16

Arrival.

It was close to three in the morning when they finally arrived. It was snowing but not heavily. The ground though was horribly slippery, but that didn't seem to bother Floyd as he skidded and slid around bends at one point mounting the pavement and narrowly avoiding sliding gracefully in through a small shop window. Spencer didn't tell Floyd to slow down or be careful. There was no point. He'd been saying it for the past three hours and received a nose bleed for his efforts.

'Ungrateful son of a whore!' Floyd shouted.

It was enough to keep Spencer quiet for the remainder of the journey. Sam's cries had turned into an odd mewling sound which Spencer found particularly creepy as they skidded once again and ended up gently resting against the side of a tree. The engine stuttered and stopped and Floyd swore at it until it started again and they slew their way the short remaining distance. The building they eventually pulled up in front of looked like something from a Christmas card. It would have been nicer if Floyd hadn't slammed on the brakes and skidded down the drive and smacked nose on into a big tree. Spencer made an umph sound as he was thrown forward. He wisely had his seat belt on which probably saved him from flying out of the front window leaving his foot still connected to the strut. There was a thump from the back and a howl as Sam made hard contact with something.

'Home sweet home.' Floyd announced. 'Stupid fucking place to put a tree though.' He pushed open the door and jumped out into the snow. 'Fucking snow!' He shouted out over the white sheet covering everything. Spencer sat unable to move because of the way he was tied to the seat and just waited. He could hear the crunching of footsteps as Floyd went around to the back of the van. He heard the creak of the doors opening then the slam of them shutting again – and now the crunching of Floyd's returning feet. He pulled open the door again and frowned at Spencer. 'You not going to fucking help?'

Spencer shrugged. 'I cant get out.'

'Oh shit. I forgot. Would have left you there all night thinking you were sulking.' Floyd let out an odd sound which might have been a laugh and then pulled his bag out from behind the seats. 'I'll cut that off you now. Babes, you see that house? It's not what I thought it would be. It's sort of bigger and not all on one level. Maybe it's the wrong place. Go and check… oh sweets don't move, going to cut this off… then go check that there's a key under that big old pot out front will you. I asked them to leave a key there for me. I'm going to get Sam sorted. You don't want to see the mess he's made.'

He at least was careful not to slice into Spencer when he cut the binder off. 'Thank you.' Spencer muttered as he rubbed life back into his lower leg and foot. Spencer then limped over to the porch which seemed to run along all sides of this building and tipped up the big earthenware pot. There was an envelope under it with Welcome to your new home Dr Reid… written upon it. It was definitely the right place then. He didn't take the key out of the envelope though he could feel there was one in there. Even though it was his name written on the front he knew Floyd would be angry if he opened it. He stood on the porch and watched across the darkness at Floyd who seemed to be dragging Sam out of the van by a leg.

'Get up you lazy fuck!' Floyd was shouting. Any words from Sam were lost in the breeze, the ice cold breeze coming off the sea. The only light was from the headlights of the van and they sent eerie shadows over the ground. Sam was dragged by one foot over the snow towards the house leaving a slightly bloody smear in his wake. He was bumped up the steps and Floyd stood there smiling as though he'd just been out hunting and had shot a prize deer for dinner. 'Got the key?' Spencer showed the envelope. 'Open it then and let's get inside. I'm freezing my nuts off here.'

The door opened up into a long wide hallway with a flight of stairs which wound up to the right. It smelt slightly of damp plaster but a quick feel around for light switches showed a clean dust free hall. Sam crawled to the nearest corner and curled up. Spencer could smell the stench coming from him and he really hoped that Floyd was going to let Sam shower. The blood on his ankles glistened in the light. There was a door right ahead of them with two doors to the left and a smaller one which was under the rise of the stairs.

'It's lovely.' Spencer said. Though he wasn't sure that it was yet. There was a funny feel about the place. Something that he didn't want to put into words in case he sounded a fool, but there was something wrong. Maybe it was the keening mewling sounds and the smell coming from Sam and maybe it was the insane grin on Floyd's face. 'Shall we look around?'

