Writing Challenge #3

It was a dark and stormy Saturday night. I was scheduled to babysit for a family but wanted them desperately to call and cancel. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Entering their home, a cold shiver shot down my spine. This house gave me the creeps in all of the wrong ways. Even the parents and kids seemed a little off. None of them made eye contact with me, which was odd, and mostly nodded. It was as if they weren't fully there. And they were so pale, almost as if I touched them there wouldn't be anything. I couldn't wait to be back in my safe and sound home. The night went smoothly and pretty soon the kids were in bed sleeping. I wandered into their living room to pick out a movie to watch until the parents came home. I clicked the remote to turn the t.v. on but nothing happened. All the cords were plugged in, yet it wouldn't turn on. Then the lights began to flicker. I decided that the storm was affecting the houses electricity. I decided to fix the light problem. I was scared and not looking forward to going downstairs into the dank corner of the basement where the fuse box was located. The flickering lights reminded me of something I had heard about this house from my parents. There was a rumor about the history of this house. It was haunted. Lights were known to blink on and off, people were seen in the windows when no one was home, and cat meows and dog barks were heard in the house even though the family didn't own pets. All of this was superfluous to the fact that I was needing to go to the damp and clammy basement. I slowly descended the stairs with a flashlight in my hand. A huge clap of thunder made me almost jump out of my skin. I made myself suck it up and finished going downstairs. I quickly found the fuse box and flicked the switch. Now the lights  and t.v. should work I thought to myself. Turning around I thought I saw a shadow move at the top of the stairs. Then the floor creaked where the living room would be located above my head. This is ridiculous I thought, as the babysitter I was responsible and the only authority figure in the house, I can't let a stormy night get the best of me. It probably didn't help that my ardent passion for reading horror stories added to my imagination. I returned to the main floor and saw that everything was fine. I decided to go check on the kids. At the top landing of the stairs I could have sworn that I saw another shadow now moving at the bottom where I had just been. It looked to be a small shadow, maybe one of their kids, but it would have been impossible for one to pass me as I went up. Opening the bedroom door I see that both beds are empty and haven't look slept in for days. I began to panic. Rushing down the stairs I look for what could have been the shadows I saw earlier, hoping that they were the kids. I can't find anyone. Reaching for the phone I try and dial 911. The line is dead, I hadn't fixed the power like I thought I had. As I start to go downstairs yet again I pass the back door. I see two people coming towards the house, but they are neither the parents nor the kids. They get closer. The door is unlocking. I'm face to face with two strangers I have never seen before. Their faces tell me that they are just as afraid as I am. The talking begins and I'm told that they live here, and have been for the past 6 years. They don't have any children. They haven't been home. All. Night.