"Get out of my face, you disgust me!"
"But...I..."
"I said, GET OUT!"
"But...I hadn't done anything..."
"Oh? You want me to believe that he broke it?"
"..."
"Of course she's the one who broke it, mom. She wrecks up everything she sees! Destroying our valuables! I have no clue why she had to be born! She was just a mistake!"
My eyes shot open, my body jolting up, shaking. My hands clutched the blanket, tightly, as I took heavy breaths. I was sweating like crazy, the images of my nightmare fresh in my mind. I felt something on my face. I raised my hand, dabbing the left side of my cheek, feeling...tears... I was crying...? It isn't a surprise... I landed the back of my head on my pillow, staring up at the ceiling.
My body continued to tremble, as I began talking to myself. "You're okay...you're fine... It was a nightmare. That's all it is...a nightmare..." I clamped my hands over my eyes, keeping the waterworks in, failing miserably. It felt real... Because...it was real... It was a flashback nightmare... I remember the day clearly. Remembering every detail...every word lashed out at me from...them, along with...something else.
The stream of tears kept on coming out, no matter how much I wiped them away. They refuse to stop.
I stayed in my position until I was able to control my crying. When the waterworks stopped, I wiped my face and eyes dry, sitting up, gazing down at me, my hair falling over me. I made no move to move them out of the way, waiting for my body to stop wavering. It wasn't the first time I had this sort of dream. I had it ever since I got taken away by them.
They won't bother me again, like my aunt Sarah said. My...parents won't come after me, not even...him. Yesterday, when Hannah asked about my parents, it made my heart hurt. Whenever someone brings up my parents, it causes me to feel...sick to my stomach. I don't know why. It's the only explanation I can come up with.
In spite of that, she mentioned she doesn't have a mom. It ponders me on why she doesn't have mom. Well, she did say she hadn't known her mother. Did her...mom passed away? Or did her...dad...do something critical to her mom, who is also her dad's wife...
Hold up, I hadn't seen a ring on Shivers. Was he wearing one...? I'm not sure. Or did he take it off? My mind couldn't come up with an answer.
As I sat there, I moved my hair out my face, all tangled up from sleep. I swung my legs over, removing myself off the mattress. I don't bother making my bed, leaving the covers the way they are.
I shut my bedroom door so I can get dressed, putting on a simple gray, long sleeve shirt, along with a pair of jeans. I ran a brush through my hair, getting the knots out. I cringed when I have to pull hard on a couple of parts of my hair.
Once I was finished, I went into the bathroom, opening up the medicine cabinet, taking out my anti-depression and anxiety medication.
I never like taking them, to be fair. For some reason, they won't work. All I can come up with is that they hadn't kicked in yet. Ah, well...it's how it is... I do hope they work someday... helping me be...happy...
I do wonder who my new therapist will be. After I took them, I left the bathroom, heading to the steps where I heard a clatter in the kitchen, sounding like metal. I hurried down the steps to see that aunt Sarah had indeed dropped a frying pan.
She bent down. "I'm such a klutz sometimes..." she spoke to herself with a giggle, retrieving the pan, putting it on the stove. She turned it on, putting a small slice of butter on it, letting it melt until she saw me. "Why, good morning, Ezzy," she politely greeted with such warmth. "Sit down, breakfast will be ready in a jiff. After we're done eating, we can bake the cookies to give to Mr. Shivers and Hannah - unless they're up at this time." I merely shrugged, not caring what she's saying. "I do say..." she then began to remember, "...is that I heard yelling," she recalled from last night, and I knew what she was talking about. "Do you have any idea who was hollering?"
"It was Shivers," I told her, coming up to the counter where a carton of eggs sat, ready to be used. "He caught his daughter outside again," I explained, picking up one of the eggs. "He wasn't too happy, either, ordering her inside, saying she'll be in big trouble the next time she's out there. He warned her twice." I put the egg back, watching the butter melt on the now hot pan. "Whenever...he's present...Hannah changes into a new person..." I sadly looked away. "I...I'm scared that something is happening to her... I can only imagine what's going on next door..."
Aunt Sarah pursed her lips, thinking on what I said. She took an egg, cracking it into the pan. It sizzled like crazy, the egg whites starting to show. I watched as she cracked another one, then placed the top on the pan to let the eggs cook. She took out a loaf of bread, took out two slices, and put them in the toaster. Taking the lever, she pushed it down, letting the two slices of bread get crispy and brown.
She was quiet for a few moments until she answered. "You're letting your imagination run wild..." My eyes widened when she said this, then slowly turned to anger. "I had already told you, his daughter is simply not allowed after dark." I clutched my fingers into a fist, my anger taking a hold on me as she went on. "Also, he's worried about her. I'm guessing she doesn't have a mom...?" She turned towards me, seeing me nod my head, but still in anger. "Poor child..." she expressed sorrowfully. "I can see what it's like for her not having a mom," she imagined the scene. "I feel extremely bad for her dad, too..."
I couldn't believe it. I began to think she's being in denial. She thinks Shivers' wife and Hannah's mom died somehow when I know what actually happened to her. I wish she would believe what I'm telling her, except she refuses to judge people. I don't blame her for it; it's that she sees everyone as a friend. She'll say a friendly hello and it goes on from there.
It doesn't give her the excuse to think our neighbor isn't horrible. No, it isn't right. It's...it's downright...wrong... I don't want to give him cookies. Thinking about it, I won't mind giving them to Hannah for being...nice to me so far... I'm still debating whether she's my first friend. I'm used to being...alone...
Looking at my aunt, she had a sad look, possibly thinking about Hannah's mom and her dad's wife. I feel bad for her, too, having her not have a mother to defend her from her own dad. The man shouldn't be around her, around his daughter. She should've been taken away by her other family members instead.
It makes me believe that her mom got killed by her dad. God, such a horrible thing... Plus, the more I think about it, the more I realize why Hannah isn't allowed to have friends, except...it doesn't explain what I heard next door from last night... I also cannot erase when her dad got mad at me when I was in his house after lying to him when truthfully his daughter let me in.
Thank goodness he doesn't know I'm the one who broke his daughter's bedroom window. I'd be dead meat if he found out it was me. Maybe I should tell him I was the one who did it... No, no, I cannot do that. He'll really hate me, like how my...parents and...him felt about me after I came around.
But the fact that my own aunt made a false prediction made me want to shout. I didn't though, biting my tongue in order not to say anything regretful. I don't regret hating Shivers, even though I fear him at the same time for he reminded me of one of my parents. The cold stare... the way he talks to me, to his daughter... his warnings... threats... He's a complete match for one of them.
I left the kitchen unknowingly, my aunt paying attention to her cooking. I dragged myself to the window of the living room, peeking out from the curtains to see Shivers' shadow and Hannah's. I wasn't sure what they were saying due to the window being closed. I lifted up so I could listen in...
"Dad, she's a great friend to have." From their window, Hannah tried to convince her father. "I promise I won't tell you who you are; all I want is a friend to have."
"Hannah - stop. Just...stop..." Within his shadow from the curtains, I saw him rubbing his head like he had a migraine. "I don't want anyone to know who we are...alright?" His tone suggested no argument, for he seemed tired of his daughter's complaints, which I couldn't blame her there. "If that girl ever comes into our home again, I'll be sure she doesn't see you."
Hannah spoke. "Dad- I..." Her dad interrupted her when he didn't give her a chance on what she wanted to say.
"She'll bring questions. Questions about us, about me. I don't want her to know who I am!" I flinched when he raised his voice a little, as I kept on listening. "I don't want anyone to know about us."
