Axe Me for the Truth - part 1 (standard:Ghost stories, 4598 words)
Author: kissofthehungry	Added: May 02 2009	Views/Reads: 3161/2077	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
When Jenna moves with her mom and brother to a near perfect neighborhood, she's frightened by the Stepford qualities. It never dawns on her that it's what inside the house, waiting for her, that she should fear.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

wasn't going to cry when all she was asking was what I thought, again, 
of our new home, “It's cute.”  My voice sounded so bland but she hardly 
missed a beat. 

“I know, isn't it?!”  she threw open the door and beamed brightly at the
movers.  They blushed under her warm gaze as they began the monotonous 
chore of unloading the truck.  I don't understand why my dad had the 
affairs, my mother was gorgeous.  She wasn't a big woman, she was only 
5 ft 2 but she had such a lively personality that she filled a room 
when she walked in.  She was more on the voluptuous side, enough curves 
to stop the street but not so many that her tummy was bigger than her 
breasts.  I had the same body but taller and I prided myself on making 
sure that my tummy was never bigger than my boobs.  I was not going to 
look like one of those women who looked like she'd eaten too much 
McDonald's and not enough silicone.  My mom also had thick shiny brown 
hair that hung down to her waist and sparkling, laughing blue eyes.  It 
had been a long time since I'd seen her eyes full of so much life but 
almost from the moment she had announced the divorce, something in her 
had sparked back awake.  The movers were obviously entranced by my mom 
and again, I couldn't help but wonder, why hadn't my father been too? 

My mother slipped into the roll of director, pointing enthusiastically
to where she wanted the boxes and furniture.  I took advantage of her 
attention being elsewhere and decided to wander through our giant 
dollhouse.  I'd already explored the rooms and whatnot with my mother 
but I felt that if I had to live there, I needed to wander on my own.  
Plus, I didn't want to be asked for the billionth time, “what do you 
think of the house?”. 

I slipped upstairs, where the movers weren't yet attacking, and stood in
the hallway.  The floors were real wood, it was something my mom had 
been tickled over, and the finishing over them reflected the warmth of 
the sun shining through the large open windows.  The hallway seemed 
impossibly long even though it only had four doorways plus the closet 
at the end.  One of those doorways, the last one on the right was mine. 


Even with all the bustle of the movers below me, the upstairs seemed
unnaturally quiet.  It was as if the house were holding it's breath, 
waiting, and I felt a chill go through me even though I was a little on 
the warmer side.  Something was off but I couldn't place what.  I took 
a step forward and startled when the floor creaked beneath me.  That 
would make it difficult to sneak out if the bug ever bit.  I took 
another step and this time, I was prepared for the creak of protest. 
Then I paused, from the end of the hall, I had heard another squeak as 
if someone were walking there. 

“Jackson?” I called nervously, wondering if my obnoxious little brother
had managed to get up here before me.  There was no response so I stood 
there again, waiting for him to jump out at me or try to frighten me in 
some manner.  But, he never did. 

The doors were all shut and I suddenly wished that they were open, that
I could see into the bedrooms.  I wanted to know that they were empty, 
that no one else was up here with me and I had imagined the other 
squeak.  I swallowed nervously, my palms sweating and the hairs up on 
my neck.  Everything in my body was telling me to run back down stairs, 
to join the hustle of movement but I couldn't do it.  I took another 
step forward and the floor squeaked again.  Even though I knew it 
would, with how tense I felt, I again jumped.  I cursed at myself 
quietly and tried to place my foot down more gentle. 

Suddenly, I saw a shadow cross the light coming from the bottom of the
door across from my bedroom.  That wasn't Jackson's room, his was the 
first on the right.  It was going to be my art room.  Not willing to 
wait and see if whatever, whoever, was in that room was going to come 
out, I turned and bolted down the stairs.  I almost ran over Jackson 
who was sitting on the bottom step. 

My mother looked startled at my sudden rush down the flight and asked,
“House on fire?”  I shook my head, trying to calm myself down and 
subdue the surge of panic beating in my heart.  I could see all the 
movers and my family.  Someone was upstairs that wasn't supposed to be. 


After my mother's attention had moved on, I whispered to my little
brother, “I think someone else is upstairs.  Will you come with me and 
check it out?”  He looked at me like I was nuts and I knew if he hadn't 
been bored, he would have laughed at me and told me to get a padded 
jacket.  But, luckily for me, he was bored out of his poor mind and was 
eager for something to do.  So, he nodded his head and rose slowly, 
huffing and puffing like I was asking him to do a chore or something. 
The first thing I noticed when we walked up was that every single door 
was standing thrown open, displaying their empty rooms. 

“What the fuck?” I spat, freezing at the sight. 

