Bump In The Night

***************************************Edited*********************************

Chapter 1

Growing up, I hated living in this house. When we moved in, I knew there was something off with it. We had just moved from an apartment on Bay Ave in New Jersey to a house on Bay Drive in Florida. Why did we move? The owner of the apartment complex we had lived in in New Jersey decided to tear it down. I was so excited when my parents told me we were finally moving back to Florida. Why? Because the apartment complex we lived in was full of ghosts. I wanted a fresh start where I didn't hear or see things every night. So when we pulled up to the house on Bay Ave, I felt the same hair rising on the back of my neck and asked, "Is this really where we were going to live?" 

My mother looked at me and said, "Do not start with your shit."

Looking at her, I said, "You don't think it's weird we moved from Bay Ave to Bay Drive?"

She looked at me and said, "This is your only warning, do you hear me? Your Aunt and Uncle found this house for us. We got a real good price on the rent."

Seeing my Aunt and Uncle pull in, I walked over to their car and said, "I wonder why."

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When I got to my Uncle Mart he pulled me into a hug and he leaned down asking, "What's wrong sweetheart?"

Leaning against him I said, "This house gives me the creeps."

He looked concerned and said, "Did you say something to your Mom and Dad?"

Giggling I said, "Yeah to Mom and I am guessing you know what she said."

He sighed and said, "Angie your going to stay at our house the next two nights because the power cannot be turned on until Monday. Talk to Aunt Maggie when we get there, she walked the house as well, you know she will be honest with you. Now lets get this U-Haul unloaded so we can get home, Aunt Dee made lasagna for dinner."

Uncle Mart tossed the keys to my Dad and my Dad opened the front door to the house. I could have sworn I heard the house breathe. A few of my cousins showed up and they started to unload the U-Haul. My sister and brother sat in the living room coloring and I walked through the house. I went into the back room and saw the sliding glass doors that lead to the back yard. It had massive trees that backed up to a wooded area. A chill went down my spine and I went to look for my room. 

When I went to my room my Mom was setting up my bed next to the window and she said, "Angie you need to keep your thoughts to yourself. The rents are different from New Jersey and we are lucky we could get it."

Nodding I said, "Alright Mom. Will we be seeing Grandpa Richard now that we are in Florida?"

She said, "We don't know. Do not bother your Dad about it. If it happens it happens and if it doesn't then deal with it."

Nodding I walked back to the kitchen and then walked to the TV room. Looking around the yard it gave me the creeps. As it was late afternoon I could have sworn I saw shadows move through the trees. The yard felt crowded to me and except for the front of the house the home was surrounded by trees. Watching the trees I heard a whisper, "You should not be here."

Then I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped and screamed. My cousin Kevin was laughing and said, "Woah, Ang didn't mean to scare ya. You seemed to be concentrating."

I laughed and said, "This is so different than back in New Jersey. I think its the trees. My old room overlooked the main road."

He nodded and asked, "Your mom still the same way?"

I nodded in case she came through to eavesdrop. Kevin got the hint and said, "Lets go see what they want us to bring in." 

When I was in the house I felt like there was a chill in the air but when I went back outside I could feel the warmth of the sun on me and breathed a sigh of relief. The air outside was warm and comforting. Aunt Dee said she had to get stuff from the store and told my Mom she was taking me with her. Mom would not dare argue with my Aunt. As we pulled away from the house I could have sworn the shadows around the house seemed deeper and took more shape.

My Aunt asked me, "Are you alright?"

"No," I said. "I do not like that house Aunt Dee. It feels like someone is watching us."

She nodded and said, "I am sorry sweetie we found a place that we knew your parents could afford. With your Dads job history and track record with jobs we needed to find a place that your Mom could handle."

Nodding I asked her, "Have you heard from Grandpa Richard?"

She sighed and said, "Yes and he is so mad at your Dad. He misses you sweetheart but you know how your Dad is."

"Yeah," I said. "At least there is no bar in walking distance now."

My Aunt said, "Thank god for that."

We went to the store and Aunt Dee said, "If you want we  can suggest that your parents have a priest come bless the house. I know the priest of our church would be glad to do that. Let's chase away the negative energy that you feel alright."

Nodding I said, "Alright."

She nodded and gave me a worried look. She asked, "Is it still difficult with your Mom?"

"Yes," I said. "A lot of the time she act's like she is trying to forget I exist. Everything is for Jessie and Richie. Grams and her got into a fight right before we left. I do not know about what but Grams was madder than I ever saw her and when we got to her apartment the night before we left she was mad that I had not eaten more than a bologna sandwich at Aunt Diane's."

"What did everyone else have?" She asked.

"I think Spaghetti," I said. "Aunt Diane's house always gives me a headache. I was sleeping in Tammy's room and when I got up that was all I could eat. She got mad when Grandma made me some meatballs she had left over. Mom went to say something but Grandpa told her to let it go and let me eat. When we were leaving Grandpa asked if they were sure I could not stay with them. Mom said no and I needed to stay with them as her punishment. What did she mean by that?"

I saw a flash of anger cross over her face and she said, "I don't know sweetie. Do not worry though you can come stay with Uncle Mart and me on the weekends if things get to bad. Uncle Mart will keep your Dad in check."

"I hope so," I said. "I can't run to Grandma and Grandpas place anymore."

She nodded, "Well we will keep a eye out and see what happens. I will speak with Rose this week and see what we can find out. But first let us get some groceries and go see Aunt Maggie."

We went to the store and grabbed groceries for the weekend. Then we went to Aunt Dee's apartment to drop off the groceries. When I walked in my Great Aunt Maggie called out, "Angie you best come give me a hug."

Running into the kitchen I threw my arms around Aunt Maggie and said, "I missed you. When you left New Jersey we stopped going to the house to visit."

She kissed my forehead and said, "I missed you too. Come sit down with me and visit. What do you think of the new house?"

"I don't like it," I said. "It feels weird. A lot like our old apartment complex in New Jersey."

She took my hands and said, "I felt it too. I think the inside of the house is safe nothing bad in there. Its the woods and around the outside of the house that bothers me."