Jennifer. Residence of Grief

 Jennifer. Residence of Grief

Viktor Khorunzhy

Chapter 1 Evening at the Theatre

The story began on a chilly autumn evening in Greenstone city. It was 1995. Actors of a famous civic theatre retired to the backstage, having acted out their last scenes, followed by weak applauses of the audience.

The play turned out to be awfully boring; it was the desire to get into fresh air as soon as possible that made Jenny be one of the first to go downstairs to the wardrobe. She took her things and immediately hurried off to the exit. Having zipped up her tight-fit jacket on foot, she tidied her long hair showering her shoulders in golden curls. When the front door of the ancient building slammed heavily shut behind her back, the girl breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly she shuddered as she almost ran into a man walking towards her wearing an austere black coat. Snuffling the evening chill, the stranger was letting rings of smoke off his pipe, as if ban on smoking in public places had nothing to do with him. At the very moment, Jenny caught a sight of a huge black dog beside him that had come from out of nowhere. Jennifer started back in surprise – the incredible beast was black as the night itself, with sharply white teeth, and looked threatening. Besides, it wasn’t wearing any collar or muzzle.

Having felt the girl’s silent fright, the stranger told her with a smile:

Have no fear, young lady; my friend will do you no harm.

As if in support of those words, the dog lifted its clever black eyes on Jenny and gave another friendly wag of its tail. However, the girl had no thoughts of reaching out her hand and patting it.

I’ve never seen such breed of dogs, she thought, gazing after two clear dark silhouettes moving away under streetlights – of the tall man and his almost pony-sized dog.

But in the next moment the theatre door flung open again, letting out a crowd of recent onlookers together with a flow of sounds mixing snippets of words, laughter, coughing – an ordinary music of an ordinary crowd. Sounds spurtled outside on the street, and time that had just shrunk in fear and timidly frozen along with Jenny, began to straddle down on damp pavement again, being bustled by hasteful crowd. It seemed like the theatre square came to life – the human river started scattering in every direction, splitting into thin streams.

Jenny! Where have you gone? her mother’s disgruntled voice sounded behind her back.

The girl threw another look at the street ablaze with yellow evening streetlights that had a man and a dog walking down it – however, there was nobody there now.

Do you hear me?

Yes, mum, Jennifer turned around.

Allison Parker looked perfect in her expensive pale-grey coat and an elegant hat gainfully showing off her youthful face in the setting of flowing curls of her fair hair.

What a weather, Patrick Parker sighed, following his wife down steep stairs. Sometimes that rawness is particularly harassing... Now, for instance.

He took his wife’s arm and Jenny involuntarily admired them as she paced beside. Her parents always looked like a showy couple, so they drew others’ attention at all times when they made their appearance in society. Jenny’s mother was rightfully considered a belle; however, her father was just as attractive. A tall, handsome man with slightly wavy black hair and lively gaze of his deep brown eyes; Patrick Parker looked younger than his forty years. Then again, Alisson seemed more like a sister than a mother at the side of her daughter, Jennifer.

Jenny had her father’s and mother’s features blended equally in her appearance – hair colored like pale gold, expressive grey eyes, wonderful body frame and tallness. It was doubtless: another couple of years, and the sweet girl would flower just like her mother...

Are you tired of dampness? Then why wouldn’t we move from Greenstone to some warmer place? Alisson smiled at her husband, continuing their conversation. Though, we have the chance to solve the problem less radically: for example, we could take a leave for a week and take off somewhere to the warm sea... Me and Jenny would have a great pleasure to keep you company!

Yeah, daddy! Jennifer almost jumped about with joy. Let’s fly to the sea while I’m on holidays! For a couple of days, at least!

How simple it is for you! Patrick smiled as well. Just to take off and go to the sea! Of course! We just take off and go to the sea! Jenny cried in such admiration that made her mother and father smile while looking at her. Daddy, please!

It’s worth thinking, Patrick uttered encouragingly. We’ll get back to this conversation tomorrow. And now – into the car! I want to get home as soon as possible and dive into a warm bath, if we don’t have a proper sea at hand...

Meantime, they found themselves next to a white car on the parking.

Having taken her back seat, Jenny snapped the seat-belt and leaned to the window, viewing the round square near the tall ancient theatre building.

Having ridden out to Wind Road – one of the central streets – their car joined the flow of other vehicles. Evening lights were flickering past Jenny. Perhaps, Greenstone couldn’t claim to be a metropolis, but still it was a big city, divided into historical and new parts. It was here, in the latter one, where offices, malls, business centers, cinemas and other buildings were situated. With onset of twilight, a preppy, business-like day-look of the city changed beyond recognition – as if a young business-lady changed her formal grey suit on a sumptuous evening gown.

