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brynnhaunt · 6 months

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THE HAUNTING OF HASTINGS HOUSE

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FIRST FIVE CHAPTERS

Chapter 1

The sky was heavy with rain and, from the looks of it, would deliver at any moment. Emily hurried across the parking lot to the real estate office, and the bell above the glass door chimed above her as she entered the peaceful, air-conditioned interior of the office. Emily was thankful she arrived inside when she did because the sky opened with a torrential downpour just a few seconds after she had.

Emily stood there, watching the raindrops pelt against the glass windows. She could not believe how quickly the weather had turned. She turned to the receptionist, who was staring at her amusedly.

“Looks like you made it just in time,” the receptionist chuckled.

Emily smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Yeah, it’s coming down out there.”

The receptionist nodded. “It’s been like this all week. I’m ready for some sunshine.”

Emily laughed. “Me too. I am here to meet Amori Black about a property she wanted to discuss with me. Do you know if she is available?”

The receptionist nodded. “Amori’s in her office. I will let her know you are here. Just take a seat in the waiting area.”

Emily thanked her and made her way to the seating area. She could not help but feel nervous. Emily saw a mirror above a leather couch, smoothed down her wavy red hair, and pinched her ivory cheeks for some color. She heard a door open in the back of the office, and a high-pitched feminine laugh came from the hallway. She plastered a smile as her high school friend from years ago appeared around the corner.

Emily saw Amori approach her with open arms, ready to embrace her old friend. She forced a smile and hugged her back, trying to ignore the feelings of inadequacy that washed over her. They parted, and Amori looked at her with a delighted expression. “Why Emily Buchanan!” “If you aren’t a sight for sore eyes!” Amori exclaimed.

They both sat on the couch, and Emily felt Amori’s piercing blue eyes. She shifted uncomfortably under the gaze, feeling self-conscious.

“So, Emily, I have a proposition for you that I think would be perfect for you,” Amori said, handing her a folder. “It’s an old mansion on the outskirts of town.” The former caretakers returned to their state to be with the grandkids two weeks ago.”

Amori Black was the pretty local realtor who gushed sweetness and southern hospitality. She was tall and imposing with platinum blond hair in a high ponytail that showed off her gorgeous cheekbones, and her full lips were painted a Knock Em Dead Red that revealed that showstopper high-wattage smile. Emily cringed under her scrutiny of her. She visibly shrunk in posture at Amori’s perfection compared to her mousy, plain appearance.

Amori grabbed Emily softly around her shoulders and pulled her to her. One of her long red nails brushed hard against the side of her neck, and Emily winced, but she did not draw away. Emily accepted the hug. Amori smelled like Coach Floral. It was a fragrance that she had worn since Emily knew her in grade school. It smelled great. It was then that Emily felt it -- the bump. Amori was pregnant. She glowed in an intelligent cherry-red pantsuit that hugged her tightly.

“God…why did I come here?” Emily thought silently. It was a mistake to come here. Amori wore a white satin blouse unbuttoned halfway, showing smooth, tanned skin and cleavage. Her baby bump stuck out prettily. She was announcing its impending arrival in what Emily guessed to be maybe a few more months. She stilled and ended the hug. Amori’s smile faded for just a moment but then returned brilliantly as before. “I am sorry, Ems. I was not thinking. I am so sorry.” Amori apologized. Now, Emily felt very awkward, and she just wanted to leave. Amori touched her on the small of her back with her hand.

“Let’s go to my office.” Amori led Emily down the hallway. “You just have a seat here, and we will do some paperwork, ok?” Emily was led to a large and bright sunny room painted a cheery bright yellow with gray laminate floors that made Amori’s red high heels click on the surface with every step she took. “Have a seat here, and I will be right back.” Amori left the room, and a few short minutes later, she came back in with a manila folder and slapped it down on the desk in front of them. Emily breathed in deeply and exhaled. Amori sat down opposite her and perched a pair of sassy black reading glasses on the bridge of her nose.

She pulled out a few papers, smiled down, and folded her arms in front of her on the table. She took off her glasses and looked at Emily.

“So,” her voice was more empathetic at this point. “How have you been, Ems? I know this has been so hard for you.” she sympathized. Amor’s expression looked sad.

Emily sighed and shook her head.

“I have just been taking it daily and dealing with it as best as possible,” she said softly. Amori pulled a small glass bowl with a lid before her and took the top off with a flourish. Amori had filled the dish with green candies in yellow wrappers. “Jolly Ranchers!” Amori exclaimed. “I have been craving them like crazy since carrying this little lady.” Emily’s green eyes widened in her pale, heart-shaped face. She bowed her head. It was as if Amori had taken just a little bit of pleasure in revealing the sex of her baby was a girl. Emily knew that Amori had a side like that. She liked to rub salt in the wound. This wound was wide open and bleeding still. It always would be. Amori noticed the dark shadow pass over Emily’s face.

“Fuck Ems!” she exclaimed. “I just can’t keep my mouth shut, can I?”

Emily shook her head slowly. “It is ok. You cannot tiptoe around me forever. You have your life to live and a beautiful baby girl on the way. Congrats to you and Phillip. “

Amori had that glow about her again. “Thank you so much, Ems. It sure has been long enough!” I was beginning to wonder if IVF would ever work.

“Would you like one?” she held out an apple Jolly Rancher in her left hand.

Emily held up her hand.

“I’m fine, but thank you.” she discouraged.

Amori popped a candy in her mouth and sucked on it loudly.

“So…here is the contract. Amori gathered a stack of papers and handed them over to Emily. On top of the pile was an old, grainy black-and-white photo of an old mansion.

Emily took the stack of papers in hand, but her eyes remained fixed on the photograph. The mansion in the photo was a grand old thing with a sprawling lawn and ivy-covered walls. Despite the image’s graininess, Emily could almost feel the cool, damp air around the old place.

Emily picked up the photo and stared at it. She felt a chill crawl down her spine. Amori sighed and leafed through some papers as she spoke.

“Mama said that it was a beautiful house back in its day. It was grand and stately, like something out of a movie. The same family has owned it for generations since the 1860s. Sadly, no one has lived there since the last family matriarch died in the 2020. “Emily looked up from the photo and stared at Amori incredulously. “Really? Who was the last one to live in the house? Do you know?” Amori nodded and smiled as she placed the papers back in order. “The last person to live there was Majorie Hastings. You remember her daughter, I bet? Her name was Hillary Hastings. The mousy-looking genius of a girl with plain features and huge Coke bottle glasses always jumps at the slightest sound. I always thought that she was so weird. She could have been pretty if she wore some makeup!” Emily tried hard to remember. “So, why is Hastings House not being sold? The family could get some major money on the house, right?’ Emily questioned.

Emily felt a thrill of excitement run through her. She had always loved old houses and the stories they held, and this mansion looked like it had plenty of both.

Emily took the stack of papers and the photo with a curious expression. She had never seen anything like it before. The image was old and worn, the corners bent and the edges frayed, but it still held an undeniable elegance.

Amori sighed. “Well, Hillary called me last week….and get this! She is married to a doctor, has three kids, and lives in New Zealand. Good for her, right?” she gushed.

Emily nodded in agreement. “Yes.”

