Jensen House (Open to one woman)

The evening was gray and drizzly as it settled over the old Jensen Manor House. The family's line had ended with the mysterious disappearance of its only remaining member, Dean Jensen.

Dean was the family's young eccentric who had inherited both the family and its fortune. He spent most of his time in the manor's upper rooms studying the family's private collection of rare and valuable books, among which were rumored to be Abdul Alhazred’s Necronomicon.

It was six fifty six when real estate agent Edward Edland heard a car pull in through the estate's lichen and moss covered front gates. He opened the front doors and muttered to himself. “Thank Christ, the last showing for the day. About bloody time, much longer in this bloody place and I am sure to go mad… Of boredom, to be sure.”

Angelique thanked God after she pulled into the long dark driveway. She was late, after spending the last forty- five minutes driving around the country side being lost and alone. Not that she was from around here or could follow directions but she was quite relieved that she had found the place.

Even if it was rather spooky...

The huge house was impressive though in spite of being in the middle of nowhere. Angelique parked, suddenly wishing she had brought her boyfriend with her, but gathered her courage. Once she exited her vehical she adjusted her skirt and carefully stepped onto the spacious ivy covered front porch.

It was like stepping back a hundred years or so into the distant past on an old southern plantation. Her black high heels sounded on the old wooden boards of the porch. Angel took a deep breath and knocked...

"Come in, come in please, you must be Angelique! I'm Edward Edland, we talked on the phone. Allow me to show you around!" Edward said in an overly excited 'Robin Leach' sort of way as he opened the door for Angelique.

For a moment as she approached the doors, Angelique thought she saw a shadowy figure looking down upon her from a window on the second floor.

Edward ushered her in and took her coat.

"This is the main hall. The stairs just ahead lead to the second, where the master bedroom with adjacent full bath, and several more guest rooms are located, two half baths to go between them. And the third floor, which contain the billiard room, a guests library with an anti-chamber, and a private library. To the right is the kitchen, dinning room, a half bath, as well as several spare rooms. To the left is the main living room, the den, and a full bathroom. There IS an attic AND a basement with access trough the kitchen and cloak room to the basement and through the private library to the attic." Edward went on in that same, progressively annoying Robin Leach sort of manner he started in with.

Angelique followed Mr. Edland into the large home. He seemed in a hurry, even his words were rushed. She was impressed by the home however. It was huge. She loved the marble floors, antique furniture and the polished wood trim on the staircase and such, from what she could see.

Suddenly she felt as if someone or something was watching her...

Patiently, Angelique waited until Mr. Edland finished before asking any questions.

"So, what would you like to see, miss?" Edland asked after a pause. "Of course, as you know, all furnishings are as the previous owner, Mr. Jensen left them, and will be yours to do with if indeed you buy the house."

" So what would you like to see , miss ? Of course,as you know, all furnishings are as the previous owner, Mr. Jenson left them and will be yours to do with if you indeed to buy the house. "

Angelique smiled, looking about, not knowing where to begin. " If I did decide to buy the place I would insist that it is sold as it is. "

Mr. Edland nodded.

" Well, where shall we begin ? How about the master bedroom, I do hope it has a fireplace. " Angelique had always wanted one...

"certainly, right this way miss." Edland said as he turned and started up the stairs. As they reached the first landing, Angelique noticed a statue carved out of black marble. It was of a woman in the nude, with her back to the stairs, the curve of her spine in an odd contortion, as though she were pitched forward. As they passed noticed two last things about it. One, its hands seemed to be reaching out for help, and two, it had eerilly familiar facial features, although its face was hidiously contorted with fear.

Angelique was shocked when she saw the marle statue. It looks just like me, she thought, with a mixture of awe and fear...

She stopped and stared for a moment. All of a sudden Angelique wanted to flee to her car and drive away to the safety of her boyfriends arms. Surely I am being silly

Nevertheless unsettled Angelique followed Mr. Edland into the bedroom. The first thing she noticed was the large bed, draped with white guaze, tied at the corners. Pleased she looked towards the fireplace and that is when she noticed the painting hanging above the mantle...

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z71/john525_231/yogsothoth.jpg

The painting loomed, panoramic, over the fire place.

In the lower right corner, a signature that read O. Jensen could be seen, painted on with precise strokes, in a thick red pigment.

" It is rather disturbing, isn't it ? " Angelique whispered. She stared at the painting for a few more seconds then quickly turned away. How out of place for the master bedroom. That is one thing that has to go if I am to live here, she said to herself.

Walking closer towards the bed she was startled by her reflection in the massive mirror that took up almost an entire wall. " Oh my..." she gasped. At first she thought their was another person in the bedroom with them.

Angelique hugged her own shoulders, feeling a chill in the air...

"What was that Miss?... AH!" Edland began, slowly shifting his eyes away from the painting as though he were leary to turn his back on it, only to come face to face with his image in the mirror. He threw his hands up to catch the hat he had been wearing, which quite litterally popped off the top of his head.

