Hexed

By Teri Hughes

 A young female teacher accepts a live-in job with a woman who wants her to tutor her son. She soon learns that the son is actually dead and the mother is having considerable trouble accepting that fact. She escorts the invisible "ghost" boy in for lessons and expects the teacher to comply with her strange delusion. The teacher plays along..She needs the money... But she soon finds out that the mother isn't a victim of mental illness...there is something more supernatural and sinister at play.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201557232

Book preview

HEXED

TERI HUGHES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HEXED

BLESSED DARK

FATHER JACOB VS THE DEVIL

CUTTING GHOSTS

MISSING VANESSA

THE PARANORMAL DISAPPEARANCE OF ABIGAIL STEVENS

THANATOPHOBIA

Chapter One

I’d like you meet Thomas, Mrs. Chandler said as she walked into the study she prepared for  Katelin to use as an impromptu classroom.

Mrs. Chandler was alone. She stood in the doorway and motioned at the chair across from Katelin like she was directing someone to sit there, but there was no one to direct.

Katelin stared at the middle-aged woman with the single gray streak running through her otherwise dark brown hair. She assumed the seemingly shy Thomas was just slow in entering the room and Mrs. Chandler had introduced her son prematurely, but no one came in.

Mrs. Chandler smiled at the chair as she said, Sit down Thomas and listen to Miss Corbin, she is going to teach you multiplication.

Katelin realized Mrs. Chandler was talking to someone who wasn’t there.

Two weeks ago when Katelin was looking for a place to live she came upon the Chandler house with a backyard apartment for rent. During the conversation, it came up Katelin was a teacher and she was looking for tutoring work. Mrs. Chandler lit up when she heard this and immediately asked if Katelin would be available to help her son Thomas. Before Katelin could say what her rates for private tutoring ran Mrs. Chandler offered doubled what Katelin planned to charge. Even though the big house on the edge of town certainly said the Chandler's could afford her services this was a possible red flag. Katelin, however, needed the money, plus turning down your prospective new landlord's generous offer seemed like a bad way to get her to rent Katelin the poolhouse.

Finding the pool house at the Chandler mansion was available for rent had been a small miracle. While the location was not ideal for a single young woman, it was bigger and nicer than places renting for double what Katelin was paying downtown.

She didn’t know if refusing the tutoring job would have cost her a chance at the pool house but saying yes sped up the process of becoming a tenant considerably. The pool house in the back was going to be Katelin's new home at least for the next six months. Ideally, she wanted a place in the city, but when budget cuts at the school district meant a first-year kindergarten teacher like Katelin was laid off she had to look for something she could afford while earning money doing tutoring and being a substitute teacher.

Mrs. Chandler let her move in and get settled for a few days before the tutoring gig got started. During that time Katelin expected to run into her new student. Mrs. Chandler had described Thomas as an overly curious ten-year-old boy who needed some help with math. Katelin couldn’t imagine an ‘overly curious’ ten-year-old boy not making his way to the pool area to see his new teacher. Thomas, however, never made an appearance.

On the afternoon of her third day, she did hear splashing out by the pool. She assumed Thomas was taking advantage of the summer weather and going for a swim. Katelin was in the middle of putting away her dishes but decided when she was done she would go outside and meet the boy.

It only took her another twenty minutes to finish, practically nothing for a ten-year-old playing in the water, but when she went outside there was no one there, just like there was no one sitting in front of her now.

After Mrs. Chandler left, Katelin sat looking at the empty chair. She never said a word as Mrs. Chandler introduced the boy who wasn’t there. She wasn’t sure the right response to this bizarre situation. She hadn’t known Mrs. Chandler long, but in the short time she had, she didn’t get the impression she was some sort of prankster. In fact, she seemed quite the opposite.

The door opened a crack and Mrs. Chandler stuck her head in the door and asked, I don’t mean to interrupt but it is awfully quiet in here. Is everything going okay?

Well, Katelin said, not really.

Is Thomas not listening to you?

Katelin wasn’t sure how to answer.

Thomas, are you listening to your teacher? Mrs. Chandler asked the chair.