Amori grabbed another Jolly Rancher and took it out of the wrapper.

“Hillary told me that she was forbidden to sell the mansion on her mother’s deathbed, and she promised her mom that she would not. She is going to fix it up and keep it.” She finished and grabbed a pen out of a plastic cup on the corner of the desk with the name Dafford Real Estate printed on it.

“She desires to have someone there to take care of it, and she will hire contractors to bring it back to its former glory and maybe break it up into units down the road or something, but it will always stay in the family.” she volunteered.

Emily stared at the picture again and felt a sense of foreboding, which was strange because she usually did not sense things like that.

But there was something about the picture that drew her in. It was another black-and-white photograph of the old mansion, which seemed to her to have a dark past. Emily could not help but feel as if secrets were hiding behind the walls of the grand estate. She studied the picture, trying to decipher clues about the mansion’s history, but the image remained enigmatic.

“I appreciate you looking for me, Amori, and thinking of me when this house came open. It is enormous, and I cannot afford to spend money on anything. I am barely making it as it is financially. I have had it so hard since Luke and Isla passed, and it is a true struggle to make it. Are there some cheaper options available? Like a room for rent or something? I am only getting twenty hours at work right now. I just cannot afford the apartment anymore since our savings were used for the funeral expenses and bills. I need money for gas and food, and that is it.

She felt so low having to explain all of this to Amori. What must she think of her? She was at the bottom of the barrel, and there was no way out. Emily saw no light for her at the end of her tunnel.

“It is your only choice right now, I am afraid. Hastings House is vacant and needs care, and with the economy what it is, renting is not going to be easy for you right now. No one is leaving, and they are staying put. Hillary will let you stay for free if you agree to remain in the house and take care of it. Emily, I know that you have your reservations. But I think it could be a win-win situation—you get to live there for free, and Hillary was happy to hear you were willing to take care of their old mansion. She remembered you and heard about your tragedy of losing your husband and sweet Isla. She asked if you would keep the garden of roses and just do light housekeeping, and you are free to move about the house without any limitations. It is all open to you. Emily sighed and nodded her head. She did not have much choice: “I’ll do it.”

Amori smiled with relief and reached out to pat Emily’s hand. “Thank you, Em’s. You will not regret it, I promise. You can move in as soon as you want.”

Emily forced a smile. She could not shake the feeling that something was off about the mansion, but she could not put her finger on what it was. Nevertheless, she needed a place to stay, and if it meant taking care of an old, creepy house, so be it.

After Emily signed the contracts, she gathered her things; Amori hugged her goodbye and went out into the rain, clutching the old brass keys. She did not even open her umbrella. She did not care that she was getting drenched; Hastings House was her only choice. Emily got in her white Camaro and took a deep breath. Moving was a massive step for her, but she knew it was right. Emily could finally leave her depressing apartment behind and start a new chapter. She just hoped she could handle the responsibility of caring for such a grand old mansion.

As Emily looked at the photograph of Hastings House, she could not shake the feeling that something ominous was lurking behind those walls. She felt so very alone and so very hopeless as she drove away. “Fuck Luke. I do not know if I can do this.” There was no response, only silence.

Chapter 2

Emily left the real estate office, drove to the local Andy’s Hardware store, and bought a few large and small boxes, tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, scissors, and tools. Emily arrived back at her apartment and discovered that she was starving despite the stress that she felt in the pit of her stomach.

Emily tossed a frozen dinner of mac and cheese and fish sticks in the microwave and chased it down with a cold glass of sweet tea from the fridge. The rain had stopped, and she could hear the crickets singing a night symphony from her balcony. Emily opened the sliding door, and a gush of the cool breeze after the rain stirred the red tendrils of hair stuck to her face. It felt so good.

The night sky was velvet black and sprinkled with millions of sparkling stars. Emily grabbed her tea, went onto the balcony, and looked up into the sky. She continued looking up and saw a shooting star making a dazzling descent across the stars. She had no wish to make it at that point. Her desires had indeed come true, only to be cruelly ripped away. The worst part was that it was her fault. Emily was in her bubble of pain and misery.

Emily sipped her tea and leaned against the railing, staring into the darkness. The world seemed vast and infinite, yet she stood on the balcony, her eyes fixed on where the shooting star had disappeared, lost in thought. Emily knew she should not blame herself, but the guilt was overwhelming. Emily had made a costly mistake and was now paying the price.

As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, she heard a noise from inside her apartment. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly turned around, her hand going to the pocket where she kept the small knife she always carried.

But it was just her cat, Mr. Nibbles, knocking over a vase on the coffee table. Emily sighed in relief and returned inside, closing the balcony door behind her.

Emily looked at the boxes she had bought earlier, and for a moment, Emily was tempted to start packing at once. But she knew she needed to eat something first. She opened the microwave and took out the now-hot meal of mac and cheese and fish sticks.

Tears filled her eyes at the memory of six months ago when life was so perfect and beautiful. She and Luke had been married for five years. Their daughter Isla was three, and Emily was due to deliver their son any day. Luke had started an IT company with his best friend from college, and it just looked like life could not get any better.

Emily woke up with an intense craving for ice cream around midnight all those months ago. She shuffled uncomfortably into the living room, where Luke worked on his laptop. Her wavy red hair was in a loose bun, and she wore one of Luke’s white T-shirts that was three sizes too big, even with her extended belly. Luke looked up when she walked in and smiled at that gorgeous, disarming smile of his that made her melt. He still had such an effect on her.

Emily sat on the couch next to Luke, snuggled up to him, and breathed in his scent. He smelled freshly brewed coffee and a hint of his favorite cologne, Paul Sebastian. She closed her eyes and sighed contentedly. “What are you working on?” she asked, trying to start a conversation.

“Just some last-minute client requests. Nothing too urgent,” Luke replied, stroking her hair gently. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright. Just a little restless,” Emily said, shifting her weight. “I can’t stop thinking about ice cream.”

Luke chuckled. “Well, we can’t have that now, can we? Let me see what I can do.” He got up from the couch and disappeared into the kitchen.

Emily smiled to herself. She loved how Luke always knew how to make her feel better. Luke returned quickly.

“No ice cream, my love, but I’ll make a run.” He said and leaned down to kiss her belly.

“You are keeping your mom up, son?” Emily giggled because the whiskers of Luke’s dark beard tickled her through the fabric. In response, their son kicked her against her stomach. They both laughed. Emily kissed the top of Luke’s head and then heard a small laugh coming from behind them. They turned and looked.

“Isla, you are supposed to be in bed, young lady,” Emily said in a low mock stern voice. She could not be mad at her. Emily held her arms to her, and Isla flew across the room into them. She grabbed Emily’s neck and tucked her little blond head into her shoulder. Luke’s brown eyes met Emily’s tenderly, and he rubbed Isla’s back slowly.

“Butter Pecan, huh?” he asked with a smirk. Emily smiled prettily. “Yes, please.”

Isla looked up and shouted. “Ice cream Daddy!” I want ice cream!” They all laughed that endearing family way, and Luke ruffled her curly blond hair. He picked up Isla and held her against his chest. Luke whispered something in her ear, and she nodded enthusiastically. He stood with her and looked down at his beautiful wife, glowing with their unborn child. “I will take this little one and get her some Chocolate Chip Nutty Buddy cones. We will go to the Neighborhood Wal-Mart down the road. Be right back, babe.” he said. Luke grabbed his wallet off the hallway table, helped Isla put on her jacket and Crocs, and they left the apartment.

