The Rattler (Rattler Trilogy Book 1) (11 page)

1

Matthew
returned to the table, and sat down again next to Vana. “Have you guys ordered
yet?” he asked. “Yeah, it shouldn’t be long,” replied Vana, as she looked out
of the window absent-mindedly. She stared at a man who was standing in the
shadows of a shop doorway. His face was hidden as he peered round the door frame.
Vana couldn’t take her eyes off him. “What are you looking at?” Matthew said to
Vana, but there was no response. She stared, trance-like. The three friends
stopped their conversation and looked at her.
“Vana?
Are you OK, babe?” asked Matthew, gently touching her shoulder. Vana slowly
turned towards him.

“Did
you say something?” she asked.

“What’s
up?” asked Zoe, “you’ve been staring out of that window for ages.”

“Sorry,”
said Vana, as she looked back out of the window. “I don’t know. I felt drawn to
a man who was standing in that doorway. It was like we were in our own little
world – just me and him.” Matthew put his arm round her. “He was probably just
waiting for the rain to die off.”

“No.
It felt more than that. He was staring directly at me,” insisted Vana. “I...”

“Well,
he’s gone now, hun. Here, take a couple of swigs of your wine. That film
certainly got to you,” smiled Zoe, handing her friend a glass. “Talking about
the film,” said Matthew, anxious to change the subject, “what did you all think
about it?”

“It
was good,”
lied
Steven. The lad couldn’t stand horror
films! His fear started when he was a nine year old kid; one of his older
cousins had made him watch Jack Nicholson fry a man to death in
Batman
and, even though it
wasn’t a horror film, the memory of it
never
left him.

“What
did you think, Matthew?”

“Well,
it wasn’t
Nightmare on Elm Street
but, having said that, it still had an
effect on me.” Vana continued to look out of the window. Fortunately, their meals
arrived and the friends tucked in hungrily.

“So,
how have you enjoyed your first week in your new house?” Steven asked Zoe.
“Well,” Zoe glanced towards Vana, “it felt strange at first, but it’s starting
to feel like home now.” She had very mixed feelings about the house, and the
weird events that she had encountered were certainly having an effect on her.
She had really missed her family, even though she loved being with Vana, and
was desperate for them to get back from Florida.

“From
what I’ve seen of your videos, it sure looks an interesting place,” said
Steven. Vana looked at him, brows furrowed.
“Yeah, but
there’s only one problem.”
Zoe glared at her friend, and gently kicked
her under the table – willing her not to speak.
Too late.
“It’s haunted.
By the
Manor Murderer
.
There!
I’ve said it,” said Vana, defiantly.

“Vana!”

“What?
They’re going to find out anyway.”

“Yeah, but not yet.”

“Sorry,
hun, but I’m just excited by it all.”

“Whoa,
hang on a minute,” said Matthew, “I’m confused. I thought you were just messing
about? I assumed you guys had done some clever editing on those videos?”

“No,”
said Vana, “that’s just what we saw.”

“So
you think it’s really haunted by some bloke who calls himself the
Manor
Murderer,
and you actually found some of his stuff? What do you think he
wants you do with it?” asked Matthew. “Not sure. It’s been quiet since we found
the journal, so I guess he just kind of haunts the place,” replied Zoe. “He
must be grounded for a reason,” said Steven, as he warmed to the subject. “What
does it say in the journal?”

“Well,
the guy, Ellwood, says he wasn’t the
Manor Murderer,
” said Zoe, “even
though he was hanged at Newgate Prison for the crime.”

“There
you go, then. That’ll be why he’s still
hanging around,
”
chuckled
Vana.
“Vana!
That’s
awful,” said Zoe, as she peered over the rim of her almost empty wineglass.
“Perhaps you should try to get someone in to bless the house? Help him to move
on?” suggested Steven. “Yes, and who is going to believe us? I mean, come on,
we’re a bunch of students. They’ll just think we’re messing about and having a
laugh. What is taking so long with the drinks?” said Zoe. “Come on, you...”
said Vana to Matthew, “
we’ll
get them from the bar.”

“How
about you give the local press a call? I’m sure they’d be interested in the
story,” suggested Steven.

“To
be honest,” replied Zoe, “I think it’ll stop anyway. And besides, I don’t
really want all the London press camped on the doorstep.
Can’t
see my folks being impressed with that!”

“Sorry.
You’re right. I wasn’t thinking.”

“At
the end of the day, it could just have been a shadow on the film, and that
could mean anything.
Right?”

“Yes.
It could,”
answered
Steven, “but how do you explain
finding the paper and the journal?”

“Just
a fluke, I guess. Look, I just want to forget about it and get back to Uni. I
don’t want to be worried all the time about what’s going on in the house,”
stated Zoe. “Let’s change the subject.”

Matthew
and Vana returned with the drinks. The four of them had had a good evening. The
film was
OK,
and the meal really good.

2

“OK.
What’s tonight’s
late night plan?
” asked Matthew.

“We’ll
finish off our drinks whilst you guys pay the bill. Then, we need to head off
for the last bus – I don’t fancy walking back,” replied Vana, “especially in
these bloomin’ heels!”

The
girls waited at the table whilst the lads went off to the Gents and then to pay
the bill. Matthew was anxious not to be alone in the toilet after his episode
earlier. Zoe watched Vana as she swirled the last of her wine in the glass.

“I
wish you hadn’t told them about the house.”

“Why?
What’s the matter, hun?”

“I
was trying to have a nice evening, and forget about what had happened.”

“Is
everything alright?”

“Kind
of, but...” Zoe hesitated.

“But what?”

“I
know it sounds really stupid, but I think the house is making me ill.”

