Chapter Two

Annabelle was trying in vain to open the front door carrying bags full of groceries.

''Need a hand?'', she heard Janet's voice behind her.

''Thank you, neighbour. My husband is away, the kids went out, so I must do everything by myself'', she complained walking to the kitchen and Janet nodded with understanding. ''Come in. Can I offer you anything to drink?''

''No, don't trouble yourself.''

''What are you talking about?'', Annabelle said taking a bottle out of the fridge. ''Hey, why don't you tell your children to spend the night here?''

''Oh, I'll ask them and if they agree...''

''Of course they will! To spend a night with their friends? Who would ever say 'no' to that?'', she said filling a glass and putting it in front of Janet. ''Try it and tell me your opinion.''

''What is it?''

''Sour cherry-juice. From my husband's family production. We sell it to selected customers only, keeping a small amount for personal use''. Janet stared at the juice and suddenly felt strange. She felt like it magnetized her, like it invited her to taste it. She knew this was impossible. She certainly must have been imagining things... But she still kept her eyes fixed on that glass.

''It looks delicious. And such a colour... Crimson''. Bewitched, she timidly reached for the glass and raised it to her lips. But just when she was about to drink, her phone rang. ''Excuse me'', she said leaving the glass on the counter. ''Unfortunately, a problem came up at work and I must go now'', she said after she hang up.

''Oh, it's a shame... You didn't drink at all...''. Janet looked longingly at the juice.

''Yeah... Another time perhaps...'', she murmured walking to the exit.

''Tell the kids they are welcome to stay here tomorrow night.''

''Sure'', Janet agreed and left. When the door closed, Annabelle remained looking at the untouched glass of sour cherry-juice.

''We'll have a great time tomorrow with Jasper'', Leo said after he finished brushing his teeth and was about to go to bed. Janet had informed them of Annabelle's idea and the boy couldn't wait.

''Well, you might... But what about me? How am I going to stay all night with Kylie? We have barely spoken to each other and now we're supposed to stay at her house?'', nattered Emily expressing her discontent. ''What do you think, Peter?''

''About what?'', he said absent-minded, looking at the window.

''What are you looking at?'', she wondered running to her brother. With her gaze she searched their garden, the street, even the sky but she saw nothing capable of piquing his interest. Her gaze then fell on the house next door. It was a two-storey house, exactly like theirs, made of wood and stone, with large windows and red tiles on the roof. Although their house was in perfect condition, no one could say the same about that building, which was evidently abandoned. And it had been for a long time. A family used to live there but they left many years ago, before Peter and Emily were born. Ever since, it remained uninhabited. As time went by with nobody taking care of it, it fell to ruin. All that changed the day their new neighbours moved in, breathing new life into that house. Looking at the window of the ground floor, though, behind the lacy curtains, Emily saw a figure. It did not match neither Annabelle nor the children. It was the figure of an old man with white hair and a thick, white beard, who was standing at the illuminated window watching them in his pajamas. ''Who is that?'', she wondered with a trace of terror in her voice.

''I have no idea'', Peter answered. ''All I know, is that, whenever I look, he's always there standing in front of the window.''

''He could be their father'', Leo said approaching them.

''No way'', Emily stated. ''Annabelle said that her husband is on a business trip.''

''Well, we're going to find out tomorrow'', Peter said with determination.

''What do you mean?'', Emily squeaked. ''You insist on spending the night there? You can't be serious!''

''Emily, you have nothing to fear. Remember, you won't be alone. We'll be with you'', Peter tried to reassure her but could not erase worry from her face.

On the following night, Peter stood at the front door waiting for Leo, who rushed to the exit and Emily, who was extremely hesitant.

''Are you sure about this?''

''Don't worry. Nothing bad is going to happen''. A few minutes later, the three cousins stood outside the neighbour's house and rang the doorbell.