INTRUDER (yes i know there is mistakes, its my first draft.)

Hi we are the chandlers we a recently purchased chandler house, a fitting name don’t you think?
It`s September 14th moving day.
My wife picked this house, but  little did I know that we had a lodger, well not so much a lodger more like a spirit, a ghost whatever you want to call it, her name is Elizabeth.
A little tormented lost soul, that of a young child I would say around the age of  six years old.

At first she was shy very timid then as the days went on she started to make demands talking through my daughter and as long as we did everything she asked everything was fine but if we didn’t obey she would make her presence known by hurting us or throwing things.
Eventually we learned to live with her and everything was fine that was until September 20thth that was the day the nightmare really began,  something came far more sinister than Elizabeth, something even she was afraid of. September 20th must have been a significant day because all hell broke loose. Not even god can save us now.
 
Chapter one
Moving in
September the 14th  moving day.

The day of move had finally arrived; belongings have been packed, sent on ahead we thought we would travel down on our own me my wife and my young daughter so we hired a car.

We opted for a soft top as the heat that day was blistering hot, even touching the steering wheel was hot to the touch but after a while my hands became accustomed to the heat.

 We opted for the shortest route which was about forty miles passing through some lush countryside with streams and waterfalls and deep greenery.

We stopped at the gas station for a drink, i`m so parched, were did this bloody heat come from and  how long is it going to last? I asked myself
I filled the car  to the brim then brought three cans of soft drink to drink on the journey to our new home.

I can`t wait I am so excited. I’ve worked hard this year. A lot harder than last year I had to. I needed to get the deposit to buy my wife her dream home.
Chandler house it`s called a fitting name by all accounts don’t you think? Silly me I forgot to mention we are the chandlers. I’m Terry, I’m forty five and a C.E.O for a well-known pharmaceutical company.  My wife is Sylvia she’s 32 a good few years younger than myself and also works for the same company as I do. Then there is my sweet precious daughter Meganne, she`s five years old but she acts a lot older, I tell her on a daily basis that she may be five but her demeanour  is more like five going on twenty, she`s very forward for her age.

Anyway that’s enough about the family for now, we’re here, just look at this place with its lush green trimmed lawns that swoop down from this picturesque house. 
Now don’t get me wrong the house is beautiful but as those electric gates opened and my front tyres edged onto that gravel drive I felt something was off. I opted to keep my opinion to myself. I didn’t want to ruin the days mood with an argument so I kept stumb even though I had this unnerving feeling in my bones, so much so that as I drove towards the house  the hairs on the back of my neck stood up followed briskly by a bracing cold shiver that enveloped my whole body, it was quiet surreal but still I kept my feeling to myself and decided to turn drear into fun by saying,  “Who`s ready to start there new life then?”
“Me, daddy, me.  please can I have first pick of my bedroom,  please?” Meganne says whilst throwing her arms about my waist.

“Ok sugarplum, go on in and look around, be careful though there will be boxes everywhere so no running around, ok?”  I shout in my concerned parental voice.

I turn to my wife, watching as her beautiful blue eyes peruse the elegant exterior.
 “This is lovely honey. I`m so pleased we won the bid on this place it’s a great place to expand our family don’t you think?” she smiles.
Whoa!  “I`m not sure about that love, let`s just see how things go shall we? You know hun, like baby steps. We’ve only just arrived.” (phew that was a close one)   
She looks at me throwing her best puppy dog eyes on for good measure trying her hardest to instil some guilt within me, but I’m having none of it. 

No! “Love, I said we will see, we haven’t even discussed this before and to be honest a bit out of the blue. Why are you dropping this on me now?

“Fine ok, whatever you say love, I’ll do as you ask. I won’t mention it again only my biological clock that’s ticking away like a god damn time bomb. You calm yourself down. you will give yourself a bloody heart attack. Remember you’re not as young as me” she replies in a sarcastic tone.

“The only thing going to give me a heart attack is paying for this place” i reply agitated.

“Here we go, I wondered how long it would take before you threw this house back in my face, hmm, all of seven minutes that’s a new record for you Terry.” She scorns then turns to walk away in a huff.   

“Hey hun” I say as I spin her on her heels and plant a kiss on her plump red lips. 
“Look! Just forget what I said. It’s the stress of work getting to me, shall we go in love? let`s have a look what my money has bought.”

You see to this exact point in time I hadn’t seen the house, my wife went to the auction and  this is literally my first viewing apart from a few photographs that I’d seen online and I must say it’s a stunning house and that’s just from the outside.

We walked arms linked up to the front door. Don’t ask me why but something instinctively made me look up to the attic stained glass window. 

A bracing cold shiver ran down my spine it literally made me shiver as though someone had walked over my grave. What’s got me rattled I hear you ask?” I’ll tell you what. Then again maybe it was just my imagination but as I looked up I’m sure I saw the curtain move to one side and there stood a figure dressed in a Victorian outfit. She was a little girl with pigtails to either side of her head. The expression on her face was that of sadness it was as if she was staring beyond my bodily realm. Oh I don’t know, I have been working so damn hard just lately, maybe it’s just my mind playing tricks.

“Hun” Sylvia says nudging my arm breaking my train of thought.

 “Just look at the gardens to this house they’re massive” She continues to say excitedly. 
 
“Yes they are love; you go on inside and find Meganne. I’m sure she’s picked out a room by now.” I offer with a smile. 

“Ok, so you’re not coming inside then?” She retorts with a frown.

Love! “Just give me five to get my head around all this. After all you have already seen this place for me it’s all a bit over whelming. Tell you what I’m going to take a walk down to the lake and clear my head. I promise I won’t be long.”

“Fine, please don’t be long though there’s a thousand boxes to unpack and they won’t unpack themselves.” 

I smile then turn putting by back to her in a dismissive way as if to say “speak to the hand the face isn’t listening” however in this case it’s more like speak to the back sick of your nagging lol. 

 I head down the swooping lawns and pass through some lush greenery and gasp at the sight present before my eyes. This house not only had a beautiful exterior and lush finely trimmed emerald lawns it also sported a big ass lake with a large speedboat moored on the jetty that led to the vast azure crystal clear water.

“Might go for a dip if this blasted heat continues” I thought as I continued to peruse my new found surroundings. Beautiful isn’t the word I’d use more like tranquil and majestic. Yes that sets the scene quite eloquently. 

“Terry, terry, come quick” shouts Sylvia from the house. The tone in her voice was that of panic which in turn caused panic in myself so I quickly hurried back to the house and decided to put my swim on the back burner for now, even though the cool blue water was so enticing. 

I enter the house. The large arch way as I entered was made of solid oak and had a deep wooded smell and encapsulated my nostrils. It brought back memories of my youth when my dad would take me hunting for deer in the woods. 
 
As I entered the open porch was vast in size with parkai  flooring that flowed to every exit.  
The large winding stair case dominated the centre with its twisting banister, the walls were not my cup of tea. It was decorated like a victorian house from back in the day and needed some love, judging by the flaking paper and paint.  

“Terry, Terry, where is a man when you bloody need one” I heard her say which made me chuckle to myself.   

Jesus Christ Sylvia, you nearly gave me a heart attack, what’s so important you had to shout like a mad woman? I ask as we come face to face.

“Sorry love, thought I saw a rat but I must have been mistaken, never mind carry on with what you were doing”

“Really, a rat? a fucking rat, well  that’s all I need more expense paying for exterminators, hope this house isn’t going to turn into a money pit. I`m already working my fingers to the bone as it is.

“Love calm down, I know how hard you work and I appreciate everything you do for us as a family, look!  I’m sure I was mistaken, Tell you what love I will make your favourite tonight then we can snuggle up in front of an open fire and watch some of the oldies. What do say? she says smiling.

“Fine, you win. Dinner and a movie sounds good to me as long as you wear that lacy number I bought you for your birthday” I reply with a cheesy grin.

“Oi, don’t be saucy. Not in front of Meganne anyway” she replies pursing her lips.

