A New Estate - Crimson Peak

Chapter Twenty Two

The photographs I had seen of the Sharpe's made me believe that were she standing straight, as opposed to leaning over the railing, that she would stand tall with her head held up proudly.

The effect of her almost snake like image peering down seemingly gleefully at David was haunting and stomach curdling.

"What are you doing?"

Hille looked down at me with furrowed brows.

"Pardon?"

"Not you, her," I indicated with a nod towards where she stood, refusing to take my eyes off of her for a second.

"Who?" He asked in confusion, looking towards the banister.

"Her! Don't you see her?"

Everyone surrounding me exchanged quizzical looks as Robert turned to look over his shoulder and seemed to linger for a second longer than necessary.

Surely that meant that he could see her too.

Alexander's hold on the back of my head tightened and his fingers grip onto my hair a little.

"She must be in shock," George commented with a grim expression.

"I am not in shock, I am telling you that someone is there."

"It's only Robert," Jonathan remarked sleepily.

"No, a woman."

"He may be a coward and bit of a meater, but he's no woman," Alexander snipped, "women tend to have decency."

"Will you leave him alone and please listen to me?" I beg helplessly.

"No," George responded calmly, "we should get you back to bed and away from this ruckus, it's no place for a lady."

Alexander places a hand on the small of my back and pushed me into turning away, despite all my protests and resistance.

Eventually, after much pushing and coercing, I resign to them and keep quiet, feeling useless as my protests fall upon deaf ears.

As I'm moved away I shoot Robert an apologetic look over my shoulder, his own eyes lingering on me as I'm led to the corridor.

Before my vision is taken over by a wall I see the spectre once more, in the blink of an eye she had moved to stand behind Robert with her eyes trained on me and one ghastly hand was clasped onto his shoulder.

Despite my best efforts I didn't manage to return to sleep that night, my mind was convincing me that any creak or groan of the manor was Lady Sharpe trying to find me within her domain for spying her, unlike the others.

My eyes ached as I, at times, forgot to blink and the cold air dried them and although my eyelids felt heavy, my mind refused to succumb to sleep and instead replayed everything from earlier in a horrific loop.

I'm unsure of how much time had passed before a soft knock broke the silence of my room and caused my heart to jolt and panic to rise up at the thought of her finding me, something I cursed myself over, rationality telling me that a ghost had no reason to knock before entering a room of their choosing.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice breaking with uncertainty.

"Sorry to disturb you so late, but would it be fine if I came in?"

"Oh, Robert, it's you," I sighed, sitting up in bed, "yes, please do."

The door creaked open and I could barely see the vague shape of Robert as he stepped into the room.