'Yes! Go explore. I'm going to find the bathroom and drown… wash Sam. You really like it?'

'I love it. Thank you Floyd. It was a wonderful idea and a beautiful gift.' He licked his lips and gave Floyd a quick kiss on the mouth. 'Go help Sam and I'll have a look and make sure that the kitchen comes up to standard.' He smiled and ran fingers lightly over the front of Floyd's jeans. 'Then we can go find the bedrooms.'

'You little slut.' Floyd smirked.

'I don't know how else to express my gratitude.'

'Maybe see if there's any coffee. They said it'd be fully stocked.'

'Good idea… now where's the kitchen?' Spencer walked off before Floyd's happiness left him. He wanted him to be gentle with Sam. The kitchen was big and clean and lovely. There seemed to be a door leading out to the back of the house which faced the sea but there were no lights out back to see exactly what was out there. The kitchen had a larder stocked with food and cupboards with every food item anyone (but Floyd no doubt) would ever want. There was a jar of coffee sitting on the counter next to the machine which Spencer filled and got ready. He then went back out into the hall and tried the other doors. One led to a small dining room. It was furnished but there was nothing personal there. No ornamentation, nothing on the walls… but the table looked ancient. The floor was bare wood; the windows had long dark drapes over them. There was also a large open fireplace. The other room was a lounge. Big couches, empty bookshelves, a television, bare display cabinets and a rug on the floor. Spencer thought it was the kind of place he could feel comfortable in if it wasn't for that strange niggling feeling that something was wrong. He then tried the door which was tucked in under the stairs but it seemed to be locked. 'Why are you locked?' Spencer asked the door. He ran his fingers over the wood and then walked back to the kitchen to check on the coffee. Reid was hungry. His stomach was growing horribly, but he didn't make anything to eat. He needed Floyd to see the tidy kitchen first before he made a mess trying to cook something. He was also aware that Floyd always thought of the kitchen as his own domain and he might well be irritated by Spencer trying to take over.

'Everything alright?' Floyd breathed onto the back of Spencer's neck.

He jumped and spun around. 'You scared me. Yes everything is good. It's lovely. Do you want something to eat?' He wanted to ask how Sam was but didn't somehow feel it was safe to do so.

'Food would be great. I'm going to make up the beds and check on Sam. He's feeling a bit rough maybe next time he'd rather go by train.' There was no look of amusement on Floyd's face. He seemed to be serious. 'See if there's pizza will you?' Floyd turned to leave but Spencer called him back.

'Does this place have a history?'

'Not now Spence. I'll talk to you about the house later. Let me settle first Babes. Pizza… coffee… see if there's some ice cream? I wont be long. Have you looked at the other rooms?'

Spencer smiled maybe a little too much. 'I have and they're lovely. The door under the stairs is locked though.'

'Silly people.' Floyd walked into the hall and wiggled the door handle. 'Some people are just so superstitious don't you think?' He then walked back to the stairs and clumped back up them calling to Sam as he went.

Reid went out to the van and turned off the engine which was still rattling away. He collected all the bags and dragged and carried them into the house. The snow was falling heavier now. It looked like they'd arrived just in time. Sam was out of the tub and standing outside one of the upstairs rooms moaning at Floyd about something which Spencer couldn't make out, but again and probably for a good reason Sam was complaining about something. 'I have the bags.' Spencer announced and when neither Floyd nor Sam answered he carried on. 'So you've decided who's having which room?'

Sam turned to Spencer with an expression full of spite. 'Oh yes, he's chosen our rooms. I've got the broom closet. There's always fucking conditions on everything. Behave and I can have clothes, be nice and I can have my stuff, stop moaning and I can have a proper bedroom, but I've been nice and I've behaved and nothing! I might as well go out naked in the streets and whore every man and woman I see cos I'm never going to behave or be nice enough for you am I?'

