Sixty Years Ago, She Came

We can hear the wind howling—a mournful sound rattling the cabin’s windows. The fire in the earth paints an orange glow across the faces as the six friends huddle closer under the blankets.

Outside, the snow is piling up heavily, a pristine blanket muffling the world.

It is Christmas Eve, and Ethan and his friends, like every year, decided to celebrate Christmas with Ghost Stories.

“OK,” Ethan started, “Did I already tell you about my grandmother, Rose?”

“The one who was almost killed?” asked Lucie.

“Yes,” Ethan continued, “I will tell you what happened that night sixty years ago.”

___________________________________________

The party had been the talk of the whole town. Every notoriety was invited.

Of course, Rose, who was new to the city, was not invited, but Sasha, her new friend, was the Mayor’s daughter, so she asked Rose to accompany her.

“Come on! I will introduce you to some handsome young men!” she laughed. “And if nobody interests you, we will party together!” she continued.

So, Rose, who had just finished University, followed her new best friend to Bennet’s Manor on Christmas Eve, 1984.

The snow crunched beneath their feet as they approached Bennet’s Manor.

The grand house with its windows ablaze with warm light loomed before them.

Christmas music and laughter drift from the inside.

Rose hesitated at the bottom of the stairs: “Are you sure it is alright? I was not invited.”

Sasha waved away her concern: “Don’t be silly! You are my plus one!”

As they entered, Rose was dazzled by the luxury. Garlands and twinkling lights adorn every surface. An immense Christmas tree dominated the foyer, its ornaments glinting in the candlelight.

Following her promise, Sasha introduced Rose to several bachelors. But Rose felt overwhelmed and uneasy among these elites.

One or two hours later, as she was drinking a Champagne coupe in the corner of the room, the wind brutally opened the ballroom door. A woman in her twenties entered, murmuring: “I hope I am not too late.”

The majordomo came and checked her invitee card before guiding her inside.

Intrigued by the event, Rose watched as the majordomo whispered something in Bennet Senior’s ears before seeing the patriarch frown and gaze at the new woman.

She wore a sophisticated black dress contrasting the room’s green and red. She was beautiful, almost ethereal. Her piercing grey eyes seemed to glow with otherworldly light, scanning the room with calculated precision.

As she moved through the crowd, she started to murmur something to different people.

Rose couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with this woman. She moved like a predator descending on her prey. And each time she finished whispering something to her prey, the prey was seen frowning or with dazed eyes.

The atmosphere started to shift. Conversations that were joyous before became hushed, and people kept glancing at the newcomer.

As the woman approached the banquet to take a glass of Champagne, her gaze locked onto Rose. A chill ran down her spine as the woman approached her. She wanted to flee, but her feet were glued to the floor.

Rose wanted to look around frantically to search for her friend, Sacha, but couldn’t risk losing sight of the woman now a few feet from her.

“Hello, Rose,” the woman said in a melodious and unsettling voice. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Do… Do you know me?” asked Rose, shivering.

“Not yet.” Answered the woman cryptically.

Rose felt her heart pounding as the woman leaned closer and breathed in Rose’s ear: “Don’t follow him,” she whispered. “Stay with your friend, and enjoy the evening.”

Rose tried to back away, but she was pressed against the wall. “I… I don’t understand,” she stammered. “You don’t need to understand. Not yet. But remember this: If you want to keep your life, don’t follow him.” With that, the woman turned around and glided away into the crowd.

After seeing the interaction, Sasha came rushing to Rose and asked, “Do you know her?” “No,” answered Rose, “but she knows my name.”

“That’s weird!” exclaimed Sasha. “I asked my father if he knew her, and he said the same thing… She told him not to accept the invitation next week if he wanted to protect me.”

“Which invitation?” asked Rose.

“That’s the weird thing,” Sasha said, continuing, “There was no invitation before she spoke to my father. But, just two minutes ago, the Raynolds invited our family for souper next Friday.”

“Did your father accept?” asked Rose curiously.

“The Raynolds can help my father with his next campaign, so I thought he would accept, but he looked at me and told them that we were having a family night on Friday and that it was impossible for us to come,” Sasha explained to Rose. “I’m sure there was no family night.”

“Yes, it’s bizarre,” Rose told her, pensive.

“What did she tell you?” asked Sasha, intrigued.

“She told me not to follow him if I wanted to live,” replied Rose, unsettled.

“What the hell?” burst Sasha.

Some of the guests around them turned their heads to see the commotion.

Rose quickly shushed Sasha, not wanting to draw attention.

“I know! It’s crazy. But there’s something about her. I can’t shake the feeling. It’s like she knows something that we don’t.”

As they spoke in a hushed tone, the woman continued to move through the crowd, stopping to whisper to selected individuals, the festive mood dimming further.

Suddenly, a man appeared in front of Rose and Sasha, startling them. “Good evening, ladies,” he said smoothly, “I couldn’t help but notice you two standing here alone. I am Charles,” he continued while extending his hand to Rose, “Would you do me the honor?”.

Before Rose could answer, Sasha, mesmerized by the newcomer, stepped forward. “I’m Sasha, and this is my friend Rose. With pleasure!” and offered her hand.

Charles’s eyes lingered on Rose for a moment longer than necessary before taking Sasha’s hand to guide her on the dancing floor.

As Rose watched Charles and Sasha twirl away, she felt uneasy after how Charles looked at her.

It was indisputable that Charles was a handsome man. He was tall and charismatic, with piercing blue eyes and a charming smile.

But she couldn’t shake the warning of the mysterious woman from her head.

She scanned the room, searching for the woman in black, but she was nowhere to be found.

