paranormal

The Man in the Chair

I wake up thirsty. Nothing unusual about that.

The clock on the wall claims it is a little past midnight.

I climb out of bed and rub my eyes as I walk down the hall. I pass my baby sisters room. She's only two years younger than me. Sound asleep.

Mommy and Daddy's room is at the end of the hall past the stairs. They keep their door open in case one of us has a nightmare. Daddy is snoring loudly.

I make it to the stairs. They always look longer in the dark. I grasp the rail in my hand and begin my journey. Why don't they make lower rails! My arms gonna be asleep before I get down the big stairs! I'm a big boy and can do the stairs myself now, but sometimes I trip at night when I can't see. So, mommy said to always use the rail. Mommy's so smart!

The kitchen is just to the left of the stairs. I make it to the bottom without any boo-boos! I do a small happy dance to myself. I'll have to tell Mommy in the morning that I did it all by myself! She will be happy!

I glance in the living room and search for the light switch. But then Daddy's seat starts rocking. Oh? Daddy's up! I smile.

"Daddy! You're up! I was just getting a water, would you like some?" My voice songs out and breaks the silence.

There's no reply. Maybe he didn't hear me? I open my mouth to ask again, but he raises his hand to stop me. "Boy."

That's not Daddy's voice. "Uhm..."

"How old are you, boy?" The man's voice is scary.

I hold up three fingers. "I'm this many."

He leans forward in the chair to look. Then he huffs unimpressed. "Well, boy, that's not old at all." I know he is sitting in Daddy's chair, but he looks so weird because I can still see Daddy's chair through him? "Why don't you call for your father to come have a chat?"

I nod. "Daddy!" I yell up the stairs as loud as I can. "Daddy!"

I hear movement from upstairs. The man continues rocking. "I don't like y'all being here, boy." The old man says.

Daddy's footsteps come down the stairs and he stops right behind me. "What is it?"

I point to his chair. No one else is suppose to sit in Daddy's chair.

Daddy puts his hand on my shoulder and I feel protected. Daddy can beat this man up if he starts being mean!

Daddy clears his throat. "Amelia, you better come down here!" He calls you the stairs to Mommy. There's some shuffling sounds from upstairs. "Hurry."

"Now, you listen here," the old man says as he still rocks in Daddy's chair, "I don't want this to wake my wife. So, I'm gonna need y'all to be quiet."

The man is in front of us, but I didn't see him move. He leans down to my face. "You should have stayed in bed."

He's suddenly in Daddy's face. "I'll be right back. There's a knife in the kitchen that should do just the trick."

The man walks into the kitchen behind us. He is really good at walking quietly. His footsteps don't make the floors squeak.

"What is going on?" Mommy asks from the top of the stairs.

Daddy holds a finger up to quiet her. He peaks around the corner to check on the old man.

"He's gone?"