“You’re going to need these. You know you will,” the landlord said to me as he handed me the keys to my new house. “You didn’t tell me there was an electricity issue.” I said. “There isn’t.” He got into his car and shut the door on my face, driving away. That was weird, funny joke, I guess. I opened the door to my new house. Yes, it was run down, but I couldn’t afford anything better. I sat down on one of my unpacked boxes, realizing I still had the wire cutters in hand. They were huge. Who would ever need wire cutters this enormous? Why would I need these? I carefully tossed them aside. I’m hungry. I walk to the kitchen and turn on the stove to cook. BOOM! The gas stove wafts me with fire as I stand back. I have never seen a stove do that in my life. I’m not dealing with that tonight; I’ll order out.
DING! DONG! The doorbell rings as the delivery boy is here with my Chinese food. I thank and tip him as I’m about to close the door, “You bought this house?” he said. “Uh yeah. Just moved in today,” His eyes widened. “Lease signed?” “Yeah,” I was startled. “The old man did say he’d die in this house.” “What? Died?” I said furrowing my eyebrow even more concerned.
“Yeah, Mr. Wendell. Hated everyone, his neighbors, kids, animals, people coming near his house,” he explained. “Be careful, man,” he turned and walked away. Pf! I already bought this place. Why is everyone playing around with me today? I laid my head down on a pillow and some blankets I set down in my living room. I have got to get a bed.
I was exhausted. My eyes closed as the tv blasted. I sat up. What? I went over and shut off the tv. I picked up the cord. It was unplugged. What. A. Sick. Joke. I can’t bother. I have to be up early. I’ll wake up and forget all about this. I laid my head back down once again. CRASH! I woke up and looked at my watch; it’s 2am. So early. I run into the bathroom where the sound came from. The bathtub was running with the shower curtain fallen in it. I can’t sleep. The lights flicker. I had fixed the curtain and then laid down. But now the lights are flickering and I can’t sleep. I don’t like living here anymore. It’s been a week. Every night the same routine. Oven, tv, bathtub. I’m taking the wire cutters. I understand it now. Mr. Wendell, this is my house now. I’ll write later. I put down my journal. I picked up those big wire cutters. I’m cutting the power. The powerbox. That’s where his source is right? I gotta try. He doesn’t want me in his home. Not his home. MY home. I walked down to the dirt filled basement. I tore open the power box. I immediately cut all the cords I saw in that box. ZAP! I stumbled back from getting electrocuted as a fire started. It began flaming the wood planks above me, holding up the house. It began creaking. The creaking I’ve heard over and over again. A sound I was familiar with. “No I-” I screamed out. Pillars collapsed as the dirt floor crumbled apart, and the roof fell in.