Story1
The moving-truck plowed down the winding cliff-side road, the raindrops attacking in waves. The truck pulled up to an old mansion at the top of the cliff, surrounded by forest. Sam opened the faded oak doors as the moving crew began to pile boxes onto the floor of the main hall.
"Thanks guys. I appreciate you driving all the way out here." Sam said to the moving crew as they walked in and out of the rain, the puddles in the crimson carpet getting larger and multiplying with each step they took.
"Just doin' our job. We'll send ya' the bill in the mail." The leader of the crew said as he and his team walked out the door, having brought in the last box himself.
Sam locked up the front door and walked over to the mess of boxes piled in the middle of the floor. He started breaking down the pile.
"Clothes, clothes, clothes..." he muttered as he searched.
He finally found the box marked 'CLOTHES' at the bottom of the pile and lugged it up the stairs to the second floor of the west wing. He walked over to the master bedroom and pushed the door open with his back. He put the box down and opened it, rummaging through the crumpled mess of clothes inside.
"I can't believe my parents could afford a place like this." Sam thought as he pulled out his old blue flannel robe.
Sam climbed under the purple velvet sheets, rolled over on his side, and dozed off to sleep. He tossed and turned, shivering from cold as the rain spattered across the roof like grapeshot. A howling wind rushed through the open window, sending a chill up Sam's spine.
He sprung up, wide awake. He looked over to his alarm clock as he got out of bed.
"It's two in the morning. I'm never going to fall back to sleep now. Might as well have a look around." Sam thought as he closed the window.
He left his room and started looking around the west wing. He opened every door he came across, and became more and more disappointed to find out that most of them were guest rooms. He reached the end of the hall and opened the last door to find a closet. The shelves were full of towels, sheets, and everything else needed to restock the guest rooms, though the top shelf caught Sam's eye. A few holy symbols hung down from hooks beside it, and a few vials of salt and holy water were scattered across the shelf. Sam could smell basil and garlic, which he assumed was too far back for him to see. He pocketed some of the salt and closed the closet.
Sam walked back to the main hall and decided to check out the east wing. He walked up the stairs and to the second floor of the east wing. He opened the first door to find an art studio. He continued walking, not having much an interest at this hour of night. As he continued down the hall, he was greeted by the faint sound of a piano melody. He followed the sound down the hall, walking down a small staircase to his left. He walked down another small hall, still being pulled along by the melody as it grew louder and louder. He reached a door at the end of the hall.
As Sam opened it, he found himself surrounded by all kinds of instruments. An old brass saxophone sat in the corner next to him, while violins, cellos, and acoustic guitars lined the walls around him. At the back of the room facing an pane glass door to the balcony, sat an antique ebony Stroud piano, a young woman stroking its keys. Her long blonde hair was tied into a ponytail, which snaked down her back, slithering to the rhythm as she played. It was as though she were in a trance, her body weaving side to side, running her fingers down the keys. Her cloak began to sway in the breeze, shimmering in the light of the blood moon as a cool breeze swept through the air. Sam slowly walked closer, enthralled by the woman's sad melody.
"Excuse me." Sam said softly, trying to get the woman's attention.
Her fingers continued to dance around the white ivory keys, her focus still fixed on her playing.
"Excuse me, miss?" Sam repeated, this time a little louder.
The woman remained entranced by her own melody, oblivious to the world around her. Sam put his hand on her shoulder, her skin cold to the touch.
"Excuse me." he said one final time.
The woman slowly stopped paying and looked up at him. Her hazel eyes sparkled in the moonlight as she gave him a confused stare.
'That was an incredible tune, and I really enjoyed it, but what are you doing here?" Sam asked calmly.
"I live here. I've lived here since I was a little girl." the woman replied.
"That can't be right. My parents left me this estate in their will. They never mentioned anyone else living here." Sam mumbled to himself.
"Then you must be mistaken." she replied.
"I'm sorry, but I don't feel comfortable knowing someone has been living here so long without anyone knowing. Something just feels off about this, so I think you should leave." Sam said as he twiddled his thumbs.
"But I can't leave!" the woman protested, now starting to pout.
"Fine, you can stay, but only because it's so late. That and it's really hard to say no to a face like that." Sam replied as he opened the door to the music room for her.
As she walked by, Sam noticed the silk nightgown she was wearing under her cloak, and more-so its sever lack of length. It barely clung to her thigh, constantly trying to crawl up her leg. She noticed him staring as she passed by.
"Is something the matter?" she asked with a grin, slightly tugging at the edge of her gown.
