The Pine Door
It was like any other day for the Kerdiffs; as they drove through town on a mid-summer afternoon. However, today was different; since it marked the first time that Katie, Collin, and the kids would see their new home.
A nice, cozy apartment smack dab in the middle of the city; that had become available at such short notice. It was an hour later when the family arrived at the Modern Hopes Complex. The two older siblings, Lana and Lizzy, were the first to exit the car in excitement. CJ, the only boy, intended on staying in the car; orchestrating fight moves with his GI Joe while the two youngest girls, Marsha and Alice, braided each other’s hair in the backseat of the station wagon.
The Kerdiffs entered through two sliding doors to a huge lobby; Katie keeping a close eye on the little ones; fearing they’d wander off. There is a banner above the front help desk that read “New Residents Sign Here”.
Collin scribbled his name as he heard footsteps down the hall. Soon, an older gentleman appeared in a navy blue suit with a green patterned tie. No doubt this must have been the superintendent of the complex.
“Let me guess. You must be the Cardiff family.” His voice was warm and welcoming as he flashed his bright ivory smile.
“Yes Sir, that is correct,” Collin replied
“Well, I’m Tom Larker, the super. I will be providing all the paperwork for you.”
“Well I’m Collin and this is Katie.”
Katie waved a feminine hand as she introduced the kids to Tom one by one.
“If you would follow me please, I’ll be happy to give you a tour.”
“Great!” Collin agreed.
The family followed Tom as they entered the elevator. He pushed the number “19” and they started to ascend. Seconds later, they were there. The family walked down a long carpeted hallway; stopping at a green door.
“Here we are,” Tom said. He pulled out a set of silver keys; picking off the last one. He inserted the key into the lock as it clicked open the door to the inside. The first look was not what Katie and Collin had expected; but only much, much more.
The floors were a gorgeous Cherrywood with a sky blue kitchen and spacey living room. The handles on the tub and shower were plated gold and the view was one-in-a-million. Everyone would get their room and even a nice playroom with a pine door for the twins.
Katie gleamed with joy as she embraced her husband.
“Oh honey, it’s perfect!”
The children of course were beyond ecstatic. This was a major upgrade from their small apartment downtown.
“Well take it,” Collin said.
The Kerdiffs moved in three days later; finally settling on the weekend. All of their furniture was in place and the fridge was fully stocked. Everyone loved their new rooms; especially Marsha and Alice who played in their dollhouse day in and day out. That weekend, Collin and Katie slept all morning long; exhausted from the move. The kids soon followed; dosing in their rooms; drifting off into a deep sleep.
It was about 9:35 am when someone tugged at the covers of Collin and Katie’s bed. Katie groggily awoke from her slumber; sleep still in her eyes. She saw one of the twins; standing at the foot of the bed. It was believed to be Marsha since she'd often sleep-walked from time to time.
“Hi sweetie, you okay?” Kate asked.
She waited for Marsha to come forward but she didn’t move. Katie rose from the bed to open the blinds. The sun's rays engulfed the room; blinding Katie for a few seconds. As she turned back, Marsha was gone.
“Marsha?” Katie called.
She headed down the hall to check the girls’ room; assured Marsha was still awake. She creaked open the door and there they were; sound asleep. Strangely, Marsha’s covers were still tucked around her body; it was as if she had never gotten out of bed.
By Midday, everyone woke up with a growling tummy. Mom and Dad playfully took turns flipping pancakes, frying bacon and scrambling eggs. CJ snuck a waffle from the living room while Lizzy and Lana quarreled over the remote. When breakfast was served, Collin went into the playroom to retrieve the girls; it was then that they told him of their newfound friend.
His name was Rocky and he lived in their playroom closet. They told their dad that Rocky had traveled a long way from home and needed new friends. Believed to be just a kid’s imagination, Collin laughed off the girls’ story and ushered them into the kitchen.
Every weekend, the pool was open for the residents of Modern Hopes. Collin and Kate took the twins first while Lizzy stayed behind with Lana and CJ. Lizzy decided to take a quick shower; leaving Lana and CJ to watch cartoons. While she rinsed her hair, Lizzy heard the bathroom door close. She stepped out; grabbing her towel from the rack. She turned the knob but it seemed to be bolted shut.
Lizzy assumed it was Lana on the other side; since she was known to be the trickster of the family. Things like these usually ended in a laugh, but today Lizzy was just not in the mood.
