The Model Home

One morning, Roger's best friend, Callie, dropped by. As she rang his doorbell, he could tell it was her. She could never just press the button and wait, for Callie, it was; press, press, press then a knock on the door. She was so excited that morning to tell him that the new housing development on the northern end of town was selling lots.

“Come on, Roger, let’s take a ride out there and see the new homes. Who knows? You might find one within your budget,” Callie said, bobbing up and down on the other side of the kitchen island. “Oh, we can even pretend to be newlyweds and see if they give you a nice offer.” She giggled at the suggestion.

Roger nearly choked on his coffee when she said it. Wiping his mouth, he looked up at her. She was turning as red as an apple—her eyes wide, her smile quivering, clearly embarrassed and nervous by his reaction.

“You know what, Callie?” Roger said, setting his mug on the island. “I think it’d be fun. I mean, you know me better than anyone, and I know you. I think we can fool them.” He flashed a cheesy smile and a wink, which only made her blush more.

Roger knew Callie liked him as more than a friend; he’d known since they were kids. But he had spent years telling himself they were better off as friends, fearing that taking a chance might ruin everything. So he never tried, and he assured himself Callie wouldn’t either.

“Great! This is going to be fun,” Callie said with a slight hitch in her voice.

Reaching out, she picked up his cup of coffee and took a big sip. Her eyes grew wide as she stared at Roger’s expression. She held the cup to her lips far longer than she should have, frozen in utter horror as she realized her mistake. Her lips were pressed right where his had been; his coffee was now swirling in her mouth.

“Well, I guess it’s official. My wife is drinking my coffee,” Roger laughed, watching the embarrassment wash over her face. “You can finish that cup if you really want, Callie. I’ll be right back down—let me go get changed.” Roger laughed as he headed upstars..

Callie swallowed and set the cup back down with a trembling hand, staring at the countertop. Oh my God, I can’t believe I just did that, she whispered, wishing her alarm would wake her from the sudden weight of her embarrassment.

A few minutes later, Roger came back down the stairs buttoning a clean shirt. He stopped when he saw her.

“Callie? You okay? You look like you…” He paused as she looked up. Her face was as pale as the fresh snow outside. “…are going to be sick. Maybe we should go another day.”

“No, no, no,” Callie stammered, waving her hands. “I’m okay. It’s nothing, I just felt a bit off for a moment. I feel fine now.” She quickly grabbed her keys and purse from the stool. “Let’s go. You want to take your truck or my car?”

Roger followed her to the front door. “Oh, we’re taking my truck. Last time I let you drive, I thought I was going to die,” he said, pulling her coat off the rack.

“It was not that bad!” Callie barked, lightly punching his arm.

Roger grabbed his shoulder and exaggerated the pain, making her laugh. She took her coat, catching the subtle smile he tried to hide, which made her chest feel warm and tingly.

Roger loved to tease Callie, and she knew it. To her, it was their unspoken dynamic—one their exes had pointed out all too often: Too afraid to take the leap, but love to dance around it.

Deep down, they both knew those exes were right. They loved being around each other and knew everything about one another, but they were simply too terrified to find out what would happen if they tried.

Roger followed Callie out the door, watching her stomp off toward his truck. Clouds of snow puffed up around her feet with each step. “Well, Hubby? Are you going to stand there and watch me freeze, or open my door?” Callie huffed as she propped her hand on her hip and smiled at Roger.

“I am sorry, sweetie, let me get that door for you,” Roger chuckled as he walked toward her.

Opening her door, he bowed a little and gestured for her to enter the truck. “Why, thank you, Rogie-poo,” Callie laughed as she hopped inside.

Roger grinned as she stamped her feet lightly on the floorboard, knocking the snow from her boots. When she looked up and caught him smiling, a rush of warmth washed over her. She smiled back, wondering if he felt the same swell in his chest. Roger gently closed her door and walked around the front of the truck to the driver’s side.

Callie couldn’t stop staring at him. She had always thought he was handsome growing up, but seeing the broader line of his shoulders and the sharper edge of his jaw after six years away at college, he seemed almost like a stranger she urgently wanted to know. She couldn’t put a word to what she felt, only that she couldn’t stand the thought of him leaving again.

“Okay, well, let’s get this show on the road,” Roger chimed as he hopped into the truck. With a turn of the key, the engine rumbled to life. He glanced over at Callie, giving her a wink and a nod.

“Oh lord, Roger, just get us there in one piece,” Callie laughed, rolling her eyes.

“Yep, sounds like we’ve been married for a hundred years—already nagging and we haven’t even left the driveway,” Roger said with a laugh. He threw his arm over the back of her seat, looking over his shoulder as he slowly backed out.

