Lazarus

1

I had spent most of my day searching for that perfect spot all while trying to scrape up money from the locals. I pretended to need to catch a bus, but I lost my bus ticket. It usually worked and I had collected enough money for a couple of meals in a fast-food restaurant.

The spot was in a little forest by a castle, it had been abandoned for many years, but it still was off-limits. To be on the safe side I found a spot about 25 feet away from the castle in a little clearing, beside the clearing was a giant tree with one branch that hung low which was perfect for me to hang my tarp off of to make sure I had some shelter in the night. I had discovered it only because I heard some locals talking about some of the strange activity that had started around the castle just outside our little town, Lucan.

As night fell upon me I walked out of town towards the little clearing hoping nobody else had claimed it. The breeze had picked up and the leaves started to flash me their white backs, a storm was brewing. My heart started beating out of my chest, I couldn't stand being outdoors in a storm. I tried to jog to my clearing, but the first crack of thunder hit and made me almost jump out of my skin.

"Hurry up Ellie" I mumbled under my breath. 'CRACK' "Holy shit!" my heart started to beat faster. Plops of rain started to fall from the sky, it started to soak my backpack, which held my life. I was just outside of the town where the castle was and I only had a few meters to go to get into the little forest, but I changed my mind about the clearing and started going towards the castle. I practically booked it to the castle and prayed nothing in my backpack got too soaked so I could change.

When I made it to the castle I noticed it didn't look abandoned at all. The doors were made of polished oak with little imprints that looked like roses. The handles were large and bronze. I grabbed one of the handles, it was cool to the touch. I used my body weight and pushed the large door open. Inside the castle were a few candles that were attached to a beautiful black chandelier. The candlelight revealed a gorgeous entrance, a set of stairs that probably led to the bedchambers, and another hallway that led to the rest of the castle. I stepped in and let the large door slam behind me.

I dropped my sopping backpack on the ground and made my way to the stairs. The railing was smooth and slightly dusty. I held onto it tightly while I made my way up the marble stairs. At the top of the stairs I saw multiple doors, they were all back with gold numbers ranging from 1 to 45. Beside 43 was a numberless door which I didn't bother with, I decided to pick a room to sleep in for the night.

The first door I opened number, 45 led to a bedroom it contained: a bedside table, a bed, a dresser, and across from the bed was a fireplace. I didn't feel right in that room so I decided to leave it and find another room. The next one I opened was the same, and so were the other 43.

The only bedroom that was different was labeled room 1. When I opened it a gust of cold air pushed its way out, it almost knocked me off my feet and left a shiver down my spine. The room was large and contained a large canopy bed made of black wood and fabrics. The smell of decay and fresh-cut pine filled my nose. For some reason, I got an uneasy feeling, but I ignored it and stepped in, the door closed behind me. I looked around the room the walls were painted a dark grey or black, I couldn't tell. I took a moment to absorb my surroundings until I heard something in the room move, my stomach dropped, and I knew I had to get out. I turned around and faced the door, I ran my hands around it trying to find the doorknob. I couldn't feel it, but the urge to leave the room heightened.

"Who's there," someone asked behind me. Don't answer. "I said who's there?" the voice got deeper, it was a man. I heard the sheets on the bed rustle. "Answer or I'll kill you" my heart dropped. Holy fuck I'm going to die young. I couldn't even answer before the person leaped out of their bed and pinned me up against the door, "I told you to answer me" the man pushed himself right against me, I let out a cry. The smell of fresh-cut pine filled my nose. The man was cold and he was only wearing boxers which made me uncomfortable.

"My name is Ellie" I cried out.

"What are you doing here?" he asked he spread my legs with his knee and pinned me tighter to the door, he gripped my hair in his hand and pressed my forehead against the door, hard.

"I was just looking for a place to sleep," I admitted.

"This is my home, not a hotel" he snapped.

"I didn't know anyone lived here."

"Well that is your problem, now leave" he pulled his leg from between mine and pulled me by my hair off the door.

"Please stop" I cried out.

"Leave" the man snapped.

"I can't!" he paused.

"Why not?"

"It's raining..."

"So..you aren't a witch. You aren't going to melt."

"But.."

"But what?" he seemed to get increasingly angry.

"I don't have anywhere else to go."

"Why not?"

"I'm homeless." His grip on my loosened for a split second.

"You can stay one night then you leave in the morning" he let go of my hair.

"Thank you" I sighed in relief.

"Bathroom is down the hall by room 43" he opened the door and practically pushed me out of the room.