I was just over at Tacoma Community College, so it wasn't far away. I came back often to visit and get a home-cooked meal.
I remember that I was sitting down for dinner with my parents, just the three of us. It was in the late spring, early summer season, so it hadn't really gotten dark yet. We were talking like normal, when the phone rang in the kitchen. My mom got up and answered the phone, leaving my dad and me in the room together alone. After a short while, she called my dad into the kitchen as well: "Leo, can you come in here for a moment?" I remember she seemed worried, her voice was shaking a bit. My dad wiped his face, got up, and joined my mom in the kitchen. They weren't in there for long, but they were talking quietly, and it felt strange. After a few moments, they came out of the kitchen. They had their coats on now. "Something's come up, and we have to go out for a bit," my mom said. "There's dessert in the fridge, help yourself. Don't worry about the dishes, I'll wash them when we get back.".
My dad said nothing, but I could tell from his face that it was serious. My mom looked genuinely worried. They were out the door in a flash, and I was left to finish my dinner at the table. I cleared the table and washed my plate, despite my mom's instructions. Then I went into the main room to read. I sat down on the sofa, and opened one of my school books and began to relax. Hours went by, and my parents still hadn't come back. It was now around 11 o'clock, and I was just about to get ready for bed. I walked up the stairs, making my way to the bathroom, when I heard a strange noise. I paused and listened for a while. It was the ceiling. The ceiling was making a slow, drawn out, whining noise. The wood was creaking gently. It wasn't an unusual sound, but there was an unusual rhythm to it that made me uncomfortable, and curious. After listening awhile, I pulled down the steps to the attic and listened a bit more; I could hear the sound more clearly now, along with a metallic creaking noise.