What’s it got to do with Meganne?  She should be fast asleep by then” I reply.
 The look she gave me said it all, then she shattered my dirty plans and replies,  

“No honey, I promised her she could stay up late tonight as it`s her first night in the house, think of it as bonding time as a family something we haven’t had much of late what with you r working all the hours gods sends.” Another lip purse follows along with a beautiful set of sullen eyes. However I was pissed. Don’t get me wrong I love my daughter to bits and love spending time with her but a man has needs.  You know what I’m saying, don’t you guys?
It’s been at least three months since you know, I’ve stroked the pony, ridden the pony if you get my drift. God! I’m so frustrated I was looking forward to some adult time. It’s no use I have to make my feeling clear so reply.  

“Oh, that’s just fucking great love, forgot to mention that bit didn’t you. I thought me you a bottle of wine, a roaring open log fire skin to skin, I reply frustratingly. 

“Oh love, I said she can stay up now. Tell you what”  she moves close to my ear. The wisp from her warmth breath sent goose bumps down my arms as she whispered, “ I will make it up to you later. I promise I will do that thing you like so much. How’s that sound baby?” then sticks her warm wet tongue inside my ear. 
Well, that’s certainly put a smile on my face. I can tell you. Let’s just say she knows how to use those beautiful lips of hers. Wink, wink.

“Right love, let me go and find Meganne” I say then kiss her cheek and head up the spiral stair case.

 I reach the top, a little out of breath and stop to catch it, so many steps. What the hell possessed my darling wife to buy a house with so many friggin steps? Mental note to self. If a lift is plausible it’s being installed asap.

 Once I’d caught my breath I walk across the sweeping landing that seemed to stretch for an eternity and shout, “Hey Meganne, have you picked out a room?”

Footsteps bound from an open door to my left followed by a welcoming hug around my waist. Our eyes meet briefly. “Well, have you picked one or not?”

She continues to stare then replies excitedly, “Yes daddy, I’m sharing with Elizabeth.” 

“Elizabeth who`s Elizabeth?” I reply intrigued to her new make believe friend.

“She`s my new friend, she lives in the walls” she replies.

“Meganne, not this again. Sylvia she`s at it again love, have a word with our daughter would you?”
You see this isn’t the first time she has had an imaginary friend. She’s had several before this each one with it’s own unique personality to boot. It’s beyond me where she gets her imagination from. I’ don’t know, maybe my wife is right and a brother or sister would be the answer to quell her imagination.

Footsteps bound up the stairs. 
“Where is she? Who is it this time Meganne?” Sylvia says as she enters the room.
I sigh, “Elizabeth and apparently she lives in the walls.”

 “Well at least that’s a new one” Sylvia replies. Our eyes meet and a combined tut sails through the air.

“You never believe me! never ever, she’s real” Meganne squeals with teary eyes then runs into her room and dives onto her bed and squeezes an old dishevelled doll to her chest. 

“Where did you get that from love? I ask with much curiosity?  

“Go away daddy, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you” she scorns.

 I’m angry with her reply. I was brought up to respect my parents and I would have never have spoken to them the way my own daughter has just spoken to me. so with this in mind I hand the reins over to her mother and whisper, “you try.”

“Meganne love, tell mummy who gave you the doll, mummy and daddy won’t be angry I promise” the soothing tone of her voice seems to have done the trick and I watch from the doorway as Meganne rolls over onto her back and locks eyes with the pair of us.
I knew what she was about to say even before her lips opened. 

“Elizabeth, my new best friend said that I could play with it and she’d collect it later” she replies with a snuffle then wipes her tears on the sleeve of her blouse. 

“Elizabeth eh, thought so. Just out of interest what does she look like?” I ask then look over to Sylvia who throws me a set of evils as if to say stop feeding her imagination. However she didn’t know about the girl in the attic window, whereas I did and I needed some clarity in my own mind to what I saw and if it was actually real or a figment of my imagination so I press on with Meganne and listen  intently to her reply.

“Really daddy? You really want to know? She’s so beautiful; well she was when she was alive. Look she gave me this picture. Look daddy isn’t she beautiful?” she says then hands me the picture.
  
I look down at the picture that now lays between my fingers and felt the colour drain from my face, suddenly I felt quite nauseous and every hair on my body stood to attention.  

“Are you alright love? you look as though you have seen a ghost” Sylvia asks when she sees my rosy red cheeks drained of all their pigmentation. Little did she know the girl in the picture was the exact same girl pigtails and all who stared out from the attic window earlier today.   

The collar on my shirt, felt as though it was tightening around my neck and slowly I felt as though I was being strangled. I fumble frantically with trembling fingers and try to pop open the top button that is holding the strangling fingers around my neck. Beads of sweat form on my forehead and trickle down from my head and sit haphazardly on my brow before taking a nose dive on to the shag piled carpet that covered the landing. 

“I’ve, I’ve got to get out, I need some air love” I say as I finally release the top button and take a much needed breath of air. Then let the photograph drift to the floor.   
 I head down the stairs. My legs felt heavy so i leaned on the banister and let my chest guide me around the slippery slope. In the back ground I could hear Meganne asking her mum if it was something she’d done or said that had upset me? I didn’t hear the full conversion because by the time I’d reached the bottom step their voices were too muffled. 

I head out of the dreary porch and let the warm sun caress my face. My breathing returns back to normal and the weight I once carried on my legs dissipates. It was as if the house itself was strangling me and as soon as I crossed over that threshold all my symptoms just disappeared. I calmed myself by creating that picturesque view from the lake and the more I thought about it, the more it beckoned me to take a dip so I head down to the jetty slip my trousers and shirt off and dive in.
 
The cool crisp clear water felt divine as it caressed and lapped against my skin. I trod water for a few minutes and gazed at my surroundings and tried to put the fact that I’d bought a haunted house to the back of my head. I’d literally sunk all my money into this place apart from a little bit I’d put aside for decorating and any alterations but apart from that I was literally broke until I got my yearly bonus which was a couple months away.
 Shhh, my wife doesn’t know, she thinks I’m minted; more fool her, that’s what I say.    

I swim the length of the lake feeling pretty impressed with myself, I turn and start the return lap back.
 OUCH! “What the fuck was that?” The pain that shot up my leg felt excruciating and instantly brought tears to my eyes. Numbness follows, I can see my legs moving but couldn’t feel them and if it wasn’t for this excruciating pain I’m sure it would have felt surreal. 

I’m bobbing around in the water now, I feel like a fisherman’s float as I bob up then. 
Shit! What the! Suddenly something grabs both my ankles and pulls down into the murky depths. What was once clear crystal water is now cloudy from silt I had kicked up with my frantic paddling.  I open my mouth to scream for help but no words come out as my mouth fills with water and staves the scream that begged to be released.

I watch helplessly as the water rises past my nose. Another tug follows this one is more aggressive and intent on pulling me all the way under. I take a breath and watch as the sun slowly dissipates as I’m dragged down to the bottom. I can’t hold my breath no more, I open my mouth, big mistake, everyone knows that if you are drowning to let the water gradually fill your lungs, that went out the window. The warm water gushed into my mouth and filled my lungs, they feel as though someone had just set a fire inside them. I look down towards my feet and even though I could feel the fingers tightly grip my ankles visually there was nothing. 

I begin to suffocate and teeter between night and day and kick for all I’m worth in a bid to free myself of my attacker.
 Suddenly I regain the feeling in my legs so with my new found feeling I kick my legs frantically as if my life depended on it. In this case it actually did. I kick hard against the water and propel myself towards the sun that shimmered as the warm breeze sent ripples through the water.
 I’m nearly there; the sun seemed to be beckon to me and with one last kick I propel my head through the water’s surface. I was like a submarine surfacing my head first followed by my chest. It felt sublime as the warm sun caressed my cheeks once more. I quickly swim to the shore and pull myself up onto the bank and immediately spew out the water lodged in my lungs. It felt good to be on dry land.it felt good to breathe fresh air.it felt good to be alive.

