alt.books.ghost-fiction

Overheard
 

ma jennie so fair ma jennie so free ma jennie is waiting there waiting for me
still in that same green dress the one i bought her thats not why shes been
crying though no those are her angry tears the ones she cries when she doesnt
get her way are they fighting good i hope they are hope he knocks the hell
out of her

YOU SAID WE WOULD BE READY TO LEAVE TONITE, MATT. YOU SAID IT WAS ALL TAKEN CARE OF.

IT IS ALL TAKEN CARE OF, BABY. DON'T COME APART ON ME NOW.

DAMN YOU, I'M NOT COMING APART. YOU'RE SO FUCKING CONDESCENDING SOMETIMES. IF IT'S ALL TAKEN CARE OF, THEN WHY AREN'T WE LEAVING?

like this really its nice like being in a dream everywhere at once nothing
can stop me odd theyre so loud but then so is the water in the taps and the
crickets outside even the wind is deafening unless i dont listen to it wonder
where theyre planning to go off to maybe i should tag along ha that would be
a fine joke

HE'S BEEN DOWN THERE A WEEK. YOU'VE ONLY BEEN BACK SINCE THIS AFTERNOON. AS FAR AS ANYONE KNOWS, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE AT ALL.

THAT'S PRECISELY MY POINT. YOU'RE HERE NOW, AREN'T YOU? WHY DIDN'T YOU THINK OF THIS EARLIER?

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE OF SOME HELP, THANK YOU. I SEE NOW I WAS WRONG.

OH, FOR GOD'S SAKE. WHAT ELSE DID YOU THINK?

pretty when shes mad isnt she matt old chum makes you wanna grab her by the
hair and pull her down onto the floor do her right there nice and savage
doesnt it she probably wouldnt mind might even shut her up for awhile hey
dont hold back on my account ma jennie so fair ma jennie so free

LOOK, SHEILA. TEN MORE MINUTES. WHAT'S IT GONNA MATTER? I'M JUST GONNA GRAB A FEW OF HIS THINGS. WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE HE'S LEFT TOO, DON'T WE?

FINE. JUST HURRY UP ABOUT IT.

yes matt you do that ill just keep sheila company

WHERE'S HIS TOOTHBRUSH?

HOW THE HELL WOULD I KNOW IF IT'S NOT IN THE BATHROOM? JESUS.

GOT IT. BETTER TAKE A FEW MORE THINGS. LIKE I'M PACKING FOR A TRIP. MIGHT AS WELL TAKE THIS TOO, IF I'M NOT COMING BACK.

oh youre a regular john dickson carr matt how thorough ha no if im coming
back it wont be for that poor sheila look at her all pouty and sweet hey
check it out matt she thinks theres something on her face look at her trying
to brush it off

CAN WE JUST GO, MATT, PLEASE? THIS PLACE IS STARTING TO CREEP ME OUT.

OKAY, OKAY. JUST LET ME GO DOWNSTAIRS ONE MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE... WANNA COME?

NO THANK YOU. I'LL WAIT UP HERE. MAKE IT SNAPPY.

yeah matt pick up the pace thought you had it all planned didnt you well
youve got a little surprise coming oops what happened to the light ha ha
watch your step matt those stairs are tricky whoa look out below

MATT ! MATT? ARE YOU OKAY?

OHH, SHIT, I THINK MY LEG'S BROKEN. SHEILA?

MATT? IT'S DARK DOWN THERE. CAN YOU COME BACK UP?

SEE IF YOU CAN FIND A FLASHLIGHT. I NEED HELP.

YOU WANT ME TO COME DOWN *THERE*?

YES, I WANT YOU TO COME DOWN HERE ! MY GODDAM LEG IS BROKEN ! I CAN'T GET BACK UP THE STAIRS BY MYSELF.

gee matt tough break hee hee

I CAN'T FIND A FLASHLIGHT MATT-- I CAN'T EVEN FIND A CANDLE.

TRY THE GARAGE. MAYBE THERE'S A SHOP LIGHT OR AN EXTENSION CORD OR SOMETHING. HURRY, SHEILA.

take your time sheila hes not going anywhere okay matt just you and me pal
down here in the dark now lets get a few things straight shall we

WHO'S THERE?

heh i like that whos there you know perfectly damn well whos there matt you
put me there yourself you treacherous son of a bitch

WHO'S THERE? SHEILA !!

sheilas not there matt shes poking around in the garage trying not to break a
nail she cant hear you now as i was saying

SHEILA !! DEAR GOD...

in your dreams old buddy dont like that smell do you maybe you shoulda used
more quicklime nahh im kidding it wouldnt have made any difference

SHEILA !!!

you see im through fucking around with this ghost shit

OH GOD NO WHO'S THERE WHO IS IT OH CHRIST NO SHEILA HELP PLEASE--

* * *

damn how long does it take to find a flashlight

MATT?

ah

MATT? ARE YOU OKAY?

ma jennie so fair ma jennie so free

I'M COMING DOWN, MATT...
 
 

tHE eND