The night was chilly but the warm dinner made all of us felt as if there was no howling wind outside, nor the pitter-pattering rain on the roof. The Mansion of Elizabeth Ruthe has an aura of creepiness and mystery in the air, but nothing could fail to dampen the pleasant atmosphere radiated by our host, my old friend, Elizabeth. We have not seen each other for a long time. One day, an invitation came for me, requesting for my presence at this particular mansion. I was eager to see her again, so I came.
During the fancy feast, Elizabeth, leaned towards me and gestured for me to lean in closer, as if she needed to tell me something private. I did so but Sir Paddington, her colleague, interrupted us. He said something that didn’t make sense, probably because he was drunk. After she answered him with more respect than he deserved, she just smiled back at me and said that she will tell it to me tomorrow. I nodded and went back to my thoughts. Suddenly, I have this uneasy feeling as I gazed at Elizabeth’s face.
When we were still in school, she used to be a cheery girl, with smile on her face every day. Now, it seems that she has aged a lot though her pretty face still has the same essence. I could still see the enthusiasm in her striking blue eyes. Her hair is still the same, the wavy dark brown hair with honey colored highlights. She is a year older than me but people used to mistake me for the older one. Her baby face fools everyone. But tonight, she is like a lady. Her elegant chiffon- silk gown flowed right down to her feet, giving off an air of grandeur. It was rosé wine colored and covered with soft- colored pearls and laced beautifully. I thought about how much she changed ever since her first job as an actress, though her humility and fun was not lost.
Well enough about her. After we finished our dinner of fillet migñon steak, butter-sauced- lobster and clam chowder soup, we had a toast for Elizabeth’s new movie. The champagne was just perfect!
Elizabeth then gave us a tour of her new mansion. The halls are like a maze, twisted and winding. One by one, she dropped us off at our reserved rooms. I counted the total number of guests. 10. 11 with me. These are all associates of Elizabeth’s. The last stop was my room. It was big and cozy. My stuff has been there. I bid her goodnight and she to me. As we exchanged glances, for a moment there, I though I saw a flicker of fear showing on her face. But as I blinked, her face just smiled warmly at me. I smiled back and she closed the door.
After I got comfortable in my PJs and on the bed, I snuggled up with a good book, Sherlock Holmes’s Speckled Band mystery. I must have read it many times already, but it’s like a classic mystery for me. The brilliant mind just astounds me. I didn’t realize when I drifted to my on dream world. Then , the place came to view for me. I was in the same room as Sherlock Holmes was in the story and it was dark. I heard Watson talking to me. I was thinking of my reply when all of a sudden, a scream broke the silence surrounding the house. That was when I woke up with a start. The first thing I noticed was the open window and the draft in the room. The lights are out except for the oil lamp beside me. My book was opened right on the page where my hero was beating up the snake. Just then, I heard shuffling and scuffling footsteps outside my room. Sensing something strange, I slipped my nightgown on me and grabbed the oil lamp. I stepped outside to hear murmurs and whispers around me.
I could see them pointing in the direction of Elizabeth’s room. I walked there, with quivering feet, not knowing what to expect. As I slowly opened the door, it creaked and finally, when it was wide open, I saw with my very own eyes…… the corpse of Elizabeth Ruthe. I couldn’t move from the shock. Someone wake me up from this nightmare! She was my best friend… who’s not here anymore. I feel like screaming out loud and yelling, but instead, my eyes just tear-ed up.
After I gathered myself together, I noticed that a book was in her hand, grasped very tightly. I took it out and open it at a random page and a torn letter fell to my feet. I picked it up. It says, “
Dear Elizabeth,
I warned you many times, yet you have not listened. You will suffer my wrath tonight if you still insist on running away. Beware…
Yours,
C.T.R.
Here, the letter ended. I slipped it in my pocket and I observed her face and body. She fell at a very odd angle. As if somebody planted her here. Hmmmm. And her face, there was something wrong with it though I couldn’t put my finger on it. When I finished taking in all that I could, I was just about to walk back, when the last clap of thunder exploded and the sky was soon crying for Elizabeth too……..
No comments:
Post a Comment