Chapter 8: Shadow Monsters Are Sneaky

I didn't know what to believe was really real anymore. I felt stronger than anyone else. I knew my Grandma wouldn't get along with having two monster kids in our rental house, without her knowing it. I wanted to make sure the two goblin kids were going to be safe with me in my house.

Having power can really make a person change for the worse. I didn't know what it was like to be different. I was an ordinary girl, with no proof I was anything special.

Here I was, about to do something horrible to keep Harold and Gretchen, my two goblin friends from getting into trouble with my Grandma. Suddenly, I heard my Grandma call me from downstairs.

"Emma, dear? Is everything alright? I'm almost done with your laundry. Come downstairs into the basement. And help me fold and put away your clothes while they are finishing drying," Grandma said, politely.

Looking nervously at my two goblin friends, sprawled on top of each other in the hallway, I turned my attention to my Grandma from downstairs. "Okay! I'm coming down! Let me go use the bathroom real quick," I said.

"Okay, make it quick, though," Grandma said. "I've got the dryer on speed dial," she explained. I heard Grandma walking away from the stairs. 

Turning back to look at the two goblins, in the hall across my bedroom, I gasped! They were gone... I didn't know what to think about it. I walked into my bedroom and peered inside of it.

There was nobody in my bedroom. It was like they never existed to begin with. My purple jewel I wore around my neck started glowing and making me feel warm and tingling all over.

I tucked the glowing purple jewel under my pajama shirt. I closed my bedroom door, gently. And turned off the hallway light. In the shadows of the moonlight path, I hurried down the flight of stairs. 

I walked in the kitchen and stopped. I listened for any signs of anyone moving around our house. Who shouldn't be here with us. Just creaks and groans in the walls of the old rental house we lived in.

I didn't want to keep Grandma doing my chores by herself. So, I quickly opened the basement door. And walked down the wooden steps, fast as I could go.

As I got closer down the basement stairs, I could hear our drying machine running loudly. I spotted Grandma ironing one of my school uniform skirts on an ironing board next to the washer and dryer. 

"Hello, love," Grandma said, pressing the iron machine hard on my school uniform shirt. Steam billowed out of the iron machine, making a hiss sound.

I smiled and walked over to my Grandma. Then, gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek. And gave Grandma a big, friendly warm hug. "Thanks for helping get my laundry done. I know it should be my responsibility. But I've just had a lot going on for me these days," I explained.

"I'm helping you with your daily chores, because I love you," Grandma said. "And I'm supposed to take care of you. Which is part of our relationship we have with each other," she said, smiling. She pressed the iron machine hard over my blue school uniform skirt. Making it steam and hiss some more.

I turned and walked over the dryer machine next to the wall beside Grandma. I looked at the timer on the machine. It had fifteen minutes to dry. I looked at my laundry basket on top of the washing machine, where Grandma had put it. 

Looking into my laundry basket, I saw it was empty. All of my clothes were being dried at the moment. "Are you ready for your Halloween party with your church friends, this year, Grandma?" I asked, trying to break the silence.

Grandma laughed and continued pressing the iron hard on my blue school uniform to get the wrinkles out. "Yes! Of course! I can't wait to get everybody together to have some holiday cheer and surprises," Grandma said.

I put the laundry basket on the floor next to the dryer. I was getting ready for the dryer to finish and put the hot, clean clothes back into my laundry basket. "Are you worried your friends may not want to come to your party for Halloween?" I asked, worriedly.

Grandma scoffed and sat the hot iron machine up beside my school uniform she was ironing. And held up the blue school skirt in her hands. "Wonderful! All done with school uniform. Now, I want to be honest with you, love. Everything is going to perfect for my Halloween party. We are going to have a good time. And I want you to be apart of it. You can serve our guests with finger foods I'm making and pass out snacks, and cold beverages for everybody," Grandma said. 

I could tell Grandma was really counting on me to be a good party host for our guest this Halloween. I didn't want to disappoint her if I didn't feel like coming to her party to celebrate the holiday season. I would just stay in my locked bedroom. Until the party is over. But I knew Grandma wouldn't want me to miss out on this special opportunity.

Suddenly, as I watched the timer on the dryer machine continue, it stopped abruptly. "That was quick," Grandma said, unplugging the iron machine next to wall beside the washing machine. 

Grandma and I walked over to look at the dryer machine. Opening the door to the dryer, smoke and steam billowed out of it. Feeling the clothes in the dryer, they were still a little damp.

Grandma tried turning the timer switch back on. But it would budge. "Well, this can't be good!" Grandma complained. "I guess we'll have to finish drying your clothes at a laundry mat, Emma," Grandma said. 

"It's okay. I'm not worried about it," I said. Feeling her frail hands in the hot steamy dryer, Grandma pulled her hand out. "Let's not worry about it, right now. Okay, Grandma?" I asked.

Grandma sighed and closed the dryer door. "It was almost done, anyway," she said, frowning. "I hope I have a protection plan on these machines," Grandma told me.

I tried turning on the timer on the dryer machine. Finally, it hummed and started to turn back on again! "Hey! It's working again, Grandma!" I exclaimed, happily.

Frowning, Grandma shrugged and kicked the dryer at it's side. "I don't understand how appliances are supposed to work around here," she said, sadly. "Okay, let your clothes dry. While I go to the grocery store and shop for the Halloween party next weekend with my church friends," Grandma said. "You can go with me, or stay home. And finish watching over until your laundry gets done?" Grandma asked.

I nodded and smiled. "I'll stay home and finished my laundry, Grandma," I said. "So I don't have to worry about getting my clothes wrinkling in the dryer after leaving them in there too long after they dry," I continued. 

Grandma smiled and gave me a hug. "Now, if you need anything. You've got my cellphone number with you and your phone, too, right?" Grandma asked.

I nodded again and showed my Grandma my pink smartphone I had kept in my pants pocket. "Good. I won't be gone long. There's plenty of leftover supper from the night before in the refrigerator if you get hungry. Just heat it up in the microwave in a plate for six minutes. It should be just as good, as new," Grandma said, smiling. Showing her she cared about me.

 "Ok, drive carefully, Grandma," I said. "I'll let you know if there's anything extra I might need you to get at the grocery store, while you are there," I said. Grandma looked at me with kind, watery eyes and smiled at me.

"It's going to get better for us, in Supernaturalville," Grandma said. "Do you believe me, love?" she asked, grinning.

I nodded and understand. "I don't have to worry about things that happen here for a reason," I said. Grandma smiled gave me another big, warm hug and squeezed my shoulders tight.

I walked out of the basement quickly. Grandma turned back to folding bath towels at the work table next to the washing machine. I didn't get very far. Because when I reached the top of the stairs to our basement, I couldn't get the door to open...

"Grandma?" I cried out loud to myself. I heard Grandma call after me in the basement. I turned back from behind and struggled to open the basement door some more.

"What is it, dear?" Grandma asked, suspiciously. Grandma was folding a brown, cotton bath towel in her hands. As she noticed I couldn't get the basement door to open. 

"I don't know! It's weird! The basement door is locked in on us! We can't get out of here!" I cried again in defeat. I pushed and shoved myself against the basement to get out. But we were trapped...