The Horror Papers: File 1

By Michael Harrison

Welcome to the horror papers of Detective Billy Blanchard. Step inside File 1 and follow Detective Blanchard and his partner as the area where they live becomes the target of witches, vampires, werewolves, serial killers, and all manners of ghosts and goblins. This series of short, interconnected stories will have the reader experience the horror that unfolds as characters from an unfortunate town become the victims of the supernatural. Will the detectives solve the inhuman mystery and discover the source of evil before it is too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: May 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886931549

Michael Harrison

Dr. Michael Harrison is a guitarist, music teacher, and avid follower of All Things Horror. Dr. Harrison lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and son, where he spends his time writing scary stories, scary music, and planning all year for Halloween night. Dr. Harrison also has numerous degrees in music and teaches guitar students both remotely and in his home studio.

Book preview

About the Author

Dr. Michael Harrison is a guitarist, music teacher, and avid follower of All Things Horror. Dr. Harrison lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and son, where he spends his time writing scary stories, scary music, and planning all year for Halloween night. Dr. Harrison also has numerous degrees in music and teaches guitar students both remotely and in his home studio.

Dedication

This book is for my wife Kristin and son Gabriel, who inspire me to always pursue my goals.

It is also dedicated to my best friend Mike, with whom I’ve shared a love of horror and Halloween for over 30 years.

Copyright Information ©

Michael Harrison 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Harrison Michael

The Horror Papers

ISBN 9798886931532 (Paperback)

ISBN 9798886931549 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023903465

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street,33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Introduction

Good evening. Welcome, and thank you for joining me. As your author, it is only fair that we become acquainted before you begin to read. Since the tales you are about to explore are from my own imagination, we will be eternally merged when you are finished. Please excuse me for a moment. The candles are burning low and I do not want to be left in the dark. Thank you for your patience. Now allow me to explain what you are about to encounter.

As the sun sets and the shadows begin to creep across the darkening landscape, the horrors that rule our nightmares are released and allowed to roam freely through the dead of night. For any soul unfortunate enough to encounter them, a terrible demise is imminent as Hell awaits. While we rely on the good within all of us to resist the temptations set forth by the dark, we are, as humans, drawn to and fascinated by the adrenaline and mystery presented by the sinister side of those things which we dare not speak.

Below, you will find a series of stories that deal with the horrific truths that are let free when the sun sets and the creator’s eye is turned away. The stories are set in one location, and many of the characters are linked to one another in various ways. The stories are presented in chapters and meant to be read in order, which will allow you, the reader, to achieve a full understanding of the situations as they unfold. A map has also been included so that you can follow the paths taken by the characters in each story, regardless of the end to which they lead.

Now that we have been acquainted, you are ready to begin your journey into a peaceful environment that is about to be ravaged by evil. I recommend that you refrain from becoming attached to any of the characters that you meet, as the things that prey on them are far more than most of them will be able to overcome. So please, sit down, crawl under the covers, grab a hot drink, and dim the lights. As you read, try to remember that the breath you feel beside you in the dark, the scratching you hear at the window, and the face you think you see behind you in the reflection of the darkened television screen are all just in your imagination…probably.

Chapter 1

The Locked Suitcase

As long as either of them could remember, Steve and Jay would spend one week each summer at their grandparents’ house. Jay and Steve were cousins. They had both just finished eighth grade and were getting ready for high school. They both lived in the same neighborhood, just outside of the city. It was a boring place to grow up, with nothing to do but play video games and waste time with the other neighborhood kids. That was why the two boys were always so excited for their week at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

The old house was an hour’s drive into the country. It was an aged Victorian house in the middle of the woods. It had been there longer than its owners had been alive, and had more rooms and passages than either of the boys had time to explore. Every time they visited, they would try to explore a part of the house that they had never seen before. There was still a great deal left to investigate and they were both excited, as usual.

As the car made its way through the heavy forest that lined the road to their grandparents’ house, Jay and Steve talked about all of the things they were going to do during the week. Maybe Grandpa will take us out to shoot some targets! Jay exclaimed. Grandpa was a crack shot with a pistol.

That would be great. Then maybe we can talk them into filling up their swimming pool for us, added Steve. The boys could not wait to get there. As the car pulled up, Jay and Steve could see their grandparents sitting on the porch of the enormous, three-story mansion. It looked strangely out of place in the middle of the woods. An imposing looking house, it was complete with multiple chimneys, pointed spires, and arched windows.

The boys hopped out of the car and ran to the front door. They were greeted with hugs from their grandparents. Steve’s dad, Eddie, who had driven them, followed behind with their duffel bags. The boys said their goodbyes and watched as the car that dropped them off disappeared into the woods. The boys quickly swarmed their grandparents with all of the things they wanted to do during the week. However, it was later in the day on Monday and the sun was starting to set. Let’s go inside, suggested Grandma. Dinner is almost ready.

As the boys walked through the long hallway leading from the front door toward the dining room, they looked into each room that branched off from it. They couldn’t help but notice that the house seemed darker than usual. The trees outside were much taller than last year, and looked as if they had not been trimmed in a long time. They seemed to reach toward every window the boys walked past, as if they were trying to grab them.

After dinner, the boys sat down in their grandparents’ parlor, catching up and discussing everything they wanted to do that week. Maybe tomorrow we can hike back to the old lake and look for snapping turtles, suggested Grandpa. Meanwhile, Grandma was in the kitchen bringing out dessert for the boys. After the boys finished eating, Grandma looked at the clock.

I didn’t realize how late it was already. Let me show you boys up to your rooms for the night.

