TALES FROM MORTIFER HOUSE - Part Two - The Discovery

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Eleanor couldn't sleep even though the fierce electrical storm had passed several hours previously. It was hot and stuffy and she longed for air but there wasn't even the slightest breeze despite the open bedroom window. Angus snored and rolled over further towards her meaning she had even less bed on which to balance. She sighed and wriggled out of the bed. In no time she was down in the kitchen drinking a cool glass of water whilst sitting at the table. 

The house was unusually quiet thought Eleanor, surprisingly the girls had slept through the storm. It was usual to find them trying to climb into bed with her at the slightest rumble of thunder, although Angus hated and discouraged this. It normally meant he would go off and sleep in his chair in the study which quite suited Eleanor. 

As the cooling water hit Eleanor's throat she could see a red glow outside in the sky. Puzzled she peeked out of the window and let out an involuntarily gasp almost dropping her glass in the process. The moon had appeared from behind the clouds and it was blood red. 

She stared at the moon for a good few minutes she had never seen it like this, not ever. Part of her wanted to wake Angus for some company but she knew that he would be angry and grumpy. 

Then the whispering started, quietly at first then louder and more insistent. It wasn't audible, she couldn't tell what was being said, it was more like the noise you hear when a crowd of people are far away. Suddenly a loud bang came from the garden room and Eleanor stifled a scream. Slowly and cautiously she tiptoed to the kitchen door and looked out.

The downstairs hall was in darkness but Eleanor could see a light coming from the garden room she frowned, knowing that she had extinguished all the lights when she retired upstairs for the evening. Something was going on, she could feel it. She reached for the door handle to the garden room, feeling goosebumps form all over. 

'Hello?' said Eleanor shakily as she bravely flung back the door. At first nothing seemed out of place, apart from the red, red glow of the strange moonlight. Then she noticed her cabinet was lit up and the doors ajar also the crystal ball was flickering faintly. Although this was strange it didn't explain the loud bang. On the floor right in front of Eleanor was the mysterious post card that had been slipped through her door despite the fact that she had carefully locked it in the now half open cabinet. She picked it up and once again read the neatly written words ' Everything is connected, there are no coincidences' 

It was only when she stepped into the room that she saw what was behind the door. In an instant the whispers reached a crescendo and then ceased as Eleanor screamed. This time she was unable to stop the sound which pierced the entire house.

The huge wall climbing vine plant, which in all truth was half dead and Eleanor had considered removing, had toppled over in its large pot taking most of the vine with it. Some of the vine was still clinging to the wall support but that was of no matter. What did matter was that the pot was full of bones, the last remains of who though??? 

Eleanor crumpled to the floor and as she did so a voice as clear as day whispered in her ear... 'Find the truth'


Sarah Russell 2022


 

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