seemed to call to her, whispering her name upon each summer breeze, inviting her to visit and explore. Now it scared her.
The two-story Victorian home sat in the middle of a field about five acres from her family�s farm. Ancient weeping willow trees
huddled around the building, making the monstrosity nearly invisible. Just the sight of its weathered paint, partially collapsed roof, broken windows and debris littered path kept most visitors away. Its window shutters hung precariously from rusted hinges and banged loudly each time the wind kicked up.
Near the very top of the roof the attic window sat lonely and
foreboding. It gave her the creeps, a never ending feeling of dread. And lately she�d sensed that someone was still upstairs waiting. . . watching. For whom? For what?
Her friends begged. She tried to warn them but they wouldn't listen, so she took them in the middle of the day. Just like they wanted. She led them across the bridge and up the path to the front door, turned the key in the lock, and shoved the door open. Just like they wanted. A suffocating feeling swept over her forcing her to back away. She warned them again, but they wouldn't listen. She gave up. She told them she�d wait for them on the other side of the old bridge at the end of the drive.
She asked them to hurry. They were happy, thrilled about the new mysterious things they were going to discover.
�You�re such a chicken!� They laughed and waved her away.
And as they stepped inside, the house seemed to swallow them in
darkness. Elyse watched until the very last one was gone, then she closed the door, and left them to the house. Just like they wanted.
By the time she reached the old bridge the entire sky was filling with black clouds. Clouds larger and darker than she�d ever seen in her life whipped across the sky at great speeds. The once mild autumn breeze now ripped at the river grass around her and stung her cheeks.
Pulling the hood of her dark brown jacket over her head, she tied it in place, zipped her jacket, shoved her hands into its pockets and crossed the bridge.
Eerie sounds surrounded her. The weeping willow branches
screamed and howled as they slashed at each other in the wind. The lightening and thunder was nearly on top of her. Just as Elyse put her
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