A strike of light colored the dark room before elapsing into a low rumble. I bolted up from my restless sleep and watched through the curtainless windows as the rain continued to beat against the glass.
Fear had kept me awake.
My bare feet touched the cold ground as I went to the window to watch the dangerous storm that had trapped me in the secluded lake house. I could almost imagine the lake swelling and engulfing the house, garden and greenhouse. I leaned against the window as my eyes adjusted to the empty room.
The lighting struck again and the door creaked open and my anxiety returned, I could feel my heart against my chest. Against my better judgment I took the candle by the bed and headed into the dark hallway.
A soft wind blew out my candle I jumped, I watch the candle fall from the holder and into the darkness.
But I never heard it hit the ground.
I turned on my heels and knocked on the door at the end of the hall and it swung open with ease. I felt the cool night air coming through the door,
“Mr. Fierro ?”, I whispered into the darkness, “are you
sleepin-“
I screamed as the lighting struck again, this time the outline of a figure appeared for a split second, my legs nearly gave out under neath me.
The open windows rhythmically beat against the house,
letting in rain and wet leaves. I felt a path way to the window and closed it,
when the lighting struck again I saw the bed was empty. I started out of the
room when the door closed in my face.
I held in my fear, wondering why Mr. Fierro was standing
behind the door, he was fully dressed with not so much a hair out of place.
“Did you see it”, he asked lighting a set of candles on the
bedside table..
“See what ?”
As quickly as the candles had been lit they went out, the wind echoed and whispered through the halls.
“I’m scared”, I said, “It's her isn't it ? Make it stop. Make her stop.”
He moved from against the door and over to the window. I sat on the bed and tried to collect myself as he opened the window.
Curiously I peered out the open window. We were on the top floor but I could make out the form of a woman standing outside in the storm, she was walking along the damp earth but did not appear to be getting wet.
Mr. Fierro walked closer to the window, I waited for him to close it... but he didn't. He was transfixed by the figure and for a moment it felt like he wasn't there at all. In almost a daze he placed a leg over the window sill .
“What are you doing ?”
He didn’t respond, I considered pulling him back in but what if I went down with him instead.
“Stop”, I begged him, “Come inside. . . you're scaring me.”
I stepped back, fearing more for myself. He seemed comforted and controlled by the unwanted presence.
I heard the deep and almost unnatural sound of Addison Fierro laughing as only his hands kept him balance on the windows edge.
I had to get out; I turned back to the door only to see it was gone. Gone?I felt along the solid wall. I was seeing things; or rather I wasn’t seeing things. I wanted to claw at my eyes for betraying me.
Pulling my hands away from the wall I felt a light moisture. At first I thought it was the rain but as another streak of light lit up the house I saw my hands were stained a deep red.“No no no”, I wiped the blood off my hands but it was already gone.
Taking Mr. Fierro by the arm I pulled him back into the room , we both fell to the floor and it seemed to snap him out of whatever daze he was in. A gentle spray of rain came through the window but I couldn’t bring myself to close it.
“We have to do something”, my voice was rough and hushed.
He collected himself and closed the window before he spoke.
“Wait for me downstairs.”, he ordered.
“I don’t want to be alone. . . I’m scared”, I admitted
“Nothing can hurt you”, he snapped.
Not entirely convinced I picked myself off the floor and carrying a single candle. I hurried down the dark hall and down the two flights of creaky stairs. I felt as if I was treading in a thick layer of water, but I didn’t look down.
The large empty rooms on the first floor did little to subside my fears. Each step and movement echoed in the house.I kept my eyes shut when I felt someone standing next to me.
“please, please, please”, I opened my eyes and saw no one.
Maybe Mr.Fierro had lied to me. Maybe he wanted to be alone with her. Perhaps they were plotting against me.
From the large bay windows I looked for a glance of the figure I had seen before. The storm continued to terrorize the lake, boats had been torn loose from docks and were thrown around the rough sea.
I had to get out of here, I wanted the lake to swallow me up.
I pulled at the front doors, but they stood in place.
“Clara.”
I jumped at the sound of my name, not completely recognizing it coming from his voice.
“I have to get out of here.”, I pulled harder at the doors.
“You will not make if far in the storm”
He set down a ceramic bowl, inside of it was what looked like a tight bundle of dried herbs. It smelled lightly of sage and wood.
“What is that ?”, I asked
“White sage, handmade by the Senecas.”
I knew vaguely of the tribe whose land this house was built
on.
“What will it do ?”, I was becoming curious.
“Cleanse the house of . . . negative energy, but in order for this to work we must not be fearful. You need to evoke the positive energy you wish to replace the negative with.”
I nodeed with understanding and searched for peace in the situation but my heart continued to beat faster and the third person in the room still remained
unseen, I wonder if he felt it too.
My first thoughts went to my piano, which lead me back to my bloody hands. An involuntary shiver went down my spine.
I love you
“What ?”, I wasn’t sure I had heard it.
Mr. Fierro looked away from me and I knew he had heard it as well.
What had started as a Sunday afternoon away from my family was quickly turning into a nightmare. If only I’d left before the storm started, if only.
The thunder cracked again and I strengthen my fortitude.
“Nothing brings me more joy than my piano”, I said, “is that really all I have ?”
“What of your family and friends.”
“I’ve disappointed them.”
“You do not disappoint me.”
“Yes I do”, I knew this, “I’m not her”
He knew this to be true and didn’t push any farther.
He pressed the candle next to the sage, it caught quickly
and clouds of white smoke swirled above us, evaporating into the house. After
watching the smoke spread through the house he joined me under the blanket, but kept a distance.
I inhaled the smell of the sage as it became stronger, releasing the negative energy that had haunted me all night.
+++
Dead rose petals decorated the floor beneath me.
I woke up alone in the foyer, every window and door had been left opened. The petals crunched beneath my skin, still tired I moved to the bowl of burned sage. The gray ashes coated my finger, the scent lingered.
Sitting on the steps I started crying, it sounded louder in the empty house. I felt a hand on my back.
“Why are you crying, Ms. DeLune ?”
“Is it gone ?”
" I don't think so . . .does that upset you.”
“Yes. .. No I don’t know. I want her to love me again.”
He stopped me from kissing him, and instead kissed my cheek. I ran up stairs to get my shoes and keys, when I came back down he was waiting by the open door.
“Walk me to my car ?”
“This is as far as I go, leave me to my haunted house”
I steeped backwards off the steps, hoping he would change
his mind. I walked down the path, kicking the pebbles in front of me.
There was a creak, I turned back to the house as all the doors and windows flew shut at the same time. I nearly stumbled and ran down the hill.