I have added some pictures of the characters up to Chapter 7 tonight, and I will add more as new characters are introduced. Thank you so much for the comments and votes. It makes me want to continue to write forever! Thank you so muchâ¤ï¸
1st photo: Hastings House Ghost
Emily Buchanan: The main character
Amori Black: Emily's friend from the past and realtor
Clarissa Gordon: Emily is introduced to her at the grocery store
Lainie Griffin: Bella's Aunt
Bella Griffin: Lainie's Niece
And we are introducing Davis Griffin, Lainie's brother, and Bella's uncle.
Chapter 7
Emily endured the long night. She stayed in the same position on the bed, and her body felt like it had been through a wringer. Her thoughts raced: should she sneak out through the kitchen or make her way out of the bedroom window? Emily stayed as quiet as possible, slowly lowering herself off the mattress before tiptoeing to the window. Unlatching the lock, Emily opened it bit by bit until there was enough room for her to climb through. Still deciding if anyone was still inside the house, she did everything she could to keep herself quiet.
Emily walked on the tips of her toes, carefully placing each foot to prevent the floor from creaking. She wanted to ensure that whoever was in the house didn't hear her. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She knew she had to leave there as soon as possible.
Emily couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She didn't know what to expect and tried to calm herself down by focusing on her breathing, slowly inhaling and exhaling through her nose.
She paused for a moment, listening intently for any signs of movement. When she was sure the coast was clear, she slowly walked back to the window. The curtains shifted slightly with a cool breeze, and Emily glanced out the window to see the sky changing from black to light pink and gold in the East. In a hurry, Emily grabbed her duffle bag and shoved her phone, car keys, and house keys into the front pocket, then hastily slipped on her shoes.
******
Upstairs, the long hallway was cloaked in darkness; through the door emerged a floating figure. Its mouth gaped open horrifically. There was movement downstairs. The girl was moving about. The floating figure silently drifted down the hallway, its ghostly form casting a pale glow in the dark. It had been waiting for Emily to emerge. Now that she was trying to escape, it knew it had to act quickly. It knew that it had to act fast if it would catch her. With a sudden burst of speed, the figure glided down the hallway towards the staircase, trembling in rage.
******
Emily heard a faint noise behind her but didn't turn around. She knew that she needed to keep moving. She tossed the duffle bag out the window and heard the most horrible and guttural sound. The doorknob began to shake, and there was a loud pounding on the door. Emily panicked and screamed, and with her whole body trembling, she threw herself over the windowsill and fell hard to the ground, landing in the grass wet with morning dew.
Suddenly Emily heard a shriek coming from the inside of the house, she stumbled backward from the dew-covered lawn and fell to her knees. Emily hastily regained her footing and ran for her life.
She raced down the side of the house without taking a single breath. Emily reached into her pocket and pulled out her car keys, quickly pressing the button on the remote fob to unlock it. The beep resonated as confirmation. She dared not look back but could feel someone watching her again - just like last night. Someone was trying to scare her away, and it was working. Emily jumped into the driver's seat and frantically searched for the start button, relieved when the engine roared to life. She put the car in reverse and backed out of her driveway before putting it into drive and speeding away down the country road.
Emily desperately needed to call the police but had no phone. Fear began to creep in as she felt helpless against the situation. There was nobody who could help her. She frantically glanced around, trying to figure out what direction to take, when suddenly, she noticed an entrance sign to Griffin Farms. Lainie from yesterday might help her, Emily thought; let her use her phone or charger. She turned down the long gravel driveway and soon spotted a white stable and a big farmhouse ahead. She slowed down as she approached and saw parking in a circular driveway.
As she opened the door and reached for her bag, Emily felt the thick, muggy air hit her face. Emily could hear horses neighing and whinnying in the nearby pasture. In front of her was a sidewalk that ran up to the extended covered porch, with wide wooden steps leading up to it. And there he was: standing on the porch with a Hard Rock Cafe mug of steaming coffee in his hand. He wore a John Deer green hat, loose jeans, a white T-shirt, and brown work boots. When he saw Emily approaching him, he smiled kindly and said, "Good morning, ma'am!" That was the last thing she remembered before feeling lightheaded and passing out at his feet.
******
Emily awoke to the sound of voices. When her green eyes fluttered open, she saw the man from earlier and Lainie seated on the opposite side of the spacious room. They were whispering, trying not to startle her. She was lying on a comfortable gray microfiber couch with a cold compress over her forehead. As Emily tried to sit up, Lainie quickly exclaimed, "Whoa! You should rest some more."
