Chapter Two
Blair
The storm lasted all night, the howling winds knocked my power out all night. I had a terrible nightmare of someone watching me- it was so intense that I still feel that way, even though I'm awake. What I saw outside my window was not a branch. I do not know exactly what it was but definitely not a tree or animal. And my door flying open like that? I know it wasn't unlocked after I let Elena in, I am always making sure to lock it. I need to stop, or I will continue to drive myself crazy. I shake my head and peek over at Elena. Sometime during the night, she fell off the bed and never got up. I checked to make sure she was ok around four, but she grumbled to let her sleep.
I look over and see her in the same position she fell last night, “Elena?”
“Wakey, wakey,” I tease, leaning over the bed and poking her.
“I’m up,” she mumbles, and I giggle.
“Ok, I guess I’ll just go to Starbucks by myself.” I shrug, throwing my legs over her and climbing out of bed.
“Did you say coffee?” I laugh.
She sits up and rubs her elbow. “Ow. What’d you do, push me off your bed last night? ”
I shake my head, “No, I watched you roll yourself out of my bed and plop right on the fucking floor. I tried to get you to come back up, but you shooed me away,” I shrug my shoulders and she glares at me, making me laugh.
She murmurs something about her own bed and my creepy house. I personally think my house is beautiful. It’s old and I got it for a steal! I don’t even understand it myself, but this is my house, and the mortgage says paid in full. Although, I only paid a few thousand for it. I tried contacting the old man who was selling, but he never answered. Instead, I got an email stating that the house was paid in full. I wrote back asking about the electricity, water, and sewer- you know bills that come with owning a home, but he said it was all included in the house, whatever that means.
Elena was just as lucky as me. We were going to move in together, but she’s afraid of the woods. So, she went looking and found a beautiful, fully furnished apartment in the best part of town. She also only paid a couple thousand dollars, and it was hers. No other bills, like my own. The same email was sent to both of us, so, we shrugged it off and moved on.
“Your house is fucking creepy,” she says, standing up.
“No, my house is perfect. Don’t disrespect.” She laughs, moving towards the bathroom.
She pauses at the door and looks back at me. “Do you think whatever you saw last night is gone?”
I was trying to forget about it. “I’m sure it was just a tree. Want me to go first?” She hesitates and then shakes her head.
“No, I’m just being dumb.”
“I’ll be right here, just yell if the axe murderer is in there so I have time to get away,” I yell after her, and hear her call me a bitch.
I look around my room, it suits me perfectly. A big queen-sized bed in the middle of a decently sized room with a window in my reading nook. I have floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, filled with all of my favorite reads. From cozy mystery to the dark and twisty, I have an endless selection to choose from. Red silk sheets and a tan comforter tie this place together. I absolutely am in love with the tan walls with the red trim that flows nicely through my home. I think back to when I first found this place. It was too good to be true. A one-story two-bedroom home, located in the dense woods of West Virginia, in a little town called Shepherdstown. Well, close to there at least. I’m right outside the so-called haunted town, in the woods away from people. Just how I like it.
My house is light green with black shutters. A beautiful porch that stops right at the edge of the woods, and a porch swing sits next to the window that looks to the living room. The inside is gorgeous, I have light wood floors throughout my home. I replaced the ugly shag carpet that was in here- I tried to love it but I just couldn’t. An open kitchen concept with updated appliances ties this place together. There are pictures of my mom and me throughout the house, along with many pictures of me and Elena. A huge family picture is in the living room above the small fireplace, which has Elena’s family and my family in it, together as one. It’s my favorite photo I own, as it showcases all the people I love in one place. The second bedroom is still being renovated. I want to turn it into a guest room in case Elena gets stranded here again so she can have a room here. I even made it her favorite color. I also have a queen bed being delivered tomorrow. I got light green fluffy pillows with white and light green sheets and a huge cloud-like light green comforter.
After I get ready, I make my way to the bathroom. I look in the mirror, throw my hair up in a messy bun, and look over my outfit. It’s a bit cold today, so I opted for a pretty black cashmere sweater, with dark-fitted blue jeans and black knee- high boots. I quickly retrieve my necklace from the counter, slipping it over my head. It's adorned with a charming B, a cherished keepsake from Elena since we were thirteen. I put on some stud earrings and mascara.
“Ready?” Elena calls from the hallway.
“Yep!” Turning off the light, we head towards the door. I grab my keys from the table, then pause, recalling what happened last night. Before Elena can notice my hesitation, I grab the doorknob and swing it open, a little more forcefully than I intended but- hey, it’s open.
“Jeez, what’d the door do to you?” She teases, and I roll my eyes when she walks out.
I turn and lock it, jiggling the doorknob just to make sure. Because my door has never just swung open before. And we get some pretty nasty storms out here. When I realize it’s locked and not going to just unlock itself, I turn towards my car.
