Chapter 3

By : Brynn Morgan

Copyright © 2023 by – Brynn Morgan – All Rights Reserved.It is not legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited

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's 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?" Amori 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?" Amori 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. Emily 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,  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 of gray 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 was flooded with golden light. Amori 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 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. Emily changed into her lavender nightgown and settled in bed, feeling safe and secure beneath the covers. She 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.