Axe Me for the Truth - Chapter 1
*Slightly edited swearing and adult situations, not for those afraid of ghosts*
Please let me know what you guys think of the story. I'm not looking for grammatical or spelling fixes, I want to know the general feelings that people get from this tale. Whether the characters are believable, if you want to know more, what your impressions are. Thank you guys. Feel free to hit me up to read your work, I love to stroke other writers egos.
It was a house like any other house. The neighborhood was quiet, one of those residential areas that everyone wants in due to it’s historical status or watnot that makes it worth like 600 billion dollars. My mother was as pleased as one could be that she had figured out how to make ends meet enough to afford it. I didn’t care, it meant we were severing the final ties between our old life and our new one, and it made me sad.
My mother and father had recently split up after my mom caught my dad in bed with the neighbor’s daughter. Sounds worse than it was. She was after all ten years older than me and I’m almost legal now but nonetheless, it was an affair. Wait, I stand corrected. It was the affair, the affair that ended it all, the first of his many that she absolutely refused to tolerate. It was his final affair.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my father and think he has his good points but when she decided that enough was enough, I was grateful. All the screaming and bickering, it tended to take it’s toll on one’s patience. The first affair, at least the first one he got busted with, happened ten years ago when I was seven. I remember my mother finding the lipstick on his pants. She just sat down in the dining chair, her face blank and numb. When he came home, I thought my ears were going to bleed from all the screaming.
My mom went back to work after that affair. She was a legal secretary and made a decent chunk of cash. She didn’t say it but we all knew that the reason she was working was so that she could leave my dad. The problem wasn’t that she didn’t have the capability to leave him, it was that she didn’t have the willpower. Despite his many flaws, she loved my father and couldn’t bare the thought of leaving him, even if it meant putting up with his many floozies.
His last affair though, he had touched home. It was more than she could stand and she couldn’t handle the way the neighbors looked at us, how they knew our family’s dirty secret. So, without really consulting myself or my brother, Jackson, she just decided we were moving. And when she decided we were moving, it wasn’t just a small neighborhood switch but still go to the same school, it was a pick up your roots cause we’re done with this turf. It was devastating.
My best friend, Monica, cried hysterically when she found out and that of course made me cry hysterically. I don’t really cry, I don’t like feeling that weak but her tears just unleashed all the anger and sadness I felt over everything. I was going to break it off with my boyfriend, Evan, but he insisted we could try the whole two hour drive thing. I’ve never been a fan of long distance relationships and yeah, it’s only two hours, but it’ll get old fast. I hope we have the endurance to make it but I don’t know. I don’t have a lot of faith in us lasting. I just don’t have the nerve to tell Evan that, yet.
Anyways, back to the blasted house that my mom found and fell in love with. I could certainly see the curb appeal. It’s a cute two story, painted dollhouse yellow with white shutters and trim. The yard’s trimmed, there’s blooming flowerboxes lining the yard against the house and a great big tree that looks ageless and perfect for a tree house. The neighborhood itself is full of similar houses, each one beautiful and unique but so perfect that it almost seems a bit Stepford-y to me.
“What do you think?” my mom gushed as she pulled up in front of our new home. She already knew what I thought. I had told her a thousand times since she had first shown us the house that it was cute. I always left off the part about how I didn’t want to move, she knew it without saying and it didn’t make a difference. There was no point in beating the dead horse, at least that’s what I thought.
Jackson grunted, “I still say it’s way too yellow.” He didn’t like the yellow. Although I agreed with him that it was too yellow, I kind of liked it. It was sunny and well, dollhouse like. I could handle the yellow. I just couldn’t handle the end of my life.
“Oh Jackson,” my mother practically giggled, “If it were any other color, you’d say it was too red or green or blue or white or whatever shade. You’ll get used to it. What do you think Jenna?”
I stared at the house, blinking back the tears that burned my eyes. I wasn’t going to cry when all she was asking was what I thought, again, of our new home, “It’s cute.” My voice sounded so bland but she hardly missed a beat.
