Chapter eight. When Andi walked into Ronnie’s room, Jamie turned, a piece of pizza halfway to her mouth

When Andi walked into Ronnie’s room, Jamie turned, a piece of pizza halfway to her mouth. Their eyes collided for a second, then Jamie lifted one eyebrow.

“Pizza again.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m starving.” She lifted the lid on one of the boxes and pulled out a piece. “Where is everyone? ” When she woke up, she was alone. The shadows outside her window telling her it was fast approaching dusk. She’d found the third floor bathroom empty and took the opportunity to clean up. Her hair was disheveled, and there was no mistaking the smell in the room. Not that she cared what these people thought, but perhaps Jamie did. But she wondered if it really mattered. The walls were probably paper-thin.

“The camera on the front porch wasn’t working. They’ve been tinkering with it.” She glanced at the monitor. “Oh, shit. It’s up.” She reached for the handheld radio. “Ronnie, I got a picture.”

“ Okay, thanks. The wire was totally disconnected. It’s weird.”

Jamie and Andi exchanged glances. Then Jamie smiled.

“You okay? ”

Andi nodded. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. It was completely mutual.”

“Thank you, ” Andi said quietly. She didn’t want to feel embarrassed by her wanton actions, but she was. Her only saving grace was that Jamie’s ardor had matched her own.

Jamie walked closer, her voice low. “Please don’t thank me. I should thank you. I can’t remember the last time it felt so good to be with someone.”

Andi blushed and turned away. She was thinking the very same thing, but she was hardly going to voice that to Jamie. But she was saved, anyway. The others came back into the room. At the knowing glance from Dr. Gilbreath, Andi turned crimson.

“I see you’ve decided to join us, Ms. Beene. You must have been very... tuckered.”

Despite her embarrassment, Andi met her gaze head on. “Yes, very tuckered.”

It was Jamie who laughed outright. “Good one, Dr. Gilbreath. I wasn’t aware you had a since of humor.”

“I don’t, ” she snapped. “I also got very little sleep, Dr. Tucker. Please try to refrain from... social activities during this watch.”

“What are you all taking about? ” Ronnie asked.

“You didn’t hear? I would have thought the entire house heard.”

“Dr. Gilbreath, please, can we drop it? ”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Beene, didn’t mean to embarrass you. You’re right. Let’s drop it. It’s already dark. The full moon will rise shortly. I expect an active night.”

The words barely left her mouth when the crack of thunder was heard.

“A thunderstorm? ”

“How spooky, ” Ronnie teased. “Maybe we’re in for the mother of all nights.”

“Be careful what you wish for, ” Jamie murmured. She walked over to the pizza box and took another piece, handing it to Andi. “Sorry about that, ” she whispered.

“No problem.”

“Dr. Gilbreath! In the den, look! ”

They all turned to the monitors and Ronnie pulled up a larger image. The fireplace that had been laid with wood, as if expecting them, was just beginning to smolder. Then the flame grew, licking at the dry wood.

“Oh my... God, ” Andi stammered. “Look at the porch camera.”

Walking up the steps was the shadow of a man—a man carrying an axe. Ronnie quickly enlarged the thumbnail, just in time to see the axe raise, then the camera went black.

“Holy shit! ”

“Do not panic, people, ” Dr. Gilbreath said. “This could be the opportunity of a lifetime.”

“I just hope we live to tell about it. That aberration of an axe just killed our camera, ” Jamie said loudly.

“Dr. Tucker, you’ve been in haunted places before. Don’t tell me you’re scared, ” Dr. Gilbreath chided.

“Okay. I won’t tell you then.” She glanced at Andi. “Okay? ”

Andi stared at the monitors. “Not really, no. Look at the master bedroom.”

As thunder crashed around them, the fireplace in the master bedroom suddenly came to life. Then, without warning, a roar sounded downstairs. They all stared as a camera caught the front door exploding inward. Andi gasped as the man with the axe walked inside. The image of the man, Andi silently corrected.

“That’s Mr. Zeiko, ” Jamie murmured. “Dr. Gilbreath, all of our research indicated that he never showed himself.”

