As I stood waiting for an answer, the wind picked up, howling while it beat the loose shirt around my body. The noises along with the sudden chill were akin to every cliche warning in every ominous movie scene out there.

An old joke exaggerates how quickly the mind jumps to deeper meaning behind small and simply explained occurrences, yet despite understanding how true that was, that's exactly what my brain did.

Perhaps it was due to my most recent attempts at approaching paranormal matters with a certain amount of rationale, but I began to over-analyze the situation. Standing alone in a graveyard, especially one in a foreign place, could give a quite creepy vibe on its own.

Adding to that the unsettling encounter with the shadow person and the premise under which I was in Daytonsville in the first place, kept me eerily torn between reiterating that wind is just wind and considering that something was trying to communicate danger to me.

I lifted a fist and pounded on the door more adamantly. Another minute passed without response so I casually turned and surveyed the area. Was it just me or was it already getting dark? No, probably only becoming overcast, which would explain the sudden breeze as well.

Shifting on my feet to face the house again, I decided to jiggle the handle. If it was in business, then maybe it was open and whoever was inside was working and couldn't hear me. The knob rotated easily, loosely enough to feel like the metal would fall to the ground the instant my touch was removed.

Carefully letting go, I pushed the entry open and stuck my head inside. Pitch blackness greeted me; I could barely even make out the presence of furniture. I guess the door was broken after all. First thought was to close it and leave; the one that soon followed was to venture further and see what happened.

Probably a poor decision, but I crept around the door to the inside and pulled it to where it was almost shut. Satisfied with the line of light reaching through its crack, I reached into my pocket to retrieve my cell phone. Flicking the screen on and finding the flashlight app, I shone it around the room. Everything seemed old and slightly dusty, yet in good repair nonetheless.

A long wooden counter rested a few paces forward with a vase of what appeared to be fake chrysanthemums, along with a standing portrait. The walls were decorated with several matching frames, some of which were empty and others contained pictures of families, couples, and individuals: all dressed in black. Outside of that, there were three armchairs arranged in no particular pattern.

Slowly spinning, I searched the walls for any sort of light switch, finally finding it behind the bar. I stared oddly at it for a second before deciding it best I not illuminate the scene any more. If I wasn't supposed to be here, I didn't want to draw attention to myself, not that I expected anybody to come along.

Continuing to survey the area, I discovered a second room to the side in much the same fashion as the first: photographs, armchairs, and a single table with nothing upon it. Keeping my light aimed toward the ground, I returned to where I had entered. Was that other building even attached to this one on the inside?

There didn't appear to be anywhere else to go. With a heavy sigh, I strode back to the counter and studied the photo accompanying the cheap flower replica. I noticed then that it was extremely old. It might have even been from a time when photography had been initially introduced.

It was a blurry, off-center representation of a man and a woman standing side by side, yet without any hint of familiarity. Much like a lot of old portraits, their posture was stiff and their expressions were apathetic to the point of disdain. In the background was the building where I stood except without the newer metal structure beside it.

"Fuck!" an abrupt crash had my mouth cursing and my heart racing.

It sounded like it had come from the other side of the bar, but also from a distance. Commanding my chest to relax, I inched around the wood and shone my light in search of an answer. Initially, I saw nothing, which served to properly freak me out. Hallucinations were not something I welcomed, especially in such a time that I had thought I'd come to sanity.

Under closer inspection, however, I noticed there was a hole hidden behind some decrepit boards. Setting my phone on the floor so that it lit the spot, I began removing the planks. Beneath them was a foreboding cellar entrance. Well, I'd never been in a mortuary before. Even if it was out of use, it'd surely be an interesting experience.

As I picked up my phone to see the steps and begin my descent, my mind immediately jumped to a certain and macabre history. If this were the town's funeral home, then not only were McGraff's victims dissected and pieced back together here, but he was also.

With these thoughts, I glanced over my shoulder at the slimmer of light still coming from the entrance. I stopped for a moment, contemplating my actions while listening intently for even a rustling.

Someone or something had made that noise. Whether it was a spirit or, most probably, a rat knocking items off a shelf, I needed to assess the danger. What if another nosy visitor came lurking before me and they were the reason the home was open?

Although I knew such suspicious behavior didn't necessarily indicate an adversary, it was possible. I couldn't simply press onward assuming they were a harmless individual like myself.

Tilting my phone so the light revealed less, I patted my clothes with the other hand. Figures that I wouldn't have had the sense to bring that damn box-cutter with me. Another useless glance to where I'd come from reminded me that there was nothing I could grab for use as a weapon. Dipshit, weren't you just contemplating suicide anyway? the angry voice in my head scoffed.

Forcing away a growl, I put a solid step forward and climbed down the stairs. Even traversing as quietly as possibly, the only commotion I heard were my own feet thudding cautiously against the floor. Once on the lowest level, I paused, listened, and once more learned nothing new.

Raising my phone as I kept walking, I was amazed at how large the basement actually was. Not just that either, it was full of tables, folding chairs, boards, boxes, and other assorted items as though the place was simply used for storage.

I became increasingly aware of the sound of my own breath and the feeling of my chest rising and falling as I inched around each pile. There was nothing of interest in plain sight though, and I didn't relish the idea of just sifting through random containers to find otherwise. The only note I could make was that the laminate floor did seem indicative of prior medical ongoings such as embalming.

The stillness around me worked well in growing my anxiety, yet it remained a grounded apprehension. Fear of getting caught trespassing and receiving legal punishment was forefront in my brain whereas I hadn't even considered malevolent ghosts since I had started this part of the journey. It was a strange sense of peace within this nervousness that my biggest concern was entirely sane.