Emily wandered back into the bedroom and collapsed on the king-sized bed. She let the ceiling fan above the mattress blow over her and lifted the T-shirt, exposing her bare, swollen belly. The soft whirring motion of the fan above her lulled her to sleep. She would sleep until they got back with the ice cream.

Emily thought only a few minutes had passed when she heard a loud knock on the front door. She was disoriented and stumbled down the hallway to the front entrance. Why was Luke knocking? Did he lose his keys? Emily did not bother to look through the peephole in the steel door. She unlocked it and opened it up. Her blue eyes widened in her heart-shaped face, and the blue lights from the squad car reflected against her white Camaro parked in the driveway.

“Mrs. Buchanan? “The female police officer questioned softly. Her partner, a young guy in his early twenties, stood beside her. Emily nodded her head as if in a dream state.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, but…… there was an accident about an hour and a half ago….,” She trailed off when she saw Emily’s eyes fill with tears.

Emily smiled softly.

“No… you are mistaken. Luke and Isla are fine. They went to get me some ice cream at the store.” She finished as she saw the officers shake their heads.

The man spoke up when he saw she was far along in her pregnancy. “Ma’am, maybe you would like to step inside where it is cooler?” he suggested kindly.

Emily braced her hands against his chest and pushed him away roughly. He stumbled back, almost falling off the side of the steps.

“No,” she whispered, shivering from the shock her body was entering.

She knew. They did not have to tell her. Luke and Isla were dead. She could feel it in every fiber of her being. They did not make it. She turned away from them and walked down the steps and onto the driveway. Emily was barefoot, and her heart pounded violently. She peered down the road…hoping at any moment that Luke’s black Chevy Silverado would come around the curve with its loud v-8 engine roaring. She would smile, walk to the truck’s passenger side, and open it. Emily would unbuckle Isla’s seat belt and pick her up, and they would walk into the house, have ice cream, and go to sleep afterward, and everything would be okay. But there was no truck.

Emily continued staring, and the female police officer touched her on the shoulder. Emily turned quickly and looked at her pleadingly, but the officer’s expression did not change. Emily let out the loudest, gut-wrenching sob that they had ever heard. The sky opened, and icy shards of the coldest hard rain began to pour down, drenching her and the officers. She sank to the pavement on her bare knees and collapsed on the stone pavers. The officers ran to her side, dispatching the paramedics, and she grabbed her stomach in a blinding pain that made her gasp for air. Emily screamed angrily into the night. She was going into early labor. She still had a few months to go. It was too early to have her son. Her belly seized her, and she cried out, clutching the young male officer’s hand. He held it as she opened her legs and began to push. She cried. She screamed. Neighbors looked on silently and sadly at the scene, knowing something terrible had happened to the young mother.

In the middle of the thunderstorm, Emily gave birth to her stillborn son. The paramedics took her to the hospital in the ambulance, and when she arrived, and they were taking her out of the back of the transport vehicle, she heard that it was a drunk driver in an 18-wheeler truck that had hit them head-on coming back from the store. Luke hit a guardrail and went over the embankment. Luke and Isla were killed instantly.

The stress of the accident had caused Emily’s body to go into early labor and brought on a premature delivery of her baby boy. Emily wept as she accepted this reality. There would be no Luke and no Isla and no baby boy. They were gone forever. Emily lost her family in the space of two hours. Emily wanted to die. It was all her fault.

Luke, Isla, and their son, whom she named Nathan Luke… were buried side by side in the family plot at Edward’s cemetery. Luke’s parents flew back from their trip to Paris and helped Emily with the funeral expenses and getting all of Luke’s documents in order. They were devastated as they stood by the graveside on a beautiful, clear, and warm day and watched their caskets lowered into the soft ground. Luke was well-loved, and many attended the services to pay their respects. After the funeral, Emily asked her-in-laws to take her home, and she hid in the bedroom as mourners brought boxes of food and reminisced about old times. She could hear laughter and crying at the same time, and she buried her head under several pillows and tried to drown the sounds out, but to no avail.

***

Emily pressed her head back against the chair she was sitting in and took another sip of her tea. Even though it had been six months, she could still feel the baby. She could feel its ghost movements against her belly, and she cradled her flat tummy and sighed. “I’m so sorry, Nate.” She told her phantom child that she only wanted her family back and she could not have it. There was no way to get those moments before, and Emily realized that even her wildest wishes could not make her family return.

Emily wiped her eyes with the tail of her yellow T-shirt and entered her bedroom. She grabbed a black suitcase tucked casually in the back of her closet. She unzipped it, retrieved a framed photograph of her family on the beach in Hilton Head last year, and placed it inside the bag. She zipped it up tight and tugged it close to her chest. She would take it to Hastings House, put it in a particular spot, and always keep it close.

***

The following day, Emily smiled through her sorrow as she looked around the apartment one last time. She lightly chuckled as she remembered she and Luke making love, christening every room when they first moved in. Emily remembered bringing Isla home from the hospital, a tiny bundle of joy in pink blankets and placing her in her crib, and she and Luke looking down in wonder at the perfect little life they had created together. She peered in the bathroom where she had taken a pregnancy test and left the positive stick on the counter for Luke to find—so many beautiful memories.

The streets were silent and empty that following day. Emily loaded up the boxes and started her car. She drove away from her old life, holding the keys to the new, and went towards Hastings House, where a new journey awaited her. Emily cried again over Luke and Isla.

The rain had started again, matching her mood as she drove through the dreary and cold storm.

Chapter 3

For Emily, it took about 30 minutes to arrive at Hastings. The mansion was in the Low Country of South Carolina. When she arrived at the massive gates, she looked up in awe. She slowly drove through them and up the curving driveway until the gray facade of the mansion came into view. She pulled up to the old mansion, surrounded by tall Weeping Willow trees that swayed slowly with the summer wind. “Oh my God!” she said in shock. She took a deep breath where she parked her car and turned off her engine. Emily sighed heavily and released her seatbelt. She stepped out of the vehicle and, standing in the light rain, she smiled up at the sizeable looming structure of Hastings House, and Emily felt that sense of dread again. She grabbed her bags and suitcase and slowly made her way up the pavers to the door. The house’s exterior walls were old and faded grey brick adorned in climbing green Ivy, and the windows were shrouded in thin spider webs. She took the large Brass key and clutched it tightly.

Emily had to brace herself as she opened the large double oak doors and stumbled into the darkened hall of Hastings House. The cold welcome chilled her to the bone, and she half expected a ghost or two to try and scare her off, but nothing happened. “You don’t believe in ghosts, Ems.” she reminded herself. The air was cold and damp, and the smell of age wafted. Emily felt uneasy as if someone were watching her. She took a deep breath and steeled herself as she stepped further into the massive foyer. Emily looked up in wonder at the crystal chandelier above her. She thought that if it were to fall, she would be dead. Emily stepped deeper inside the first floor and looked around the grand living room with large, draped windows and an intricate rug that looked like it belonged in a palace. The second floor was bright, with light from the large windows shining down on the marble floor. Emily could see a grand piano to her left and a hallway with doors lined up leading somewhere. As she ventured further into the dimly lit rooms, she got an overwhelming sense of presence, as if someone were walking with her. Emily dismissed it. She picked up her suitcase and took a few steps further into the room on the left. A gust of chilly wind blew through the open hallway, making her shiver. She quickly shut the door, and the breeze dissipated.

