Sarah and the Gathering Time

Chapter One - Hill House

When a twelve-year-old, red-headed girl awoke under the chestnut tree in front of Hill House, there wasn't anyone around to see from where she'd come. This was not unusual however, as Hill House was a few miles outside the town of Markam and the closest neighbour was a mile away. The only spectator to the stranger's arrival was a crow, perched on a tree branch, directly above the sleeping girl.

Sarah wasn't sure how long she'd been out. She could only recall hearing a loud, howling sound, like being sucked through the eye of a tornado. She also thought she'd heard birds cawing. When Sarah finally opened her eyes, blinking in the bright sunshine, she assumed she was still dreaming, for everything around her looked foreign and strange. Sitting up, she felt suddenly dizzy; a pain throbbed inside her head. Sarah tried to remember what happen, where she came from and what she was doing lying there, in this strange place, but nothing came. Her mind was blank.

I must have bumped my head, thought Sarah, touching a spot of dried blood on her forehead. Just then, she heard a high-pitched voice speaking to her. Peering around, first left, then right, Sarah could see no one. I'm dreaming again, she thought, trying to shake herself awake.

"That's the door you want, over there," screeched the voice. This time, Sarah looked directly above her where she noticed a black bird opening and closing its beak. She stared at the bird in disbelief realizing that the voice must have come from it. Her thoughts were confirmed when she saw the crow speak again. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go and give the door a knock. They'll be expecting you,"said the crow, before ruffling its feathers and flying off into blue sky. Sarah didn't know what to think, but she figured it couldn't hurt to knock on the door. Maybe whoever lives here can tell me where I am, or even, who I am, she thought

Sarah gave two tentative knocks on the door. Nothing happened, so she knocked twice more, harder this time. Then, she saw the shadow of a person through the lace curtain coming to open the door.

"Hello. You must be Sarah. We've been expecting you," said the most beautiful woman Sarah had ever seen. "We're just delighted that you've come to stay with us. I'm Miss Clare, by the way. Come inside and I'll introduce you to the other girls." Miss Clare was a tall, young woman, with long flowing blonde hair and greyish-blue eyes that seemed to sparkle.

Once inside, Sarah couldn't believe her eyes, there were furnishings everywhere, even in the hallways, and the walls had been painted a rosy-purple. Colourful mats were scattered here and there over shiny hardwood floors.

"Wait here a minute Sarah, while I find the girls," said Miss Clare, disappearing around a corner. Seconds later the front door swung open. Sarah, startled, jumped aside just in time.

"Who are you?" said a smartly dressed girl with a head of golden curls. "Oh, have you come to clean the stables?" Sarah's face turned strawberry red as she looked down at the threadbare smock she wore. 

"Ladies, gather round," said Miss Clare excitedly. "I want you to meet your new housemate, Miss Sarah Wanderson. Sarah, meet Angie, Marta, and Bridget."