"Please, dad, don't get mad..." From here, I saw the shadow of Hannah backing up one step, hands close to her. I can already imagine what she's fearing for. "I-I don't like to see you upset..." Her shadowy head looked away. "You always have the red thing when you get upset..." I have no clue on what she mentioned, baffled by the 'red thing'. "Can I at least have-"
"No!" Shivers shouted, almost...desperately. I wasn't buying it. Not one bit...
"Bu-"
"I said NO!"
"What's going on next door?" I turned away from the window to see aunt Sarah, wearing a look of distress. "I heard someone yelling." I was going to answer when she looked out the window, watching the two shadows. "It looks like they're having an argument..."
"Dad, let me have one-" Hannah started, her dad stopping her.
"No!" he cried, and I saw a hand being raised... my pulse going up a notch... "She'll bring up questions," he swore, talking about me.
"She won't. She-"
"Hannah, I had enough." His hand turned into a fist. I was scared for his daughter, ready to go next door. "Quit bickering with me. I'm tired of it." There was a movement from his offspring, at the same time as he turned around, walking away, his silhouette leaving what I'm reckoning is the living room. I have no idea where he went, though I wish he would treat his daughter with respect.
Yeah...sure... he wouldn't. I shouldn't wish for something that won't happen. I stayed as my aunt continued to gaze out the window, then went back to the kitchen, saying something. I don't know what she said, because I kept looking outside to see the curtain move. Hannah smiled, waving her hand at me, until it got wiped away when she got pulled away from the window.
I quickly took my eyes away, feeling the eyeballs of the chilling father from a distance. I don't take the liberty of peering back at him, avoiding eye contact from where I'm at. I was cold... getting goosebumps... I forced myself to look at the man, who carried on with the leering at my soul... He messed with his glasses for a bit.
I felt my body freeze in place, like he was hypnotizing me. I couldn't get away from it - his stare. Every time I do, he reminds me of one of my parents... He then grabbed the window, bringing it down, locking it, then closed the curtains.
Like I had come back to life, my body unfroze. I shook the feeling after the intense staring contest the two of us had. Part of me wants to go over there right away, another told me not to, knowing it'll bring in trouble.
I couldn't believe my aunt is going to bring baked cookies to them... Inwardly groaning, I ran my hand down my face. I hope she doesn't invite him over. It's fine for Hannah to come over, if her dad wasn't being cruel to her. He wouldn't also allow her to go to anyone's homes, I bet the obvious.
I feel sorry for her, I really do. Living with someone who treats her like an object. She's a human being for crying out loud, but her dad forbade her to do anything. I always get an uneasy feeling when I see him. He has to go to jail, no doubt about it.
If only I can convince my aunt to believe me on what he's doing to his own kid.
Standing there, my eyes didn't take off the window that Shivers was at, until I heard that breakfast is ready. Picking up my feet, I walked to the table to see a plate of sunny side-up eggs with toast and butter. Aunt Sarah had the same thing. There was even orange juice in clear, glass cups.
I sat down, taking my fork, poking the egg whites to let the yolks run out. I watched the yellow goo ooze on the plate as I picked up my toast, swiping the buttery side on the yellow goo.
The yolk stuck onto the buttered up toasted bread. I stared at it while the goo dripped at the end of the cooked bread, my mind clouded with different thoughts on Hannah's dad. Scary thoughts... All of the sudden, I'd lost my hunger, my stomach churning. My aunt took notice of it, telling me to eat.
I couldn't...my mind filled with little people ready to press the Panic button... I'm too worried about Hannah, enough where I refuse to take a single bite of the breakfast made by the only person who cares about me - about my life. Unlike the people I used to live with who were supposed to be considerate of me, except they didn't, only doing it for...him... My parents were toxic beings, along with him. I can never talk to anyone about what they did to me, about how they... I stopped my past memories, pushing my plate away.
My aunt pushed it back. "Eat," she partially commanded, keeping her attitude calm, collective, not being forceful. I know my aunt is right, knowing I'll get moody if I don't eat. I slowly, but surely, began to eat. It was good, no doubt about it. It beats on what my mother had given me...
I managed to finish off my plate, placing it in the sink afterwards. My aunt came into the kitchen with her shoes and her purse. "Where are you going?" I asked, watching her pull out her car keys.
"To the store to pick up the ingredients for the cookies I need to bake," she answered, finding them. "God, I'm such an unorganized woman... I'm organized at the last bank I worked at, but my purse is a mess."
"Speaking of the bank, um... when will you go to a new bank to work at?" My aunt always loved working there, saying there's no other job out there like it. However, she chuckled, like I'd told a joke, which doesn't happen because...I don't tell jokes. "It was a question..." I frowned in dismay, feeling a little attacked.
"I'll tell you at dinner tonight, sweetheart. All I can tell you now is that I have a different job," she guaranteed. "I'll be going. See you when I get back. Go outside, get some fresh air. You can go for a walk."
I sighed. "I'll stay here..." Honestly, I'd rather stay inside at all times. Madison is boring. So is this neighborhood, like it's a stranded desert, lacking sand. "There's nothing to do here..."
"Nonsense," she waved off with her hand. "I bet there's plenty of things to do. You can go out to see if there's anyone besides Hannah to hang out with. Actually..." she began to look back on something. "I saw a playground a few blocks from where we are. You should go over there," she recommended, putting the strap of her purse on her left shoulder, twirling the keys on the finger of her hand.
"...I'll think about it..." I was in no mood for the park. Although, thinking about it, I let out a sigh. "I'll go..." My aunt grinned, patting my head like I was a dog. I moved her hand off of me. "I'll grab one of my Goosebumps books." I left the kitchen, trudging up the steps, heading to my room. I pulled out a copy of the book I wanted to read, heading back downstairs to the front door. "The playground is about a few blocks away, right?" I recapped from within the living room.
Aunt Sarah came, replying to my question. "Yes," she told me. "I'll take you there," she offered kindly.
I shrugged. "I can walk there."
"You don't know where it's at."
"I'll find it," I assured her, slipping on my shoes. "I'll see you later."
"Very well." She went to the door, opening it, the two of us stepping out of the house. "First one to get home will lick the beaters," she sing-song blissfully, unlocking her car. I, for one, didn't purely care. My aunt, moreover, tittered. "No worries, we'll each have a beater after I finish baking the cookies for our neighbors."
"You know..." I brought up. "...it's always the neighbors giving the new people baked goods, not the other way around." I don't understand why she wants to give baked goods to our next door neighbors when we're the ones who moved in. I doubt Mr. Shivers at any time gave neighbors a welcoming or a hello gift to anyone... He's an unfriendly, uncharitable, loathsome mortal, heart full of disgrace. I wonder how many times he kept kids like me away from Hannah. I even wonder how many times he neglects her, aside from giving her food. Keeping her indoors isn't healthy in any case. "Nevertheless... you cannot give Shivers the cookies. Hannah can have them..."
"That wouldn't be fair," my aunt said, making another, I guess, good point. She's also the type of person who likes to keep things fair. "They're both going to have them. I cannot wait to give the baked goods to them." Getting in her car, she added something. "I understand that neighbors give their new neighbors a welcome gift, but I want to do it the other way." I don't respond, staying silent. "See you when I get back, unless you come home first." Closing the driver's door, she turned on her car. I watched as she took off to the store, leaving me behind.
I looked at the neighborhood. No one besides me is out here. No one taking care of the lawn, no one on the porches. There's no one... It's like they evacuated to a different place.
I wanted to go to the playground, except... I don't know where it's at. I may have said I'll find it, but...I don't want to get lost. I know where the abandoned amusement park, the old neglected house, the cemetery, and the Madison High School are at. I should've had my aunt take me to the playground.
Maybe I should ask Shivers if Hannah can take me there... I hesitated, but I needed someone to take me there. Reluctantly, I made my way over to his home, going up the walkway, landing myself in front of the door. I raised my fist, preparing to knock when the door unpredictably opened, having me get ready to get yelled at when I realized it was Hannah.
