Vacant Eyes

Lightning flashed and Ann's eyes were drawn to a form outside the window. It was gone with the light but its appearance etched in her mind.

"Honey..." She said, not tearing her eyes from the darkness outside. The only thing that she could see was the large droplets of water clinging desperately to the window, only to slide off and drop into the dark abyss.

"What is it dear?" George asked, looking up from his book. Her expression wasn't her usual of cheerful or content, so he leaned next to her and attempted to peer out the window. "Is there something out there?" He questioned, trying to find what her eyes were scanning for.

"I...I don't know." She said, getting to her feet. A sudden chill had flowed into the room and she grabbed her cardigan from the back of the chair, wrapping it around her shoulders. "I thought I saw something." She said softly and looked up into the eyes of her new husband. Sparkling green and comforting.

"It was probably just a branch or something darling. We still aren't accustomed to this house yet." He said soothingly, noticing the tension in her. She nodded and chided herself. She only saw it for a split second anyway.

She sat back down in her original spot attempting to leave the uneasiness behind her. George was always rational, it made the most sense. They had only been in this house for a week and this was the first storm that had. Ann thought about the house and its history.

It used to be her family's, she even lived in it for a few days. But, when something horrible happened to her mother, father, and five-year old brother, she was taken to live with her aunt. She never saw the house again. When George and her got married, her aunt told her that the house was up for sale again, it had been many times over her lifetime. Ann pounced on it, this was the perfect way to reconnect with the family she never new. She never had any apprehensions about buying it until now. She never did hear how her family died exactly...

"Whats on your mind?" George said, interrupting her thoughts. Her head snapped up and she gave him a quick smile.

"Oh, nothing. Lost in memories is all." She was about to open her book when the lightning flashed again. Her head jerked up as she saw the figure once more, only closer this time.

"George! I just saw it again!" She cried pointing out to the window. Another lightning
strike crackled and Ann finally saw head on what was out there.

Her eyes widened and her blood flow seemed to slow as her mind picked up the flashed image and held it, even after the light was gone. It was unmistakably a figure of a child, standing out in the middle of the yard. He was facing the window and staring blankly at them with his arms rigidly at his sides.

"George, its a little boy..." She said and he nodded, his expression now worried.

"What is he doing out there? We've got to get him inside." He said, and walked briskly out of the room. Ann jumped up to follow him, turning out the lights as she reached the door. She turned around slowly and peered at the silhouette, now able to be distinguished without the glare of the light inside. Her throat went dry as she saw the boy standing motionless, rigidly facing the house. She shivered unconsciously and hurried to catch up with her husband.

She reached him in the hallway near the front door, throwing on his thick, yellow raincoat. He slipped on a pair of old sneakers and was about to step out the door when Ann stopped him.

"Do you want a flashlight?" She asked and for a moment he hesitated, his hand on the doorknob.

"Well, sure, why not? We might as well get them anyway. There's a chance the power might go out tonight." Ann nodded and rummaged through some drawers, attempting to find their stash. She ran her fingers along the top shelf, confused.

"Where did we put them?" She asked George and herself aloud. She ducked under the coats and looked behind the stack of boots, not waiting for an answer from George. He tapped his foot impatiently.

"Listen, why don't I just go out there and you can -" But he was cut off by a triumphant cry from inside the closet. She backed herself out with three flashlights and a bag of candles with matches.

"Got 'em!" She said. After clicking one on and off to make sure it worked, she tossed it to her hubby. He caught it, gave her a half smile, and then pulled open the door.

George gasped audibly and dropped the flashlight, just as lightning flashed and thunder shook the house, displaying the tiny form on the doorstep.

Ann felt her heart skip a beat as her mind flew back to all the black and white horror films she had ever seen. That was always what happened, a door opening and the lightning flashing. It always introduced the terrifying villain.

"You found your way here yourself, didn’t you?" George said, trying to be cheerful to the solumn boy illuminated eerily by the bare bulb in the hall. Ann could detect the waver in his voice and knew that he too was unsettled.

Her gaze flowed over the tiny figure. He couldn't be more than six, probably more along the age of five. He wore a simple light blue tee shirt and sage green shorts, an adornment much too light for late autumn. It was then that Ann noticed the doll that he dragged behind him. Its brown hair was patchy and stringy, and the once white dress now soiled.

"Come on in, get out of the rain." George said, regaining his composure. He opened the door wider and the boy took a look at him, then Ann, before walking in. He dragged the doll behind him, bumping its head mercilessly against the ridge. Her husband carefully shut the door and retrieved the flashlight from the floor, handing it to her. She gave a nod and forced a smile at the boy.

"Well!" She clapped her hands on the side of her pants. "Lets get you out of those wet clothes and then find out where you came from." She said with a forced chuckle. George stripped off his raincoat and kicked off his shoes.

"Are you hungry?" He asked the stiff and dripping boy. He gazed slowly up at George
before nodding.

"Yes." Ann shuddered as the word hit her ears. His voice was void, vacant. And low, not high like a young boys usually is. Although, not changed like a teenager.

"Ok! Well, I'll go make him a grilled cheese or something, and you can find him something to wear." George offered and Ann nodded viciously. She felt a little warmer knowing that she had something to do.