As I tread closer to the exit, I halted. Where there had been a tiny speck lighting the outline of the stairs, there was now no inclination of their presence. I wondered briefly if I had taken a wrong turn in the dark mess, until the blackness blocking my path moved ever so slightly. It was enough to shift the shadows to allow me to see that it was the figure of a person standing maybe eight feet from me.

I opened my mouth, breath hitching in uncertainty. The form didn't move for several minutes, giving me the sense that whoever it was, they were watching me. Had the shadow person from before followed me here? There weren't enough visible details for me to tell if the beings were identical, but the fear I felt was unlike the pit created in my stomach at the sight of the hypnagogic hallucinations.

Jaw falling once again in preparation to address the creature, I wavered when a new threat presented itself. The figure suddenly stretched an arm out to the side, silver glinting the butcher's knife it held in hand. My eyes widened as the sight sunk in, heart panicking when the silence and their pose lingered for a debilitating length of time. This had to be someone joking around, right?

"H-hey," I forced the fake laugh out, having decided there was no way they weren't studying me, "The door was open; I don't mean any harm," shaky hands brought themselves into view to demonstrate I had no weapon.

There was no response from the stranger. They stood absolutely still. I stepped forward to test their reaction and as as soon as I did, they pounced forward with a raspy growl, rearing the blade backward as if readying to strike. I immediately jumped, bumping into a stack of boxes and knocking them over. My vision flew upward at the person who now stood a couple feet from me, knife in hand, but not making any motion to use it.

I had dropped my phone in the rush so the sight of them was just as dim as when they were further away. Pushing myself from the mess I had made in order to straighten on my feet again, aggravation overcame the prior anticipation of torture.

"Hey man, it's not funny. Cut it out!" I tried to remain confident, but my voice cracked.

"BOO!" a loud yell sounded directly beside my left ear.

Startled, I fell to the other side, noticing another person as I faltered. Their body was bent around the the row of storage that I had been standing in front of. This second figure began laughing in a deep, hardy manner, bringing his right hand into view to show that it was also armed. My sight darted between the two as I desperately tried to slide past them and toward the staircase.

The pair didn't attempt to stop me; they only continued in their intimidating stances as I awkwardly found my bearing and backed away from them. Since they had been able to sneak up on me in the first place, I knew my best bet was to keep my eye on them as I kept distancing myself.

What the fuck was up with these guys? Were they planning on actually hurting me or was this all just a joke going too far for my own comfort?

I couldn't seem to find words again, though they doubtfully would have done me any good. Most likely if I spoke, it would only play more into their little fantasy...especially since if I did manage to speak, it would come out reflecting my inner turmoil. So instead, I opted to keep silent as I kept easing backward. But that didn't work for long either.

After only a few moments, I bumped into something. For fuck's sake! I twisted to see this third assailant while I stepped away, body vibrating uncontrollably when my mind realized I was cornered like a frightened rabbit with nowhere to flee. The latest addition laughed, starting a chain reaction with their two companions who joined in to chortle at my misfortune.

I was caught in the middle of the three strangers who were taking their time closing in. As the circle around me grew smaller, there was nothing left for me to do except stop and wait for whatever they had planned. I would generally be of the mind to at least try to defend myself despite being both outnumbered and defenseless. However, my mental state hadn't improved to the point of justifying expending the effort to fight them when I still really just wished the work of life would end.

The strangers held their knives not even inches from my face. My heart was fluttering so fast that I thought I would pass out and my ears were ringing loudly as my body's only means of release under such impending doom.

My attackers' laughs had ceased, but I could still feel their eyes upon my face, reading for any sign of trepidation. Though at that point, the initial fright had warn off. I knew there was nothing for me to do. These impostors would hurt me, kill me, or leave me alone. I only had to wait to find out which one and go from there.

"You're no fun," a familiar voice suddenly complained.

The treacherous trio dropped their hands and reversed partially to their sides, facing a fourth person. It was the teenage girl from earlier. I only knew by her voice and the fact that she had my phone in her hand. The flashlight was off, but the screen was illuminating her face, showing a severe scowl. I should have guessed it was just these delinquents.

"You know," I said, strength returning, "For it to be such a piece of shit, you sure do keep going after my phone." I meant the words to be more of joke than anything else, but I think my aggravation at being bullied by these kids again had shown through them too much for it to be taken as one.

The girl grinned and got closer, "Bite me. I'm bored."

I glanced around at the boys before adjusting my shirt and replying, "Do you guys make a habit of threatening strangers with knives when you're bored?"

"Oh but we've already met!" one of the younger boys said in a fake tone of excitement as his leader tilted the light to reveal his face, causing the other two to chuckle.

I rolled my eyes and responded flatly, "I'm still a stranger to you. You don't even know my name. Besides," I added, "You do know that this is a serious offense, right? Even at your age, you can be punished for doing something like this...even serve time in juvie. Except you," I turned to the oldest boy and pointed at him, "You're old enough you could be tried as an adult."

The smile on the trench coat clad teen left and he snickered at me, "So what, you going to report us, then? Can't take a little joke?"

"No," I scoffed, "I don't care enough to report you. I just want to know if you're through bothering me because I'm hungry and ready to get home."

The boys exchanged glances with each other before looking over at the girl who simply shrugged. She stepped aside, letting me pass to get to the stairs. As I started the ascent, I heard her call after me.

"Wait!"

I stopped and looked down at her. She had run to the bottom of the case to speak, "Don't you want your phone back?" she wasn't even trying to act tough anymore.

I stared at her for a moment before continuing on my way, "Keep it," I yelled back, "It's a piece of shit anyway."