"Thanks again for staying the whole night with the boys" Mrs. Myers told me, as we both walked to the front door. "I know that they can be trouble sometimes, I'm sorry you had to deal with any of their antics"
"Hey, don't sweat it Mrs. M. And besides, I had a great time with them!" I reassured her. And it really was true, there weren't too many kids around their age that were into horror movies anymore, at least not as much as I had.
"I guess you do have a lot in common…I'm surprised you managed to put them in bed after the movie you told me". Earlier, I had texted Mrs. Myers about them wanting to stay up past nine o' clock to watch this new horror film "The Curse" on TV. She said it was my call, and…I hadn't really seen the movie when it came out in theaters so…
After watching it though…I was more surprised that her kids weren't put to sleep by the ending. "It's probably because the last part wasn't so great. It kinda ruined the whole thing"
Mrs. Myers let out a laugh. "Really? How did it end anyway?"
"Just the old 'You thought it was a happy ending but it's not' trick again. Then Ghost-Granny pops up and goes all 'RAARGH!' at the screen. It was really dumb…"
"Ah, I see, hehe. Might have to check that out for myself next time" she said, opening the front door.
"Prepare to be disappointed then…" me, Jason and Freddie sure as hell were when we saw it…
"Are you sure you don't need a lift home? We can wait for Michael to get home with the van. He should be here any minute now" she offered me. Though the night was cold and dark, I didn't really want to bother them with that.
"Nah, it's cool. My apartment's just a few blocks away anyway, I can just walk from here"
I stepped outside and onto the porch steps, seeing the faded letters of the Welcome-mat they had out front before getting down to the lawn. "It's a little late…not gonna lie, the night can attract some pretty shady people in these neighborhoods" she remarked, which I knew, but haven't paid much attention to. Kinda…kinda reckless of me really.
It doesn't help that this particular neighborhood was famous for…the numerous abandoned houses. About fifteen to twenty different homes were left to rot on this one side of the area. It was supposed to be bulldozed about a year ago, and yet there they remained. Completely barren and devoid of human activity. Or…so they would seem…
A part of me always feared that this careless way of thinking may lead to some…unfortunate events. But still, I said "It's alright, I'm used to walking alone these days" at least, I'd like to think I was.
She still looked troubled at my situation, but soon gave way. "Okay then… But be careful, there's not a lot of babysitters like you around these parts anymore"
It was super flattering to hear that, and somehow…a little morbid to think about too. "Wow, that's…thanks Mrs. M, I really appreciate it"
"I mean it, this neighborhood won't survive without you. You be careful out there!"
"I will, and don't worry! If anything happens, I do have a friend living nearby. I'll stay at their place for the night if I need to" I said before heading off.
"Thanks again! And get home safe Dina!" Mrs. Myers said as I made my way to the sidewalk. With my name being pronounced as Day-na instead of Dee-na…again.
Shrugged it off and gave her a wave before getting back on track; most people couldn't get that right, no matter how many times I told them. I didn't mind, I had long since gotten used to not hearing what my mother originally called me.
Despite my name being a little…mispronounced, I had gotten a bit of fame around the residence. Looking after the Myers kids was officially my 52nd job as a babysitter. Ever since I got the service ads up, my days weren't just me sitting around in my room all day anymore. Nope, now I had to keep watch of other people's sons or daughters while sitting around in someone else's home. And lucky for me, every family I worked with was super nice! I always felt bad whenever they would convince me to stay for dinner--felt even worse when I declined staying for dinner in the Lee Ray family; the father, Charles, was apparently an ex-cooking show host…
Other than a case of somewhat projectile-vomiting from the MacNeil family, I haven't had too much trouble with any of the children I babysitted either. Not yet anyway.
And like in any horror story, saying that would practically be the same as saying "What could possibly go wrong?" and no good has ever spawned from that one question…
And speaking of films meant to spook, I still couldn't get my mind off of the final scenes from the movie. I guess it wasn't just how bad it was that irked me, it was just…too cruel, even for a film like that. The son coming to visit his dad, only to find that he had hung himself over the haunting they experienced five years ago… And then ghost-granny shouting "RAAARGH!!" in front of the screen.