I gather my thoughts as I sit exhausted on the bank. I move my ankle, ouch what the? I look down at my ankles I can see two hand prints embedded into my skin. It was as if they had been embossed into my skin and as I ran my fingers over the imprints I can feel that they are slightly sunk in. 
Thoughts rush through my mind, what pulled me under and how can something with no physical form leave fingerprints and the most important dilemma, should I tell my wife?
Do I ruin her happiness, do I shatter her dreams of her beautiful home or do I just keep today to myself. Either way I’m just glad to be alive. So with this in mind I kiss the ground and decide not to tell my wife anything, until absolutely necessary. 

 I returning to the house out on some fresh clothes  then and go in search of my daughter. Time me and Elizabeth had a little chat was my thought as I begin to call Meganne.

“Meganne, where are you love?” were are you sweetheart” I shout at the top of my voice yet no reply returns just an ere silence so I shout again, but this time my wife answers.

“What’s all the shouting about honey?” she says running down the stairs.

“Where’s Meganne?”

“Love she was in her room the last time I checked. Why love, what is wrong? You look flustered.”

“If she is in her room, why the hell isn’t she answering me? You heard me why so hasn’t she?”  I retort frustrated.

“I don’t know love, maybe she has her music on, what’s this all about dear? Why don’t you just take a minute? You know how you get when you’re flustered, just take a deep breath and calm down.

Calm down, is she taking the piss with the day I’ve had? I think then shout Meganne again.  
 I still get no reply so go in search of my daughter and head up the stairs leaving my wife with a worried expression written across her face.

I make my way upstairs and immediately head for my daughters room, I stop just outside her door and listen. I can hear her having a conversation with somebody. The door is slightly ajar so I pop my head around the door. Meganne is sat on the floor with her back to me so I ease the rest of my body inside her room. The door creaks as I pull my leg around the door frame, Meganne doesn’t move. Her eyes fixed on something in the far corner as to what I cannot see from this angle so with that in mind I move so that I can see and I’m now standing directly behind her. I may as well be on mars, she is oblivious to my presence.

I stand quietly watching as she picks up the dishevelled doll and begins to brush its hair then hums a tune that I have never heard before. If I don’t know it how can she possibly know it? I thought as I watched over her.

My eyes focus on the corner. I gasp loudly with the view presented. 
Suddenly Meganne turns to face me. She was no longer my little girl. White cue ball eyes replace her baby blues and stared right through me. 

I move closer and extend my hand in a bid to shake her out of her trance like state.
 I watch whilst frozen to the spot as the shadowy figure crawls up the wall and moves across the ceiling and gulp several times as it comes to a stop directly above me.

 “She doesn’t like you daddy, she wants me to tell you that this is her room and you’re not welcome, children only no adults, she detests adults. NOW! Get OUT! She screams then collapses in a heap on the floor. I immediately look to the ceiling and watch as the shadow figure slowly dissipates to nothing then rush to Meganne’s side. 

I grab hold of her shoulders and gently shake her, “Meganne wake up girl” I whisper. 

“Daddy”
“Yes poppet, I’m here.
     
I lift her head. The cue ball eyes have gone, replaced by her baby blues. I was glad to have my daughter back again. Or so I thought. I watch as her eyes roll to the back of her head until cue balls face me once more. The temperature in the room suddenly plummets and I can see my breath before me as I exhale. 

“She`s asking if you enjoyed your swim daddy?”

“Who is Meganne?”  I whisper.

“Elizabeth daddy, her names Elizabeth, she doesn’t like you or mummy she wants you to leave her home.”

I quickly grab her arm and pull sharply and instantly her eyes return to her baby blues.

Thank god, I say to myself giving her a massive hug. “Are you ok love” I ask whilst moving the hair from her face.

“Yes silly, why the sad face daddy?” she replies.  She seemed oblivious to her recent ordeal so I reply, “nothing honey, nothing at all, shall we go down for some lunch petal?”

She smiles, her whole face lit up. These are the moments a parent lives for. 

“Ok daddy, can Elizabeth come please?” she asks.

No! sweetie, she`s not welcome in my house” I reply.

“Please daddy, please. She said she won’t be my friend anymore if she can’t come too” she says with tear filled eyes.

“Stop it now, Meganne! enough with the make believe friends, that will do for one day I reply abruptly.

Meganne starts to cry, and when I say cry I mean wail like a banshee.
“I comfort her saying, Now, now love, come on let’s go down for some lunch and if Elizabeth is a true friend she will be here when you get back. Isn’t that right Elizabeth?”  I say feeding her imagination.

“Really, daddy? I guess you’re right. You’re always right, aren’t you daddy?” Then wipes the tears from her eyes.

I take her hand and gently pull her too her feet and then we both head downstairs to the kitchen. As we enter the kitchen, a beautiful aroma of fresh coffee tickles my nostrils, ooooh just what I need I thought then poured myself a cup.

 I raise the cup to my lips and begin to sip. Suddenly its jerked from my hand with so much force that it flies across the kitchen and smashes against the adjacent wall sending my lovely coffee up the wall.   

“What did you do that for daddy? Mummy will not be happy when she sees this mess?”

My eyes lock with Meganne’s, “It slipped from my hand honey that’s all. Not to worry my love it will clean up in a jiffy I reply with a smile, even though inside my chest my heart was beating ten to the dozen.

“Elizabeth says you’re a liar daddy, she said she did it.”

Enough with the goddamn make believe Meganne you’re driving me crazy” I reply. Even though I knew she was telling the truth. 

“What do you want on this sandwich, love” I ask?

“Cheese daddy, just cheese please” she replies.

“Silvia?

“Yes love”

 “I’m making a sandwich, would you like one?”

“No love, I’m fine. Far too busy to eat honey got to get these things unpacked, funnily they don’t seem to want to unpack themselves” she replies in a condescending tone.

“Ok love”
“Love, that was your queue to say, “do you need a hand to unpack” she scorns angrily. 

“Oh, sorry honey, would you like a hand” I reply.

“Nope it’s fine. if you can’t offer of your own back don’t bother at all” she snaps back.

Women eh, I’ll never understand them. Why didn’t she get straight to the point and just ask? Women, go figure.

My attention turns to Meganne.  “What would you like to do Meganne this afternoon?” 
“Play in my room with Elizabeth, if she`s still here” she replies down heartedly.

“Please daddy may I leave the table? I have finished look! She asks showing me her plate.  

“No Meganne, you haven’t eaten your crusts. you always eat them” I reply.

“Not any more daddy, Elizabeth says they make your hair curl and I like mine straight so I’m not eating them anymore” 

“Hmm, is that so? Well let`s put it this way,  you’re not leaving the table until you eat them” I reply sternly.

SCREECH!!!! All of a sudden, the table slides across the floor, I’d say it travelled about three foot, as if being pushed.

“See daddy, you’re making her angry” she replies giving me the evils.

“Did you push the table Meganne?” I ask already knowing the answer.

“No daddy you saw with your own eyes, I didn’t touch it at all. Elizabeth wants me to return to my room , she wants to play, NOW!

Well tell Elizabeth she can kiss my bony ass, this is my house and I make the rules.” Then turn to finish making my sandwich. I pick up the knife to cut my sandwich in half, and watch in horror as its pulled from my hand. 
 
“Elizabeth said, “let me return to my room or bleed.”

Meganne, Elizabeth doesn’t exist she`s only in your imagination” I reply.

“Elizabeth has got a message for you daddy” she replies.

Before I get the chance to question, her answer she says, Elizabeth said, IMAGINE THIS!” with that said the knife flies through the air, stops in mid-air above my hand which for some reason I cannot move . I brace myself as it spins 180 degrees in mid-air then flies back down with so much force and pins my hand to the table.
I scream out in agony as blood poured from the wound. “You little bitch Meganne, you did that, now go to your fucking room.”
I knew really that it wasn’t her but I’m not admitting this lovely house is haunted.

“Meganne instantly bursts into tears and sobs, “I didn’t do anything daddy, it was Elizabeth” she says then runs to her room crying.

“What’s with the shouting Terry?  I could hear you from the other side of the house” Silvia asks?

“Sorry love, I had a little accident, I slipped cutting my sandwich, and she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I will go up and apologise. Don’t worry I will make it right, I promise” I reply through gritted teeth. 

