Philip Dampier's Blog

Episode 12

“Thump.”

She heard it again. What could it be? She was certain that no one was in the house but her. Again, she waited for the sound to repeat itself. And again, there was only silence. No thumps, no rustling noises, nothing. Wanda shook her head and lay back down.

She didn’t close her eyes. She was afraid to go to sleep, but she was finding it hard to stay awake. By this time the moon had moved west in the sky and was beginning to shine rays into the bedroom through the double windows. As the moon moved, she began to make out shapes and shadows moving in the room with her.

They gave her the creeps. She decided to close her eyes and shut out the spooky shapes now showing and then disappearing in the shadows. Sleep came again and with it the noise. There was definitely something or someone in the attic.

Wanda slid the covers back and slowly eased her feet around and onto the floor. The moon was brighter now, and she could make out the attic door without any problem. She took a step towards the door and then paused. She heard a creaking sound, but it ended abruptly. She reached out to the old metal door knob. The polish was long gone, and the finish was mostly rusted. She turned it as slowly as possible hoping it wouldn’t make a sound. It didn’t.

The door pulled open into the bedroom, and the first landing waited in the dark for her. She stepped in and turned left towards the first riser and tread. There was a small vent in the west gable of the house, and some moonlight was making it through to spill onto the attic floor. She knew there was only the old bedroom furniture in the attic and it was on the east end of the room. Step by step she climbed the stairs toward the top of the stairway.

The walls were smooth on either side of the stairs, and she put her hands on them to steady her climb in the absence of handrails. Her head was now high enough to see across the floor of the attic. The old bedstead was just as she left it. She stood still for a moment looking around as best she could in the faint moonlight but nothing was visible but the walls.

She took one more look and stepped up one more stair. The wood moved under her feet ever so slightly and a loud creaking sound echoed across the room. She was about to move her other foot up when something large and dark darted from her left and scurried across towards the bedstead. She screamed, threw her hands up and lost her balance.

Down the stairs she went, her head hitting the walls and the stairs over and over until she reached the landing. There her head crashed into the wooden wall that formed the landing at the bottom of the stairs.

She didn’t move or make any sound. Wanda appeared to be a dead woman, but she was still breathing, her breath very shallow.

The night passed and at last Wanda was asleep, and no sounds woke her. The moon that had illuminated the large attic rat dropped below the horizon in the west, and the sun began climbing its way up the horizon in the east. No one knew Wanda was in Arvie and Jill’s new house, not even Wanda.

The sun kept rising, throwing its warming rays on the city and soon people were waking up and moving around. Arvie got out of his bed in the motel and took a shower and shaved. He dressed for work and then woke Jill up. Once she was ready, they went downstairs and had breakfast. The motel had a nice hot breakfast, in lieu of a kitchen in the room; it was a nice perk for the two of them. After they had eaten and had their favorite tooth brushing contest, Arvie helped Jill pack a small rolling case with some play clothes and her favorite doll. Soon they were on their way to Frannie’s and Martha’s.

Frannie was waiting at the front door, and Jill ran up the sidewalk and steps. Arvie heard the squeals as he was getting out of the car. Martha came out onto the front porch. She was wearing tight fitting jeans and a light blue T-shirt that showed her figure to a good advantage.

“They’re really excited aren’t they, Arvie?” she managed to get out over the din.

“Yes, I’m glad. Maybe it’ll take her mind off her mother.” Arvie said.

Martha turned to look at the girls, but they were already in the house and headed for Frannie’s play area.

“I think she’ll be alright. Have you heard anything about your wife?”

“No. I’ll call the police when I get to work. I think we might have to leave town. You know, go somewhere where Wanda can’t find us.”

“That would make Frannie sad, but you have to do what is best for the two of you.” She said it but didn’t mean it.

“Thanks, Martha. I’ll call you if I hear something.”

“Okay, try to have a nice day and relax about Jill, she’ll be fine. I’ll have supper for the four of us if you’ll stay.”

“That’s asking too much. You hardly know me.”

“I know enough, and I’m tired of cooking for just two.”

“Okay, I appreciate it.”

Arvie arrived at work a few minutes early. He wanted to talk to Melvin Shute, his big boss. Melvin’s secretary was already at her desk. Arvie stopped to speak to her.

“Susan, would you please tell Mr. Shute that I need to talk to him as soon as possible. It’s really important.”

Susan was several years Arvie’s senior and had been with the firm for a long time. She kept her finger on the pulse of the business and usually knew what was going on.

“You thinking about taking the kid and leaving town?” she asked.

“How did you know?”

“It’s what most sane people would do if a crazy person was trying to kill them. Don’t look shocked, it was in the paper this morning and on the late news last night.”

“Oh. I’ve been so occupied I haven’t read the paper or watched TV. I didn’t want Jill to hear anything about her mother either,” he said.

“I’ll tell the boss. He’ll help. I’m sure of it.”

“Thanks, Susan, I really appreciate it.” Arvie smiled politely and ended the conversation.

He moved towards his own office. He wanted to call Captain Vaughn of the police department. He set his briefcase on the floor next to his desk and sat down in his large office chair.