The Nightcolt Manor

(6)

Back to the old house.

Nadine decided to go in a little earlier than usual. Last night, although annoying at points, really helped calm her nerves. Who knew hanging with ghosts would be this draining? She thought to herself. The only thing she was dreading was facing the ghost-- Heath again. It wasn't the fact that he was a ghost, it was the fact that he may have been upset with her. The kind of nervousness you'd get when you know your parents are about to reprimand you.

______

The stained glass door creaked open as Nadine stepped inside. Slowly, quietly, she walked into the main living room where her blanket laid. Shit. The air around her froze. She turned her gaze landing on the figure in the dark corridor.

"You're here early." She heard Heath say, very calmly. Almost too calmly. "Good morning.." Nadine said awkwardly, looking down at her feet.

"Come here. I have something to show you." Heath said suddenly, motioning her to come over. Nadine hesitated for a few moments before following behind him. He lead them into the library, which was still filled to the brim with old, albeit dusty, books. He stopped at a bookcase tucked away in a corner and pulled out an inconspicuous-looking novel. As soon as he did so, the bookcase itself creaked open. HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! SECRET BOOKCASE DOOR! Nadine thought to herself eagerly, all tension temporarily leaving her body.

Heath must have seen the look on her face and cleared his throat to get her attention. They entered, although Nadine couldn't see anything. "There are candelabra along the walls." At that, Nadine raced to get her purse. Good thing I carry a lighter on me just in case, heheh, Nadine snickered to herself. She quickly lit all the candles around the small room. Her eyes widened and she practically bounced on the balls of her feet, she was so excited she almost forgot about the ghost standing tiredly in the corner and watching her.

After taking another couple of moments to look around the small and untouched room of antiques, her attention was finally back on the man that had showed her this in the first place. "Why'd you bring me in here?" Nadine asked as Heath gestured for her to sit down across from him at the small desk in the center of the room. He started slowly, "I apologize for how I reacted the other day,"

Nadine let out a breath as he continued, "When you told me that I had died from sickness.."
Nadine looked confused, "Didn't you know?"
Heath was silent for a moment before replying coldly, "That's not how I actually died."

Nadine's stomach dropped at the sudden change in demeanor of the spirit, "T-That's just what I read in the newspaper clipping.." she pulled out her phone and pulled up the pictures she had taken of the newspaper, showing it to Heath. He practically glared at the headline of the newspaper. He got up, muttering something under his breath as he searched around the room for something. Finally finding what it was, he sat back down and put the object on the table so that Nadine could see.

It was an old photo.

In the picture was Heath and another man about the same age as him with his arm around his shoulder. Nadine looked up at the spirit quizzically, waiting for him to explain. "That was my friend, Attwell Holt. We were close since childhood.." his eyes flickered in sadness, "But unfortunately his jealousy got the better of him. Although I never expected him to take things so far as to kill me."

Nadine gasped, but before she could respond, Heath spoke once more. "It was a dispute over something.. but for the death of me I just can't seem to recall what it was. I remember the feeling though. I remember all of the feelings. From the anger to the sudden pinch of pain in my chest from that damn revolver.." his hand clenched and unclenched over his chest, as if he could still feel the pain of it all.

"I didn't know that bastard would go so far as bribing the sheriff." He scoffed, running his fingers through his neat, slicked back hair and promptly ruining it. Black strands fell over his forehead as his gaze fell on the desk. Nadine was at a complete loss for words. She wasn't even sure why he was telling her this. I guess you need to get some stuff off your chest after being dead for so long. She wasn't sure how to comfort him or if she even could. Tentatively, she reached out her hand, slowly inching her hand over his cold one.

Heath flinched ever so slightly at the warm feeling over his hand but didn't do anything to remove it as he confessed, "When you said that you read I had died from illness, I knew Attwell had never been caught and my true cause of death never investigated. I suppose this is why I have yet to be granted that 'peace' you living all speak of. Until then I suppose I'm just tied to this house."

There was a brief silence. "I'm sure you just want to get back to work. I'll let you go." Heath said, standing up and opening the door for Nadine. As she was walking out, she stopped, "Thank you for telling me this."
Heath simply nodded, avoiding eye contact with the shorter woman as she continued on.

______

I feel so terrible for him. He must have been so lonely all this time. By himself in this big house for 132 years. I couldn't imagine. Nadine thought to herself as she worked on chipping away the peeling paint that covered the walls of the master bedroom. She sighed, taking her hair out of the updo she usually had it in. She glanced around the room, peering at the large stained glass window in the center of the bedroom wall curiously. "Remarkable condition.." she muttered to herself, tracing the lines of the colorful shards.

"My grandfather had that made for my grandmother," Heath said, catching Nadine off guard. She laughed a bit, "Please knock or clear your throat or something before you speak. My heart can't take your popping out of nowhere.."

Heath tilted his head, squinting his eyes at her, "I don't think I've seen you with your hair down before."

Nadine smiled, turning her gaze back to the window. "My grandmother had more extravagant tastes-- my grandfather, not so much. But still he had that made in honor of her. My father told me that she would bring all of her friends over and show them. Sometimes she'd even invite an 'enemy' or two to brag."

Nadine laughed at his story, "Sounds like something I'd do." Whilst her attention was caught elsewhere, Heath's lips quirked into a small, unnoticed smile.