Newsgroups: alt.folklore.ghost-stories
Subject: The Viper! 
From: mew@gacvx1.gac.edu
Date: 6 Nov 92 11:19:14 -0600
Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota
Nntp-Posting-User: mew

Ok guys,  here is one for you from one of my favorite little books, "Scary
Stories."  Tell it to you girl friend or boyfriend the next time the power goes
out.

     Emma was a sweet little old woman.  She lived on the top floor of an
appartment building in New York.  When her husband had died a few years earlier
she had become quite lonely and the protection and security he had provided her
over the years was gone.  In a way she almost wanted to die so she could be
with him once more but she tried cope as best she could by surrounding herself  
with pleasant decorations and keeping the
rooms very clean.  The building was in realatively good shape and her only
complaint was that the windows would get dirty from the smog outside and it was
unsafe for her to clean them.  She tried to get the landlord to do something
about it but he never seemed to get the message.  She evenually stopped calling
him and tried to ignore the dirty windows as best she could.
 	After a few days, the gloomy lighting was beginning to get to her and
in an effort to comfort her and bring her spirits back up, she turned on the
radio.  She sat and listed to for hours and the day eventually became night. 
She was remembering the nights of her childhood when her family used to sit in
the family room listing to her favorite shows of the past when the phone rang. 
It startled her out of her reverie and she shivered a little as she picked it
up.
        "Hello?" she said.
        "Hello." said a low raspy voice.  "Iss thisss Emma Brown?"
 	"Ye..yes, it is.... wh who is this?"
        "Thiss is the Viper.  I'll be coming up ssoon."  With that, the man
hung up.
	Emma was a little disturbed.  "Perhaps it is just a prank call,"  she
thought.  "Yes, nothing more than that."
	Once again she turned her attention to her radio.  She frowned when she
heard that the news was on.  She really wanted to hear some music right now but
she decided that there might be something important on so she did not tune it
out.  
	".... and now with the sports, here is our very own Larry Dunlop"
     	"Hey thanks Chuck.  Yes folks that's right, it time for Jock talk... 
today was a great day for the Mets as they CRUSHED the Padres in both games of
a double header.  In the first game the Mets got on the board ELEVEN times in
the first inning on their way to a 17 to 6 victo"
	"Whoa wait a minute Larry....  this was just handed to me... 
Attention to all within the city limit.  Vince Johnson, the infamous lady
killer was on his way to the federal prison to serve twelve consecutive life
sentinces for murder in the first degree.  Apparently he was able to conseal an
object which allowed him to unlock his bonds and escape.  Two officers have
allready been hospitalized and everyone is informed to keep there doors and
windows locked until morning.  An intense search is now in progress in all
areas of the downtown vicinity.  Once again... Vince Johnson has escaped and is
considered armed and very dangerous... everyone is advised to get inside and
lock all their doors and windows.  Stay tuned and we will keep you up to date
on  what is happening... we should get a physical description up her in just a
few sec"
               <<RING>>......<<RING>>....
	Emma almost jumped right out of her seat as the phone rang again. 
She slowly got up and walked over to the phone in order to answer it.
 	"Hello?" she asked.
	"Emma.... Thiss iss the Viper.  I've heard about you..  I'll be coming
up very sooon."
	"Wait!  Who.."
                      -CLICK-
	Emma stood there, still holding the phone in her hand.  Who was this. 
How does he know her?  She began to shiver and as she hung up the phone she
glanced at the door.... "Oh my God!  It is unlocked!!" she gasped...  she
quickly hung up the phone and began to make her way to the door.  All she could
think about was the warning on the radio and she was beginning to imagine the
worst possible scenarios in her head... her mind was working overtime and she
pictured herself just getting the chain latched when an arm would come
thrashing through the crack to get her... her heart was thumping harder and
harder as she finally got to the door.  She threw her weight against it and
turned the lock as quickly as she could.   She was safe now...at least she
tried to convince herself that she was...  She tried to breath slowly but it
was no use... she just could not relax.  All she could think about was some
madman roaming the streets in search of another victim.  What if he came for
her?  He was able to escape handcuffs... what good will a locked door be?  Oh
Lord.. please don't let him come for me... plea
           <<<RING>>>>....... <<<<RING>>>....
	Butterflies lept into her stomach... oh no!   Not again!  It can't be.
	<<<<RING>>>.... <<<RING>>>>
        Ignore it... it will go away... no one is home.
    	<<<<RING>>>.....................
	"Yes, you see Emma, it worked."  she said to herself, still extreemly
nervous and frightened.  "nothing to worry abou--  <<<<RINGGGG!>>  <<<<RING>>>

	"No!" she screamed. "Leave me alone!"  She quickly moved over to her
phone a grabbed the reciever.
         "Why?!  Why do you keep bothering me?!  Leave me alone!!!"
 	 "But Emma... you've been wanting thisss for a long time..  I'm coming
up now.   I'm on my way. -CLICK"
         "NO!"  She screamed.  "What do I do?    What do I do?"   "He'll be
here any second... He is coming for me... Oh Lord,  please protect me!
          Suddenly there was a pounding at the door!
        "I am here," said the raspy voice.... "let me in."
   	  "No!  Go away!  I am not ready for this yet!"
         "I'm afraid I can't do that Emma.... You see, it takesss a lot of
effort took me a lot of effort to get here and I am going to do my job.... I am
ready  and if you do not let me in, I'll come in."
         With that the handle jiggled and there was a slight clicking noise.
	"He Has A KEY!!! Oh no... NO!!" she thought as she backed into a far
corner..  her heart was pounding at a sprinters pace.. she could barely
breath..... eventually after what seemed an eternity the door creaked
open......
	There, in the doorway stood a little old man with a large crooked nose
and a head of white hair... he hobbled into the room with a bucket and a cloth
and looked right at her from across the room.  As their eyes met a little smile
crossed his lips.  He limped closer and closer to her, never taking his eyes
off of her untill finally he was only a few feet away.  Emma was pressed
against the wall.. her eyes were wide open and quivered with the terror she
felt....  The little old man put down the bucket and extended his twisted
little hand toward her....
            "Hello, Emma,"  he said in his rapsy low voice. "I am the Viper...
I vish to vash and vipe your vindows if you don't mind.
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.ghost-stories