'Pizza is nearly done and coffee is brewed and Sam if you want now we are here you can put your things on.' Spencer thought this was a risky statement and maybe crossing one of Floyd's lines but Sam was right. Spencer was told to dump the bags and get back down stairs. He grabbed Sam's bag from Reid and threw it at Sam.

'Do what he says.'

And then more moaning. 'And what's the point? We're going to be snowed in somewhere horrible and no one's going to see me anyway. What did we have to come here for? Why couldn't we have just stayed where we were? I don't like it here. It's the middle of fucking no where and I don't much like the sea anyway and certainly not in the fucking winter. We're going to freeze to death and I want to go home!'

Floyd followed Spencer downstairs and into the kitchen. 'He's never fucking happy.' Floyd snapped. 'I sat on the edge of the damned tub massaging life back into his limbs and he's still fucking moaning. You have to give him discipline Spencer. Don't give into him so quickly. He shouldn't have been given his stuff yet, but now it's done…'

'And I bought them for him remember. Pass a plate and I'll sort this out.'

The Curse of Murran-Beach House.

Reid wanted to know what the superstition was which caused whoever had to lock the door under the stairs. Once they were all settled and pizza was being eaten and Floyd had located a bottle of red wine he started to tell them.

'Well the place is apparently cursed. But I don't think we have to worry about it. Got the place cut price because of it. No one wants to live here, though it seems they're happy to deliver goods, just not stay over night.' Floyd leaned forward and gave Spencer a close look. 'You know in the story of Peter Pan if you say that you believe in fairies then they live… or is that that if you don't that they die? Either way the same thing applies to a curse. If you want to think it's real then it'll have you by the balls and drag you down. You need to remember that things like that only have power if you believe in them.'

'Does that mean if I stop believing in you, you'll fuck off and leave me alone?' Sam quipped.

'No sunshine… sorry about that.'

'Even though you're a curse and a fairy?' Sam stuffed more pizza into his mouth.

'I'm going to ignore that comment Sam. The thing is that people who live here die nasty or unexpected deaths. The original owner was a retired gent who lived here only during the summer season. He had a boat thing… he took his wife and four grown up children and two grand kids on a sailing trip. They never returned. The house was sold by surviving family members and someone else moved in. A couple with two teenaged daughters. The wife died by falling down the stairs after they'd only been here a week, one daughter died a month later. RTA. The other daughter died two weeks later when a truck lost control and splattered her against a tree. The father killed himself. Poor chap. Then the house was sold again. The couple who purchased it never even made it down here to live. There was some sort of mad man in the bank who shot a load of people. No one died except for that couple. Oh and the list goes on. There've been eight families who've lived here. No one has made it past a full year except for that first retired gent, but he was only here for long weekends in the summer. Maybe it took a while for it to catch up.' Floyd paused and lit up a cheroot. Spencer and Sam sat with mouth's agape staring at Floyd. 'Now all you need to be aware of is that for some reason they think it's connected with the cellar. I've not been down there to look but I will. Not tonight though.'

'You bought Spencer a cursed house? You're fucking insane! I want to go home!'

'You don't have a fucking home Sam! You were living on the streets and you're welcome to leave if you don't think you have the courage. If you're scared.'

'Hell yes I'm scared! These things… they might not be real but they have a way of happening anyway. You just killed us! I don't fucking believe what you've done! Fuck!'

Reid put down the cold slice of pizza he'd been nursing. 'Well… Just be careful. No boat trips, no messing around on the stairs and don't let Floyd drive. That should cover all bases.'

'No.' Floyd picked up Spencer's discarded pizza slice and pulled off the tomato. 'You cant do that Spence… what you have to do is laugh at it. Tell it that it doesn't exist. Don't let it even tickle slightly at your mind… ignore it. It will go away and we will prove it. Curses are made by demonic spells. You know that don't you? Each is assigned to its own. Each needs you to believe in it. Can you see what I'm getting at? If you give that demon no power it cant hurt you.'

