Chapter 3 Mysterious HouseHold
1079 Words
It's been a week since working on a case with Dale.
Looking out the window, I sigh as boredom overwhelms me.
Dale drives around the urban neighborhood and the houses have nice warm colors.
"I want you two to stay on guard during this investigation. Especially you Nathan, you are our muscle, because you couldn't sniff out any clue even if your life was on the line."
Dale says, pointing to me, pulling his truck to the curb in front of the family house.
I scoff.
Noticing this house in particular, it is broken and run down compared to the other houses nearby in this neighborhood.
It has a horrific odor, but it stands out for sure.
I have only smelled this once before, near a carcass.
"Understood?" Dale asks.
"You got it boss," Laura says in the back of the truck.
Laura is a blonde woman with blue eyes and a small leather jacket along with a business shirt and some jeans.
Dale takes the key out of the ignition, looking back at me.
"Just lead the way, Dale, I'll watch and learn."
I said, getting out of the truck.
Laura gets out of the truck.
Dale follows behind her.
Dale is still the same old man with white hair and his trench coat and red tie.
We have been in Ciphia for three months, finally settling in.
It has been three months since we came to Ciphia.
Learning how to live in a society was something new to my family.
Thanks to Laura and Dale for helping us learn a bit faster.
So much about their lifestyles and other people's lifestyles in Ciphia.
This would be a huge change for us, starting over by having a new life outside of Ventden Forest.
"Be nice, you two," Dale said, looking at us. Laura shrugs.
Dale knocks and an old lady opens the door, quickly like she was awaiting our arrival.
She looks skinny and frail, having long white hair.
She wears a sleeveless yellow sweater vest with flowers all around it with a long sleeved white shirt.
With red khakis, and some house shoes.
"Hey, my name is Dale."
Dale says, introducing himself.
"Nathan and Laura. We are a group of private investigators."
Dale introduces us next.
"Nice to meet you Dale, Nathan and Laura's name is Sherley."
Sherley greets the three of us.
Stepping outside, to shake all of our hands.
Dale pulls out his business card and hands it to her.
She politely takes it by reading it.
"May we come in?" Dale asks.
"Yes, yes, come on in."
Sherley says, stopping for a moment before opening the door, stepping out of the way and gesturing to us inside.
The house looks old and out of place.
Like it's been infested by something.
"Excuse my rudeness, but do you call any interior decorators to work on this place?" Laura asks.
"Before our vacation it wasn't like this before. Our home became infested with some bugs, so we hired exterminators who wrecked our home. But we have yet to get an interior decorator."
Sherley responds.
Laura begins inspecting the house.
Laura sighs, sitting on the couch.
"Does TV at least work?" Laura asks, reaching for the remote and pressing the power button.
The television doesn't turn on.
"Ignore Laura, she can get bored quickly," Dale says. Laura flips him off.
"Where is your grandson?" Dale asks.
"Upstairs, Timothy! Dinner is ready!"
Sherley yells out to her son.
"So where are you all coming from?" Sherley asks, gesturing to us at the kitchen table.
We all walked into the kitchen, but we didn't sit down.
"We come from right down the street where you live. That's where our office is. But that doesn't matter, as lovely as it sounds, we aren't here to eat mam. We came here to speak to you. Your fellow neighbors are worried about you and your son. They believe your son is sick; they haven't seen him since you all left," Dale says.
"Can I go use the restroom?" Laura asks.
"Yes, it's upstairs on the right," Sherley says.
Laura walks upstairs, Dale facepalms as she leaves.
"Well, it looks like we are staying after all. Can't leave Laura here." I said, sitting down despite Dale's speech.
"So what's for dinner?" I asked.
"It's a surprise," Sherley says joyfully.
"It's okay Dale, we can talk about it over dinner. My husband is a perfectionist; he doesn't like someone ruining his meals. His name is Peter." Sherley introduced him as he came down,
"Oh, here he is! Peter everyone." Peter waved, with a smile, not saying anything, going straight to the kitchen gathering all the dishes and carrying them to the table.
After that, he quickly sits in the chair that seems designated for him at the table.
Next to me, looking at him as he adjusts himself in his seat, he smiles.
Peter wears tan khakis with blue striped flannel, he wears glasses, his hair is very short and gray, and his body seems compact and fit.
"Come forget the boy, he's very ignorant when playing those games." Peter said, his voice sounded like he was scratching his throat.
"Well, I don't think Laura would mind if we started without her Dale." I said, looking at him.
Dale finally sits down sighing.
"Now let's say grace." Sherley says as she places the final dish down on the table, before she sits down.
"Everyone holds hands," Sherley says, we take each other's hands.
"No thanks."
Dale protests.
"That's fine. We will do the prayer without you Dale, Nathan, take our hands."
Sherley says.
I took Peter's hand, and then Sherley's hand across the table.
Dale raised his eyebrows.
Laura is still upstairs.
I close my eyes, silence fills the room.
Peter's grip tightened.
I open my eyes, Peter and Sherley's skin texture has changed to stone and their eyes have lost any color whatsoever.
They look like statues as they sit at the table.
"I'm hungry Sherley, I can't hold it anymore!"
Peter's voice deepened, sounding inhumane.
As he opens his mouth to speak, his tongue flairs out, showing his sharp fangs throughout his mouth.
"Forget the blessings!" Sherley says with a loud, inhumane voice as well.
They both drool all over the table, their saliva burning the table cloth as it drips onto it.
"I am tired of waiting for Laura!" Peter shouted.
"We will just eat her last!" Sherley agreed with him.
- Writer
