The First Night - I
A strikingly beautiful blonde woman entered the office hurriedly, while trying to ignore others’ eyes. She walked up to her desk and plumped down her bag and melted into her chair.
“You have a knack for coming late, eh Jenny?” A voice spoke up from behind her. She froze and turned around. She breathed a sigh of relief.
“God, Mack, you almost made me fucking faint.” Jenny said, putting her hand on her chest. Mack chuckled and sat back on his chair, which was behind Jenny’s desk.
“So, I heard you were moving to a new place?” Mack asked.
“Yuuppp. It’s a bit outside the city, nearby the lake, a quiet forest and a beautiful house.” She said as she reached into her bag and removed some files and documents.
“What happened to the old one?” Mack asked, swivelling on his chair.
Jenny sighed.
“It wasn’t my house, Mack. I lived on rent, it was loud and really cramped up. I saw a weird poster right outside my apartment, showing the details of the house and stuff and I went there. And after a few days, I bought the house.”
Mack whistled.
“How come no one else noticed the poster?” Mack asked.
“No idea. Wait, hold on, I took a pic of it this morning.” Jennifer said and brought her phone out. She scrolled to the photo and tapped on it.
It was an empty wall.
Jennifer frowned.
“What happened?” Mack asked.
Jennifer scrolled around a bit more and turned off her phone, pocketing it back again.
“Looks like I may have taken a picture of something else. I can’t find it, sorry.” She said, smiling.
“Oh, it’s alright. Let’s get started on our work now, eh? We have a meeting at 4, the higher-ups are arriving.” Mack chuckled, raising his hands towards the ceiling and turned back his focus to his computer.
Jennifer joined along, grinning and turned her focus back as well. She was late already, and she didn’t want to hear the boss’ voice which she found incredibly irritating for some reason.
The empty wall still remained in her mind. She was sure she took the picture of the poster. She switched on her phone again and scrolled down all the photos. She stopped for a second, her eyes widening.
She opened the latest photo which she had taken earlier this morning.
The empty wall now had a poster on it.
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[Jennifer = Jenny]
[I found it easier to type Jenny than Jennifer]
Jenny walked out of the office and breathed in the fresh air. She smiled widely. She had just got a call from the movers that all her things had been moved to the new house.
She couldn’t believe it herself. She had finally purchased a house by herself, and it was goddamn gorgeous one as well.
She quickly booked a taxi and hopped in. Finally after twenty minutes, the taxi stopped. Jenny was on her phone when the driver called out.
“Ma’am we have reached. Now please pay.”
Jenny looked out of the window and frowned. Her house was still a bit further from where they were.
“Um, we aren’t there, actually. My house is a bit further.”
The taxi driver adjusted his passenger-side mirror so he could see her.
“My taxi won’t go further. This is the furthest it can go from here. It will be four dollars.”
She looked at him and knew that he was telling the truth. Not that the taxi couldn’t go further. It was because he didn’t want to go further. She got out of the taxi and paid him. She figured it was better walking to her home anyways.
She walked ahead for a few seconds then turned back. The taxi had already disappeared. No engine sound. No tire rubbing on the road. Just gone. Confused, she walked ahead , not many people walked around, but whoever did, were walking in the opposite direction from her.
It almost felt like she was the one walking the wrong direction.
“Miss, do you live in the house down the street?” An old voice said from behind her.
Jenny turned around and noticed an old man sitting on a bench, wearing a hat and gloves gripping a stick. The old man had a scraggly white beard, and his eyes were pure black. There was no shine in them. Almost as if it were a pair of blackholes staring at her. The old man had a reassuring but unsettling smile, although she didn't know how that was even possible.
But how come she hadn't noticed the bench when she was walking by?
"I am sorry, I do not know who you are." She smiled, confused.
The old man laughed loudly, slapping his thighs. Even the laugh was unsettling, almost as if he was trying to act.
"Oh, I am sorry, miss. I am quite forgetful. You can call me... Whitaker Mann. And you are?" He asked, smiling.
"My name is Jennifer Morgan. How did you come to know about the house? Do you live there?" She asked, smiling back.
"Precisely." He said, grinning, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
Jenny waited for an elaborate answer, but the old man just stared into her eyes, smiling.
"Well, I will be leaving now, Mr. Mann. Have a good day." She said finally and walked ahead, glad she could be away from the old man.
"Miss." She heard the annoying voice again. She sighed and closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. She then turned around with a smile.
"Yes?" Jenny asked, struggling to keep the smile.
The old man stared at her for a few moments, his smile long gone and said slowly.
"You better keep watch outside your window. This area is known for a lot of thefts.... and some other stuff along with it." He smiled.
She stared at the man for a few seconds and turned around, walking towards her new home.
"Those who sin, must die." The old man whispered to himself and stood up as well. He rubbed his hands and grabbed his stick, which was on the bench and walked away.