Emily heaved a sigh of embarrassment before she spoke. "I apologize for causing so much trouble. All I needed was a cell phone charger."
The tall, dark-skinned man who looked like Lainie stood up and walked over. His brow was furrowed as he gazed at her with concern. Lainie took over again and said gently, "We can help you with that, Emily. Are you okay?"
She shook her head and replied weakly, "I need to call the police; somebody broke in last night. I ran away and locked myself in my bedroom before climbing out the window. I did not know where else to go, so here I am."
"Someone broke in?" The tall man asked with concern in his dark eyes. "Did you get a good look at them?" Lainie observed the exchange intently.
"This is my brother, Davis," she said, sitting beside her on the sofa. Davis repeated his question in a deep, raspy voice: "Did you see them?"
Emily shook her head, her eyes wide with fear.
"No. I could hear the intruder wrecking the kitchen, pounding on my door like the intruder wanted to get inside."
Davis pulled out his phone and stepped away from the two of them. He went into another room.
Lainie sighed in relief.
"Davis will call the authorities, and they'll investigate things for you."
Emily was still trembling from the experience, so she shut her eyes to block it out. Lainie then stood up and unfurled a multicolored blanket, spreading it over Emily to keep her warm.
"I'm going to make some tea for us while you rest until the deputy arrives," she said with a kind smile.
Emily gave a small smile in return before shutting her eyes again. Suddenly, she felt tiny fingers on her face and opened her eyes wide in surprise â it was Bella, the little girl.
Bella stepped back and gave Emily a reassuring smile. She reminded Emily of Isla and touched her forehead before stepping away when Davis walked back into the room.
"Deputy Hardy will be out soon," Davis said. "Vandalism in these parts isn't taken all too seriously. I am going to check it out for you, ma'am. You relax here." He asked if she had keys, so Emily pointed to her bag next to her, and he handed it over. She retrieved the keys and gave them to him.
"I'll update you once I know something," he promised. Lainie entered the kitchen with two hot mugs of pink tea and offered to Davis, "You should bring Clive along, just in case. "Davis gave her a nod. "Good idea, Sis. I will head over to the stable and get him." He began to leave but then turned around and looked at Emily. He smiled at her and then left through the front screen door.
******
Lainie aided Emily in sitting up and leaning against the cushions for support.
Lainie took a deep breath and said, "Glad I took off today." She handed Emily one of the mugs, and she thankfully accepted it before taking a sip of the warm beverage.
"I'm so relieved you're safe, Emily," Lainie said softly. Emily surveyed the cheerfully decorated open floor plan; it was so different from Hastings' homeâfilled with brightness and vibrancy. Not a single shadow lurked in the corners or on the stairs. Emily could not help but feel secure here.
"It was truly petrifying," Emily murmured, taking a sip of tea.
"Old houses like that tend to draw out the worst kinds of people," Lainie remarked.
Emily fell silent, and Lainie noticed. "Emily?"
She shook her head as if she didn't want to speak.
"Would you like to tell me what happened?" Lainie probed.
Emily set down her cup of tea and adjusted the quilt draped over her lap. She started slowly, and Lainie waited with anticipation.
"I was outside in the garden when the storm came, so I had to return inside." Emily paused and glanced at Bella, who was standing in the doorway. She did not want to scare her, so she decided it would be best if they discussed it later. "I can tell you later?" She asked Lainie, and the latter nodded in understanding.
Bella then showed Emily her art book, complete with unique sketches of flowers, at Hasting's House. Emily complimented her on how talented she was.
Just then, Davis returned from the kitchen, looking disturbed as he described what he saw: "The fridge was upended, cabinet doors ripped off their hinges, glass everywhere from broken dishes and glasses..."
Lainie let out a breath of disbelief. "Oh my God...."
Emily recalled the loud cries and banging on her bedroom door from the previous evening and shuddered. What if they had managed to get to her? She became quieter and paler from fear.
Lainie, noticing Emily's distress, offered: "You can stay here until the police sort it out, Emily. I have a few days off, so it could not be better timing, right?"
Emily refused the generosity: "No, I don't want to impose."
Lainie placed her hand comfortingly on Emily's knee. "Don't worry, that's what neighbors are for."
Emily was thankful she did not have to return home that night.