Hillside Manor 

by Lily Hoffman 

    I could hear the waves crashing against the rocks over the cliff. I turned to face the rocky edge that overlooked the rough sea. The wind attacked me at vicious speed. A chill went down my spine as I turned to face the manor house before me. Dark mahogany stairs climbed up a small distance connecting the grand door to the overgrowth path bellow. Palladian windows stretched across the cold red-toned walls of the three story house. The sides of the flat roof were lined with overhanging windows. The porch barricaded the house from the overgrown fora that infected the front lawn. Along the roof, white detailing depicted growing vines accompanied by chipped sculpted flowers. I gathered all my courage and started up the stairs. The stairs whined and creaked as I ventured forward. My hand gently glided along the smooth wood banister. As I reached the porch, I noticed one of the big windows had a crack that extended from the bottom right corner to the upper left. My hands started to shake. I wasn't sure if it due to the cold or due to fear. Either way I contiuned on. I walked up to the ornate door that reached the top of the wall. The grand door seemed to tower over me as if I was a small spec. My shaking hand reached out and turned the knob. With a slight chick, the door creaked open. As it opened, it made a sound that emulated laughing. It was as if the manor was alive and laughing at the prospects of someone willingly entering. 

        The door opened into a large foyer. A cold draft swept through the house and brushed through me. The hallway walls were lined with the same mahogany wood that made up the stairs outside. Parts of the wood had carved designs that resembled grape vines. Faded emerald green wallpaper nestled in-between the wood trim. The wallpaper was adorned with black swirling lines that intertwined with each other. Large slashes interrupted the flow of the swirly designs of the wallpaper. Intricate white cobwebs cling to the corners of the room. I looked to my left, to see a wood table sitting against the window. As I walked, the decorated marble floor made a clacking sound. The table top was covered in a lining of dust. I admired the curios that lay on the table. Cobwebs seem to connect them to the desk. Two framed pictures sat on the table. The frames were adorned with decorative swirls. The first frame had what looked like burnt edges. The pictures were both in black and white. In one picture, a teenage girl starred back at me. Her eyes seemed to follow me as I moved the picture. Her dark hair was pulled into a braided updo. Her heart shaped face was facing the photographer. She had large eyes frozen in an emotionless expression with her lips being as thin as a line. The collar of her dress was tightly wrapped around the top of her neck. She wore long black dress with full sleeves as If she were in mourning. On her lap, sat a young child around the age of three. Her plump face was lined with flouncy lace cap. She wore a matching white lace dress.The delicate writing at the very bottom of the photo was fading, but I could make out a couple of words "Lydia and Marie 1853". I looked to the second photograph of a middle aged man and what looked like his wife. The man had a square jaw with squinted tired eyes. He looked pained. His black hair was slicked back onto the top of his head. He wore a black suit. The woman had a delicate oval face. Her hooded eyes had promenade eye bags. Her collar was lined with lace. She too wore a long black day dress. Her hair piled on top of her head in a victorian-style bun. Her hand lay delicately on his shoulder. Unlike the pervious picture, the words on this was very clear. It read "Edward and Elizabeth 1853". As I was inspecting the photos, a thumping noise coming from behind me startled me. It sounded almost like someone had fallen to the ground. I whipped around to face the main parlor. The source of the noise had seemly disappeared. I became unsettled and my hands started to shake more. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a mouse running across the floor. The mouse probably knocked something over, I thought. 

    To one side of the parlor a grand fireplace towered up to the ceiling. Paintings of women dressed in beautiful big dresses and men dressed in suits or uniforms lined the walls. Two grand stair cases stood tall beside the fire place. Ornate red cushioned couches and seats were placed around a small table in between. On the table lay a stack of neat hand written letters. It looked as if they were just left there.  Cobwebs connected the table legs to the stiff carpet bellow. Just like the table by the entrance the furniture was covered in a line of dust. I walked through the room looking around. To my left were doors leading to the kitchen, dining room, and bathroom. To my right were doors leading to a smaller parlor room, a study, and a lounge. I walked to the stairs and gathered my courage. The stairs creaked as I continued upwards. The house smelled of old wood. I used the banister to steady my steps. As I was walking, I heard a scream. I bolted up the stairs, looking for the source of the scream. I passed another bathroom, another hallway, and a couple more rooms with closed doors. I reached the room that I suspected was the source of the noice. I threw open the door. As soon as walked in I saw an open window. The noise must have been the wind. My panicked state changed to discomfort. I had just walked into an old child's bedroom. 

    I looked around the room. A large four post bed was against the wall. The walls were painted white with delicate flowers painted on top. Pictures of the teenage girl sat on the desk. To the side of the room a tall off-white vanity stood by the window. I suspected that the vanity had started off white but turned off-white due to age. I noticed a Pitcher on top of a saucer. All of sudden I noticed that the pitcher was filled with water. How is that possible? This house has been abandoned for years I thought. The fear started to build up inside of me. I leaned forward to look more inside the pitcher, when I felt a cold pained breath on the back of my neck. I froze. I couldn't move. That was when I realized I was not alone...