She looked over her shoulder, like she was making sure her dad wasn't there, which she is doing. Once the coast was clear, she stepped out of the door, one step only, when Shivers came rushing over, the sound of his shoes making loud contact when they hit the floor. With a rough grab to her arm, he yanked her back into the house, causing a yelp to come out of her mouth.
She went to pass by him, when he blocked her with his body, burning his eyes at me like he always does. "Dad-" He switched his attention to Hannah and she stopped. I tried to see inside, but I couldn't due to her dad who looked right back at me.
He didn't say anything as he stepped back, closing the door slowly.
When it was shut, I heard what sounded like a lock. Strange... the way to lock the door is out here where there's a key hole in the doorknob. ...Guess he can lock the door front and back. Bet he can do the same to the back door, too... The back door has both a front lock and a front lock like this one here, I assume. I guess Hannah forgot to mention it from last night when her dad caught her out here.
I listened to his voice from behind the door, muffled up, unable to know what he's saying. I don't have to think twice about what he's telling her. I don't hear Hannah, knowing she's being put down by negativity by the one who is supposed to care for her, failing at it.
How badly I want to pound on the door, to give this...this...this jerk a piece of my mind. All I want is to know where the playground is. I regret not having aunt Sarah take me there when I had the chance.
I was getting fed up by this so-called dad this guy is supposed to be. His daughter should be put in a foster home where she could receive the love she needed, her dad behind bars.
I got ready to knock on the door, when it flew open after it got unlocked. "Get off the porch!" I stumbled back, startled, landing on my back, grunting when I hit the cement of the pathway. I sat up, moaning, rubbing my sore area. My eyes went up to Shivers who glared back, not giving any sympathy after my sudden fall. "Get off the porch," he repeated in a hard tone.
"I am off the porch," I talked back with another moan, knowing I'll be having a backache throughout the rest of the day.
"Don't sass me," he said unappreciated.
I looked at him, quitting my own message. "I wasn't- You think I'm being sassy?" I was taken aback on what he said, feeling insulted by him, by my own neighbor.
"You back talked to me."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Stop arguing with me."
"You're the one who started it."
It looked like he was full of fumes, crouching down, pulling me up to my feet after getting off the porch. "You talked back to me; a full grown adult who needs nobody in my life." I tried to break free from his grasp on my upper arm, him keeping a good grip on it. "I'll say it for the third time. Get...off...the porch."
I pulled my arm free after he loosened his grip. "Fine... I'll search for the playground myself..." I turned away, grumbling gibberish, cursing under my breath. I got to the end of the pathway, looking behind me.
The deviled man hadn't moved, watching. He then slowly turned, keeping his eyes on me as he went back onto the landing of his home, going inside. Eerily, he closed the door, the noise of the lock being heard for the second time...
I stayed where I was at, shuddering. I know I keep saying this; I cannot help it, he is such a creep...such a... demon... His gazing doesn't help in any way. Seriously, he's full... He said he doesn't need anyone in his life. Turned out I wasn't the only one who he has ill feelings for. I pondered about what he does to his neighbors whenever they come to his house. I also remembered Hannah mentioning how she and her so-called father would move from one town to the next. I bet he does the same thing every time someone comes over, having him kick them away.
I should go knock on the door, and once he opens the door, I'll barge in. I see it in my head, not physically doing it.
I was about to move my eyes off the house, until Hannah peeked out from the curtain of the right window next to the door. It looked like she felt bad for me, with me having the same feeling for her. I feel extremely terrible for her, knowing how it feels to be around that man after something happened to her mom.
I believed her dad did something to his wife, despite having no proof about it.
For the second time, Hannah was taken away from the view, being replaced by her dad who reached up, putting the bottom part back down, securing it once it touched the bottom windowsill. He shut the curtains, then proceeded to the other window on the left side of the door, I saw, closing it, locking it up, blocking it with the curtains.
The window locks aren't quiet, rather loud, though not too loud, but not hard to hear from where I'm at.
Although, I couldn't hear anything else.
Letting out a depressed breath, I began walking away from the house, unknowingly where I'm going, thinking of all the things Shivers is doing to his off-spring. Not only he doesn't allow her outside, but he keeps her from looking outside, too. What a jerk. A complete jerk. A complete...devil maniac. I was ticked off, my walk picking up the pace, going in a different direction, sharply, swinging my arms, holding my novel I'd almost forgotten I had with me.
Worried about his daughter... That is what my aunt says, and I disagree with her one hundred and ten percent. If he is worried about Hannah, then he shouldn't be keeping her inside, shouldn't be...be...be...
I knocked a can out of my path, not wanting to think about the word. I stopped, searching for the playground, but didn't see it. I saw an elderly woman, sitting on a swinging porch chair, reading a book.
I hesitated, too afraid to ask where the park was. I don't want to look like an idiot.
I should ask. No, I shouldn't... Maybe I should... I was stuck, debating whether or not I should ask for directions, yet again...
Mustering up all the courage I have, I nervously came up to the lady.
The elderly woman saw my presence. She had white hair, wearing a flower dress with crocs. On her face are red glasses with a chain. "Yes, dear?" she questioned, setting her book down.
"H-Hello..." I stuttered out an introduction, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"Hi, what is your name?" she greeted me in return happily.
"E-E-Ezzy..." Get a grip of yourself; you're making yourself look like a fool. "Do...do you by any chance know where the...playground is at...?"
The woman kept her smile. "Down that way, and make a left," she directed, pointing to where I should go.
"Thanks..." I turned away, following her directions to the playground.
It took about twenty minutes when I located it. It's an average playground - a swing set, jungle gym, a sea-saw, a merry-go-round, a sandbox, and a slide. Adding to that, there are benches over by the bike rack.
I sat on one of the benches, putting my right leg over my left, opening up a Goosebumps book A Night In Terror Tower. I began reading the first chapter, until I heard chatting. I took my attention off the book to see a blonde haired girl with a guy. The blonde haired girl was the one who was chatting with a guy who looked like a jock, who had his arm around her.
I'm going to take a wild card to say they're a couple. I was right when the guy gave the girl a kiss.
I shook my head in disbelief. I took note that they go to high school due to their age, and high school relationships rarely last long. I also feel like he isn't a good boyfriend for her. I don't know because I'm not...getting a good vibe from the dude.
The blonde one saw me, giving me a friendly wave, walking by me. I wanted to wave back, except I was nervous. I don't want to have another friend. Hannah is the person I see as a...friend... I guess...
The girl sensed my hesitation, raising an eyebrow, frowning a bit. She and her boyfriend walked by me, as I looked away with shame, guilt building up all because I didn't wave back.
I felt awful. I don't say hello or anything to her. I hadn't told her my name. Well, she didn't introduce herself, either, so...I guess it was fine... I don't blame her, blaming myself for being rude...
I wasn't, though. I wasn't being rude. The rude person I know is Mr. Shivers.
Mr. Shivers... such a disgraceful human being. I can ask my aunt to take his daughter away from him. I couldn't, knowing what she'll say. I wanted her to feel sorry for Hannah, yet I know I cannot make her have the same feelings I'm having.
I went back to reading, the negativity still on me until I closed my book. I wanted to leave the playground. But...I feel like I should stay. I thought about the two choices, deciding I should head back. Besides, there's no one to hang out with.
Like I care.
Getting up from the bench, I made my way home, knocking away an empty soda can with my foot. It made a clank sound when it landed back on the pavement. When I came up to it again, I gave it a second kick, this time landing in a bush.
I sighed, but not from boredom...
Reaching my home street, I stopped to gaze at the house on the left side of Shivers' home, wondering who'll move in there, wondering where they're moving from. I saw there was a for sale sign, knowing it wasn't sold right away. It will someday. Of course, I didn't care, shrugging it.
