It Came With The House

•Chapter Six• Creeper

Two days later was Friday and I was expecting some important calls from a manufacturer who manufactured the items I invented, a law firm that helped me with all the legal aspects of my home-based business, and my career consultant, who was also a friend. I also had to call the shipping company I was using to ship my products with a couple of complaints I had about some products that seemed to be lost. I sighed when I thought of how stressful that particular call would end up being.

After I finished brushing my hair and teeth, I vacated the bathroom just as Jason was turning off his alarm. "Good morning honey," I greeted as he hopped out of bed, then with three quick steps, he wrapped me in his arms for a morning hug.

"Good morning angel," Jason murmured after dropping a soft kiss on my forehead.

Turning to the left he opened his dresser to dig around for clothes while I walked out of the room and made my way to the kitchen to make breakfast. I'd started the coffee maker and was in the process of straightening up after digging two frying pans out of the cupboard under the sink when I looked up to see a skull-like face similar to the one I'd seen a couple of nights prior, pressed up against the window screen. Yelping with fright, I dropped the frying pans and jumped back.

I looked down for a moment and when I looked back up, the face was gone. Quickly I rushed to the back door, threw it open, and searched for any trace of it but found nothing. There was nowhere for anyone to hide since our house sat on five acres, two and a half of which was wide open space. As I stood there with the door open, Lady brushed past my legs on her way out the door, which startled me. As she squatted to relieve herself a few feet away, she looked back at me with an accusing look.

"Sorry Lady," I called out with a chuckle. "I got distracted."

Closing the door, I walked over to the frying pans, picked them up, and placed them on the stove. Next, I turned on the oven to preheat it for the biscuits I would be making. After I set everything to cook, I grabbed Lady's bowls and had both filled when scratching on the back door alerted me to her return. Placing her bowls in their usual spot, I opened the back door for Lady to come in. "Welcome back your majesty!" I greeted her with a giggle and she answered with a happy yip on her way to eat.

Once breakfast was ready, I piled food on three plates and was carrying two into the dining room when Jason came down the stairs while buckling his belt. I set the plates on the table, then walked back into the kitchen to grab the other plate along with Jason's cup of coffee. Carrying them back into the dining room, I set them down and was about to walk away when Jason grabbed my wrist and gently pulled me close for a kiss. Once he released me with a grin, I hurried upstairs to wake up Timmy.

______________________

My ringing phone caught my attention just as I was done checking my emails. "Hello?" I said into the receiver as I closed the email app on my computer and looked at the time. I was surprised to see it was nearly ten pm.

"Hey girl!" Marie's voice greets me cheerfully. "How have you been?"

"Oh hi, Marie," I greet back with a smile, glad to hear her voice. "Ok I guess, all things considered."

"All things considered?" She asks. "Why do you say that?"

"It's nothing," I reply with a shake of my head. "I think I might be losing my mind..." I finished softly with a nonchalant shrug and a sigh.

"Ok, spill. What's wrong?" Marie demands in a tone that tells me she won't let it go until I come clean. 

Taking a deep breath, I lean back in my chair and look up at the family portrait hanging on the wall in front of me. "There's just been some weird stuff happening since we moved in," I explain as I drum my fingers on my desk. "And I'm starting to think I'm either losing my mind, or I'm under some serious stress!"

"I seriously doubt you're losing your mind," Marie assures me. "I mean you're the sanest person I know, so I opt for option number two. Anyway, are you busy tomorrow?" She asks me suddenly.

"Not really," I say. "Timmy's spending the weekend with my in-laws and Jason has to work his required Saturday tomorrow." Jason's company required supervisors to work one Saturday a month.

"Ok, then you and I have a lunch date!" Marie informed me. "I'm in the mood for Arthur's Buffet and I know how much you love their food."

"Uh-huh," I agree. "If it was possible to marry food, Jason would have been s.o.l. when he asked me to marry him!"

Marie burst into laughter, as did I. "Alright Amy, I'll pick you up at eleven-forty-five." Marie tells me before we hang up. I turned off my computer and stood up.

I switched off the lamp which plunged the room into darkness. As I turned to leave the room, my eyes landed on some lump laying on the floor. Confused and unsure of what I was looking at, I stared at it for long seconds until I thought I saw it move. I was startled but continued to look at the lump as it seemed elongate and crawl toward me in a writhing sort of way. I blinked a few times to make certain I was seeing whatever it was, but the thing continued making its way toward me.

Thoroughly freaked out of my mind, I reached behind me to turn on the lamp while my disbelieving eyes remained on the crawling figure on the floor. The moment the light came on, the writhing lump disappeared as if it had never been there, to begin with. Shocked, I started at the carpeted floor and began to wonder if I was finally losing my mind. I was about to turn out the lamp again when a touch on my arm caused me to scream in terror.

********************

Another chapter done and posted, yay! Plz vote even if u don't comment. Thanx! :*