The House On Turner Street

Chapter 5 - A Strange Man

They considered a camera check before leaving their van behind. It was time to head in for the night. They checked their flashlights and batteries. Radios were tuned to the same channel. Everything was ready. As they neared the front of the house, there was a man standing there. He looked to be homeless, dressed in tattered, dirty clothing. There was a distant look on his face. It's not a surprise considering no one ever came on the property. He didn't appear to be aware that anyone else was near him. His mouth moved in his thick beard as if he was speaking ing though he made no sound.

Evan approached him first. He always stepped up to protect his friends. Truth be told, he'd have probably left if he'd been on his own. They were fat too invested to run now.

"Excuse me, sir?"

Evan may as well have been talking to the front door. The man gave no evidence that he'd heard the greeting. Evan tried twice more before Stephen bellowed out , "Hey, old man! You better clear out of here! This is private property!"

They waited a few seconds and started to move forward. Then, everything happened at once. The old man started screaming. Val soon followed. Stephen tripped over his own feet, trying to get away and tumbled to the ground. Evan jumped back but held steady. He wasn't sure how he stood his ground with the uncertainty of his legs cooperating, but he kept his eyes on the old man who still hadn't moved a muscle, just screamed.

"No. This house. No. It's evil. The red eyes. If you see the red eyes. The house will bite you. No. Can't go back. Don't go there. The walls can melt. I know they can. The noise. It bites. So much. Blood. I saw blood."

The three friends were staring now. Fear forgotten for the moment. They were hypnotized by his words. Stephen says on the ground where he'd landed. Val had started moving towards Evan warily.

"Escape," he continued in a near whisper," Escape and go. The house bites. Escape the bites. Kids going in. Must stop them. Can't go in. Wait. They're here. Wake up…. Wake up!!"

He hollered the last bit. Suddenly, it's like he had been awakened from a trance. He noticed the three watching him. He appeared to be as confused as they were.

"Why am I here? I don't want to be here. I said I'd never come back. Wait. You kids are the ones that plan on going in the house, aren't you? That's right. I planned to come warn you. But how am I here? This house is evil. It attacked me. I ran, but it kept biting me. I was going up contact you, but I'm here. Please. Don't go in. Let this place die."

"Look, old man, we have a job to do. You need to leave."

Stephen had suddenly found his voice. He went quiet fast when the old man glared at him

"You think you know. You know nothing. I took care of this place for years. Until the night, it attacked back. I ran as hard as I could and swore I'd never come back. I hoped to right some wrongs."

A light went on in Evan's eyes.