“The murders happened on Halloween. Perhaps this is the only night he does show himself.”

“In the bedroom, the mother and the children, ” Ronnie said.

“Enjoying the fire, ” Beth murmured. She glanced nervously at Dr. Gilbreath. “This is too much. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.”

“Believe it.” She spread her arms out. “Embrace it! It’s so wonderful! ”

Andi glanced at Jamie, thinking the older woman had lost her mind. Embrace it? She wanted to run from it!

“Holy shit! The den. Look what’s happening! ”

“That must be the in-laws. Some accounts show they were killed in the den.”

“With the axe.”

“Yes. Most likely the same woman Andi saw in the bathroom.”

They all jumped when screaming was heard, then watched in disbelief as the man grabbed the woman, the axe striking her repeatedly until her head rolled away from her now still body. Deep, guttural laughter sounded, then the axe was flung across the room, striking the other man in the head.

“Oh, God, ” Andi whispered as the man fell to the ground.

“The fire, it’s... it’s not right, ” Jamie said. “Look, it’s like its reaching out or something.”

“He’s coming upstairs, ” Dr. Gilbreath said excitedly. “We’re going to witness all the murders! ”

“If we live that long! The den’s on fire! ”

Dr. Gilbreath shook her head. “Can’t be a real fire, Dr. Tucker. It’s the aberration of a fire.”

“Well, the aberration sure smells like smoke! ”

“She’s right, Dr. Gilbreath. We’re losing the camera, ” Ronnie said.

They all heard the hissing sound as the tiny microphone was fried.

“No. It can’t be, ” she said. “It’s fine. We are witnessing a play, if you will. Let’s watch it unfold.”

More screaming was heard as Mr. Zeiko made it to the second floor. They watched in horror as he grabbed one of the children, the axe striking quickly. As the mother ran forward, he grabbed her, tossing her across the room as if she were a rag doll. The other child ran down the stairs, Mr. Zeiko catching him just as he ran into the flames of the den. The camera when black.

“He’s coming back up! ”

“The fire in the bedroom! It’s spreading, too, ” Jamie said, pointing.

“Aberration, Dr. Tucker.”

“The hell it is! ”

Jamie ran to the bedroom door, jerking it open. The all gasped as smoke crept up to the third floor.

“The cameras on the stairwells, they’re useless, ” Ronnie said. “I’m getting nothing but smoke.”

“We don’t need them, anyway. He’s back on the second floor! ”

“Look at the fire, ” Beth said urgently, pointing.

“Look at the goddamn smoke! ” Jamie yelled, shutting the door again. “We’ve got to get out of here! ”

“There is no fire, Dr. Tucker! ” Dr. Gilbreath ran to the door. “Watch. I’ll show you.”

“What the hell are you doing? ”

“Watch the cameras! ”

She ran down the hallway, and they all turned to the monitors, watching as she descended from the third floor landing, into the smoke.

“She’s lost her mind, ” Jamie murmured.

In disbelief, they watched as the man with the axe grabbed Dr. Gilbreath, pulling her forcefully into the bedroom, into the fire. Sharp screams were heard, screams drifting up the stairwell, much like the smoke. The screams died as suddenly as they’d begun.

“Dr. Gilbreath? Dr. Gilbreath? ” Beth yelled.

Before anyone could stop her, she ran from the room, screaming for Dr. Gilbreath.

“There! ” Ronnie pointed. “She’s still alive! He’s got her in the hallway.”

Dr. Gilbreath was pinned against the wall, the axe held high above her head. Then Beth moved into their view, her scream piercing their ears as the axe fell.

“We’ve got to help them! ” Ronnie yelled.

Jamie grabbed him as he tried to run from the room. “Are you crazy? Are you not watching what is happening? ”

“Look! He’s dragging them downstairs! ”

The stairwell camera went black the instant the explosion sounded. Jamie took Andi to the ground, covering her as part of the ceiling gave way. The smoke was thick now, making it difficult to breathe.

“We’ve got to get out of here, ” Jamie said, pulling Andi to her feet.