“Ha, ha. You’re a barrel of laughs, Rogie-poo,” Callie replied, clicking her seatbelt into place. “I wouldn’t have to nag if you remembered the basics!”

She reached across the center console, her fingers brushing his ribs as she snagged his seatbelt strap. Roger froze, letting the truck idle at the end of the drive. Her eyes locked onto his, and for a breath, neither of them moved. She could hear the faint, steady rhythm of his breathing over the engine’s hum.

Roger swallowed—a hard, heavy sound. He cleared his throat. “Um… thank you, Swee—I mean, Cal… Callie.” He took the belt from her hand, his fingers trembling slightly as he clicked it into the buckle.

Callie quickly sat back in her seat, looking forward. “You’re welcome Roger.” her voice just slightly louder than the engine’s rumble.

Roger stared just a moment longer at Callie, he thought to himself, she is just as beautiful as when we were kids. Clearing his throat once more, he returned to backing out of the driveway.

The ride was pretty quiet for the most part, aside from Callie occasionally pointing out deer or as she described them “Odd Snowmen” in the front of some of the houses.

It was just after twelve in the afternoon when they parked out front of the sales office. Roger hopped out of his truck, looked around the parking lot and noticed no other cars. He walked over to Callie’s door and helped her out of the truck.

“Hey Callie, are you sure they’re open today?” Roger asked, looking around as he closed her door.

“Yeah, I mean, I believe so. I mean why would they be closed on a Wednesday in the afternoon.” Callie muttered as she looked around as well. “Oh look over there. On the office door there is a note.” she pointed to the office building as she cautiously walked across the snowy walkway.

“The note says they stepped out, but the model homes are open,” Callie called back to Roger.

“Lead the way. Let’s find our dream home,” Roger laughed as he joined her.

Our dream home, oh that would be a dream, Callie thought to herself. Off in her fantasy Callie forgot about the ice walkway. Callie slipped, but Roger caught her around the waist, pulling her flush against him.

“I gotcha Callie.” Roger softly whispered as he helped her regain her footing.

Callie looked up at Roger, she desperately wanted to hold onto him longer, and to feel his lips against hers. But that unspoken fear of ruining their friendship, reared it’s ugly head again, stopping her. “Thank you Roger. That would have been a painful fall.” he instead said as she smiled up at him.

They continued their exploration of the new model homes. The first one both Callie and Roger agreed was too small, feeling more like a shoebox than a house. The second was a bit better, but the third was weirdly long and shaped like the letter ‘T’. By the time they reached the third model home it started to snow again, at first a few flakes then more and more, soon it was coming down so hard they could barely see a foot ahead of them.

“Oh man, I think that blizzard the weather man was talking about coming on the weekend, just showed up.”Roger said as he was looking out the front door of the model home.

Callie squeezed between Roger and the doorframe, resting her face against Roger’s arm, “Wow, yeah it is really coming down.” she said.

Roger squinted his eyes, trying to pierce the whiteout of the snow fall, to see if he could see the model home they just left. But he could not see through the snow fall, it was thick and white, like trying to look through a glass of milk. He noticed that either the sun was setting or the storm was starting to blot out the sun, because the furthest part of the snow was getting darker than the snow before him.

“Callie, I think we are going to get stuck in here for a while.” Roger said as he gently guided Callie back away from the door as he closed it.

Callie looked up at Roger, she could tell he was trying to hide his concern as he looked around the model home. “Well, there is still power in here Roger. And it seems the heater is working, it doesn’t feel so cold in here.” Callie said as she started to follow Roger deeper into the house.

Roger nodded quietly, worried for her. He remembered the childhood avalanche that had buried her family’s car, knowing how snow piling up against windows triggered her panic.

Roger looked back at Callie, gently took her hand in his. “Hey, let’s get upstairs and look around. Might be able to see better from up there.”

Callie squeezed Roger’s hand a little as she looked into his eyes, her heart skipped a few beats when took her hand, now it was just racing. Nodding her head and only managing to utter, “Uh-huh…” she let Roger guide her up the twisting staircase.

As they reached the second floor, they were greeted with a second living room that had a floor to ceiling window, which would be looking out towards the Jasper Woods, but with all the snow fall it might as well have been a blank wall rather than a window.

“Well, it is a lot bigger than the other two that is for sure.” Roger said as he lead Callie to the center of the room. “So, does wifey approve of her dream house?” Roger said with a chuckle as he twirled Callie with his one hand.