Emily laughed nervously. She gasped and looked around at the tall ceilings and the intricate moldings on the walls. Emily was surprised by the beauty and elegance of the room she was standing in. Although time had taken its toll, the room still had a sense of grandeur. This feeling of not being alone heightened as she stumbled into an extensive library and saw a figure standing in the far corner dressed in white, facing the wall. Emily screamed in fear and fright as she saw the figure move towards her, walking backward, and she scrambled back. Emily dropped her bag, and her heart pounded quickly. Emily placed her hand over her heart to slow it down. The figure spoke, and Emily felt relief when she heard a familiar voice.

Amori, the real estate agent, stepped out from the shadows. “I see you have arrived,” Amori said with a small smile. Emily cried out. “Amori! You scared the shit out of me!” she yelled, but her face was relieved. Amori chuckled. “I certainly was not going to let you come out here and walk through the house alone.” she drawled in her southern accent that could melt frozen butter. Emily breathed deeply, and together, she and Amori ventured through the mansion, amazed at its beauty even though it was so old. However, darkness still pervaded the place, and Emily felt a chill run down her spine as she and Amori climbed the wide Bifurcated Staircase.

The creaking of the stairs and reverberations of their footsteps echoed around them, and Emily could feel a strong presence increasing the further they climbed. The wood railing was smooth beneath her palms. Amori looked pretty in a long white flowing dress with her blond hair pulled back in a half up half down style with tendrils framing her face. She looked back at Emily and smiled.

“So, this mansion was built in the 1850s, and is it not just like stepping back in time?” she gushed excitedly. Emily saw the haunting family portraits that had been hung on the walls gracing both sides of the grand double staircase, and it seemed as if their eyes followed her. She shivered and hurried up the stairs to catch up to Amori. Emily agreed with a nod of her head. “Yes, it is for sure.” They arrived at the top of the second floor, then turned around and looked back down. They had climbed a lot of stairs. Emily placed her hand on the wooden rail in front of her and had a flash of something so horrific that she stumbled backward. She backed into a large potted plant and almost knocked it over. Amori knelt in front of her with great concern on her face. She grabbed her hand. “Are you ok?” Amori asked, concerned.

Emily closed her eyes to erase the image that she had seen. She never wanted to see that again. Not ever. A woman or girl stood where she stood and then placed her hands around the railing, hauling herself over the bar and falling. What in the hell? Why had she seen that? It was as if the person wanted to jump. The creepiest part of all? She was smiling as she was doing it.

Emily took a few deep breaths and tried to steady herself. She looked down at her hand, which was still trembling. “I don’t know what just happened,” she said, her voice shaking. “I had this sudden feeling, like something terrible happened here.”

Amori looked at her with a mix of curiosity and concern. “What kind of feeling?” she asked.

“It was like a flash,” Emily said, trying to find the right words to describe what she had experienced. “Like…like a memory, but not my own. It was like I was seeing through someone else’s eyes.”

Amori’s eyes widened. “That’s…unsettling Em’s,” she said.

Emily nodded, still feeling shaky. “Yeah. I do not know what it was, but I do not think I want to stay up here any longer.”

Amori stood up and brushed off her knees. “Alright. Let us head back downstairs.”

Emily could not block out the face with an unholy visage as they descended the staircase. It scared her.

“Are you ok?” she asked again.

Emily sighed. “Yes. I am just so tired and did not get enough sleep last night. The mind was playing tricks.” she said softly.

Amori smiled again and chuckled nervously.

“What did you see, Ems?” Emily questioned curiously.

Emily shook the image away. She did not want to resurrect it again.

“It does not matter. Let us continue the tour, shall we?” She dismissed the subject, and Amori said nothing else.

They continued to traverse the mansion inside and out, and for a moment, Emily had forgotten about the vision she had seen at the top of the stairs. She started to adjust to the atmosphere of the mysterious old mansion and was beginning to enjoy the thought of living in a beautiful place such as this. She certainly felt that the mystery of Hastings House was slowly beginning to intrigue her increasingly. Why would it not be sold to another family to enjoy it in the future? Why let it just sit empty? Why?

After hours of walking and talking, Emily and Amori finally returned to the house. She had enjoyed touring the grounds and the gardens. The flowers were well kept; someone still cared for them because the roses were stunning, and the beds had no weeds Emily could see. Amori said she would find out who the groundskeeper was and get back to her when she found out. They toured the large kitchen with marble counters, white cabinets, and a black and white checked floor. The kitchen was accented with touches of red and had a very French Country vibe. Red curtains hung from the smaller window above the sink, and longer drapes of the same color swept the floors gracefully in the eat-in area of the same space. Emily loved to cook and fell in love with the chef’s stove and massive stainless-steel refrigerator. She could make some great meals here. She could only imagine the beautiful meals the cooks made in this kitchen over the decades.

Amori sighed.

“Girl. I am pooped! This place is massive and just gorgeous!” Amori exclaimed. “I am going to head on out, but you are sure you don’t want one of the many suites upstairs?” she asked incredulously. “I mean. There are fourteen bedrooms up there, and the only one that appeals to you is the maid’s quarters off from the kitchen?” she questioned like Emily was strange.

Emily leaned against the massive island and folded her arms.

“I like it.” She spoke. “It has personality and color, and I felt very homey there, which suits me just fine.” She finished.

It was by accident that Emily found the room. She looked back toward the house from the garden, saw the room built off from the kitchen, and saw the cheery daffodil yellow curtains adorning the large bay window. Emily looked at it and returned to the house, leaving Amori in the garden. She walked through the kitchen door, wandered down a small, tiled hallway, and found a closed door with a delightful stained-glass pane in the middle of the wood door. Emily placed her hand on the brass knob and turned, but it would not budge. Amori had returned inside by that point and looked hard at Emily.

“What are you doing?” she asked loudly.

Emily looked behind her to see where Amori was standing.

“I saw this room from the garden, and I want to see what is in here,” she explained.

Amori shook her head.

“Have you tried the master key?”

Emily sighed. “Yeah…. but it will not open it,” she said, frustrated.

Amori returned to the kitchen, picked up the manila envelope with the contract, and reached down to the bottom, and her fingers closed around a set of keys. To what they went to? She did not know, but it was worth a try, right?

She walked back down the hallway and handed the keychain to Emily.

Emily took the keys and smiled. She tried the first one, but it did not fit. Emily pushed the second key in, but it was the same; then she tried the third key, and it opened with a satisfying click.

She opened the door and beamed as she stepped inside. The room was tiny compared to the others, but the colors were impressive. Vibrant yellow adorned the walls, while a laminate floor in a lively hue lit up the space. Someone had dressed the large white iron bed in cobalt, patterned pillows, and a fluffy white bedspread and comforter. Emily opened her arms and declared, “I think this is it!” Amori looked around in approval. “It’s certainly you, Ems.” Emily could agree; she admired the small gas fireplace in the right corner and the adjoining full-sized bathroom with an inviting soaking tub. She was also pleased to find a cozy area with a TV and entertainment center for relaxing.