“What?” he looked around, trying to figure out what had startled me. 

“Jackson,” I was whispering but I felt like screaming, “When I was just
up here a few minutes ago, every door was shut.  Every one of them.”  
Even the closet door was open.  I closed my eyes, vividly remembering 
in detail the hallway only a few moments ago.  There was no doubt in my 
mind, the doors had been shut. 

“Shut up, man you're such a bitch,” Jackson spat and began heading back
down the stairs, “We're not even moved in yet and you're already trying 
to screw with me.”  I wanted to tell him that I wasn't but I couldn't 
seem to get my voice to work right.  Again, I found myself standing 
alone, staring down that very forbidding hallway. 

I knew the doors had been and I knew I had seen a shadow beneath one. 
The problem was that only I was the one with that knowledge and I 
didn't know who else to tell that would believe me.  Jackson didn't and 
I didn't exactly see my mother believing my tale.  For the time being, 
I was on my own. 

I was broken out of my stupor by my mom's voice, “This is my son Jackson
and my daughter, Jenna, is upstairs.”  My curiosity got over my fear 
and I walked slowly down to see a few kids standing at the bottom, 
talking to my mom and brother.    They were all around my age. The girl 
talking to my mom had short bobbed white blonde hair and light green 
eyes.  Her skin was flawless, white, and she had the most perfect pink 
mouth.  The boy standing next to her was clearly her brother.  In fact, 
I was willing to bet they were twins.  He looked of course more 
masculine but he was as delicate featured as his sister, they could 
have been models together.  The other boy standing with them was almost 
obscenely tall.  He towered at least a foot over my mother, which was 
only made more intimidating by the fact he was facially pierced and 
wearing all black.  He had a dangerous appeal around him that made me 
find his green spiked hair and vampire contact eyes kind of sexy. 

“Welcome to the neighborhood,” the girl was saying with that perfect
smile, “I'm sure my parents will be by later after work.”  Then she 
looked up and flashed her white teeth at me. “You must be Jenna, I'm 
Mattie and this is my brother, Mason.  And this trouble maker behind me 
is my boyfriend, Trent.” 

“Oh, hi,” I wasn't exactly thrilled at the welcoming party but it gave
me something else to focus on other than the creepy door display. 
“Well, I'll leave you kids to get to know each other.  I've got movers 
to direct,” my mother flounced off and I noticed Mason eying her 
appreciatively.  One of the movers, a tall fellow with a gut that could 
have held triplets, grunted excuse me at our little group. 

Eager to get out of the house, I suggested, “Why don't' we go out back,
out of the way?”  They all agreed and Jackson followed us out in hog 
heaven.  Back at our old place, I never would have allowed him to hang 
out with me and my friends.  He was such a geek but since there wasn't 
anyone his age over yet, I didn't protest. 

“So, we're the new neighbors,” I began casually then tried to edge
around my point, “So, did you guys know who lived here before us?” 

“Yeah, the Gruegens.  A real nice couple,” Mattie replied, running a
well manicured hand through her hair.  Every detail about her and Mason 
told me that they came from a well to do family.  I felt kind of out of 
their league but I tried not to dwell on the financial side of things. 

“So, um, why'd they move out?” I poked, trying not to sound overly
concerned. 

“It was real sad, Mr. Gruegen died,” she began. 

Instantly I interrupted, “In the house?” 

She looked at me kind of oddly then shook her head, “No, he died in the
hospital, he had cancer.  Broke Mrs. Gruegen's heart when he passed 
away.  That's why she moved, said there were too many memories here and 
she just couldn't take it.” 

“Oh, that is sad,” I sounded like I felt her pain but it was more than
that.  I was disappointed.  I had expected to hear he had died some 
horrific death and was now haunting the place. 

“Did they ever see anything weird here?” I asked, realizing that I was
beginning to sound a bit on the nutty side.  Oh well, may as well show 
my true colors from the beginning rather than attempting to impress 
falsely. 

“Weird?” Mason asked, cocking his eyebrow at me, “Weird how?” 

Jackson leapt in, “You're not going to start in with the doors again,
are you?”  I could have smacked him.  I hadn't planned on sharing that 
information with anyone else yet. 

“The doors?”  she asked, leaning forward with interest. 

I sighed and slumped my shoulders in defeat; I was going to have to beat
me a brother later.  “I went upstairs and all the doors were closed but 
I heard and saw things in the last room that made me think someone else 
was there.  So, I went and got Jackson but when we came back up, all 
the doors were open and no one was there.  No big deal, I probably 
imagined it all,” I discounted myself before they could. 