“Lana, open the door! Lizzy yelled
“This isn’t funny. I can see your shadow.”
Lizzy pulled and pulled; but still no budge. By this time, she had become frustrated and was fuming. So she braced her for a final tug on the knob; hoping to yank her annoying sister to the floor. In one long swing the door was released, but on the other side of the door wasn’t a soul.
She marched into the living room; ready to see her younger siblings snickering away. But instead, they were right where she left them; watching cartoons. During dinner, Lizzy kept quiet about what happened; thinking it was just a fluke.
Two months passed and school was back in session. Lizzy, Lana, and CJ attended middle school; while the twins were beginning the second grade. They rode the bus like they always did; holding hands. Alice was watching out the window when suddenly, someone from behind blew her hair. Cautiously, she turned and saw a familiar face.
It was Rocky hiding under the seat; playing peek-a-boo. He motioned her to alert Marsha but Alice refused; sitting back down in her seat. Rocky blew on her hair once again; this time tugging on her pigtails.
“Ow!” Alice shrieked, alerting Marsha.
Alice and Marsha both turned toward Rocky but he had disappeared.
After lunchtime, Alice took a bathroom break down the hall of her classroom. As she cleaned her hands in the warm water, suddenly the water stopped. Her hands still soapy, Alice attempted the other two sinks; strangely, they seem to have the same problem.
Without notice, the lights overhead burned a bright white before bursting the room into total darkness. Only a glimmer of light from the outside of the door, aided Alice in the right direction. She ran toward me in fright as she started to hear laughter and whispers of other children.
Overcome with fear, Alice screamed and pulled on the latch; but it would not shift. Soon the lights struck brighter than before as the stalls began to swing violently by themselves. Alice screamed again; praying for someone to save her from this horrid experience. Just when she was about to give up hope, the door opened.
It was Mrs. Freeburg; her homeroom teacher. She had heard the screams from down the hall. It was then that she too witnessed the moving stalls; the flickering lights and the haunting laughter of phantom children. Freeburg grabbed Alice and embraced her tightly; wiping away the frightening swells in her eyes. They ran back to the homeroom shutting the door; not speaking of what had happened to the other children. Mrs. Freeburg tried to contact Alice’s mother, Kate; but the line was busy.
Back home, Kate had been tidying up when suddenly there was a faint knock at the door. She assumed it was the mailman or perhaps the super, Mr. Larker. She ignored it at first; but then the knocks came again. She glided towards it and opened it slightly. No one was there; only a small blue envelope; lying on the floor.
Kate retrieved the small letter and closed the door behind her. She opened the seal of the letter which delivered a bizarre message in bold letters; “BEWARE THE BOY”.
Kate was puzzled by the strange message; not quite comprehending its meaning. She crumbled it up and threw it away; continuing her daily chores. About an hour passed when another knock came on Kate’s door. She was unaware as the television was blaring; drowning out any surrounding sounds. It wasn’t until there was an alarming pounding on the door; causing Kate to drop her coffee cup on the kitchen floor.
Panic infused her as she crept gradually towards the living room; a few feet away from the door. Trying to be brave, Kate yelled out that if whoever it did not go away she would “call the police”. On the other side, Kate could hear footsteps retreating; her hands unsteady as she reached the doorknob.
In the hallway lay another letter; the seal still dripping with wax down the right side. Kate left the chain lock on the door; slipping her hand through the small crack to reach the note. She snatched it hastily; slamming the door.
Refusing to open the second letter, Kate grabbed her purse and left the apartment. Is she excited, Kate walked the long hall to the elevator; getting a strange feeling that she was being watched. She alerted Tom at the front desk who did not seem at all concerned. His carefree attitude was somewhat forced as he brushed off her terror; assuring Kate that it was most likely nothing more than a few kids pulling pranks.
When Collin got home, Kate informed him of her ordeal. Oddly enough, he assumed the same thing as Tom. That night became a sleepless night for Kate as she lay in bed; staring at the ceiling. She watched as the shadows of the trees danced in the blowing wind. The digital clock on the nightstand struck midnight when Kate snuck out of bed; trying not to wake Collin. She went into the bathroom to get a drink of water; searching through the cabinet for something to help her sleep.
She found no stimulant; instead, she waded the hallway; checking in on her sleeping children.
As she made her way back to bed, Kate heard a rustling in the playroom. She opened the door and switched on the light. The window was wide open; a few leaves had blown in, filling the air with a cold draft.
