“You don’t mind, do you?”
“Not at all.” Pubs weren’t much fun if you couldn’t drink. I fancied an early night anyway. Pregnancy makes you tired.
“We’ll be cosy here,” said Mildrid. “We can watch an old film and have some hot chocolate. At least we won’t get bothered by trick-or-treaters up here. Not on a night like this.” She grinned. “Especially with that rumour about the ghost of a Roman soldier who parades old Hadrian’s wall at Halloween.”
“You’re kidding me.”
She laughed.
I manged to watch about half of Dial M for Murder before I fell asleep. I woke to find my chocolate had gone cold and Mildred ghostly white.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Can’t you hear it?”
I heard a creaking noise, just like a soldier in armour marching along the wall outside.
“Let’s put the light off,” Mildrid hissed.
“Why?”
“They won’t bother coming in if they think there’s no one here.”
“Would it make any difference to a ghost?”
“I don’t believe in ghosts do you?”
“Trick-or-treaters after all?”
Mildred got up and switched the light off. The noise carried on. Creak. Creak. Creak.
“At least there’s no light outside.”
Well that wasn’t strictly true. The light from the porch was now shining behind the curtains. But she was right that there didn’t seem to be anybody with a torch. Then a shadow crept across the top of the curtain rail.
“Oh Lord,” I whispered.
And next there was the noise of footsteps on the gravel outside followed by torch light at the window.
The front door and then the lounge door opened.
“What’s going on here?” it was Jerry. They were back early.
“And look what we’ve found,” said Tom. He was carrying a small injured squirrel.
“We couldn’t get into the village. The road’s flooded.” Jerry explained. “Nor could we get back up the hill. We’ll go back tomorrow to fetch the car.”
The squirrel had got caught in the casement above the porch window. That was what had made all of the creaking and the shadow we’d seen.

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Carrie OLeary
Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
2 years ago

Really enjoyed reading this Gill, is it based on a true story? It’s surprising how something so benign can appear so otherworldly and sinister once the imagination takes over.

Sandra James
Sandra James(@sandra-james)
2 years ago

I agree with Carrie…in the middle of the night everything is scarier, the wind howls louder and every sound is amplified! You set the mood really well 🙂

Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
2 years ago

Hello Gill, I like the theme, Roman Warrior – to a Squirrel. Imagination can be a scary thing once fear enters. I enjoyed reading your story.

Brigitta Hegyi
Brigitta Hegyi(@brigitta-hegyi)
2 years ago

I really loved your story!

Chris
Chris(@chris)
Reply to  Brigitta Hegyi
2 years ago

I agree Brigitta, another nice story from Avatar Gill James ?

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
2 years ago

So entertaining. I enjoyed reading this story.

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