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"Jesus!" Megan almost dropped her phone. She looked out the rain streaked drivers window and saw the yellow poncho clad tow truck driver, Bob or Bill something. She rolled her window down. The cool night air and the smell of damp and leaves wafted in.
"Everything alright...sir?" Megan hit send on her text to Andrew to let him know about the flat tire she got outside of Bumblefuck, Pennsylvania.
"No, ma'am. You see, you got no spare." The driver pointed to her trunk.
Megan climbed out of the car into the light steady rain and walked around back to see what the hell he was talking about.
"You see? Somebody took it out but didn't put it back."
Megan balled her hands into fists. "Fuck!" She took a deep breath. "Can you fix my flat?"
The tow truck driver shook his head. "I'd have to tow you to the shop. But it's almost 9 pm. Can't fix it till morning."
Megan glared at the driver in disbelief. He just shrugged his shoulders and muttered a half-hearted apology. Megan had seen nothing but trees and some fields this far. She pointed her chin into the darkness the tow truck had come from. "Any good hotels that way?"
"No ma'am. But Miss Gertie has a nice lil B'n'B. I'm sure you could stay there. It's on the way to the shop."
Megan kicked her flat tire, "Great."
A lone mailbox that had Gertie's and the number 23 underneath in hand painted script marked the path to the B'n'B. The tow truck eased off the main road. The lights of a house peeking through the thick dark trees. The rain seemed to be coming down heavier now. The tow truck slowly made it's way along the path. Megan was sure the path was getting smaller, the trees taller, their branches stretching out toward them. A feeling of dread creeping along her spine, she clutched the bag in her lap a little tighter. Finally the trees gave way, the darkness faded back. In the clearing stood a life size doll house. It's tower loomed in the darkness. The shadows of the house jutted and stabbed at all angles. The light from the windows casting eerie shapes onto the rain drenched landscape.
The driver grabbed the ring hanging from the lion's mouth and rapped the door three times. Megan starred into the metal, life less eyes of the lion. A chill came over her. The sound of a lock being undone. The door handle jiggled and the door creaked opened.
"Good evening Gertie."
A small plump grandmother stood in the doorway. Her white hair tied up in a bun, classic librarian glasses on the tip of her nose. A warm smile spread across her delightful face. "Why good evening Billy. What brings you out on a night like this?"
Bill told Gertie about the flat tire, the missing spare and that Megan needed a room. He helped Megan with her suit case, gave her his card and told her to call him in the morning. He said his goodbyes, Bill and her car were quickly swallowed up by the night.
"Dear, you look absolutely drenched. Let's get you to your room." Gertie motioned for Megan to follow. The spiral staircase was stunning. Megan ran her fingers along the wooden railing.
"They don't make them like this anymore dear."
Megan smiled at Gertie, "No, they sure don't."
Gertie reached a door in the hallway and opened it. She stepped back, and allowed Megan to enter. The room was not very big. The queen size bed with it's massive wooden headboard commanded the room. At the foot of the bed was a white fireplace, two old lamps framed a gold mirror hanging from the wall. At the windows, two antique chairs sat beside a small round table adorned with a white table cloth. The walls were a burnt orange color, the carpet light grey or tan, the old lighting made it hard to tell. Gertie followed her into the room.
"There are towels over here on the dresser Dear. And the bathroom is down the hall. Last door on the right." She pointed down the hall as she made her way to the door. "Would you like some tea? Or perhaps some soup?"
Megan sat her suitcase down near the bed. "Both would be fantastic. Thank you, Gertie."
Gertie headed back to the stairs with a smile and a nod, leaving Megan alone to dry off and change.
Megan began unbuttoning her damp blouse when she got the feeling she was being watched. She looked around, the curtains were closed. The door was closed. But the feeling remained. She was suddenly aware of how cold the room was. Was it this cold the whole time? She was wet, her hair saturated and clingy. Just a chill she figured.
She let her blouse fall to the floor, followed by her bra. Megan unclasped her slacks and let them slide down her legs and crumple to her feet. She grabbed a towel off the dresser, and began drying her chestnut hair. Staring absently into the dresser mirror. She stopped suddenly. There was a figure sitting in one of the chairs by the window. She covered her breasts and spun. She was about to scream. But no one was there. No figure. Just two empty chairs.
"For fuck's sake girl. Get your shit together." She finished drying her hair. Megan laid her favorite yoga pants and a halter top on the bed. She glanced at the chair. Still nothing. Old house must be playing tricks on her.
Megan stepped into her yoga pants and slid them up her toned legs. Just as she pulled the drawstrings tight, she heard footsteps in the hall. There was a creak and the footsteps stopped.
Quickly Megan pulled her tank top over her head, and made for the door. She yanked it open. Nothing. She stepped into the hall. Looked left. Then Right.
Empty. She turned to head back into the room and when she stepped, the floor creaked. Megan stopped. Pressed her foot to the floor. Creak. She quickly returned to the room and grabbed her phone. No response from Andrew. No signal.
"Fuck." Megan grabbed a hair tie from her bag, and pulled her hair into a quick ponytail. She stepped back into the hallway. Creak. Rather quickly, she made for the stairs.
The hallway was lined with old photographs. Megan didn't stop to study them, but she did take note of major details as she passed. A few were of men, wearing military uniforms, civil war style mustaches. Old suits. Women in long ornate dresses with extra backsides. A bustle, she thought to herself. A couple of pictures of an old train. Some children. The house. And a man. Megan stopped. At the top of the stairs was a picture of a man. He had the most intense eyes Megan had ever seen. She stared at the picture. Studied the mans handsome face. Those eyes stared right back at her. No. Through her. She felt goosebumps run down both her arms.
"Henry Robert Wright."
Megan Jumped.
Gerti chuckled; "I'm sorry Dear. I didn't mean to scare you."
Megan gathered herself back up and gave Gerti a sheepish smile. "That's okay. I'm a bit on edge tonight."
She glanced at the photo another moment, before descending the stairs.
"This is his house." Gerti lead Megan to the dining area. "Built in 1896. Two weeks before the Twin Shaft Disaster."
"Twin Shaft?"
Gerti motioned Megan to a chair. "Coal mine explosion in Pittston City."
"Was Mr.Wright a miner?"
Gerti poured tea into Megan's cup. "Oh, no. He was an agent for the railroad. Let me get your soup Dear."
Megan sipped her tea. The warmth spreading through her chest. Gerti scurried back carrying a steaming bowl.
"Chicken noodle. Perfect for a cool wet night like tonight." She set the soup in front of Megan. "Careful Dear, it's hot. Fresh off the stove."
Gerti took her seat and picked up her cup of tea. "How long have you been married?"
Megan was startled.