Angry Spirit - Chapter Two

It seemed an eternity since Nathan phoned the police, however, no more than ten minutes past before they caught sight of a policeman outside the kitchen. A beam of light cut into the darkness outside, large circular illuminated areas were indeed a welcome sight as the policeman scanned his flash lamp around the spacious back garden. The light lingered on bushes, as its owner searched for signs of movement. Feeling reassured by this prompt arrival, Janice released her tight hold on Nathan’s arm and crossed the kitchen to the sink, located directly in front of the window. She leaned forward, a soothing calmness beginning to win over the wretched tension she had so far endured.

In a horrifying instant, All the terror and so much returned to leave her rigid in fear, only inches away from her face, reflected in the blackness on the glass surface of the window, she screamed out frantically when her eyes beheld the heart-stopping sight … two red, blood streaked eyes, stared back at her, their intense wildness burned into her every fibre. A mouth yawned angrily, filled with sharp menacing teeth, oozing, and dripping drool onto the dark fur that framed this evil, angry face.

"Oh my God! … Nathan it’s outside! … What the hell is it?"

Nathan who had been rendered solid with fear, more from his wife’s reaction than seeing anything, evil or otherwise, slowly turn to follow Janice’s gaze, towards the window, and the pandemonium which now issued from the garden.

"Geez … Janice, that’s the police dog. You scared the living crap out of me." He rushed to the door to allow them access.

"Steady on Sir. Move slowly, don’t make any sudden moves. The mood he’s in, he’ll have your leg off, if he thinks you’re the intruder."

"Through there, I take it?" The policeman asked, indicating to the sealed off kitchen door.

"Be careful!" Janice warned anxiously.

"No need to worry madam. Old Sabre here will soon sniff out your problem. He can handle himself."

Nathan helped the PC slide the heavy cabinet aside.

"Ok, you stay here, me and Sabre will sought every thing out. Close the door behind me. My colleague WPC Clarke is outside the front door, she’ll stop anyone who tries to run out the front way."

Before Nathan or Janice could warn the policeman that the intruder was not of the human kind, he had rushed through door into the hall. "Go find em, boy!" he called, releasing the eager dog from it’s leash.

When Sabre reached the bottom of the stairs he froze, cowering and whimpering, before backing away. Never shifting his gaze from the landing above.

"What’s the matter, boy. Go on … Go get em!"

Despite several attempts to urge Sabre forward, he refused to move, apparently terrified to go anywhere near the stairs.

The PC looked puzzled, though obviously embarrassed by his dogs reaction.

"I’ve never seen him act like this before," he muttered as excuse.

"I don’t blame him," Nathan exclaimed. "Whatever is up there, it sure isn’t human. It’s some kind of animal."

"Like what?" the PC asked, looking even more puzzled. "What kind of animal."

"I don’t know, but whatever it is it’s big. The damn thing as clawed its way almost through the bedroom door."

In an attempt to hide his rising concern, PC Parkes, turned to unlock the front door and allow access to his colleague, waiting outside. "Get on the radio and see if there’s any reports of any escaped animals in the area will you June?"

The WPC looked somewhat bewildered but complied with Parkes strange request. Returning from the car a couple of minutes later and reporting a negative response.

"What’s wrong with Sabre?" she asked, noticing Sabre, cowering by Parkes leg.

"Damned if I know. He won’t go anywhere near the stairs. Looks like we’re going to have to check this one out selves."

"Oh great! Nice one Sabre."

After striding over his terrified canine assistant, Parkes began to slowly ascend the stairs, pausing mid-way to check that Clarke was following close behind.

By now Nathan and Janice had moved into the hall and were watching the two constables slow and precarious progress.

"Please be careful," Janice urged, her shaking hand cradling her face, as if to conceal her anxious expression.

"Don’t worry madam, we have it all under control," Parkes replied, pulling his truncheon from it’s holder on his belt. Clarke, suddenly realizing the level of her colleagues unease, did the same, before they continued, at an ever slowing pace.

"Geez … what the hell is in their?" Parkes gasped when he reached a level where he was able to view the damaged door.

