A Knock At The Door

A knock is heard at the door.

                                                A Knock At The Door

The lamp was on, causing a nice glow in the room.  

On the sofa sat Janet, and with her were two younger girls which she was babysitting that night.  

She had been looking after these two for the last year.  Every time the parents decided to have a night out they would call Janet, and she would be delighted because the extra money would come in handy.  She was very fond of Samantha and Teresa.  Samantha was twelve years of age.  Teresa was only seven.

The television was on, and a children’s film about a comical alien was playing.

Teresa found the alien very amusing while she giggled throughout.

The older sister thought the film was silly, and complained to Janet about it.

“It’s only a film, sweetheart,” said Janet, brushing the girl’s hair.

Samantha peered up at her.  “It’s a silly film.  That’s all I’m going to say about it,” she replied.

The younger sister then said, “Look at the alien now.  It just fell over.”

Samantha sighed, and said with annoyance in her voice, “Tell my sister to be quiet.  This film is aimed at children and is very silly.”

Janet needed an idea to keep both girls happy.  “Shall we have a game of something?”

“Now this sounds better,” the older girl answered.

“Teresa, would you like to join in?” asked Janet.

“Can we still watch the funny alien while we play?”

“If that is okay with Samantha?”

“Fine,” was all that Samantha said.

Janet got up and made her way towards the cabinet at the far end of the room.  She opened one of the drawers and pulled out a box.  She then walked to the dinner table and put the box down.  She took the lid off and inside was a board which she placed on the table.

Samantha watched with eager eyes.

Her sister still stared at the television.

“So, who wants to play?” Janet asked.

She hoped this would keep the children quiet until bedtime.  By the clock on the wall it was 7.30pm.  She remembered the parents saying that 10 o clock would be okay for the girls to go to bed, as it was a Saturday tomorrow.

Samantha joined Janet.

The other girl stayed seated.  Her eyes glued to the TV.

“Looks like it’s just us two,” said Janet a little disappointed.

“Well, if she wants to watch childish films about childish things, leave her to it,” answered Samantha.  “I would rather do adult things with grown-ups.” 

Janet picked up the dice and threw them onto the table.  “Yes, I scored seven,” she said delighted.

A knock was heard.

“What was that?” Samantha asked surprised.

Two more knocks.

Someone was at the front door.

“Who would be calling at this time?  Better see who it is,” Janet replied.

She got up from the chair.

Samantha watched her as she disappeared through the doorway.  A couple of seconds later she made out the faint noise of the front door being opened.  All of a sudden an unbearable scream erupted through the house.  The two girls jumped out of their skin.

Samantha rushed to the living room door which faced the hallway.  She slowly pulled the door open, so she had enough of a gap to peer through.  The front door was closed.

Where was the babysitter?

The key was still in the lock.

Maybe Janet was playing a joke on them?

Samantha proceeded towards the entrance of the house.  She expected Janet to jump out on her at any minute, laughing uncontrollably.

She was now a metre from the door.  There was a deathly silence, apart from the faint noise coming from the television.  She reached out a hand to open the door.  Nearer she got with baited breath and a beating heart.

Bang.

From outside the sound of something heavy hit the concrete.  All of a sudden there was a commotion.  Two figures were seen through the glass while they fought.  The shoulder of one smacked the door hard.

With shock Samantha recognised one of the people.

It was Janet.

Their eyes met.

From the other side of the door Janet shouted, “Lock the door, Samantha.  Don’t be scared, love.”

“What’s going on, Janet?” she screamed back.

Janet struggled as she tried to keep the door closed.

“Turn the key in the lock, Samantha.  Do it now,” Janet ordered.

An object was raised into the air, then struck Janet with force at the back of the head.

Without much thought given she turned the key.

She was absolutely terrified.

What the hell was going on?

She stepped away from the door.  Janet could no longer be seen, but through the glass stood a person at least six feet tall.  He banged his hand on the glass and made the door shake.  He then vanished into the darkness.

“Oh my god.  What should I do?” she asked herself.

She shook with utter fear.

Samantha ran into the living room where Teresa was sat on the sofa with a terrified look in her eyes.

She seemed in a daze.

She approached her little sister, and kneeled down so she was the same height.

“Teresa, are you okay?” asked Samantha worried.