I was about to pass Shivers' home when I heard the front door being unlocked and opened. "Stay here," he spoke from the open door.
"Let me-"
"No, Hannah," he cut her off. "You stay in the house; don't go anywhere." As he stepped out of the house, he shut the door, as he pulled out his cellphone, doing something on it. I quickly took a step back, pressing my back against the fence, when I saw him step off the porch. I took a peak, seeing him getting off the driveway in his vehicle. Watching, he drove off the driveway, then headed down the road to who knows where.
I wanted to check on Hannah, but I remember her saying about her dad having security alarms.
I assume he was on his phone to turn on the alarms whenever he goes out. Then turns them off when he opens the door to make sure they won't go off on him.
I feel completely sorry for Hannah. This isn't being protected. This is...neglect. Pure neglect. I know what it's like to get neglected by a parent. She shouldn't be going through with this. She shouldn't be around him, and neither should her dad, for how he isn't nice to her.
Looking down, I saw a rock. A racing thought occurred, as I began to think about getting this girl out of the house. I wasn't sure if the alarms will go off when I break a window, and I didn't want to find out. I had to forget about breaking a window. I already broke one in Hannah's room, may as well not break another one.
I waited for her to peek out from one of the windows.
She didn't...
I want to know what's going on. I really do...
I recall a window Hannah had mentioned. I almost forgot about it, including the tree. Going to the side of the house, I saw it. Placing my hand on one of the branches, I hoisted myself up, grunting in the process. It wasn't a smooth tree, looking rough after scraping one of the hands. I flicked it, getting the bits of the tree bark off the injury I had made.
The tree branches bent when I stepped on them, yet they held my weight. The leaves brushed against one another.
Getting to the window, took a hold of the windowsill, seeing it was closed, knowing Shivers had done it. Of course, there's one way to find out. That, and I cringed, preparing for the alarms to go off, unknowingly if they'll go off by opening a window.
Sucking in a breath, I pushed up - and the window opened. Looks like this one never gets locked. Either that, or Hannah shuts it after using it so her father doesn't get all fishy.
The alarms didn't go. No sounds whatsoever. I let out a relieved sigh. Okay...they hadn't gone off by opening up a window.
Now, to see what's going on. I had already seen the books, unable to get rid of the curiosity on why they're locked... and on why two agents came out of the book when they described themselves as the Reality Police.
Thinking about it...will more people come out of any of the other Goosebumps manuscripts? And why does Shivers have those books in his house? I know Hannah told me that... Hang on a second... she almost said... Nah, forget about it. I almost forgot another thing. The writer of those scary stories vanished... To where, though? Did he move? Or did he... oh boy... I don't want to even think about it. All I need to do is look at those other manuscripts, and unlock one to see if any more people will come out.
I got in the house quietly, placing my feet on the floor. I slowly walked, knowing I'll be in major trouble. That was the least of my concerns...
I stepped out into the hallway, expecting to see Hannah.
Nope, not in the upstairs hallway. She could be in her room. I want to get to her, but I have this...urge to open up another manuscript. I walked down the hallway like a sneaky ninja until I reached the study, seeing the same stuff I saw before.
I went back over to the bookcase full of those manuscripts, taking out another one. I stared at the title. Goosebumps: Monster Blood II. A sequel to the first Monster Blood book. Admittedly...I'm not big on the Monster Blood stories. I would rather read Night Of The Living Dummy over this book.
I put the book back, getting out the Night Of The Living Dummy one, rubbing my hand on the leather book cover. It felt smooth to the touch.
Looking at it, I had the feeling about opening up this book. It was like the book is asking me to do it... waiting... urging me to unlock it.
I retrieved the key, holding it. I placed it in the lock - when I was suddenly on the ground by a sudden force, the book flying out of my hand, the key in the other in my grasped fingers.
"What are you doing!?" Knowing it was Hannah, I struggled to get free, except she kept me pinned on the floor. "You shouldn't be in this house," she told me, refusing to get off of me. I was on my stomach, trying to crawl out from underneath her. I let go of the key, trying to pull myself out with no use. "Tell me why you're in-" She stopped, until she spoke again. "Don't tell me... you were about to open up..." I continued to struggle, trying to get her off. "...his book," she managed to say. "Ezzy, you don't want-"
"Get off me!" I cried out. She didn't need to be told twice, carefully getting off of me. I sat up, sitting on the floor. "You have to knock me to the floor." I glared at her.
"You were about to open-" She directed her finger at the book. "-that manuscript." When she said it, the manuscript, we saw, began moving. "No!" She pounced on it like a feline, pressing her hands on it. "He cannot come out of this book," she said, looking at me, keeping her hands on it. The moving became more violent as she pressed as much weight as she could on it. "You're not coming out of there," she said as if it was a living thing. Grabbing it, she picked it up, the book shaking. Pushing me out of the way, she shoved it back in the place I pulled it out from the bookcase. The book stopped moving. "Close one... Now, explain why you're here." I stood up, avoiding eye contact. "Well?"
"I..." I wasn't sure what to say. "I wanted to see what's going on..."
"About the books?" she inquired, folding her arms.
I shook my head. "No, I mean yes. I mean..." I sighed with defeat. "That and to see if you're okay."
"You don't want to open up another book." Her tone was warning, and I had the fishy feeling that she's hiding something from me. "Don't look at me like that," she said, acting like she doesn't know anything.
"You know... I'm beginning to think you're hiding something from me..." I spoke.
"I'm not," she shook her head. "I have nothing to hide."
"Then tell me why you're acting funny," I demanded, crossing my arms.
"Go home," she ignored, getting the key off the floor, putting it back in its proper place. "I'm not acting funny," she tried to convince.
"You sure are," I pointed out the obvious.
She went behind me, pushing me out of the study room. "Go home." She gave me a forceful push.
"Hold on... You ignored me when I mentioned to see if you're okay," I remembered.
"I'm fine," she quickly replied. "Get out of the house."
"Before I go, can I ask why the books are locked and why the Reality Police came out from one of them? This also includes why I couldn't unlock the one I was about to open."
"..." She was silent, then pushed me further away. "Go home," she repeated for the third time.
"At least-" I tried to say, except she cut me off.
"No, now go home." I saw she had this begging look, indicating that she knows what would happen when her dad sees me if I don't get out of their house. "I don't want to know how you got in, but you need to go. Please." She was beginning to feel anxious due to her body language. I was feeling terrible for her, wanting her to spit out the truth on what her dad really does to her. "My dad is going to get angry if you don't leave."
"Where did he go?" I asked, not leaving.
"He went to the store real quick." She stepped out of the study. "I would go unless my dad allows it, which he doesn't."
I frowned, my mind on talking to her dad. However, I wasn't sure about that anymore... Once I catch him in the act doing bad things to his daughter, I will. Nothing the less, seeing her in this sort of state made me decide that I should get going, knowing he'll be back soon before we know it.
I began walking down the steps to the living room, got a hold of the doorknob, and turned it.
"Hang on, don't-"
It was too late, I opened the door, and the loud sirens within the house went off. And they were loud, blasting into our ears. I was afraid my eardrums would bust, as I clamped my hands over my ears, muffling the noise out. I fell to my knees, unable to take it anymore. I must admit, even though I don't like her dad in any way, I have to give him credit for these alarms he put up in his house.
Hannah, with her hands closing her ears, went to the door, gritting her teeth with annoyance due to the noise. I bet the whole neighborhood could hear this! She reached the door, using her foot to kick it, shutting the door.
The door closed, the noise stopped. The two of us uncovered our ears. "Gee...that was loud..." Hearing this, Hannah kind of gave me an angry, but also at the same time, a 'yeah no kidding' look in my way. "I forgot about the security alarms," I apologized, raising my hands like I was surrendering.
