I sped home as fast as I could, considering the fact that I left Heather home alone.  My heart was racing as I feared the worst, and I still could not believe that this was all happening. I was being haunted by a ghost boy, and he was after my daughter.

When I got home, I couldn’t avoid looking up at the window that lead to the attic. As I looked up, I saw him. I saw Peter staring back at me with a deranged grin across his face.

“Heather!” I yelled. “Heather! Where are you? Answer me this instant!”

Heather came trotting down the steps, wondering why I was so upset. I ran to her and hugged her to make sure that she was okay.

That night I was on edge, watching everything around me as if something was going to jump out and get us. Every time Heather was silent, I called her name, and each time she answered, I felt a slight pang of reassurance.

I began to question what the store clerk said, thinking maybe it was only a ghost story that he told for laughs.

“Mommy?” Heather whispered as she slowly walked into the kitchen.

“Yes, Heather?” I said, observing the strange look she had on her face.

“Something”s wrong.”

“What?”

“There’s someone in my room, someone who should not be there.”

“Who, Heather? Who’s in your room?”

“He’s playing with my toys and messing everything up.”

“Who, Heather, who?” I began to get worried.

“He says his name is Peter, and he wants to play.”

“No Heather, that cannot be true! Why are you lying to me? Do you think this is funny?” I grabbed her arm.

“Ow, you’re hurting my arm!” Heather began to cry.

“Peter! Get out of my house! Do you hear me, Peter? Leave us alone!” I started yelling up the steps.

“He won’t go away,” cried Heather. “He says this is his house!”

Heather began to scream, and then all at once silence blanketed the house. I stopped at the top of the steps with Heather, and we watched the door to her room slowly open.

Little hands creeped around the door, and Peter started to walk towards us. The thumping his legs made, because one was shorter than the other, broke the eerie silence that had engulfed the house.

I stepped back as he held out his hand to us. Heather began to talk to him like she knew what he was saying, but all I heard was silence.

“No Peter! This is our house. You cannot have us!” Heather grabbed onto my legs, trying to hide her face.

“What is he saying, Heather?” I asked, but she did not acknowledge me.

“We are not your family, Peter.  Stay away!”

“Heather! What is he saying?”

“Peter! No! Mom help!”

“Heather, what is he saying?”

I picked Heather up and went to take her down the steps when I felt Peter push, and we tumbled down the stairs.

To be continued….