<the.odd.couple>
"Nick, no buts about it young man. We know you can take good care of your sisters and brother, but not for a year, mom's treatment lasts 11 months. So we want you to stay with Aunt Helen." Nick's father argued.
"But dad, I want to stay in Florida." Nick complained.
"Oh come on Nick, live a little." BJ smiled standing in front of two matching suitcases. "Paris is great." She laughed and rolled them to the car.
Nick sighed. "All right. I'll go." He mumbled. A smile perked on his face slightly. He remembered his best friend over in Paris; his Aunts next door neighbor. Sky Adams, she wasn't French or English, just all around American. He remembered when he'd visit Aunt Helen in the frequent summer. He and Sky would roam his aunt's castle like home, looking for secret passageways, and ghosts.
"Come on Nick lets go! We might miss our plane!" Aaron yelled from the large van window.
Nick picked up his suitcase and threw it in the back. He took one last look at the Florida cast before climbing in the van behind the private tinted windows.
The flight didn't seem like a 12-hour flight. Of course Nick was too busy eating, so he couldn't pay attention. As he climbed of the plane, he knew jet lag would soon follow the five children.
As they entered the airport, Aunt Helen and their Cousin Samantha instantly greeted them. Samantha was a little bit older than Nick; She was 24 years old. He hugged her and felt the tips of her brown hair tickle his neck. She had eyes that looked as cool and blue as an ice cube. They were also as solid as a rock. Aunt Helen was plump and old. She had stringy gray hair that was pulled into a loose ponytail. A pair of faded jeans and a flannel shirt of Nick's late Uncle Frank.
"Look how big you've all gotten!" She cried pinching Aaron and Angel's cheeks. She hurried them out of the airport and promptly into a chauffeured limousine.
In the back of the limousine Nick was quiet. Not knowing how to act around the Aunt and Cousin he hadn't seen since he was ten years old.
"Samantha are you involved with anyone, or doing anything job wise?" BJ asked, desperately trying to break the silence.
"No, I don't have a relationship but I work in a hospital. And I still live with mama helping her and all." Her tone was steady and quick. Nick could feel the icy blow of her cold-hearted ness. What happened to Sammy, the girl that wanted to be the queen of dairy queen and wanted to move to Kentucky? Had all her dreams washed away when Nick's Uncle Frank died?
Nick wondered about the answers but didn't once bring them up. It was quiet the rest of the trip home.
As Nick followed his Aunt inside the house a smell drifted to him. The smell was foul, and resembled that of rotting eggs. But some of it smelled like death. He remembered what that smelled like. When he was small he waited with an old man, as the man began to die. You can just smell as death creeps up on you. A shiver ran down his spine.
"Aunt Helen, do you smell that?" He asked with a groan.
Aunt Helen's eyes grew wide, as in fear, but then returned normal as she smiled at him, "Yes dear I was cooking this morning for your arrival and my Swedish recipe didn't go quite well."
Nick nodded. "Oh okay" He replied turning a full circle to look around.
"Come on I'll show you all to your rooms." Samantha walked briskly and poised as she showed Nick to his bedroom, the twins to theirs and BJ and Leslie their room.
Each of their bedrooms had a door or two between them, which were apparently locked. Nick stepped out of his room and to the door beside it. He put his hand on the knob and tried to pull and push, but nothing happened. He tried again.
"Stop it! That room is off limits, so are all the others locked." Samantha scolded coming from around a corner.
"Oh sorry, I didn't know." Nick said strangely.
"Well know you do." Her British accent was lost and sounded strangled, like she was straining to push it from her throat.
Nick took his hand off the knob, something stick was attached to his hand. He looked down and the red substance. It was about day old blood. A lot of it. Now that he examined the knob closely he could see it more clearly, almost dry in mid drip. What could possibly be behind the door that Samantha and Aunt Helen want so badly to keep to them selves?
"I thought Samantha warned you that this door or any of the others was none of your concern." A firm harsh voice commanded.
Nick turned around to face the voice. "Yes ma'am" He gulped.
"Good, this is your last warning. Stay away from them." His Aunt smiled a short smile and left him in the hallway.
He let his breath out and stared at the doorway, the red stuff was probably just paint. He thought as he walked back into his room.
As soon as he closed the door a muffled screaming echoed in the hallway. Loud enough for someone standing out there to hear but not loud enough for help to come. The screams echoed again, coming from behind the closed door.
.
.