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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 12:15:57 GMT
Since returning from Florida, Arthur had been looking on and off for the perfect house for himself and Matilda. Somewhere they could live, work, and run a business out of. Somewhere nice. Since coming back from Ross's Corners the second time, he'd been working hard, checking real estate websites, visiting agents, looking at properties. Finally, after the fiasco at the Redthistle estate, he'd found the perfect house. Not too big or grand, not too small, plenty of space. It sat high on French Hill, facing the river. Photos looked good, floor plans were perfect. He hadn't had a chance to visit yet because of one issue or another, but he'd made the deal, gotten a good price sight unseen. Today had been settlement. He finally had the keys, and he had driven up to see his new home for the first time. Matilda was at work. He wanted to surprise her. Once he knew t was all looking good. There was on street parking at the front, and a rear alleyway with garage and a tiny yard. He parked out front, and walked up to the front door ...  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 21:11:25 GMT
The locks had been newly fitted and the key slide from the lock with ease as the door opened inwards of it's own accord, as if inviting you in. The light spills into the room as you step in, your shadow spreads across the wooden floor boards cast by the sunlight on your back.
You almost think you can hear a sigh as you enter the house, as if it's glad your here.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 21:53:56 GMT
Arthur stands there, nodding appreciatively. He likes the feel of the house already. He gently pats the open front door before stepping in, closing it behind him.
"Hello old girl. Nice to finally meet you." He says to the house itself. He enters the foyer, with the staircase leading up and down ... peers briefly in both directions, before heading into the first of the living spaces to the left, moving to the windows to look out.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 0:31:12 GMT
From the windows you can see the river and a paperboy make his daily route. You stand watching the daily drama unfold as you bask in the morning sun.
Only to be disturbed from the calming warmth when you hear footsteps above you.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 0:38:12 GMT
Arthur looks up.
Hmm, company already? he thinks. Walking carefully, one hand reaching for his gun that he now wears constantly, and the other for his talisman, he heads back to the stairs and climbs them. Carefully testing each one for stability and squeak as he climbs, wanting to make as little noise as possible.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 0:54:22 GMT
Making his way up the stairs Arthur is surprised that the steps have been kept well, not only visually but structurally. Reaching the top of the stairs Arthur is surprised to see a little girl standing in the doorway of one of the rooms.
She smiles at him, holding a well loved teddy bear in her hand. Something about her just isn't right. She doesn't seem to be effected by the golden sunlight beaming in through the windows.
Something deep within the bowels of the house booms and echos, reaching your ears. The little girl shakes her head and immediately looks scared.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 1:18:18 GMT
He stops on the stairs when he sees her. examining everything about her, noticing how the sunlight didn't touch her.
Arthur smiled. She could be a ghost, or some other sort of apparition. "Hello sweety," he says, hoping to make a good impression.
Then the house booms, and she looks scared. It feels like it's come from below. Was there something else here? Was that why he'd gotten such a good deal on the house? Was it what had killed her here? Or was it just the water heater creaking? Was he reading too much into things?
"What's wrong?" he asks her. "What scares you about the noise?"
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 9:37:03 GMT
 The little girl looks behind you and silently screams, she then takes off running down the upstairs landing into one of the other rooms. You feel a cold breeze move through you as you watch the girl and for a brief second you think you can see a shadow flit down the landing after the little girl. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 11:07:43 GMT
As the girl screams and looks behind him, Arthur turns to look. It's like an automatic reaction. How could he not? He feels the cold breeze tug at him, sees ... a shadow? move down the landing ... and takes off to follow them both.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 11:34:56 GMT
You follow as quick as you can,entering the room the girl ran to. There is nothing there, just an old writing bureau, one of the few items that came with the house along with a grand four poster bed and a trunk that you had yet find. They hadn't cost you extra and something about them had made you believe they had to stay.
You look about the room and find no sign of anyone passing this way, then suddenly the door slams shut and you hear heavy booted feet move up the stairs just outside the room. The footsteps sound like the person walks with a stick.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 11:46:46 GMT
Arthur pauses, staring at the mostly empty room. He even looks for disturbances in any dust. When the door slams shut behind him, he jumps slightly. The sound of the footsteps leaves a shiver, and he makes a mental note to research the history of the house, and its past occupants.
He goes to the writing bureau, and opens it, looking through it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 12:09:39 GMT
Searching the old table you find a few sheets of old stained paper, a dried out ink well and the matching broken ink pen. Giving it a slight nudge with your hip you know there is no way you could move this sturdy and well made desk on your own. Though you can picture it in a study, Matilda sitting at it writing something in a journal. It's not quite as heavy as you imagined it to be.  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 12:28:20 GMT
Nice, he thinks, as he examines it. Getting it downstairs later is another mental note he makes.
He leaves the desk, and turns and opens the door, looking out, half expecting to see someone. He walks back out into the hall and his gaze is drawn to the staircase, and up to the next floor where the sound of boots went.
Now, or later? he muses. "Now," he says out loud, and begins to climb the stairs to the third level.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 21:29:56 GMT
You take the stairs upwards, at the top you are impressed by the amount of space that is on this floor. looking around you spy one of the doors lays ajar.
Something moves on the other side of the open door, something black and larger than the little girl.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 23:12:01 GMT
Larger ... the shadow? A man, maybe? The feet on the stairs had been heavy, used a cane like he sometimes did. He shouldn't have left his in the car, bugger. He wasn't up on dealing with ghosts. He was more used to other worldly alien things that had specific spells to raise or banish them. Trust him to buy a haunted house!
With his talisman out and displayed, Arthur moves quietly forward. When he gets to the door, he stands to one side as he pushes it open.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2017 9:38:11 GMT
Moving into the room you can see someone standing with their back to you looking out the window. It is hard to make out detail because they are so heavily cast in shadow, but what you can make out is that it is a man, dressed in old clothes and holding an ornate cane by his side.
He seems to be muttering to himself, but he is speaking so softly that you cannot hear it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2017 9:41:14 GMT
Arthur stands in the doorway, watching the figure, straining to hear.
He's really hoping whatever it is won't react violently. He still holds his talisman in his hand, for what good it might do, but it's not presented, just in his hand by his side. His gun he's put away. He hasn't quite crossed his fingers, though the thought did occur to him.
After a moment, he clears his throat ...
*gentle cough* "Hello?"
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