by Lynn Smith

 

She found herself running through an empty house, trying to scream but no sound would come out. She ran up the stairs and hid in the attic. His laughter was coming through the walls as she rocked herself back and forth covering her ears with her hands. He twisted the door open, that half grin on as he walked confidently over to her. She closed her eyes and began kicking wildly.

Melissa opened her eyes, jolting herself into a sitting position, with sweat on the back of her neck. Breathing hard she knew she needed to take a shower to cleanse herself.

“Why’d I have to ever read that stupid story!” Getting out of bed, then continuing to get ready for the rest of the day.

After her shower, there was a last minute call, asking if she would babysit two brothers on Friday. Babysitting for them other times and never having a problem before, she quickly agreed.

Heading out the door, waiting for the bus to get her to school, a little boy started talking to her. He smiled and when the bus arrived he sat across from her, watching her.

           

*                                                          *                                                          *

 

Friday night arrived, and she was punctual, getting there at exactly seven. Knocking on the door, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson let her in.

 “Now boys, we expect you to be nice and respectful to Melissa. I don’t want to hear any problems, understood?” Mr. Johnson grabbed his jacket off the coat stand and helped Mrs. Johnson with her coat, as he was rushing her out the door.

Melissa waved them off and turned her attention over to the boys.

“So, what would you like to do tonight? A movie and some popcorn, a game of uno, or maybe even a reading contest?”

Both boys turned to each other and said in unison, “a movie and popcorn.”

Two hours later, they were sent off to bed, and settling herself down in the living room, she began to study for her upcoming chemistry final.

Trying to block out thoughts of her dream, she kept hearing a soft cackling noise and decided to check on the kids. Climbing up the stairs, and holding on to the railing, as she started around the corner, she saw a shadow crawl slowly across the floor. Stunned, and seemingly unable to get  herself to move forward, her thought process ran wild.

That laugh, the darkness and dread that I feel now. Could it be- no no no, it cant be...

 After what seemed like twenty minutes, but must’ve only been two, she exhaled sharply and walked to the boys’ room. Melissa opened the door a crack and peered her head inside. She looked around to see them cuddling their teddy bears. She smiled to herself and began to turn around when she heard one of them call out.

“Hey, Melissa. Is that you?”

Opening the door, and stepping inside, Melissa walked over to his bed. “Hey, what are you still doing up? Shouldn’t you be asleep by now?”

“Ya, but I...” He couldn’t  look her in the eyes, instead he glanced at his teddy bear and said in almost a whisper, “I’m scared Mel.”

She wanted to comfort him, and begin thinking what her mother would do in that situation, but all she could do was sit there in awkward silence. He turned away from her and buried his head underneath the pillow.

“Hey, don’t be ashamed. I get scared all the time. It’s normal, everyone gets scared sometimes.”

He peeked his head out and she could tell he believed her. “Oh yeah, then what are you afraid of?” He asked her almost abruptly.

“Lots of things, the dark, being trapped in a small space, heights, clowns, and bubbles.”

“Bubbles? Are you serious? What, are they gonna clean you or burn your eyes or something?”

He started to laugh at her, and she couldn’t help but feel the sting of his laughter. Starting to get up, he grabbed her hand and pleaded for her to stay. She sat back down. “Well what are you afraid of then, tough guy?”

“Umm, monsters, ghosts, the dark, and-and-and bunnies.”

She burst out laughing, “Buh-buh- bunnies?! Haha, wow, how can they scare you? What are they gonna do?” Doubling over, trying not to fall, she just couldn’t control her laughter any longer.  Trying to stand up, but losing her balance, she ended up falling. It was his turn to laugh at her, suddenly they heard a creak from the floorboard above them. They both got quiet and sat there breathing heavily.

“Stay here, I’ll be right back.” Walking to the door, opening it slowly, and grabbing a skateboard that was by the door and holding it like a baseball bat, she peeked around every corner, opened every door. Her heart was pounding faster with every turn she took. She walked up the stairs, to the third floor, turning to the left of another corner, and letting out a shriek. She dropped the skateboard and started to run down the steps. Her ankle slid out from under her on the worn down carpet, tripping, she flew headfirst into the old wooden banister. It splintered all around her, leaving her groggy but conscious.

