Mary

               

               Everyone has heard those scary ghost stories that we were told when we were younger but have you ever asked yourself where they came from? These stories don’t formulate out of thin air or fall out of the sky, they start somewhere..

                Pennsylvania, 1992.

                The Matthews moved into their dream house far into the woods. A dirt road was the only way to reach the house other than a treacherous walk through the woods and brush. The driveway is lined and surrounded by humongous trees and a weeping willow tree sat in front of the house. Its branches spread out, touched the soft green grass and lightly rested on the far end of the front porch. The yard was vastly open until it reached the tree line. The only neighbors were miles away. The house was large, beautiful but worn from weather and lack of love. One side of the house was covered in branches and moss creeping up the siding and stretched to the corners. The window sills and doors were slightly cracked around the edges and the floorboards creaked with every step. The inside of the house was even bigger than expected. The floor was wooden and moaned with every step they took. The stairs were in even worse shape. There were about fifteen steps to the next floor which seemed like they would give out with all the weight on top of them. Other than a few minor repairs along with love, the house seemed perfect. The Matthews decided right then and there to claim the house. Little did the family know what they were pulled into.

                By that weekend, the family was packed up and they moved from their house into the new one. The Matthews were a family of five. Joseph Matthews, Emily Matthews and their children; Kelly (15), Rosie (4) along with their lovable gray cat, Storm. A very happy and outgoing family. Kelly and Rosie looked just like her mother, slim with long blonde hair and green eyes. Kelly was reluctant about moving to the new house because she didn’t want to leave her friends to start at a new school but she had no other choice than to adapt. It took a few days for the family to settle in but in no time. The stairs along with the porch were fixed and they could fall back into their normal routine.

                Everything seemed normal for the first two months. Kelly often took Rosie outside to play in the piles of leaves in the yard. Rosie enjoyed it and Kelly just loved seeing her sister so happy. The house grew on Kelly. Now that it was all fixed up it looked kind of nice surrounded by the fall scenery. Even school wasn’t too bad, Kelly had made several new friends in her first week being at the new school. She even took interest in a boy named Luke who was also 15 and very cute. The two of then instantly clicked and he started to come visit quite regularly, he only lived a mile into the woods from her. She often found herself daydreaming of him when he wasn’t there. “Kelly! Rosie! Come inside please, it’s time for dinner!” her mother yelled out the window bringing Kelly back to reality.

                Later that night, Kelly sat in her room reading and listening to music. Storm sat on the end of her bed sleeping just as he does every night. Rosie was fast asleep in her room down the hall since it was 11 pm, far past her bedtime. Joseph and Emily were out at a celebration dinner with some of their friends. The house was quiet and the only sounds were the crackling of leaves and the whistling of the wind through the trees. Kelly began to get tired and started to doze off. She awoke in the middle of the night. The whole house was silent. She peered to her bedside table and her clock read 3am. As she turned back over to go back to sleep there was an unsteady creaking in the hallway. Storm’s head popped up and he stared intently at the dark doorway refusing to look away. The creaks in the floorboards got louder and sounded nearer. Suddenly, her door slammed shut and she nearly jumped off her bed out of pure fear. Storm’s fur stood up on the length of his back, he showed his teeth and watched the door. The door creaked and opened slightly, slowly. The footsteps in the hallway continued and turned to running. Kelly was frozen with fear until the thought of her baby sister popped in her head. She frantically jumped out of bed and dashed down the hall to Rosie’s room. She opened the door and searched for her sister. Rosie slept peacefully on her bed, undisturbed. Kelly left Rosie’s room and turned down the hall to her parent’s room. They were both home and were fast asleep. Kelly decided to turn around and retreat back to her room, wide eyed and frightened. She walked back slowly in the dark.

                Days passed without incident. Kelly never mentioned what happened that night to anyone. “Kelly! Luke is here!” Kelly came down the stairs to greet him. There was something special and different about him. The way his baby blue eyes lit up, they were mesmerizing, Kelly couldn’t help but to get lost in them. As Kelly spent more and more time with him, she developed a crush on him. He was her best friend. The two of them spent almost every day together, growing closer.

                It was December and the snow began to fall at night. Kelly lay in bed, watching TV and dozing off. She was almost asleep when she heard footsteps from above her head. Directly above her was the attic which has been locked since they moved in, they never found the key to open the door so they just left it alone. The footsteps got louder, sounded as someone was pacing. Kelly froze with fear. Then everything was silent and seemed to pass in slow motion. Suddenly, she tried to get out of bed and the wind was completely knocked out of her, as if someone had punched her in the stomach. Kelly found herself crouched over the side of her bed, gasping for air. Out of nowhere she was whipped around and pinned to her bed, struggling to breathe. She tried to scream but it felt like her windpipe was being crushed by an invisible force. She was unable to let out a sound or cry for help. She opens her eyes to attempt to see her attacker but what she saw frightened her even more. There was a thick, gray shadow hovering over her. The shadow formed arms and hands which extended and wrapped around her neck. She panicked even more and kicked her legs in an attempt to wiggle herself free. Then just as quick as it came, it disappeared. Kelly stayed in bed this time, frozen, crying herself to sleep.

                In the morning, Kelly didn’t even get out of bed at her normal time. She woke up early but laid there staring at the ceiling until drifting back into sleep. It was two in the afternoon by the time Kelly emerged from her room. Kelly felt sick and walked slowly, cautiously downstairs. Luke was in the kitchen with Rosie when she turned to corner. When he heard her footsteps coming, his face widened with a radiant smile but that smile quickly faded into wide eyes full of concern. She saw the look on his face and was taken back full of confusion. He sent Rosie to the other room to play then quickly went to Kelly’s side.  “Oh my god! What happened? Are you okay?” He took her arm and led her to the couch to sit. She just looked at him, puzzled. She looked down at her hands in her lap and noticed scratches and bruises covering her arms and legs. Underneath her fingernails were caked with blood, she suspected her own. The pain in her chest and throat began again. She ran to the kitchen sink which had a mirror above it and was startled to see dark circles under her eyes and finger shaped bruises around her neck along with a long, deep gash across her cheek. Her tears began to flow down her cheeks and she collapsed to the floor.

