House Read Online Free PDF Page A

black.
    Stephanie involuntarily reached out for Jack. “Oh, my Lord.”
    â€œNow it’s getting fun,” she heard Randy say.

    Just like this whole trip, one disaster after another , Jack thought . He looked out the window, now a black rectangle framing a world of bottomless shadows and indistinct shapes. “The yard lights are out too.”
    â€œHold still till we get used to the dark,” Leslie said.
    â€œAnybody got a lighter?” Randy asked.
    â€œStephanie,” Jack said. He knew she kept a lighter on hand to offer her smoking friends. He always thought it was weird, since she swore cigarettes were death to the vocal cords, but apparently it was her way of schmoozing. He heard her fumble through her purse, then felt her press the cheap plastic gadget into his hand. He flicked it. Light from the small yellow flame dimly lit the room.
    â€œThere you go,” said Randy. “At least she’s prepared. Come on.” He headed into the foyer then crossed into the living room. Jack went with him, lighting their way. Randy went to the fireplace and took a decorative oil lamp from the mantel.
    â€œRandy, that’s not ours,” Leslie called.
    Randy took a wooden match from a box on the hearth. The match flared with one scratch on the bricks, and the lamp lit easily. “Now. We can take a look around for candles, matches, a flashlight, anything to take care of this situation—since the owners aren’t here to take care of things themselves.”
    Jack heard a sound he couldn’t place. Something resonant. A high note. “Wait a minute!” said Jack, pocketing the lighter.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œShh.”
    They all listened. Jack thought—“Cool,” said Randy, returning to the foyer, taking the oil lamp with him. “Just like a haunted house, right? Nobody here, then the lights go out, then . . . OOOOOO. ” He wiggled the fingers of his free hand as the oil lamp cast eerie shadows on his face. “Creaks, and groans, and footsteps in the dark.”
    Leslie wagged her head in good humor.
    â€œDon’t do that,” said Stephanie, setting her purse down behind the sofa.
    There it was again. “I did hear something,” Jack said.
    From somewhere in the dark expanse of the old house, timbers groaned under their load and then were silent.
    â€œIt’s just house noise—,” Randy started to say, but Leslie shushed him.
    Now, somewhere, floorboards creaked.
    â€œSomebody’s here,” Stephanie whispered.
    Jack put up his hand for silence, cocked his head to hear, listened.
    A voice. A song. A child.
    He met the eyes of the others, but saw no awareness there. “You hear that?” Randy started to smirk as if Jack was playing around. “I’m not kidding. I hear somebody singing. Sounds like a little girl.”
    They all listened again, and this time awareness, if not a shade of fear, crossed their faces one by one. They heard it too.
    â€œSo the owners have a daughter,” Randy said.
    Leslie gave a little shrug.
    Stephanie only looked at Jack, clearly unnerved.
    Two more seconds, and then Randy broke the silence with a commanding voice. “Okay, that’s enough Halloween. The kitchen’s this way. Let’s light this place up.”
    He led, holding the lamp high. They followed. As a tight band of four, they moved into the dining room, then traveled through an archway, down a short hall, and into a large, well-equipped kitchen.
    Randy pointed. “Let’s check these cupboards, that pantry over there. Jack, look out on that porch. We’re looking for a flashlight, a breaker panel or a fuse box, candles, anything.” Then he shouted so loudly Jack flinched. “Hello! Anybody here? You’ve got company!”
    Leslie started going through the cupboards, top and bottom, opening, closing, opening, closing.
    Jack opened the back door and used his lighter to probe around the