Sasha came back flushed and giddy from dancing. “Oh, Rose! Charles is absolutely charming! He’s inviting us to join him and some friends for a late-night sleigh ride! Isn’t that exciting!”. Sasha was jumping off excitement.

Rose felt her blood run cold. “Heu… I… I don’t know. I don’t think that’s a good idea, Sasha!”

“What? Why?” Sasha asked, confused. “I don’t know… But, after the woman’s warning, I don’t think following a stranger is a good idea.” Rose answered.

Sasha realized what her friend meant and explained: “Oh, but the warning was for you not to follow somebody, right?” Rose nodded. “So, if you come with me, you are not following a guy but accompanying me. There was no warning for me against following a stranger, correct?”

Rose thought about it. It was a stretch, but she would not be alone; she would be with her friend, so maybe the warning was not for now. She tried again to find the woman in the crowd but couldn’t see her.

Reluctantly, Rose told her friend, “OK, but we will stay together, OK?”. “Yes! It will be fun, you will see!” Sasha’s encouragement and happiness were contagious, and Rose felt more at ease.

After putting on their coat, Sasha took Rose’s hand and exited the Bennet’s Manor.

The cold hair hit them like a slap. The snow was falling heavily now, obscuring their vision beyond a few feet. Rose shivered and pulled her coat tighter around her.

Charles was waiting for them near an ornate sleigh, holding the reins of two magnificent black horses. On this frigid night, their breath came out in puffs of steam.

“Ladies, allow me to introduce my friends Jack and Mathieu.”

The two men nodded politely, but Rose started to fidget again. Something was off with the way they looked at her.

“Shall we?” Charles extended his hand to help them into the sleigh.

“Maybe we should go back inside,” Rose whispered to her friend. “The weather is getting worse.” She continued, but Sasha was already moving on to the sleigh.

Rose didn’t know what to do. She wanted to run back inside the Manor but didn’t want to leave her friend alone with these strangers. As she was thinking about what to do, an idea came to her: “Excuse me, I forgot my scarf inside. Could you wait a moment?”

“I can lend you mine.” Charles offered. “No, thank you. I will return in a minute”.

Rose walked quickly inside the mansion and found her target almost immediately.

She approached Sasha’s father and said, “Mr. Mayor, I am sorry to bother you, but I am worried about Sasha. She is about to go on a sleigh ride with men we just met, and given the weather and the late hour, I don’t think it’s safe.”

The Mayor’s face darkened with worry. “Thank you for telling me. Where is she now?”

Rose led him in front of the Manor, where Sasha’s laughter could be heard.

As they approached the sleigh, Charles’ smile started to falter.

“Sasha, dear!” called the Mayor. “Dad?” Sasha answered, surprised. “I’m afraid I cannot allow this outing.” Her father continued, " The weather is treacherous, and it is far too late. Come inside, both of you.”

Sasha pouted but complied, climbing out of the sleigh.

Charles started to protest, “Don’t worry, sir, we… " but the Mayor’s stern look stopped him.

As they walked back inside, Rose glanced over her shoulder. The three men were actively discussing while glancing around them.

As they entered the warmth of the mansion, Rose felt a wave of relief. “Thank you,” Rose whispered to the Mayor. “I am glad you came to me,” answered the Mayor. “Something didn’t feel right, " and he returned to his wife’s side.

Sasha quickly forgot her disappointment as she started discussing with the other guests.

Rose couldn’t stop thinking that they narrowly escaped something sinister and went to the window where the sleigh and men were nowhere to be seen.

The party continued until the early morning hours without any sign of the mysterious woman.

Several days later, Rose and Sasha were discussing the latest gossip in their favorite coffee shop.

They learned that Raynolds Junior was arrested for poisoning all his family during a souper with their family friends.

Bennet’s patriarch had suffered a heart attack but survived, thanks to a quick medical intervention.

Rose and Sasha were astonished and scarred to think what could have happened if the Mayor had accepted the Raynolds’s invitation.

Just then, on the television above the counter, a journalist started: “The woman who went missing during a Christmas party in Alsbourn was found dead in the woods this morning. Three young men were arrested in connection with her disappearance and murder. The police suspect they may be linked to other cases of missing persons in the area. The victim was identified as Emilia Thompson, 22 years old. She was last seen leaving the Christmas Eve party at Bennet’s Manor with three men in a horse-drawn sleigh. Hikers discovered her body in a remote area of Alsbourn Forest. Police have not released details of the crime, but sources say the scene of the crime was particularly gruesome.

The three suspects, Charles Whitaker, Jack Pearson, and Mathieu Dubois, were apprehended this morning. All three come from prominent local families. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the events of that night to come forward.”

Rose and Sasha felt the blood drain from their faces when the names were read out.

“Oh my Gosh!” Sasha whispered, her eyes wide in horror. “That… That could have been us!”.

Rose nodded, her throat tight. “If it wasn’t for that warning… And your father…”

___________________________________________

“My grandmother learned later that the three men were part of a cult and that they killed five girls as sacrifices in rituals,” continued Ethan.

“Wow!” exclaimed Peter, “Did they find out who the woman in black was?”

“No,” answered Ethan. “My grandmother told me some called her the Christmas Fairy, while others think she is a Guardian Angel.”

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, startling everyone.

The six friends exchanged nervous glances, their hearts racing after the chilling tale.

“Who could that be?” Lucie whispered. “We are miles from anywhere, and in this weather…”

Ethan stood up and started walking to the door. “I… I will go check,” he said, a little unsettled.

As he approached the door, the wind outside seemed to howl louder.

The others huddled closer together, their eyes wide with anticipation and fear.

Ethan took a deep breath and yanked the door open.

Standing on the snow-covered porch was a woman in a sophisticated black dress. She was beautiful, almost ethereal. Her piercing grey eyes seemed to glow with otherworldly light.