Teresa still stared into nothing.

Samantha placed a hand onto the young girl’s shoulder.

Teresa then said, “What’s happening?”

Samantha had to come up with an answer, but what should she say.  She certainly didn’t want to scare her sister even more than she already was.

“The babysitter is playing a joke on us.  If we stay in here, we should be fine.  Do you understand, Teresa?” she said softly.

Teresa glanced up at her and answered, “I think so.”

“I’m going to ring mum and dad.  Tell them what’s going on,” she said confidently.

She walked to the phone that sat on the cabinet.  She picked up the receiver and started dialling her dad’s mobile number.  She listened for the ring, but there was nothing apart from silence.

How come?

Why wasn’t the phone working?

Samantha tried again.  Still no luck.

“What is wrong with this damn thing,” she said.

Teresa looked at her wide-eyed.  “What’s wrong, Samantha?”

“Just ignore me, sweetie.  Everything’s fine,” replied she.

She was far from being okay.  The phone wasn’t working.  How could it get worse?

Then a chill ran down her.  The window in her parents’ bedroom was open.  She’d remembered seeing this earlier while chatting to her mother.

“Oh my god,” she screamed.

She rushed out of the living room and straight into her mum and dad’s room.  It was dark.  She searched for the switch.  Samantha found it and turned the ceiling light on.  She ran to the window and promptly closed it.  Suddenly a face appeared through the glass.  Then a fist thumped the window with immense strength.

Samantha shuddered.

She covered the window with curtains.  She sat down on the double bed.  Her heart was beating faster than she’d ever known.  She started to cry.

A voice was heard in the doorway.

“Do not cry.”

Samantha glanced up and Teresa stood there.  In her arms she held a teddy bear.

Samantha wiped her eyes.

Both then walked back to the sofa in the living room.

Teresa then said, “Don’t worry.  Mum and dad will soon be home, and then everything will be all right.”

Samantha all of a sudden remembered her dad would sometimes leave his mobile in the top drawer of the cabinet just beside the bed.

She hugged Teresa before saying, “You are the best little sister in the whole wide  world.”

Teresa came closer and cuddled Samantha, and said, “Why am I the best little sister in the whole wide world?”

“Because you made me think of mum and dad, and if you can remember, dad sometimes leaves his mobile phone in the bedroom.  And I know exactly where it is.”

“Are you going to ring mummy and daddy?” Teresa asked.

“They’ve gone to a friend’s party, so the chance of them hearing the phone with all the loud music, also the party is being held miles from here.  What’s the good in that.  I think I will ring the police instead.  Do you think that’s a good idea, baby Teresa?”

“It’s the best idea in the whole wide world,” screamed Teresa in an excited sort of way.

“Stay here, and be quiet.  If you hear anything unusual, ignore it,” Samantha ordered.

She kissed Teresa tenderly on the left cheek.

Samantha made her way back into her parents’ bedroom.  She didn’t want to turn on any lights.  So being careful she crept the best she could to the cabinet.  She placed her knees onto the cold floor and using her hands felt for the drawer handle.  Almost immediately she found it, and pulled the drawer open slowly.  She felt inside, and grabbed the small rectangular object.

She dialled 999.

A ringing was heard.

Then a voice as it said, “Hello, how can I help you?”

“Hello, I think someone is trying to break into the house.  The problem is my parents are out for the night.  I wasn’t really sure what to do,” she said nervously.

“You did the right thing.  Where do you live?”

Once she had told them where she lived, the person then promised that a policeman would be round shortly, and to stay in the house as a precaution. 

Samantha ended the call and joined her sister back in the living room.

“They’ll send a policeman round shortly,” she told Teresa.  “So there’s no need to worry.”

“Thank you for looking after me,” Teresa said, giving her big sister a little kiss on the lips.

Samantha found this very sweet.  “I will always care for you, because I love you very much.”

“And I love you too,” she answered.

They cuddled.

“Teresa, I meant what I said.  I know I’m nasty to you at times, but if anything ever happened to you I would be devastated.”

Both stayed on the sofa.  The volume to the TV had been turned down.

They waited patiently.

The wind outside was getting up, as it howled.  The storm which had been promised earlier had not yet arrived.