Alarmed at the noise, both boys were up and rushed to their door and called out.

“Mel? Melissa? What happened? Is there someone there? Are you alright?”

She took a couple seconds to try to understand what they were asking. She walked to their door and pushed them aside sinking into a chair. She clutched her head as they ran over to her, their voices filled her ears, yet she couldn’t understand them. Finally at a quarter past ten she had told them everything that happened.

“...  Then i turned the corner and there was a little clown statue. It looked so real, it had bright orange hair and makeup on and everything.”

She felt her cheeks burn bright red as she finished her story. Both boys just sat there looking at her skeptically. Finally one of them said, “Mel, there is no clown statue up there.

Stunned, looking at them, she wondered how they couldn’t believe her. How can they think I’m lying, or making this up? I know what I saw. Even if she did hit her head and she was a little groggy, she was certain of what she had seen. She wanted to go up and show them that she wasn’t crazy, that the clown was really there, but before she could get the chance, she heard Mr. and Mrs. Johnson unlocking the door and giggling with delight. She tucked the boys into bed and rushed downstairs.

 

 

*                                               *                                              *

 

Glancing around, she couldn’t help but feel as if she had already been here before. It all seemed so familiar to her. She knew she’d seen the house before, the couch just seemed so distinct. She kept hearing the pendulum swinging back and forth in a slow methodic rhythm. Then she heard it, slow and stifled at first, then loud, filling her ears, brain, mind with its menacing cackle.

Waking up, she finally understood the connection. The dream, the laughter she had heard when she babysat at the Johnson’s home.

She got a call the next day from Mrs. Johnson, asking if she could babysit for them next week. She reluctantly agreed, but only on one condition.

“... Saturday? Yes, I should be available. Just one thing though, you know that clown statue you have on the third floor? It really creeps me out, and I was wondering if you could get rid of it.”

“Melissa, what are you talking about? We don’t have a clown statue.”

A feeling of dread slowly began creeping into her chest, as a cold shiver shot through her body, she dropped the phone to the floor.  Mrs. Johnson kept talking, not realizing that she was talking to the floor. Melissa bent down to pick up the phone, and her head met with the corner of the marble table. Feeling as though her eyes were going to fall out of her head.

Picking up the phone, she wanted to get off as quick as possible. “Yes. I will see you Saturday, no problem I’ll see you then.”

*                                                          *                                              *

Thoughts filled her head as she started up the front steps. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson as usual, rushed off as if they were going to miss out on free all you can eat shrimp at sizzler. Melissa didn’t bother asking what the boys wanted to do, instead she popped in ‘Blubber’ and sat on the couch with the boys. After about an hour, they heard soft scratching noises. The younger of the two boys asked Melissa to go check it out. Gulping, but obliging to her responsibilities as a babysitter. Starting up the steps, she climbed as slowly as possible, not wanting to go any farther than necessary. Checking all the rooms on the second floor she breathed a sigh of relief, then stood facing the stairs that led to the third floor. Taking a deep breath, then starting on the task at hand.

Turning the corner and expecting the statue, eyes squeezed tight, barely looking, when they finally opened she was washed with relief as there was no statue. Then the laughter began. Paralyzed with fear, her body froze in its place. The laughter got louder, closer, but there she stood unable to move or yell out.

The boys raced up the stairs calling for her, the laughter stopped almost suddenly.

“Go to your room, lock the door and call 911.”

The boys stayed long enough to glance at her, give her that ‘be careful’ look, and shuffled down the stairs to their room.

As the laughter continued to escalate, her blood pounded against her head. As she came to the attic, the door started slowly creaking open. Gasping, preparing herself, she took a deep long breath and walked forward. There it was, in the center of the room, with the moonlight intensely focused on it. A four foot tall clown statue. The laughter had subsided. She walked forward wanting to touch it.

As her hand was millimeters from his hair, the eyes flashed quickly. Centering its gaze on her, it made a sudden grab for her arm. Startled, she stumbled backwards, slamming into a lamp she shrieked. Running to the door, but finding it locked, she banged on it, willing it to open. Turning her back, she bawled up on the floor, crying and squeezing her eyes closed.

The boys broke into the room, all three of them, the brothers and their friend who dressed up as the clown laughed at what they saw.