And suddenly…credits. No other resolution, no other scene that shows us what happened next, it just ends… I absolutely hated how a lot of horror flicks ended like that these days! Bad enough that they think having a freaky face popping up in the end would get us, but they always had to make the perfectly good and satisfying ending into something more sinister. Something that could warrant-in an unnecessary sequel.
My expectations of this were actually pretty high. Especially with the film's writer and producer being the same guy who did the "Grind" series. I guess even he couldn't save that film.
Goes to show how expectations can really mislead you. How disappointing…
A long yawn escaped my lips. I took a look at my watch, it was past midnight already. "Man, I really should get a car…" and a license for that matter, as well as a bigger and better apartment space. But I was getting there at least.
I took a right turn on the curb and headed for…
The street with empty houses…
At first glance, you'd think each house was there for sale or something. But when you look reeeaal close, you'll see just how abandoned they really were.
From the broken windows and doors, to the excessive rot and vegetation growing everywhere around the walls, it was obvious that these houses weren't going to be used anytime soon.
Normally, I would've just zoomed on by without ever feeling the need to stop. But on that particular night…
You could practically compare me to a frozen pole in the middle of the sidewalk. The Curse may have been a total snore to sit through, but it did leave an eerie atmosphere in the air. One that made me feel like there was always someone--or something--behind my back, lurking and waiting for the right time to strike…
For a while, I was glued to one spot. Standing next to the fence line of an old dilapidated household, doing absolutely nothing. I only kept staring at the path that I should've been taking, and occasionally glanced at the crumbling structure to my left.
The first house already looked like the remnants of a ransacked home from a zombie invasion. From where I was standing, I could see a wide gaping hole where I assumed a window used to be. Debris of cement and broken glass lying still on the grass of the lawn. I didn't bother trying to guess what caused it to look like that.
Minutes passed before I mustered up the courage to move again. Which soon turned into a slow jog as I turned the corner, my own imagination betraying me every time I passed another house.
I was about to make my way down the next street,
CLANG!!!
As if on cue, trash cans and boxes were sprawled out from a thick line of shrubbery and onto the sidewalk. I jumped back, shaking from shock. The bushes started to rustle in quick succession, followed by a low and ominous growling with loud and angry hissing…
I wanted to move, I Had to run! Yet I kept standing there, paralyzed by the anxiety and paranoia set in by the unknown creature that was hiding.
Sweat went down the side of my cheek and I felt my entire body trembling. Whatever was in those bundles of leaves, it wasn't gonna stay there for long.
Without any warning…
Something big shot out from the bushes!
I stifled a yelp and immediately ducked down, praying that the monster didn't have any long arms to snatch me up as it flew with its large wings across the night sky to devour me once it made back to its nest…
After a long moment of silence…I soon realized nothing was happening.
Lifting my head back up…I could clearly see that the monster didn't even have any wings. Nor was it a monster at all. It was…a cat, a really big one at that.
After regaining his footing, he turned to look at me, green eyes flashing under the light of the street lamp. And then he just…ran.
Before I could react, another fairly large feline ran out from the same bushes and chased after it. The same type of growls and hisses from earlier could be heard while they chased each other out of view.
I stood there, wide-eyed and mouth agape. In my mind, I tried to process everything that had just happened. And then…I started to laugh.
My own manic cackling filled the empty streets for several seconds. Up until now, I knew my sanity was far from broken. After that though, I wasn't too sure anymore. And it was all because of a pair of cats…to my defense, both of them had voices that were waaaay deeper than the kitties I've come across in my life. Strangely reminded me of a tuba.
"I-I really need to get home…" my laughter came to a close and I finally continued walking. Already, I knew this was going to be a story I'd be telling my friends with over some coffee. Or maybe something with alcohol. Presenting! The scaredy-cat Dina! Being frightened by two not-so-scary cats!! Sounds like the headline of an old and corny occult magazine if you ask me.
