11: Scorned

“Everyone have a seat. I’ll grab some refreshments and explain to you exactly what happened here and my intentions for the party.” Daijah started for the kitchen as the group walked into the living room to take a seat. Moments later she reappeared with a tray of mini sandwiches and drinks. “Dive in,” she smiled and took a seat beside Karima.

“Before you start I just wanna ask,” Lizzy smiled. “Is this going to cover the secret room and the newspapers up the stairs?”

“It should clear up all the confusion about the chalk outline, scary feel and maybe even the ghost man.”

She nodded and turned the sandwich in her hand, took one assured bite and leaned further into the cushions of the couch. Karima also was eagerly awaiting the story as she’d had her suspicions from the start.

Daijah pulled her legs into her chest and smiled at them before she began.

“I want you all to realize that most of this is local lore that was twisted after the events that took place here. Anyway, it all started back in 1864. This was the home of the towns’ blacksmith Everett Banks and subsequent drunk. A meek shadow of a man’s man and he came about that honestly.”

“Everett was a hard worker, loving husband and calm in temperament. He came home one night and found his wife in bed with his apprentice. Needless to say things didn’t work out well for anyone involved.”

“Everett loved his work. He was very happy creating new and inventive things for the town; horseshoes, lanterns, replacement trinkets and weapons. He was the best and everyone knew it. It was why Marcus Dennom wanted to walk in his footsteps and practically begged him to take him on as an apprentice.”

“After much hesitation on Everett’s part, he finally relented and took the young boy under his wing. He trained him in the art of metal bending and everything he knew. One day Everett had to work late and asked that Marcus check in on his wife and let her know that he was commissioned for a job that he could not refuse. Marcus, being a dear friend to Everett of course, did as he asked.”

“It wasn’t long before the two were seen running off with one another and sharing whispers. Everett never knew that they were messing around behind his back. He never expected her to hurt him as she did.”

“Hoping to make up for lost time and show her how much he cared, he left work early. He wanted to surprise her with a special gift he’d crafted for her, he didn’t realize he’d be the one surprised. He found the two in bed together, completely oblivious to the fact that he was watching them.”

“He went down into his work station and retrieved a blacksmith hammer. He hit his wife over the head a few times, knocking her out cold before he started on Marcus. With Marcus he took his time. Slowly bashing and hammering every bone in his body and grinding them down to dust. He wanted the boy to pay for his treachery and the callous way he took his wife.”

“Once he’d finished on him, he dragged his wife’s body down the stairs and chained her to the wall in their study. Amused at the way she cried for him to save her and let her free.”

“By the time the authorities had discovered what he’d done her body had been reduced to bones and was feasted on by the vermin that he allowed to rummage through the place.”

“He was arrested but found of unfit mental health and released into an asylum. He tried several suicide attempts before finally escaping and moving back home where he lived in his attic drinking himself to death. They found his rotting corpse hanging from the rafters and buried him in the cemetery behind the house. And as the story goes, he comes back every Halloween to ensure that they are both suffering.”

“Wow,” Karima started. “I thought he was mean but it turns out he’s just scornful. And that’s why this house sat abandoned for so long?”

“Well that was the start of what the locals believe caused so many subsequent deaths in this place.”

“Hold on,” Quiana and Nedra both started at the same time. They smiled at one another and Quiana continued. “How many more people have died in this place?”

“And when was the last?” Nedra added.

“The latest murder occurred last Halloween making it a total of 40. Police have tried to keep this place under surveillance and shut down to prevent further and unnecessary massacres but there are always people willing to break in just to find excitement and a quick scare.”

“Is that what you did?” Leah sighed. “Are we here illegally?”

“No. I rented it from the landowner for a month. We’re here legally. But I wouldn’t worry too much about the lore. Supposedly you only provoke Everett’s ire if you cheated on your lover. He somehow knows and makes the scorned one kill the other in nearly the same fashion in the upstairs bedroom.”

“Ok wait, because I do not understand something,” Nancy smiled. “There are recent chalk marks upstairs and you said that person died last Halloween? So why are the marks still there and why haven’t they condemned this place or torn it down?”

“I’m sure they’ve wanted to but the landowner refused permission to. Sentimental for the family or something I don’t know. All I do know is that this place just screamed at me when I visited the island last year.”

“So we’re living in our very own nightmare house? Are we going to see anymore ghosts you think?” Kalene asked.

“I had no idea about that guy. I didn’t believe the lore so to be honest; I don’t really know what’s in store for us anymore.”

“Well I for one am ready for bed. I’ll see you girls in the morning,” Freedom sighed and walked towards the door.

“Bed? How can you sleep after hearing something like that?” Holley exclaimed wide eyed and shocked.

“Easy. I’m gonna close my eyes and pretend as though I am home and safe in my own bed.”

The cadence of the candles is so alluring
Romance calls them close, warm and assuring
Take another look and things will become clear
the act of terror that was committed here

Calmly they slept cradled in loving arms

Happy and together, no cause for alarm
silently he crept towards the bed
A knife in his hands, raised above his head

His eyes opened briefly he saw what was to come
she screamed, he stabbed once but was not done
Slicing and slashing their blood was everywhere
He wrapped them in a sheet and carried them from there

The lovers souls stayed as their blood stained the floor
and every Halloween he comes stomping through the door
Cursed for all eternity to replay the violent act
some say it is a ghost story while others know it’s fact


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