“Em’s!” Amori exclaimed.

Emily followed her voice and then saw a separate smaller area off from the bathroom with a nice-sized armoire built in and shelves for things.

“I will sleep in here for sure.” She told Amori.

Amori looked at her watch, and her eyes widened.

“Oh goodness. I have been here for hours.”

Emily stepped out of her house and stood in the round driveway. As the sun set, so did its light; the green rolling hills slowly transitioned into a deep purplish hue.

Amori opened the door on the shiny black Lincoln Navigator and got in, shutting the door behind her. She looked ahead of Emily and saw the lights on in the house. They had located the breaker box, and the place flooded with light. She was worried about Emily, but she would not tell her that. She was worn out and exhausted, and her ankles had swollen slightly from all the standing and walking through the house and the grounds. This house would give her a lovely commission if only she could talk the owner into selling it, but that would not happen.

“Call me if you need me, ok?” Amori said.

Emily smiled and wrapped her arms around her to ward off the night chill. She was nervous about her first night, there was no doubt, but she was going to fix some food that she brought in her cooler, have a soda, and go to bed in her cozy little space. It felt like a cottage space to her.

“I will be fine, Amori. Thank you for spending the day with me.” She was grateful for it.

Emily watched Amori drive away and continued looking until the SUV disappeared around the bend in the road. She was alone. Emily felt a chill creep down her spine and turned to the house. You know when you sense someone watching you. You just feel it, and Emily thought it now. She slowly approached the house and walked up the front steps. Emily opened the door and walked inside the brightly lit foyer. She closed and locked the large doors behind her, and she walked faster as she made her way to the kitchen to make a sandwich. The past owners updated the kitchen. Recessed lighting was in the ceiling and over the counters. Emily grabbed her green cooler off the counter and opened it. She opened the bag of ham and rolled it up, eating a few pieces of it, and then popped open a can of coke and drank it in almost one gulp.

Nine o’clock had arrived, and Emily was finally ready to turn in for the night. Exhaustion had taken over her body, but she still needed to check that the house was secure before she could crash.

Emily left the open kitchen and went down the hall to the front of the house again. She turned off the light switch on the wall by the doors and turned on the alarm as Amori had instructed. The little green light popped on, and an automated voice said, “All areas secure.”

Emily drew a sense of security from the sound of the voice, even if its purpose was only to inform her. She glanced up at the curved staircase and spotted the large, eerie family portraits hanging on the wall, then settled her gaze on the railing, where she had seen a vision of the apparition earlier in the day. But nothing happened. Emily exhaled with relief and averted her eyes.

There was nothing wrong with this house, and she did not believe in that shit anyway. It was just her mind playing tricks on her. Pleased with her self-reassurance, Emily spotted the long hallway lit up on the second floor and sighed. It was time for her to retire to bed.

Emily returned to her room, glancing at the weather app on her phone as she walked. When she entered, Emily smiled at the cheerful colors in the room and the sweet smell of freshly laundered linens. She changed into her lavender nightgown and settled in bed, feeling safe and secure beneath the covers. Emily would never even consider sleeping upstairs in one of those large suites. As a sense of warmth overcame her, her exhaustion slowly made her relax, and her limbs grew heavy. But then, just as she closed her eyes, Emily heard a faint whisper – so soft that it could have been all in her head. Fearing she would open her eyes to find someone standing there, Emily curled up tighter under the comforter and eventually fell into a deep sleep.

The moonlit night flooded the room, giving Emily’s slumbering body a silvery glow. A girl with coal-black eyes and a mouth gaping open in a horrific smile glared at her from the shadows, hatred radiating from her being. In a split second, she was gone.

Chapter 4

Emily woke up early the following day to birds singing outside her window. She saw the first signs of dawn coming through the bay window, pulled the comforter closer to her chin, and closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the pain to surface again as it did every morning.

Each morning, I started the same for Emily. She awoke with a blank mind, but gradually, it all flooded back to her like a broken dam in her subconscious. Her memories and emotions hit her like a battering ram of sorrow, pain, and longing that was fresh and new every time, unrelenting in its attack on her psyche.

She threw back the covers from her body and exited the bed. Her feet landed on the floor, and she shivered. It was so cold in the room. She longed for nothing more than a hot shower. She went to the bathroom, looked at her reflection in the mirror above the sink, and noticed the prominent black shadows under her eyes and the weary look of sorrow on her face. She was only 25 but looked 35 with what life had delivered. She leaned over and turned on the shower and felt the stinging hot spray turn much more comfortable after some adjusting of the handle.

Emily stripped out of her clothes, got a towel out of her bag and some fresh clothes out of her suitcase, and piled her red hair on top of her head in a loose knot. She entered the large, spacious, tiled shower and let the water sluice down her slender body to the shower floor. She grabbed a bar of sweet-smelling soap from the tray in the shower, lathered her body, and then rinsed it off.

Once her morning ritual was complete, she dressed in fitted jeans and a white V-neck t-shirt that hugged her tiny waist and slipped into a pair of white canvas tennis shoes. It was time to start her first day.

Emily opened the door to her room and stepped out into the chilly hallway off from the kitchen. The morning sunlight lit up the kitchen, casting a soft glow on the copper fixtures and white marble counters, and she could see the gardens and hills beyond through the window above the large farmers’ copper sink. The southern sky was beautiful in muted shades of peach, yellow, and turquoise blue.

An intense need for coffee hit her, and Emily looked around for a coffee maker but did not find one. Damn, she thought to herself. I need that. She would have to make a trip to the store and pick up a few things to survive here, and a coffee pot would be at the very top of that list and some food, she thought as she scanned the inside of the massive stainless-steel fridge and many cabinets. They were both bare. Yep! A trip to the store was most definitely in order.

Emily made a concise list on her phone of things to pick up, and then she went to the front of the house and opened all the doors downstairs to air out the spaces and let some freshness in. She gazed at the large rooms, like the library, sitting room, and massive office, and could not help but be amazed by their immense beauty.

Emily walked out of the library and looked up the steps. Her eyes wandered to the railing again, but there was nothing there, only a stream of sunlight caressing the wood. Emily, you are so silly. She chuckled to herself and walked up the steps to the second floor. The landing was beautiful, with large oriental rugs covering the well-polished wood floors. The head of the household liked clocks in the past because they were everywhere, and as the clock struck 8 o’clock, they all began to chime. There had to have been at least 30 chiming clocks. Emily shook her head and turned to walk down the hallway to open the doors to the suites. The sun lit the hallway to the left from the large windows facing the front of the home from the east. She turned to the right hallway; it was dark, and not one ounce of sunlight lit up the dark corridor.

Emily decided to go ahead and let those rooms air out first. Get the creepy part out of the way. She turned the flashlight on her phone and pointed it down the hallway. She went to the first large door and opened it up. The inside of the room was bright and sunny, and the décor was a light spring green. It was lovely with a high canopied bed, green rugs, and touches of green and yellow everywhere her eyes landed—the bedding, the drapes, etc.

