The Cold Finding

Harry knocked on his neighbor's door just one more time before walking away feeling silly. He could see no lights on and it was past 2 in the morning the last he checked his clock. He wasn't sure how his good friends and house owners would take it, especially if he's known them ever since he moved across from their isolated cottage 12 years ago. His house was two-story, so it was always odd finding himself making another noise complaint instead of leaving it alone. To his surprise, his good friend Sam poked his head out the front window next to the door just as surprised. Harry gave a smile waving his hand when Sam turned his porch lights on. Sam opened his front door wearing a dark blue shirt and black shorts with comfortable slippers. It was funny to see Sam didn't look as tired as Harry thought he would be. Harry gave the warmest smile feeling embarrassed about why he was there. Once Sam opened up the door he yawned.

“Hey, Sam.”

“It's the dead middle of the night, Harry. Where's the fire?” Sam said, returning a much larger smile.”

“It's the wife's orders again, I'm afraid. I hate to tell this to you all the time, but she says it was loud at your house.”

“Another noise complaint? Did Helen finally elect you as a police officer for coming in the middle of the night this time?” Sam joked leaving his hand on his front door in a relaxed manner.

“No, I just think it's nightmares or something. The way Helen woke me up almost terrified me and I'm a heavy sleeper.”

Sam yawned and started rubbing his eyes sleepily.

“Well is there a reason you're still here on my property, Harry?”

Harry gave a nervous chuckle.

“You're not going to believe this but, Helen wants me to check up on Susana.”

Sam gave a disbelief look.

“My wife, Susan?”

Harry shook his head.

“I know, but you know how she gets if I don't do what she says. You mind if I come inside just to make sure things are okay and I’ll be out of your hair?”

Sam hesitated to turn around.

“You know I don't think that's a good idea. Susan hasn’t been sleeping well and tonight she’s relaxed for-”

Both men startled at Sam's living room lights turning on with Susana coming out with a robe closing her nightgown. She smiled sleepily as well.

“Harry I didn't know if that was you at this time. Almost made me call the police.” Susana folded her arms, approaching Sam.

“Hey, Sue. I apologize for this visit again, but I have to make sure everything's alright. Especially with my wife-”

“Oh don't apologize for anything, Harry.” Susana interrupted almost laughing.

Sam palmed his face laughing with his wife.

“That's right I left the television on again, Didn't I?

“I got up just in time to turn off those loud programs too.” Susan said, hitting Sam in the arm warmly.

“It's true I leave whatever I was watching on before I sleep on the couch as always.”

Sam smiled wrapping his arms around his wife.

Harry put his arms on his hips grinning when he turned to look over at his house.

“Tell me, Harry, what kind of noises was your wife hearing?” Susan said.

Harry looked at the floor putting arms on his hips almost forgetting the reason he was there.

“You know it's funny she said she was hearing a-girl screaming for her life inside your home.”

There was a moment of silence and frowns from Sam and Susana even when they looked at each other for a response.

Harry held up his hands in defeat.

“I know it's ridiculous.”

“You and those darn horror films, Sam.” Susana countered rolling her eyes.

Sam gave a laugh rubbing the back of his head.

“Well since we are all up this late how bout I make a midnight snack and some tea for the misunderstanding?” Susan said brightly.

Sam looked at Susana confused.

“Oh no Susan, Harry has to go back to bed like the rest of us I'm sure his wife will start to worry.”

“I could use some tea and Helen went right back to sleep until I gave her the good news in the morning,” Harry said cheerfully.

“See, Sam no trouble at all. Come on in and be our guest.”

Susana led both the men into the kitchen as she started the stove. It was much warmer inside their home Harry always loved. Harry sat with Sam at their kitchen table while Susana went through her cupboards, humming. Sam and Harry were in the middle of talking about their sports teams by the time Susan poured her favorite tea to the men and herself. She set the teacups to each person as she went back to the kitchen to finish up the sandwiches.

“Thank you, Sue,” Harry said, grabbing onto the cup's handle. Harry looked around the living room shelves and antiques he always admired. He looked at one of the many wall holders for Sam's hunting season and noticed something odd he had to chuckle to himself.

“Sam, buddy I didn't surprise you too much this late at night did I?”

“What do you mean?” Sam said, confused.

“Your intruder gun you keep on the wall.” Harry pointed at the empty wall. Sam looked at the wall with a shocked expression of realization and fear standing up fast. A blast was heard in the kitchen.

It happened so fast Harry almost didn't see Susana's body fall flat on the floor like a doll. As both men stood shocked staring at Susana's corpse, a stranger Harry doesn't recognize walks over her body pointing Sam's shotgun at Sam. It was a girl. She looked very young but was tall. Her hair was blonde and messy with tangles. She was wearing a white dress that Harry did notice was Susana's picnic dress. The young girl was barefoot with dirt and bruises scattered around her body. Her expression in her eyes was deadly as she stared at Sam coldly. She limped more near him pumping the shotgun. Harry held his hands raised while Sam looked unafraid staring back at the girl angrily.

Harry heard a noise the girl was making when she walked. The sound of a heavy chain clinging on her neck is where he saw it was forced broken at the third hole. The girl held out her hand towards Sam slowly.

“Give me the key.” She said, sounding parched.

Sam didn't look at Harry once when he removed a large key from his pocket throwing it to the girl. She quickly picked it up using her arm to unlock herself. Harry looked at Sam in awe.

When the girl threw this strange large collar the girl started to breathe heavier than before. She stared right back at Sam then to Harry.

“Sam, What is this?” Harry said, afraid of what this girl was going to do next. The girl steady her aim at Sam's chest when Sam looked away towards Susana's corpse.

“You look right at me, pig.” She said, harsh.

Sam looked at her with a guilty expression.

The girl steady or her breath a couple of times.

“This is for taking me.” The girl said, pulling the trigger.

Harry had time to react to the loud blast by looking away from the man he once knew. A moment or two later the girl dropped the shotgun staring at Sam's body. Harry lowered his hands, staring at this girl he just witnessed killing his friends. The people he once called friends that were keeping horrible secrets from him. He just couldn't believe it. Maybe he just didn't want to.

“Call the police. I've been in the attic for a long time.” The girl said, looking around the kitchen noticing the teas on the table.

She finally looked at Harry pointing at his cup.

“I hope you didn't drink that.”