Steve and Jay looked at the clock that read 8:30.

It’s only 8:30! protested Steve.

It is early, Grandpa replied, but we have so much to do tomorrow. Reluctantly, the two followed their grandmother up to the second floor where they entered a room with two small beds.

As the boys tried to sleep, they heard the wind starting to pick up outside. A loud boom of thunder broke the silence as a heavy downpour began. The boys lay in bed, eyes wide open as constant flashes of lightning lit up the dark room. As the clock struck nine, Jay heard a noise on the ceiling above them. Did you hear that? he asked Steve.

It was just thunder, Steve replied. Then they heard it again. It was a steady knocking on the ceiling. The only thing above them was the attic. Maybe it’s mice or something, Steve suggested. The two tried uneasily to convince themselves that mice were responsible and faded off to sleep as the storm outside raged on.

The boys awoke with disappointment the next morning to discover that it was still raining. They made their way downstairs where Grandma was busy making breakfast. Just as the boys sat down, Grandpa entered the room. He was soaking wet, obviously from being outside in the rain. Sorry, boys, but it looks like we won’t be able to do any of the outdoor stuff we had planned today, he said with a sigh. But I guess we can’t control the weather.

While the boys ate, Grandpa stood at the front door as Grandma put on her raincoat and boots. Grandpa stepped into the dining room. Your grandma and I are going into town to get some supplies to repair the roof and gutters. Want to come? he asked.

I think we’ll just stay here and wait for the storm to end, replied Steve.

According to the forecast, you may be waiting a while, but suit yourself, Grandma responded.

Just as they were walking out the door, Jay asked, What was all that banging coming from the attic last night?

Grandma and Grandpa exchanged a worried look. That’s just mice. We’ll pick up some traps while we’re out, answered Grandpa.

You two would be wise to stay out of there until we can take care of that, added Grandma.

With a goodbye, the door closed and the two boys were alone, left to find some way to keep themselves occupied.

What do you want to do? asked Jay.

I think we should check out the attic! suggested Steve.

But Grandma and Grandpa said we shouldn’t go up there, replied Jay, sounding hesitant.

It’s only mice. Besides, I’m sure they have all kinds of cool stuff up there for us to check out, Steve said as he made his way to the staircase. Jay followed uneasily. The boys made their way down the long hallway that stretched across the top floor of the house. At the end was a trapdoor in the ceiling with a short string hanging from it. Steve reached up and grabbed the string but the door would not budge. Again he tried with the same result. You give it a try, Steve said looking at Jay.

Jay stepped forward hesitantly and tugged on the rope. Still, the door would not move. Let’s do it together, said Steve and both boys reached for the string. Just as they were about to grab it, the door swung open with a loud crash and a folding ladder fell from the attic, knocking both boys to the ground.

A large cloud of dust rushed down on top of them, and then all was quiet. The boys, choking on dust, made their way back to their feet. Holy crap, said Steve.

Maybe we shouldn’t go up there if it’s dangerous, suggested Jay, backing away.

It was just the ladder. They must not have been up here in a really long time, replied Steve as he made his way to the ladder. Steve grabbed onto it and started to make his way up with Jay following hesitantly behind him. Steve poked his head into the attic and looked around. It looked like an attic should; dark, cold, and filled with old furniture and forgotten objects.

The boys made their way around the attic, the floor groaning as they examined the vast amount of treasure. Steve stopped to open a box filled with old year books while Jay searched for an alternate light source aside from the single, vented circle window that was half covered by piled boxes. Steve closed the box full of books and began examining an old clothing manikin that was standing alone in a corner. It was completely undressed except for a fabric sack covering its head. Steve reached slowly to unmask the figure. Just as his hand reached the face, a loud crash filled the attic, causing him to lose his footing. He fell into the mannequin which came toppling down on top of him.

The attic was filled with a dim light which caused the lurking shadows to scatter. What are you doing? asked Jay with a laugh. He spotted Steve lying on the floor with the old manikin stretched out across him.

I was checking out this creepy thing when you scared the hell out of me with that noise, responded Steve.

That noise wasn’t me, replied Jay.

Yea, well at least you found the light, Steve said pushing the manikin off of him and climbing back to his feet.

I didn’t find the light. I thought you did, Jay said, looking for the source of the dim glow. Just then, the loud sound echoed across the room again. Maybe it was thunder, suggested Jay.

That wasn’t thunder. It came from over there, replied Steve, motioning toward the far end of the attic, which also appeared to be the source of the light.

The boys made their ways toward the light source which turned out to be a single, dim bulb hanging from the ceiling. The far end of the attic was a maze of boxes stacked upon boxes. The boys walked through the maze until they reached the bulb that neither of them had turned on. Maybe the crash made it come on, suggested Jay.

Yea right, responded Steve, examining the light. Just then, the crash sounded, as if right in front of them. The two boys looked down. On the floor directly under the bulb sat a small suitcase. It looked as though it were centuries old, resembling no luggage that the boys had ever seen. The two knelt down to examine it. As Steve reached for it, the suitcase lifted up several inches and slammed down, causing the same horrible crash that the boys had been hearing since the night before.

There must be mouse trapped in there, Jay said, looking sideways at the box.

There is no way a mouse could move that thing like that, Steve answered. It must be something else. Steve reached out and tried to open the latch on the case. It wouldn’t budge, and the boys noticed a small key hole just under the handle. Just then, the boys heard the sound of a car motor through the small window. Steve made his way over and looked out. Through the vents, he could see the old car of his grandparents making its way up the wooded driveway through the rain. They’re back, Steve said.

We better head back down and let them know what we found, Jay added as