Katelin was certain the chair didn’t answer but Mrs. Chandler replied as if it had, saying Perhaps she did say something and you weren’t paying attention.

Mrs. Chandler looked angry and Katelin was having a hard time discerning if she was angry at the boy who didn’t exist or at Katelin.

Mrs. Chandler, I’m not sure what’s going on here... Katelin began.

I thought I was paying a young woman to help my son with his math, Mrs. Chandler interrupted, I know he can be difficult but I believe dealing with difficult students is part of what a professional educator does.

Yes...

I was under the assumption you were a professional educator.

I am.

Good, because that’s what I’m paying you for.

If she hadn’t been renting the pool house Katelin would have gotten up and left, but since she lived on the property and had to see the lady standing in the doorway on a regular basis she stayed put.

Instead of telling Mrs. Chandler she was crazy she said, Of course. I was just organizing my things and letting Thomas get organized himself.

Mrs. Chandler smiled, I see, he can be a little antsy. Sitting still is not one of his strong points, but he will pay attention.

I’m sure he will, Katelin said as she pulled a math textbook out of her bag and set it in front of the empty chair. If she needed to pretend to teach a lesson for thirty minutes to get paid she could do that.

She started telling the chair how to do multiplication.

I’ll leave you two alone, Mrs. Chandler said as she closed the door.

Katelin had a feeling she was still listening at the door so she continued to teach the empty room.

Exactly thirty minutes after Katelin began the fake lesson there was a knock on the door followed by Mrs. Chandler sticking her head inside.

I think the young man has earned himself some video game time, Mrs. Chandler said, Assuming he sat nicely and listened well.

Mrs. Chandler looked at the chair and nodded her head before saying to the boy who wasn’t there, That’s wonderful to hear, Thomas, but I’m going to need to hear Miss Katelin tell me that before you play your X-Box.

Katelin had no idea what Mrs. Chandler thought her imaginary kid said but assumed it was something along the line of him behaving well. She had no desire to deny the imaginary kid his video game time so she said, He’s been an excellent student.

You’re not just saying that my sake, are you?

Of course not.

Splendid, Mrs. Chandler said as she pulled the chair away from the desk. Once the chair was moved she said, Run along Thomas. I’ll call you for dinner.

Katelin wondered if she actually cooked dinner for the kid who wasn’t there and who ate it if she did.

While she was picturing a plate full of food sitting in front of an empty chair Mrs. Chander asked, Homework?

If she was actually tutoring instead of just pretending she would have assigned homework, so she said, Yes.

Katelin prepared worksheets back when she thought Thomas was real. She handed one to Mrs. Chandler.

He’ll know what to do? Mrs. Chandler asked.

He should.

Splendid. Same time tomorrow?

If that’s what you want.

Of course it is. I think he likes you.

I like him too, Katelin said, thinking the imaginary boy certainly behaved better than a real one would have.

Katelin gathered her things and went out the back door. Her apartment was on the other side of the yard, though with several acres of property it was far enough away she didn’t feel like she was living in someone else's backyard.

She jumped a little when she started around the pool and saw a man sitting in one of the lawn chairs set up around the pool.

A middle-aged bald man sat there. He had on a swimsuit but was still wearing a shirt. It didn’t look like he had been in the pool. in one hand was a can of Miller High Life and in the other a slowly smoldering cigar. A pyramid of empty cans without a top piece showed he was on the last can in a six-pack. He must have been going at it with some gusto since it was less than forty-five minutes ago when Katelin left the poolside apartment he wasn’t there.

The pool house may have been Katelin’s but the pool itself was shared with the family living in the mansion. She had never seen Mr. Chandler. After the last half hour, she couldn’t be sure he wasn’t just made up like Thomas, though the man drinking beer by the pool certainly appeared to be real.

Sorry, he said, I didn’t mean to scare you.

I didn’t know anyone was here, she replied. Are you Mr. Chandler?

That I am. Kate right?

Katelin.

Of course, Katelin, he said as he held up his last beer. He added, I’ll be gone soon.

