment." she said and they settled at that, before the basket of rolls tried to edge it's way off the table a second time as I tried to keep from laughing.
As I reached out and grabbed it this time as I tried to hold back a chuckle as I put it in the center of the table. "Aw, nice try pal, you're not going anywhere right now, we're not done eating yet." I told it and she hid a chuckle as I looked at her gently. "Great our foods trying to escape right now, while the added staples are trying to start a fight, we got the billiard balls getting into a bickering match and a ball version of a fist fight."
"In the foyer and again after we heard that explosion after one of them started a water fight, Alright that's five, so what's next exactly, because is getting ridiculous right now?" Todd asked her and she went into it. Just as she was about to answer, a fork got launched across the table in answer to that, before it started flying back and forth, like a kid was playing with a toy rocket launcher and I leaned back slightly.
"Better stay clear of the table, so nobody takes a hit by accident, because there's been several eye related incidents on it." I said and she nodded in agreement. "Yeah stay out of range, I've have to deal with several injuries involving silverware after mom sliced her hand at one point." she told me and I nodded to that as Luke said it for me then. "I remember doing this when I was their age, and a friend nearly poked his eye out."
"Yeah, I'd say these kids are not much older than fifteen Nell, alright listen you little wiseacres you better take a break. Or you're getting detention in the morning, because silverware is dangerous if you try that, now cool it." Luke added sternly. "These sudden jolts in intrusions are getting a bit too playful at the moment, this is getting ridiculous here." Todd added, before the salt shaker tried to sneak it's way off the table at that.
"Hold it right there pal get back to the center of the table right now." Luke said and it froze and slowly put itself back into place and we chuckled. "We were like this at this age, but as we grew up we changed, but they're trying to test us as their new guardians at the moment." Eleanor said and we nodded in agreement. "Yeah and like any other preteen or teenager they have to have limits, and they're testing ours right now."
"And at the moment, I feel like we're the parents of a bunch ten years who are trying to test our limits with sneaking food into places they shouldn't or they're getting sassy and now trying to push our limits after the fight in the foyer. Though now I'm feeling like we wound up in a high school cafeteria with a bunch of freshman fooling around with the plastic silverware and the added staples at the table during a lunch break."
"Though it's a good way to lighten up the mood right now after what you just told us Nell." Mary said to her and Luke nodded in agreement to that as she looked at him. "Well someone's trying to escape being used right now." Theo said with an amused look and I looked down to see the pepper trying to sneak it's way off the table and Luke sighed in aggravation as he said it, as I hid a chuckle at the bemused look on his face.
"Hold it right there pal get back to the center of the table right now." Luke said and it froze and slowly put itself back into place as Mary started laughing at that I hid mine as she said what we were both thinking then at what was going on. "This is going too far right now, but our adopted cubs are trying to test us too much tonight right now." she said and Mary nodded with a bemused smile as she answered that.
"Alright now I really am feeling like we wound up in a high school cafeteria with a bunch of freshman fooling around with the plastic silverware and the added staples at the table during a lunch break. Though if these keeps up, someone is going to make off with dessert next." Mary said to her with a chuckle and Luke nodded in agreement to that as she looked at him as she decided to get into new conversation.
"I think they started something, mom knows I love kids and these kids are trying to get my attention at every turn right now. Though I think that's why mom gave me that necklace, I'm their surrogate mother and you guys the adoptive aunts and uncles." Eleanor said and we chuckled. "Maybe, but this is getting out of hand right now at the moment, but kids, that's enough of this right now." Luke called out at that remark.
"So you said you're getting ready to work as an architect?" Eleanor asked Luke and he smiled as he answered her. "Yeah I took this as a side plan, but my first post is two months down the line from now and I'm going to be working on the skyscraper out in Boston. Though I took studies on sleep deprivation I never did it in a haunted house before." He said and she nodded as she answered him smiling at that remark.
"Looks like you're getting a first class training session into the life of a parapsychologist though. Though what I will say is, if we got the usual case of nuts in this, like the remark that case worker said on Beetlejuice. Haunted houses, and I mean true haunted houses, are not easy to come by. But poltergeist intrusions are sporadic at times, but it's seems like it's clear and normal ghosts here."she said and as we heard a thunk in response.
"But then it shifts to true attacks and I'm talking along the lines of the poltergeist intrusion on the movie. As such never let your guard down, because you're going to on get a nasty shock if you do. But just because going on rational ways to explain this, but..., okay say everyone's upstairs and we heard a loud crash. And we all know none of us did it, because we were together that entire time. But that's what I mean, none of us caused whatever to break or get knocked over, as to how or why."
