This short story has been linked up at the SHORT STORY PROMPT LINK PARTY 14.
Ready? Here’s the prompt:
There was something not quite right about the window. It looked as if…
Now, here’s my version:
WHO WAS BEHIND THE CURTAIN?
There was something not quite right about the window. It looked as if there was someone behind the curtain.
As a child growing up, it felt creepy walking by it every morning on my way to school and then again every afternoon as I returned home. My aunt and uncle had warned me to never go onto the property.
It had been abandoned for as long as I could remember and now as an adult I was no longer afraid or freaked out…I was curious.
I was back in my hometown for my high school reunion and would be staying with my aunt and uncle. I didn’t want to be late, they’d be happy to see me and my aunt would have supper ready, but curiosity got the best of me!
I parked my car in front of the old house and just sat there looking at it. Still abandoned, even more run down through the years since I last saw it.
Did I dare? Should I? I couldn’t help it!
I got out of my car and walked into the yard. The weeds, bushes, and trees had taken over the yard. Vines climbed up the side of the rotting wood of the house. Vandals had broken some of the windows and there was graffiti on the outer part of the fence.
It was a cloudy day and although there was enough light to see by, I would have preferred it to be bright and sunny.
Gosh, I shouldn’t be here. I could step on a snake and I just knew there had to be spiders everywhere! I was crazy for getting out of my car but yet here I stood in the overgrown yard!
I slowly made my way to the front porch and up the ragged steps. The wood was old and creaked with each careful step I took.
Once upon the porch, I bravely walked over to the window. Yes, believe it or not but I did!! I could no longer see what I thought might be someone peeking out from behind the threadbare curtain.
“Hey lady!”
The sudden sound of a boy’s voice yelling at me caused me to jump back and squeal! I turned around to see two teens, a boy and girl, standing outside the yard on the street.
The boy asked me what was I doing and I replied that I was curious. The girl asked me didn’t I know that curiosity killed the cat.
The boy then asked did I not know the legend of the old house. I replied no. He told me I had better be on my way before I was cursed for being on the property.
I decided to take his advice, even though I was still curious. I did need to get on my way to supper with my aunt and uncle. I knew I would be back as I couldn’t leave town after the reunion without investigating more about the old house.
PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, and PART 5.
*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.
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