“Where’s Ronnie? ”

“Goddamn idiot! ” Jamie ran to the monitors, clicking on each image, but there was too much smoke. The only camera still functioning was the third floor stairwell, and it showed no movement. In the distance, they heard screaming. Not from the microphones, no. Just screaming as it drifted up the stairwell.

“What should we do? ” Andi asked urgently.

“We’ve got to get out of here. We can’t help them. We don’t even know if it’s them screaming or the goddamn aberrations! ” She straightened up. “Come on! ”

“Where? We’re on the third floor, for Christ’s sake! ”

“The oak tree in the back. Maybe we can reach it.”

“It’s on the other side of the house.”

“Got a better idea? ”

Their eyes met. “No.”

They ran out into the hallway, the smoke totally engulfing the stairwell. Jamie grabbed her hand, pulling her down the hallway to another closed door.

“It’s the attic.”

But the knob wouldn’t turn. The door was locked. With her shoulder, Jamie banged into it, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Come on, come on, ” she muttered, banging into it again.

“Kick it in! ”

Jamie stood back, then lifted one powerful leg, hitting the door square on the doorknob, breaking the latch. But it was dark inside, the light switch clicking uselessly.

“Hang on.”

Andi tapped her fingers on her jeans, waiting. Finally, a small light shown. The flashlight Jamie always seemed to carry produced a tiny beam.

“It’s not much, ” she said.

“Oh my God, Jamie, ” Andi whispered. “Look.”

The small beam bounced around the attic, the old skeletons glowing ghostly in the dim light.

“There’s ten or fifteen of them, ” she said.

“At least.” Jamie flashed the light at their feet. “Watch your step.”

“No. I can’t. I’m not going in there.”

“You have to.” Jamie pointed the light at the window, where lightening lit up the night sky. “That’s the only way out.”

Andi squeezed her eyes shut, then shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Andi, they are just skeletons. They can’t hurt you.”

“Right. Just like the ghosts of the Zeikos couldn’t hurt us.”

“Andi, we don’t have a choice! The house is on fire! ”

She forcefully pulled Andi into the room, grabbing the nearest object she could find—an old chair—smashing the glass covering the window. Cold air streamed inside, chasing out the stale smell of death. Andi rushed to the window, suddenly feeling the need to escape.

“Okay, it’s going to be tricky. The closest branch is below the window ledge, ” Jamie yelled, pointing. “Can you lay flat on the ledge, then swing to it? ”

“Are you crazy? ”

“Okay. How about you sit on the ledge and jump to the branch? ”

“I’m not a fucking gymnast! ”

Jamie grabbed both of her shoulders, her voice calm as their eyes met. “The house is on fire, Andi. This tree is it. So, are you going to jump to the branch or do I have to toss you? ”

Andi looked behind them to the smoke-filled hallway, nodding.

“Okay. I can do it.” She shrugged. “I mean, what’s the worse that could happen? ”

“Good girl. Come on.”

Andi didn’t bother telling Jamie she was afraid of heights. She was fairly certain that if she didn’t fall, she would surely die of a heart attack somewhere among the higher branches. She dutifully climbed out on the ledge, refusing to look down at the enormous expanse of space between her third floor perch and the ground.

“It’s not that far, Andi. Just a couple of feet, fall to the limb and wrap your arms around it. Once you scoot to the center, near the trunk, you’ll have plenty of footholds.”

Andi didn’t answer. On a silent count of three, with eyes locked on the branch, she let herself fall, arms outstretched. She wrapped around the limb, the subtle bouncing from her weight causing her to gasp in panic, her legs swinging wildly as she pulled her chest tight against the tree.

“Great! Now move to the center. There’s a limb you can stand on. Don’t look down, Andi. You can do it! Once you get your footing, just move down the tree, limb by limb.”

Andi followed her instructions, relief replacing panic as her feet struck the larger branch. She moved to the base of the tree, hugging it tightly, finally daring to look back. But the window was empty. There was no sign of Jamie.

“Jamie! ” she screamed. “ Jamie! ”

Oh dear God...