"Actually, I think that there might be some clothes that he can fit into upstairs. You know, with the stuff left here from my family?" Ann knew that she was speaking as if the boy wasn't there, but she was also getting the oddest feeling that he really wasn't.

"Sounds good." George said and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze before leading the boy into the kitchen. "Hey, I barely have to direct this kid, its like he knows his way already!" George said with a short laugh, which ended abruptly. Ann managed a smile before breaking off with the group and heading up the steps.

She took a few turns, not bothering to turn on the lights as she went. Most of them didn't have bulbs in them yet and she didn't want to have to search for the switches. She carried a flashlight with her though and quickly found her way to a room, empty except for a few old boxes.

Ann knelt beside a chest and lifted it open. She had been through many of these just a few days ago. They were found up in the attic and Ann was thrilled when she realized that it was from her family. It looked at though the other owners hadn't lived here long enough to bother to clean it out or simply shoved it aside. At any rate, she was glad. She had found photo albums, old clothing, and other heirlooms.

She shined the glow of the flashlight into the trunk and rummaged a bit before finding just what she needed. She pulled out a pair of jeans and a gray sweatshirt, just his size. She closed the trunk quickly and was just about to exit the room when she heard a thump. She hesitated for a moment and flipped the flashlight around the room.

Was that from downstairs? She wondered, but looked anyway. There was nothing out of place. Her flashlight reflected off the windows, almost magnifying and putting a red tint to the rain that was bleeding down the wavy panes. She shook her head and forced herself to think that she imagined it and proceeded to go back to the kitchen.

She clicked off the flashlight and forced a smile on when she got to the outside of the door. She raised the clothes in front of her and entered in, but stopped just inside when she saw only the little boy sitting at the table, slowly munching on a ham and cheese sandwich. The doll was propped up on the table, lifeless eyes peered at her with no humor.

"Where's George?" Ann asked and ignored the waver in her voice. The boy turned his head and swallowed.

"Bathroom."

Ann poked her head out in the hall. The bathroom door was indeed closed and she could see the light from under the door. She produced a shaky smile and walked in the rest of the way, nodding to the boy. "Well, here are your clothes. Do you want me to help you change?" She kept the smile frozen and the boy shook he head. He just took the clothes and walked around the corner of the door.

Ann found herself alone with the doll in the kitchen. She pulled out a chair and let out a sigh as she leaned back against it, closing her eyes. She ran her tongue over her top lip and tasted salt. She hadn't realized that she had broken into a cold sweat. What's wrong with me? Ann wondered, before sitting up and opening her eyes. Cold marbles stared at her from within the doll's plastic head, and Ann's eyes roamed over her.

George must have used a hand towel to dry her off because she no longer dripped. Her hair was flattened to her head and her arms hung limply at her sides. She must have a switch in the back that moved her mouth.

Thud.

Ann whirled around at the noise and saw the little boy standing in the door frame. He was staring at her and wearing the new clothes. Ann put a hand over her heart, in an attempt to slow its sudden racing and tried to form a smile.

"Great! They fit you. I'm so glad." He simply nodded and walked over to the table, climbing up into his original spot and began to work on the second half of his sandwich.

Ann shifted uncomfortably in her seat as he ate in silence. She knew that she had to be the one to start conversation, but her mind was blank. Thunder rumbled the house and her eyes drifted back to meet the doll's.

"What's your doll's name?!" Ann asked, wincing at the urgency and high pitched sound of her voice. The boy didn't seem to notice or care though, for he answered in his usual drone.

"Ann."

Ann's jaw dropped in her moment of shock before she managed to compose herself. Her breathing was noticeably shallow but she forced herself to reply.

"Wow! That's my name! Well, what do you know." She played with her necklace and raced to get off the subject. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

The little boy took his eyes away from his sandwich and looked up at her. Ann locked with them, alarmed with how hollow and ghostly they looked. She was reminded of the doll's eyes, only more hazy.

"I had a baby sister."

Ann didn't know how to respond to the past tense of the statement. She also realized that was the most that he had ever actually said. They were making headway but she wasn't sure if they liked it. She suddenly wanted the boy out of there and as soon as possible.

"Do you know where your parents are?" She asked, trying to keep her voice kind and nonchalant. He broke his gaze with her and looked down at the food. He gave a shrug and proceeded to take another bite.

Ann's eyes searched over the figure of the boy and she was suddenly blasted with a familiar feeling. Her brow furrowed as she tried to catch the thought in her mind. The eyes...the way he never smiled...the doll. She just couldn't shake the strange feeling. Suddenly, her mind flew to the things from her family up in the room.

"Hey, you still look a little cold. Why don't I go grab a blanket for you ok?" She asked and he looked up at her and shrugged again. She strained another smile. "George should be out any second, so I'll just leave you here and go grab it. I won't be long!"

Then, without looking back she hurried out of the room. She scrambled up the steps quietly and was in the upstairs hall before she realized she left the flashlight downstairs.