"I was just thinking, you must be freezing in that thing. You felt pretty cold when I got your attention before." Sam replied, shifting his eyes to the floor.
"So, you weren't just trying to check me out just now?" the woman asked.
"N-no, well..." Sam replied, not even sure how to respond.
"It's okay, I understand." the woman said with a laugh.
"I don't think I ever got your name." Sam said.
"Oh, how thoughtless of me! My name is Risa, but you can call me whatever you like." she teased.
"Are you really the same girl who was just playing the piano before? I swear, I never expected you to be so energetic." Sam said with a smile.
"I just tend to get absorbed in my music when I play, but enough about me. I want to hear more about you, your name for starters." Risa replied.
I'm Sam. As I mentioned, I inherited this place from my parents. I still can't figure out how you lived here so long without them knowing."
"You mean that elderly couple that lived here a few months ago? They were really nice, I remember them. They used to listen to me play every night." Risa said cheerfully.
"I wonder why they never mentioned her." Sam thought as the two of them continued walking through the halls.
"What else do you do for fun around here anyway? I'm still trying to figure out where everything is around here." Sam said.
"I usually just spend my time in the music room, so I'm not really sure." Risa replied.
"I have an idea. You could give me a tour. It's not like either of us are going to fall asleep any time soon." Sam said excitedly.
"Sure, I'd love to!" Risa replied, overjoyed.
They began walking through the halls, exploring the old house's deepest rooms, most of which were empty. A few were simple lounges or small libraries as well. Risa could tell that Sam was getting bored, and fast.
"Hey, wanna check out the old cellar? There's something down there I think you'll really like." Risa said as she grabbed Sam's hand, starting to lead the way before he even had a chance to speak.
"What's so great about this cellar?" Sam asked as he tried to break free of Risa's grip.
"I'm not telling. It's a surprise!" she replied with a smile.
She dragged him back to the main hall and out the front door. The wind howled and wailed, urging Sam to go back inside. Risa guided Sam around to the back of the manor, the storm worsening with each step they took. Risa reached the middle of the massive field behind the manor and began prodding the ground with her foot. Sam tried to break free, but Risa only tightened her grip. Her hands were cold like ice. She continued prodding about until her foot suddenly sank into the mud.
"I'm cold and tired. I want to go back inside." Sam protested as he continued to try to break free.
"We'll only be a few more minutes, and I think I just found the door." Risa replied with a grin.
She squatted down and dug her hand deep into the mud. With a mighty heave, she lifted a large rusted hatch out from under the mud. She slid her free hand under the hatch and swung it open.
"What would the entrance to a cellar be doing in the middle of the yard like this?" Sam thought.
He cautiously walked over to the opening in the ground and peered inside. Aside from the first few decrepid granite steps, all he could see was a wall of shadows. Risa ushered him inside, not letting him escape. Sam's hopes of going back to the manor were crushed as the sound of Risa slamming the hatch down behind her echoed through the pitch black caverns. Sam was completely blind, the only thing giving him any sense of direction being Risa constantly dragging him along by the hand. After what felt like miles of stumbling along in the dark, Sam saw a light at the end of the tunnel.
The small stone hall widened into a large roo, its walls lined with hundreds of lit red candles. At the rooms center were two large marble altars, both covered in a thick layer of dust. Risa walked to the altar on the left and slowly lifted the top. Sam went pale as he looked inside the hollowed out altar. There lay Risa, unmoved for ages and covered in dust, but at the same time she stood beside Sam, still gripping him with her cold hands.
"What the hell is going on?" Sam asked in a panic.
"Don't tell me you never realized it yet. It's been so lonely being stuck here for all these centuries, with no one to keep me company except for the occasional guest. I want you to stay with me forever." Risa said as she started to push Sam towards the other altar.
Sam quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial of salt. He threw it at Risa, but the vial simply passed right through her. Just as Risa lifted Sam up onto the altar, the vial of salt shattered against the side of the other altar, scattering salt all over her material body. She shrieked in pain, her ghostly form beginning to disperse into smoke. Sam rolled off of the altar and made a break for it. He ran into the darkness and didn't stop. With a loud thud, Sam felt himself slam headlong into a wall, and knocked himself out cold.
Sam woke up in the master bedroom. He looked around to find the window still open, the wind howling and wailing outside.
"What a strange nightmare..." Sam mumbled, rubbing his throbbing head.
As he rolled over to get back to sleep, he found himself face to face with Risa. He jumped out of bed and fell to the floor.
"When will this nightmare end!" he yelled.
"Nightmare? Sam, our eternal dream has only just begun." Risa said with a smirk as she pulled Sam back into bed.