Copyright © 2024 by Sam Whittaker

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Design: Miblart

  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

  Contents

  A Change of Fortune?

  1. Ava

  2. Floppy

  3. Mommy

  4. Visitor

  5. Crash

  6. Bed

  7. Intruder

  8. Dog

  Two Dead at Old School

  9. Setup

  10. Explore

  11. Boy

  Student Missing

  12. Somnambulism

  13. Search

  14. Shopping

  15. Malfunction

  16. Shadow

  School Suspended Following Tragedy

  17. Patrick

  18. Joe

  19. Revenge

  20. Guests

  21. Dinner

  22. Trap

  23. Studio

  24. Window

  25. Web

  School Closes Indefinitely

  Epilogue

  Trial Conclusion

  A Change of Fortune?

  The following is a selection of an article from the Cedar Park Herald, a local newspaper. Dated: July 19, 2024

  Who says you can’t have a new lease on life? It appears that one can… even if one is an old, abandoned school building.

  The facility that once housed Cedar Park School has been purchased at auction. Rumors have it that the old school will be both home to a family as well as a recording studio.

  Long-time residents will of course be familiar with the sordid history of the building and the past tragedies associated with it. Even new generations are known to whisper legends about the place as they scurry past it on their way to somewhere else.

  The empty building has long been a point of contention with township officials. It has previously been sold more than once, only to have the deal fall through or flatly refused before possession is transferred.

  Perhaps these new arrivals can breathe new life into the tired structure of the storied building.

  1

  Ava

  Ava trembled as she hid in the bushes across the street. Alternating blue and red lights splashed across her face in the darkness as she watched the strange happenings before her. She had been hiding like this for about half an hour.

  There was a flurry of activity outside of what was supposed to have been her new home. She was six years old and not used to the idea of being by herself like this in the dark. She didn’t like it.

  The police moved about the scene and traveled in groups. One or two were by themselves. She saw some of them inside, passing in front of the windows. She worried for them.

  Her Mommy and Daddy had bought the strange old building that had once been a school and intended to convert it into a livable space as well as a place for them to work. They had raved about the idea. Well, at least Mommy had. Daddy seemed a little skeptical about the whole project.

  She saw a shadowed figure a few paces ahead stop and turn her way. The head tilted to one side. Ava hunched lower into the bushes, hugging the ragged stuffed rabbit closely to her chest.

  The silhouetted person headed her way. She fought the urge to break away and run.

  When the person arrived, they crouched low and, in a kind, feminine voice said, “Hello? Is someone there?”

  She kept still and quiet.

  “I’m a Detective with the police department,” came the soothing voice. “I’m here to help. Can you come out, please?”

  She remained frozen in place, not wanting to give herself away.

  A hand reached forward and pulled aside several of the branches of the bush behind which Ava hid. Before she knew it, she was staring into the comforting face of a middle-aged black woman.

  “Hello,” the woman said. “My name is Detective Byrd. What’s yours?”

  Ava simply stared at the woman with terrified eyes. She didn’t move, save to clutch the ratty old rabbit closer to her.

  “You don’t want to talk? That’s okay.” The woman paused, considered something, then tried a different approach. She turned to face the building on the opposite side of the street. “Do you live here?” the woman asked in a casual tone, nodding toward the old school building. She looked back at Ava.

  Ava said nothing

  “You have blood on you,” Detective Byrd observed. “Are you hurt, sweetheart?”

  Ava shook her head violently from side to side, but tears formed in her eyes and spilled freely down her cheeks.

  “You do live here, don’t you?” the woman said. “We are here to help. Would you please come with me?”

  Ava shook her head again.

  “It would be better if you do,” Byrd said. “It’s not safe for a little girl to stay out here like this when there’s no one to watch after you.”

  Now Ava broke down into a full sob. She crumpled, squeezing the stuffed rabbit.

  The woman stood and motioned for somebody to come over. But Ava was too busy crying to care.

  “Excuse me, officer,” she said to the man who just appeared. “Will you help me, please? I think we found a survivor.”

  The officer turned his face and observed Ava for the first time. Surprise covered his countenance. He muttered a curse under his breath.

  He leaned over to the Detective and said, “What do you want me to do?”

  Detective Byrd half turned her face to him and said barely loud enough for Ava to hear, “If she runs, I need you to catch her for me.”

  Then the woman came through the bushes and crouched beside Ava’s fallen form. She reached down to pick her up. That’s when Ava bolted into action. She was on her feet in no time, scrambling to get away. But the officer was fast. He had blocked her path and crouched down quick as lightning and hugged his arms around her to prevent her from getting away.

  Ava thrashed and screamed. “No,” she shrieked. “No, let me go!”

  “Easy, honey,” the officer said, gritting his teeth as he struggled to keep hold of her writhing form. “We’re just trying to help. Calm down!”

  “Mommy and Daddy!” she wailed. “I want my Mommy and Daddy.”

