Service Classified

PART 2: Moving in

Today is the day.

I finally get to go to my new home.

As I drive through the gate of my new mansion, I see it.

Beautiful gray stone walls, with windows adorning it on all sides.

A dark blue roof, and so many visible wings to the mansion.

The movers should already have placed all my stuff inside in the places I have instructed them to, so I can go in and enjoy my new abode.

As I get out of the car in front of the entrance, a wonderful front garden adorned with various plants and bushes, a small lake.

Truly the life of luxury in a gray color.

I take out my keys, given to me by the real estate company, and I look at the front door.

Made of the most prettiest greened copper I have ever seen. 

Opening the door, I walk into the main hall, red carpet on the floor, a soft yellow wallpaper, it calms me.

The hall was just the beginning, and i'm already felling right at home. Splendid. 

I open to the door to the living room, and I am greeted by a paradise of a room.

A wide, open room for me to get lost in, I feel like a child who's parents just told them that they would get McDonalds.

My furniture is also nicely in place like I instructed, and... Its been polished?

Probably the movers, but why would they bother? Its not their job...

Shaking it of my mind, I proceed to the kitchen to see what its like.

And again, I am amazed by the inside of this manor, this kitchen is something every family could dream of, but never would be able to afford.

I go back to the hallway to hang my coat over my coatrack, before going back to the kitchen to make myself a sandwich.

After that, I proceed to explore the rest of the mansion, all the wings that are attached to it, there is a library, a lounging room for boredom, a well sized office with more than enough space for my books, and they have already been placed. Perfectly in alphabetical order. Wow, those movers sure have skill.

I continue my trip in my new home upstairs. There is a well sized study, a multitude of bedrooms, and so many rooms I could find so many uses for.

This was a very good purchase.

I am planing to invite my family here at some point, well, the family that I have, that is.

Considering I am unmarried, its just gonna be my parents, my same aged sister and younger brother. And because I have so many rooms, they can even stay overnight if they wish.

This is going to be a new chapter in my life.

Well, that's that for that experience, I have to get back to work.

I make my way back downstairs to the spacious office, where I sit down behind my grand desk.

Starting by all the boring paperwork, so I can just go on to the more interesting things later on.

A while later, I hear something from the ceiling.

It sounds like... Tapping?

I pause. Pen in hand, mid-signature.

Sounds? From the ceiling? That is odd.

I remember when I was given a floorplan, they did mention there was a ventilation system in between all floors, so all floors get cooled simultaneously.

I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.

Maybe I am just imagining things?

Curiosity gets the best of me. I put down my pen and stand up.

I get my library ladder and get up to the vent hatch on the ceiling, yes, I also think its strange to place vents on the ceiling, but that was just how the manor was built apparently.

But there is nothing.

suddenly I just think the obvious to myself. I hope.

It was probably just a rat in the vents, happens normally in old buildings like this.

I'll have to call an exterminator later to deal with this.

Anyhow, back to work.

I work hard, signing papers, reading mails, approving and disapproving plans, the whole deal.

By the time i'm done with everything, i'm exhausted. So many papers... and so many more tomorrow...

I check my smartwatch: 20:00. Oh dear, and I still have to cook!

Meh, i'll just get over it. I go to the kitchen to cook dinner.

As I exit, I smell something delicious. I smell... Chicken.

As I enter the dining hall right next to the kitchen, I see there is a complete first class meal prepared, the table has been completely set, silverware and all.

There is a wine glass and a bottle of Italian wine next to the delicious looking dish on the table.

My jaw drops as I see it all.

This... This was not here before.

Did somebody set up a surprise?

No,that's impossible, i'm the only one here since the movers left.

How on earth did a full sized meal just appear? 

I sit down on the chair where it has been served.

Its still warm, like somebody prepared it not too long ago.

I feel a sense of unease swirl in me.

Who could have possible done this? Is- Is there somebody in my manor?

I nervously sit down and start to eat the food. Its left here for me, right?

I mean, this is my property!

As I take a sip of wine, my eyes bolt across the room.

Nothing.

I finish eating and I stand up.

"Is anybody here!?"

No response. 

I feel my blood freezing in fear, scared for what did this, and i'm not the type of guy that gets spooked easily.

I'm gonna pass by the library, perhaps a book in bed can put my mind at rest.

Going in the library, I see all my books, bought with my hard earned business life.

Eventually I decide reading a book is out of the question for tonight, I need to just rest.

Then i'm in my room in my pajamas, sitting on my bed.

Calmly I say to myself:

"Its okay, Harvey, it was probably nothing, just a neighbor or someone from the real estate company congratulating me with my new home... But, the meal was freshly made, and I locked the doors and gate. Nobody would be able to get in. Its fine! I'll just call an exterminator for the vents, and a locksmith to double check my doors, it will all be fine."

I try to go to sleep, but the weird events of today swirl through my head. I'm uncomfortable.

But eventually, I just tire myself out... And then... I'll... Go to sleep...