Hollows Valley

Chapter One

The Beginning

Many years ago

1781 – I've just received a letter from my landlady – a charming lady no doubt- requesting my presence at the house, her residence. No doubt it is a place full of many memories, maybe not for me but for her. It's a long journey from my home to hers in Hollows Valley. However, I make the journey no matter the weather conditions. As I rode up the lane that seemed long and wearisome, I noticed the large trees that surrounded the large mansion with a grand garden outside of it. When I reached the place I dismounted my mare, making sure she was all right before knocking on the front door only to be greeted with an elderly man who spoke quite roughly.

"Who hither goes there?"

"Balthus Garrett,"

"What do you want?" he responded with a scoff.

"The lady of the house is expecting me, please may I come in?"

Stepping aside, he told me to wait inside as I entered, he told me that his mistress wouldn't normally receive strangers at this late hour of the night. However, I dismissed his impertinence and began to venture further into the spacious living room with a grand fireplace that had yellow flames moving rapidly. It was my first time in the mansion, and the room was rather dark and tedious looking. There was nothing exceptionally special about it until I came face to face with a woman who I assumed to be the mistress of the mansion.

"Pray do tell me who you are,"

"Balthus Garrett, your new tenant. I was hoping to extend my stay at 'Whitefield Manor' if you have no objections to it." I exclaimed.

"If I had any objection to it sir, I would have evicted you already." she responded, her golden locks resting at her waist with beautiful curls in them. "My name is Cornelia Thornley," she exclaimed as she studied me carefully, almost eyeing me like a hawk would eye its prey. "Mr Garrett, how do you find Whitefield Manor?" she questioned which sounded more like a statement than an actual question.

"I find it very comfortable madam; my wife and children could want for no less."

"Sit down then," she told me as she sat in the armchair next to the fireplace.

"I wish I could say I am happy that you are extending your stay at Whitefield Manor, but I must admit that I am surprised that you would want to stay in such a place."

"Pardon?"

"You are well aware of the church in the village of Hollows Valley?" to her question I nodded.

"Some weeks ago, a cousin of mine was to be married in the church, but word has it that before they could take their vows, the candle in the church dropped setting the place ablaze, when they tried to get out the doors were locked. My cousin was able to get out eventually but most people including his bride were not so fortunate."

I was about to share my condolences with her until she cut me off and continued.

"Most people say that it was a sign from God, but I beg to differ, I think someone had locked them in deliberately and had sabotaged the wedding. I want you to go to the church and examine things there yourself. The priests have taken time to have a short respite due to the unforeseen circumstances." she stared into the fire for a moment or two.

"I must protest madam, I am no investigator, I am but a mere tenant of Whitefield, I cannot just go walking" she soon cut me off sharply.

"You'll do as I say, or I will evict you and your family without question. Religious folk say it was a sign from God, others say that there was someone who locked them in, and some say there is a ghost haunting the church." she explained in a sharp tone of voice.

When she mentioned ghosts, a chill crawled up my spine, in my opinion ghosts didn't exist but something told me that Miss Thornley wasn't joking around, she seemed quite a no-nonsense woman with quite a temper that wouldn't nor shouldn't be messed with. She was a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties, twenty-three at most.