CHAPTER 2
UNWELCOME VISITS
«How long until we arrive darling?» asked a woman, who was taking a critical look at her reflection in a mirror.
«Just a few minutes Susanne, honey» answered the man sitting next to her, in a exhausted tone. He was concentrating on the wet road, through the back and forth motion of the windshield wipers.
«Thank goodness. The trip has been terrible, just terrible! With all this rain...» she complained. She kept silent for the time it took her to put on her lipstick, which was shocking bright pink, and then she started again with her shrill voice.
«Why must my beloved sister live in this out-of-the-way place? I always told her to move into the city. It would have been more confortable for both of us but, she was always so obstinate...» She interrupted herself again by putting blush on her cheeks but, even the heavy make-up she was wearing was unable to hide that she was well on in years.
«You already told that honey» the husband one said, lifting his eyes to the sky. His wife ignored him.
«I hope the girl will not be like her, or I wouldn't know how to continure. You think she we'll be happy to see us Bill?» she asked worriedly.
«Of course she will. Who can miss the company of a delicious woman like you?» he answered. He was very sarcastic, but Susanne didn't notice.
«Oh, you've always been a gentleman, darling. Well, you must be right. Every child of her age is happy to have a responsible adult on her side... oh, we have arrived!» she exclaimed, seeing her husband had slowing down. «Yes, I see the house. Good heavens, it's really horrible! How could that poor little girl live here all this time and... what was that?» she screeched suddently.
All of a sudden, their car trembled as if being shaken by something.
«I don't now honey» said Bill, worried. «Maybe it's just...»
The car shook again. Stronger. There was no doubt now that the cause was coming from outside of the car.
«My God Bill! Do something!» screamed Susanne terrified, huddling up against the back of the seat.
There was a third shake, that this time did not stop.
Under them, the earth split in two, and started gaping open. The car shook and began slipping into the cracks in the earth. Something indefinable, resembling a branch or a claw, came fron the underground enveloping the car. One last shake, and the car began sinking deeper underground.
Susanne was screaming and beating her fists againts the window trying to get out, but the car was already half submerged into the ground, and was going further down in to the blackness. Next to her, Bill let himself slide on the seat, his eyes closed as his heart beat loudly.
In the house in front of them, looking at the awful show, there was a little girl hidden under a window. She had the hands over her ears so she could not hear the screams of the woman, but on her face there wasn't a trace of surprise, or even fear. In fact, it was pervaded by a dark resignation.
The scene ended as quickly as it had begun. After a couple of seconds the red body of the car was alread swallowed by the ground. Another second, and it was entirely hidden by the mud while rain and the wind erased any trail of the travelers.