One room down, she whispered to herself.

Emily explored a pink room, a blue one, a yellow one, and a red one that was too much. Then, there was the white space before she reached the last chamber. It was only accessible through three steps of stairs. When she went to open it, however, the door would not budge - Someone had locked it from the inside.

How strange!

Emily dismissed it for a moment. She would have to get in there eventually, though. Emily turned to walk away and heard what sounded like a slight knock on the door from the inside. She turned back quickly, grabbed the knob, and turned, but it would not.

Emily stepped back and glanced over her shoulder. The sight of the door made her sick, as it had the previous day. She felt weak and on the verge of throwing up. Even though there was no lock on the door, it would not budge. It would have taken a lot of effort to open, more than Emily had to spare. As she moved away from the door, the nausea started to subside. It was completely gone when she reached the middle of the landing. The bedrooms had light streaming in from their windows but not from the door at the end of the hallway. All that came from there was an oppressive force that frightened Emily.

Emily toed it back downstairs quickly. Once in the foyer, she heard the clock strike 9 o’clock, and the chime of the bells echoed loudly throughout the house. Emily grabbed her wallet and keys and left the house. She got in her car and drove away. Emily needed some distance. She glanced through the rearview mirror, and the place looked so still and lifeless. The Weeping Willow trees surrounding the mansion even seemed to sag with sadness. The house was not still and quiet, though. Something was wrong, and Emily knew it all surfaced from that dark room at the end of the hallway. The door would not open. Someone did not want that door to open, and they fixed it so it would never open again.

Chapter 5

Driving away from Hasting’s House, Emily felt a sense of relief. She had only been there two days, and though she had hoped for an improvement in her mood, it had not happened yet. With more time, it would. As she drove along the winding country road, she noticed a pretty store at the side of the highway—Gordan’s Country Market—so Emily pulled into its overflowing parking lot and went inside. A tantalizing aroma of freshly cut flowers surrounded her as soon as she stepped through the open doors. There were buckets full of colorful blossoms resting on the windowsills. Taking a basket in hand, Emily chose some red carnations and white and yellow daisies to brighten up her room decor, even though Hastings House had its own garden that she had yet to explore. Flowers always cheered Emily up, and these would be no different.

Emily entered the bustling store that looked like it had been there since the 1930s or 1940s. The building was charming, covered in white aluminum siding and large windows with bright red shutters. A couple of older adults sitting on the benches outside sent her a warm smile when she passed them. She recognized their faces – they reminded her of her grandparents, whom she had not seen for an extended period. Soft country music played from the speakers at the front. Emily noticed a sign above the blue Formica counter reading, “Fresh fudge and cookies ready to devour!” she followed her nose toward the candy section. Sample cups of blond fudge and chocolate chip cookies, lined up in rows, were calling out her name. Emily could not resist taking a bite out of one. The sweet butter and cocoa melted in her mouth, making her eyes roll in pleasure.

“Pretty good, huh?” a female voice behind her said.

Emily turned and saw a pretty young woman with the reddest hair she had ever seen and tons of freckles all over her face and arms. She was lovely, and her green eyes flashed with warmth and kindness. She was Merida from the Disney Movie Brave brought to life!

Emily smiled back. “Yes, it is perfect!”

The young woman stepped out from behind a stack of boxes filled with chips and other snacks in the center of the store.

She had the most genuine smile and held a box cutter in one hand and a box cut down in the other.

“We are running a special buy one, get one for free deal!” she said enthusiastically.

Emily smiled.

“Well then, I will take advantage of that deal.”

Clarrisa walked over to her and patted her on the right shoulder.

“Hang right there.” She said in a sweet southern accent and put down the box and cutter.

She went behind the counter and grabbed two boxes. Clarrisa stood before a glass cabinet displaying the sweets and slid the door back to access the cookies and fudge.

“What is your poison? We have blond fudge, Maple walnut fudge, and my personal favorite, California Walnut fudge. For cookies, we have Chocolate chips, sugar, and.” She leaned back in the cabinet and pulled out a tray. “And my mom’s famous Peanut Butter cookies.”

It all sounded so good to Emily, but she chose a box of blond Fudge and Peanut Butter Cookies.

“I’ll wrap these up for you.” Clarrisa offered.

Emily stood and watched her work.

Clarrisa carefully placed the fudge and cookies in boxes and then sealed them with some tape.

She looked up and handed the boxes to Emily.

She wiped her hands on a red gingham apron tied around her slender waist, and Emily noticed her bright red tennis shoes. Red must be her favorite color, she ascertained.

She stepped back around the counter.

“Is there anything else that I can help you with?’

Emily felt her friendliness radiating from her, and so she responded with.

“I know this is probably impossible… but do you have a coffee pot?”

Clarrisa chuckled.

“Aren’t the ones in the hotels pathetic … so tiny, and they do not even have a good selection of coffee?” She finished.

Emily smiled.

“I am not staying at a hotel. I need one for the place I am currently staying at,” she said.

“No. I am staying at the Hastings House.” She volunteered.

Clarrisa’s eyes widened with shock.

“No way! Seriously?”

She could not have been more than nineteen or twenty.

She had not had a hard life. At least not yet.

“Stop it, Emily. Don’t think that about that young woman. Just because your life is crap, doesn’t mean that hers is.”

Emily responded.

“Yes. I moved in just yesterday.”

Clarrisa grabbed her softly around the elbow and linked her right arm with her left arm.

“You come with me.” She looked at Emily as if wanting to know her name, and Emily recognized that, so she told her name.

“Emily Buchanan.” She spoke.

Clarissa smiled brightly.

“Well, it is nice to meet you, Emily Buchanan. I think we can find something in the retail section. Mama has everything like the big box stores.”

She led her down aisles of canned goods, meats, produce fruits, and vegetables. And then they turned down another corridor and came to a set of double doors that opened electronically.

This part of the store had a boutique atmosphere. Down the aisles, an array of decorations, appliances, and jewelry was on display. Clothes hung attractively from racks. A worker had Toys, bedding, and colorful pillows piled up on a daybed in the corner to catch a customer’s attention.

“Right back here, Emily,” Clarrisa said, and Emily followed her.

The aisle was tight and confined, but Emily could see a coffee pot for sale at the end of the row—a Mr. Coffee machine.

Clarrisa lifted on her tiptoes and pulled the box down. She handed it to Emily, and Emily deposited it in her cart.

“Thank you, Clarrisa.”

She nodded.

“Of course!”

Clarrisa walked with her back down the aisle. They walked down the aisle single file because there was little room.

“So, how do you like that house?’ Clarrisa asked. Softly. Emily thought for a moment about how to answer that.

“It is huge. Creepy. But lovely, just creepy.” Clarrisa looked up as if she heard something that she was not supposed to.

“Creepy, how?” Emily thought about revealing the truth, but she discounted it. She did not want any pity. She just wanted to do her job and possibly make a new life.

“Oh, you know. It is old, empty, and big. It just makes me feel.” Emily paused. “Unnerved at times. I have been there for only two days, and already I feel uneasy with how large it is, like I could get lost and never find my way back.”

Clarrisa nodded. She seemed to understand. They rounded the corner to the checkout lane.”Be careful there.” For some strange reason, Clarrisa said that as if she knew something she was not telling.