She took a deep breath, letting it out. "It's fine... You do need to leave."
"I will, I will. I...um... climb out the window I'd opened and down the tree I used to get in here. You can...uh...close it after I'm out of your house."
"Mhm. Go, please," she hurried, waving her arms as if to shoo me away as if I'm some sort of bug.
I went back up the stairs, going to the window that I'd opened, stopping at the study, my eyes on the manuscripts, the question on why two people coming out the book nagging me. The question won't be answered. All I can do is forget about it...if I can... In reality, I must've dreamed of the two people coming out of the book, I guess... No, no, I hadn't. I was awake, for sure, but... I'm not sure what to think at this point.
They could be...magical books... It's the answer I can come up with.
I went ahead, then stopped again. The intense feeling of opening the book I was about to unlock kept eating me, curious to why Hannah panicked when the manuscript began moving, as if it had the mind of its own.
Although, who's...he? And why can't 'he' come out of the book? I swear I'll never find the answers to these questions... I want to know what happened to R.L. Stine... need to know why Shivers is a jerk towards Hannah... wanting to know why Hannah keeps lying to me... why she's keeping secrets...
I need answers...
I got to the window, swinging my legs over the windowsill, then went down the tree. Once I was on the ground, I saw Hannah. "I'll be out tonight," she promised from above, then shut the window.
I wasn't up to hanging with her, but...oh well. She does need a friend.
I was about to head home, when I saw her dad's car pull in the driveway. From my own perspective, he probably hadn't gotten close to getting out of the neighborhood. I watched as he got out of his car, fiddled with his cellphone, and went towards the house. "Hannah. Hannah." I rolled my eyes, knowing how fake worried he is. What a jerk. "Han-" I had taken a few steps out from the side of the house when his eyes caught me. "You!" he yelled, marching up to me. "You were the one who was in my house," he accused, jabbing a finger in my face. "That's why the alarms went off."
I crossed my arms. "You guessed correctly, sir. Tell me...why are the books locked up? And why is Hannah afraid of you? Answer the questions - now." I didn't tell him that I wanted to get her out of the house to avoid anything nasty from him. I hadn't told Hannah about my plan.
I'll let her know tonight.
He took his finger away, folding his arms. "I had already told you... Hannah isn't afraid of me."
"Pft, yeah right," I disbelieved, knowing how much of a liar he was.
"I keep her safe..." He got into my personal space, like he was trying to scare me...and he was... "My daughter hadn't feared me ever since I created- I mean, ever since I took her in."
My frown deepened. "Hannah told me she never knew her mom..."
He lifted an eyebrow. He seemed to smirk. "Her mom isn't here."
"Liar!" I cried. "She doesn't have a mom, you doofus."
"Did you call me doofus?" he questioned, getting offended, his eyes narrowing.
"I don't regret what I called you," I responded with no remorse. "Not only you're a bad dad, you're also a- Wait. Created? What do you mean by 'created'?" I asked, my anger, my fear, washing away, being replaced with confusion.
His forehead began to shine from the moisture building up. "Errr..." Darting his eyes from side to side, I have a sense he's hiding something, aside from not telling me the truth on how he takes care of a teenage child. "Uhh..." I waited, tapping my foot on the ground. "You don't need to know," he finally said, forcing the words out.
"I do have the right to know," I frowned, not budging.
"You don't need to know anything," he seemed to snarl. "If I were you, I'd go back to my place..." He got out of my space, stepping out of my way, pointing. "Maybe the alarms going off taught you to stay away from us," he hoped bitterly, this time grabbing the shoulder part of my shirt, pulling me, compelling me to walk, seeing I hadn't moved. He practically tossed me off the end of the walkway by the time we reached it.
I stumbled on my own feet, landing on my knees on the hard concrete, sending daggers at him. "You're rough, you know that?" I said with disapproval. I got up, seeing I had scraped my knees from the fall. "I appreciate you escorting me off your property," I thanked sardonically.
"No problem," Shivers returned snidely, nearly sniggering.
I huffed, a few strands of my hair falling in front of my face. I brushed them away, then, with a quick turn, I headed back to my home. However, I stopped in my yard, peeking over the fence on my tiptoes to see Shivers entering inside his home. He doesn't say anything. I saw his silhouette appear at the window along with Hannah's. They were talking about something, except the window was closed like all the other ones.
I have no clue what any of them are saying. I saw Shivers place a hand on her, with her shoving it off. I wish I knew what they were saying because I can see Hannah moving her hands, angrily. I knew she was getting fed up with her dad for keeping her indoors twenty-four seven, trying to stand up to herself, when her dad pointed his finger at her, stopping her.
Here, I saw him flailing his hands in the same manner like his daughter was doing, who has now taken a step back, getting all nervous, all...terrified... I know I'm seeing their shadows only, but from their body language her dad is yelling at her, while she just stood there taking every word in.
I got off my tiptoes, sighing. She cannot stay at her dad's place any longer, I thought, thinking up any other ways to get her away from that place. I'm not sure if I can... She's such a nice girl...such a... friend... Fine, I'll use the word 'friend'. It's...weird to bring up such a word.
Is she really a friend...? I cannot tell. I'm not used to it. She's been nice to be so far, so I guess she's a true friend...
I walked back into my house, kicking my shoes off, and flopped on the couch, eyes up at the ceiling. I may be thinking about Hannah and why her dad is being the way he is towards her and why I cannot unlock the one book I was about to unlock like I did the last time to see if another person pops out of it like magic.
Also...who's 'he'? Hannah mentioned it when she said 'he' cannot be out of the book. The Night Of The Living Dummy book. And why was she...relieved when the book stopped moving?
It's too bad I won't get any answers... I won't even get answers from Hannah after she acted strange when she went from one tree to another to avoid the moonlight from last night.
I'm suspecting she has another thing she's hiding from me... A secret she's keeping... Well, if it's a secret, I shouldn't have her tell me. But the way she was... I... I'm not sure what to say. She even stated that she prefers cloudy nights.
If she acts all weird again tonight when there's no clouds in the sky, I'll carefully ask her why she keeps avoiding the light of the moon in the dark hour.
I heard humming, along with a door opening. I sat up halfway to see aunt Sarah walking in with bags of groceries full of baking ingredients for the cookies she wanted to bake. She removed her shoes off, setting her unorganized purse down. She strolled to where I was, holding the bags. "Let's make cookies," she declared exuberantly. I sat up more, getting off the couch. "We're going to make chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies." She paused, thinking about something. "Actually, we should stick with... nah, let's bake both kinds of cookies. I'll ask them when we give these to them," she talked to herself, referring to Shivers and Hannah.
I stayed quiet, watching my aunt pull out the ingredients for one of the cookies she's going to bake - chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies. I rested my back on the wall of the kitchen after following my aunt there. She took out her cellphone, messing with it until a song came on.
"Hey-o, here comes the danger up in this club
When we get started and we ain't gonna stop
We gonna turn it out till it gets too hot
Everybody sing, hey-o,
Tell 'em turn it up till they can't no more
Let's get this thing shakin' like a disco ball
This is your last warning, a courtesy call." My arms crossed over my chest, my ears listening to a song from a band - a rock band - that my aunt listens to. Admittedly, it is a catchy song to listen to. No lie about it. Except I don't listen to any music whatsoever. I know... surprising. I may be the only one who doesn't listen to any song whether it is pop, country, rap, rock, or whatever.
"Hey-o, here comes the danger up in this club
When we get started and we ain't gonna stop
We're gonna turn it out till it gets too hot
Everybody sing, hey-o." Whoever is the lead singer of this rock group repeated the first verse again.