A chill running down her spine, Kate closed the window; clutching the collar of her plush robe. She returned to bed; lying down beside Collin. He was sleeping soundly as Kate turned on her side and closed her eyes.
In seconds, Collin inched closer towards Kate; his arm wrapped tightly around her mid-section. She embraced him gently; although with a sense of worry as his skin felt cold as ice. Collin started planting light kisses on Kate’s neck as she succumbed to him; closing her eyes softly; breathing in his manly aroma.
His fingers played on her thigh; causing a slight giggle from Kate’s lips. She was enjoying this sensation and did not want it to end.
But it was only when she heard a familiar voice call her name that her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
She looked up and saw someone standing in the doorway. The figure Kate spotted made her quiver with fear and confusion. Tears welded in Kate’s eyes as she lunged from the bed; running into the arms of her husband. Collin stumbled back with a terrified Kate; flipping on the light. What he revealed was nothing more than an empty bed.
For many nights to come, Kate and Collin did not sleep in their bedroom. Instead, they took refuge on the living room couch; watching closely over the children. They never discussed with them their paranormal encounter; only explained that they slept there because of Collin’s back.
In mid-October, Marsha fell ill with a high fever. After two days of rest, including a doctor’s visit, she felt a little better. Collin took a day off with Marsha while Kate drove the others to school. It was rare that he often spent time with the younger girls since he was always working long hours; only to come home completely exhausted.
Collin and Marsha spent the day in the apartment; watching cartoons and tea parties. After lunch, Marsha fell asleep on her dad; the cold medicine finally took effect. Collin received a call from Kate; looking to check in on Marsha. He informed her that Marsha’s fever had broken and she was just taking a nap.
When he returned to the living room, he noticed that Marsha was not on the couch. He figured maybe she went to grab her blanket in the playroom but when he checked; she wasn’t there.
Room after room, Collin searched and Marsha was no one to be found. He called out her name and received no reply.
Then suddenly he noticed something; the front door was open. Filled with panic, Collin darted out of the apartment; sprinting up the hallway. He reached to exit door which led to the stairwell. He pushed hard on the heavy metal; the back of it slating hard against the smooth brick wall.
From the bottom of the stairs, Collin heard giggling. As he descended, there was Marsha; blanket and teddy in hand. A sense of relief washed over him as he embraced his little girl who seemed unafraid. Marsha told him she had been playing with her friend Rocky and he wanted to show her where he slept. She promised to never do it again as they made their way back to the apartment.
A week and a half later, it was Halloween. Mr. Larker decided to host a big “Pumpkin Bash” for all the tenants in the lobby area. There was plenty of food, drinks, and games to go around. Everyone was in costume; from goblins to cat women, cowboys, and more; all enjoying the festivities. The Kerdiffs exited the elevator; dressed in costume as well.
Collin and Kate were Danny and Sandy from Grease; Lizzy a princess and Lana a Clown. CJ was a soldier and the twins were two peas in a pod.
The party gave Collin and Kate the chance to meet many of the tenants who resided in Modern Hopes. There were the Marquis, Ella, and Frank, who lived on the fifth floor; they had moved from LA two years ago due to Frank’s new job.
Jack and Stacey, The Macons were a quiet couple. They had no children and tended to stick to themselves the whole time.
Then there was Marcus, the cop, who lived on the third floor, and lastly Connie; the music teacher.
The children were having a blast as they popped paper Mache pumpkins for candy and bobbed for apples.
The twins were munching on their prize candy when suddenly Alice spotted a blue iridescent orb floating down the hall. It was the bluest of blue with faint purple specs; like a giant gumball; ready for the taking. It wasn’t long until Marsha caught sight of the object. The orb shined brightly, compelling the girls to follow.
Distracted by the sights and sounds of laughter and music, Collin did not notice the girls sneaking away. The orb floated and fleeted; leading the twins down a dark corridor. Alice stopped troubled to go further but Marsha pulled her along. Five minutes went by; Kate became aware of her children’s absence. She alerted Collin who was soon struck with worry. They searched the party but there was no sign of them. Collin demanded Lizzy stay with CJ and Lana while he and Kate retrieved the girls.
Mom and Dad split up; taking opposite directions down the halls. Heart beating fast, Kate quickened her pace; stumbling upon a green costume hat. She called out to the girls; her voice echoing into the pool of darkness of the hall. She hesitantly placed in; dragging her palm against the cold wall for guidance. Kate heard faint footsteps behind her; a sinking feeling inside her assuring it was Collin.
