THE DARKNESS

TRAPPED

__

(In a _duplex house, a woman sits on the center couch in the living room, she switches from channel to channel on the flat tv screen looking somewhat bored with what the gadget displayed. She hears_ _the main gate being opened_ , _the roar of a car engine_following. _She faintly smiles_ _and moves_ _to open the door._ _A man_ _decked in_ a _suit walks in, giving_ _her a hug and perfunctory peck on the lips_)

Richard: hi honey, how was your day?

Annabel: It was okay. How was work?

Richard: work was work. Oh, lest I forget, (he _sits down on the couch,_ _Annabel sits facing_ _him_ )

Honey, guess what

Annabel:( _thinks for a while before her face twists into one of playful frustration)_ sweetie, you know I don't like guessing.. just tell me, plsssssssss

Richard _:(chuckles)_ we're moving to Chicago

Annabel: _(wears a big smile_ _on her face_ ) really.. wow.. thanks for listening to me babe..l love you

Richard:And I love you more honey

Annabel:awwwn thanks

( _Annabel went closer to_ _Richard and hugged him_ ).

Annabel: _(frowns)_ But honey what about your work..

Richard: sweetie don't worry about that, I got everything under control... when I get to Chicago I'll find a new job, we will stay in my grandmother house for the meantime...

Annabel: um...but you said your grandmother passed away?

Richard: yes honey... she did and the house has been in our family for years... and it has been empty since her passing so I thought it would be a good temporary solution till we got back on our feet.

Annabel: I hope it safe

Richard: of course honey and like i said it's just temporary. After I find a new job, we will move to a better place, I promise

Annabel: _( _supportively_ )_ okay I understand we will face this together.. but I won't be staying there for long though.

Richard: I promise u won't sweetie _(pecks her forehead_ _and they_ _cuddled)_

_The next week_

_(The couple arrived at_ _Chicago and headed to the_ _house, _they passed through a narrow road and finally got _there_ .

_They got to the front of___ the _house;_

_two dried cats' heads hung_ _at the front of the door and a Calabash of water was placed on the ground)_

Annabel: _(curious and a bit_ _suspicious)_ Richard this house looks creepy.

Richard _:( _holds her_ closer)__ I know darling, the thing is... , my grandmother was an awesome old woman who believe in charms and she uses all these to protect the house from demons.

you see, that calabash is for washing our legs before going in and we will touch that bear skull before going in too...

from what she use to tell me it makes all demons that are following us vanish

Annabel:(frowning) I'm never gonna do that.

Richard: honey you don't have to. I wouldn't allow you to do it even if you want to.

Annabel: _(purses her lips)_ I hope this is the only creepy stuff I'm gonna see.

Richard: _(chuckles_ _nervously)_ No honey they're lot more..it just ancient stuff honey..it will be fun.. come on, babe let's go inside.

Annabel: _( looking a bit_ _unsure)_ honey promise me I won't regret this

Richard: _(looks at her_ _reassuringly)_ I promise you, you will feel safe and comfortable here.

_( _They_ _went inside the house hand in_ _hand_ , _the_ _interior_ _was dusty_ _and_ _scattered._ _different_ _symbols and_ _signs_ _were written_ _on_ _all the walls_ .

_A drawing of a faceless_ _man and a tree with eyes_, _both_ __which were_ _painted _ red, black_ _and white but were_ _faded, decorated the_ _old walls. _Calabashes_were on the_ _floor_ ; _charms and talismans_ _hanged_ _everywhere around the_ __house_ )

Annabel: _(looking_ _around)_ honey.. your grandmother really did had a lot of ancient stuff around here, woah, but we are getting rid of all these trash

Richard: _(hesitantly)_ ye... yeah, we will, honey, let's just take a look around, I've really missed all of this.

_(As they kept walking,_ _Annabel stood still,_ _observing a picture of a_ _man with different heads_ _and four legs that hung on_ _the wall, she kept_ _looking closer. Suddenly, a_ _musicbox that was_ _fixated at a corner began to_ _play_ .

_Annabel heart skipped a_ _beat as the music box_ _sprang to life)_

Richard: _(excitedly)_ honey look at the music box she brought for me when I was twelve. I really loved it very much...I think I still do _(smiling)_

_Annabel wasn't focusing on_ _the what he was_ _saying, she instead began_ _to hear a voice._

Voice: _(whispers)_ welcome home, we've been waiting. _(repeats the_ _statement over and over_ _again)_