I waited for the ridicule but their wide eyed expressions never gave
any.  Finally, Mattie spoke, “So, you've like got a ghost?  That's 
wicked cool. “ 

“Wicked cool?” I stuttered. 

Trent grinned, “Fuck yeah.  Ghosts are just awesome.”  I was trying to
keep my shock from showing.  I had thought they'd look at me like I was 
crazy but now I was wondering why I had been concerned?  Someone was 
certainly crazy in our little group and I was confident it wasn't just 
me.  Jackson's face was as bewildered as I felt and he kept looking 
around at all of us like he was afraid someone was going to bite. 

“I've always been fascinated with the supernatural.  Will you tell us if
you have any other experiences with the ghost?” Mattie was practically 
begging so I nodded slowly, still trying to figure out how they could 
be so excited. 

“I don't even know that it's a ghost,” I protested. 

“Please, that sounds like a ghost.  I don't think the Gruegens ever had
ghost issues but they may just not have shared it with anyone,” Mattie 
replied confidently. 

Mason gave me a playful wink, “If you get scared, I'd be more than
willing to come over and protect you.” 

“Oh I'm sure you would, horn-dog,” she elbowed her brother and I
blushed.  Great, just what I needed.  A cute boy from a dysfunctional 
twin set flirting with me when I was still trying to figure out if my 
current boyfriend and I were going to make it. 

Before we could discuss the possible protection avenues of Mason
further, there was a shattering of glass from the house followed by a 
string of obscenities. 

“That didn't sound good,” I muttered and walked back towards the house. 

“I'm so sorry,” one of the movers with thinning hair and watery eyes
mumbled apologetically, gesturing to the remains of a lamp at the 
bottom of the stairs.   I thought instantly of the ghost upstairs and 
my eyes trailed up the steps, half expecting to see a spirit giggling 
at the top.  There was nothing, of course. 

“What happened?” I asked, totally ignoring the other teenagers standing
behind me. 

The mover looked startled at my voice and replied, almost in tears, “I
missed the first step somehow and just dropped it.  I'm so sorry; we 
can compensate you for it.” 

My mom laughed and shook her head, “Don't worry about it, accidents
happen.  It's not an important lamp anyways.”  My head yanked in her 
direction as if I had rope tied around it, had I really just heard her 
right?  It wasn't an important lamp?  My father's mother had given it 
to her as a wedding gift...  it was then I realized how exactly hard my 
mother was trying to cut every tie from her previous life.  I couldn't 
help but wonder if her detachment might reach out to include Jackson 
and I.  After all, we were a link she would always share with my 
father. 

“Are you sure?” the mover asked but I had already turned around and was
pushing through the others so I didn't hear her response.  I stood in 
the grass, trying to calm my breathing and fighting a batch of tears.  
I wanted my mother divorced from my father, she should have done it a 
long time ago but I didn't want her to make everything unimportant.  I 
knew it was a bit irrational but I was terrified that we were going to 
be on her list of unimportant things. 

“Are you okay?” Mason asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. 

I shrugged him off casually and forced a smile, “I'm fine, just like
that lamp.”  It sounded lame, even to me, but it was the only excuse I 
could think of at the moment.  Jackson's light green eyes burned into 
mine, full of concern, and I wondered if he were thinking the same 
thing as me. 

“We ought to be going,” Mattie bubbled, “But don't think this is the
last of us you'll be seeing.  I plan on coming over to help you find 
out more about your ghost.  Plus, you're the new kids, can't let anyone 
else get you.”  I nodded my head, not really understanding, but Mattie 
was obviously the kind of person that you just went along with her 
plans. 

“It was nice meeting you, thanks for coming over,” Jackson remembered
his manners. 

“Yeah, seriously, really appreciate it,” I quickly chimed in and had to
resist a glare his way.  What a little suckup. 

As they walked towards the door, Mason, with a mischievous grin, cast
over his shoulder, “If you need protection, don't hesitate to call me.  
I'd be willing to sleep in your room, make sure you were safe.” 

“Yeah, keep on dreaming,” I tossed back, making Mattie and Trent giggle.
 I had to admit, I did kind of like them all.  They seemed fun to be 
around and in a new place; it was always nice to have some kind of 
friends. 

“Do you really think there's a ghost?” Jackson asked. 

I glared at him, “Oh, now you take me seriously.  I don't know honestly.
 I mean, I would have sworn the doors were open and that there was 
someone else up there but I don't know.  I guess I could have imagined 
it all.”  It was easier to believe outside in the huge grassy yard, 
especially after our sunny reception from the twins and Trent. 

We probably would have talked about it longer but my phone vibrated in
my pocket.  I pulled it out and looked at the caller id.  It was Evan. 

“Hey,” I tried to sound cheerful but sounded forced. 

