The house was very old and unvisited. The tiled roof and high ornate chimney stacks could be seen above the pine tops from the Norwich Road, but over the years, very few had ever truly seen the property. Many years ago, its owner had withdrawn from society, isolating himself from people and interference. Any house, alone amidst such vast grounds surrounded by fenland and dark lonely pines, would be a natural source for rural rumours- especially if the sole occupier was from foreign lands and if that occupier's past was unknown and mystic. Some had calculated the occupier to be at least one hundred and six years old. Rumours and stories abounded.
The hauntings in such properties would usually be of phantoms and apparitions, but the visitations within these grounds were of a far stranger and unique nature. Stories and claims from diverse and creative imaginations were popular amongst the locals, and the tales associated with the old house came from a wide range of the community. The reports were accepted but never believed.
The early sightings, many years ago before the Second World War, were by teenagers who had dared to venture onto the grounds for fun and excitement. They'd spoken of unusual noises and terrifying creatures. Dragons and giants were common amongst the tales. Later, there were reports of a shimmering lake with plunging cascades seen on the sloping grounds edging the forest pines. Some had sworn that on a good day, the waterfalls could be heard from the Norwich Road. Several passers-by had once spoken of a Roman town, and others had enquired about the medieval battle portrayal they had seen. The most frequent sighting was of nothing at all: the forest and distant grounds had vanished, replaced by an extension of the sky.
Few facts were known about the occupier of the house other than he was very old, claimed to be of Armenian stock, and had inherited his wealth from his family's European travelling fairground and circus. His property and possessions had all been purchased with cash. He had never been known to have visitors and had made no attempt to communicate with the locals. Regardless of his ample financial circumstances, the old man appeared to lead a very frugal life- having no phone, car, or electricity supply. How he spent his time was mysterious to contemplate- as was everything else about him and his house. His groceries and bills were paid for by special arrangement. Once per month, the old man's delivery requirements would be left in a locker by a padlocked farm gate at the end of a long driveway. Here he would place a list of the following month's requirements for a grocery store to collect and, later, make a delivery. The occupier's odd characteristics, background and unusual living arrangements may have been the origin of all the mystery over the many years. The man himself had not been seen for the past twelve years.
The grocery locker also served as a mailbox, but one that was rarely ever needed- until recently, when the postman had delivered a single letter addressed only to 'The occupier'. Shortly after, when the next grocery delivery was being dropped, there, in the locker, was a letter. There, with the letter, was some small change and an accompanying note requesting that the letter be posted with a first-class stamp. The letter was addressed to Sadia Mustafa, Post Restante, at the main Post Office in Norwich. It was no coincidence that there was a visiting circus in Norwich.
Early on the morning of July the nineteenth, the last day before the circus was due to leave for Chelmsford, Mr Sadia and the circus strong man, Mr Guven, left Norwich to call at the old house to pay a business visit on the old man...
Mr Sadia's old, dark left-hand drive Mercedes swung clumsily off of the Norwich Road and onto the stony driveway that led to the old house. As the vehicle turned, the intense morning sun striking the car's polished bodywork briefly fired off a few rounds of brilliant sunlight. The car lurched to a halt by the large wrought iron gates. The driver's door fell open and a big bear of a man, wearing a dark suit, got out. Mr Guven walked over to the gates. With both hands, the big man leaned into the first gate and pushed it back. He did the same to the second gate, and then he walked back to the Mercedes. Placing one hand on the car roof and one on the open door, he carefully lowered his large bulk back into the driver's seat, then pulled the door shut and drove through the gateway and on towards the old house. After the first bend in the long meandering driveway, the car could no longer be seen from the Norwich Road. After the second bend, it could no longer be heard.
YOU ARE READING
God of Odd
Paranormal'At the time, we assumed it was all fun and trickery arranged for the occasion- several sessions later, we learned otherwise. The creepy events we were to witness in that old house were indeed very mystical, and I might add, for us, life-changing. T...