She inspects the wound, “Are you ok love? That looks nasty. How in the world did you manage to stick the knife all the way through? you just don’t seem yourself today” she says in a soft caring tone.

She was right to be concerned, so I reply, “Yes, love probably the stress of moving getting to me; I’ll be fine later, just need a little time to adjust.”  Ha, ha I certainly wasn’t going to say the house is haunted and we have an uninvited guest; well not anyway.

I return to Meganne’s room and gently push her door ajar and watch with baited breath as the dishevelled  doll suspends itself in mid-air then drops to the floor, Suddenly  Meganne turns around.  

“She doesn’t like to be watched daddy.”

“Where is she love? Why can`t I see her?” I ask

Ha, ha “She`s shy daddy. she doesn’t like adults either” she replies.

“Sweetie let`s just keep this between you and i for now, your mother would freak out if she knew. Have we got a deal sweetie? ”a pause follows; I was beginning to think she wasn’t going to play ball. 

“Yes daddy, NOW LEAVE PLEASE! She`s getting angry” she replies.

“Ok love, I going now.  I will be in the other room if you need me.”

I quickly moved to the room adjacent to her and carefully I listen through the wall, as I wanted to learn as much as I could about my new lodger. So I place my ear against the wall and listen intently. 

THUD!!! Out of nowhere comes a thump on the wall which makes me recoil.

“Daddy! she said she knows you’re listening. She said stop or bleed!!!.

“I`m not listening, I’m catching up on some work” I reply whilst quickly opening my laptop.

“Elizabeth said liar , liar pants on fire daddy.”

“Fine, ok , I was listening but I’m not now, poppet.”

“Elizabeth said, don’t you know it`s wrong to lie daddy?”

“Yes love, Elizabeth is right. I brought you up not to lie, didn’t I poppet?”

“I don’t lie daddy” she replies.

“That’s just my point love, you’re a good girl” I nervously reply. I really didn’t want to anger Elizabeth any further, after all she has already given me a taster what she is capable of. 

Terry, Meganne are you coming down? I thought we were going to watch some oldies curled up in front of that lovely roaring open fire” Sylvia asks.

“Coming love, I’ll get Meganne” I shout back then head to her room. I slowly push open Meganne’s door, let me tell you now nothing prepared me for what I saw.
As I opened the door, Meganne is suspended in mid-air. I kid you not,  I mouthed, “what the fuck” she was literally floating about three foot in the air and hovering over her bed. My eyes move from Meganne and stare into the dark corner of her room. She’s here the bitch is there in the corner and she has my daughter. 

I gulp several times preparing myself for the task ahead and announce, Elizabeth! Show yourself” what the fuck was I thinking? I wasn’t that was the point. I just wanted her to release my daughter. I didn’t care about my self-preservation just Meganne’s. I’d had a good innings and a fruitful life, so if it’s my time then so be it. I’d do anything for my daughter including sacrificing myself if it meant she would live. 

BLINK! BLINK the light bulb starts to flicker, slow at first then picks up momentum. Then stops and remains illuminated.  I focus on the corner, and there like watching an old movie suspended three feet from the ground is a little girl about Meganne’s age,  she blinks in, out almost like a hologram. You know like you see on modern day horror flicks.

Her eyes bored straight through me. Those eyes chilled me to the core as she stared back with jet black eyes. She wore dungarees with a flowery top, her hair was curly almost cherry red.
I edged closer being very careful not to make her angry, but as I neared I could see her throat was just an open wound and my heart sank to the pit of my stomach. What must of this poor girl have gone through? The pain she must have endured must have been horrific. No wonder she`s pissed.

I gulp then nervously speak and ask her, “please put my daughter down”
luckily for me she is asleep and blissfully unaware that she is floating. I’m sure she’d freak out if she was to wake up now.

Elizabeth doesn’t reply she just sits floating in the corner staring at me , again I ask her to  please put my daughter down.

This time she responds. she stands up straight. And as she did I heard the bones in her body crack, her eyes changed to an eerie red her hair starts to flow as if a fan is blowing behind her.

I freeze on the spot realizing that for the first time I’m scared. She floats towards me. I can feel the moisture in my crotch as I begin to piss myself and seconds later a small river of urine runs down my leg and across my shoe.
 She stops an inch from my face. Her breath is putrid.
 I try not to look her in the eyes, and seconds later I find myself staring into her blood red fiery eyes.  Her head moves towards the shutter on the windows. SLAM!  They slam shut and so does the bedroom door. I thought this is it I’m a goner and brace myself readying myself for death. Suddenly the bedroom door reopens. Seems she’s finished tantruming.    “Now get out, get out ,get ,out”  she screams on repeat I watch the the wound on her neck open and close in tandam with her speech and again I feel for her however that is short lived. She still has an hold om my daughter so I defiantly, “Not without my daughter.”
I can see that my Meganne is stirring and I didn’t want to wake her like this so I put my hands on her chest and pushed her down, I could feel a little resistance at first as Elizabeth try to keep her foothold. The more I pushed the more she resisted and the weaker she became until Meganne gently floated back down to her bed. I was so glad when her head settled into her pillow. I softly grabbed her shoulder then rocked her side to side. She tarts to stir. Her eye lids flicker then I see her baby blues starting back. 

“Hello sweetie, did you have a nice sleep?” I whisper. She smiles rubs her eyes and replies, 

“I had the funniest dream daddy. I dreamt I was flying” (if only she knew) she says locking her eyes with mine.  

Flying eh? Must have been some dream you had there, anyway come on its movie time. Mums waiting.

“Ok coming daddy” she replies then yawns and wipes the sleep from her eyes.

I take her by the hand and help her to her feet and walk towards her door. I try and exit but she pulls me back.

“What’s wrong?  Come on Meganne, we’re going to miss the film.” 

Elizabeth wants to watch as well, she said if she can`t come, then neither can I, with that the 
door slams in my face. If I had been closer the force would have broken my nose for sure.

I decide to let Elizabeth come thinking it the lesser of two evils and reply, “ok then, bring your friend” then we head downstairs to where my wife is sat.

She`s made the fire bless her, the flames licked the logs gently caressing them as the colour changed different shades of orange. We sat on the sofa with Meganne inbetween us and stared to watch the film. 
The room was nice and toasty and it wasn’t long before I fell asleep, (I’m terrible for it, as soon as I’m content I’m out like a light). However it wasn’t the heat, yes that was a factor but not the end cause. I was so relaxed from the hand caressing my neck. it felt like heaven 

“That’s lovely love” I say opening one eye and smiling.

“What’s lovely?” she replies.

“You was stroking my neck weren’t you?”

“No love, you look so tired I didn’t even touch you, just left you to sleep it off.”

“Oh, my mistake,  I must have dreamt it then” I reply feeling a little cheated.

My blood ran cold, “why was Elizabeth doing that? maybe she wanted to be loved and wanted, as a child does need nurturing.”

The television starts to flicker followed shortly after by nothing on the screen.
“That’s probably Elizabeth doing that I joke” forgetting Sylvia was in the room.
 Meganne looks at me and places her finger over her mouth telling me to” shhhhh.”

“Elizabeth doesn’t like what you’re watching, she`s bored, put something on that’s fun or you will make her angry.

“Sweetie what has got into to you? I’m not sure I like this new friend of yours” Sylvia says whilst mashing the buttons of the remote trying to change the channel.