"Do you think we need to call for back up?" Clarke whispered, while nestling in behind him, trying desperately to conceal herself behind his bulky form.

"No! I think whatever did that has long since gone. I haven’t heard a thing from in their since we arrived, have you?"

"No I haven’t," Clarke agreed. "But that doesn’t mean whatever it is isn’t in there resting, getting ready to pounce on whoever is stupid enough to open that door."

"Looks like it’s down to me again then, doesn’t it?" Parkes quipped, slowly and nervously making his way towards the door.

"Are you sure we wouldn’t be better calling for back-up?"

Clarke’s’ suggestion fell on deaf hears, by now, Parkes’ hand had a firm grip on the door handle and applying enough pressure for the mortise to disengage from the door frame.

"Can you see anything?" Nathan called in a loud whisper.

Parker ignored him, his concentration exclusively focused on the area before him. If anything was about to make a mad leap at him, he needed to be alert enough to slam the door shut again, quick enough to thwart any attack.

All seemed well, the darkness inside the bedroom was impenetrable, however, complete and utter silence prevailed, a fact that PC Parkes was more than grateful for. Inch by agonizing inch he applied gentle force against the door, teasing it ever open.

When the gap between door and frame was some six inches, Parkes raised his left hand to the wall inside, feeling for the light switch. When his fingers detected the square plastic mounting he hesitated. Whatever was in there would undoubtedly leap towards him, startled by the sudden brightness. A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed that everyone else had concealed them away from the passage to the front door, not wishing to impeded the path of whatever might emerge.

Silently he counted to three, in a generous gesture to prepare himself, then with a panicked stroke of a single finger, he flipped the switch, instantly the room filled with bright light.

Sweat beaded from his forehead, the airs prickled on the back of his neck, while the sound of his pounding heat beat echoed in his ears …

However, silence ensued. Not a single sound emitted from the room. With his raging curiosity overriding his previous fear, Parkes pushed the door back to it’s limits.

"What the hell? …" he gasped, his voice rang more with disgust than surprise.
"Is this some kind of joke," his comment seemingly aimed at Nathan and Janice.

When all four of them, eventually entered the room, so obviously devoid of any creature of any description, all were rendered momentarily speechless in amazement.

Not one single piece of furniture remained in its original position. Every item, large and small alike was meticulously stacked in a precariously balanced pyramid-like pile against the far wall.

"What could have done all this?" Janice sobbed. "What is happening to us?"

"It’s damned obvious what did this," Nathan eventually replied. His three companions stood in stunned silence, as if memorized by the order of chaos they were witnessing. Each of them seemed to know the cause, yet no one seemed willing to voice their suspicion.

"It’s a bloody poltergeist!" Nathan announced.

"No!! Janice yelled, before spinning on her heels and rushing from the room.

"I’ll make sure she’s alright," Clarke said, instinctively following Janice.

Nathan and PC Parkes remained transfixed by the mountain of furniture, neither of them daring to attempt an explanation for the events they were currently witnessing.

After several strained minutes of silence, the constable finally accepted there was no more to be done and turned his attention once again to his faithful companion Sabre.

"Come on boy!" Parkes called from the landing, and immediately Sabre responded, with great leaps, spanning the staircase in three long bounds.

"Well done, boy, well done … That’s more like it," the policeman, encouraged.

Sheba lowered his nose to the floor and began searching for scents, he circled the landing, his determination was frenzied, first one side wall and then across to the other, zig zagging the length of the spacious area.

"Find it Sabre!" Parkes called, when the dog disappeared for a moment into the bathroom.

"Whatever you had in here, as gone now," Parked announced, with profession confidence. I don’t know what to suggest now, sir. But, I think whatever it was that caused this mess is not a police matter anymore.

Nathan stood in the bedroom doorway, surveying the disarray before him and the wrecked door. He shuck his head in disbelief, the inability to explain even the smallest part of what had happened eluded him;

"Who the hell do I go to for help?" he pleaded.

"I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t have a clue, other than maybe suggesting you have a word with the vicar."

As a final gesture of support, Parkes and Clarke helped Nathan dismantle the precarious mountain of furniture and replace each item to its original position, before bidding them both good night and good luck.