Autumn Nightmares

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Fairchild Manor

It was strange how one place could elicit such a strong emotion of unease and skepticism. The manor in front of me gave off an earey aura,  almost as if it was shrouded in a cloak of mystery and secrets. I was only here per Mrs. Grosses request. My family,  or more like my mother and I had moved to the barren countryside, to get away from all the noise and drama from city living. It was a hopeless fleet though,  mother was called back to the city life,  leaving me at the house most of the time alone and unsupervised. Not like there was much to worry,  there was hardly any crime in the area,  and it was secluded  from prying eyes. But while my mother was in town,  she  had run into Mrs. Grosses and mentioned how I was alone all the time,  and was told that they could use a pair of hands around the house. So while my mom was living in the city for a few months,  I would be a resident of this ominous household.  I had heard rumors from the residents of the area about how haunted this place was,  and honestly,  I was starting to believe it was true. I had felt like I was being watched since the moment I stepped out of the cab,  like something or someone knew there was a foreign entity  on its property. My heart speads up as I entered through the greenhouse like I was told to,  only to be met with deafening  silence and a scene of ripped apart doll heads glued to a cobbled  fountain. What on earth have I just gotten myself into? , I asked myself,  stepping into the den of the tangled vines and cobwebs. Dead autumn leaves were strone all over the floor,  crunching beneath my black combat boots,  shattering into little thin prices. "Hello? " I said tentatively,  peaking around the corner. " Who are you talking to? " said a voice behind me cause me to gasp in surprise  and spin around,  fast enough to give myself whiplash. The frailed old lady gave me an unimpressed look before heading into the manor,  only looking back to make sure I was following behind her. Her heels sounded through the silent halls,  resonating through the house
" Um,  Mrs. Grosses,  I presume? " I enquired,  running after her. Ya know,  for an old lady,  she walks so fucking fast in those heels
I thought,  rolling my eyes to myself a bit before stopping a few steps away from the old woman so I wouldn't crash into her,  knocking her down. "This is the kitchen,  somewhere you should be familiar with the most out of the rooms in this household. You shall cook for the children,  clean the dishes,  dusty and tidy up when needed,  etc. Don't forget that overly greasy food is not a good idea,  Ms. Flora has a sensitive stomach,  and cannot tolerate it. Ms. Kate,  the
'governess' as you could call her,  is upstairs with Ms. Flora if you'd like to meet her." I gave a silent nod,  knawing on my lip slightly,  and turning to the stairs. Threw the doorway I was greeted with a grand staircase,  wood polished and shinning,  gleaming in the little amounts of light seeping through the heavy satin curtains. Why did I agree to this? This is gonna be hell,  I can feel it,  I  thought,  before shaking my head and gripped the ban ester  tightly,  ascending up the stairs. I heard giggling,  dictating the direction I went in. "Flora,  you silly girl,  get back here! " a feminine voice said,  heading my way. I turned towards it,  my own eagerness surprising me. What on earth has gotten into me? I peaked into the room with large,  darkwood doors,  looking in at the scene before me.
"Um,  Ms. Kate? " I said, meekly, my voice barely above a whisper. She looked over at me a little shocked before regaining her composure. " You must be miss Gillian,  I've heard so much about you, " she said,  smiling a friendly smile,  ushering me into the room. The small child next to her looked at me questioningly,  hiding a bit behind her. Her dark locks wiping into her face and her lips forming into a slight pout. But what I noticed most was the color of her eyes,  the way they shined like two obsidian orbs,  gazing deep into my soul. "Who's this Kate? " the child said getting a bit closer.
" Well I'm Gillian, its nice to meet you" I said smiling a bit nervously,  getting on my knees so I was down to her height. The girl, who I assume is Flora,  came even closer before she was right in front of , grabbing a lock of my burgundy hair,  curling it around her fingers. "Your hair is very pretty, could I play with it sometime? " she asked,  looking at me with pleading eyes.I smiled at the girl,  shaking my head,  " Yes,  of course you can,  but only if I can play with yours. " Her giggles filled the room as a gave me a shy smile. Ms. Kate looked at us,  shaking her head before giving a slight laugh. "Alight you two, time to go downstairs. I heard Miles should be home at some point in the next day or two. My understanding that your going to be in charge of creating meal and cleaning here and there? " she said.Getting right to it,  I see.  "Yes,  that's right,  is there anything specific you guys would like? I make pretty much anything." I said,  looking expectantly at the two. It was getting close to dinner,  and I,  for one,  was famished. "Lasagna ! Ohhh,  and garlic bread. I haven't had that in so long, " Flora said glancing at me with joyful eyes. " And,  a salad,  you need your greens Flora, " Kate said, causing Flora to pout a bit. I laughed at Floras antics before nodding at Kate,  heading back downstairs. It was two hours before dinner was fully ready. Flora and Kate had just gotten home from a walk around the grounds and Mrs. Grosses had left us all to visit a friend in town. Dinner passed by quickly,  filled with joyous banter and talks of our past. However,  by 930, Kate had decided it was bedtime for everyone.  Flora protested,  saying she wanted to stay up while I cleaned,  but I dismissed it,  saying we could hangout as much as she'd like tomorrow . This put a spark in her eyes and hop in her step. Secretly though,  as much as I liked hanging out with the two of them,  I needed alone time. Time to collect my thoughts,  and asses the situation im in. I was scrubbing dishes when I heard a creak in the hallway. My heart speed up a bit but I pushed it down getting my drying towel and plate down before shakily making my way into the hallway. I heard more creaking in the east wing,  and like an idiot,  I followed it. My curiosity had definitely gotten the better of me.Ok Gillian,  nothings going to happen, your fine. Your in a house with other people in it,  its probably just one of closed I said to myself,  taking a deep breath and moving farther into the hallway. I heard fleeting whispers coming from a room on the left of me. I turned on my phone flashlight,  before slowly opening the door. When I flashed it in, I didn't see anything, at least, not at first. I did a double take when I noticed a lady, as pale as a ghost,  dressed in white. She looked at me,  before rushing towards me,  causing me to scream and slam the door closed, falling to the ground  hyperventilating. "You shouldn't be here" a light, rich voice voice said,  startling me even farther. I looked up to be met with black opal eyes, void of emotion. If I looked any farther,  I could of gotten lost in them. "I'm um, I'm sorry, who are you? " I said, getting up and brushing myself off. He didn't answer,  he just looked at me, before saying " Go to bed, you shouldn't be here." Before leaving me in silence. And that, is how I first met the mysterious boy with hypnotic eyes.