It`s not me mummy it`s Elizabeth she gets very angry when she doesn’t get what she wants.
Are you sure Meganne this sounds like a very smart young girl pushing her luck , I know we have moved away from your friends but I did say they can come over to sleep or maybe stay a few days didn’t  i.
Mummy it`s fine I don’t need anybody to stay i`m perfectly happy with my new friend she replies her eyes rolling white for a second then return to her baby blues.
What the fuck, did you see that terry she says looking horrified.
See what love maybe your tired perhaps an early nights in order I reply convincingly.
Her eyes they were white love I didn’t imagine it I know what I saw she replies a little shaken up.
Like I said love perhaps your tired let`s go to bed I reply switching the tv off.
Meganne give your mum a kiss, I will be up in a minute to tuck you in.
Ok daddy night, night, Elizabeth said night as well she says giving her mum a kiss on the cheek.
Meganne leaves the room but as she leaves, the door mysteriously closes behind her without Meganne touching it.
Jesus whats going on here terry what aren’t you telling me?
Love it`s the wind these old houses can be a little draughty, I think I left the window open in the kitchen I reply rushing into the kitchen before she had chance to look.
Yes love just as up thought the window is open, I will shut it and lock up you go up love warm the bed up.
Ok can you bring me some juice up you know how thirsty I get through the night.
Ok no probs I will be up shortly.
(Meanwhile Sylvia has gone into check on Meganne)
As I shut the curtains a pair of red eyes stare back at me, I freeze on the spot, cold shivers travel down my spine, the hairs go up on my arms it`s as if the whole kitchen became a freezer in a split second.
Then it moves, Jesus it’s a bloody cat the light was reflecting off its eyes nearly gave me a heart attack I can tell you what with all the goings on around here.
All locked up now and juice poured I return to Sylvia.
As I enter the room, Sylvia is sat on the bed knees up arms wrapped around them shaking like a leaf.
Whats wrong love I ask giving her a hug?
I went into tuck Meganne in and saw something I can`t exsplain she replies stuttering a little.
Try me love what did you see I reply rubbing her back.
Well your going to think i`m crazy, but I know what I saw, and don’t even think of saying that i`m tired or you will be in the spare room tonight.
Love what you blabbering on about, just spit it out I reply sounding a little agitated.
Well as I entered the room, she was laid on her side facing the wall with the covers just above her waist so I thought I would pull them over her as her room seemed unusually colder than ours did.
As I pulled them over her, she stirred turning over to look at me but it wasn’t our daughter’s face I saw, when she opened her eyes, oh my god they were black, I know it sounds crazy but I know what I saw she says still shaking.
Here drink this love it will help with the shock I reply handing her the juice.
I don’t want the bloody juice I want an explanation to what I saw she replies knocking the juice from my hand. 
The juice flies through the air then just freezes as if stopped by time we both sit our mouths wide open I mouthed the words what the fuck and i`m sure she did too as the glass just hangs there.
We both sit there staring at the glass of juice suspended in mid-air until my attention is drawn to the doorway, it was Meganne stood holding a doll ive never seen before; it was very tatty with both its eyes missing.
Elizabeth said you are making too much noise she says rubbing her eyes.
Who`s Elizabeth honey is that your dolls name?
No mummy, don’t be silly my dolls name is Jessica she replies smiling.
Who`s Elizabeth then sweetie?
Ask daddy he knows, don’t you daddy.
I don’t know what she`s taking about love, I know as much as you do I reply.
Elizabeth said you’re a fucking liar daddy, and you know what happens to liars.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of the glass as it starts to spin, it spins slowly at first then as it picked up momentum it shoots across the room missing my head by an inch or so shattering against the wall but the strange thing is it dosent fall to the ground the shards of glass just hang there as if waiting.
Elizabeth said that was a warning now tell the truth daddy or bleed.
What the fuck is going on here I want to know right now and no more bullshit Sylvia says throwing her hands expressively.
Love there is nothing going I promise you everything is fine I reply trying to convince her.
Oh well you must think i’m stupid i’m no rocket scientist but I know things don’t hover by themselves now tell me or i’m packing my bags and going to stay at a hotel in town, last chance she says tears streaming down her face.
Love please just calm down don’t do anything rash I can exsplain I reply attempting to hug her.
She pushes me away saying now! terry last chance or i`m going.
I know your scared honey, let`s just talk a minute I reply.
Scared, confused I don’t know what I am, I just know this isnt normal she replies.
Meganne lets go off her doll, it floats across the room stopping a few inches from my face  
The dolls empty eye sockets fill with blackness as two eyes appear now bleed it says as it floats back to Meganne.
Bleed what did it mean by bleed Sylvia says looking around the room.
Before I get the chance to answer shards of glass fly across the room embedding themselves in my face, Arhhhh you little bitch I scream pulling a shard of glass out of my cheek, blood
trickles down my cheek, neck as I hesitatingly pull the other shards out.
(Sylvia is now hid behind a pillow holding it up in front of her for protection)
Are you ok terry she whispers?
Yes fine, well not fine but ok considering I reply as I pull the last piece of glass out.
Don’t worry love you don’t need the pillow she`s not angry with you.
Who`s not angry she replies looking a little confused.
Elizabeth love, fucking Elizabeth I reply wiping the blood with my sleeve.
Who`s Elizabeth love she asks her eyes burrowing through me.
She`s our unpaid lodger it seems she came with the house I reply.
So she`s not Meganne’s imaginary friend then she replies.
If only love she`s real, very real, well as real as ghosts get I reply.
Well that’s just great we have sold our house, sunk everything into this place what are we going to do she replies.
Well i have worked far too hard to give up without a fight this is my house and the only person leaving is Elizabeth I reply smiling, think I was trying to convince myself, I had no idea what I was going to do.
Look let`s just try and get some rest you never know things might look better in the morning  I say giving her a peck on the cheek.
 Elizabeth said don’t count on it Meganne shouts from her room.
How could She hear us talking, I was whispering Sylvia says.
I don’t know I think it would be best if we assume she sees, hears everything from now on I reply.
What are we going to do though love she asks?
I have no idea but i`m damn sure i`m not losing this house I reply turning over, get some rest love, do you mind if I turn the radio on, I can`t sleep in silence.
No love just keep it on low please you know i`m a light sleeper.
Ok babes i`ll keep it low, night babes,
As I lay there in the still of the night listening to the house, settle I did wonder to myself what I was going to do about my mystery guest, maybe if i slept on it things might be clearer in the morning I thought as I drifted off to sleep listening to my favourite track.

