Jinn, of the bottle

Chapter 7
Spooking Mr Smith

Chapter Description: Something spooks Mr Smith

Chapter 7

Mr Smith was, for someone so deeply religious, a particularly angry fellow. He lived by himself in a house not too different from Sam’s.

He was a man of certain habits, everyday he would rise early and follow a set routine before work.

He would get to work early and prepare his day’s lessons, he’d mark all his papers behind his desk and return home late.

He wasn’t particularly social around the school, even the other teachers avoided him for his snappy attitude often put them off as well as the kids, he was not a very nice person.

After work when he returned home he’d put a pre-made dinner in the oven whilst he busied himself about the house reminiscing the days events, usually muttering to himself about how silly the children were.

Tonight was no different, and Jinny was the child on his mind.

In his best girlish voice he first mocked her name, “Jinny, spelt with a D, pronounced with a Gee”

Then he mocked her actions “I’ll act real strange and follow some scruffy boy around like a bad smell, I’ll all the time and hope that people love me.” Imitating some of her oddities in the process.

He began imitating her more, his anger increasing with each passing moment, his voice became louder as spittle spewed from his lips until the oven warning beeped, as if like a bad storm his mood had changed and once again he calmed.

From outside of his house his silhouette could be seen through his window, a watcher crept slowly toward the building making not a sound, skilfully navigating the terrain.

Smith prepared himself a stiff drink and a tray for his meal, he clicked on the television and hopped around as he managed his hot meal from oven to plate.

From outside of the house the stranger moved ever slowly toward the light, examining the activity inside, the television blaring out its late night show.

“HUH?!” The watcher froze, stopping fast as Smith turned to the window peering out, seeing nothing he continued his activities in the kitchen.

He disappeared from sight with his tray and returned for his drink as cheers of laughter erupted from the television set. But he moved into the kitchen slowly, as if spooked, his eye’s fixated upon the window.

He turned without wanting to take his eyes from the window, reaching out slowly for the light switch.

The watcher saw Smith tremble, it could sense his weakness as it prowled toward the window, silently hunting.

He snapped the switch off and wheeled to the window, “Who’s there?” he snapped, “I know you’re there, it’s you stupid kids again isn’t it?” he barked creeping slowly to the window in the dark.

His eyes not yet adjusting to the darkness as he peered out at the blackness of the night, moving ever closer to the window, “Who is it? Who’s there?!”

He reached the window, gingerly he put two hands on the glass and stared out of the window.

Nothing……. Nothing was there.

With a sigh of relief he collected his drink from the kitchen surface jesting to himself about such an occurrence.

He glanced once more with a smile “HISSSSS!” “AHHHHH!!!” his glass tumbled to the floor as he shrieked in fright.

“JESUS CHRIST!!” he screamed, “just a cat” upon the window ledge was a large ginger cat, it was hissing and snarling through the window.

Smith looked at his spilt drink cursing, he rose to his feet quickly moving to the window to shoo away the cat, it hissed even more forcing the man outside with a broom to shoo away the enraged creature that swiped and snarled at him with sharp claws and fangs.

The cat was a feral stray, common in this town, Mr Smith certainly did not want it running about his property.

He returned to his meal in front of the TV. He stopped short, as if he could smell something, sweet, like, like alcohol, he remembered the spilt drink and fetched himself another, he had a strange feeling however…. As if… someone was watching him.