Relentless: Three Novels Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I was in my car about to drive off and all of a sudden, there was a man next to me. In my car! He had blood all over him and a big hole in his head! I was so scared that I couldn’t even scream!”
    “What? Oh, my goodness!”
    “He was on the passenger side. He was a middle-aged man, and he told me that I need to stay away from the cottage. He said if I didn’t stay away, then he would come for me. It was a threat, Jodie! From a ghost! I’ve been even too scared to phone you about it, in case he…can hear our conversations.”
    I stared at her for a while, not sure what to say. I knew Elizabeth and she wasn’t crazy. This wouldn’t be something she would make up either. “I believe you,” I said.
    “You do? I’m not sure if I even believe me. I feel bad making fun of you when you saw a ghost. And then I saw one and he talked to me.”
    “Don’t feel bad. This whole thing’s deranged. I don’t know what is going on either.”
    “Have you seen anything else since that night?”
    “No, in fact, the cottage has been quiet. Ever since we got the puppy, it’s been like nothing weird ever happened there.”
    “The puppy keeps them at bay? Wow, that’s good, though.” She scratched Buck behind the ears. “You good boy.”
    Buck’s tail thumped and he gave her an open-mouthed doggie smile.
    “Liz, I wish you would have told me sooner why I hadn’t seen you at all lately.”
    “I feel like a crazy person. Saying it out loud makes it sound even worse.”
    “I felt the same way when I told you. Liz, suppose there really are ghosts? Suppose we are really seeing them and are not crazy?”
    “I’ve been thinking the same thing. I still say you should call my friend, Margaux. She is a professional at these things.”
    “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea. I’m still a little skeptical.”
    “Skeptical? Jodie, what else do you need to see to convince you? We both saw ghosts. We have both been talked to by ghosts. I was there when a ghost threw Elmo at you and make him walk across the floor! It was like a dang… Chucky movie!”
    “Ugh, you would have to remind me of that!”
    “It’s safe to say your cottage is not only haunted. It is very haunted.”
    I looked away from her and pretended to be deep in thought. “I just don’t want Trenton to be scared or to know what is going on in the cottage.”
    “I know, but what if it starts bothering him? What if they scare him? He’s just a little guy.”
    I thought about it for a moment and agreed to call Elizabeth’s friend if anything else happened.
     
    * * *
     
    Trenton fell asleep on the way home from his soccer game. I picked up his sleeping body and carried him to his bed. Buck was like his little shadow and was glued to his side, even when he was asleep. I removed his socks and shoes and covered him up with his blankets. I kissed him on the top of his head and shut off the light. Buck cuddled up next to Trenton and yawned, laying his head on the pillow next to Trenton’s head. It was comforting to have the little dog in our family.
    Shutting his door, I headed to the bathroom to take a hot bath. It had been a cold evening and the heat of the water felt fantastic on my skin. I soaked a washcloth in the water and covered my eyes with it. It was nice to be able to relax. I took a long deep breath and breathed in the steam of the tub. I began to drift off when I heard the noise of Trenton’s toy fire truck go off in the living room.
    “Trenton, are you up?” There was no answer. The toy fire truck siren went off again. “Trenton, it’s too late to be playing.” Then, I heard the television go on.
    “Sheesh,” I said. I got out of the tub, annoyed. Trenton knew he was not supposed to be up playing this late. I put on my bathrobe and opened the door. I looked into the living room and saw a figure of a little boy sitting on the carpet playing with my son’s toys. It was a little white-faced ghost child. All I could do was scream and shake,