  “I know,” Detective Byrd said, coming up to her and resting both hands on her shoulders to still her. “I know,” she repeated quieter. There was a look of sorrow on the woman’s face.

  Ava understood the look. Ava would not be seeing her Mommy and Daddy again. Nor any of the others. Not that never seeing the others bothered her.

  “Have you ever ridden in a police car?” Detective Byrd asked.

  Ava melted into the other officer’s arms, boneless. She whimpered but gave no other reply.

  “I can take you to a special place,” Detective Byrd said. “Far away from here where you don’t have to worry. How does that sound?”

  “I want my Mommy and Daddy,” Ava replied.

  “Put her in the passenger front seat of my car,” Byrd said to the officer. “I need to take her downtown.”

  ***

  Ava sat, hugging her ratty old rabbit doll to her chest in a small room with a table, four chairs, and a giant mirror on one wall. Her shoulders were hunched forward, and her face was buried in the back of the rabbit’s head. The occasional tear sprung to her eyes and cascaded down her dirty cheeks, but the worst of the sobbing seemed to be behind her.

  It had been what felt like forever since Detective Byrd had been in the room with her. Ava was by herself now. But she felt like she was being watched. She knew she was.

  The door opened and Detective Byrd came in, carrying a steaming cup.

  She closed the door behind her and maneuvered herself to the opposite side of the table. She set the cup in front of Ava and said, “Do you like hot chocolate?”

  Ava looked at the steaming cup and then flicked her eyes to the detective. Her focus returned to the hot chocolate, and she tentatively reached for the cup. She took it and slowly pulled it back to herself. She lifted the steaming cup to her face and took a long sniff.

  It smelled good. She put the cup to her lips and taste-tested it. It was very hot. She jerked her lips away and set the cup back down on the table.

  “Maybe we better let it cool down first,” Detective Byrd said. Ava gave a small nod of acknowledgment and looked away.

  There was a long pause then Detective Byrd said, “Ava? Can you tell me what happened tonight?”

  The little girl’s worried eyes shot to the detective. Her lip quivered and fresh tears sprang unbidden to her eyes.

  “Bad things,” she said. “Bad people.”

  “Was it a robbery?” the detective asked. “Did people come wanting something? Something that your mom and dad had?”

  Ava stopped and thought about this. It wasn’t right. She shook her head slowly.

  “Do you know who they were?” the detective asked.

  “A mean boy,” Ava repeated in a hushed tone.

  “Have you seen him before?” the detective asked.

  Ava nodded.

  “When?” Byrd asked.

  “After we moved in,” Ava replied.

  “Do you know if he lives around here? Is he from your street?”

  Ava shook her head slowly. “He doesn’t live anywhere.”

  “Do you mean he is homeless?” Detective Byrd asked.

  Ava slowly shook her head once more.

&nb

sp; “No,” Ava said. “He doesn’t live.”

  “What do you mean honey?” Byrd said, narrowing her eyes.

  Clutching the rabbit all the tighter to her chest, Ava leaned forward and said, “He died a long time ago.”

  2

  Floppy

  It was move-in day.

  An army of movers bustled about carrying furniture and large boxes into the old school building and came out empty-handed once again. Ava stood with her Daddy. He directed a few of the movers to bring their current burdens to a particular room on the second floor. Her Mommy was nowhere in sight.

  “Daddy?” Ava said.

  “Hold on sweetie,” the man replied. He was in the middle of a conversation with three movers bearing large crates. “That’s sensitive sound equipment,” he said. “Some of it is quite expensive. And the microphones can be a bit finicky and fragile. So please, when you set them down make sure not to pack any other boxes on top of them. Got that?”

  The three gruff men holding the crates grunted but otherwise seemed uninterested in paying attention to what the man said. They knew their business, and they understood what ‘fragile’ scrawled on the sides of the boxes meant.

  One of them managed to say, “Yes sir.” The three of them shared looks, then moved on.

  “Daddy?” Ava said, a little more insistent.

  “What is it, sweetheart?” her father replied, sounding a touch impatient.

  “You said I could get a new dolly,” Ava said.

  “I said you could get a dolly after we moved in,” Daddy replied, his patience now not much more than a thin veneer. “We still have a few hours of work left. It will probably have to wait until tomorrow. We’ll go out shopping and you can remind us then. We will get you a dolly then. Okay?”

  “Daddy, how am I supposed to sleep without a new dolly?”

  “You slept plenty of nights without the new dolly before,” Daddy pointed out. “Why should now be any different?”

  Ava stared up at the old school building, a nervous twitch tugged at one cheek.

  “Because,” she said, “I don’t know this place.” She leaned toward him conspiratorially and added, “It scares me.”

  He couldn’t hide the smirk that appeared in response to his child’s innocent confession. “There is no reason to be scared,” Daddy said. “It’s just different. It’s not bad.”

  “I don’t like it, Daddy,” she said.