"Tell 'em to turn it up till they can't no more
"Let's get this thing shakin' like a disco ball
This is your last warning, a courtesy call." The song went on as my aunt and I went on with the cookies after I removed myself from the wall, even though I think it'll be better to give them to Hannah and not to Shivers, except my aunt disagrees, saying it wouldn't be fair.
"I am not afraid of the storm that comes my way
When it hits me it shakes me to the core
And makes me stronger than before..." Throughout the song, I got out the measuring cups and spoons for my aunt as she read her baking book. Like I said before, my aunt loves to bake. "It's not a question about trust..." Hearing that part made me think about how hard it is to trust anyone these days, with the exception of my aunt, her friends before we moved, and... Hannah... "But will you stand with us?
Can you feel it? Make it real?
I think it might wash away tonight
Awaken from this never ending fight..." I listened as I helped out, the song almost matching what I've gone through... Kind of. Parts like shake me to the core... it's not a question about trust... and awaken from this never ending fight... fit me well in a partial kind of way.
"It takes more than meets the eye
This war we're fighting it's not just rotting...
Hey-o, here comes the danger up in this club
When we get started and we ain't gonna stop
We gonna turn it out till it gets too hot." The first verse starting with hey-o, came up again. "Everybody sing, hey-o," the singer of the band seems to project out his vocal cords, making me curious to know who the singer is. "Tell 'em turn it up till we can't no more
Let's get this thing shakin' like a disco ball
This is your last warning, a courtesy call... " I shuddered, remembering Shivers' warning about staying away from his daughter, to keep off his property.
"There's a rumble in the floor
So get prepared for war
When it hits it'll knock you to the ground..." That part is too close to home... "...when it shakes up everything around
But survival is a must..." True on that part... "...so will you stand with us...?
Can you feel it? Make it real
Make me feel it." The voice distorted for a second before the person's responsible singing voice sang loudly again, bringing his rock on, repeating another verse of this...catchy song. "I think it might wash away tonight
Awaken from this never ending fight
It takes more than meets the eye
This war we're fighting is not just rotting." Putting the ingredients one at a time, being careful with the math as my aunt hummed to the song when the main singer and the instruments slowed down to a gentle tone.
"Hey-o, here comes the danger up in this club.
When we get started and we ain't gonna stop
We gonna turn it out till it gets too hot
Everybody sing, hey-o
Tell 'em to turn it up till they can't no more...
Let's get this thing shakin' like a disco ball
This is your last warning, a courtesy call..."
Afterwards, the instruments went from soft to loud from my aunt's cellphone as the singer sang one last time.
"Hey-o, here comes the danger up in this club
When we get started and we ain't gonna stop
We're gonna turn it up till it gets too hot
Everybody sing, hey-o~
Tell 'em turn it out till they can't no more
Let's get this thing shakin' like a disco ball
This is your last warning, a courtesy call." The beats of the drums and the riff of the guitars went on for a bit until the song ended. Afterwards, more songs came on that I didn't pay any attention to, letting the music go from one ear out the other, not bothering with it. Like I said, I never listen to any music. The only time I do is when my aunt plays her Spotify app since this is the only band she is a fan of.
The band, my aunt once told me, is called Hot Led Park. A band that had started several years ago by a group of guys.
At least my aunt hadn't blasted the music to the highest volume or else we'll lose our hearing like others would do when listening to this kind of genre. Not saying the band is bad; I just prefer no music in my life.
My aunt even sometimes plays this band in her car.
With both cookies - chocolate chip and sugar cookies - on the cookie sheets ready to be baked after many songs later, my aunt opened up the oven door after the oven was done preheating while she and I made the cookies while we waited. She placed both trays on the oven rack next to each other, side by side in there, shut the oven, and took out a timer.
Cranking it, she set the timer to thirty minutes, setting it on the stove top.
The timer made a tick, tick, tick sound as the time went by, by each second. I watched my aunt Sarah wash up all the large bowls and all the baking utensils in the sink, the water running while she did them, humming the first song from her favorite band that we'd just listened to. My aunt has told me in the past to listen to music to whisk away my depression.
I, of course, rejected the idea. It wasn't a bad idea, it's that I know it won't work. Nothing can make me happy, no matter what. I'll repeat, music isn't my thing. However, this band just doesn't do rock, they do other genres, too, from hearing their music whenever my aunt has them on her phone. She'll even play it to let time go by.
I rubbed my forehead, bored. At the same time, I was deeply afraid for Hannah's sake. I was deeply afraid of her dad for being cruel to her...being... My body shuddered at the thought of it. He reminds me of someone I know all too well...how strict the man is...how... Yet, I want to know about this secret I heard his daughter talking about, with Mr. Shivers not wanting to know who they are, especially him. He'll think I'll bring up questions, which, in all honesty, is true, for I want to keep on questioning why he's being awful to her, why he's got locked up books within the house of his. I want to ask what he means by regretting creating those monsters I heard from...
Hold up... there's no way he would've made monsters. No one can; it's impossible...is it? Also, whoever is 'him'? My mind kept playing when Hannah kept The Night Of The Living Dummy book from opening, picking up the shaking manuscript to put it back in on the bookcase, revealing when it was a 'close one' when it didn't open up.
I want to know what they're hiding. What Shivers is hiding, needing answers from both him and his daughter. I thought about going outside, letting aunt Sarah know before walking out the door after slipping my sneakers on.
I have no plan on taking a walk since I wasn't used to the neighborhood yet; the places I know where to go being the abandoned amusement park, the large empty house, the park, and cemetery, and the high school for this boring town of Madison.
I decided to check the house I saw next to the harrowing man's since my aunt and I live in the house on the right side of his. It's the same size as my and my aunt's home, maybe a bit smaller than ours from eyeballing it. I saw the For Sale sign embedded in the ground someone has put up, the house waiting for a new owner to take over it.
I looked to my right, seeing the same fence - a rot iron fence - I have on my side of Shivers' home, separating the two houses, along with a wooden fence I'd seen last night, spotting the same wooden board hanging limply, the one Hannah told me that she uses. Unless she does use it. I mean, I hadn't spotted a gate. I may have missed it. It is a fenced in yard; all of them should have gates to keep people off the property. Like me.
I went to Shivers' front yard, keeping myself out of it by leaning forward. I did see, indeed, a gate wide open. I bet he never closes it with all the security alarms he has whenever a door is opened, not working on the windows.
My ears caught the sound of the front door being unlocked, none other than the evil man. He was almost surprised when he spotted me, when his eyebrows narrowed, his eyes doing the dagger look. It was like he was warning me, and he is. He doesn't speak, like he was waiting for me to leave.
I would go, unless I could move for his eerie stare kept me in place, freezing me up. He caught on quickly, getting more ticked that I hadn't left, despite me not being in his front yard. Not even a foot in. He was like a guard dog, keeping others out, again, like me. I watched as he stepped off, or about to, when I saw his teenage daughter at the doorway.
She wasn't smiling... I can tell she wanted to step out here, other than staying where she's at. She picked her foot up, placing it on the porch with lots of tentativeness, her dad not noticing - at first, then finally got on it, settling herself there. Her head went down when she finally uttered something out. "Dad..."
"Hannah." Whipping his direction away from my end, it went towards Hannah. "You shouldn't be out here; get in the house," he ordered with pure ascendancy, voice strongly firm. She doesn't go in, standing there. "You better not be ignoring me, I'm your dad after all," he let her know, like he was warning her about something, and I knew off the bat what would happen next.
I wanted to do something quick, so I did. I rapidly came up to him. "You leave her be!" I shouted, regaining his attention back to me, the shocked look returning back to him. "You shouldn't treat her like a slave," I said, shoving him with such madness.
"I'm not treating her like a slave," he hissed in a rough whisper, as if he didn't want his kid to hear him.
