“I don’t want to leave,” she said the words before she realized and gave Lynn a look of shame.
Her friend pulled her into her arms and held her tight. “I don’t want you to go, but I know it will be the best thing for you. Now tell me all about this house.”
Emma reached for the solicitor’s letter and told her again about the relative she never knew she had, and the mysterious house she had been left in Derbyshire. She knew this was a technique to get her used to the idea. She had done the same thing with new women in the shelter. Just let them keep telling the tale until it becomes familiar and therefore less scary.
“Do you really think it is right for me to leave?” she asked.
Lynn nodded. “You will never fully recover if you stay here… and you know it.”
It was just two weeks later that Emma was finally ready to leave. She had been called to the lounge and was grinning as she came around the door. Though they thought they were being sneaky, she knew what to expect. As she walked into the lounge a cacophony of cheers greeted her. Soon she was engulfed in twenty sets of arms as the women hugged her so tightly she thought she might break.
Following copious amounts of cake, tears, and some laughter Lynn had helped her to her car. It was an old and battered Volvo x60. The gold paint was chipped in places, and the rust showed through on the wings, but it was hers, and she was proud of it. It seemed strange after her reluctance, but now that she was ready to leave Emma was looking forward to the future.
Lynn placed a parcel of wrapped cake on the passenger seat and came around to take her hands. Emma squeezed gently and smiled. Then she was engulfed in Lynn’s arms and hugging her close.
“I will miss you,” Lynn said. “You are special… I know I should not say it, but I really feel that we are good friends.”
Emma nodded, blinking back her tears and trying to swallow the lump in her throat.
“You call me any time of the day or night,” Lynn said as she pulled back.
Emma nodded.
“I will, but I will be all right… thanks to you I will be all right.”
After three and a half hours in the car, Emma pulled up outside her new house. The last thirty minutes had been fraught and difficult, and she had gotten lost twice. As the sun began to set she had taken a wrong turn, being sure that she must be here already, but no, the sat nav had just taken her further and further away from the pretty little town of Castleton. The roads were narrow and lined with trees and by the time she pulled onto the lane that led to the house she was tired, hungry, and just a little scared.
Turning off the engine, she peaked through the trees at her new home. It was a big house of three stories and was surrounded by tall trees. There was something a little lost and neglected about the place, and for a moment she shuddered.
What was she, a city girl, doing here?
Her hand reached down to the keys. Maybe she should just go back. Then she thought of the drive, and she saw Mark’s face. The way his eyebrows knitted together when he was angry. The red that scoured his cheeks and then the thinness of his lips that always proceeded the pounding of his fists.
The old fear came back, despite Lynn and the shelter’s best efforts. Yet she knew her friend was right. It was time to get out into the world. Though she knew she would never trust a man again, at least she could live an independent life.
Quickly, she pushed all thoughts of running back to London to the back of her mind. No, she was here, and it was a new start. “Thanks, Aunty Kemp,” she said as she found her phone and quickly typed a text to let Lynn know she had arrived safely. As she sent the text, the phone flashed at her. No Signal.
“Damn.” That was a good start.
She opened the door and picked up her bag. On top of it, she placed the cake. It wasn’t the healthiest of meals, but it would do for tonight.
Getting out of the car, she found her legs a little rubbery. Concerned, she searched the trees for the solicitor who was supposed to meet her. A Mr. Harvey.
The walk up to the house seemed a long way. There was a concrete path, but it was dark and a little slippery. Something spongy gave beneath her feet with each step. Moss!
Emma stepped beneath the trees and the shadows darkened. The leaves seemed to whisper above her, like silent conspirators. Urging her on or urging her back, she did not know.
As she stepped from the trees, she saw her house fully for the first time, and she was a little disappointed. It was old, a little weary looking and yet it had once been grand and proud. The windows were dark and ominous, and on the front, a name plaque seemed to be slipping off the wall.