Callie was in heaven, or at least that is what she was telling herself, she got a bit lost in the fantasy because the next thing she knew she said, “Oh yes, Roger. I think we will be happy here.” and then fell into his chest, placing one hand on his heart. Callie froze again, panic gripped her. “Oh no. I can’t believe I just did this!” She screamed in her head, she held her breath, waiting for Roger to freak out or push her away.

Suddenly, she felt his fingertips running gently down the side of her face, wiping away a few stray strands of hair that fell on her face. He gently guided her to look up at him, as she stared up at Roger’s face, she saw in his eyes that he was happy. “I don’t want to pretend or hide anymore Callie. I have always loved you, I am so sorry that I took so long to say anything. I do want this to be your, no, our dream house.” Roger softly whispered.

Tears welled up in Callie’s eyes, her heart was not just racing now, it was pounding against her ribs trying to break free. Callie pushed up onto her tippy-toes, pressed her lips against Roger’s. For both they felt the warmth of their embrace, they felt the world fade away as their lips locked together.

Suddenly, the sound of glass shattering against a sheet of metal pierced their serenity. Callie let out a short, but loud scream as she jumped from Roger’s embrace.

“What was that?” Callie cried out as she stared at the staircase.

Roger put a hand up towards Callie, motioning her to stay there and not make a sound. “Who’s there?” Roger shouted towards the stairs. “Hello?” No reply came back, Roger looked back at Callie, he could see the fear in her eyes, her hands were trembling.

Roger placed his hand onto hers, “It will be ok, it is probably nothing. Wait here, I am going to go check downstairs, ok.” Roger whispered as he squeezed Callie’s hand then gave her a kiss on her lips.

Callie instinctively reached out and grabbed Roger’s hand again and latched onto it. “Roger, no. I am not going to stay up here alone.” Callie whispered back as she began to follow Roger.

Reluctantly, Roger nodded and started heading downstairs. The stairwell no longer smelled like a new house, it had more of a mildewy, dusty smell. They noticed the air was getting colder, Roger began to think the noise was something crashing through one of the downstairs windows.

As Roger reached the last step, Callie was about four steps behind him. He slowly leaned out into the hallway, looking to the right towards the front door. It was still tightly closed, then from down the hallway heard a faint tinging sound. It sounded like someone tapping a nail against sheet metal.

Ting. Ting. Ting.

Roger looked back at Callie trembling behind him. As he raised his hand to motion for her to wait there, Roger disappeared down the main hallway. Something warm and wet splashed onto Callie’s face, the air suddenly had a coppery smell. Callie could not believe her eyes, Roger just disappeared into the hallway, like he was sucked up like dirt going into a vacuum cleaner.

She suddenly felt something slowly running down her face. She wiped her hand across her cheek. She stared into the palm of her hand. Blood, bright red, hot, blood. Callie wanted to scream, but only a strained crackle came out.

Now, where he was once standing, now only a trail of blood, going around the corner and down the hallway. Trembling, her heart pounding in her chest, her vision began to blur through the pool of tears in her eye.

“Roger…?” Callie’s voice whispered through her shock.

“Callie…” Roger’s voice called back, but it was different. She heard his voice, but the cadence of his tone seemed off. “Callie… Come down… It is safe…” his voice called out again.

Hesitant and frightened, Callie slowly stepped down one more step. “Roger, please come out here. I am so scared.” she called out.

“Callie… Come down… It is safe…” Rogers voice called out, this time Callie could hear a deeper tone— deeper than Roger’s normal tone.

“Roger! Please, come out! You are scaring me!” Callie shouted to Roger. Just then the front door blew open, a torrent of snow flooded into the house. Callie blocked the frozen air and blast of snow from her face, through her arms she could see someone standing at the base of the stairs. She moved her arms, there in the torrent of snow stood Roger. His features were hazy, but she knew it was him. “Roger?” Callie called out over the hiss of the wind.

“Callie…” Roger replied as he reached out for her.

Something was off, Callie felt it. “You’re not Roger!” She screamed and turned to run up the stairs. As she turned she felt an icy grip on her leg, it was boney and something pointy was pressing against her calf.

She looked back, in horror she screamed at what she saw. A long thorny white arm reaching out to her, its boney hand wrapped around her calf with its pointy nails digging into her leg. As she followed the arm back to its owner, she let out a guttural scream, every ounce of air rushed out of her lungs.

There, in the torrent of wind and snow, stood a being, tall, slender. Its face was Roger’s, but the eyes were not his, they glowed an unnatural red. His skin was loose, blood was all around the sides of his face, it looked like it did not belong to that body.

The wind began to blow harder, snow whited out the hallway and stairs. Suddenly the front door slammed shut, the lights flickered, the snow disappeared, the blood was gone from the tiles and walls. Callie and Roger were gone. The house sat silent once again.