"Then let her have freedom, you loathe being." His eyes went into anger when I insulted him, though I try not to pay attention to it. "You know, thinking about it..." I put my finger on my chin. "...she's better off with someone else."
"She's better off with me," the man seemed to growl. "No one can have her for I'm her dad."
"A dad who treats his daughter like old trash!" I proclaimed defiantly, knowing straight on I was correct.
"I don't treat her like old trash!" he quarreled.
"Then show me!" I challenged him. "Show me that you don't treat your daughter like yesterday's garbage."
"I don't need to show you because she's my daughter!"
"Dad..."
"Because she's my daughter," I almost mocked, not hearing Hannah at first. "I don't want anyone to know what I do with her. I don't want anyone to know my secret." His eyebrows went lower when I continued to mimic him. "She can't be outside, she isn't allowed to have friends. I'll be sure to keep our next new neighbors away from her, especially if it's a boy." I didn't stop, as I kept going. "I don't want my daughter pushing aside my orders, I don't want anyone to know who we are, more importantly me-"
"Stop it!" he yelled, getting me to shut up.
"Dad..."
"Then tell me why she isn't allowed to have freedom!" I commanded to know, not noticing his daughter trying to speak up again.
"I don't want her to have freedom!" he said, almost worriedly, with me not buying it. I know what a fake parent or guardian can look like and he's one of them. "You also shouldn't mock adults. Have your parents ever taught you that?"
"Dad, stop!" Hannah quickly intervened, standing in front of her father.
"I told you to get in the house..." he seemed to growl, like he wanted to frighten her in any way possible.
"Ezzy doesn't want to talk about her parents," she explained to him. "She only has an aunt."
"Did her parents pass?" Shivers' eyes went to me.
I, of course, folded my arms. "...I want them to pass away..." I wished with no remorse. I vigorously shook my head. "Enough talking about them. I also don't want to bring him up either."
"Him?" Hannah faced me. "Who's him?" Too bad she didn't get to receive an answer from her question by me for her dad seized her right arm. "Let go, dad," she said, doing all she can to get free. He disregarded, not releasing her. "Dad- Hey!" She let out a cry as she was being made to walk, Shivers 'helping' her daughter back on the porch.
"Get your hand-" I started to protest, only for him to cast a sharp stare, making me yield back.
Letting her go, he kept leering at me, using one hand to push her into the house, with her sort of stumbling in there. He smirked, like he'd won the match. He creepily went into his house. Then, slowly, keeping his eyes on me, he shut the door, the sound of the same lock being heard...
I stomped my foot on the ground with an angry grunt, feeling like I'd lost with this bad man. I wanted to... I wanted to... "Ergh!" I was so ticked I couldn't think of anything. I bet he knew I was out here, explaining why he'd opened the front door. Maybe he saw me. And I wish Hannah is away from her dad for the way he's treating her, like I keep bringing up who knows how many times. "I need to get her out of that house..."
"What was that, dear?" Straight away, I jerked my head around, seeing my aunt with a plate of the cookies. I can literally see the steam invading off of them, knowing how hot they are after being in the oven. "I couldn't help to over hear you-"
"It's nothing, aunt Sarah," I answered, cutting her off. I went up to her. "I'll give the cookies to Hannah," I offered, reaching for the plate when it got whipped away from my reaching hands.
"These are for both Hannah and her dad to have, Ezzy." A stern look was on her face. "I want us to be good neighbors. One way to have a good neighbor is to be a good neighbor."
"Shivers isn't a good neighbor," I informed her, crossing my arms. "He hates my guts and I hate him, excluding the part where I bumped into at the restaurant we were at, as well as giving his mail to him when it got into our mailbox by mistake. Actually, scratch that, it doesn't matter, he'll hate my guts anyway with me returning the same hatred to him."
"Hate is a pretty strong word..." Aunt Sarah responded with a slight cringe. "You two have a rough start. Besides, running into someone is accidental. You said it yourself."
"It doesn't matter. He was acting nice in front of those people who might've seen it." I let my arms hang limply.
"Hard to believe that," she said undoubtedly, certain of what she stated. "We should give these to them," she advised, going up to the porch. I nervously got on it, too, standing next to her as she gave the door a gentle knock.
A few seconds later, the two of us saw the door open, the lock surprising my aunt a bit. The door parted open, revealing Shivers. "May I help you?" He didn't notice me at first, unaware I hadn't left his yard, seeing my aunt.
"Hi, I'm Sarah and this is my niece, Ezzy," my aunt greeted heartily. I groaned, not wanting to be included.
"Nice meeting you, too..." I couldn't help it when my body shuddered at the way he returned my aunt's introduction, sounding like someone who writes scary stories. Actually, he should be writing horror stories considering how creepy he is. He looked at the plate. "I see you got something there," he grinned eerily, without my aunt catching it, with an observed eye.
"Yes, I baked these cookies for you and your daughter," she expressed with happiness. "I know neighbors normally do this to newcomers but I wanted to let you know that my niece and I are wonderful neighbors like you are." I blinked. Wonderful? If only she knew... "Here." She handed him the plate, as he took it from her.
"How kind of you..." he obliged with the same scary smile. Why isn't my aunt catching it? I want to leave, go to my room, and come up with a plan to get his daughter away from him. "My daughter and I will enjoy these..." He looked at the plate. "...cookies." He then eyed at me, giving off the same smirk. "I'll let my daughter know that you and your precious niece made these for us." I didn't like the way he mentioned I was precious, knowing he doesn't mean it. He turned his head when all of us heard footsteps. "Speaking of my daughter..." Acting all friendly, he opened the door further as if he's revealing us to her for the first time. "Hannah, sweetie pie, these lovely individuals gave us these as a gift to let us know they're kind neighbors like we are." Hearing this is a complete lie from him. He's saying they're kind when in reality, it's his daughter who's been kind to me unlike those in Maryland, excluding my aunt and her companions. "We're lucky to have such neighbors as them, right?" he directly asked his teenage child.
"Right," she almost seemed to forcefully agree, avoiding to make her dad angry.
"Mind if we come in-"
"No. No one is allowed in my house," Shivers turned down quickly at aunt Sarah's request, blocking the doorway like he doesn't want anyone to see inside, even though I was in there twice. "I have...special things I don't want to get broken," he informed, getting me to squint my eyes at the word he threw out of his mouth. Special things? I want to know what he's talking about, with the words 'create', 'monsters', and 'him'.
I was about to speak when aunt Sarah beat me to it. "No problem. You two are always welcome at our place." I pierced my eyes at her when she gave them the invitation, refusing to have Hannah's dad in our home.
"It won't be necessary," he declined again, looking at Hannah then back at us. "Hannah has to stay in for the rest of the day."
"I'm sorry," my aunt apologized with a nod, when I went to try to say something for the second time. "We both understand-"
"He doesn't allow her to be outside," I finally broke in. "He locks her up inside all the time. He even has security systems up to make sure she doesn't leave," I said, excluding the part where she uses the window and the tree to get out of this place. "It's like jail for her."
"Ezzy!" I ended up flinching when I got unfairly castigated. "Knock it off. He has the alarms up to keep any robbers out from stealing his stuff and possibly to keep kidnappers out of his home."
"What robbers?" I questioned my only family member. "And what kidnappers? It's a boring town with nothing going on. It's not like monsters are going to invade here." Saying that, my dream came back to mind, the ones about the monsters, and I quickly threw them back, knowing it won't happen, despite how real it felt.
"Ezz..."
"This man isn't keeping his daughter safe, aunt Sarah, he's-"
"Ezz! He's not hurting her! He's-" She stopped, taking a deep breath, getting frustrated.
"You should discuss this at your place," our scary neighbor suggested, his eyes locked on me. "I hate to see it being talked about in front of us."