He took a step back, bracing himself against the bed frame with one hand, and holding his hat over his heart with the other while he endeavored to catch his breath. He looked over at Angelique, his brow coated in a cold sweat, his lips turned into a nervous smile. "You must forgive me, I think I drank a bit too much caffine this morning... Shall I show you the library? It seems to be what most buyers are primarilly interested in..."

" Shall I show you the library ? It seems to be what the buyers are most interested in. " Mr Edland asked rather nervously.

Anxious to leave the room she nodded. Hopefully the library would be more cheery. She followed him down the hall into a large room which contained hundreds of books on the wooden shelves. Angelique loved to read, she could easily spend hours curled up with a good book. She preferred fiction, mysteries mostly with a little romance sprinked in.

She wandered along scanning the titles...

The library was lit predominantly by a hanging gaslight chandelier, shedding enough light to reach the bookshelf lined walls, leaving the far corners cloaked in shadow.

The wall furthest from the library's entrance featured a circular window whose glass exuded a peculiar milky quality.

Beneath, facing toward it as though it did not trust the outer world, was a recliner upholstered in deep red velvet.

The recliner sat upon a finely crafted Persian rug, rich with archaic details, as though it told some incomprehensible story all its own.

Next to the recliner was a small end table on which lay a thick, leather bound book and an ashtray with an antique smoking pipe lay on its side.

Angelique thought she saw a single wisp of smoke rise from the pipe before she began to peruse the library.

As Angelique examined the titles, a hand full caught her attention.

Azathoth (June 1922)

Beyond the Wall of Sleep (1919)

Celephaïs (early November 1920)

Dagon (July 1917)

The Evil Clergyman (October 1933)

Ex Oblivione (1920/21)

The Ghost-Eater (with C. M. Eddy, Jr.; 1923)

History of the Necronomicon (1927)

Medusa’s Coil (with Zealia Bishop; May 1930)

The Other Gods (14 August 1921)

Out of the Aeons (with Hazel Heald; 1933)

The Shadow Over Innsmouth (3 December 1931)

The Shunned House (16-19 October 1924)

The Thing on the Doorstep (21-24 August 1933)

Under the Pyramids (with Harry Houdini; February-March 1924)

The Unnamable (September 1923)

The Whisperer in Darkness (24 February-26 September 1930)

Angelique couldn't help but notice that a number of the books were by the same author, Lovecraft.

"Unusual collection, but interesting." Angelique mused as she traced along the one that caught her attention the most The Thing on the Doorstep , it seemed she seen something by that title before somewhere.

She wandered back to the door and glanced along the wall. "What kind of paintings are these? I don't think I have seen so many actual paintings before.. expect in a musuem of course."

Still she could smell the lingering aroma of a pipe but shifted the thoughts as she asked about the other nessecities. "Now is the bathroom recent.. and what about the kitchen?"

"And all the furniture remains with the house?" It always helped to reaffirm the facts. Despite the oddities the house was a steal for the price mentioned.

Edland fumbled with a cigarette case as he looked up, making a grunting noise in response to Angeliques comment on the book collection. "Yeah, everyone so far as been very interested in the collection. I even caught one guy trying to make off with a volume."

"Oh, the paintings, they're all original works by the previous owner, at least thats what I was told."

She wandered back to the door and glanced along the wall. "What kind of paintings are these? I don't think I have seen so many actual paintings before.. expect in a musuem of course." Edland lit his cigarette and took a long draw as Angelique asked about the bathroom and kitchen. "Oh, they're better than an outhouse and a wood burning stove, if thats what you mean, but they're by no means modernized facilites. I know a guy though, if you would like to contract him on the cheap."

"Yup, the furnishings all come with the house, quite a steal really, I wouldn't be surprised if all the junk in here turned out to be worth more than the house itself. So, what do ya say, you interested?" Edland asked as he finished his cigarette, noticing it was already dark outside.

There was a strong concept, the furniture and other trinkets being worth more then she was expected to pay. Now if her boyfriend would think it is a good deal would be seen.

"You've got a deal.... I'll talk to the lender in the morning and we should have all the details and closing by Friday." Angelique smiled as she rubbed a finger along the wooden door frame. "I trust that you'll have the paperwork ready."

Edland began to cough on his last drag from his cigarette as Angelique said "You've got a deal." He waved her off as he beat on his chest to clear his lungs. "Sorry, sorry, I'll be okay, just give me a moment." He wheezed between hacking coughs. "Yes, I'll have the paper work ready by then. What do you say we get you of here, hey?" He asked in a raspy voice, his eagerness to leave very prevelant.

Five minutes later they were out at their cars, in the dark, a cloying mist rising up from the ground. Edland grinned nervously saying. "Lowlands, warm ground, cold air, it always does this..." He wondered who he was trying to convince, Angelique, or himself, as he strode briskly over to his old car. "Be seeing you." He called as he opened the door and slid in. He stuffed his key in the ignition and turned it... Nothing happened, not even the hopeful click of his alternator. He began to laugh in his drivers seat hoping that Angeliques car was okay. "Nice try ol cop." Edland muttered as he looked up at the house before getting out and waving his arms widely in Angeliques direction. "I guessed you would try this... Which is why I brought me some jumper cables!" He whispered as he went around to the back of his car and popped the trunk, retrieving them.

