What You Believe

It had been a week or so since we first moved into ‘English Manner’ as Brian and Zacky had named our little apartment and I’d just got a text from B to tell me she was going to be working late due to a change in actor who needed all new adjustments. This was the first time that I was going to be on my own in the new place and I couldn’t help but feel slightly nervous. There was something about this place that I couldn’t quiet put my finger on, but there was some weird shit that I felt. I toyed with the idea of inviting Zacky over to watch a film and have takeaway, quickly dismissing the idea with the notion of be a big girl Lydia. So instead I decided to grab some junk food, some bath bombs from Lush and my iPad making my way into the bathroom and filling the tub up with hot water and dropping the lemon smelling fizz into the bath, stripping off listening to the sizzling from the relaxing smelly. I loaded up Netflix and quickly clicked on the episode of American Horror Story that I was currently up to. It was because of B that I had started watching this show and quickly found myself hooked. I mean sure I hated horrors but there was something about this show that I found oddly gripping my attention, and I’m not just talking Evan Peters. I grabbed the spoon I’d brought in with me before settling into the bath and grabbing the cookie dough Ben and Jerry’s ice cream my eyes fixed on the scene in front of me.

I was about 3/4 of the way through my Ben and Jerry’s and two episodes down when the power knocked out.
“Shit!” I screamed dropping the spoon in the bath as the power down sound filled the apartment. “It’s ok Lydia, just a power cut or a blown fuse.” I said to myself as I got out of the bath blindly feeling around for the fluffy towel, then my glasses and finally my phone. I quickly activated the torch app and tightened the towel around myself as I made my way to the top of the stairs. The bathroom was on the second floor so I only had two floors to go before I could flick the switch and turn the electricity on. Yeah that’s right the fuse box was down in the basement, talk about cliché horror style. I made my way down the stairs to the basement whistling to myself, something I did when I was scared, shining my phone around the area before my feet left the staircase to get my bearings. This was the first time that I’d been down to the basement and doing it in the dark was not my idea of fun. I looked up to find a light hanging from the ceiling, following the wires that hung loosely off the wood I located the box within seconds. I rushed over to it, aware of the dust that was clinging to my damp feet and tried to pull the box open with no luck. It was rusted shut, I flashed the light around trying to find a screwdriver or something to shimmy the metal door open with when I spotted a figure that had sort of a deathly white glow about it. I inhaled quickly before feeling around on the desk for something to grab.
“Whoever you are leave now and I won’t ring the police.” I shouted out as I swiped my phone across to the emergency call screen, instantly regretting not bringing my deterrent down with me.
“Please don’t ring the police. Here I can help.” A soft voice spoke out at I noticed the figure walking closer towards me hands up in a surrendering pose. One hand dropped as I heard the clank of metal before the rubber handle of a screwdriver was held out to me. I quickly snatched it away before staring at the figure.
“Don’t come any closer.” I spoke out holding the screwdriver in what I hoped was a threatening pose before dislodging the rusted door. I looked at the colours remembering what I was taught when I was back in Britain and hoped American electrics were the same. I flicked the coloured switch I thought was right off and on and the sound of the electric kicking back into power filled the house as I turned to look at the intruder, who wasn’t there. “What the fuck?” I shouted out into the room not expecting any response back.
“Sorry the lights just hurt my eyes.” The voice replied back from a darkened corner of the basement.
“You have three seconds to show yourself and explain what the fuck you’re doing in my house before I put you under arrest and cart you down to the station myself.” I spoke out making my way over to the corner the voice came from, screwdriver still in hand.
“Please don’t. I didn’t realise you lived here.” The voice came again, but I could hear the shuffling of feet as though this person was trying to back up.
“You thought that I’d come down and sort out someone else’s electricity? Do I look like a maintenance worker?” I looked down and that’s when it hit me I was still in my now very moist towel.
“No I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that I didn’t realise that anyone lived here. It’s been empty for so long I figured no one wanted this place.” The voice rang out again as I stopped moving closer when I noticed it moving towards the light. “I’m sorry. I’m Frank.” The owner of the voice offered me his hand, which I stared at blankly before looking up at him. He was slightly taller than my five foot nothing, very pale, covered in tattoos with the most amazing features. Had he not been a trespasser then I might have actually found this guy attractive.
“You’ve still not answered why you’re in my house.” I stared at him as I shook his head which was deathly cold, causing me to frown. “Are you homeless?” I looked at him, my stare softening a little.
“Yes. No.” He looked conflicted as I turned my expression back to piss. “Sort of?” He questioned as I huffed swiping for my emergency screen again. “Please don’t look I’ll explain. Do you maybe want to get changed?” He quizzed a little as I went bright red. I just held my hand out signalling for him to walk up the stairs, which he did looking down as I followed.

I lead him to kitchen area and told him to sit down at the breakfast bar as I went in my purse reaching for the familiar metal. He sat on the barstool style chair resting his hands on the armrests that half circle the back of the chair. Perfect. Before he could react I snapped the cuff on him and the chair. He looked up at me quickly, panic slightly in his eyes.
“No offence buddy but you could be a crazy ass murderer.” I shrugged before walking off and up the stairs to my room to get changed quickly.

Notes