Far to the back of the quiet town of Carton there stood a large grey house fully covered in the back by endless miles of woods. It stood empty for months since the previous owners disappeared. Some people in the town assumed that they had just left out of boredom. Seldom knew the truth, and those that did, swore never to tell a living soul. If they did, they would die a most slow and painful death. But the empty house would soon be filled once more since the Shulers came to town.

“You’ll LOVE the house. It’s perfect for your family.” The realtor said to them when they toured the house. It must have been perfect seeing as they bought it. For a year and a half they lived peacefully in the house without any problems. The only thing that changed was Karen. Karen was usually a perky, sociable person, but she had changed. Her skin had paled, her face became sullen, and her eyes felt like they were looking right through you every time she looked at you. Karen isolated herself from everyone, including Diane. Their mother worried but the Realtor said that Karen was still adjusting to the difference of the town. It was quieter and much smaller than L.A and they didn’t get as much sun seeing as they were on the east coast.

One warm July night, their parents went out for a party that the Garson’s were hosting. Diane sat comfortably on the tanned leather sofa before the large plasma T.V while Karen sat with her back against the sofa, eyes glued to the screen

The conspicuous blackened trees swayed right and left as strong winds pushed un-mercifully against them. She could hear the wind howl as it hit the old house. Diane tried to block the noise out by cranking up the volume on the T.V. It didn’t do much good but it helped a little. Diane flipped through the channel with an idle look plastered upon her face.

BOOM!

Diane’s head shot up. “What the hell…” she muttered as she proceeded up the stairs. She looked to the right. Her parent’s door was open. It wasn’t open when they left. As she drew closer Diane could hear something inside the room. It sounded like…keys on a chain. Diane poked her head into the room. It was empty and nothing was amiss with the exception of the open window. As she went to close the window she noticed mud on the white carpet. Dismissing it with a lame excuse she slammed the window shut and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Entering the purple living room, Diane saw Karen dazedly flip through channels. Diane took the remote from Karen and jumped back on the sofa.

“I was watching that.” Karen said.

“You were channel surfing. That’s not watching.”

“Well it must be since I was doing that.” Karen replied back.

“Whatever.”

Diane continued surfing until her eyes saw an old black and white horror move.

“You’re going to die.” Karen said, eyes locked on the T.V

“Karen don’t ruin the movie.” Diane whined.

BOOM!

“What the hell is going on here?” Diane snapped to herself as she raced up the stairs. As she reached the top she saw the door to her parent’s bedroom was open. It can’t be, she thought quickly to herself. Slowly Diane walked into the room and again there was nothing in the room; but the window was open. Diane ran to the window, shut it and closed the door.

On her way down the stairs, Diane froze. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled up as something ran its hand across her shoulders. She spun around but nothing was there. There had to be something there, she felt it. Her heart started to race.

“Karen.” She called from the stairs.

Diane ran into the living room. Karen was gone.

“Karen!” Diane cried, “Karen where the hell are you?”

Diane searched all the rooms from top to bottom.

“Diane.” From the kitchen came a voice.

Running in, Diane saw that the kitchen was empty but the shaded figure of her sister caught her eye.

“Karen get in here NOW!” Diane yelled from the window. Karen stared at her and ran. Diane flung the porch door open, hearing it smack the back wall echo through the restless trees.

“Karen!” she yelled again. No reply. All of a sudden Diane heard the jingling of keys. It was the same sound from before.

Diane ran away from the house, following her sister into the woods. The trees began to thin and widen and soon Diane found her self in a small clearing. In the center, Diane saw Karen kneeling.

“Karen what the hell are you thinking?” Diane yelled angrily, tears forming in her eyes. Karen didn’t reply, instead she bent forward and brushed away the leaves before them.

“They’re stones Karen, just stones. Now come on time to go.”

“Take another look.” Said a deep voice from the shadows. Diane looked around, her heart beating faster and faster.

“Who said that?”

“Diane,” Karen said. “Look again.” Diane looked at her sister and bent down beside her. “These aren’t stones…they’re graves…”

“AHHHHHH!”

The parents never did find them. And soon, they disappeared as well. The town filled with news of the disappearance but those that knew the truth quieted them and the town became silent once more.

“You’ll LOVE the house!” the Realtor said flashing a grin to the family. As the mother gasped in awe, the children clung to her, afraid of the grin….afraid of the Realtor. As they toured the house, the sound of keys on a ring sounded through the empty house. Each time they came to a new room, the Realtor pulled out the keys and showed them the room.

“We’ll take it.”

The Realtor never told them of the previous owners, or the disappearances. He didn’t show them back or the clearing. He merely sold the house and left.

Out in the clearing, the colored leaves fell away from the grave stones, leaving them open to what sun passed into the open.

Diane Shuler

1988-2005

Karen Shuler

1990- 2004