Kate stood with her back against the wall; fearing the unknown of who or “what” could be coming toward her. Kate called out to her husband; her lips and tongue dry like old paper. That was then the steps came closer; treading heavy clops like a ten-legged horse; rumbling the ground under Kate’s feet.
The air around her turned a bitter cold as if her body was encased in ice. Closer and closer the hooved steps inched; the inhuman presence; nearly an arm’s reach away from Kate. Her legs were bonded to the floor; fear petrifying her entire being.
It was only when Kate heard the screams of her children that she forced herself to move and ran with such integrity. Seconds later, Collin intercepted; colliding with his wife. Kate stumbled in his arms as he steadied her; preventing a nasty fall.
They discovered the twins crouching in a corner with fear. Tears puddled in their small eyes as they ran to Collin and Kate. Marsha and Alice never spoke of what they saw nor did Kate mention the dark phantom. Imaginary friend Rocky seemed to slip away and the family moved on; no longer experiencing strange occurrences.
It was Thanksgiving Day and the Kerdiffs gathered for a marvelous feast. Kate broke out the fine china and silver spoons. The children gorged on juicy, crisp turkey while Collin saved room for more delicious dessert; smooth pumpkin pie with creamy vanilla ice cream running down the side.
After dinner, the family watched the parade; a perfect ending to a great day. As the sun went down, everyone remained in the living room; chatting away. That soon ended when suddenly there was a loud bang at the front door. Collin rose from his seat insisting everyone stay where they were. As he approached the door, a cold swift draft filled the room.
Collin’s heart pounded in his chest; his defense in overdrive as the banging persisted. He swung the door open wide revealing not a soul in sight. Collin slammed the door and reached for the phone; assuming it was another prank from a bunch of ill-mannered kids.
Just before Collin phoned the super, there was another loud bang; this time in the hall. The kids screamed as the pounding sounds surrounded the family in every direction of the apartment. Kitchen chairs slid across the kitchen floor as the silverware and knives levitated in midair. The lights burned red and popped into tiny sparks as every door swayed open; as if a vicious wind was ravishing through the vicinity. In mere moments, everything stopped; falling silent as the family was left traumatized with horror.
This was not a hallucination or a nightmarish dream, but something supernatural that had taken hold.
Aware of the forces at work, Kate and Collin consulted a priest to cleanse their would-be haunted home. After careful consideration, Father Brian agreed.
The family left the apartment that night; taking refuge in a nearby hotel. Father Brian arrived a day later to cleanse and bless the home. As he entered the apartment, he could sense the eerie cold creeping up his spine. Father Brian straightened his collar; pulling his coat tightly to his chest.
He began his blessing room by room; dashing holy water on every bed, wall, and door. He returned to the hall, progressing to the living when he suddenly felt an unearthly presence.
Father Brian grasped his cross placing in all faith. What darkness stood behind him would not disrupt his sworn duty. He turned to face the apparition but saw something much worse.
A great wind brushed the Father’s body as he looked through the pine door filled with a blinding blue light. Beyond the light was the figure of a child; dressed in coveralls, a yellow striped shirt with matching shoes. He appeared innocent but his face revealed something more hellish. It was the face of a demon; pale white with blazing red eyes and a jagged grin.
Its sinful power revoked Father Brian; lifting him and hurling him through the front door; slamming his body against the wall in the hallway of the complex. As Father tried to reenter, the door slammed in his face; the knob burning a hot red, welding the door shut.
Days later Father Brian informed Kate and Collin of his encounter; warning them to not return to the apartment.
The Kerdiffs took heed; leaving their belongings and relocating with a family friend. They never spoke again about Modern Hopes Complex.
During the first week of December, Collin came back to return the keys that he had forgotten. He approached the main doors but they were locked. He looked inside noticing the lobby was empty; thick layers of dust and giant cobwebs hung everywhere. There was no furniture and the elevator was bordered up.
Collin placed it under the crack of the doors along with a note to Mr. Larker. As he headed back to his car, Collin came across a posted sign. He picked it up and read closely; the stained paper crackling in his hand; giving away its age.
Collin followed his finger across the rough material, reading the somewhat faded words. He soon realized what it was and was shocked.
It had been a lease for Modern Hopes Property. Last date of business: March 15th…..1965.