"Shoot..." She mumbled, trailing her hand along the wall. She managed to find the right room though and went in. Lightning flashed and Ann detected the socket in the ceiling was empty. The storm was on its end though, and the clouds had moved just enough so that a sliver of moonlight trickled in through the window. She kneeled down on the old carpet and pulled at the photo album shoved under some blankets. She pulled the top quilt off, setting it aside to take down, before cracking open the old book.

By the dim light she managed to peer closely at the yellowed images. Most of these were random pictures of people that she didn't know, black and white or faded beyond visibility. Her nose itched as dust flew up from the pages but she hurried along still. Flipping page after cracking page she was about to give up and decide that her thought were wrong when she found it.

It was torn at the edge and yellowed but she was able to make out two smiling adults, the female holding a bundle in her arms and then the father had his hand on top of a little boy's head. Ann peered closer, trying to catch the figure in the feeble light. He was only about five, and he held a doll on the side.

Ann's breath caught in her throat as she moved her eyes to the picture beside it, the last one in the album. It was a little boy, donned in a light blue tee shirt and sage green shorts. The doll stood next to him, only about a head shorter in a soiled white dress.

Ann gave an abrupt cry as there was a tap on the window. Her head flew up and her eyes shot to the window, where there seemed to be shadows dancing and rapping at it. They were trying to get her.

She slammed the book shut and hastily grabbed at the blanket, tearing out of the room. Her heart raced and she could feel the bile rising up in her throat. That couldn't be the same boy. She told herself, shaking her head as she reached the steps. That was just some tree branches at the window. She was telling this to herself forcefully, not letting the idea that the forms looked too much like hands to be branches go into her mind. Her thoughts whirled uncontrollably. He would be my borhter, but he's still five years old!

Panicked and desperate, she flew into the kitchen, stopping short when there was no one there. Sudden tears came to her eyes and her breath was in short, bursting gasps. She whirled around, to find no one behind her.

Tap, tap, tap.

She gave a startled cry as she heard rapping on the kitchen window. She wasn't going to look, couldn't look because if she looked she wouldn't be able to say that the hands were really branches. There weren't any trees by the kitchen window.

Ann sped out of the kitchen and went out into the dark hall, making her way to the bathroom door. It was still shut and the light still spilled out from under the frame.

"George?" She called through the door, ignoring the pounding at the window. "Is the boy in there with you?" She did nothing to try and stop the trembling of her voice, or how frantically high pitched it sounded.

"George?!" She asked again, getting no response. "George, I-I think that something is wrong..." Ann took a step closer to the door, putting her hand on the knob but stopped suddenly and looked down at her feet.

Where she stepped, it was wet. She squeezed her toes in the thick, warm substance. It was sticky. And it was red.

"George!" Ann screeched, pounding on the door. She didn't even notice the tears streaming down her face, dripping from her chin and landing in the fluid that oozed from under the door. She took the doorknob in her hand and flung the door open.

Ann flung her hands to her face and backed out of the room, slamming her body against the hallway wall. Her mouth was open in a bloodcurdling scream and her hands covered her eyes, trying to stop her from seeing what she just saw. But, it was too late.

George's body was laying on the floor, his skull completely smashed in on the one side. His tongue lolled out of his mouth and blood still trickled from the massive wound. His eyes were wide and his mouth formed an 'O' of surprise and terror. In his hands he clutched stringy brown hair.

Ann felt the bile rising in her throat and before she could stop it, she was doubled over, heaving. The putrid smell of her vomit and the fresh blood from her husband was enough to make her pass out. Sobs attacked her body mercilessly and she howled with the thunder of the storm.

Lightning flashed and she straightened herself, her eyes glued once again to the window. This time there was no mistaking it, dozens of disembodied hands pounded at the glass, scratching to get in. She could hear their fingernails raking at the panes, tearing and leaving bloody trails.

"No, NO!" Ann screamed, holding her hands over her ears, trying to block out the pounding and screeching of the hands. Lightning flashed again she whirled around, this time to face the little boy, with his doll beside him.

"Go away, GO AWAY!!" Ann cried, pointing at the boy. Wind howled outside and the rain crashed against the sides of the house. Tears blurred her vision and she whirled around yet again in the hall and saw the hands creating spider line cracks in the window.

On instinct, Ann ran down the hall and dove into a room. She scrambled to get up and slammed the door shut and fumbled with the lock. She managed to slid it in place just as there was a crash against it.

Her body shook with tears as she slid down the door, leaning against it. The curtains were closed over the window in this room but she could hear the hands raking at the pane. The door started shaking as she could feel the pounding behind it. Was it the hands or the boy? Ann didn't know, fear overtaking everything. She huddled on the side of the door, trembling.

Pounding.

Scratching.

Knocking.

Beating.

Tearing.

Shaking.

Thundering.

Scraping.




Silence.





CRASH

The door flew open and Ann let out a frenzied scream. She saw hands flying toward her, the little boy and the doll. Their vacant stare glowing out at her through the darkness.

Lightning flashed and Ann closed her eyes.

*~*

Awarded third place in "Invalid Item"   by A Guest Visitor

Entered in "Invalid Item"   by A Guest Visitor

Entered in "2nd Annual Haunted Halloween Contest"   by Crickado