The Haunting of the Unseen

The Mansion

I stared at the large house as my wife pulled into the large roundabout driveway. My eyes drawn to it as if it called to me. 

“It could use some work,” I said as I gazed upon the overgrown bushes and dirty windows that speckled the front of the building.

“What do you mean? They just renovated it! It looks great!” My wife said, her eyes void of emotion. Her smile, not quite reaching her eyes.

What is wrong with her? My inner voice questioned. Maybe she’s just seeing her vision of the future?

I smiled at her as we pushed the front door open. The door creaked open slowly, as if the hinges threatened to break off with each movement. The room appeared frozen in time. Large Victorian furniture pieces filled the room, covered in white fabric. Dust covered each of the objects.

My heart quickened as my eyes followed the forgotten cobwebs at the molding that sat where the wall met the ceiling. My heart beat filled my ears as I got a sinking feeling of being watched. Dark stains covered the carpet on the first floor. I couldn’t help but think it looked like blood.

“Man, this place gives me the creeps.” I said, rubbing my palms over my arms, as goosebumps appeared on them.

“You just have to get used to it. The realtor assured me that this is a perfect place to start a life.” She said as she gently grabbed onto my face, kissing my forehead. Her lips were cold against my skin. I looked around again.

I stumbled back as I saw her, a rope wrapped tightly around her neck. Her eyes were bloodshot and lifeless, her skin had already taken on the grayish color. The skin around her neck bruised from the rope, her mouth agape, frozen in time.

I opened my mouth, no sound coming out. Scrambling away from her, I searched the room again, finding nobody as memories rushed back to me. 

She w-was g-g-gone. Dead. 

“No, you’re not here. This isn’t real. You’re dead.” I called out to the body hanging from the large chandelier that hung in the center of the room. 

Her eyes flickered towards me with no emotion. Arms that once hung limply at her sides now clawed at the rope, untying it. The body that was once been my wife thumped on the ground crawling towards me. The hands reached me first, pulling me into the darkness as my thoughts ran wild in my head. 

No, she can’t be here right now. I killed her.