I passed by two familiar streets that actually had houses with people in them. Some being the homes of the previous kids I looked after.
Most of the residents had turned in for the night, but I did see a few lights lit up on the top windows. I'd say that every one of them was too much of a night-owl for their own good, but…I used to stay up really late myself back in my college years…on some boring nights, I still do. Who was I to judge?
Even though it was already past 1am in the morning, there were still hints of human activity inside the homes around me. A lot more cars moving by too, reminding me that despite the fact that I was walking down the dark and quiet paths of suburbia, I wasn't totally alone…but with a safer kind of context.
It didn't take long before I passed another street that had nothing but empty and run-down homes. But after that cat-chase-cat fiasco, I felt a little more silly than scared.
Looking at them still gave me the creeps, I mean, there was still that possibility of me getting a bear-trap stuck on my head like in the Grind movies. But I didn't feel too agitated, knowing that it wouldn't be that long before I'd reach my apartment, my room, and my bed. My comfy, comfy bed.
And somehow…looking at them gave me a wave of nostalgia.
Most of my childhood was spent in neighborhoods like that one, a clump of different houses that looked a little old-fashioned in structure and design with lively people running around in it. The families weren't as friendly as the ones I've met now, I have to admit; odd how most of the dads (including mine) had a competitive edge when it came to barbecuing.
Still, had a lot of fond memories growing up. Playing around with my friends with all sorts of games and make-believe stories. I remember being a warrior-princess that kicked major butt back then, saving my fellow royal-blooded fighters from evil monsters that were sometimes made from gardening tools and boxes. Everything felt so magical during those moments…
With that in mind…it felt wrong seeing the houses like that. It didn't look like they were going to be used again anytime soon. Though beneficial to my situation, it was surprising how there wasn't anyone rummaging around or sleeping in them. Even the homeless seemed to have forgotten these homes.
I asked how the neighborhood had half of their lots became so devoid of people. And from what I could piece together, it apparently became some sort of a land-grabbing competition.
The homeowners versus a local corporation I could never remember the name of. Unfortunately, the people who used to own these lots had lost, and now this company owned about half the land these homes stood on.
To this day, they still promise the idea of building something on these lots; two different public pools being the most advertised. Which sounded nice…if they actually built it.
Five years passed, none of the houses were demolished or destroyed in place of a pool or whatever. What's worse, is that I heard that there's been a few instances of the same company trying to resell the houses individually for an unreasonably high price to other real-estate agencies. Pretty big coincidence, if you ask me. Wasn't even sure how something like that was still legal…
Makes you wonder, why did they do it? Was it the money? Did they really need to go out of their way just to fill in their bank accounts? Amazing how some people can be so blinded by their need of cash…
I let out a long and tired sigh. "Big talk coming from you Dina…" I said to myself, realizing that I wasn't necessarily the right type of person to talk crap like that about people tending to their finances…
Babysitting's not really a job that could give me a five-star hotel room. Could barely keep the room that I had now, and I couldn't really say that I've been at my healthiest physical state while doing this either (Getting home at those late hours past midnight was enough proof of that). I was more than aware that I needed a new job, and yet…
Somehow, I never found the courage to find one. It wasn't because I didn't want to--in fact, I had set my eyes on working at a café once when I first moved in--it was just…I couldn't really find the right reason to give it all up.
Despite eating mostly cup-noodles every night for dinner and still receiving to occasional allowance from my parents, I couldn't do it. Maybe it was because of fear of my fame with families dying down that will shatter my ego, maybe it was because I didn't like the idea of switching to a job that needed even more effort, or maybe I was just too lazy to look for one. Maybe it was all of that, but somehow, I couldn't seem to let this gig go.
I stood there for a while, in complete silence, gazing up at the old two-storey household. It was mind-boggling how time could move so quickly…and how much change we all go through as it does…
"Man, I really need to get some sleep…" I mumbled.
This probably was one of the weirdest nights I ever had…
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