Brynlee House.
There was no sign of Mr. Harvey but on the door was taped an envelope. Emma quickly opened it and feeling the wind chill around her neck, she shivered slightly. Inside was a key and a short note explaining where the light switch was, that the power was sometimes intermittent and that the phone would be on in a few days. At the bottom was a number for her to contact him in case of emergency.
In case of emergency?
Emma stared at the key. It was large and old-fashioned and felt heavy in her hand. Once again the urge to leave came upon her. What was she doing here?
Taking a breath, she put down her bag, put the key in the lock and turned it slowly. She pushed the door open. Behind her the trees murmured louder, it felt a little like approval, and she stepped into her new home.
It was easy to find the light switch. A dull yellow light lit up a large entrance hall. It was dark and dreary and like something from a different century. Directly in front of her was a curved staircase and behind that, a window. The moon shone through, and tree branches danced in their light. As she picked up her bag, the door slammed behind her, and the lights went out.
Chapter 2
Emma froze in the darkness as fear clenched onto her heart. A scream formed in her throat but she bit it back. All around her, the trees whispered, murmured, and seemed to mock her fear. Emma dropped her bag and scrambled in her pocket searching for her phone, at the same time she reached for the door handle.
The lights flickered back on, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Not sure whether to feel silly, scared, or annoyed Emma picked up her bag and walked into the house. It smelled musty. If she was honest, it smelt of old ladies. Of lavender and of damp. The furniture was old and dark as was most of the room. Wood paneling lined the walls, and the ceiling rose three stories with a balcony on each level. It made the room seem dark and imposing even with the meager light. There were four doors going off the hallway, and she walked towards the first one.
With relief, she found the kitchen. Everything would feel better with a cup of tea. This room smelt different, and as she flicked on the lights, she saw a potted plant growing in the window. It was a vibrant green with purple flowers and seemed to be the only color in the dark and dreary room. Next to it was a small brass bell. She lifted the plant to her nose and recognized the scent. It was Sage. Well, she guessed she had a herb for cooking.
Soon the kettle was boiling, and she started to look around the kitchen. The cupboards held just a few cans. The labels were peeling, the metal rusty, she found a bin bag and gathered them all together. On the work surface was a bread bin. Opening it, she almost gagged. The scent of mold was intense, and inside was a bag that appeared to have grown a new lifeform. Lifting the bin, she took it outside, through a small porch that was shrouded with trees. They scraped their bare branches against the glass squealing and shrieking in a manner that set her nerves on edge. Wiping her hands, she dumped the bread bin in the waste and ran back into the kitchen.
Tea made, she decided to look around the house. It was so quiet, and for a moment she thought maybe she should get a dog or a cat. It would be nice to have something to talk to, some company.
On a small table in the hallway, she found another envelope. Excitement surged through her for she recognized the writing. Tearing it open she found a card from Lynn. Suddenly t
here were tears in her eyes. How would she cope without her friend, her mentor?
The card was typical of Lynn. A big bunch of balloons was resplendent on the front along with Congratulations on Your New Home.
Was it a home? Not yet, but maybe one day.
The writing inside was bright, bubbly, and congratulating her on the big step she had taken. On leaving the shelter and starting a new life. It felt like her friend had reached across the miles and given her a hug, she could do this, she could start again.
After a good hour of exploring, Emma had brought in her few possessions. It was just her clothes, toiletries, the gifts from the shelter, and her laptop. There was no television, so she decided to Skype with Lynn. On the ground floor, there was a small living room. A fire to one side was burning brightly, after only three attempts and one scolded finger.
The walls of the room were lined with dusty old books. A beige flower covered, small, and slightly moth eared sofa was directly opposite the fire. It had given her quite a shock when she first came into the room. On one end was a black cat curled around on itself. The door had been shut, how long had it been there? Tentatively, Emma had reached out to touch the animal. It did not move, and she gave a sharp laugh. It was one of those ornaments that looked so real. It was simply fake fur surrounding a heavy, sawdust covered shape.
