Playmate

Although they had been living here for 3 weeks now, the house still looked new to John. He always kept stumbling into strange things and found new doors which sometimes vanished. His mother didn't believe him and he didn't care about it. He just wanted to explore his new house. 

On a chilly winter evening, John went into his mother's room and asked her if she would play with him. 

"I'm busy, honey." She was writing something in a notebook. 

"But mom, I want to play!" he persisted.

"John, please. Let me finish my work, we'll play afterwards." 

"But you work till late! It would be bedtime when you finish your work." He pleaded.

"Baby please. I've got some really important work to do! Please go play with someone else!"

"Someone else, who? The ghosts?"
He asked innocently because they had no neighbours.

"Yeah, go. Have fun." She told him off.

"Fine, but moooom, they always win..!" He replied, sadly. 

The notebook fell from her hand, her face aghast...

Edited to suit the theme. Borrowed from www.dreamstime.com

Squared...!

The storm was thunderous. His cottage was barely holding up. He sat on an old rocking chair. A glass of beer kept him warm. Thunder was the only source of light that night.

Suddenly the door jerked open. A manly figure stood there. With no light falling on him, he seemed like a shadow.

"Who's there?" He asked, irritated.

"I know." said a blank voice.

"What do you know? Is this some kind of joke? What do you want? Who are you?" His annoyance increased.

"I know you were responsible for that fire." the voice boomed, with no movement in the figure.

"Wh..wh..what? What fire?! Who are you?" He stammered, getting scared.

"I was there, when you lit that match." 

"What do you want to shut up? I'll pay you whatever you quote. Just name it." He spoke hurriedly, sitting up straight.

"Are you sure? You'll pay whatever I ask?" Asked the man in the shadows.

"Yes! Take it and be gone. Let me get my chequebook." He replied, relieved.

"I don't think that would be required." The voice echoed with hatred.

"What do you mean? Do you want cash? I just have 50 thousand in hand. I'll get you the rest tomorrow. So how much do you want?" He said, waiting for the other man to reply.

"I want what I lost. Nothing more."

"Fine! How much do I owe you?" He was irritated, again.

"You cost me my life. It's time to pay back." Snapped back the shadow and disappeared.

Headlines next day-

"Lightning struck a cottage. Burned to ashes."