                Kelly woke up on the couch with her head resting on Luke’s lap. Kelly quickly sat up, exasperated, “where’s Rosie? Is she okay? Where are mom and dad? What time is it?” “Shh. Just lie down and calm down please. Everything is okay,” Luke assured her. “You’re safe; Rosie is in the other room watching TV. Your parents are gone for the day. They asked me to come keep you two company.” Kelly was able to calm down slightly. She lay back down, tried to concentrate and slow her breathing which was very hard with the extreme pain in her throat.  Luke caressed her head and ran his fingers through her hair in an attempt to calm her down. “Kelly?” Luke broke the silence, “what happened?” The look on his face showed concern. Kelly was afraid he wouldn’t believe her or he would think she was crazy. Moments passed, her head spun. She took a deep breath and told him everything including the first time she heard the footsteps. He never interrupted and listened carefully. When she was done she sighed and closed her eyes, ready to lose her best friend. Luke was silent then he kissed the top on her head. “I knew I should have warned you all when you first moved in. I was worried about this,” his voice trailed off. Kelly shot up, “what’re you talking about?” she demanded. Luke began to tell her a story about an old curse that was supposedly put on the house decades ago.

                A long time ago when the house was first built, a family lived there and was terribly hated by the town and accused the women in the family of being evil witches. The members of the town got together and slaughtered the entire family violently. The mother, Mary was forced to watch her husband and two children being hung and burned. Mary cursed the town and house in her last dying breath. It has been said that she haunts anyone who lives there, disturbing her and intruding in her home. The Matthews were the only family that lasted there more than a month. Every other family abandoned the home within the first few weeks.

                Kelly stared, wide eyed, at Luke. “I’m so sorry Kelly. I never thought anything of it. It was just a stupid story we were all told when we were young. I’m so sorry this happened to you,” Luke said almost in tears. Kelly just stared into space, unable to speak. “I’m here for you. I care about you, you’re something special. I’m going to do all that I can to protect you and Rosie then when your parents are home we’ll explain everything and you all can move somewhere safe,” Luke told her while he was grasping her hand, afraid to let go. Kelly was frightened for herself and her family. She went into the other room to speak to her baby sister, “hey sweetie, will you join Luke and I in the other room to watch a movie until mommy and daddy get home?” Rosie nodded and followed her sister to join Luke on the couch.

                Several hours passed and the three of them slept on the couch. It was about 10pm, dark and quiet. Kelly was awoken by the familiar footsteps from above. The panic began as her heart raced. She shook Luke awake and placed a finger to his lips so he would just listen. The footsteps upstairs continued and approached the stairs. “Kelly, stay here with Rosie. I’m going up to see what it is.” Kelly begged him to stay with her, he kissed her and got up to approach the stairs. Kelly held Rosie as she continued to sleep. As Luke got closer to the stairs, the footsteps stopped. He cautiously approached and climbed the stairs which creaked with every step. Kelly just watched him, terrified. He reached the top of the stairs and turned to search all the rooms. Kelly’s heart raced as she anticipated his return. He came back to the top of the stairs, “it’s fine, there’s nothing up here. It was probably just the creaking of the old house and the wind outside.” Suddenly, Kelly saw the shadow from the night before appear behind Luke at the top of the staircase. “Luke! Watch out behind you!” It was already too late. Luke went sailing down the stairs with loud thuds and his body tumbled. He flailed his arms to try to stop him from falling. He fell hard and loud, his body a bag of bricks being thrown. Rosie shot up from her sleep and began crying. The shadow vanished and Kelly rushed to the bottom of the stairs where Luke’s body lay lifeless. Tears streamed down her face. There was blood everywhere and it was clear he wasn’t going to survive his fall. Kelly kissed his forehead, “I’m so sorry Luke. I’m so so sorry,” she said as she choked on tears. She looked up to see the shadow at the top of the stairs again. Kelly jumped up and grabbed Rosie who was still sitting crying on the couch. “It’s okay baby,” she tried to assure her. She picked up Rosie and ran to the front door which would not open even though it was unlocked. Both the girls were crying but Kelly was only worried about keeping Rosie safe. She held her in her arms and rushed to the closet that was in the kitchen. She put Rosie inside, “Rosie, please listen to me. Stay in here until you hear me tell you to unlock the door. Calm down baby, everything is going to be okay.” Kelly kissed her sisters forehead and left her there, hoping she was safe. Kelly ran to the phone and tried to dial 911 but realized the phone lines were cut. Suddenly, Kelly was whipped around to face the shadow then thrown across the room like a rag doll. She hit her head on the counter as she fell and stayed on the floor for a moment to try and catch her breath. Blood rushed down her face from the new gash in her head. The smell made her sick and there was an unbearable pain in her head. She was in shock and took a minute to realize where she was. The shadow appeared directly in front of her face, she could feel and smell the hot breath from where its mouth would be. She was horrified and frozen in fear. A hand emerged from the shadow and began to caress her face. Kelly was disgusted and tried to pull away but she was unable to break its grasp. Tears flowed and mixed with her blood as it puddled around her on the floor. She pleaded for her sisters life, not even her own. With one twist her neck was snapped and she fell to the floor, dead. 

                Joseph and Emily arrived home to an empty house. None of the children’s bodies were ever recovered and it is still unknown as to what happened to Rosie.