"My car's not starting, mind giving me a jump miss? M' sorry to be such a burden." He added as he walked over to Angeliques vehicle, not knowing that she was in the same exact predicament.

Angelique tried several times to start her car after their talk. "Come on you stupid hunk of junk."

There was nothing she even tried turning on the lights and nothing, it was if the battery was completely drained of all it's power. "Well this sucks."

Angelique stepped from her car and noticed the cables. "Fraid we'll have to call a wrecker or service for a jump.. does your cell work?"

Angelique opened her blackberry and nearly freaked as it was dark. Never had the phone been done or given her the smallest ounce of despair until now. She mused that her battery must be low on the phone as well but figured that she might be able to charge it in the house.

That was when she noticed the realtor's frightened face at the mere suggestion of going back to the house

Edland checked his cell, already knowing that it was dead. "Oh, very nice, very nice indeed. You think you're clever do you?" Edland muttered to himself under his breath as he stuffed his cell back into his chest pocket. "I wouldn't go back in there if I were you miss. Thats what IT wants us to do." Edland said he hedged back to his car, popping the trunk a second time. "But she didn't count on this... Did you!" He called out at the house as he pulled a bike from the trunk. The man was obviously losing it, he was acting scarier than the forboding structure behind them. "Just you stay put, Miss Angelique, I'd suggest you get in your car and lock the doors. I'm going, to get some help." He said, a wild look in his eyes as he mounted the bike, a sheen of cold sweat on his brow.

"It?.. It who?.... is there someone lurking in there and you aren't telling me?" Angelique stared a bit unnerved at the realtor's bizarre behavior.

The fact that he didn't talk to her directly also gave her another reason to wonder about his sanity and her safety. It was no problem about locking the doors and praying for a miracle.

"Well I hope the help remembers me when you get carted to the funny farm, Eddy boy." Angelique muttered as she watched him head out the gate.

While she waited, she pulled out some mail from friends and started to sribble some notes on the back of the last page. Most would never believe that she was really buying her first house.

"yeah the house that has a library full of Lovecraft's works.. Too bad my cell is fritzzing.. I wouldn't mind checking out that Lovecraft a little more.. maybe find his romantic works."

Edland was gone, racing off for help on his bike, and Angelique was left alone.

As she scribbled her notes, something moved at the corner of her vision. By this time, the fog was knee high, and seemed to still be rising, and it was eeirlly silent outside, no crickets, no frogs, nothing made a sound, which made Angeliques breaths sound like rolling waves, and her heart beat feel like the rhythmic thump of some distant war drum. The door to the mansion creaked open, spilling a shaft of flickering light from within out upon the front porch. However, Edland had shut all the lights off just before shutting and LOCKING the front doors, she was sure of it.

It was always possible that that kook had doubled back and went behind the mansion, entering from the rear, and was doing all of this just to fuck with her though... Scare her off, but that didn't seem to make much sense, why would he want to scare her away, especially after she had commited to buying the damn house?

"Okay.. the old fool scared me.. maybe there is a timer on the lights.. or the fog is messing with my senses.. thousands of explanations.. just stay calm." Angelique reasoned as she set down the letter and glanced in the rear view mirror.

"Hell it could be some pranksters trying to steal something from the "Freaky Old House" to prove how brave they are." Seemed the most logical possibility as she pulled her jacket over her shoulders to feel wawrmer as she waited.

Minutes passed and the fog was waist high, hanging just below the frame of Angelique's driver side window. It was even seeping into her car, as it hid her feet from view. A chill ran up her spine as she thought she felt something cold and clammy touch her ankle. As creepy as the house was, it was becoming more and more inviting by the second.

Angelique let out a startled scream whwen it felt like something touched her leg. She drew her legs up on the seat and starerd intently at the fog premating her car.

It took a second to look in the rear view mirror and see teh front door. "Sorry bastard.. he's not coming back.. and I sure the hell ain't freezing in my damned car."

She grabbed the keys and her purse and headed out the car for the front door, praying that she would be able to get inside. She reached the porch and noticed that the fog didn't reach up here and trying the doorknob the door opened as if a bulter was standing behind it.

"Okay I have watched way too many spooky classics.. it is playing on my mind." Still she walked into the hall and then closed the door on her own before stepping into the living room on the left. The room was dim with the moon being covered by the clouds but she was able to make her way to a chair and rub her arms to warm up.

It was then that she noticed the flickering light of a warm fire burning in the stone fireplace that was directly opposite her. It was comfortably warm in the room. A whiff of cherry scented tobacco drew her attention to the table in front of her. An ash tray sat on the small table in with a corn cob pipe laid in it, on its side. An old leather bound book lay next to it. Eventually, the only spot that remained cold on Angelique's body was the spot that something had touched her ankle. There was a blotch of some sort of sticky greenish... Something on her skin.