The Haunted House

While out driving, I couldn’t help, but stop and explore an old Victorian manor on a knoll. The unkempt courtyard was barred by a rusty old gate that had a chain and busted padlock to keep intruders out. My curiosity over took me as I gazed at the ivy and brush covered decaying building. Seeing no harm, I walked up the broken creaky steps on that silent eerie, deafening evening as a cold chill raced up my spine, even though I had a warm winter coat on. To my surprise the weather-beaten door opened slightly when I knocked on it. After peeking in, I slowly stepped inside to a musty smelling great- room. As I started walking across the creaking rumbling floorboards, a warm breeze blew pasted me and slammed the front door shut. I jumped and let out a tide of nervous mumbling as I moved farther inside. There was a barren feeling of life as I eyed the dark musty, rundown old neglected house. Dry rot had taken over the ceilings from being empty so long. Rats had run across the decaying dirty floors, huge fly filled dusty cobwebs in every corner. Despite the decay of the old manor it somehow retained a profound grandeur with an old run-down grandfather clock even though it had stopped living years ago. Making my way upstairs I thought I could hear low sounds of screaming, weeping crying of terrified voices. I couldn’t shake the niggling that something was amiss when I heard a loud noise coming from the attic that sent a chilling cold feeling down me. Hearing a door squeak open, I turned and raced back down the stairs. Stopping in the great-room to catch my breath I jumped when I felt something rub against my leg. My head jerked down only to see a black cat purring and rubbing my ankles. As I looked up the old clock started to chime and with a click the front door swung open. Reaching down I scooped up the cat in my shaky arms and ran out the open door to my car. With the cat curled up purring on the seat beside me, I raced toward home wondering what caused me to stop. I could be sitting in a nice hot bath or curled beneath my warm down comforter. 8/17/2018