Matching old lady chairs sat either side of the sofa. Emma was about to sit in the one facing away from the door. Something stopped her, she turned and sat in the one facing the door.
The house was so quiet, and it was unnerving her. So she fired up her laptop, put on some headphones, and opened up Skype.
The screen flashed at her. No connection.
“Oh, this is just peachy,” she said and a sudden urge to throw the laptop across the room overtook her.
Taking a breath, she browsed to her music and opened a file of alpha wave recordings from the center. It would provide background noise and help her relax and concentrate, and hopefully, it would improve her confidence.
For the next hour, Emma worked on her laptop. She had a few copywriting assignments for different companies. Some were in London, some were international. It was a job that Lynn had set up for her, and she loved it. What’s more, it gave her the chance to work from home. Once she got the internet sorted she would never have to leave the house unless she wanted to. Only that was her old self talking, it was not a future. Suddenly, she missed Lynn, and a wave of fatigue ran through her. Closing the laptop, she decided on a glass of wine, a quick shower, and bed.
The bedroom she had chosen was at the back of the house and decorated in a pale rose color. Under the weak lamp, it looked wishy-washy in places and yet blood red over the bed. For a moment she was creeped out. Shaking off the feeling she took a sip of chardonnay and pulled her sweatshirt up and over her head. At that moment, the one when it was covering her eyes and tangled around her arms she heard a child’s scream. It pierced the air and shocked her to the bone.
“Shit!” she called as the sweatshirt tied up her arms and stuck to her hair. Flailing, she yanked and pulled as she stumbled around the room. Trying to remember where the bed and dresser were. For long moments the material stuck, but she could hear nothing more. No more screams, no footsteps, just the blood racing in her ears and her own desperate breathing.
The shirt pulled free, and she stared at the room. The closet door had come open, and it leered at her, a black hole full of…
“Stop it!” she admonished herself.
This was silly, the scream would just be some kids playing in the woods behind the house. They were the sort of place you went with a few cans and a few friends. No doubt they had built a fire and were sat on logs telling each other tall tales. That was all she had heard… and yet the hairs stood proudly on her arms, and her heart was pounding like a racing horse.
The closet door moved away from her, and she backed away.
What was happening?
With her heart in her throat, she approached the door. It was a room she had been pleased to find when she checked out the bedroom. A walk in wardrobe with rails, shelves and just a few creepy old clothes hanging there. Quickly, she had bundled them up into some black bags. Then she had unpacked her own few clothes and hung them up in the closet. It had made her feel important, yet she did not know why. Just two dresses, three pairs of jeans and a few tops was hardly a wardrobe.
The door moved again.
Stopping in her tracks she wondered what she should do, could someone be in there? Then she heard Lynn’s voice. Calmly telling her that things would unnerve her, that she should expect it and face up to them.
Heart pounding and with her breath trapped in her chest, she approached the door. As she passed the window, a draft lifted her hair and eased her nerves. The window! It was slightly open. That must have been what caused the door to move. Why was she being so stupid? Letting out a bark of nervous laughter she pulled the door closed and slid across the bolt. Why was there a bolt on the outside of the closet?
Feeling a little better she closed the window and drew the thin curtains, shutting out the shadows from the trees behind. Booting up her laptop she pulled the headphones out and put on the same music as before. At least it would hide the creaks and groans of the old wood while she had her shower.
Moving her head from side to side she took her right hand and tried to ease out the kinks in her neck. It had been a long day. As she began to take off her t-shirt. A noise seemed to shake the house.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
Emma froze, and a sob came to her throat. It had happened. Her worst nightmare. Right then she wanted to open the cupboard door, crawl inside and hide in the corner. How could this happen? She had been so careful. Lynn had been so careful and yet…
The knock came again. A small yelp came from her throat as she jumped. What could she do? The house was so remote, she wanted to hide, but the door seemed to beckon her to it. Running a hand through her long brown hair, she shoved it over her shoulders, grabbed something from her bag, and walked to the stairs. The hallway light was on, but it barely reached the second level. Maybe she could hide?