Spencer watched Floyd picking at the bit of pizza. For some reason he thought that Floyd didn't believe what he was saying. Floyd looked nervous. 'OK – so if it's just a matter of not believing in it why don't you check out the cellar now?'

The bit of pizza was torn to shreds and placed on the plate. 'Because that's not what I said was it? I said you have to give it no credence. For me it's slightly different. I'll check out the cellar tomorrow though if you don't mind. It's the early hours of the morning and my wits are slowing down. I want to sleep and I think just for tonight that we should each stay in our own rooms.'

'NO!' Sam stood. 'I'm not sleeping alone! Damnit Floyd you cant lock me in a fucking broom cupboard after saying that! I'll choke on some poison rag or suffocate or something. I'm not sleeping alone. Please don't make me sleep alone! I cant stay in that dark place on my own. I'm too young to die!' He flopped back down on the couch and broke into a long hacking cough.

'The first step to eradicating the curse is to not believe.' Floyd snapped at Sam. 'and you need to sleep alone to prove that.'

'Fuck I don't! And if you don't let me sleep with you I'll sleep with Spencer.'

'You'll exit your room near the top of the stairs in the dark and walk down a passage with creaking floorboards and manage to get to Spence without me hearing your pathetic whining?'

Sam slipped off the couch onto his knees. 'Just tonight Floyd. Please. Just so I can say I slept here a full night.'

Floyd nodded slowly. 'Very well. All three of us.' Though Floyd didn't look so sure about this arrangement.

In Which Spencer Sleeps with Floyd and Sam.

For a start I should say that we remained almost fully clothed. For Floyd that's nothing strange, for me, well I'd rather have been in pyjamas but Floyd gave me loud spit filled instructions that I was to keep my clothes on. Sam though… Sam isn't the sort of person who has a nudity taboo of any kind. He would rather be naked when sleeping. He was dragged back down to what he called The Broom Closet and told to find something in his bag which would pass as clothing. He wouldn't go in the room alone though. Because it was probably once a nursery or a servants room. It's just big enough for a small bed and place to keep your clothes. A small window over looks the front of the house. He was hauled back again wearing sweatpants and a bathrobe. There then had to be a decision made about who was sleeping where in the bed. A huge bed it must be said. I was sitting on the end of it quietly wondering how long peace can possibly last in this house with the three of us. I wish Sam wasn't here. I really desperately do. I wanted to spend time with Floyd, getting used to having him around again and Sam is getting in the way. He is constantly moaning and whining about everything and shows no respect for anyone or anything. I should have more patience. I realise that he's messed up in that head of his but why do I have to put up with it?

Floyd requests that Sam sleeps in front of him and that I sleep behind. This way I don't have physical contact with Sam which is good. What happened should never be and will never be repeated. Sam though goes right back to moaning about not feeling safe. He's yabbering on about things under the bed which can grab and pull him off the bed and drag him into hell. He's saying that it's not safe and not fair as he's the youngest (and prettiest he adds) to be right at the edge. Floyd treats him like he's a young child and checks under the bed for him and this just irritates me all the more. I don't say anything though. I just sit and watch Sam's performance and Floyd who had hog tied Sam and left him for – as it ended up – fourteen hours in the back of the van now treating him like a spoilt infant. No wonder Sam acts the way he does when Floyd pampers his immaturity. I am trying to feel sorry for him, but I'm finding it very difficult. Under normal circumstances he'd be in treatment somewhere being fed medication on a locked ward. Or more likely behind bars. In segregation. I rub at my eyes and yawn. When are we ever going to lay down and sleep! Finally Floyd decides that Sam can sleep in the middle but now he cant decide if he should be facing me or him or on his back or front! Eventually almost half an hour later it's decided. Though how it's going to stay like it whilst we sleep I don't know. I will lay facing the edge of the bed. Sam will lay facing Floyd who will be facing Sam. It's the only thing that's going to stop Sam moaning long enough for us to be able to sleep before the sun comes up again and that's not going to be long now. Tomorrow I will sleep in my own room. I'm just about to drift off to sleep… I'm warm and though Sam's got his backside pressed against mine I can ignore it just so I can get some sleep… and then he starts again.

