“Let’s go baby.” Tina takes the lead.

The girls walk along a narrow cobblestoned path with their fingers laced. Bette’s eyes dart back and forth along the tall brown grass as if expecting something to pop out at her. Tina chuckles and squeezes her hand gently. She frowns in disappointment when they reach the front door. There is a giant padlock keeping them from entering. She peers thru the window, the darkness and dust making it impossible to see anything inside.

“Let’s try the back door.” Tina takes Bette’s hand and bravely treks across the overgrown brush covering a faint trail. They dip their heads as a low hanging branch of another dead tree reaches for their hair when the wind blows.

“Well, fuck, Baby, we should just get to school.” Bette does her best to hide her gratitude as Tina unsuccessfully turns the rusted knob of the back door. It is also securely locked. She curses quietly.

Tina’s eyes scan the layout of the house, studying it. Her lips pursed in thought. The house is huge with at least three levels. It has long rectangular windows, some with half-hanging shutters. The paint is filthy and chipping and the roof looks close to collapsing. But the house has a certain southern appeal with its grand pillars and balustrade balconies. The wrap-around porch is wide and inviting. If it wasn’t for the creepy, haunting aura, the faint smell of death, the old Victorian could be spectacular.

Tina scratches the area just below her neck before stepping up to the house. Bette shivers, the air around them is suddenly cold and eerie. It feels heavy, thick with sadness and despair. She hears the crow screech in warning and watches it fly away hurriedly. She steps closer to her girlfriend, as tiny bubbling goosebumps erupt along the skin stretching across the bones of her spine.

Unwilling to give up just yet, Tina wipes a layer of dirt from a window before using her hands to block out the morning light. She looks inside, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She can barely see anything but something catches her attention; a movement, a shadow, a figure. She furrows her brows in concentration. She blinks quickly, forcing her eyes to focus. The blackness is blinding. Her eyes begin to water. Suddenly, she sees a face coming out of the dark haze. It’s floating but at great speed. The face is white, ghastly and oddly contorted. Its eyes are wide with anger and despair. Its mouth is open with mad hunger. Its glowing gown and stringy white hair are fluttering in the nonexistent wind. It reaches for Tina, lunging. Its long spectral fingers are inches away and ready to close. Tina screams loudly and steps back stumbling. Bette catches her just before they both fall off the porch.

“What is it, Baby?”

“Something… some….someone’s in there!” Tina stammers, her body shuddering with shock.

“Are you sure? It doesn’t look like anyone’s been here in years.” Bette holds Tina tightly, her hand stroking her hair.

“Look, Bette! Look!” Tina points with a trembling finger.

Bette drags her worried eyes away from her shaking girlfriend before peering thru the clean spot that Tina made. She looks thru the window, unable to pierce the darkness, looking for any movement. She sees nothing.

“No, Babe. I don’t see anything.”

“Really?” Tina steps forward with extreme caution and trepidation. She looks inside again, holding her breath, her heart pounding, sweat trickling from her brow. There is nothing but darkness. She lets out a long breath but her pulse still races with the memory.

“I swear, Baby. I saw a girl, about our age, coming at me. She looked so…. enraged but also very sad. I swear I saw her! She tried to grab me!”

“Okay, T. I believe you saw something. But we have to go. We’re going to be late for school.” Bette looks at her curiously and pulls her in for a quick hug before leaving. She’s very concerned about how scared Tina is. She’s still trembling, her body is like ice. Nothing ever scares Tina Kennard.

Bette takes a last look at the menacing house. She tilts her head when she sees a twinkle of light coming from the corner window. She shakes it off dismissively. It must have been the sun. She frowns. The sun is yet to make an appearance as the clouds have taken over the sky, threatening the city with a chilling rain.