“Babe; why didn’t you say
something?
I knew I shouldn’t have left you on your own the other night. Why didn’t you
text me?”

“No,
no, it’s OK. It’s just all this spooky stuff has started to have an effect on
me, that’s all.” Just then, a loud bang on the window made both Zoe and Vana
jump.
“Oh my God!
What’s that? I almost wet myself,”
said Vana. They saw Matthew and Steven on the pavement, waving at them to come
out. “Bastards!” said Zoe, as the girls got their things together and got up
from the table. “I’ll try to keep my excitement under control from now on. No
more
ghost
hunting,” promised Vana, linking Zoe’s arm.
“It’s not as easy as that, though. And, the problem is that what’s happening is
something that’s beyond our control,” replied Zoe, gravely.

“What
are you two chatting about? Come on, let’s have the info,” said Matthew.
“No way!
Lass talk! What happens between us girls stays
between us girls,” replied Vana, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Matthew
lost his balance just as he was about to take Vana’s hand. It felt as if
someone had bumped into him. “Bollocks!” he said, as his foot splashed in a
puddle. He looked around, but there was no-one behind him. Vana thought it was
funny, and laughed. As he looked again at his feet, he saw splashes of blood on
his right shoe. He went quiet.

The
bus arrived, on time, and the friends boarded. They were all quite relaxed,
except Matthew. He was staring out of the window, Vana’s head on his shoulder.
He could not get the unusual events out of his mind. Was there blood? Did
someone push him – and, if so, who could it have been?

1

It
was almost midnight. As the friends walked back down the quiet street, chatting
and singing happily – much to the dismay of the neighbours – they again failed
to notice the curtains moving in Zoe’s parents’ bedroom window. Zoe unlocked
the front door and they all walked in to a freezing cold house. “
It’s
proper cold in here, hun,” said Vana. She shivered and
rubbed her hands together. “It shouldn’t be
,
should
it?” asked Zoe, eyes wandering. “I’m sure we left the heating on.”

“Well,
we need something to warm us up!” replied Vana.

“The
Jack’s in the kitchen. You guys go into the lounge and make yourselves at home.
And for God’s sake stick the fire on!”

 Zoe
and Vana went into the kitchen. Zoe got the Jack Daniels out of the cupboard,
whilst Vana found glasses and put them on a tray. “Where’s the Coke?”

“Try
the fridge. I think dad left one in there.”

“Right,
babe, what’s the plan?” asked Vana, mischievously.

“What
do you mean?”

“For the remaining hours of the
night.”

“Vana,
the house is well big enough for a sleep over.”

“That’s
not what I meant.”

“We’ll
just wait and see how it pans out, that’s all my lips shall say.” Zoe picked up
the Coke bottle. She knew Vana wouldn’t be happy until Zoe and Steven were
making out in the front room. “Come on, Vana, you get the tray and follow me
in.”

“OK.
Spoilsport.”
Zoe had had a rough ride when it came to
men, and Vana had made it her priority to try and sort it out.

2

The
girls walked into the lounge where Steven was playing with the television’s Freeview
Planner. “Before you say a word – I know! I miss Sky already!” laughed Zoe,
placing the drinks on the table. “Tell me about it. You don’t miss something
until you’ve not got access to it,” replied Matthew. Vana smiled. Steven
glanced in Zoe’s direction. “There don’t seem to be any decent movies on. What
Blu Rays have you got?” he asked.

“Help
me look through these,” invited Zoe, as she sat on the floor and opened up the
cupboard containing the DVDs and Blu Rays. Steven didn’t need asking twice! Matthew
and Vana started to fool around on the sofa.

“Great!”
exclaimed Steven, “we’ve got to watch this!”

“What?
The Patriot?
Why?”

“I’ve
not seen it for ages. It’s great. Have you seen it?”

“Nope,
it’s one of dad’s, not mine, and no, I never got round to watching it.”

“You’ve
got to like Heath, though?”

“Hell, yeah!
Every girl liked him. OK then,
you’re
on. How much Jack do you guys want?”

“Just
pour it... that’s dandy. Thanks. I’ll do the Coke,” replied Vana. “Where are
the crisps, hun?”

“Crap!
They’re in the cupboard.”

“OK.
I’ll get them. You stay exactly where you are.”

Vana
got up again from the sofa, and walked tipsily out towards the kitchen, swaying
her hips from side to side and singing
We
can bonk the world
as she went. She stopped as she opened the kitchen door.
All the cupboard doors were wide open. The crisps and chocolate sat on the
table, along with two small bowls. “Strange. This house never fails to impress
me.” She thought nothing more of the incident, just picked up the goodies and
went back into the lounge.

3

Matthew,
in the meantime, had gone to the bathroom. He didn’t really need to but, being
a bit of a hypochondriac, he wanted to see if there were any more signs of the
blood. He walked upstairs. It was completely dark. “Great! Where the heck is
the light?” he said, as he felt the wall for the switch. A cold blast of air
flashed over his hand. “SHIT! What was that? No wonder this place remained
empty for so long – bloody draughts everywhere!” He eventually found the switch
but, as he put on the light, he felt a sharp pain on his hand. “What the fuck?”

There
were two long, deep, scratch marks along his fingers. “Where the hell have they
come from? Guess the wall must be a bit rough.” Matthew found the bathroom,
went in and closed the door behind him. He lifted the toilet seat and started
to pee.
“Great – no blood.
What a relief that is!”

Just
as he had finished, the door opened, and the floorboards behind him creaked.
Then he felt heavy breathing on the back of his neck.
“Vana!
I knew you couldn’t wait to get me on my own.”

As
he turned round, fully expecting to see his girlfriend standing there, his
heart dropped. He was completely alone in the cold bathroom.