All of a sudden a knock at the door.

Samantha moved the curtain a little and a police car was parked on the road in front.

“The police are here.  Stay here, sweetie.  I told you everything was going to be all right, didn’t I,” Samantha said relieved.

“Yes you did.  I’ll be a good girl and stay here where it’s nice and warm,” Teresa answered.

Samantha walked out of the room and down the hallway to the front door.  Before she opened the door she asked for proof that he was an officer of the law.  She could also see that he wore his uniform through the glass.  

He replied politely enough, and showed his badge through the letterbox.

Thank god for that, she thought.  At last this nightmare can come to an end.

She turned the key and opened the door.

“Hello.  We received a call from you saying that you think a person is trying to break into your house.  Is this correct?”

“Yes, officer,” she replied.

He had a friendly face.

“May I come in?” he asked politely.

She let him in and closed the door.

Finally she felt safe.

She had to ask him something though, “Aren’t you going to check around the garden, to see if he is still there?”

The man peered in her direction, and said, “So you have identified him as a male?”

“I’m not sure.  I saw someone’s face briefly in the window, but that’s it.  But I’m quite confident in saying he’s about six feet tall.”

The man in his uniform had a smile on his face, then said, “To your question earlier.  Yes, I’ve already had a look around.  Your garden's quite big.”

Samantha asked, “Did you find anything suspicious?”

The man came closer.  “In the back garden I came across something a little odd.”

“So, what was it, did you see Janet, our babysitter?”

“In the back garden near the shed I noticed two bodies with their heads caved in.  If I remember rightly, one was of a policeman, and the other was a young lady.”

Samantha couldn’t believe it.  “Oh no, poor Janet,” she cried.

“It always makes me laugh how gullible people are.  For a little while now I’ve been trying to get into this f*****g house.  I’ll tell you something you little b***h, when I butchered your friend earlier, all I kept thinking was, I can’t wait to get in here and do the same to you and your sister.  And by chance a policeman came by, and then I had an idea.”

A chill ran down her.

She put her hands up to her face.  “Oh no, what have I done.”

He lunged at her and she fell hard onto the floor.

“Come here,” he yelled.

Samantha tried crawling up the hallway.

He had hold of her foot.

She done her best to escape his clutches.  She dug her fingers deep into the carpet and tried dragging herself away from him.

“Samantha, what is going on?” asked a faint voice.

With sheer horror Samantha peered up and saw Teresa standing in the doorway.  A teddy bear in her arms.

“Run, sweetie,” she screamed at the top of her voice.

She felt a big hand around her throat.  She was lifted up and pinned against the wall.

Teresa looked on with horror.

Samantha had trouble breathing.  She tried hitting him, but all he did was laugh.

His face was inches from hers.  She could smell his bad breath.

Then he said with a leer on his face, “Once I’m finished with you, I will do the same to your beloved sister.”

She peered into his dark hellish eyes.  She could feel her body weaken.  Her throat felt like it was being crushed.

Suddenly his eyes widened, and a scream came from his mouth.

She was dropped and hit the floor hard.  Out of confusion she swung her arms about.  When she finally had enough courage to open her eyes, she saw her mum and dad standing over her.  Her dad held a baseball bat.

He bent down, tears flooding his eyes, “My god, I am so sorry.”

Samantha after a while finally said, “ I didn’t think you would be back for hours.”

“We tried the landline, and something wasn’t right.  So your mum being mum, we decided to come home to check that everything was all right.”

“And I’m so happy you did,” she replied.

In the distance police sirens could be heard.

                                                                   The End

Reviews

[Marie]

A scary story for Halloween.You made the terror of those two little girls seem real. It's too bad about the baby sittler, but at least they were saved.
Here are a few suggestions:

Finally she now felt safe.(Awkward sentence; try "Finally she felt safe."

Your gardens quite big.”(Your garden's quite big)
Teresa looked on with horror expressed on her young face.(Awkward sentence. Try "Teresa looked on with horror."
Her dad held a baseball ball.(Don't you mean "baseball bat"?)

[steve]

Baseball ball, god I'm an idiot, didn't even realise. Thanks, Marie. Brilliant suggestions as always.

[Marie]

That's why you post your stories here--to find mistakes.

[steve]

And to know better next time.