Haunted, Etc.

By K.M. Spires

Haunted

On the outskirts of civilization, three friends break into a rundown manor with a dark past in order to answer one question: Do ghosts exist?

With a violent storm brewing and the discovery of evidence that sheds new light on the house’s tragic history, the solitary believer among them begins to experience unsettling phenomena.

Soon, she will discover that the house isn't the only one with secrets.

Invisible

Jolie wants nothing more than to pass though life unnoticed. Shy and very lonely, she is thrilled to discover a strange creature living in her backyard that quickly becomes her first and only friend. She is so happy, in fact, that she doesn’t realize she is being consumed a piece at a time until it is too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.M. Spires
• Release date: Dec 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370778522

K.M. Spires

Hi, everyone! Thanks for taking the time to read this bio. I’ll try to keep it short. I’m an independent author from Texas. I rock the whole “wife and mother” thing, too, but you don’t care about that. You’re here for the stories. I began self-publishing in 2011. When it comes to writing, I prefer the paranormal genre, but I’ll read just about anything. There are so many authors whose work I enjoy that I can’t point out any specific influence. I am currently wrapping up the third book in my Watcher in the Darkness series. You can read what I have so far on my personal website.

Book preview

Haunted, Etc.

Short Stories

By

K.M. Spires

Copyright 2011 K.M. Spires

All rights reserved

I dedicate this book to my wonderful husband and children. Thank you for your support and enduring patience, even when the stress of publication makes Momma a teensy bit crazy.

Haunted

Ray stabbed his crowbar into the weather-beaten plywood that covered the manor’s front door, taking no heed of the dripping red paint that commanded him to KEEP OUT. Anne’s hands shook as she held a flashlight on Ray’s unlawful activity, and she cringed as the sounds of destruction reverberated through the swamp. The awareness that she was about to commit the greatest crime of her life made her heart pound and her head light. Teetering on the brink of flight, Anne peered into the dense undergrowth that surrounded the decrepit estate. She was convinced that inhuman eyes glittered back at her from the reed beds. The moon lurked behind storm clouds that flashed and grumbled, too close and too heavy, and the scent of rain almost overpowered the swamp’s musk. Flags of Spanish moss waved from the branches of cypress trees as they bowed to the impatient wind.

I don’t want to do this anymore… The timid plea hovered unspoken on the tip of Anne’s tongue, because it was already far, far too late to turn back. A pervasive sense of doom hovered over her like a guillotine blade, and Anne was very cold in spite of the cloying humidity.

Ray dropped the last scrap of wood onto the uneven porch then finally noticed Anne’s wide eyes and pale cheeks. He opened his mouth to say something, appeared to think better of it, then shook his head as he turned his attention back to the recessed door.

An anxious and only slightly hysterical giggle bubbled out of Anne. We are so busted. The cops are coming, I know it. Could you have done that any louder, Ray?

Ray tested the knob to find the door locked. I’m sure I could have, but what would’ve been the point of that? He looked like a stereotypical burglar, dressed entirely in black with a skullcap pulled over his ears, but his lighthearted smile was far from menacing.

Anne, relax. We’ll be fine, Athena said behind them. She blended into the shadows like a churlish chameleon, her dark hair framing her face. She leaned against a nearby column, her arms crossed and her eyes hooded with boredom.

Astounded by Athena’s nonchalance, Anne said, What if someone in the main house heard us?

Ray and Athena gave Anne questioning looks. Seriously? Ray said.

Heat surged to Anne’s cheeks. She had to admit—to herself, at least—that Ray had a point. No one had lived in the main house since its conversion into a museum. Furthermore, almost a mile of tangled wetlands separated it from the manor.

Police patrols don’t come out this far, Athena said. Besides, no one’s going to hear anything with this storm coming.

Anne couldn’t fault her best friend’s reasoning, but part of her refused to be set at ease. Guys, we could get in really big trouble if we get caught, she said, hoping she sounded rational instead of just spineless.

Athena dismissed Anne’s concerns with a wave. It’s only a felony if you break in with the intent to steal. This is just criminal trespassing, and that’s a misdemeanor.