'I need a piss.' He says.

'Go have one then.' Floyd grumbles.

'But I don't want to go alone.' He whines.

It's the end really. I'm not going to lay here and put up with this any longer. I don't say anything to either of them, but I get out of the bed open the door and exit. My own room has had the bed made up – thanks to Floyd – it's cold in there but I'll soon warm up again. After all I am still fully clothed. I snuggle under the bedclothes and try to ignore the moaning and whining going on across the passageway. Doors slam. Voices shout… and then at last blessed silence. Well silence except for the birds which have begun their dawn chorus – some kind of gull which if I wasn't half asleep I could name for you… I think it's a Kittiwake.

They Come With Food and Questions.

Spencer wakes up in the morning to the smell of eggs and toast. At first he thought it was coming from downstairs and happily wafting up but when he rolled over Floyd was sitting on the edge of the bed.

'Breakfast.' He announced and picked a tray up off the floor. 'Absolutely totally promise that there is not one single body part on the plate and no poison or drugs in the coffee. Sit up sleepy head and I'll spoon feed you. I'm not sure why you bolted off in such a sulk last night. I had all sorts of problems trying to get Sam to settle again. He's like a wound up spring. Not sure what's going on with him. Open wide… here comes the train…' Floyd sat with a spoon of egg wavering in front of Reid's mouth which didn't much look like it was going to open. Reid carefully took the spoon from Floyd and gave him a look which could wither a lesser man. 'What's wrong?' Floyd asked him.

Spencer placed the spoon down on the plate. 'What do you think is wrong? You're normally very good at reading me. Tell me what you think is bothering me and why I came in here to sleep last night.'

Floyd shrugged. 'At least drink the coffee. I think you have a problem with Sam.'

Reid thought that was rather a genius answer. 'You must have had to think really hard to come up with that conclusion. It's not Sam I have a problem with so much as the way you treat him. You tell me I was wrong to say he could have proper clothes to wear and then you look under the bed for monsters? I don't get it. I want to feel sorry for him. I want to understand what's going on and just as I get it all figured out it's all change again. One minute you're being… I don't know… you expect him to survive the streets and be able to care for himself and then you're treating him with less care than someone would a pig going to slaughter and then you're telling him he can sleep with us and you treat him like a child. No wonder he's confused.'

'Oh that's got nothing to do with anything.' Floyd stands and taps the tray. 'Bring that down with you. Got to go. Sam's…' He stopped and sighed. 'Sam's fucking going out of his brain with fear. I don't want to leave him…' He walked to the door and pulled it open. 'I'm not being soft on him Spencer I just don't…' He stopped and walked through the door. 'Just come down when you're ready.'

'Do you think I'm not a bit scared after what you said? If what you said was true of course.' Spencer sipped at the coffee.

'It's going to get Sam. It will get him and it'll rip him apart and then spit out his bones and then it'll come after you.' Floyd closed the door and Spencer sat there shivering and spilling drips of coffee as his hands shook. Now feeling more than a bit sick he had to force himself to eat. It was a stupid claim that Floyd made. He made a decision to go into the small town they'd skidded through the night before and ask around. Maybe get a coffee and talk to the locals. Someone would have something to say if this was real. He would treat it like he was investigating something with the team… If there was any truth in it he would get to the bottom of it.

Reid took the tray down and found Sam sitting on the kitchen work surface talking quietly to Floyd who was loading up the dishwasher. The chatter stopped when Spencer walked into the room. He placed the tray down on the work surface above the dishwasher. 'I'm going out for a walk.' He told them. The atmosphere felt so wrong that Spencer didn't want to hang around. If the pair of them were going to play games then let them. Spencer wanted no part. He put his shoes on and then was about to go and find a coat when someone started hammering on the door.