"It's because we were always together, and none of us were separated, so rational question. If we were always together how did that get knocked over or destroyed when we never left each other's sides for more, or barely more, then five minutes?" she said and he nodded to that. "That's case studies of that Fred Savage movie or just a case of ghost pulling pranks on you right now, but at the moment it's playful."
"And soon enough the childish pranks turn to practical jokes and ones that cause damage or hurt feelings and it resulting in pointing fingers at each other. So were you expecting to wind up in a ghost story this time around, because this house has all the makings of the haunted mansion at Disneyland here." he asked and they started laughing as Theo answered that with a smile. "Like that?" Todd asked and I turned at that question.
"Well there's the evidence to what you mean by that remark, since we met, and aside from unpacking, David never left your side at all." he addeded and I nodded in agreement. "Testing the paranormal in the group as time goes on and it turns to alienation of the other subjects in the team. So with that, look at my personality, would I do a thing like this just to get attention?" Eleanor asked and he and Mary nodded gently.
"At least there aren't any rugs in the house, you remember that book, first the carpet, then the walls and finally the painting after he scared the daylights out of the kid. Her and her friends at the girls birthday and he started insulting her parents, prior to that." Mary said in response. "Yeah and that is just what I'm talking about, we been together since we all unpacked, so would any of us do it?" she asked and we nodded to the point.
"Nope and it just made it clear, I was with you all afternoon, and never left your side leading into dinner, and we left the door between our bedrooms open as well." Theo said and I nodded to her remark. "Before this even started we decided on the buddy system, since we met the kids after our arrival ar the moment. But just where the heck did he come from and they were created 100 years ago." she said and I got a better look then.
"A 100 years ago and the creator in the legend died in 1901, so best guess is that your mom bought these guys to pull a steady case in charades. In leading you in the right direction, didn't they say that the house never had visitors since this Mr. Craine died?" Mary asked and she nodded. "Little white lie, mom brought me up here at least 80 times for 18 years and my bedroom was the nursery and then the room she gave me earlier."
"That was my bedroom, how I know is I found this on the make up table." she said and passed me a picture and I saw her as a teenager and with the Dudleys. And they were looking 15 years younger then they were when I met them. "So the bedroom I have?" Theo asked and I nodded. "That was Dana's bedroom, mom had us next to each other with the bathroom between us, so they decided to do that again, only with you."
"But you remind Beth of Dana, so just wait for the confirmation when they get in tomorrow." she said and we nodded to the news. "I studied a degree in artifacts in history, your mother worked at the museum Todd, this was part of my training. That character was created back in the early 20th century, during 1910, but marionettes. They were created back in the 1900's." she said and we nodded to the history lesson then.
"So that character, our creator of the house, he died 100 years ago?" Theo asked and she nodded to her. "The bloodline transcended through five generations: Caroline, Fred, Suzanne, Bill, mom and me. I get married and my children are next to inherit the house Fred was born was in 1886, as was Alicia, Andy though. I'm guessing was born in in 1893, so the dating was exact, our creator of the house died 80 years ago now."
"So that sums it up, he died in the 20th century after whatever tragedy happened here at the house, that was the 'sounds of children' remark. And why no one comes closer then the tree line in view of the house, but now the question is why. We know the house is haunted by a bunch of kids, so what is the secret in the walls of this house. Why choose for her to come to you David and most of all, why now was the time for them to get me."
"Get me involved, as that character was a clue to me, as was the billiard ball table, a game charades in getting us to crack why. Andy was born in 1893, as were his friends, but Jake's young brother a year later, so 100 years to the day. What show came out that they decided to use that as a way to communicate with us?" she asked and I nodded. "They chose the age group that just turned fourteen as a way to commnicate with us."
"Okay so if that's the case, then why bring this character into the room and right after we ordered them to bed?" Todd asked, as his gaze shifted sideways and Luke nodded gently. "And that one looks the blasted dummy in the show, before her father replaced him with Slappy, season one, Night Of The Living Dummy II. This house is creepy enough as it, don't over do it." Luke said and we all turned to see a dummy on the china hutch then.
"Whoa, alright where the heck did he come from?" Mary asked and she nodded. "Well there's my proof to my explanation, we know none if us did that." she said and I nodded in agreement to her thoughts. "If it is turning into that we stick together and don't get separated and whoever brought the King books. I hope you didn't bring 'The Shining' with you, or this could be considered both that and 'It'." she said and Eleanor chuckled.