  “It’s going to be fine, baby,” he said. “It will just take some getting used to, that’s all. Besides, look – your Mommy and I have been working on this for years. And your Mommy is really excited about the opportunities this affords her. Can you try to be a least a little happy for her?”

  “I am,” she said not sounding happy at all. “It’s just…” She trailed off as she cast another glance in the direction of the school-turned-home.

  “I know,” he said. “It’s a very different kind of place than we’ve ever lived in but trust me; this is going to be great. You got all kinds of space to run around and play in here.”

  “It’s so big,” she said. “Won’t I get lost?”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “It’s not that big,” he said. “It’s way smaller than any school I ever went to. It just looks big because it’s got two floors and two wings.”

  The old school hadn’t been open for over thirty years. It was L-shaped containing eight classrooms on the top floor. Each wing of the upper floor had four classrooms. The bottom floor had classrooms, an office, and a cafeteria. There was also a lobby area connected to the cafeteria right when one walked into the building.

  “I’ve got an idea,” Daddy said. “Why don’t you go inside and find Mommy? She should be upstairs.”

  “Go inside?” Ava said. “By myself?”

  “You won’t be by yourself,” he said. “There’s all kinds of people here. And as I said, Mommy is inside. I’m sure she’d love to see you.”

  She hugged her arms around her middle and a shiver ran through her as she stared at the old school building. “Are we really going to live here, Daddy?” she asked.

  He chuckled and shook his head. “You bet we are, sweetheart. And it will be fantastic. You’ll see. It will just take a little getting used to, is all.”

  “Are you sure, Daddy?” she asked.

  “I am positive,” he answered. Even at six years old, she detected the doubt in his voice. She knew that Mommy was the one who wanted to buy the old school. She wanted to set up recording studios and offices for her special work. Daddy always helped her with her business, and he was good at it. But sometimes she got the impression that her Daddy and herself were just along for the ride when it came to Mommy’s music and recording.

  “Run along now,” he said.

  She looked up at him one last time and nodded. She stared back at the school for several long heartbeats then took her first step. Then came the next, which was easier. And then the rest. She burst into a sudden run as she rushed toward the entrance of the building.

  Ava almost ran into the legs of a mover coming out the door. She skidded to a halt just in time.

  “Whoa there, little lady,” he said. “Don’t want to get trampled.” He turned his vast body to the side and stepped back, allowing her space to come through.

  She looked up at him solemnly, nodded, and then rushed through the door.

  She was standing in the vast cafeteria space, or at least it seemed vast to her. At most, it would have accommodated thirty students on its best day.

  Once inside, Ava meandered and dodged around the legs of movers and stacks of boxes. She ran to the opposite side of the cafeteria and through the set of double doors. She found herself in a long hallway. She coursed through, continuing to navigate the stacks of boxes, furniture, and the lumbering form of the occasional mover. She reached the end of the hallway where it jutted off to the right. But before her, there was a set of stairs leading upward. She bounded up these feeling a little more confident.

  A man was coming down around the corner to the left. She dodged sideways with ample time to avoid running into him. He nodded to her and kept about his business. She now found herself on a wide landing.

  She turned to her left and started up the second set of stairs. At the top, there were two pathways. Left or right. She guessed her mommy would be down the left one. She was about to head that way when a sudden inclination pulled her attention to the right.

  There was nobody down that way putting boxes into the old classrooms. There was nothing down that way. Not even stacks of their belongings. It looked strangely deserted compared to the rest of what she’d experienced so far.

  She took a tentative step in that direction. Nothing strange or bad happened, so she took another. Soon she was slowly walking down the deserted hallway. There were two sets of rooms to her left and her right. She guessed there would also be two sets down the left passageway had she gone that way. She knew her mom would be in one of those classrooms already setting up her studio. Ava was sure of it.

  She stopped at the first room, immediately to her right. She walked up to the doorway and stared inside. It was empty. She poked her head in and looked to the left.

  Once, she imagined, the space would have been filled with desks for children to sit at while the teacher stood up front and lectured about math or history. But now there was nothing.

  A cold sensation ran across her shoulders. She lifted a hand and rubbed her right arm. She was surprised that she felt cold. It was July. She pulled away from the classroom, went to the opposite side of the hallway, and looked into that room. It was likewise empty. There was nothing to interest her.

  She stared at it for a few seconds, shrugged, then moved to the next classroom on the left side of the hallway. It was just as empty and boring as the first two. She guessed the final classroom would be the same.

  When she came to the doorway, she froze. There, sitting in the middle of the classroom, was an old stuffed rabbit doll. It looked dirty and ragged. It had both eyes, but they were dull black glass. Ava tilted her head as she beheld this unexpected phenomenon. She wondered if Mommy or Daddy had placed it there for her to find as a surprise. But by the state of it, she doubted this.

  She took a careful step into the classroom and stopped just inside the door. She looked around. There was, of course, no one there to have left the rabbit. But that cold sensation came over her once again, much stronger this time

 

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