July 16, 2020
A chill crept up his spine, sending shivers through his body. He felt uneasy being back in the Matthews Manor. It was almost as if the place had expected him to return or, rather, anticipating him returning. If was like a dog sitting in eagerness for its next meal.
"Everything alright, Edward?" Gabriel asked.
Edward didn't hear him. All he could hear was a white noise ringing in his ear, followed my a mother's hum. Was it his mother's?
"Edward?" Gabriel placed his hand on Edward's shoulder, causing Edward to jump.
"Oh sorry," Edward laughed. "I must have spaced out for a moment."
Gabriel chuckled before looking back to Rebecca. Her eyes were fixated on Gabriel, a look that Edward could only describe as intense desire. Her eyes made it clear that Gabriel was appealing to her for more than just money. But Edward wouldn't go as far as saying they were in love.
They might think they are, but they're not.
"Is the house already getting to you?" Gabriel asked.
"No I just..." Edward paused and looked to Gabriel. "The house isn't getting to me."
"I'm just pulling your leg Edward," Gabriel said.
Edward slightly creased his lips and pointed his head to the ground. It wasn't getting to him. He was just day dreaming , of course. Why would Gabriel think the house was getting to him. He looked up at the attic window, seeing its hollowed darkness. The shiver returned and made him feel uneasy once more. No it wasn't getting to him. Just a superstition.
"Mr. Porter, would you like to join us for dinner later this evening?" Rebecca asked.
Edward looked to Gabriel who stood on the porch, smiling widely at Edward. "Yes, Edward, please. We would be delighted if you would join us for dinner. In fact, you can even invite your family over if you so wish."
A nervous smile was all that Edward could manage. The last thing he wanted to do was invite his dysfunctional family to his boss's manor. Sarah. Lillian. Frankly, he was embarrassed to even be seen in public with them. Even being in the same household as them humiliated him.
"I'd love to, really, but I don't know if tonight would be the best tonight," Edward replied.
"Don't be silly, Edward. Tonight would be fantastic as any other night. Please. I insist that you come with your family. We can show them around the place, show them what their dad is up to." Gabriel said.
Yes, show them the haunted manor that drove a wealthy businessman insane. That would create any problems, would it? Even for his wife and her daughter, he didn't want to subject them to this house. There was just something about it... something that didn't feel right.
It's just a superstition, Edward. There's nothing wrong with it - it's just in your head.
Was it in his head? He wasn't quite sure. A little white noise began ringing in his ear once more and he felt himself spacing out. His vision went a little blurry as he saw the shadow of a tall woman standing at the door of the manor, standing directly behind Rebecca. And there, of course, was Rebecca... so beautiful. Her smile was absolutely stunning to say the least. The dread that filled his body turned to desire, something he hadn't felt in a long while.
I'm a loyal man. I'm a married man.
"Sure," Edward said, coming back to reality.
"Excellent!" Gabriel said, quickly clapping his hands. "I look forward to meeting the Porters."
Once more, Edward slightly widened his smile but only felt dread behind it. Showing off his family was like showing off the dirty laundry that had been sitting on a chair for the last several weeks. It was something that was unsightly to look at and needed to be cleaned up but everyone in the house simply chose to ignore it. It would only get dirtier and dirtier.
"I'm sure my wife will be thrilled," Edward mumbled.
The three of them walked back into the house to continue their work.
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"Oh Gabriel, stop it!" Rebecca giggled from the other room.
Hearing her giggle at whatever he was doing to her disgusted Edward. It was repulsive, wrong, sinful even. Gabriel was a married man with a child. Whether or not their marriage was failing wasn't what concerned Edward. They were bonded to each other in the eyes of God and to cheat on each other was a crime. Sarah may have cheated on Edward but he never broke his vow to her. No matter how many times he was tempted, he would pray and beg God to forgive him for such thoughts. Gabriel had a duty to his wife.
Edward looked to the ground. I have a duty to my wife.
The door down the hall opened viciously and out came Rebecca and Gabriel. Her fair was frizzled and her shirt was slightly creased upwards. Edward rolled his eyes before turning back to the hole in the wall he created with a sledgehammer.
A small hum came from inside the wall, once more sounding like a woman. "Mom?" Edward whispered. The hum continued on, uninterrupted.
"Mom?" Edward said once more.
"Eddy, honey?" A lady's voice replied.
"Mom, is that you?"
"Eddy... I can't hear you. You need to come closer for me to hear you."
Edward leaned in into the hole and looked down. He saw a large black crater and a woman looking up to him. She wore a silk black dress and her hair fell down to her waist. "Eddy, honey? Is that you?"
"Mom!" Edward exclaimed, feeling a tear stroll down his cheek.
He reached his hand down and quickly felt a tug on his shoulders. The crater filled with darkness and he could no longer see his mother.
"Edward!" Gabriel shouted.
Edward felt his chest thump and saw Gabriel now standing above him, looking down on Edward with a concerned and confused gaze. "Wha... What? What's wrong?"
Gabriel stared down at him, unsure as to what to say. "Edward, you collapsed to the floor and began muttering something I couldn't understand."
