Leave

“All right. Let’s just go and get some coffee.”

Julia smiles at your and silently mouths ‘thanks’.

The three of you head towards the exit.

Jack the Ripper blocks your way and looks you over. After a moment he nods and smiles.

“I hope you ladies had a wonderful night.” His accented voice is pleasant and free of menace.

“We had a smart time.”

You snicker at your joke and Jack smiles.

Ten minutes later you pull into the coffee shop. The three of you order and sit down.

Julia looks relaxed. “Wow, that was just so realistic. I swear he could actually have been Lucifer.”

“It wasn’t that scary. It is just all make believe.”

Taylor laughs nervously. “Haunted houses always freak me out.”

“If you want to go back tomorrow night, I’m willing to give it another shot.”

“That’s ok…”

You hear the sound of a distant explosion. From the Doppler shift you calculate the approximate distance away. You realize it’s seven miles, the exact distance and direction of the house.

“Did you guys hear that? I’m not sure we’re going to get a chance to go tomorrow night.”

Taylor and Julia look at you confused.

“The loud noise, something exploded in the distance. It came from around where the house is.”

“No way you can know that.” Julia says.

“Only one way to find out.” Taylor chimes in.

The three of you get back in your car. You make it to the road the haunted house was on. A fireman stops you. You lean out the window.

“What happened?”

“Some damn haunted house had unstable chemicals in it. Nothing left but a giant crater.”

Mentally you thank Julia for being such a scaredy-cat.

Taylor’s jaw drops. “Wow, we could have been in there.”

You hope Keith is ok, but you calculate the odds of him having survived and they are near zero.

“I hope Keith is ok.” Says Julia, patting your shoulder. “We should go home and get some rest.”

Taylor gives you a little hug.

You sigh. “You’re right we should go home and rest.”