Her facial expressions varied to the extremes as Matt was telling the story. She listened with bated breath as Matt told her about the almost impossible level of detail a child could create from her imagination alone when it came to her interaction with the so-called princess. He told her what he was really trying to do when she popped out and called him. Matt also told her why he was itching for a smoke after that, and why he insisted she take Jean with her. Emmy remained silent, especially when Matt haltingly told her about why he passed out. She was shivering by the time he finished.
Matt’s goosebumps never left as he told the stories. He was aching for a smoke but felt it was better if he told her everything. So, he decided to tell her about that time Emmy, Gina, and Jean all went into a trance.
He told her about finding Gina just blankly staring into the laptop. About Emmy hacking away in the kitchen like she was in a trance. He told her everything, no detail spared. He could see the terror in her eyes as he recounted the events. Emmy was unconsciously edging closer to him as he was about to finish. His recounting was only interrupted by her exclamations. She was speechless when he told her about how none of them would respond, locked in their own catatonic states, even when he shook them hard. She was blinking rapidly when Matt told her about them all waking up at the same time and just staring into nothingness.
Emmy, after recovering, theorized that there might be a connection to all of it and asked him if there was anything else he could remember. Matt did not want to dwell on it but, even as he shivered, he tried to remember the details and what he saw before he passed out. He also added the incident of the dead fish. Then, he asked what happened to him, why his forehead hurt.
It was Emmy’s turn to relate about her experiences. Matt was shaking his head when he was told of how she found him repeatedly banging his head on the door. Matt explained that he did not remember any of it – waking up, taking his clothes off, or heading downstairs. His eyes were wide as plates when he was told that Jean was not even in her room when he went there and passed out.
The couple spent the next minutes in mutual silence, each one considering the new details they’ve learned from each other. After some time, Matt spoke again. This time, he told Emmy about what he discovered on the camera feeds the night they were terrorized by the figures and voices outside.
The talk, without judgement or prejudice, worked wonders for the couple. Matt felt like a weight was taken off his back, Emmy vocalized how it was reassuring that despite having no rational explanations, they were on the same page.
“I know it’s stupid to ask this, but do you think it’s the house?”
“What? Of course not! It’s new. We just built it. I can still even smell the paint in some parts!” Matt answered.
“Well, whatever it is, we both agree something is wrong here. Maybe it’s the river, maybe it’s the land. Whatever it is, it’s not working. For me, for you. For our children.”
“I know, I know. Believe me babe, I know. I’ve been looking for stuff online, anything really. Each time I find something close to what we’re experiencing, there’s always something else that makes it sound like it’s not.”
“So, nothing definite. What about something really close?” Emmy asked.
“I looked at the history of the land. Found nothing. It’s not ghosts. Say, and please don’t take this the wrong way, but were you stressed out planning for the housewarming?”
“No, not at all. Why?”
“Well,” Matt hesitated, “it’s just that… these things, these events… they seem to point at demonic activity.”
“What are you saying? What do you mean?”
“That’s just what I mean. Everything that’s happening seem to point to it, based on what I’ve read online, that is.”
“My family are devout Catholics; I grew up learning about the occult to piss them off. I’m familiar with the concept Matt. What are you not telling me?”
“Well, it doesn’t make sense, really. Let me start with that. But like I said, most of the signs point to that. The thing is, if it is indeed this demonic voodoo bullshit, it needs a target. And the target needs to be compromised. Like stressed or traumatized or something like that. Like I said, it doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s because of that morning, isn’t it?”
Matt regarded his wife and nodded slowly.
“It still doesn’t make sense.” He answered. “We were as far away from stressed that morning. We were clowning around for fuck’s sake.”
It was Emmy’s turn to nod slowly. Silence fell between them again. She was the first to speak again.
“Let’s move out, find a new place.”
“You know that’s not possible babe, everything we have is tied up to this place for many years.”
“It’s getting worse Matt, in case you haven’t noticed. It’s escalating and I dare not say what happens next. We need to do something!” Emmy shot back, voice rising.
“We will find a way, okay? We always do. We’re a good team. It’s gonna be alright.”
Matt put on a convincing face as he said his words but Emmy could read him and she was not backing down.
“We can probably sell this, take a little hit. The lawyer, Bailey, he’s a good sort. He can help us.”
“And if they ask why we’re selling it so quickly? The loan we got, they’re going to charge a premium for paying it quickly.”
“We got the lot for cheap Matt! We can take a hit and still c-”
“Dad? Mom?” Gina called. “Can we like, take a walk? Like go to the woods or something?”
“Yeah hon? What for?”
“Well, mom asked me to teach Jean? Like anything?” Gina rolled her eyes when she uttered the last word to emphasize it. “And like, we talked about animals and insects. So… maybe we can find some in the woods?”
Matt and Emmy looked at each other. Matt was first to speak.
“I’ll do you one better, why don’t we all go? What do you say babe?”
Emmy shot him a raised eyebrow. He continued undeterred.
“I mean it’s so great, like you know, like anything to get out of the house. You know what I mean? Like yeah! ‘cause I’m sooooo booooored.” Matt added, mimicking his daughter’s way of talking.
“Get prepared, I will make us snacks to take with us. Maybe we’ll have a picnic.” Emmy spoke, elbowing her husband on the ribs.
“Whatever.” Gina replied, turning back.
Emmy got what Matt was trying to say and did not wait for him to say anything else. She went to the kitchen to prepare snacks while Matt went up to stuff a gym bag with a blanket. He took a backpack with him when he went down and headed for the garage to see about items they might need while exploring the wooded areas around the house. He helped Emmy prepare a light meal, just in case snacks weren’t enough.
“We’ll talk about out options babe. Maybe we can find someone willing to take this place off our hands.”
Emmy smiled at him, happy to hear he was actually considering it. She planted a kiss on his cheek.