“I know, isn’t it?!” she threw open the door and beamed brightly at the movers. They blushed under her warm gaze as they began the monotonous chore of unloading the truck. I don’t understand why my dad had the affairs, my mother was gorgeous. She wasn’t a big woman, she was only 5 ft 2 but she had such a lively personality that she filled a room when she walked in. She was more on the voluptuous side, enough curves to stop the street but not so many that her tummy was bigger than her breasts. I had the same body but taller and I prided myself on making sure that my tummy was never bigger than my boobs. I was not going to look like one of those women who looked like she’d eaten too much McDonald’s and not enough silicone. My mom also had thick shiny brown hair that hung down to her waist and sparkling, laughing blue eyes. It had been a long time since I’d seen her eyes full of so much life but almost from the moment she had announced the divorce, something in her had sparked back awake. The movers were obviously entranced by my mom and again, I couldn’t help but wonder, why hadn’t my father been too?
My mother slipped into the roll of director, pointing enthusiastically to where she wanted the boxes and furniture. I took advantage of her attention being elsewhere and decided to wander through our giant dollhouse. I’d already explored the rooms and whatnot with my mother but I felt that if I had to live there, I needed to wander on my own. Plus, I didn’t want to be asked for the billionth time, “what do you think of the house?”.
I slipped upstairs, where the movers weren’t yet attacking, and stood in the hallway. The floors were real wood, it was something my mom had been tickled over, and the finishing over them reflected the warmth of the sun shining through the large open windows. The hallway seemed impossibly long even though it only had four doorways plus the closet at the end. One of those doorways, the last one on the right was mine.
Even with all the bustle of the movers below me, the upstairs seemed unnaturally quiet. It was as if the house were holding it’s breath, waiting, and I felt a chill go through me even though I was a little on the warmer side. Something was off but I couldn’t place what. I took a step forward and startled when the floor creaked beneath me. That would make it difficult to sneak out if the bug ever bit. I took another step and this time, I was prepared for the creak of protest.
Then I paused, from the end of the hall, I had heard another squeak as if someone were walking there.
“Jackson?” I called nervously, wondering if my obnoxious little brother had managed to get up here before me. There was no response so I stood there again, waiting for him to jump out at me or try to frighten me in some manner. But, he never did.
The doors were all shut and I suddenly wished that they were open, that I could see into the bedrooms. I wanted to know that they were empty, that no one else was up here with me and I had imagined the other squeak. I swallowed nervously, my palms sweating and the hairs up on my neck. Everything in my body was telling me to run back down stairs, to join the hustle of movement but I couldn’t do it. I took another step forward and the floor squeaked again. Even though I knew it would, with how tense I felt, I again jumped. I cursed at myself quietly and tried to place my foot down more gentle.
Suddenly, I saw a shadow cross the light coming from the bottom of the door across from my bedroom. That wasn’t Jackson’s room, his was the first on the right. It was going to be my art room. Not willing to wait and see if whatever, whoever, was in that room was going to come out, I turned and bolted down the stairs. I almost ran over Jackson who was sitting on the bottom step.
My mother looked startled at my sudden rush down the flight and asked, “House on fire?” I shook my head, trying to calm myself down and subdue the surge of panic beating in my heart. I could see all the movers and my family. Someone was upstairs that wasn’t supposed to be.
After my mother’s attention had moved on, I whispered to my little brother, “I think someone else is upstairs. Will you come with me and check it out?” He looked at me like I was nuts and I knew if he hadn’t been bored, he would have laughed at me and told me to get a padded jacket. But, luckily for me, he was bored out of his poor mind and was eager for something to do. So, he nodded his head and rose slowly, huffing and puffing like I was asking him to do a chore or something.
The first thing I noticed when we walked up was that every single door was standing thrown open, displaying their empty rooms.
“What the f***?” I spat, freezing at the sight.
“What?” he looked around, trying to figure out what had startled me.
“Jackson,” I was whispering but I felt like screaming, “When I was just up here a few minutes ago, every door was shut. Every one of them.” Even the closet door was open. I closed my eyes, vividly remembering in detail the hallway only a few moments ago. There was no doubt in my mind, the doors had been shut.
“Shut up, man you’re such a b****,” Jackson spat and began heading back down the stairs, “We’re not even moved in yet and you’re already trying to screw with me.” I wanted to tell him that I wasn’t but I couldn’t seem to get my voice to work right. Again, I found myself standing alone, staring down that very forbidding hallway.
