Solace's car slowly rolled inside the house's garage a few days later. Despite hating the idea of staying with a bunch of strangers, she didn't hate the idea of staying at the mansion itself. It had a gothic architecture, with hypnotic dark flagstone roofs atop contrasting light grey walls. Dead plants crawled up the panels. Narrow windows were held up by dark fancy frames embellished with carved vine-like patterns. It was also massive: at least three times the size of the church she had lived in before! There seemed to be a huge garden in the back of the manor. The scent generously filled the air, suggesting that the place was probably full of flowers. Oleanders, to be precise. All those quirks combined made the manor feel more like a mysterious haunted house.
She drove the vehicle into place and took a deep breath.
"C'mon Solace; you'll be fine. It's just a bunch of boys; you've dealt with those before... Why am I so nervous? This should be fine. I'll be fine... And now I'm conjugating 'being fine' to all the persons, goddammit!" The ash-haired woman panicked quietly. She leaned her head against the steering wheel and reconnected with reality through many deep breaths and mumbles.
"Do it for Meredith."
Suddenly, her back straightened up. She confidently got out of the car: there wasn't a single thing that appeared to be able to stop her. She strode towards the front door with all her might, her suitcase rolling beside her. It was like she was entering an arena in antic roman times, waiting for her adversary to show up. If she wasn't confident, she'd fake it until she made it. Solace walked up to the entrance, an intimidating aura surrounding her. It was a pull door. She twisted the handle slightly on the double door, only for it to crack open.
She paused for a moment. The epic atmosphere faded as a deadpan look made its way to her face. An uncomfortable silence enveloped the scene.
"Pops said they were going to 'teach me manners and how to control my attitude'... maybe in return I could teach them how to lock a damn door." Solace thought, still looking unamused.
Suddenly, a green mist seeped through the small gap between the doors, bringing a clammy and cold feeling and thickening the air.
"Solace... come in..." a throaty voice whispered loudly, an inexplicable echo adding resonance. Mysteriously enough, it didn't seem to belong to anyone. It felt empty.
Solace stood there with the same unamused expression. Soon after, she finally spoke up.
"So this is how it's gonna be, huh?" She exhaled, unimpressed, reaching for the door handle yet again, ready to see an idiot making a weird voice. "Let's just get this over with."
"Meet your destiny...." Breathed out the ghost voice as loud thuds resonated inside the manor and strong wind burst the doors open, showing that nobody was there.
Somehow, Solace still looked unfazed, feeling the panic creep up her shaky legs.
"Hunny... you WISH I WENT MEET MY DESTINY!! NO, MA'AM; I AM NOT ABOUT TO GET MY ASS MURDERED!" was her response as she ran for her life back into the garage.
But to her dismay, it was already closed.
"GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK," Solace yelled, making a sharp turn towards the main exit. She couldn't care about her vehicle when her life was possibly in danger, although it made her sad to leave her well-earned car to whatever was in the house.
She arrived just in time to see the main gates closing in. "Oh my Lord, NO!" She screamed yet again.
Solace was about to escape when suddenly she felt the air being knocked out of her lungs. A strong hit landed on her stomach. Her vision blurred, and a metallic taste lingered on her tongue. As she fell to the floor, her consciousness slipping away, Solace heard the words that made her know she was doomed.
"It is too late now, my darling~."
"Oh god... the only red flag missing is liking the feeling of wet socks." That was her last thought before she blacked out.
...............................
Oh?? What's going on??? Two chapters released so close to each other?? 👀
Well, my reasons are quite simple:
- I got excited I finally started publishing this.
- I felt like my lovely readers could use a bit more of an introduction.
- I wanted to.
But, sadly, this type of schedule isn't the actual one: This is more of a welcome gift of sorts. I write slowly and always go back and forth to change things. I hope you don't mind.
That's all I have to say for now, see you next time! Hope you all have an awesome day :)
YOU ARE READING
Hung by chains
Mystery / ThrillerAfter the death of her adoptive father, Solace must go to a mysterious house to fix her etiquette, but barely anything is known about her soon-to-be teachers. During her stay, she obtains information and those who she would even dare to call "friend...