“Hey babe, I miss you already,” he griped. 

This was going to be a long two hour apart relationship, “Yeah, me too.”


“You wouldn't believe the crap that's been going on here.  It's a bummer
you're not here, you'd totally get a kick out of it.  Felicia's 
boyfriend dumped her because he found out about her sleeping with Mr. 
Chestrick,” he bragged.  I couldn't help but smile at that.  Everyone 
knew about Felicia's “affair”.  Mr. Chestrick was a math teacher at our 
high school and it was common knowledge, at least among the student 
body, that he liked his students as more than study buddies. 

“And another one suck's the Chestdick,” I chuckled and walked over to
the wall so I could lean up against it. 

I could hear the disdain in his voice, “I can't imagine, he's old but
whatever floats their boat.  I've got a day off from work tomorrow, do 
you want me to come up?  I could help you unpack and you could show me 
your room.”  The innuendo in his suggestion about my room was so 
painfully obvious that it made me roll my eyes. 

“Chee Evan, that's a tempting offer but since I wasn't willing to “show”
you my room back when we lived near each other, why would I be more 
inclined to do so now?” I asked, sighing heavily.  This was a constant 
debate between us.  Evan wanted me to sleep with him desperately and 
had been trying since we started dating three months ago.  I was still 
a virgin and I wasn't exactly excited to give it up to a guy whom I 
couldn't see myself being able to survive a long distance relationship 
with, much less truly have a future with. 

“I'm just playing,” he retorted but we both knew better. 

“Yeah, well if you ever want any from me, you might want to drop that
kind of playing,” I hissed, rolling my eyes yet again.  I hoped this 
wasn't how all of our phone conversations were going to progress or I 
was not answering his calls anymore. 

“Sorry,” he quickly apologized and then began to whine, “It's just we've
been together for three months and that's a long time to not do 
anything more than kiss.  I mean, even Monica agrees that three months 
is a long...” 

“Oh please, you're trying to drag Monica into this?  I love her but
let's face it, Monica will say whatever is necessary to keep us both 
happy.  If she were talking to me, she'd be telling me that you're 
being too pushy and not giving romance a chance to bloom before wanting 
to succumb to lust,” I was trying to sound as high and mighty as I 
could possibly muster, “The bottom line is my sexuality is not Monica's 
concern nor is it her place to encourage or discourage it.  This is 
something strictly between you and me and I'm telling you, at three 
months, I am not ready to have sex with you.”  I was being more blunt 
than was probably acceptable but I was tired of this same old debate.  
Debate was the wrong word, one sided argument was better because there 
was no room for debate.  I wasn't interested in putting out for Evan 
now and probably wouldn't ever. 

“Whatever, do you want me to come over tomorrow or not?” he sounded
exasperated. 

“I don't care, it's up to you,” I sighed, crossing my free hand over my
chest, tapping my fingers absently on my arm. 

My sigh was met by one of his own, “Jenna, do you want to see me or
not?” 

“What the fuck does that mean?” I stood straight, glaring at the
dollhouse but not really seeing it. 

“It's just a simple question that you can't seem to answer; do you want
me there or not?”  I wanted to scream at him.  Why was he so desperate 
to pin an answer down from me?  Couldn't he be a big boy and decide for 
himself. 

Finally, in a weary voice, I replied, “Sure, why not?”  I was confident
that it wasn't the resounding yes or no he was seeking but it was 
certainly an answer. 

“Fine, then I'll see you tomorrow,” he sounded as worn out as I did. 

“Okay, I've got to go help my mom with the moving,” she hadn't asked for
any help but it sounded like a great escape to me. 

“Yeah, sure okay. See you tomorrow then,” he sighed again then added, “I
love you, babe.” 

I rolled my eyes and in a dry voice mumbled back, “Yeah, I love you
too.”  We'd been saying it since about a week into the relationship.  I 
didn't really think I loved him and I wasn't confident that he felt it 
either but everyone else was saying it, so we did too.  I hated saying 
it, it seemed fake and cheesy to me, especially considering I was like 
ninety-five percent sure that neither of us meant it.  When I heard the 
phone click in my ear, I felt so relieved.  I had to remind myself that 
despite Evan's shortcomings, he was a good guy, he had his good points 
but so did my dad and look how well that had worked out for my mom. 

I shook my head, perhaps tomorrow when I saw Evan, I'd break it off. 
The thought made my tummy clench and my heart beat a bit harder.  I 
wasn't sure I had the nerve or commitment to be the one to dump 
someone.  Maybe I could push him hard enough that he broke up with me.  
I'd feel like less of a bitch, even though indirectly I had initiated 
the break up.  I shook my head again, being a girlfriend was hard work. 



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