I knew the doors had been and I knew I had seen a shadow beneath one. The problem was that only I was the one with that knowledge and I didn’t know who else to tell that would believe me. Jackson didn’t and I didn’t exactly see my mother believing my tale. For the time being, I was on my own.
I was broken out of my stupor by my mom’s voice, “This is my son Jackson and my daughter, Jenna, is upstairs.” My curiosity got over my fear and I walked slowly down to see a few kids standing at the bottom, talking to my mom and brother. They were all around my age.
The girl talking to my mom had short bobbed white blonde hair and light green eyes. Her skin was flawless, white, and she had the most perfect pink mouth. The boy standing next to her was clearly her brother. In fact, I was willing to bet they were twins. He looked of course more masculine but he was as delicate featured as his sister, they could have been models together. The other boy standing with them was almost obscenely tall. He towered at least a foot over my mother, which was only made more intimidating by the fact he was facially pierced and wearing all black. He had a dangerous appeal around him that made me find his green spiked hair and vampire contact eyes kind of sexy.
“Welcome to the neighborhood,” the girl was saying with that perfect smile, “I’m sure my parents will be by later after work.” Then she looked up and flashed her white teeth at me. “You must be Jenna, I’m Mattie and this is my brother, Mason. And this trouble maker behind me is my boyfriend, Trent.”
“Oh, hi,” I wasn’t exactly thrilled at the welcoming party but it gave me something else to focus on other than the creepy door display.
“Well, I’ll leave you kids to get to know each other. I’ve got movers to direct,” my mother flounced off and I noticed Mason eying her appreciatively. One of the movers, a tall fellow with a gut that could have held triplets, grunted excuse me at our little group.
Eager to get out of the house, I suggested, “Why don’t’ we go out back, out of the way?” They all agreed and Jackson followed us out in hog heaven. Back at our old place, I never would have allowed him to hang out with me and my friends. He was such a geek but since there wasn’t anyone his age over yet, I didn’t protest.
“So, we’re the new neighbors,” I began casually then tried to edge around my point, “So, did you guys know who lived here before us?”
“Yeah, the Gruegens. A real nice couple,” Mattie replied, running a well manicured hand through her hair. Every detail about her and Mason told me that they came from a well to do family. I felt kind of out of their league but I tried not to dwell on the financial side of things.
“So, um, why’d they move out?” I poked, trying not to sound overly concerned.
“It was real sad, Mr. Gruegen died,” she began.
Instantly I interrupted, “In the house?”
She looked at me kind of oddly then shook her head, “No, he died in the hospital, he had cancer. Broke Mrs. Gruegen’s heart when he passed away. That’s why she moved, said there were too many memories here and she just couldn’t take it.”
“Oh, that is sad,” I sounded like I felt her pain but it was more than that. I was disappointed. I had expected to hear he had died some horrific death and was now haunting the place.
“Did they ever see anything weird here?” I asked, realizing that I was beginning to sound a bit on the nutty side. Oh well, may as well show my true colors from the beginning rather than attempting to impress falsely.
“Weird?” Mason asked, cocking his eyebrow at me, “Weird how?”
Jackson leapt in, “You’re not going to start in with the doors again, are you?” I could have smacked him. I hadn’t planned on sharing that information with anyone else yet.
“The doors?” she asked, leaning forward with interest.
I sighed and slumped my shoulders in defeat; I was going to have to beat me a brother later. “I went upstairs and all the doors were closed but I heard and saw things in the last room that made me think someone else was there. So, I went and got Jackson but when we came back up, all the doors were open and no one was there. No big deal, I probably imagined it all,” I discounted myself before they could.
I waited for the ridicule but their wide eyed expressions never gave any. Finally, Mattie spoke, “So, you’ve like got a ghost? That’s wicked cool. “
“Wicked cool?” I stuttered.
Trent grinned, “F*** yeah. Ghosts are just awesome.” I was trying to keep my shock from showing. I had thought they’d look at me like I was crazy but now I was wondering why I had been concerned? Someone was certainly crazy in our little group and I was confident it wasn’t just me. Jackson’s face was as bewildered as I felt and he kept looking around at all of us like he was afraid someone was going to bite.
