THE LONELY HOUSE

Author: A.J. Mathew
Email: ajmat_2000@yahoo.com

“And we always used to be scared to walk in front of the haunted building,” said Tom’s grandfather, sipping a cup of coffee. “Even during the day we could hear strange noises from the house. We used to stay half a mile away from the house. At night the screams could startle you from sleep”, continued grandpa. “The complaints to the local police fell on deaf ears. Once a policeman took the courage to search the house but he was never seen again.” There was a twinkle in his eyes and Tom wondered if it was because of respect for the martyr or was his grandpa really scared? “So you say there was a woman in the house, right?” asked Tom. “She has been there for ages,” said grandpa. “It is said that she never grows old. But I believe that the old witch is dead and the new woman is one of her preys. She chooses a prey to continue here reign of terror in people’s hearts. For this she trains the new woman and thus she becomes immortal. She doesn’t have an ear and I believe she cuts away the ears of all her victims as a sign of her terror.

Tom could not believe this. Tom was a teenager in high school and had a special liking for his grandfather. His grandpa used to tell him splendid stories of his experiences in life and used to advise Tom quite a bit. And Tom trusted his grandpa. But here was something Tom just couldn’t believe. A ghost in grandpa’s native town! Grandpa was talking about a haunted house in the suburbs of Charleston, West Virginia where he was brought up. What triggered the discussion was the article that came in the local newspaper about a businessman who had gone missing. His car had been found abandoned just in front of the haunted house. The article also had a photograph of the house, which brought a wave of recollection to Grandpa’s mind. All said and done Tom quickly forgot all about his interesting conversation with his grandfather.

Years went by and Tom’s much-loved grandpa became history. Tom started working as an agent in the FBI. Then it happened again. A businessman, a car and the same old story he had heard from his grandpa. This sudden recollection of his grandpa’s words somewhat frightened Tom. He began to think there could be some evil force behind this because of the very fact that he had not remembered something interesting like this all through the years. But still Tom wanted to prove his grandfather’s theory of the woman training other women to keep alive the reign of terror right. He took up the case.

Tom reached the town, as it was getting dark. Suddenly his car skidded out of control. He swerved to the right and came to a stop in the opposite direction. Thankful that he was still alive, he didn’t mind a woman clad in white staring at him while he got out of the car. But the look in her eyes puzzled him. She was neither concerned nor happy. She had a strange expression on her face. She came near him and told him that he could rest in her house for the night. Tom was only happy to accept this kind invitation as it was already dark and the place seemed to be lonely. He tried to figure out how his car had skidded but was baffled, as he could find absolutely no reason. He dismissed it as trivial and decided to accompany the woman to her house. But suddenly the truth dawned on him. He had come there to investigate a murder that was supposed to be one of the many murders committed by a woman. He didn’t exactly know where she stayed though. As he was thinking his eyes fell on her face. Then he realized why he had felt something was wrong when he saw her first. She didn’t have an ear. Tom just sprinted back to his car with the woman at his heels. She caught him by the hand and bared her teeth. She had teeth as those of a vampire. Tom didn’t know what to do but out of instinct he threw her to the side.

Neither he nor she had noticed the truck coming behind them. Tom jumped to the side but his assailant couldn’t make it. He heard a bloodcurdling scream. He looked at the woman now covered in blood, her white clothes a scarlet red. She didn’t move. He didn’t wait for anything else. He jumped into his car before the truck driver could figure out who he was and sped away from the place all drenched in sweat. He didn’t stop his car till he was an hour away from the place. Then he got out at a fast-food restaurant and had a pizza and a drink. Before he realised, he was home. The next morning the headline in the newspaper said “WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN THE SAME SPOT AS THE YOUNG BUSINESSMAN”. But the report didn’t say her teeth were abnormal or that she could have been the murderer who was brutally killing people who crossed her path. In his heart Tom thanked his grandpa, and was glad to be alive. The case was dismissed as an accident.

About two years later the same newspaper reported the murder of an FBI agent named Thomas…… same spot, a car that had skidded, the only difference was that this time the body had been found. Both his ears were missing!