Chapter two
Things that go bump

December 15th 2am
I awoke to a chill, the September night I had left behind was outside of my window, but my room was cold, very cold. 
I steadied myself on my bed with both elbows, leaning my back into the head board, as I shot anxious glances from one corner of my room to the other, only the sound of my breathing filled my ears my wife lay blissfully asleep, so much for being a light sleeper I thought as I 
sit watching her sleep.
A strange noise catches my attention my eyes quickly snap to the direction the sound is coming from, it sounds like the floor boards to the left of my bed let out a short whimper as if someone is stood at the side of my bed.
Then silence filled the room, terror gripped me cold shivers enveloped my body I thought about giving my wife a nudge then decided against it.
I could hear but not see something stirring in the darkness I scramble fumbling for the light switch as I try to focus my eyes in the dark abyss of my room.
A good ten seconds pass I find the switch flicking it frantically but nothing happens my eyes were fixed in the direction of my dresser from where the floorboard had creaked I looked to the window, but the moon had left me for another part of the sky giving no comfort. 
I remembered the words of my father, old houses creak in the night, It’s totally normal, It’s just the wood settling as the temperature outside is changing I thought clinging to my quilt.
I held onto his words, despite his assurance, the creak was loud, as though under foot of something heavy. 
The silence re-gathered above my bed until a second noise click, click, click, click, clack came rolling across my dresser beneath the window, adrenaline shot my heart into my throat I could hear my heart beating through my chest almost ringing through my ears.
 I could feel my toes, fingers twitching, ready to take sprint, then nothing just silence followed.
My mind raced for an answer, I knew the noise distinctly, five clicks, clack’s across my dresser, like someone impatiently tapping their fingers.
I reasoned in my head, It’s just my imagination, Click-click-click-click-clack! the noise came again, this time closer than before on the left edge of the dresser.
I pulled the quilt up so that my eyes were just peering over the top and stared into the darkness and repeated in my head, calmly get up and walk to the wall and flick that switch 
Click-click-click-click-clack
I burst from my blankets as though launched by a catapult, In my frenzy  I crushed my right shoulder on the door frame trying to run from the room  as I spun in a circle, regaining my footing, the feeling of someone following close behind kept me sprinting. 
The sound of my frenzied sprinting woke my daughter who met me on the landing with a startled, wide-eyed look.
Be calm daddy It’s alright, it’s alright she said hugging me. 
Tell me daddy why are you so pale you look like you have seen a ghost she says smiling.
There’s something in my room where`s Elizabeth I ask? 
Not sure daddy she was asleep at the side of me but when  you woke me up running round like a madman she was gone she replied rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Sorry honey I never meant to wake you go back to bed sweetie.
Ok daddy, are you ok now?
Don’t worry about your old man he can look after himself I reply.
Night then dad, don’t let the bed bugs bite she says returning to her room
It isnt the bedbugs i`m afraid of I thought to myself.
I make my way back to my bedroom; the feeling in the bedroom was uncomfortable, not just, because it was cold. It felt cramped, as if it packed from wall to wall with anxious people waiting for something, even the hallway didn’t feel far enough away from the room, so I walk into the bathroom and stood in the light, my toes ice cold on the tile floor pondering my next move.
About five minutes pass; my feet are almost numb from the cold tiles, time to move I thought 
As I walked out the bathroom, a cold static feeling clambers up my body lifting my hairs on my arms, neck and continues to travel up my spine, the coldness from my room poured onto the landing.
 I feel like my ears need to pop, you know like when you are on an airplane.
As the tension grew, I begin to open, close my jaw trying, to pop the air bubbles in my ear. Everything came to silence and even the dust that cut through a beam of light seemed motionless, as though floating in place.
I looked to the window to my right, the glass begins to shake, in fact all of the windows begin to, as though a terrible wind is tearing through the house.
 Whoosh bang as a deafening sound as loud as gunfire filled the house as the windows shattered one by one, the wind blows through the vacant spaces where once glass had stood. The curtains danced about merrily as if dancing to the tune of the wind, I run arms placed in front of my face protecting myself from the flying glass my feet are bare the glass shards stick in my feet oozing blood leaving bloody footprints along the landing floor.
I finally make it back to my room unbelievably my wife has slept through the whole thing so much for being a light sleeper.
I shake her vigorously she stirs rubbing her eyes asking what time is it.
Fuck the time I reply shaking.
What`s wrong love she replies?
Whats wrong i`ll tell you whats wrong Elizabeth that’s whats fucking wrong I reply.
Calm down love take some deep breaths, look your shaking she replies
I am calm as calm as any man would be who has just been chased through the house by something he can`t see I reply.
What are you blabbering on about love she replies?
Just go and look out on the landing and you will see for yourself I reply.
She clambers out of bed heading for the landing.
What am I supposed to be looking at terry she shouts?
All the glass and blood from my feet I reply.
Love there isnt anything you must have had a nightmare she replies.
I look down at my feet to my surprise nothing not even a scratch what the hell is happening to me I thought scratching my head.
Sylvia returns to the room looking slightly puzzled.
Are you ok love think your over tired she says rubbing my back comforting me.
Yes I guess it must have been a dream but it felt so real I reply.
I hope you haven`t started to sleep walk again, you know what happens when you get stressed honey.
I wasn’t sleep walking I snap back.
Ok, ok chill hun I was only saying.
Well don’t now let me get some rest please I reply closing my eyes.
just as i`m nodding off I hear the door creak  my eyes snap open as if spring loaded, not again I thought as the door slowly creaks open.
I close my eyes as the creaking increased , reaching over I prodded my wife she dosent move  no way she can`t be asleep already I thought to myself, bet she has got the arse on with me for snapping at her.
Love I know your not asleep, please tell me you can hear the door opening?
Yes terry I can hear it it`s probably a draft blowing it open she replies.
The door now stands wide open the room goes freezing cold, Elizabeth stands hovering in the doorway her hair flowing her eyes bright red piercing the darkness.
I frantically pull, push my wife wake the fuck up and look over at the door now tell me i`m dreaming I whisper in her ear.
She rolls quickly as if to give to tell me off I place my finger over her lips pointing to the door with my free hand.
She slowly turns to face the door her face goes white I’m sure I heard her gulp at least three times, welcome to my world love meet Elizabeth I say rather smugly.
Oh my god she`s real she replies shaking.
Elizabeth starts to move towards the bed as she gets level with the end she floats upwards and comes to a stop hovering above the centre of the bed.
Sylvia pulls the covers over her head and slides down the bed.
Has she gone yet she says her voice stuttering.
No love she`s just hovering watching me.
I eventually pluck the courage up to speak, what do you want Elizabeth?
I want to leave but I can`t, I need to leave but I can`t , she`s coming she says, her voice gets louder, louder  after every word.
Who`s coming Elizabeth?
Mother she replies, with that she disappears.
 