Emily smiled. “Of course. I always am.”

“I bought some flowers to spruce up the mantles, and now that I have a coffee pot, I can make it.”

Clarrisa gasped.

“Oh…do you like blueberries?” She exclaimed.

Emily liked this woman.

“I do,” she stated.

“Well….do I have the coffee for you then!”

She led her to the coffee aisle, located a bag of Blueberry coffee, and threw it in the cart.

“Annie’s Blueberry coffee is cheaper than some other brands, but the flavor is incredible!” she gushed.

“I see the lines are getting longer, and Mama will be on the intercom calling me a few, and I hate that,” she said, rolling her green eyes dramatically.

Once they arrived back at the front of the store, Emily and Clarrisa went their separate ways, but first, Clarrisa grabbed her hand.

“Hastings has a fascinating history. You should read up on it.”

Emily tucked the information away in her brain and kept shopping, eventually deciding on a steak, a potato, two jugs of sweet tea, canned vegetables, red apples and navel oranges, bread, slices of ham and turkey, some mayonnaise, tomatoes, and coffee filters. Content with her haul, she made her way to the checkout line.

The lines were long, and Emily picked up a US Weekly magazine from the rack beside her and flipped through it while she waited. Finally, it was her turn.

“Well, Hello again!”

It was Clarrisa.

She started swiping the items as Emily loaded them onto the belt.

“So, you have heard that Hastings is haunted, right?” she asked as she keyed in the code on the apples.

Emily looked at her as she dug into the back pocket of her fitted jeans and pulled her small brown wallet out to get her debit card.

“I have heard that for years, but I don’t believe in all that,”

Clarrisa told her about the total amount for her groceries, and Emily paid.

“When I was in high school, we had to do a book report on our town, and I chose the Hastings House because we used to go out there and do-little rituals and rites of passage stuff as young teens on Halloween night.” Clarissa winked at her teasingly and stuck the tip of her tongue out. Emily was sure there was some mischief with that abundance of red hair.

Emily laughed and watched Clarrisa bag her groceries. “I just thought you should know. Many people swear that the house and grounds are haunted, and it was super creepy at night when I was there. That night was super-duper creepy because Mrs. Hastings had just passed.” Clarrisa winked as she handed Emily the two bags of groceries.

“It was nice to meet you, Clarrisa.”

Clarrisa waved as Emily walked past her.

“Same here! Have a wonderful day, and come again!” she yelled after her.

Emily smiled as she exited the store with her groceries and her little garden of flowers. Clarrisa had heard stories about the house, but Emily did not want to hear about it. She was going to investigate its history at some point. She just was not sure when. She had to live there for now, so she would blank out anything she heard from others.

After she had collected all her groceries, Emily loaded them into her Camaro and drove home. Then it hit her—she had forgotten the milk! Cookies without milk were no fun, so she pulled over in a mart and got a gallon of the stuff before continuing to the house. As she pulled up to the driveway at around eleven o’clock, something caught her eye—a foreign car she did not recognize parked under the weeping willow tree that lined the circular drive. Her heart raced as she noticed it was an old black Honda; why was someone here? She did not know anyone who drove a car like that.

With careful precision, Emily guided her car up the long driveway and parked it next to the other vehicle. She Stepped out of her car and lifted the two bags of groceries from the back seat. She placed them on the hood of her car and pulled out her purse and keys; then, she walked up the steps to the porch. Emily unlocked the front door and walked into the quiet mansion. She entered the kitchen and placed her bags of groceries on the counter. She walked over to the kitchen sink, looked out the large bay window framed with red curtains, and saw a young woman and a small girl walking in the flower garden. They did not appear to be causing any harm, so she went ahead and did a few things. Emily unpacked her groceries in the stately kitchen and set up her new coffee pot on the counter by the stove. She made a pot of Blueberry coffee that smelled fantastic and had a peanut butter cookie with it, and then she placed her flowers in some vases that she found under the kitchen cabinet beneath the sink and filled them with water. She would put them in her bedroom later.

She washed her hands and sighed. It was time to meet her visitors. Emily’s curiosity was piqued.

***

When Emily opened the back door that led outside, she was greeted by an abrupt rush of humid air. It was so oppressive and damp in the low country, making Emily feel like she needed to jump back inside for another shower. She shuffled across the thick grass to the garden.

The woman was texting on her phone, and the small girl was bending down, picking roses, and playing with a little golden puppy by swatting a bright red rose back and forth across the pup’s face and making it sneeze.

Their backs were to Emily. She unlatched a white wooden gate with a trestle of red and hot pink climbing roses above her head and softly approached them. Her footsteps were silent.

“Hello. “Emily said softly.

The woman jumped, as did the girl, and dropped her cell phone into the flower bed of daffodils.

“Oh Shit! the woman exclaimed. “You scared the hell out of me,” she said, laughing nervously and holding her hand to her stomach.

Emily held her hand up in a truce position.

“I’m sorry. I did not mean to scare you. I just wanted to come and introduce myself. I am Emily Buchanan. I’m the housekeeper here.”

The woman was pretty with short, deep brown hair cut in a pixie, warm brown eyes framed by long dark lashes, and she was close to six feet. She looked in her mid-thirties and had an olive complexion showing off her high model-like cheekbones. She was slender and wore lavender nurse scrubs with a baby elephant print in cheerful yellow. She wore white tennis shoes with canary yellow shoestrings, a lanyard around her neck, and a name badge that said Cypress General. Emily would guess that she worked in the Neonatal unit.

The woman held her hand to her forehead and had an embarrassed look on her face.

“Oh, I am so sorry. I heard someone had accepted the job, but I wasn’t clear on who or when the new caretaker would arrive!” She gushed in a low country accent.

She smiled apologetically.

“I am Lainie Griffin, and this is my niece, Bella.” She said, pointing to the pretty girl playing with the adorable puppy. We live just down the road, a piece to your left. We have the horse farm Griffin Farms.” She told Emily.

Emily gasped.

“Oh wait! I saw your farm on the way to the store this morning. It was a white fence with beautiful horses in the pasture?”

Lainie nodded enthusiastically.

“Yep! That is the one.”

Emily sighed.

“I love horses.”

“So does my brother Davis. He raises and breeds Arabians.”

Emily found that so fascinating. She smiled.

Lainie shook her head in apology.

“I would have never just shown up like this if I knew someone had been living here. It’s been vacant for so long. At least two years since Mrs. Hastings passed away. I feel like I am trespassing!” She laughed nervously.

Emily shook her head.

“No, you are fine.” She assured her.

Lainie visibly relaxed in her face and her body.

Emily looked around her at the garden and surrounding property.

“You are familiar with this place?” She questioned softly.

Lainie laughed dryly.

“I should say so.” She spoke. “We may not be Hastings, but we are close enough with all of the relatives that have worked here through the years for the family!” she chuckled. “We have been heavily invested.”

Lainie strolled to a spot away from the little girl who was still plucking flowers, and Emily trailed her. She could tell that Lainie had something to share, but she wanted to be sure they weren’t close enough for the child to hear them.

Once they had stepped away, but she could keep an eye on the girl, Lainie spoke.

