Multiple Participation Story: The curse of Craft Haven

[jadewik]

"Confound that blasted grandson of hers," Nestor Williams grumbled as he slipped on his loafers and put on a light jacket. Nestor had been sitting in his armchair beside the window birdwatching. (At least that's what he'd always say he was doing even though there were no birds out at night-- especially a blustery night like this one-- but that's what he did with his spare time.)

Nestor hated children. He hated noise. Most of all he hated children making noise. Danny Schnider was usually a quiet kid, but there were times when Nestor was forced to go next door to remind him to keep it down. Forced, he'd say, because no one else would say that kid was a bother. Tonight he'd heard the little snot screaming. Over the wind too! It was as if the kid were yelling through a megaphone.

As he stepped outside, a cold chill ran through his old bones and Nestor rubbed his hands together to warm them. He muttered some more choice words about "Mrs. Schnider's grandson making a racket" and him "having to keep the peace in this town" as he slowly lumbered his way across the street. As he walked, he couldn't help but think about Mrs. Schnider. She always seemed so calm and happy. Come to think of it, most of the times he'd gone across the street to yell at Danny, he never got the chance because as soon as she'd opened the door he calmed down and couldn't quite remember why he'd gone over there. Mrs. Schnider was always pleasant about it, though. And they'd make small-talk before he'd head back across the street to his house. He was determined that wouldn't happen tonight.

The light above the Schnider's porch flickered as he approached the front door. Resigning himself to stay grumpy this time, Nestor took a moment to focus before raising his arm to bang his fist against the door.

[Nostalgiascape]

The demonic entity that lurked outside of Elizabeth's house noticed and angry man walking over from next door. She let out a low bassey cackle that passed for a laugh. And then in her foul voice she spoke aloud but low enough that she could not be heard.

"I have found a way to bring the boy out. Elizabeth will mourn in anguish tonight before she is killed."

Nester walked up to the door and began to knock when something that felt like a bundle of long and sharp carpenter nails stabbed him in the back. He tried to scream but he could not make a noise. And then suddenly he felt as if he were trapped inside himself but unable to control himself. Something had reached inside of him and was controlling him like a puppet. But earlier he had seen nothing anywhere around. Was whatever stabbed him invisible? What was going on? Then Nester watched as his body knocked three times on the door. He could see Danny look through the window. Then something spoke through him.

"Danny, come on out here please I want to speak with you just for a little while." His voice spoke without any volunteering on his behalf.

[DemonSlayerMau]

Danny was only a kid, feeling scared and alone. And now he heard this man's voice outside. It sounded a lot like old man Nester next store.
But Danny was no fool, and there was something odd about his tone of voice. His wise gammy had warned him not to go outside the house for any circumstance.

It must be a trick Danny thought as he clenched his baseball bat and stood there in the middle of the living room looking out the small window where he could just see the top of Nester's balding head.

"No way. I'm not coming out!" Danny shouted at the top of his lungs.

"C'mon Danny..." The possessed Nester insisted.

"No! I won't let you!" He was shaking now as he heard Nester fumble at the door knob, but Gammy had left the door locked before she went. He noticed that there was someone else's voice talking through Nester as well, as if two voices has synchronized as one.

"Hahahahaha." The laugh almost sounded forced. "Come now Danny...I won't hurt you...hehehehehe."

Out of Character:

I wonder if Danny would know about Gammy's involvement with the witch's circle or if he'd have any powers of his own?

[Pumpkin_Man]

"Johnithin Collins" deputy Hamilton thought to himself again. It was almost 15 years ago to date. The horror of that night cam rushing back like a tidal wave. It was a chilly, rainy night just like this one. Numerous reports came in about a woman screaming hystericly at the morturary. Odd lights could be seen flashing as the deranged docrot first tortured his wife and then started to disect her piece by piece. Deputy hamily had only been on the force 6 months before he answered the call. When he arrived, he could hear the madening screaming of agony and the metalic whine of various medical power tools cutting into flesh and bone, but the most unforgettable thing was the laughter. It was loud, unatural, otherworldly laughter. Laughter straight fromt he pits of hell istelf. Laughter that would haunt Deputy's nightmares for years to come. He didn't bother knocking on the door which was customery. He burst in, gun drawn. Following the whalings of hell, he found Docrot Collins, laughing and stained with his wife's blood. Both of her legs were completely cut off, and her rib cage was folded open like the lid on a soup can. You could see the heart beating. The woman was in horrid pain. As deputy hamilton stepped into the room, the doctor jerked around and stared at him. It was a cold, evil stare. He had a saw in his hand. "Drop it!!" ordered the deputy. "Drop it, or I'll shoot!" Deputy hamilton pointed his piece accordingly. The laughter started up again. Deputy slowly inched his way towards the mad man, until he knew he was close enough. When he got to where he needed to be, he delivered a well placed kick to the doctors hand, knocking the instrument from his hands. the doctor just stood there and laughed. "Put yoru hands on your head and turn around" Ordered the deputy again. The doctor complied, but kept laughing. Deputy Hamilton holstered his weapon and cuffed his prisoner to be carted off to jail. He then radioed for an ambulance for the woman, but it was to no avail. Andrea Collins died before the ambulance could arrive.

Dr Johnithin Collins was the County Corener before what ever snappened in him possessed him to do what he did. After his arrest, nobody wanted anything to do with that building. The new Coroner couldn't work there, so the building was closed up after a new mortuary was built. The county tried to sell the building, but nobody was interested. So there it sat, abandoned and decaying. There was talk of tearing it down and putting in a public parking lot, but presently, the old building looms there, forbodingly, a hang-out for the curious, ghost hunters and local teenagers looking for a spooky thrill. Many have claimed to hear the screams of Adrea Collins final agonies. Others have seen orbs and other ghostly apperitions. Most of the local school children didn't even like to walk by the old mortuary for fear that the "Mad Doctor" would come out, drag them into his laboratory and discet them. Many stories grew up around that old mortuary, some true some not, but that old mortuary was a prime source of them never the less. At Halloween, it's one of the Craft Haven's formost "attractive nuisances."

The trial was very short. Johnithin Collins was convicted and sentenced to death by electrocution. Then it dawned on the deputy. Johnithin Collins appeals had run their corus. The execution was slated to be carried out just three days from now. "That &%#&&% should die the same way his wife died" Deputy Hamilton thought.

Mike

[Nostalgiascape]

I wonder if Danny would know about Gammy's involvement with the witch's circle or if he'd have any powers of his own?
--------------------

I don't think Danny knows about Gammy being a witch. But I would think he might have inherited supernatural abilities.


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Back to the story.

[Pumpkin_Man]

Deputy Hamilton took another glance around, but then decided to be on his way. The old mortuary gave him the creeps, and also depressed him. As he left the building, the rain was starting to let up. It was still cold and damp, however, and there was something about that night in Craft Haven that just wasn't right.