“I’ve always been fascinated with the supernatural. Will you tell us if you have any other experiences with the ghost?” Mattie was practically begging so I nodded slowly, still trying to figure out how they could be so excited.
“I don’t even know that it’s a ghost,” I protested.
“Please, that sounds like a ghost. I don’t think the Gruegens ever had ghost issues but they may just not have shared it with anyone,” Mattie replied confidently.
Mason gave me a playful wink, “If you get scared, I’d be more than willing to come over and protect you.”
“Oh I’m sure you would, horn-dog,” she elbowed her brother and I blushed. Great, just what I needed. A cute boy from a dysfunctional twin set flirting with me when I was still trying to figure out if my current boyfriend and I were going to make it.
Before we could discuss the possible protection avenues of Mason further, there was a shattering of glass from the house followed by a string of obscenities.
“That didn’t sound good,” I muttered and walked back towards the house.
“I’m so sorry,” one of the movers with thinning hair and watery eyes mumbled apologetically, gesturing to the remains of a lamp at the bottom of the stairs. I thought instantly of the ghost upstairs and my eyes trailed up the steps, half expecting to see a spirit giggling at the top. There was nothing, of course.
“What happened?” I asked, totally ignoring the other teenagers standing behind me.
The mover looked startled at my voice and replied, almost in tears, “I missed the first step somehow and just dropped it. I’m so sorry; we can compensate you for it.”
My mom laughed and shook her head, “Don’t worry about it, accidents happen. It’s not an important lamp anyways.” My head yanked in her direction as if I had rope tied around it, had I really just heard her right? It wasn’t an important lamp? My father’s mother had given it to her as a wedding gift… it was then I realized how exactly hard my mother was trying to cut every tie from her previous life. I couldn’t help but wonder if her detachment might reach out to include Jackson and I. After all, we were a link she would always share with my father.
“Are you sure?” the mover asked but I had already turned around and was pushing through the others so I didn’t hear her response. I stood in the grass, trying to calm my breathing and fighting a batch of tears. I wanted my mother divorced from my father, she should have done it a long time ago but I didn’t want her to make everything unimportant. I knew it was a bit irrational but I was terrified that we were going to be on her list of unimportant things.
“Are you okay?” Mason asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I shrugged him off casually and forced a smile, “I’m fine, just like that lamp.” It sounded lame, even to me, but it was the only excuse I could think of at the moment. Jackson’s light green eyes burned into mine, full of concern, and I wondered if he were thinking the same thing as me.
“We ought to be going,” Mattie bubbled, “But don’t think this is the last of us you’ll be seeing. I plan on coming over to help you find out more about your ghost. Plus, you’re the new kids, can’t let anyone else get you.” I nodded my head, not really understanding, but Mattie was obviously the kind of person that you just went along with her plans.
“It was nice meeting you, thanks for coming over,” Jackson remembered his manners.
“Yeah, seriously, really appreciate it,” I quickly chimed in and had to resist a glare his way. What a little suckup.
As they walked towards the door, Mason, with a mischievous grin, cast over his shoulder, “If you need protection, don’t hesitate to call me. I’d be willing to sleep in your room, make sure you were safe.”
“Yeah, keep on dreaming,” I tossed back, making Mattie and Trent giggle. I had to admit, I did kind of like them all. They seemed fun to be around and in a new place; it was always nice to have some kind of friends.
“Do you really think there’s a ghost?” Jackson asked.
I glared at him, “Oh, now you take me seriously. I don’t know honestly. I mean, I would have sworn the doors were open and that there was someone else up there but I don’t know. I guess I could have imagined it all.” It was easier to believe outside in the huge grassy yard, especially after our sunny reception from the twins and Trent.
We probably would have talked about it longer but my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the caller id. It was Evan.
“Hey,” I tried to sound cheerful but sounded forced.
“Hey babe, I miss you already,” he griped.
This was going to be a long two hour apart relationship, “Yeah, me too.”
