Awaken

Chapter 1

If you ask anyone in Banks Creek, Arkansas, The Duvall Mansion, is haunted. Lily Duvall took a shotgun and murdered her entire family. The townsfolk say that she was possessed by a demon. Some believe that her father was abusing her. Her mother sat on the side and let it happen. The stories vary over the years. The house has been vacant for years. Kids ride their bikes by the house and stare. They hope the ghosts of the past become present. The town has put the horror behind them. That is except when the whispers begin at night. Or when the tales are told at bedtime. The town waits in secret to see if the ghosts of the past will come alive again.

“Anthony, you will get the Lexus and your half of the stock portfolio. No alimony will be paid. All other assets will be split down the middle. As for the house in Oceanside, Long Island, that will be given to Penelope Garcia. Are we all in agreeance?”, the mediator says to both parties.

“I have a question.”, Anthony says with a look on annoyance on his face.

The mediator nods and gives Anthony the floor to speak.

“I bought the house with cash, and it is in my name. Why does she get to keep it? If anything, the house needs to be sold and I would be willing to split the money in half. I think that’s fair.”, he says.

“You’re so fucking greedy. I decorated that house. I made it a home while you were on business trips and God knows what else. That house is more mine than yours.”, Penelope says in anger.

“Greedy? Are you serious? You are trying to take a house that is not yours. My career paid for your maintenance. Hell, my career paid for your “girl trips” where you were fucking cabana boys. If you want a house, you can buy one with the money I give you from the sale. You can’t have that house.”, Anthony says with a smile.

The mediator looks at both Anthony and Penelope and then at their lawyers. Penelope sighs and rolls her eyes.

“Sell the fucking house. I want my money as soon as it’s sold. Send all paperwork to my lawyer once it’s done so he can verify you didn’t try to stiff me.”, she says.

Anthony laughs and says, “Trust me, I don’t want to see your fucking face again. You will get your share and then I never have to look at you again. Thank God we didn’t have children.”

When the meeting is over and paperwork is signed, he sighs in relief. Knowing that the paperwork must be filed and will take a few weeks, he gets started on the listing for his house. Anthony takes a trip to Oceanside and begins taking photos of his house. He works with a realtor to get the house sold. In less than five weeks, he receives a cash offer and accepts it. When he wires the money and sends the paperwork to his ex-wife’s lawyer, his mind relaxes.

His phone rings and Penelope’s name pops up on the caller ID. Anthony sits in his Manhattan apartment and looks out the window. He answers the call and sounds annoyed.

“What do you want Penelope?”, he says in an annoyed voice.

“I want to thank you for your end of the bargain. Now you don’t have to worry about alimony. We are square.”, Penelope says with a cold tone.

“Penelope, I am going to say this last thing…”, Anthony says before being cut off by Penelope.

“What are you going to say. Remember, the papers are still processing, and I can take back what I want.”, she says.

Anthony laughs and shakes his head. “You are a bitch. You are miserable. Your lovers have left, and you are alone. Making me miserable is only going to keep me in your life longer. But I think that’s what you want. Move on. You hurt me. You fucked different men during our marriage. I provided while you stayed home. You could have easily worked. I will be leaving New York soon. Once I decide my destination, you will no longer have contact with me. By tomorrow, my number will change. Have a nice life, you miserable bitch.”, Anthony says and then hangs up the phone.

He paces around the living room and then heads to his office to do some research. Right away he goes on his cellular provider’s website and changes his number. He then orders a new phone.

“New beginnings and no more headaches.”, he says to himself out loud.

He finds himself going on Zillow. He types in different states. Arkansas has many lots open. The thought of having to wait a long time to build makes him uneasy. He moves over to the open home listings. Across the screen he reads a listing that makes him uneasy but in awe at the same time.

“The Duvall Mansion was built in 1882. The family who lived in the mansion were one of the founding families to live in Banks Creek, Arkansas. The house has been empty for a hundred years. The house is rumored to be haunted. Full disclosure. None of the daughters who lived in the house, killed the entire family. If you are not spooked by ghost stories, this mansion is priced at a great rate. There is no historical permit on the property so you can build and renovate as you see fit with the proper permits from the city. Cash Offers being accepted.”

Anthony laughs and says to himself, “Just what I need. Do I want to renovate a murder house?”, he says amusingly.

The price catches his eyes, and he almost falls off his chair. Between the money he made selling the house and his other investments, he would be paying pennies for the house. The fact that he probably wouldn’t have to touch his investments, makes him want the mansion more.

“Here goes nothing.”, he says as he presses the button to make an offer.