Katelin was tempted to ask him about Thomas. She wondered if he shared his wives delusion or just put up with it. Instead of asking him about his imaginary son she just said, Okay. It is your pool and I’m going out anyway

He smiled and she noticed he had a few gold teeth, I’m almost out of beer and as far as I’m concerned without a beer in my hand this thing is just a puddle.

Katelin nodded and kept moving. He had the tone of an angry drunk and she had no desire to be around those whose bitterness and bile increased with every drink.

She was opening her door when he said, You don’t have to do it you know. You could tell her no. I won’t let her evict you.

Do what? Katelin asked as she turned to face him.

He put the last can on his pyramid and stood up before he said, Teach the boy or be around him at all. It’s probably better if you stay away.

Katelin was again unsure what to say. The way he was talking seemed to indicate he shared his wife's delusion.

She opened her mouth to ask what he meant but he told her, I’ll get the cans later. Enjoy your night out, before she could get out the words and then turned and started walking back to the main house.

Chapter Two

So, when are we going to have a pool party? I know I’d like to see Ryan soaking wet without a shirt on. Jenna said as they moved from the bar over to a table.

The place was kind of dead. Tuesday wasn’t a big bar night but Jenna had to work Friday and Saturday night at the restaurant so if Katelin wanted to go out and have a drink with the only girl she knew in town it would have to be tonight.

I don’t know, Katelin told her.

You don’t know if you want to see Ryan without a shirt?

No, I want to see that. I don’t know about the pool party.

You can use the pool though, right? I mean why else live out there?

It’s cheap for one, but yeah I can use the pool.

Then when are we partying?

There’s a difference between using the pool and throwing a party.

I thought you said the landlady seemed cool.

She did.

You say that like she doesn’t seem so cool anymore.

Katelin sipped her rum and coke before she said, I think she might be crazy. Him too.

Crazy like how? I mean are they texas chainsaw massacre crazy or like Scientology crazy?

Neither, or maybe both.

Chainsaw murdering Scientologist?

No, somewhere in between those two is what I meant. They have an imaginary child.

What?

Katelin explained the days strange tutoring session.

After hearing her tale Jenna said, Sounds like easy money.

It is.

I wonder if they had a kid who died, Jenna said, It would explain things if they did.

Like they can’t accept the death or something? So they just act like he’s alive?

Yeah, makes sense doesn’t it? Losing a kid has to be majorly traumatic.

Sounds reasonable. I’m not going to ask them though.

I wouldn’t either, but I might google it.

I’m not sure I want to know. I’ve got to still ‘teach’ this kid. If he’s an imaginary friend it’s weird but that’s okay. It’s her money, she can spend it how she wants, including on me.  if it’s the memory of a dead kid the whole thing gets too depressing.

I’d still want to know.

Before she could reply, Ryan and his friend Coogan appeared at the table with drinks in each hand.

You two drinking two-fisted tonight? Or are some of those for us? Jenna asked.

Coogan set a drink in front of Jenna and pulled up a chair as he said, I brought one for you. I can’t speak for him.

Ryan set a drink in front of Katelin and pulled up a chair of his own.

Thanks for the drink, Katelin told him.

He smiled and said, No problem, for you anytime.

Katelin looked over and saw Jenna wink. It was clear the gym teacher from her former school liked her. It was clear his pal Coogan liked Jenna too. Jenna didn’t feel the same way but seemed willing to be the wingman for Katelin on this one.

So when are we having that pool party? Ryan asked.

Katelin decided she didn’t want her landlady’s insanity to ruin her chances with Ryan and said, How about Saturday afternoon, before Jenna has to go to work?

Sounds good to me, Ryan said.

Me too, Coogan added.

You sure? Jenna asked, remembering what Katelin told her earlier.

Yeah, we’ll keep it low key, just the four of us hanging out by the pool.

Chapter Three

Coogan and Jenna had to work the next day so they didn’t make it a late night. Ryan and Katelin could have stayed out. She was unemployed and he was in the midst of summer break, but he rode over with Coogan. She could have invited him to stay out with her but was fine taking it slow.

Despite telling Jenna she didn’t want to know if Thomas used to be real she found herself opening up her laptop and googling the Chandlers. She went to the website of the local paper. Katelin figured the tragic death