Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

A bet’s a bet, right?

Besides, he didn’t believe in ghosts.

He imagined that the house had been a real show place in its heyday. The exterior looked like marble but was weather-beaten and stained. Many of the large windows were missing or broken, and the fancy trim was rotted. The front door stood open.

All it would take to pocket the money was to stay in the house for one night. Piece of cake!

Cam went inside. The interior wasn’t any better than the outside. There were holes in the walls, trash was everywhere, and graffiti covered just about every square inch of the place. There was a sickening musty smell.

It was dark, so time to pick a spot for the night.

A noise?

A scream came from somewhere. Cam almost jumped out of his shoes! Frozen in fear, he listened – dead silence.

After a few tense minutes, he walked over and checked out the next room. Peering around the corner, a dark hooded figure was kneeling over a body. The figure turned and looked at Cam.

Cam didn’t wait. He bolted and ran as fast as he could, out of the house and into the night.

Outside, he dialed 9-1-1. He told the dispatcher what he had seen. She assured the police would be right there.

Two police units arrived.

Cam explained to the officers what he had seen and officers entered the house with guns drawn.

The officers came out of the house and told Cam that they had found nothing. They were none too happy and told Cam to head home. They would deal with him and his parents later.

As he was walking away, Cam heard one of the officers say, “The kids these days. And with a laugh, probably on drugs.