Wicked Little Things

Chapter Three

Logan continued following Mrs. Morrison’s lead as they entered the Great Hall.  He had never been inside such an elaborate home.  He couldn’t help but admire the great staircase as it came down both sides of the hall.  A cherub made of cherrywood could be located at both the top and bottom of the stairs on both sides.

          Logan felt a little unnerved by the cherubs, but he didn’t think too much on them as he continued admiring the great splendor of the house.  He had been so distracted by it all that he didn’t notice that Mrs. Morrison had stopped at the bottom of the stairs until he bumped into her.

          When he regained himself, he saw that Mrs. Morrison’s hand was the rail, but she wasn’t going up the stairs.  Instead, she was looking toward the top of the stairs.  He followed her gaze and saw a flash of movement that was followed by the sound of a child’s laughter.

          “Who was that?” asked Logan.

          “Who was who?” replied Mrs. Morrison.

          “What was that running down the hall at the top of the stairs?”

          “There’s no one there!”

          “Of course, there’s no one there now!” replied Logan.  “He or she has gone down the hall!”

          “Come along now, Master Logan!  You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

          “I do too!  I saw something move up there, and I know you did too!”

          “Come now!  I have to take you to your grandmother before she gets upset that I’ve been keeping her waiting.”

          “She’s here?  Why wasn’t she outside when I arrived?”

          “You ask too many questions, Master Logan.  That’s not a good thing around here.  You must be very careful with what you say to your grandmother.  You mustn’t tell her that you’ve already started seeing things when you’ve just arrived.  She won’t hear of it!”

          “Have the other staff members seen what I have seen?” Logan asked as Mrs. Morrison took his hand in hers and led him almost too forcefully up the stairs.

          “Please, Master Logan!  Whatever you do, do not tell your grandmother about anything you’ve experienced here already!  She is bound to have you sent away to the asylum!  Staff members that have told her of seeing the same things you have were soon released of their positions and sent away!  She has no tolerance for such stories.”

          “But if others have seen them too, why would she think that everyone was lying to her?”

          “The Willingham family has a bit of a sad history,” replied Mrs. Morrison as they continued down the dark hall.  Logan thought it curious that the house would be as dark as it was despite it being daylight outside.

          “I’ve heard some of the stories,” said Logan.

          “You’ve only heard the good ones!”

          Logan was stunned.  How could the stories be considered good?  They didn’t exactly have happy endings.  Were there really more things about the family that he didn’t know?  Things that were far worse that what he already knew? 

          After walking for what seemed to be ages, they had finally stopped in front of a room that had the door shut.

          “Remember, Master Logan.  Do not mention anything about any of this to your grandmother!  Promise me you won’t!  It’s been so long since we’ve had any children here at Willingham Estate, and I truly hope that your presence here will bring some happiness to us.”

          Logan didn’t understand why Mrs. Morrison would hope for such a thing.  Were things really that bad here?  A thin, cracking voice from the other side of the door broke his concentration in response the Mrs. Morrison’s knocking, “Yes?  Who is it?”

          “Lady Willingham, your grandson, Master Logan has arrived.  Shall I show him in?”

          “No. Not now!  I’ll meet him later this evening.  I don’t wish to be bothered right now.  Now go and leave an old lady in peace!”

          Logan turned his head away.  He was unsure why tears were threatening to fill his eyes.  As he tried fighting back the tears, he felt a hand on his.  When he looked down, expecting to see Mrs. Morrison’s hand on his, there was nothing there.  His hand was the only one there.

          “Master Logan, I’m so sorry.  Lady Willingham hasn’t been well at all these last few days.  We should do as she says and wait until later for a proper meeting.  Let me show you to your room.”

          Logan was grateful for her kindness, but despite it though, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling he had after feeling someone’s hand on his.  He was following Mrs. Morrison down a different hall when he heard the sound of footsteps running from one room to the next; almost as if someone was hiding from him.