This story is by Pernell Rogers and was part of our 2017 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the Summer Writing Contest stories here.
It’s Still Here
Something feels odd. It feels like something is still around here. Why did I let my girlfriend hold that damn séance in my house last night? I don’t believe in that crap, but she talked me into it. And what about those weirdos she invited over? I’m sure they conjured up something evil while I stayed upstairs. A stupid séance. I agreed to a stupid séance, and now I think something evil is in my house.
Oh well, I can’t do too much about it now. Time to go to work. Better prep the house. Yep, all the lights are off upstairs. Where are my keys? Ahh, on the mantle.
Boy, it’s warm out here tonight. Hopefully, traffic won’t be too bad. I love twilight. That deep-blue sky with just enough light to see everything clearly. Working this night shift isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
Nice! The street is clear. Hey, those joggers are coming my way. I’d better back out the driveway quickly. I wonder if I know any of them.
They always jog past my house. How many were there this time? Let me check my rearview mirror and see. It looks like there are….what the hell! Hold on. What the hell is that? Who’s standing in my driveway? Damn, this car just pulled up behind me. Now, I have to drive around the block. My house would be in a weird location on this block.
Come on.
Now I hit traffic. Any other time, these side streets would be empty. Finally, they’re moving. Alright, let me turn this last corner.
There’s that group of joggers again. Let me pull over and to see if they saw who stood in my driveway. Hey, Dale and Cal are in the group. Good.
“Hey, Dale. Dale. It’s me, Andy. Hey, guy, sorry to interrupt your jog, but I saw your group jogging past my house a couple of minutes ago. Did you see who was standing in my driveway?
“Really? You didn’t see anyone? Can you ask Cal, and your other friends if they saw anyone?”
“No. Really? Alright. Thanks, guy. I’m heading back home just in case. I swore I saw someone in my rearview mirror. Alright, get back to your running and thanks.”
This séance stuff is screwing with my head now. It’s gotten darker, but I can still see my house, and…there it is! Dammit! Someone is in my driveway. Those guys said they didn’t see anything. Well, there’s no place for him to hide now, not that quickly. I’m turning in to find out who this is.
Wait! Where did he go? Dammit, he was just here.
I’m gonna check the house. If someone’s trying to break in, they’re gonna to be in a world of hurt.
Dammit, I always drop my keys. Come on damn door lock. There.
Alright, nobody better be in here. I’m switching on every lights in this house.
Nothing in the kitchen or dining room. No one in the hallway closet or downstairs bedroom. Better check the backyard. Hmmm, the door is still locked and all the windows are closed. Now to check upstairs.
Wow! Nothing in the bedrooms, bathroom, or closets. Am I going crazy? I know I saw somebody…or something in my driveway. This doesn’t make any sense.
Damn! Look at the time. I’d better phone my boss. Let me switch off these lights up here first.
“Hey, boss. Yeah, it’s Andy. Look, I’m gonna be a little late tonight.”
“Get this. I thought I saw someone standing in my driveway when I pulled away from my house tonight.”
“I don’t know who it was, so I drove around the block to come back and check it out. I spotted some jogger friends that ran past my house, and they said they didn’t see anyone, but I saw them jog right past him in my rearview mirror.”
“Tell me about it. I don’t understand it either. So when I drove back toward my house, someone was still in my driveway, so I pulled in and they disappeared.”
“Nope, I didn’t see who it was. I mean it really freaked me out. There’s nowhere for anyone to hide, not that quickly.”
“Yeah, I just finished checking upstairs. I didn’t find anyone in the house.”
“Come on Lonnie, I only drink on the weekends, and that’s usually with you as we watch the game while the girls chat it up in the back.”
“I will.”
“I’ll be in soon. Take care. Bye.”
Imagine him insinuating that I’ve been drinking when he knows damn well he can drink me under the table any day of the week! Oh well, I’m officially going crazy…I think. Better switch off the lights down here and get going. The backdoor’s still locked…good. Last two lights. Dining room light is off. Finally, the living room light…hold on…what’s that? What is that?
“Who’s in my dining room?”
“Who the hell is that?”
“I’m gonna kick your ass when I switch on this light. There. What the…”
What the hell is that thing and how did it get in here? Oh, God! It can’t be! Nothing can it move through the table like that? I knew something was left over from that damn séance.
“Go back to where you came from! Get outta here. Go back! Go back!”
“COME ON DOOR, OPEN! AHH…! STOP! GET AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE……”
*****
“Hey, Sergeant Kowalski.”
“Yep, this is a really weird one.”
“The victim’s boss, Lonnie Chambers, is right outside. He told me he just spoke to the victim tonight. From Mr. Chamber’s account, the victim was running late. Said the victim thought he saw an intruder. I guess he was right. But, explain this to me Sergeant. How could any human contort the victim’s body like that, and how did his head get twisted to face backwards? This is definitely one for the books!”
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