No, it wouldn’t work. If he had found her address, then he would not give in. She had to do what Lynn told her and face her demons.
With each step her legs felt like lead and yet she pushed back her shoulders and strolled to the door. With her right hand poised behind her back, she pulled it open. Quickly, she raised her right hand and pointed the can of mace right into the eyes of a very surprised delivery man holding a big bunch of brightly colored flowers. At the last moment, she managed to not depress the button and sobbing, she dropped her hand. Much to the relief of the man before her.
“Delivery for Emma,” he said.
Relieved and embarrassed Emma took the flowers and the three bags of groceries that the man had brought.
Searching the cupboards, she found an old jug and placed the beautiful chrysanthemums in it. The groceries were packed away, and she opened the card.
I knew you would forget to get any food. Welcome to your new home. Stay strong and know that you can do this.
Ring me anytime you need to talk.
Love Lynn.
Emma smiled and held the card to her chest. She was so lucky to have such a good friend. Quickly, she made herself a sandwich. Then collecting her glass of wine from the lounge, she made up the fire. Behind her the sofa was empty, but she did not notice the cat was no longer there. Feeling happy and just a little silly about her panic attacks, Emma went to bed.
Chapter 3
First thing in the morning Emma made herself a quick breakfast. Then she took the car and drove into Castleton, it being a 25-minute drive, and the twisty roads made her feel tired and grumpy. When she got there, she rang Lynn and was so relieved to hear her friend’s voice.
“It’s good to hear from you,” Lynn said. “I was starting to worry last night, but then I know you, you can cope with anything, and I believe in you.”
Emma felt her throat clench and tears formed in her eyes, she bit them back and swallowed. “It’s so good to hear from you Lynn. The house is a little creepy, and there is no phone or the Internet, and my mobile doesn’t work there either. Maybe this was a bad decision. I was just thinking…” Emma stopped, if she said what she thought Lynn would feel that she had failed. The last thing she wanted to do was disappoint her friend. “I guess I’m just a bit nervous out on my own. You are right, I can do this, and I have you to thank for that, my friend.”
The rest of the conversation was simply Emma and Lynn catching up. She had made a decision she could do this, and she was going to make a go of it. Although the house was creepy, it was old, dark and empty, and it was not hers… well, it was hers, but it didn’t feel like it… not at the moment. But it would do, given time, she could make a go of this. Feeling better she set off for the local library, and there downloaded some jobs and checked on her emails. Once the work was done, she could go back to the house and not need to leave it for at least another four or five days. So she took a little time to explore the beautiful quaint shops and the wonderful countryside. When she arrived the night before, she hadn’t had time to appreciate the majestic beauty of the surrounding hills. It was a picture postcard of green mounds and lowly dales, and she couldn’t believe her luck.
Emma arrived back at the house just before lunch. So she made herself a sandwich and a coffee and ate them in front of the fire. She hadn’t made it this morning, but the house was warm, and she didn’t think she would need to until later that night. There was plenty of wood in a basket on the hearth, and she had found a store outside, with lots more, along with a creepy old axe.
After her lunch, she opened up her laptop and worked on copy for a website for the next couple of hours. Suddenly, she felt tired and closed the laptop. Leaning back in the chair she closed her eyes for just a second. Lynn had included a bottle of hot chocolate in the groceries. Suddenly, she felt homesick. For the times they would sit up late into the night drinking hot chocolate and talking. Yet, she was also so tired, the long drive, the stress, and panic had all taken it out on her. So she let her shoulders relax, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep in the chair.
The Haunting of Brynlee House: Based on a Real Haunted House Page 2