Having closed her eyes, Jenny started picturing the sea to herself: azure horizon, warm sand and lacework of sea foam right at her feet... Nothing could be compared with the sea, and she had a lot to compare with – experiencing no lack of money, her family visited many countries and various resorts...

With that happy thought about the sea, Jennifer dozed off.

...Colored in amber-yellow and light-orange, golden, green and brown-shaded, leaves suddenly showered in a heap through a wide-open window. Jenny was standing in the middle of her room and silently watching the leafy carpet growing larger on the floor, spreading over the parquet like a golden avalanche. Leaves were growing in number right before her eyes, becoming an extension of a blinding sunlight that filled the room...

J-jeez! What’s wrong with his lights? father suddenly swore in irritation.

Having blinked, Jenny woke up. The light was indeed blinding: it came from bright headlights of a car that had been following them. Sharp sound of a klaxon made her shrink reflexively.

It turned out they had already driven out of the city and were now heading down a quiet street to their home. The car with blinding headlights was still following them with the same distance.

Father swore under his breath again and snapped the holder of the rear mirror, flipping it up. Jenny snuggled up to the side window, trying to take a good look at the car that was on their track, but she failed: headlights blinded her.

Colorful shatters of her recent dream were still racing through her mind, when some shadow appeared around the corner of the road for a second (or was she only imagining?).

Sharp brake squeak broke the silence. Reality froze for a moment, and then collapsed upon the girl with its entire horrible efficacy: groaning incredibly, the car swerved and threw itself aside right into the blinding glow of approaching headlights...

Chapter 2 Separated by an Invisible Line

A dome of the inky blue sky dressed in fragile diamonds of stars spread out over her head. Closer to its edge, darkness dispersed, blending with yellow spots, unable to resist the large city lights. But that was out there, in the noisy and fussy metropolis. Here, outside the city, evening silence could be broken only by a distant noise of a car passing by, by suddenly loud barking of a dog or by some voices near a neighboring house.

Reep-reep... – a miserable response of a thick chain with swings hanging on it. Jenny used to love spending time here. She used to. And now she came here to hide in her dear little world from horrifying reality she still couldn’t accept...

The girl turned around and looked at the house – it was flickering like a Christmas tree: light was pouring from each of its windows. Even the third floor mansard was lit, though no one ever lived there at this time of the year.

All her body was as if ripen with lead; she had a hard time making every single move, How long had she already been sitting here?

Jennifer closed her eyes, leaning her heavy head against chain links. Once again, she had all events of that terrible evening flashing before her mind’s eye. Blinding light... swerve of the car... grinding brake squeak and a sound of crinkling metal... Then darkness... and awakening at the hospital. Doctors couldn’t stop surprising with how come such a terrible accident could have resulted for the girl in only fainting and getting several bruises and grazes.

Whereas they took their time to let Jenny see her parents – as if late perception of the most terrible thing and delay of unavoidable and painful last encounter could somehow mollify the stroke she had no place to hide from...

Alisson’s pale face under a white hospital bed sheet was unnaturally stiff, as it had already been washed of blood streaks. Tangled hair... Mum would never take the liberty of making a public appearance without a hairdo. If only she was alive... The girl was given a chance to take only a rapid glance at her father – he suffered the clash with a multiton truck badly. The bulk of impact came from the side of a driver’s seat.

Jenny was shaking and gasping the mortuary air sodden with hospital scents, unable to believe two immotile bodies were everything that had left of her parents. Only a couple of hours ago they were sitting in the theatre, dreaming of warm sea, joking and were so... alive! But that was there, in another reality that had frozen on the other side of bright flash of light. In the place her closest, dearest people had been left, now separated from Jennifer by an invisible line drawn by death – forever. Forever... What a terrible word! And on this side Jennifer was all alone.

The girl opened her eyes again – those memories were too painful, they came back each time she was in the cold. Nevertheless, she wanted to see no one at the moment.

She had only dim recollections of today’s funeral – as if it had been not a real event, but just a record on an old film.

Two wooden coffins, the priest’s dull speech, flowers held by few of mum’s and dad’s colleagues with faces she failed to remember – could that possibly be real? Maybe she had just been sleeping and having a long-lasting nightmare?

Just now – what if she had already woken up and everything would be as usually? Dad would be sitting in the living room in front of the TV, and mum would scold her for not having taken her clothes away into the wardrobe.