"We should get going anyway," she agreed, giving me the eye. "We'll see you another time." Turning around, the two of us left the porch. I looked back to see Mr. Shivers' eyes glued on me, as if he's making sure I don't come back, the smirk he'd had being replaced with a sinister glare.
Reaching the end of the walkway, my ears heard the sound of the door and the lock.
I sighed, feeling extremely bad for Hannah, knowing for a fact that she's in danger. On the other hand, my aunt isn't pleased with me, sending me up to my room to have me think about the so-called false assumption I keep on claiming when everything I stated is true to a T.
I don't care. All I cared about my friend Hannah, still weirded out by using that word I stay clear away from since childhood. Unless I have more... You will have no idea how difficult it is to know if someone is pretending to be your close pal or not. I, for one, can never notice the difference. I should listen to my instincts that Hannah is my friend, however... another part says I should keep my guard up in case of any changes within her.
I was soon called back downstairs. I made my way down, reaching the floor, aunt Sarah waiting for me with arms over her chest, telling me that she still isn't happy at what I said to our neighbor.
"What I stated is the truth," I cut off the short silence, not letting her speak. "I know Hannah is being tortured by her dad-"
"Stop it," she commanded straightforwardly, no changes within her expression. "You're going to go over there and apologize-"
"No way!"
"-for excusing him of being cruel to his daughter," she finished, ignoring my protest.
"I can't do that!" I declared in pure anger. "I'm not going to say sorry to...to...him."
She put her hands on her hips. "You have to, Missy, you're going to-" She let out a sigh, rubbing her face. "Listen," she started to say in a much gentle tone. "As much as you care about Hannah, which I give you stars for, and she also cares about you, too, but just because her dad is strict with her doesn't mean he's a bad man. I mean, perhaps you should change your attitude."
I gasped loudly, unable to put out what she said. "Change my attitude?" I pointed at myself in pure shock, unable to believe what she told me.
"Change your attitude as well as apologizing to the fellow man," she replied with some strictness within her, despite that she isn't strict at all.
"Fellow man!?" I couldn't believe she said that. "But he... d...b... Hannah is being... It's Shivers that... you got to be kid..." An infuriating scream came out of my mouth, then I dropped my head, giving up. "...I'll go over and say sorry to him."
Aunt Sarah didn't respond as I walked by her, going out of the house to Shivers'. I sulkily made my way over to the porch, stepping on it, both feet on the Welcome mate I'd hadn't noticed beforehand.
I reached up, then made contact with the door with my fist.
After knocking, I waited impatiently for the disgust of a dad to show his face to me, tapping my foot. I looked over to my left, staring at the sold house, still a bit curious to whom will be in that house.
The sound of the lock snapped my attention away from it as I took a step back to see the door opening up a crack before opening all the way, seeing Shivers standing, keeping the entryway half open to keep me out and his daughter in. "You again?"
"My aunt told me I should apologize to you..." I explained the reason why I'm here.
His demeanor shifted from not pleased to surprise to with an arch eyebrow. "Your aunt had sent you here to apologize to me?" he questioned with the unnerving smirk coming upon his lips. "I like to hear it," he said, pushing the door, widening up the doorway. He crossed his arms, waiting.
I looked away. "I'm...sorry," I forced out, though not feeling sorry at all.
"Second time and this time you didn't panic," he credited, referring to what happened at the buffet restaurant.
I wasn't sure what to say, for I had nothing to say in return. I looked into the doorway to see Hannah standing there, further away from where her dad and I are, munching on one of the cookies. It was the chocolate chip kind.
She began walking forward, though her dad seemed to develop the sixth sense because he faced away from me, getting her to freeze. She slowly took a couple steps back. Shivers glanced over at me, then back at her, checking to make sure she stays in place. His unnerving smile directed towards me. "My daughter and I are happy to have neighbors like you and your aunt." Afterwards, he shut the door, locking it up.
I shook my head, leaving, returning back to my house, needing to come up with a plan to get Hannah away from her dad. The part where she says he's overprotective isn't true - it's a lie, covering up for her father.
I entered my home, going up to the couch, plopping myself on it, seeing my aunt on the phone. "Who are you talking to?" I asked, after she was done.
"I was ordering pizza," she told me. "Should be here soon."
I looked at the cable box. "It's not even dinner yet."
"I know. Except I got an email from the high school-"
"High school? You mean at the Madison High School?" I interrupted.
She covered her mouth, but it was too late. "Yes, at the Madison High School. I'm going to be a Math teacher there."
"You never worked at a school before." Fear came upon me. "Please tell me I'm not going there."
"You're going, yes," she confirmed what was bad news to me.
I got up from the couch like a rocket. "I'm not going back to school!"
"It won't be-"
"Don't you say it won't be like the last one."
"You were in elementary school, then."
"Doesn't matter. I will be hated there with everyone wanting me to be miserable like those kids to me back at our old home. What's worse is that I told Hannah that you let me quit. She's going to... She's going to think I'm a liar..." Both dread and panic came over me, my mind already seeing what will happen when I go to Madison High School and Hannah not being my...friend anymore...
My aunt felt my fear, giving me a hug of reassurance. "It'll be okay. Hannah will be there-"
"She's home schooled by her dad," I had to break it to her. "She told me she never went to an actual school, let alone a school dance. Now that's something I don't want to go to, either."
My aunt released me, having me look at her. "You can have a school buddy."
I moved her hand away. "A school buddy...?"
"Yes." She nodded. "A school buddy to be with. I can talk to my new boss about it." She then checked her phone. "I better get going for that interview." Going to where her purse was at, she pulled out her wallet, handing me a twenty dollar bill. "Here. You can pay for the pizza."
"Kay..." I wasn't convinced about this school buddy thing, but I trust her. "I'll see you later."
"You too," aunt Sarah smiled kindly, leaving the house with a wave. Seconds later, I heard the sound of the car rolling away as she went to the high school.
Letting out a disappointed sigh, I sat back on the couch. I picked up the remote. I had no intention of watching TV but I turned it on anyway and watched whatever was on, paying no attention to it. I was more focused on the school buddy that was brought up. I guess a school buddy would be fine... As long as this person doesn't do anything bad to me.
I know my aunt wanted to tell me about her new job after dinner, when it slipped out. She knew school was a nightmare for me. I can tell that she felt bad, except I won't blame her. I can't tell her what job she can and cannot have.
Is she really going to be a teacher...? I wondered, putting the remote on the arm of the couch when I heard the sound of the door being pounded. "Coming," I called from the other side of it. I got up, going up to the door, swinging it open.
"Pizza delivery." Standing there is a man wearing a red shirt with black pants, and work shoes, along with a red cap, holding out a pizza box. I took it, handing him the money. "Have a nice day," he wished, tipping his hat forward.
I shut the door when he got back to his delivery car, heading to the kitchen. I set the pizza box down, flipping it open. The pizza is half and half - pepperoni, my aunt's favorite, and cheese which is the kind of pizza I like.
Staring at this had me think of Hannah. Even though I saw her eating a cookie, it still doesn't convince me her dad is feeding her. He may have brought food home one night, but... I angrily shook my head, knowing what a bad person he is.
I got a plate, slapping the first slice onto it. I sat back on the couch, continuing to watch the show that is continuously playing, nibbling on the slice of pizza I've chosen.
However, my stomach was in knots. I could barely eat. I kept going through it until all that was left was the crust, the part that I don't eat. I threw the crust away, putting the plate in the sink afterwards.
I sat back on the couch for the third time, coming up with the plan to get Hannah out of the house, away from her dad. I will never buy the excuse where she informed me that her father is overprotective. Yeah, right. He isn't overprotective, he's... I have to figure out a way to get her out of there, no matter what.
But how...?