"I'd say this is along the lines of Dracula or the House on Haunted Hill actually, the scenario may be tranquil. But there's got to be several surprises hiding in the walls here, so we better keep an eye on that." she said and the duo nodded in agreement to her opinion then as Todd answered her at that remark with a bemused smile. "If I hadn't read up on his books or anything else along the lines of cult classics now."
"I'd be worried right now, but this house gives me the creeps." he said and she smiled at him. "Eerie settings usually makes a good way to write a story actually, Authors like King or R. L. Stine try to scare their readers by driving up the suspense. Till the surprise twist really scares the daylights out of the reader. Robert Stevenson did the same for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, if this house is along that era, I'd say we wound up in a horror story."
"And ghost story rolled into one." she said and he nodded in agreement. "The books are one thing, but if we got a possessed ventriloquist dummy or a walking spider like maniac dressed in a clown suit running around this house, get ready it's going to be a very long night." Theo said and she chuckled at that. "Alright guys I think we better drop the scary stories for now." Luke said and they nodded and switched subjects, to that remark.
But before she could answer I heard a secondary crash in the kitchen. "We're in here and no one's in the kitchen, hey wise guy if you're trying to scare us it's not working." Luke called out and she smiled at him as she answered him, smiling. "Anyone suspect poltergeists here, because that's the second crash. That we've heard all day aside from possessed billiard balls getting into a street hockey and croquet game in the hall."
"And a fork getting launched across the table, water fights, and the salt and pepper shaker trying to get off the table. And before we catch them in the foyer and the Dudleys already left for the night, so it's just us now. And our invisible friends are a bunch of kids needing an adult looking after them from whoever the malevolent spirit in the house is." Eleanor asked and they nodded in agreement to that as Todd answered her at that.
"Why do I feel like whoever's doing that is going to keep that up for the rest of the week?" Todd asked and I answered that. "I think the wise guy is trying to test our limits with everything needed here, but we don't need any more shocks than necessary this week." I said and he nodded in agreement to that. "Well if it's just a bunch of kids, they're trying to keep us entertained, though an adult poltergeist is going to drive it up."
"And in the scare tactics and start throwing things across the room next here, though if he was like Fred Krueger, he jacked into the cable network. And started reading a ton of King novels and started watching horror movies, the ones with a dead homicidal maniac. Took notes and decided if one of us is the target to scare us out of the house for whatever reason, though that's true and if the gentle intrusions don't work."
"Get ready for the next step in poltergeist intrusions such as the ones that were part of that book trilogy, or just get ready to dodge what gets chucked across the room." Eleanor said, though just as she finished saying that a roll got launched at my head and I quickly dodged it, as it hit the tea set behind me at the hutch then. "Well there you go, that gives a perfect punchline to your theory here Nell, so with that get ready.
"And with that fact in mind watch it, or you're going to get hit by accident." Mary said and she nodded in agreement to that. "If it was an adult poltergeist, you're looking at the haunting that scared everyone in the movie, 'Poltergeist' out of their wits at the time. Although determining some monster punched a hole into our realm is going to be more difficult here Mary, and I'm slightly rusty in knowing that as well, my training."
"Because my training got cut short when my mother had the heart attack at the time. But to answer your remark, if we have to do this again, best to have a true medic in the house, and a small triage team as well, as to why here. If this poltergeist gets lethal and then turns homicidal, I only know basic first aid and it would take a true medical expert, or in your case Doctor, a psychiatrist, just to keep the person from having a coronary."
"I'm lucky I took first aid training back in college though at the moment, by that I mean both versions of first aid, normal injuries. But injuries needing a few stitches and the life threatening ones, because mom's condition resulted in needing to do several. Several areas that resulted in injuries or a trip to the E.R. at the time here. Which I managed to stabilize, before that trip to the hospital, but if anyone gets hurt I can cover it."
"But I just took basic first aid, in the case of triage, I'm not a paramedic." she said and we both nodded to that information as I answered her then. "Us too, but none of us took the real stuff in the areas of survival 101: but the Berkshires are freezing. At this time of year, but you know the most on this, but we ever make a secondary trip up here. We're bring an M.D. with us to do medical areas." Mary said and I nodded in agreement then.
"Well if I do choose to do this again and we're all here, I'm getting a small medical team set up, though if this is your house. And you got the entire inheritance than we can afford to do the entire thing and pay damages, right now, but for now it's taking it easy for a while." I said to her and she nodded as she changed the subject at that. "So what kind of art do you get into Theo?" Eleanor asked and she chuckled as she answered her then.