•So Many Questions•

The rain pounded down angrily as you hear the abusive shouts from the living room. Would you rather be inside, or out? You honestly don’t know which is worse. How long will you be welcome here? You’ve already extended your stay. You try to sleep in the lumpy, hard bed. Can’t these people give you just a little comfort? A weak fire crackled quietly in the hearth, barely warming you up. You struggle to sleep, tossing and turning. When you finally start falling asleep, on the edge of hearing, you heard the owner yell to his wife... “GET THEM OUT OF HERE!”

After a restless sleep the night before, you trudge down the creaky wooden stairs to the kitchen. “G’morning.” You mumble, wearily. Fatigue weighs you down like a ton of bricks. “Good morning, dear.” The kindly old owner’s wife greets you warmly. “How did you sleep?” You are surprised at her general concern for you as it seems her husband could not care less about you, after what you overheard last night. “Well, the bed is not the...most...comfortable bed, but I slept alright.” You don’t want to offend the lady’s housekeeping, so you decide not to mention the number of problems with your room. “I’m afraid you’ll have to leave today, dear.” The lady announces, kindly. You don’t want her to suspect you listened to their conversation last night, so you act surprised. “Oh? How come? I thought I still had a week!”

“Ah, well, we have to close for...personal reasons. We can’t afford the rest of the...ah, bills!” She stutters to say this, as she always tried to be her nicest to you. Despite your horrible night time experiences and poorly kept room, you quite like this place. “But surely my board covers for most of your bills?” You know she is lying, as you seem to have a uncanny ability for knowing when people are lying. “Oh, ah, we have very expensive bills now that we are housing guests.” This lady has been so kind to you during your stay, so you decide it would be better not to pry into her personal affairs and head back to your room to begin packing. As you heave your suitcases down the creaky stairs, that you had only just got used to, you bump into the frustrating owner. “Hmph. I see you’ve begun packing. I expect you’ll be out soon?” He looks down his long nose at you, expectedly. “Yes, sir. But I would appreciate a jolly good explanation for why I’m being kicked out so early.” You smile inwardly, proud to brave the arrogant man, who had insulted you too many times. The proprietor looked quite taken aback at your sudden assertiveness. “Ahem. Well, that is, I believe, none of your business. Leave soon...or else.” And with that he stomped off up the stairs and out of sight, leaving you bristling with fear but proud.

Two hours later, you stand out the front of the enormous gothic manor where you had stayed for many weeks, suddenly feeling a sudden relief to be out of his house. The taxi should be here any minute now. You had waved good-bye to the owner’s wife, who had packed you a lovely hamper of food for your journey. The taxi pulled up, and you hop inside, suitcase in hand, you head to the station, away from that place of horror...and Henry Bartholomew.

A cold gust of wind blew through your hair as you shiver on the spot. You think about your experiences over these few weeks, and your glad to be free. As the train slows to a stop at the platform, you hop onto it, towards a brighter future.

Weeks later, you find yourself pondering over what happened at that gothic manor all those months ago. You are thankful for the owner’s wife, who was ever so kind to you, throughout your stay. But you do wonder what you did to the evil proprietor to deserve being kicked out. You shake your head, cursing yourself for not asking more questions and investigating more. There was something mysterious about that house...some deep secrets were hidden there and a mystery was to be solved. You decide it would be best to write a review on their website. Truthfully, the quality of your room was not very good, but you want to help the old lady out. One you are happy with your review, you upload it:

A review of my lovely stay at this home of gothic architecture and mystery...

As you walk in, you are warmly welcomed by kindly old Mrs Bartholomew who is ever so sorry for her husband’s appalling treatment to you upon your stay. The room you are staying in is small, but cozy, and along the hall is a linen cupboard, if you are cold. Mysteries wait around every corner of this intriguing house, but you are warned, stay away from the owner, he is not very happy, with your arrival. Deep secrets are hidden in this old house, itching to be solved after all those years in the dark.

I hope you enjoy your stay at this historical old gothic manor.

You know, well, rather hope, that someone will discover the dark, hidden secrets beneath the surface of that creepy hotel. That is, if anyone stays there again! The owners were certainly mysterious, covering up everything that happen, even if the kindly old woman was very apologetic, she was still hiding something too. You wonder if they will close their business, after how much Mr Bartholomew seemed to despise his guests, based on your stay. Did he have a problem with you? Was he always like this? All these questions have been circling your head ever since you left. You regret booking that horrible place, but you did help others of the future discover it all again. But you remember that it is all of the past now...but you honestly have no idea what is coming in the future...

•THE END•

~CORDELIA HARRISSON wrote this, not you!~

Thank you so much for reading m