Chapter three
Who is Elizabeth
September 16th
A new day dawns it`s 7:30 am the sun shines brightly through the bedroom window the birds sing the mourning chorus a woodpecker happily chips away at a nearby tree, the morning dew glistens in the sun, an ere fog rolls off the lake.
I open the veranda window stepping out taking a good lungful of the morning air ah that’s better I thought exhaling.
Morning love, your up early.
I couldn’t sleep surprisingly don’t know how you do it I reply.
Do what love?
Sleep after everything you have seen how the hell can you sleep so soundly I reply.
I wasn’t asleep I was pretending I felt you tossing, turning all night she replies.
Why pretend I don’t get it I reply.
I wasn’t ready to talk about what happened last night ive been thinking things over, I have decided to go and stay at my mums for a few day just till I get my head around everything she replies.
Oh that’s brilliant babe bail on me at the first sign of trouble why don’t you.
I`m not bailing on you I just can’t think straight I just need a few days to come to term with things.
Fine do as you please you usually do I will deal with things here I reply.
I`m taking Meganne with me as well she replies.
Good luck with that, your forgetting one thing love.
What`s that then she replies?
Well I don’t think Elizabeth will let you take her.
All of a sudden the bedroom door bursts open we both snap our eyes to the door here we go again I thought as the door bounced back of the wall.
Phew it`s only Meganne not looking to happy.
Is it true daddy?
Is what true and is that anyway to enter a room I reply sternly.
Elizabeth said your taking me away, well i`m waiting.
Your mum thinks it`s a good idea to get away for a few days.
Well i`m not going I want to stay here with my friend.
She`s a lot of things Meganne but a friend is not one of them I reply.
You can`t make me go i`m not going she says as she starts to cry.
Just over her shoulder, I can see Elizabeth hovering just behind her.
Ok, ok you can stay with me then I reply wiping her tears.
Thanks daddy you’re the best she replies giving her mum the evils then returns to her room.
Thanks for that Terry; talk about undermining me says Sylvia.
I wasn`t undermining you, didn’t you see Elizabeth over her shoulder?
Was she I didn’t see her she replies.
Look let`s just do everything as normal I have a plan trust me.
Meganne are you ready for your breakfast I shout?
Coming daddy can I have them teddy bears cereal please?
Of course, you can anything for my little angel.
We all head downstairs for breakfast.
What do you want to do today Meganne I ask taking a bite of my toast.
I`m playing with Elizabeth daddy you know that.
Well I thought being as it`s a beautiful day we would make the most of it maybe go on a picnic somewhere nice what do you say to that?
Meganne goes quiet, erm ok then, I can still play with Elizabeth later though can`t i?
Yes of course you can, now hurry up finish your breakfast and get dressed I reply.
Finished daddy can I leave the table please?
Yes you can, your clothes are on your bed now hurry up chop, chop.
We all get dressed, as I go to Meganne’s room to see if she is ready, I can hear her talking to Elizabeth.
Where only going on a picnic I will be back later I promise she says.
They are trying to take you away from me don’t trust them Meganne, mother needs you for the letting.
Whats the letting Meganne replies.
You will see soon then we can be together for ever Elizabeth says.
The letting what the hell is that, it dosent sound good I thought as I pushed her door open
Meganne are you ready I say pushing the door open?
Elizabeth disappears, yes daddy coming bye Elizabeth she says leaving her room.
We head downstairs, as we get to the bottom the hairs on my neck start to lift, hurry up she`s coming I shout, Meganne stands her ground saying whats going on, I pull her but she`s  holding fast pulling back against me hard, one last tug ive got the upper hand dragging her outside.
What`s going on daddy?
Your going to stay with your grandma for a few days with your mum.
No I can`t Elizabeth won`t like it if I leave she needs me daddy.
Tuff your going and that`s final now get in the car I reply harshly gently pushing her into the car.
As we, drive off I can see Elizabeth in my rear view mirror staring out the window she looks angry.
We head to my mother`s house it`s about a forty minute drive not far from where we used to live.
40 minutes later we arrive at my mother’s, I drop Sylvia and Meganne off and set off back home as I had plans today.
 I`m going to the local library see what I can dig up on this place, there must be something that will shed some light on this mess maybe I can get in touch with the previous owner all I know something’s got to give i’m not losing this house ive worked too hard.
40 minutes later i`m back home I head into town to find the local library.
Hi i`m terry chandler I have recently purchased the chandler house I was wondering if you know anything about the house i enquire asking the librarian?
Hello yes I know the house well it was built in the late fifties it was original owned my Mary Bosworth and her husband Michael and I think they had a daughter Elizabeth I think her name was.
Do you know what happened to them I reply.
Yes, the mother had some sort of a break down and was put in a mental asylum but later she escaped killing her husband, and daughter.
Do you know how she killed them I reply.
If memory serves me, rite she cut the young girls throat calling it bloodletting draining her blood into a grate in the cellar that leads to the lake, her body was found in the cellar hanging upside down by her ankles with her throat cut and heart had been cut out.
Jesus that`s gruesome I reply.
Yes, apparently she believed she was sacrificing to a spirit in the lake she replies.
What happened to the husband I reply.
Erm not sure on that one I don’t think his body was ever found.
How does anybody know she killed him then I reply looking a little confused.
It was assumed she had because there was a lot of blood including his but no body was found so he was assumed dead she replies.
It was later found that she was part of a cult and had sacrificed many children to appease the lake spirit she goes on to say.
What happened to Mary I reply.
Well if memory serves me, she was hunted down by the angry mob of parents and hung in the large tree in your back garden her body is buried on your land somewhere in an unmarked grave along with her daughter the local parish wouldn’t allow her on hallowed ground something to do with superstition. 
Well thank you for your help I say as I turn to leave.
Oh one more thing before you go the previous owner was found with his neck broken at the bottom of the attic stairs he had a young daughter but she was never found, let me guess you bought the house quite cheap, well that’s because the house is said to be haunted.
I know I have seen things myself I reply.
Have you what have you seen please tell?
So far, I have only seen the little girl but she did say her mother is coming whatever that means I reply.
Well I will level with you I took this job in the hope of uncovering were my brother is.
Who`s your brother I curiously ask.
Michael Bosworth I was seven when I lost him been searching ever since she replies as tear drips from her eye.
I thought he is dead I reply.
Until I find his body to me he is still alive I won`t rest until I find him dead or alive at least then he will be at peace, it’s the not knowing that keeps me going she replies.
Do you have children she asks?
Yes I have a six year old daughter called Meganne she seems to see Elizabeth more than I do they have become inseparable  I reply.
Where is she now she replies.
Ive taken them to stay with my mother a while I reply.
Did you say they found Elizabeth in the cellar I ask?
Yes that’s right she replies.
I haven`t got a cellar I reply looking confused.
Well that’s the other thing the parents of the children burnt the house to the ground then a property developer bought the land and built the house your in now thinking he could make some easy money maybe he boarded the cellar up i`m just not sure she replies.
My advice to you would be to get out of that house before you wined up with your neck broken or worse she goes on to say.
How can it get any worse than a broken neck I reply.
Well your throat could be cut, I would prefer to go by a broken neck at least that is quick but to bleed out I bet that is so painful and would feel like an eternity to die she replies.
Well thanks for that I will sleep easy tonight I reply as I leave.
  

 

Chapter four
The attic
By the time I got home day had turned in night, as I drove up the cobbled drive I could see the house sat in total darkness the fog of the lake had started to roll off blanketing the floor.
 I sit just staring at the house to afraid to enter , I can`t believe i`m afraid of a six year old girl I say to myself, man up man stop being a pussy. 
Fuck it i`m going in this is my house I pay the mortgage i`m taking my house back I say confidently to myself.
Just as I get the courage up to enter Meganne’s bedroom light turns on, off followed by the attic light.
Great I haven`t been up there yet come to think of it I haven`t really explored the house at all so maybe I do have a cellar.
I get out the car and walk to the house keeping my eyes trained on the windows; I am looking for any signs of Elizabeth.
I place my hand on the handle, as I enter I shudder the house is so cold I reach around the door blindly fumbling for the switch, ah there it is I thought as I flicked it the hallway lit up I enter closing the door behind me.
As soon as the latch locked, the house seemed to spring to life to make matters worse the fog off the lake is rolling under my door covering the hallway floor.
Making my to the kitchen I grab my torch and head up the windy staircase, looking up I can see the light is still shining from the attic, I gulp as I start the second flight of stairs.
I`m now stood toe to toe with the door at this point i`m terrified my hairs are tingling all over my body I feel so cold inside fear as set in, I thought I was being brave until this point, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea I thought as I turned around to go back down stairs.
As I turn to go down  I look into the hallway Elizabeth rises from the fog her face like thunder and proceeds to move up the stairs her eyes bored through me my heart picks up the pace beating hard against my inner wall adrenaline starts to pump faster and faster as she gets nearer.
I look across at the attic door, which is looking more appealing by the second, she`s started up the second flight only seconds away now, fight or flight, flight I thought grabbing the handle to the door I gently push the door so I can see into the room looks harmless enough I thought as I enter.
The door slams shut with such a bang I nearly shit myself  I stand frozen to the spot I can see the handle of the door moving up and down no way are you coming in here I thought as I try to find something to hold the door closed.
Glancing left to right I notice a children`s rocking chair I quickly run over to grab it as it is ideal for my purpose but as I move my hand towards it to my horror it starts to rock followed my high pitched giggles that cut the still air.
Now i feel like a rat cornered my palms are sweaty, sweat rolls off the bridge of my nose think i`m having a panic attack I used to suffer with these years ago not had one for a while.
My head starts to pound making me feel unsteady on my feet I drop to my knees I can`t breathe I fumble trying to loosen my top button on my shirt hoping that would ease the feeling of suffocation,  no that has not helped derealisation sets in I now feel as though i`m outside my body looking back at myself my heart feels like it`s going to burst out of my chest.
This is it i`m going to die alone on this dusty floor I say to myself  as I close my eyes for what I thought would be for the last time the door bursts open in the doorway stands my wife thank god I whimpered  as I outstretched my arm to her .
She rushes over sitting behind me cradling me saying breath love slow deep breaths.
What are you doing here I muttered through laboured breaths?
I couldn’t stand the thought of you in the house all alone, i`m sorry love I shouldn’t have been so selfish, I married you for better or worse so here I am and by the looks of things my timing couldn’t have been better she says stroking my head.
Where’s Meganne I ask still trying to catch my breath?
She`s still at your mums, anyway don’t worry about that at the moment just concentrate on your breathing love.
(Twenty minutes pass, i`m starting to feel myself again)
Help me up love I fell a lot better I say holding my hand out.
Come on them love up you come she says pulling me to my feet.
We start to walk towards the door but we don’t get very far Elizabeth blocks the way.
She doesn’t look happy at all if fact she looks rougher than normal maybe she was feeding of my daughter I thought to myself.
Where`s Meganne she bellows an ere glow surrounds her, her eyes are burning red her hair flows as if the wind sifts through it.
Again, she bellows where’s Meganne?
Your not having her I reply defiantly.
Bring her to me she retorts?
No your not having her, she is my daughter I reply.
All of a sudden, the rocking chair lifts of the ground hovers for second then flies across the room smashing on the wall above us.
Now bleed she says as she throws it, thankfully it misses us she seems a lot weaker than usual.
I decide to push my luck thinking if she is weaker I might be able to get the upper hand, I taunt her again she picks a set of drawers up and tosses them across the room her aim is appalling she misses by miles.
As I continue to taunt her I can see she is getting weaker and weaker, her body seems to be fading away right in front of my eyes.
Come on love let`s go downstairs I say pulling on her arm.
Sylvia follows close behind as we edge past her she looks on unable to stop us she blinks in and out very faintly then disappear.
As we start to walk down stairs the stairs gives, way and we fall through bouncing off the inner walls landing in an unknown room,
 I fumble frantically for my phone, the light is dull the battery has nearly gone, I point it into the dark abyss moving left to right, in the centre of the room I can see a large round grate with a serpent through the centre, oh my god were in the cellar, I whisper to my wife.

