This Old House

Old house's game night. Halloween.

"Why's the porch light flickerin' like that?"
"It's not the bulb. I just changed it yesterday."
"Then maybe the house don’t want us here."
"Don’t start with that. It’s just an old place."
"Old places remember things. Bad things."
"You’re just tryin’ to spook me before I go inside."
"Inside? You serious? Look at the window."
"What about it?"
"Third one up. Curtain moved."
"No it didn’t."
"It did. I saw it."
"There’s no one in there. The realtor said it’s been empty since last fall."
"Yeah, and the neighbors said the last folks ran out screamin’ on Halloween night."
"Urban legends. Every town’s got one."
"Urban legends don’t slam doors like that."
"...That wasn’t the wind?"
"Wind don’t laugh, either."
"You heard that?"
"I heard it clear as my own name."
"...Maybe it’s just some kids messin’ around."
"Kids don’t whisper from the second floor when we’re standin’ outside."
"...What did it say?"
"Couldn’t catch it all. Somethin’ about ‘come back.’"
"Come back? Come back where?"
"Don’t ask me. Ask the house."
"I’m not askin’ the house."
"You already did."
"What do you mean I already—"
"—It’s answerin’."
"...The lights. They just all turned on."
"Every room. All at once."
"Okay. That’s enough. We’re leavin’."
"Too late for that."
"Why?"
"Door just locked itself behind you."
"...I’m still outside."
"Exactly. And I’m not."

291 words