Edward chuckled. "What? I was just breaking down the wall."
Except he wasn't. Edward followed Gabriel's gaze to the wall and found that it was fully intact, paintings and pictures still hung up in its place. Where was he? He was breaking down the wall, he was sure of it. He quickly spun his head in both directions and saw that the entire hall was intact and, strangest of all, Rebecca was nowhere to be seen.
"Edward, are you sure you're okay?" Gabriel asked, reaching his hand out.
"Yes of course," Edward said, taking his hand. "I... I don't know what overcame me. I guess it was a rather strange night last night."
Gabriel shook his head but still looked to be unconvinced.
"I promise sir, that will not happen again."
"Alright, Porter, I'll keep your word on that."
Edward looked around once more, trying to see if he could spot Rebecca. "Might I ask... where did Rebecca go?"
Gabriel looked to him and snorted. "Rebecca? She's in the basement, cleaning up some of the furniture down there. Why do you ask?"
"I just, well... I just thought..."
What did he think? Was Gabriel and Rebecca's little flirt session also played out in his head? Maybe the house really was getting to him. He had only been in it for two days and he was already letting his superstition get the better of him.
Snap out of it Edward, you're better than this.
"I'm sorry. I honestly don't know why I thought she was up here."
Gabriel didn't respond, just slightly smiled and scratched at his face.
Great, he probably thinks I'm going to go insane as well.
"Is everything okay?" A woman's voice said from the stairwell.
Rebecca slowly walked up the stairs, her heels hitting the wooden steps. Her shirt wasn't creased and her hair wasn't frizzled. Edward truly made it up all in his mind.
"Yes, of course. We think we just need to take a break, it's getting hot up here," Gabriel replied.
Rebecca smiled at him. "I'll get us some drinks."
Edward flashed a smile at her and that's when he began to notice it. There was no heat. It was eighty seven degrees outside and, yet, the house felt like a little icebox. Something definitely wasn't right about this manor.
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Edward and Gabriel sat on a bar stool down in the basement. While it wasn't nearly as big as the kitchen, the bar in the basement definitely held its own compared to Edward's own kitchen. It was incredible how much useless shit rich people could cram into their homes.
Rebecca reached into the refrigerator, pulling out three water bottles. Before she could put them on the counter, Gabriel put his hand up to stop her.
"I was thinking of something a little stronger, if you know what I mean?" Gabriel winked at her.
That same smile that burned with desire met with Gabriel's. She put the water bottles back into the fridge and bent over to reach into the back of it.
Gabriel bumped his elbow into Edward and pointed at her. Her skirt brushed up high on her leg but not high enough to see anything underneath. For all he knew, she probably wouldn't be wearing anything underneath there anyways. That would be the way Gabriel would like it. But even Edward found himself staring. Even her legs were perfect. They were as smooth as butter. He could imagine himself gliding his hand down it and...
STOP! I'm a loyal man. I'm a married man.
He shot his head down, feeling the shame of his thought. He would need to pray tonight. Ask for forgiveness.
She pulled out a bottle of vodka.
"Woah there, honey. That's much stronger than I had in mind," Gabriel laughed.
Rebecca set the bottle down on the counter and pulled up three glasses.
"I think this is exactly what you had in mind, Mr. Matthews," She said flirtatiously.
"You know me so well," Gabriel chuckled.
A headache began throbbing Edward. Their flirting and teasing filled his body with rage. He had to stay silent but wanted to erupt. Hell was what awaited these two and maybe Edward if he said nothing.
She poured a small amount at the bottom of the glass and slid a glass to Edward and Gabriel. She poured one for herself and held it up in front of her. Gabriel matched hers and, feeling compelled, Edward brought his up as well and clanked it against their glasses and swiftly sucked it down. It made him feel energized, like himself. Would it be unprofessional to ask her to put more in? After all, this area was meant to be a bar.
"Well, Edward, I'd say we can cut it short today so we can get ready for dinner. Don't you think?"
He stared at the bottle of vodka, feeling saliva build up around his lips. He wanted another drink.
"That sounds fine to me. I'll go home and make sure my wife and kids are nicely dressed. I'm sure Sarah will need a few hours to get ready."
Gabriel chuckled and pat Edward on the shoulder. "I have no doubt, you know how they love to take their time in front of the mirror."
"Oh stop it you," Rebecca replied.
"I'm only kidding," Gabriel laughed. He turned back to Edward and winked. "Anyways, I'll let you get to it and Rebecca and I will get the place ready for you and your family."
Edward matched his eyes with Rebecca and saw that gaze of desire. Only this time, it was directed at Edward. She was beautiful - even more beautiful, in fact, when she wasn't cooped up at a sawmill.
I'm a loyal man. I'm a married man.
"We shall see you then, sir," Edward said with a small smile.
Edward left the basement and walked out the front doors, feeling the heat return to his skin. It felt like his body was thawing from being trapped in ice. He hopped in his car and looked back up to the attic window. It was no longer shrouded in darkness. A woman stood in front of it, watching him as he pulled out of the driveway. He couldn't see any of her features but he knew, that wasn't his mother.
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