Morally Grey

Chapter I

As the rain splashed against the glass , I kept wondering how did i end up in a situation like this , sitting inside my rundown car with the windows up , while the rain continued falling on my windshield as i stopped driving in the rain .

And here i was stuck inside my car in front of a large scary black manor , contemplating whether to go inside or not given the circumstances i should but a logical part of my brain forbids me to go inside and seek shelter from the rain,thunder and harsh winds . Which didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon .

Recalling everything that has happened in the past few days from discovering my dead great grandmother's diary from my mother's secret room that she never let's me enter ,to finding myself walking in the rain towards the terrifying ,eerie and intimidating looking manor .

As the thunder boomed with lightning strikes all across the dark midnight sky i felt myself getting soaked by the harsh cold raindrops on my skin that sent a chill down my spine or was it because of the manor ?

As i was walking towards the rusted iron gate which had an intricate looking 'G' on the middle of the gate. Which led me to wonder who did it belong to ? And how old is this place? How long has this castle been abandoned for ? I tried looking for a way to get through the gates .

I pushed the hinges of the gate and found myself getting tired and hurting myself by cutting two of my fingers . As the blood was pouring from the wound i found myself clutching my fingers and licking the blood off of my fingers to soothe the irritation from the wound . Suddenly i felt a chill in my bones that made me stop clutching my hand and turn around towards the forest that decorated the grounds of the manor . I tried looking for something through the darkness that suddenly made me feel like i should be alert of my surroundings. I was relieved to not find anything suspicious . As i went back to paying attention to the gates because i felt winds picking their pace up , suddenly a deep voice called out from behind .

" Are you lost miss? "

I spun around like my tail was on fire to see a man standing a foot away from me wearing a long black mantle .

I tried looking at his face which was covered by the hood of the mantle. Realising that i was staring at him while he was waiting me to answer,i cleared my throat and stuttered my words out

" Who a-aare you-u ? How d-id you sneak up on me-e?"

The man spoke in a deep voice , " I am Godwin, I am the one who takes care of this manor miss, i am sorry to have startled you but i just came to check on the manor in this stormy weather as i saw your car's headlights breaking through the forest , i live just across the forest lands in my hut , now may i know what are you doing at this hour?"

"I -"

Godwin tilted his head to his side a little bit .

I cleared my throat and braced my self to not stutter in front of the man , " i was lost , i was looking for shelter in this harsh weather." Not letting him know the actual reason that i was here. Although it was partially true , i was looking for shelter in this harsh weather trying to seek a little warmth n comfort.

Godwin nodded his head saying , " very well then."

The gates behind me rattled , turning around by the sound i saw the gates were now unlocked and opened a little to let us through. I looked back at the man with wide eyes silently asking him how was it possible? Godwin answered in his deep voice, " The gates are old miss , probably more than a century old , it is probably the harsh winds that led the gates to unlock itself from the locks that bind it . Come with me miss ."

His voice held no room for discussion as he started walking past me towards the manor . I contemplated going with him but what else was i supposed to do than go back to my car and freeze to death in this cold weather . I started walking behind him with slow and cautious steps .

We passed a broken down water fountain with a statue of maiden holding a rose in her hand inhaling its scent . This place looks like it has not been stayed in for like a century.
Walking through the pathway that led to the main door of the manor was decorated by garden on either side of the road . I felt anxious walking towards the entrance. To distract myself from how anxious my body was growing i couldn't help but look at the mansion. I looked at the eerie looking windows that rattled because of the winds . Turning my eyes away from the window i looked back at the broken water fountain till the sound of a door opening forced me to look away from it to the source of the sound.

I turned around to see Godwin standing by the door which has now been opened . I went inside and i was amazed at how medieval everything looked . The flower vases , devoid of any fresh flowers . Even the walls had vines and dead ivy growing with the traces of wilted flower that seemed to bloom and wilt with no source of care taken . It was dark and beautiful in it's own natural way.

From the huge chandelier that hung by the ceiling to the candle holders on top of the fireplace by the huge antique wooden table with antique chairs on the sides . The tapestry that were on the walls looked like it belonged to the Kings and Queens. I felt like i stepped into the world of war and fantasy.

I closed my mouth when i realised i was gaping at everything.

I turned around to ask Godwin how is this place not robbed off of it's treasures and valuables to find the door opened as the winds rush in with no signs of humanity. I looked around in a rush to find the man that may conjure danger to my presence but i failed to find any source of life other than me . Did i imagine the whole ordeal? No. No that's not possible maybe he went back to his hut because what's a small girl like me gonna do anyway. As soon as the storm passes I'll be own my way away from this haunting place.

I went infront of the huge door to close it so that it prevents the winds from chilling my bones .

As i went to sit on the couch by the paintings on the wall, I couldn't help but look at the paintings to realise the painting were no ordinary paintings those were actually portraits . Maybe of the owners of the manor . The portraits were covered with dusts and cobwebs, i was slowly walking and looking arounds the walls to realise an even bigger in size portrait was hanging just on top of the first set of stairs .

Unconsciously my legs pulled me towards the set of chairs , I now stood infront of the portrait that was covered in dust . I couldn't make out the face's details of the two men that seemed to be there. As i was focused on the portrait , a sudden noise suddenly stopped my breathing , like rattling of chains .

The sound seemed to come from somewhere below the staircase .

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