She had such an unbearable desire to believe in it that, having sprung to her feet, she hastened to her house; however, growing headache discouraged her easy stride. And somehow the sight of a wide open door caused some free-floating anxiety. Having climbed the stairs of the backdoor, Jennifer proceeded to the corridor and entered the living room after having passed through the kitchen.

People were still there – those that had come to honor the memory of their neighbors and friends; of the owners that would never step across the threshold of this house again...

As soon as she entered the living-room, all muffled talks abated and everyone present including the priest turned to her. As if they had been expecting something of her, however Jennifer had no idea what on earth it was. Everything she wanted at the moment was to close the door after herself and see none of those stranger faces...

How are you, sweetums? their neighbor, Ms. Walker, appeared at her side. It was a skinny spinster they had never really been friends with, despite they had lived side by side for many years. But now, on the day of the funeral, she behaved as if she had been first on mum’s friend list. A clingy bony hand fell on her shoulder – it should probably stand for comfort.

Without answering anything, Jenny threw the hand off her shoulder silently and ran towards the stairs to the second floor. The girl heard muffled voices from downstairs imagining notes of disapproval in them – they were probably talking about her. But Jennifer didn’t care of it now, just the same as of the fact that she should have been sitting with the guests according to the etiquette rules, hearing out their condolences and thanking for their concern.

However, Jenny didn’t want that at all as all those respectabilities were false and needless – none of the people walking across their living room with their solemnly grieved faces and secretly examining the unshowy, but expensive furnishing was really a friend of their family. And hardly anyone was really mourning about the loss. Now she felt anger for them and for the whole world that had stolen her backing, her carefree and joyous life. Why, why in the world would Ms. Walker continue to walk her dogs every day, watch her series every evening and drink tea, while her young, good looking, lifeful parents would become nothing but a recollection? And she would never – never! – be able to hug them again...

Having got to her room, Jenny closed the door after herself and sat at the window without turning on the light. Voices and sounds were heard from downstairs, but she remained indifferent to them. Even when someone knocked carefully on her door and a female voice informed her that Ms. Walker and Mrs. Brown would stay here for the night for her to feel calmer, Jennifer answered nothing.

She didn’t see any point in observing some stupid proprieties anymore.

Chapter 3 Predators in Darkness

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she started feeling overcome by slumber after all. Without taking her clothes off, Jenny came over to her bed and cuddled in it, hoping to fall asleep. She almost succeeded; however soft sound of steps made her alert. Who could that be at such time? Could one of the neighbors that had decided to stay for the night possibly want to roam the house for some reason?

Nothing was happening for some time. Jennifer dipped into drowsiness, but then steps sounded again. Only this time she thought it was a large dog running down the corridor. Her drowsiness was gone in a split second. Jenny sat in her bed and strained her ears. It didn’t take her to wait long: strange noise sounded again, though this time it seemed there had been two of the animals. Bewildered and frightened, she stood up quietly and approached the door, hesitant to open it.

Suddenly and pitchy in night silence, a blow boomed on the door, making her start back. It was followed by short roaring, as if some unknown beast got infuriated after having run against a barrier. With heart racing in her chest, Jennifer froze in the middle of the room, while monsters began raving on the other side of the door: they were roaring and throwing themselves against the wooden panel obviously not designed to hold such an onslaught. Claws were scratching the floor as if there was no tomorrow; howling and clack of teeth added to the sound.

Jenny was scared stiff. Numerous thoughts raced through her mind in a second, including bewilderment: why in the world didn’t her neighbors that had stayed for the night come rushing up to her until now? For it was simply impossible not to hear what had been going on behind her door. It seemed the terrible noise could even wake people from neighboring houses. But still no one had raced to rescue her...

A blow on the window behind Jennifer made her bounce off to the wall and back against it. What could it be? But the window, just the same as the door, was closed and night misty haze was hiding the invisible threat.

Trying to subdue her jitters, Jenny made two slow steps towards the window – and then froze, unable to make a single move. A huge black raven was sitting on the windowsill. The bird didn’t move and therefore seemed unreal, as if drawn on the damp glass by night itself.

Jenny moved her hand, involuntarily striving to wipe off the ominous silhouette. However, as soon as she moved, the raven flapped its huge wings and beaked the glass again. And suddenly, eyes of this unreal bird blazed up like dying embers in the blackness of the night: the raven stared at the girl with an unspeakable fury.

That was the last straw: obeying to overflowing fear, Jennifer screamed...

Chapter 4 When Home is not a Shelter Anymore

Ms. Walker and Mrs. Brown were sitting on the bed beside Jenny. The girl couldn’t help noticing those telling glances the neighbors shared while she was trying to prove them it wasn’t a dream at all and those terrible beasts had indeed tried to break in her room through the door, and the bird was pecking the window.

