Premonition: Chapter Two

Author’s Note: It’s happened. I’ve been whopped upside the head by a story. Yesterday’s Daily Prompt – Premonition – has led me to Allison, Randy, and the Talbot House. Bad things happen at the Talbot House, but house flipper Randy is convinced he can restore the 19th century mansion to its former glory. After a run-in with a strange girl in white, wife Allison disagrees. Fasten your seat belts and stow your tray tables… you’re in for a bumpy ride!

Premonition

Chapter 2 – A Broken Cork

THE FIGHT HAD been epic.

“I’m not living there.” Allison angry uncorked a third bottle of wine. “Don’t you get it? I am not living there.”

“You’re being unreasonable.” Randy pouted in the kitchen corner and chewed a cuticle. “It’s just a house – ”

The cork was dry; it split down the middle and broke in half. Figures. Allison pushed the remainder into the bottle. So there’d be cork in the wine. Did it even matter anymore? “There’s something wrong with it, Randy. I mean, even the realtor doesn’t want you to buy it.”

Something moved in the darkened living room. Dark hair, white dress. Ashes, dashes, we all fall down. Allison clutched the kitchen counter until the wave of dizziness passed. She hadn’t had vertigo since the last time she was pregnant.

“Allie, I’ll say it again, you didn’t see a girl – ”

“I did, too! I did see a girl!” Allison poured the wine, her shaking hand overfilling her wine glass and splashing it on the counter. The red wine look like bloodstains on the white granite. Don’t go in the basement. She squeezed her eyes shut and chugged half the glass.

“Allie, you’re fucking with me, and I don’t appreciate it.” The stool squeaked as Randy jumped down. “If you don’t want to move, fine. I’ll go by myself.”

“No!” The thought of Randy alone in that hell hole was too much. Allison nearly dropped to her knees. “Randy, I’m begging you, please. Please, don’t buy this house.”

Randy’s mouth thinned, a look Allison knew all too well. “I’m sorry, Allie. I’ve already done it. I own that house. You either come with me, or you don’t.”

Allison’s wine glass slipped through her fingers and shattered on the marble floor.

Randy cursed. “I’ll get a towel.”

Allison stared at the broken glass at her feet. It’s always dark in the basement.