“My family has worked for the Hastings family for many years. My grandmother, mother, and sister were all housekeepers here.”

Lainie smiled.

“I broke the chain and became a nurse.” She spoke. “Thus, the kid scrubs!” She pointed to the elephant fabric and then continued.

“She is my niece, as I said. I am her sole guardian since her mom passed away a few years ago.” Lainie shared it with Emily.

Emily looked over at the child.

Her hair was the lightest shade of cotton blond and rolled down her back in gentle waves. Her skin was porcelain-white, giving her a delicate, otherworldly air. She had thought the child was shy due to their quietness, but now she could sense something else.

“Bella has selective mutism. She used to talk as much as any child, but she stopped when my sister died.”

Emily’s heart went out to the little girl.

Lainie walked over to a stone bench in the middle of the garden path and sat down with a heavy sigh.

“I bring Bella here when she gets agitated, which calms her. She will only communicate by writing. She has not spoken one word. It helps her to be where Tristan is and makes her feel calm and close to her.”

Emily’s blue eyes widened.

“Close to her? “Here?” She questioned.

Lanie nodded in response.

“Yes, Tristan served as Mrs. Hastings’ housekeeper, her loyal companion, and whatever else you might call it. She had been with Marjorie for five years, and they had a good relationship. One morning, my sister was vacuuming the stairs to the second floor when she fell backward.

Emily felt pure horror run through her body.

Lainie looked at her and nodded to affirm what Emily was thinking.

“Bella saw it all.”

“Oh, my…. God!” Emily gasped.

Lainie’s eyes watered up.

“Yes. It has been tough on us. Bella was already giving her mom a tough time when she came to work with her that summer. She had such an attachment to this place, and Mrs. Hastings liked her being here, but Tristan got tired of the tantrums, and they moved back in with my brother and me shortly before she died. Bella threw an ungodly fit, and Tristan would not even let her come back to work with her for a while, but then she eventually did, with Mrs. Hastings urging. It was going a lot better until the fall happened.”

Emily had experienced heartache and loss, so she could relate to Lainie’s situation. Bella rose from her seat and searched for her aunt. As soon as she spotted her, the little girl ran over with the pup scampering behind her. Emily looked into the palest blue eyes, without any color at all, that seemed to peer right into her soul. Bella did not return a smile. She simply stared.

Lainie pulled Bella to her side, and her voice was light.

“Bella, this is Emily, the new housekeeper here. Isn’t that cool?”

No response. Just the continued stare made Emily extremely uncomfortable under her scrutiny.

Bella pulled hard on Lainie’s hand, and Emily saw her reach into the back pocket of her scrub pants and pull out a small notebook and pencil. She handed it to Bella.

Bella grabbed it and began to write on the pad. She showed Lainie what she had written and then looked back at Emily with a look of hope in her eyes.

Lainie looked at Emily and turned the pad around to show her what Bella had written.

In big, bold letters, it read.

Have you seen my mommy?

She looked intently at Emily, and Emily shook her head in the negative. She did not know what to say. She looked to Lainie, and then she looked back at Bella.

Emily knelt on the grass before her, and her voice was kind.

“I have not seen her yet, but I have only been here a few days,” she said. “I know her name now, though, and if I see your mom, I will tell her now that you miss her.”

Lainie nodded approvingly, and deep appreciation was in her eyes.

“It looks like it is time to go, sweety,” Lainie said, and she tousled Bella’s golden locks. “I need to get you and Goldie back home, and I have a shift coming up soon.” With that, the trio began making their way out of the garden and toward the mansion.

Emily strolled with her companions, the little pup galloping after her sneakered feet. She stopped and bent down, giving the pup’s downy fur a good rubdown as it wagged its tail.

“She is so adorable.” The little puppy squirmed like a wiggle worm, and Emily released her.

“Y’all can come through the house if you like and not have to walk around this huge house.” Emily offered.

Lainie looked at her and down at Bella beside her, who was looking up at her with hope in her big blue eyes.

“I would prefer to walk around if you don’t mind,” she said, tapping her watch face.

“Steps!” she declared.

Emily laughed.

“I hear that!” She agreed.

But there was a guarded and haunted expression on Lainie’s face that Emily could not miss.

“Well, Y’all take care and come back whenever you want.”

Emily watched the car pull out of the drive, and it hit her hard in her gut. Bella reminded her of Isla so much. For a child that young to witness a parent’s death. It was so unspeakably horrible and tragic. That child would never be the same, having seen that.

Emily was so desperate to hold her daughter in her arms again. Her cheeks were wet with fresh tears as she gazed at the bright blue sky. She imagined being reunited with Luke, Isla, and her unborn son. It felt so cruel that Emily had been left behind. The bitterness in her heart mounted, and she swiped away the tears from her face with a quick, angry motion.

She would never heal from this loss.

Emily stepped into the house, into the chilly atmosphere of the entryway, and glanced up at the stairs. She recalled her vision. She had seen a young woman or a girl on that first day perched atop the wood banister who had glared down at her with those obsidian eyes and smiled emotionless before sheaving herself over the railing and plummeting to her demise. Emily shivered at the thought and quickly moved away from the area. She wanted to be somewhere else as soon as possible.

Emily hurried to her bedroom and retrieved a medium-sized red box with a handle, which she brought over to the leather sofa in the sitting area. It was a vintage record player Luke had given her on their second anniversary, which she treasured. Emily rummaged through her collection of classic albums and grabbed an old Frank Sinatra record out of her closet. Then, she took it and the record player to the kitchen and put them on the center island. Plugging it into the wall outlet, she felt relieved as ‘Old Blue Eyes’ crooned through the halls and up the stairways and hallways of her grand home.

Emily got so busy putting things away that afternoon that she did not notice the sun beginning to set, the house growing dark, and the shadows creeping in.

It was dusk at the old Hastings mansion.

Emily cooked a steak and potatoes for her dinner. Finding two white plates in the cupboard above the sink, she placed her food on it before hastily consuming it while standing at the kitchen island. Emily was so greedy that she did not even sit down to eat. Two glasses of sweet tea quenched her thirst, but she longingly wished for a nice glass of wine or a few beers to go with her meal - only to find there would be no such indulgence tonight.

After Emily finished her meal, she tidied up and stepped outside to see the sunset that painted the sky orange, with royal purple and turquoise aqua as accents. The sultry night air blew a promise of rain or a thunderstorm later. She returned to the garden and sat on the bench Lainie had occupied earlier. Emily swapped her tennis shoes for some flip-flops, which she removed to let her feet rest in the cool grass. With her head reclined, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment.

Emily felt so much better out there than she did in the house. She dreaded shutting down the house again for the night, especially knowing that Bella’s mom had died in that house. Emily prayed that she did not reencounter her or have that vision again because it shook her to the core.

She turned back to gaze at the massive structure, and a breeze stirred her messy bun. Her eyes grazed over the windows on the second floor but did not linger on them long. A shiver ran down her spine, causing her to wrap her arms around herself to shake off the feeling of being watched. Emily stared at the gauzy white curtains on the middle window in front of the staircase. It felt like someone was looking through those curtains at her. But how could that be true? She knew no one else was in the house with her, and she did not believe in ghosts anyway. They were not real; they were fantasies told by people who wanted to scare others.

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