Together with Jennifer, the women examined the door and the floor in the corridor, but found no claw marks that must have been left there in a great number.

Jenny, dear, it was just a delusion! Ms. Walker and Mrs. Brown were reassuring their young neighbor. Yesterday turned out to be too tough for you...

Their words sounded so convincingly that they even made the girl feel ashamed – maybe, it really was nothing, but a dream? Indeed, how would dogs or wolves have got inside the house to pound on her door?

Having calmed down a bit, she agreed to try and have some sleep again, however she didn’t want the neighbors to stay in her room. She was not six, but sixteen after all! Perhaps, she overstrained herself indeed and now simply fell victim to a nightmare...

Having closed the door again, Jenny dived under her blanket, however she could not turn off the light – her recent inner turmoil had been too strong. Tiredness gained on the upper hand and soon enough the girl was fast asleep...

Cold, gloomy morning peeped in her window with grey fog. Jennifer finally opened her eyes. Both neighbors had still been here – she saw them when she got downstairs after having brushed up a little. They couldn’t stay any longer, going to go away, but they promised they might come back in the evening.

The girl saw them to the door. Now she was all alone again.

Pending silence turned out to be suddenly heavy and sticky: to disperse it somehow, Jenny turned on the TV. However, she had no desire to watch it, so trying to keep herself occupied, she started to set out the dishes into cabinets as they had already been washed after yesterday’s dinner.

Jennifer bluntly refused to think of how she would live without her parents – she wanted to look only as far into the future as tomorrow. Everyday work brought her to her senses a little. The girl cleaned up rooms on the first floor, scraped out the kitchen shining and even cleaned the fireplace. Usually it was the job for their housemaid coming twice a week, but Alisson Parker as a homemaker was keeping their home clean herself as well. She always thought cleaning up was one of the most useful kinds of activity for a girl. That was why Jennifer feared of no household work. And now, performing some routine labor laded her into an illusion things had been the same again. Any minute her mum would open the door and praise her diligence...

The front door flung open indeed; it was probably one of her neighbors returned. But Jenny was vainly expecting for the guest to approach her – no one appeared in the kitchen. Maybe, she had been looked for in another room?

Without letting the duster off her hands, the girl peeped into the corridor. The door had already been shut, and silence prevailed in the house – no sound of steps, no call, nothing...

Ms. Walker! Jennifer called, but no one answered her.

And suddenly she felt a presence – there obviously was someone behind her... Having turned around sharply, the girl froze rooted to the spot – right in front of her, she saw a huge beast resembling a dog. Or rather it would have resembled a dog if it hadn’t been standing hindpaw, towering over Jennifer a good half a meter high. Reddish fur hung down in dirty shreds, hooked claws stuck out of its forepaws.

Startled and terrified, Jenny lost her hold of the duster and moved back. Having swung on its bended hindpaws, the beast headed after, having fixed its muddy, anger-full eyes on her. Having instinctively felt she couldn’t back-pedal, the girl jerked aside and flung into the kitchen, having shut the door after herself just a second before the huge body of an incredible monster bumped heavily against the other side of it. Another blow made the door begin to shake, and a picture fell off the wall with a bang. Without wasting any time, Jennifer dashed to the backdoor, jumped over the stairs and found herself outside. Without reducing her speed, she ran out to the street and almost knocked Mrs. Brown off her feet.

Sweetums! What happened?

For pity's sake, call the police, hurry! Our house has been broken into... there’s some beast inside, it almost attacked me! Jenny shouted, grabbing the woman’s hand. Please, hurry!

Mrs. Brown’s round face had a mixture of bewilderment and distrust on it. However, Jenny probably looked only too convincing with her pale face and fiery, terrified eyes. Having pulled a radiophone out of her coat’s pocket, the woman dialed the number of a rescue force.

...Half an hour after the police had searched the house through, the neighbors drawn by the noise of the police sirens started dispersing disappointedly. Jenny caught their sympathetic, curious stares now and then. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see people whispering behind her back and shaking their heads. The police didn’t spot the beast itself, as well as any sign of its forced entry. No one believed Jennifer’s words – the girl realized that, just the same as the fact that she was considered to be mad now. As if she could make up this terrible beast in her house only to get herself noticed...

She wanted to talk with no one anymore: in a minute, the police cars would go away and she would be left alone again, face to face with that horror lurking in her house. Lurking, hoping to wait for her...

Jenny was looking at her home and realizing she could not feel safe inside it anymore. It ceased to be her shelter – its windows looked threatening. And