Ray gave Athena a deprecating look. It’s appalling that you know that.

Athena shrugged. Well, you know.

Ray tugged on the end of Anne’s long, blonde ponytail. It’s not the cops she’s worried about, anyway.

I see, Athena said with an unpleasant smile. Don’t the ghosts already know we’re here?

Ray glared at Athena when Anne made a frightened noise and took a step closer to him. Stop trying to scare her, he said as he placed the point of the crowbar between the knob and the doorframe. The wood disintegrated when he leaned all of his tall, muscular weight against the metal bar.

I’m just trying to set the mood, Athena said.

The mood doesn’t need setting, Anne muttered under her breath. She bit her bottom lip as she took in the rotting façade of Bennett Manor. The boarded windows, chipped paint, and creeping ivy made her feel as though an icy hand had a firm grip on the back of her neck.

Ray lowered the crowbar with a sigh. Annie, we don’t—

You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, Athena cut him off. We can go back to the truck and drive home right now and I won’t think any less of you.

Anne scoffed; she knew the shelf life of such a promise would be exceedingly brief. Not only would Athena never let Anne live her cowardice down, the story of it was destined to come up at every social gathering the two of them attended until the day Athena died. Anne took a deep breath. Forget it, she said, wishing she felt half as confident as she sounded. We came too far to back out now, not without at least taking a look around first.

In that case… Athena shined her flashlight under chin, casting her face in distorted shadows as her eyes rolled back so that only the whites showed.

Knock it off, April, Ray said, though Anne was laughing.

Athena sneered as she clicked off her flashlight. Settle yourself, Ray. I’m just playing with her.

That’s the problem. You play too much. Ray threw his shoulder into the door, which burst inward. For several long seconds, no one made a move toward the old house’s inky black interior.

Anne swallowed hard to sink the bile that had risen into her throat. Come on, guys, she said in a very feeble attempt to sound upbeat. Let’s do this. Also, can we try to get along? This is supposed to be an adventure.

Perhaps they heeded Anne’s request, or perhaps the all-encompassing dreariness that oozed from the void sapped their mutual disdain. Ray turned on his flashlight then stepped inside. A surge of protectiveness swept through Anne and she hurried after him. Jaded and irritable, Athena followed.

Shadows fled in their wake as the teenagers’ footfalls ricocheted through the roomy entrance hall. Dried leaves and crumpled fast-food wrappers littered the hardwood floor, warped by decades of moisture and neglect. The original wallpaper was a mystery beneath Rorschach patterns of dust and grime. A horseshoe staircase and a cobweb-encrusted chandelier dominated the foyer, but it was hard to believe that Bennett Manor had ever known what it was to be beautiful. A caustic, rotten stench that Anne was reluctant to identify permeated the air.

Okay, we’re in, Athena said. Now what?

Ray tolerated Anne’s death grip on his arm as he swept the beam of his flashlight along the tall ceiling. I guess we look around.

Awesome. Athena propped the door open, and a gust of wind sent debris swirling around their feet. What are we looking for?

I guess we’ll know when we see it, Anne said, then screamed as thunder exploded overhead. Ray put his arm around her shoulders while Athena ducked her head to hide her smirk.

Anne pressed her face against Ray’s chest. She was certain that almost every ghost story she’d ever heard started with the words, ‘It was a dark and stormy night…’ Honestly, how had Athena convinced her to come to this place? Why hadn’t Ray talked some sense into them?

We should’ve brought a camera, or a tape recorder, or something, Ray said.

Athena made a contemptuous sound. That’s a really stupid idea.

Aw, what’s wrong, April? Ray said. You don’t want to take the chance we’ll find evidence you’re wrong?

The only evidence you’d get is the kind that will hold up in court, Ray. No pictures, no audio. You only have to prove that ghosts exist to me, not the entire world. Athena took a pack of cigarettes from her pocket. Just so you know, though, this is getting boring really fast.

Ray scowled at her. What the hell, April? We just got here.

Athena exhaled a thick plume of smoke in his