“You wouldn’t believe the crap that’s been going on here. It’s a bummer you’re not here, you’d totally get a kick out of it. Felicia’s boyfriend dumped her because he found out about her sleeping with Mr. Chestrick,” he bragged. I couldn’t help but smile at that. Everyone knew about Felicia’s “affair”. Mr. Chestrick was a math teacher at our high school and it was common knowledge, at least among the student body, that he liked his students as more than study buddies.
“And another one suck’s the Chestdick,” I chuckled and walked over to the wall so I could lean up against it.
I could hear the disdain in his voice, “I can’t imagine, he’s old but whatever floats their boat. I’ve got a day off from work tomorrow, do you want me to come up? I could help you unpack and you could show me your room.” The innuendo in his suggestion about my room was so painfully obvious that it made me roll my eyes.
“Chee Evan, that’s a tempting offer but since I wasn’t willing to “show” you my room back when we lived near each other, why would I be more inclined to do so now?” I asked, sighing heavily. This was a constant debate between us. Evan wanted me to sleep with him desperately and had been trying since we started dating three months ago. I was still a virgin and I wasn’t exactly excited to give it up to a guy whom I couldn’t see myself being able to survive a long distance relationship with, much less truly have a future with.
“I’m just playing,” he retorted but we both knew better.
“Yeah, well if you ever want any from me, you might want to drop that kind of playing,” I hissed, rolling my eyes yet again. I hoped this wasn’t how all of our phone conversations were going to progress or I was not answering his calls anymore.
“Sorry,” he quickly apologized and then began to whine, “It’s just we’ve been together for three months and that’s a long time to not do anything more than kiss. I mean, even Monica agrees that three months is a long…”
“Oh please, you’re trying to drag Monica into this? I love her but let’s face it, Monica will say whatever is necessary to keep us both happy. If she were talking to me, she’d be telling me that you’re being too pushy and not giving romance a chance to bloom before wanting to succumb to lust,” I was trying to sound as high and mighty as I could possibly muster, “The bottom line is my sexuality is not Monica’s concern nor is it her place to encourage or discourage it. This is something strictly between you and me and I’m telling you, at three months, I am not ready to have sex with you.” I was being more blunt than was probably acceptable but I was tired of this same old debate. Debate was the wrong word, one sided argument was better because there was no room for debate. I wasn’t interested in putting out for Evan now and probably wouldn’t ever.
“Whatever, do you want me to come over tomorrow or not?” he sounded exasperated.
“I don’t care, it’s up to you,” I sighed, crossing my free hand over my chest, tapping my fingers absently on my arm.
My sigh was met by one of his own, “Jenna, do you want to see me or not?”
“What the f*** does that mean?” I stood straight, glaring at the dollhouse but not really seeing it.
“It’s just a simple question that you can’t seem to answer; do you want me there or not?” I wanted to scream at him. Why was he so desperate to pin an answer down from me? Couldn’t he be a big boy and decide for himself.
Finally, in a weary voice, I replied, “Sure, why not?” I was confident that it wasn’t the resounding yes or no he was seeking but it was certainly an answer.
“Fine, then I’ll see you tomorrow,” he sounded as worn out as I did.
“Okay, I’ve got to go help my mom with the moving,” she hadn’t asked for any help but it sounded like a great escape to me.
“Yeah, sure okay. See you tomorrow then,” he sighed again then added, “I love you, babe.”
I rolled my eyes and in a dry voice mumbled back, “Yeah, I love you too.” We’d been saying it since about a week into the relationship. I didn’t really think I loved him and I wasn’t confident that he felt it either but everyone else was saying it, so we did too. I hated saying it, it seemed fake and cheesy to me, especially considering I was like ninety-five percent sure that neither of us meant it. When I heard the phone click in my ear, I felt so relieved. I had to remind myself that despite Evan’s shortcomings, he was a good guy, he had his good points but so did my dad and look how well that had worked out for my mom.
I shook my head, perhaps tomorrow when I saw Evan, I’d break it off. The thought made my tummy clench and my heart beat a bit harder. I wasn’t sure I had the nerve or commitment to be the one to dump someone. Maybe I could push him hard enough that he broke up with me. I’d feel like less of a bitch, even though indirectly I had initiated the break up. I shook my head again, being a girlfriend was hard work.
By shadowsinflames
© 2009 shadowsinflames
(All rights reserved)
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