It’s not much but it’s mine. My mom bought me a cute little BMW on my sixteenth birthday. She let me paint it whatever color I wanted, so I opted for red and black. She’s a little banged up now from driving on my gravel driveway, but I still love her. I click the unlock button and get inside. Heavy grey and purple clouds hang in the sky, signaling a new storm coming. I look at Elena, she is staring warily at the sky.
“I’ll meet you there,” pulling her attention back to me, she nods.
As I pull into Starbucks, it turns into a downpour. I curse myself for not bringing my umbrella. Elena is already inside; she drives like a maniac. I know if I’m ever in trouble, she will arrive before the police. I grab my keys, and cell phone, and throw them into the thing I call a purse. Stepping outside, the downpour soaks my jacket, as I run to the entrance, clicking my keys to lock my car .
“I already ordered for you. I can’t believe it’s storming again. It’s like I can’t catch a break.” I giggle. Did I mention she hates storms?
“Thanks, it will ease up soon. Want to grab a seat and wait it out for a bit? I have to do the paperwork on Jane Doe. She was brought in two nights ago and nobody has filed a missing persons report. So, because you were conveniently sick that day,” I shoot her a look and she smiles while blinking her big doe eyes at me, “I get the pleasure of doing the report.” I shake my head.
Her sickness consisted of getting dicked down by a guy she met at the bar. At least one of us is having sex. “Sorry, but oh my god B! He was so good at everything he did,” she puts her elbows on the table and puts her chin on her hands.
“Ok, I forgive you.” she grins at me.
“Blake—I mean, Blair,” the barista calls out, and I roll my eyes. Elena thinks it’s hilarious because a guy I had a crush on used to consistently call me Blake, and I was too shy to correct him.
“Elena,” the barista calls next, and I roll my eyes again.
I glance at my cup and see "Blake" crossed out with a huge line, replaced by "Blair." I show it to Elena, who bursts out laughing.
“Real funny, El.”
She has a huge grin on her face, “I should think of a career change because I am fucking hilarious.” I roll my eyes and shake my head.
After sitting inside, talking boys with Elena, it looks like the storm is finally letting up.
“Okay, I should get going. I have groceries to pick up, and I'd like to get some reading in before work tonight. You're coming in, right?” I ask, shooting Elena a narrowed glare .
“Yes, wouldn’t want the dead to start talking to you,” she laughs.
“I’ll see you tonight. I’ll send Alex the paperwork if you send it to me. I can look it over and make sure everything is done,” I smile. Selecting the file, I pull up her name and hit send.
Her phone chimes. “Ok, love you. Don’t get napped on the way home.” I wave her off. She has an unrealistic fear of being kidnapped. She once told me about an experience at a Chinese restaurant where, upon exiting, she noticed a white van parked suspiciously close to her car. She refused to leave immediately, and after some deliberation, she decided that if someone tried to grab her, she would pee on herself. Her sincerity had me doubled over with laughter. When I asked her why, she responded, completely serious, "They wouldn't want someone who smells like pee and is soaking wet."
I look at my phone and see a message from Alex. “Thanks for getting that done. I will make sure all of the embalming equipment is ready for you tonight. Thanks again!”
My boss is extremely hot, if only he was interested. I would totally fuck him stupid.
“No problem, and thanks! Elena will be with me tonight so it should be pretty easy. I’ll leave the report for that on your desk.” I sent a smile emoji, but I decided not to, thinking it was unprofessional.
My night shift doesn’t start for another twelve hours, so I have plenty of time to get my groceries and relax before going in. We found this job by chance, kind of like everything else in our lives. It always seems to be that luck is on our side. We were walking around after graduation and Alex’s dad, Gary, stopped us on the sidewalk. Told us he was looking for two pathologists. We tried to tell him we didn’t have a license for that, but he insisted we did not need one. We both were very skeptical at first but when we went inside, the money was just too good to pass up. Plus, the dead don’t scare me. I actually find it very therapeutic to work there. They make for great listeners. Some might say my job is a 'dead-end' career, but I find it quite fulfilling. I laugh at my unfunny joke and drive towards the local market.
I grab the last bag from my trunk and close it. The wind is picking up again, signaling another storm coming my way. "I might have just enough time to close the shutters," I mutter to myself, hastily stashing the bag indoors and securing the door behind me. Rushing to the far end of the house, I begin to close each shutter, firmly sliding the wooden bar into place to lock them securely. When I lock the last one, I feel like someone is watching me. My heart races and I feel the hairs on my neck stand up. Ok, just get inside and lock the door.
When I move, I hear something shuffle behind me and I turn around to see what it is. I look all around and see nothing. No animal, no person, there is nothing out there. I shake my head. “You have got to get yourself together,” I tell myself, and I walk inside, shutting and locking the door.