'Don't open it!' Sam screamed.

Spencer ignored him and had a look through the spy hole. It was a woman with a green woolly hat on. He opened the door and smiled at her. 'Hi!' And a small wave.

'Hello. I have this.' She held out a casserole dish. 'I came over to introduce myself.' She looked as though she wanted to come in and as it was still snowing and blowing a gale through the house Spencer took the dish and stepped out of the way to let her in. 'I'm Monica. I was wondering if Doctor Reid was around?'

'OH!' Spencer looked at the kitchen door which had been shut. 'I'm Dr Reid.' He smiled nervously. 'Was there something you wanted?' He placed the dish down on a small side hallway table. 'Come through to the lounge. I'm sorry I'm not really used to entertaining.'

She nodded knowingly and followed him to the lounge. She declined coffee or alcohol and so Spencer sat twisting his fingers in his lap.

'We – by that I mean some people – locals… villagers were awoken last night when you arrived.' She said.

'The roads got extremely hazardous surprisingly quickly. We only just made it here in time I think.'

She nodded again as though she already knew all of this. 'And you are with your wife and child?'

Spencer didn't quite know what to say to this. 'What made you think I was married?'

She gestured at Spencer's finger. 'The ring for a start and also it stated on the housing contract. I'm from the realtors. It said Dr Reid, wife and child.'

There was a slightly confused nod from Spencer. 'Well that would be a reason why you'd know.' He stood. 'I'm very sorry but we only arrived last night as you are aware and there's a lot to sort out.'

'I was hoping to meet your wife and child.' She said not moving from the couch.

'It's not possible right now. Maybe you can come back or perhaps you'll see them in town.' He walked to the door. 'Let me show you out and thank you for the food. That was very thoughtful and I'm sure that my wife will be pleased not to have to cook today.' He walked into the hallway and slowly Monica stood and walked out into the hall. She stood for a while looking at the small door under the stairs.

'You know about the curse?' She enquired.

Spencer looked at the door too and then shrugged. 'I don't believe in such things. I do believe in coincidence and self fulfilling prophecy though.'

'Well I hope to see the rest of your family when they're ready to show themselves. It was nice to meet you Dr Reid. I'll see you in town. You can bring the dish to the realtors. There's only one. You cant miss it.'

Spencer opened the door and let the woman out. He stood watching her walk down the small driveway and then she crunched over the snow towards where the street would normally be if it wasn't covered in thick snow. And there was more to come. The air was icy cold and the sky full of thick snow filled clouds. Reid shuddered and closed the door. When he turned around Floyd and Sam were standing there.

'What did she want?' Floyd snapped.

'She brought over a stew or casserole.' He gestured towards it. 'Oh and she wanted to meet my wife and child.'

Floyd snorted a laugh. 'Well yes… I had to say you were married otherwise the house would not have been sold to me. It's a lark huh?'

'No it's not a lark. Which of you is my wife and which is my demonic child?' Floyd had his hand resting on the back of Sam's neck. When was the last time he'd done that for Spencer? He couldn't remember. They seemed quite comfortable together and the more Spencer stayed here to watch the more of an outsider he was feeling. 'I'm going for a walk into the town to see what's there. If we intend on staying here I'd like a job and I think Sam should get one too.' He ignored the howl of protest from Sam. 'I'm sure even Sam can shovel snow for people.' Spencer looked around again for a coat and realised that it was either back at home or up in his room. He turned and opened the door intending to leave as he was in a shirt and sweater.

'Spence… you'll freeze.' Floyd walked forward pulling Sam with him. 'Be careful.'

'If you freeze it'll be because of the curse!' Sam shouted.

'It will be because I'm sick of seeing Floyd paw and maul you. I'll be back later.' Reid pulled the door closed and left Sam and Floyd standing in the hallway.

'He's a jealous bitch.' Sam muttered and walked back to the comfort of the kitchen.