Chapter Seven: frightening events
I awoke first on that Sunday morning, still holding Suzanne close. I could hear her gentle breathing and realised that this was a first for me. Just sleeping together without any sexual pressure was a beautiful experience in itself and I felt a deep attraction to this young woman, who, until the previous day, I had thought of as just a work colleague and good friend.
As I lay there, relaxed, Suzanne began to stir. I felt her body tense a little as she realised just where she was. I wondered just what she was thinking and then, she kissed me tenderly full on the lips. “Good morning, my love.” There was still drowsiness in her slightly-husky, but very sexy voice, which was not a surprise after the incredible overnight events.
This was such a new, strange situation for me. I had never slept with or been kissed so passionately by a fantastic, beautiful woman in my life and, just this simple act, made me feel so totally desired.
I just wished that my eyes could have seen the expression on her face, yet I knew that this would never be possible.
“How did you sleep after those awful experiences, last night?”
She gave a little shudder. “It gives me the creeps just to think about it, Tonie. Somehow, I did get to sleep eventually, but, of one thing I’m certain – this house is definitely haunted, whether you believe in ghosts or not!”
I could not argue with her logic and, yet, I had never believed in such things, thinking that hauntings were as a result of an over-imaginative, impressionable mind. “I never thought that I would believe in the supernatural, but, now, I’m not so certain. I think we should have a look upstairs to see just what happened, last night.”
Hopefully, now that the night had turned into a hot, summer day, surely, any malevolent spirits would have disappeared?
As Suzanne walked towards the doorway, she exclaimed, “My God! Even your painting has moved!”
Puzzled, I asked, “What do you mean? What’s happened to it?”
As she walked towards the painting, she explained. “The vibration from above must have moved the picture on the wall. It’s so crooked! I’ll just straighten it.” There was a pause and then she uttered a little “Oh!”
“What’s wrong, Suzanne?”
She sounded very remote and her voice seemed, somehow, strange. “Tell me again, just where the mouse is on the painting?”
This did seem to be a very strange question, considering my explanation on the previous day. “It’s on one of the cross-bars on the telegraph pole in the right of the painting. Why?”
“You are not going to believe this, Tonie. The mouse has gone! Disappeared! Vanished!”
Stunned, I said, “but that’s impossible! It’s just a print of a painting!”
“Well, I’m looking exactly where it was last night, but there is absolutely no sign of any mouse!” With a smile in her voice, she said, “I suppose that it was frightened off by all the noise!”
I did not think it worth dwelling on this peculiar situation and said, “I think, for now, never mind where the mouse may be. Let’s go upstairs and see just what damage has been done in the bedroom.”
We walked, gingerly, up the stairs, Suzanne following close behind me. I pushed my bedroom door hard, only to find that it would only open a few inches. Putting my shoulder to the door, I pushed steadily, the door gradually opening enough to allow us to squeeze in through the narrow gap.
Not knowing just what to expect, I waited for Suzanne to describe what lay before us.
“My God!” The shock in her voice was unmistakable.
“What has happened, Suzanne?”
She took a moment to compose herself. “The bed is on it’s side and the bedside drawers are up against the door. It looks as though somebody with tremendous strength has had a temper tantrum.”
Even in this very strange situation, I had to laugh at Suzanne’s description. “It’s a good job that babies do not have such strength! Let’s see if we can get this room back to something like normal.”
“Just wait a minute, Tonie. I need to show you where the drawers and bed are. Otherwise, you may trip and fall over them.”
With sudden inspiration, I asked, “Suzanne, do you have your phone to make a record of the scene?”
“No, I left it downstairs, but I can soon get it. Hold on here a minute.”
She ran down the stairs far faster than I could ever have managed. Very soon, she had returned and took several pictures of the carnage in my bedroom.
After this, together, we positioned ourselves to get a hold on the bed and put it back onto its feet. It was a hell of a weight and we were both surprised that the unknown entity was strong enough to move such heavy furniture with apparent ease. Once this was done, the bedside drawers were easy by comparison. Suzanne picked up the radio and bedside lamp, returning them to the top of the drawers. I heard a click as she tried to switch the light on. “Good! The lamp still works, Tonie.”
Just then, the door bell sounded, making me jump in surprise. I think it was the first time I had heard the doorbell since moving in. Thankfully, Suzanne came to the rescue. “You can’t go to the front door in your boxers. I’ll pull on my jeans and go downstairs while you get dressed, Tonie.”
I did not argue with her. I knew she could be ready while I was still looking for my clothes. “Okay. Thanks, Suzanne.” I heard the zip on her jeans and, wasting no time, she ran down the stairs. I envied her speed of mobility and listened as I pulled on my own clothes.
It was Diane, my neighbour at the door and I felt a tinge of excitement as she must have realised that Suzanne had stayed the night with me.
“Hello.” There had been a pause as she was obviously trying to remember her name. “Suzanne? I wondered if you and Tonie are okay. Barry and I heard a terrific crash in the middle of the night and we both worried that there had been an accident.”
I was coming down the stairs as Suzanne replied. “Oh, I’m sorry it disturbed you both. It was a cabinet which fell over. It really did make a hell of a noise.”
As I reached the hall, I added, “I am sorry, Diane. It was my fault for not making the bedroom cabinet safe and secure. At least, there is no harm done.”
“As long as you are both okay, that’s all that matters.” With this, she seemed quite satisfied with our response. “Don’t forget, if there is any help you need, just let us know.” With this, she returned to her house.
Suzanne closed the door and said, with a heavy sigh, “I wonder if she actually believed us?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “That was pretty quick thinking on your part, Suzanne. There is little we can do to try and convince her, but it really doesn’t matter. Come on, let’s get some breakfast. Are you hungry?”
“Yes. I’m famished.” As I prepared some breakfast in the dining/kitchen, Suzanne looked at the photos on her mobile. “I would never have believed that such things could have happened, yet I actually saw it all with my own eyes.”
I had to admit that my conviction that ghosts and hauntings were not real had now been replaced with an understanding that one should never completely close one’s mind to the possibility of hauntings and supernatural events. “After last night, Suzanne, I have now become a convert. I never imagined that such things could actually happen in the real world, but, now, I’m a believer.”
“After last night, it’s hardly surprising! I must admit that I was absolutely terrified!” Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she asked, “Can I help with the breakfast, Tonie?”