 
   

 
Chapter five
The cellar
 
 The first thing i noticed was the smell, an old smell, like dust and mould, but with something underneath--something rotting somewhere in the dark and damp.
 It taints the air becoming fouler the more i breathed in, my wife has started to gag.
The stagnant aroma fills her lungs making  her gag continuously as if wheezing  from an asthma attack.
The light from my now cracked mobile phone gave no comfort,  it barley shines as the battery is on its last couple of bars throwing the damn thing into power save mode.
 I can barely see the ceiling as i lift my arm upwards  where a single light globe, long blown, circles lazily on the ceiling, if it were to somehow spring back to life, then it would have illuminated a scene of utter emptiness and desolation.
Moving my arm out in front of me  and extending my arm forward in to the dark abyss i can make out an old chair and an up turned table, long ago this chair would have supported a living person now on closer inspection i can see the human remains of  just someone’s  bones.
They just sit in the chair just as he would have if he had his flesh and skin it looked like he had died and his flesh had been picked clean from his bones by the rats.
 A few hungrily peered back from the darkness, there eye’s illuminate red from the light reflecting from my phone then scurry off into the darkness.
“The smell terry, i can’t stand it,” my wife says her voice supressed by her hand.
“I know love, smells like something has died down here, i reply  knowing very well someone has but i didn’t want to freak her out.
I could see a light just faintly high above us, but no sooner had i seen it, it was extinguished by a loud bang as the door slams shut throwing us back into total darkness.
The smell is overpowering making us constantly gag.
Through the faint light, i can see my wife huddled to the wall hands placed over her mouth and nose.
“Whats, that in the corner she asks as i turn my light to where she is pointing?
I only can describe what i saw, my best guess was a kind of gas, how wrong was i.
It rose out the grate and circled the room, i watch intently as it moves in an intelligent manner almost as if it is alive.
It seemed to dislike my light from my phone as i shone it on the fog it seemed to avoid it.
Beep, beep, beep, “shit love my battery is about to die,” i say keeping my light trained on the fog.
 Without warning the fog splits into two circling my wife, i watch helplessly as it engulfs her wrapping itself around her like a coiled python.
Fingers emerge out the fog lifting her from the ground, choking her, she whirled around, grasping in the darkness, trying to reach for something to grab hold of.
I scramble to my feet to try and shine the light from my phone only to be thrown hard against the cellar wall  which on impact shatters and collapse’s.
I can see a faint light and a stairway must have been where the door slammed shut.
Again i scramble to my feet and point the light in the direction of my wife, but its not good the beam isnt strong enough anymore to make any difference.
I can see my wife clearly, her eyes are blood red, i shout pleading for it to let her go and to my surprise it drops her to the floor.
I can hear her gasping for air trying to say my name, that’s when the two shadowy fog like creatures merged back into one, in the blink of an eye she’s yanked back into the air but this time by a visible figure dressed in a white gown, her hair s  golden and flowed like a fan had been set up behind her.
It drops her again with a thud to the floor, it seems to be toying with her, i try to stand again im thrown across the room im powerless to help her.
 I plead once more for the thing to leave her alone, this time it takes her from behind, wrapping itself around her, overpowering her, enveloping her in putrescence.
She opened her mouth to scream and it filled her mouth with foulness, covering her face. 
In the last moments she ever knew, she heard a liquid whispering and the squeal and crack of her lower jaw as it was torn from her face and thrown across the room in my direction.
I watch in horror as the spirit bends her like a contortionist, i listen as tears fill my eyes as i watch the life drain from her eyes as snap after snap can be heard as her bones break.
Blood spatters my face as her bones split protruding from her skin, her body limp and lifeless drops to the floor as the thing turns to face me. 
An icy wind followed blowing into the next room rattling the dusty shutters against the peeling window frames in the next room which was formed from the wall collapsing.
I can now see my tormenter, im guessing this is mother.
I shuffle back on my backside into the abyss of the next room and come to a stop against a chair with an unwelcome guest still at home there.
I can feel bony fingers digging in my back , i freeze and slowly turn around bring my right hand still holding the phone and shine whats left of my light in the chairs direction.
And there it was a full skeleton complete apart from its lower jaw seems mother likes jaws for some strange reason.
Lifting the light to the ceiling, i can see a single light globe, long blown, circling lazily on the ceiling, If it were to somehow spring back to life, then it would illuminate a scene of utter emptiness and desolation.
On the floor lay a threadbare rug which played host to nothing but an old stuffed chair and an upturned table.
The chair had last supported the weight of this living person half a century ago.
Now it held only the dry and leafy skin and bones of a corpse - its rotting face frozen in a silent scream, and its thin and bony fingers buried in the holes it tore into the fabric of the chair in the final agonising moments of life.
Nothing else, even the flies had deserted this tomb. and yet - unearthly eyes viewed this scene with satisfaction.
If there had been ears to hear, then they would have heard a ghastly laugh like rattling chains rising from the shattered floorboards to the ancient cobweb strewn ceiling, and echoing around the stained and crumbling walls, i watch as figure returns to fog, watching it curls like smoke out of the shattered window, to leave behind nothing.
I take a sigh of relief and edge towards the wall, pushing my back hard against it using the wall as leverage to get to my feet.
Just as im about level on my feet, i feel something catching my head reluctantly i raise my hands above my head to feel my obstruction.
Its cold to the touch my first thoughts it was the latch of a window but on further investigation i find it’s a lever.
I pause still holding onto the lever wondering what would happen if i pulled it down, you’ve heard the saying curiosity killed the cat haven’t you well im that cat and hopefully as i pull this it won’t be something that kills me.
I pull with all my might, its very stiff, i yank it repeatedly until i feel it start to move, then without warning it slams itself down making me lose my balance landing hard on my knees.
It bloody hurt i can tell you, i let out a slight whimper as light filled the room from the bulb that haphazardly circled on the ceiling high above me.
I can now see my surrounds properly for the first time.
My first thought was to run to see my wife, then decided against it as i could see her folded body like someone had performed human origami.
That’s when i heard it, a faint rumble followed by a grating noise, i look into the room were my wife’s body lay contorted.
Her blood had snaked its way across the floor filling the indent of the serpent on the grate and it had started to open.
I use the chair to get back to my feet and hobble across the room to where i can see the grate slowly opening.
As i got closer a putrid smell filled the air which made me gag once more.
By the time I had hobbled over to the grate, it had fully opened revealing a black abyss or so i thought.
As im looking down this hole i can see something glimmering at the bottom , again curiosity gets the better of me, i roll my sleeve up and push my hand into the abyss slowly at first then upped my pace as the grate starts to close.
Im now laid on the floor stretching as far as humanly possible my fingertips just scrapped the bottom .
Moving my hand left to right i fumble for the object that has caught my attention, “ah there it is,” i say to myself out loud as my hand rest against the object.
First thoughts, thought a chain or something similar, i trace the chain , “ouch, what was that,” i say as something pricks my finger.
My finger throbbed, it felt like a wasp had stung me, i quickly withdrew my hand bearing the object from the bottom, it’s a pendant on a chain of a serpent with ruby eyes.
I sit staring at the object as my blood began to run cold, i could feel eyes burning into my back, cold shivers followed repeatedly running up and down my spine, i watch as my hairs on my arms stand on end, i can see my breath forming in little clouds in front of me,
I knew somebody was stood behind me.  
 

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