by one tragedy after the other.’ She didn’t tell him how she knew this or mention the diary, wanting to keep it to herself.
They approached the front door and she pulled the key from her pocket, not realising how much her hands were trembling until she tried to insert it into the lock and missed twice. The third one hit home and she shoved against the door but it wouldn’t move.
‘The rain must have made it swell.’
Both of them leant against it and pushed hard. Annie hoped it wouldn’t budge; it would save her the trauma of having to go back in and face her fears. But after a few attempts it gave a little and after a couple more it swung inwards. Her mouth went dry and her heart began to race as she followed Will inside; he was as mesmerised by the place as she had been yesterday.
They searched every room on the ground floor. All of them were empty, like she had said. The relief they hadn’t found the missing girl lying dead in any of them made her heart slow just a little. The only door to the downstairs they had no key for was the cellar door and for that she was thankful. Thinking about Alice lost down there in the dark made her skin prickle.
As they reached the stairs her stomach lurched and Will turned to her. ‘Are they safe? I don’t fancy falling through and breaking my leg; I’m far too busy.’ He chuckled but she couldn’t and struggled to smile back.
‘No, they’re fine. I was up there yesterday and everything is surprisingly solid. It’s true what they say, they definitely don’t build them like they used to.’ She let him lead the way and she hesitated at the foot of the stairs feeling like a caged bird; her heart was flapping so hard inside her chest. A feeling of dread washed over her and she looked down to see a large dark stain underneath her feet.
Surely not. It can’t be after all these years. Would blood still be visible to the naked eye?
Will had made it to the top and was now watching her. ‘Are you OK? You’ve gone white. You’re not going to pass out on me, are you? Why don’t you wait there and I’ll go check it out.’
‘No!’ Her voice was sharper than she intended. ‘I’m fine. Wait for me.’
He held out his hand towards her. ‘Come on, I’ll pull you up.’
She ran up the stairs slapping his hand away. ‘You are such a cheeky git, Will. I don’t need your help, thank you. I managed to come up here all by myself yesterday.’ All the same she followed behind him letting him lead the way as he checked every room: still no sign of Jenna.
At the far end of the hallway they found a narrow staircase tucked behind a partition wall. Annie knew where this led and felt safe walking up them to where the servants’ quarters once were. Instinctively she knew which one belonged to Alice and stepped into the small, cosy room. A warm glow enveloped her. Will walked on checking out the other rooms along the small passage. Annie felt as if she was in a different time. Staring out of the window she could see the huge oak tree which towered above the overgrown garden below. The tree where Edward had attacked the girl and where his broken-hearted father had hanged himself.
Will’s voice broke her trance. ‘There’s nothing up here.’
Annie whispered, ‘No, not anymore.’
They went back down to the first floor. As they approached the schoolroom Annie thought she was going to be sick. She leant on the doorframe as he looked around the room.
Will had walked around the house oblivious to the atmosphere. Annie, on the other hand, was afraid of her own shadow.
‘I’m sorry, you were right but I suppose it was worth a try. I can’t believe those mantelpieces have never been stolen. They must be worth a small fortune.’
‘Ah, I can tell you why. There are too many scary stories about the woods and the Abbey and I doubt any burglar would be brave enough. Anyway there is no access for vehicles; it’s a totally private road. Only my brother and the council have keys
They approached the front door and she pulled the key from her pocket, not realising how much her hands were trembling until she tried to insert it into the lock and missed twice. The third one hit home and she shoved against the door but it wouldn’t move.
‘The rain must have made it swell.’
Both of them leant against it and pushed hard. Annie hoped it wouldn’t budge; it would save her the trauma of having to go back in and face her fears. But after a few attempts it gave a little and after a couple more it swung inwards. Her mouth went dry and her heart began to race as she followed Will inside; he was as mesmerised by the place as she had been yesterday.
They searched every room on the ground floor. All of them were empty, like she had said. The relief they hadn’t found the missing girl lying dead in any of them made her heart slow just a little. The only door to the downstairs they had no key for was the cellar door and for that she was thankful. Thinking about Alice lost down there in the dark made her skin prickle.
As they reached the stairs her stomach lurched and Will turned to her. ‘Are they safe? I don’t fancy falling through and breaking my leg; I’m far too busy.’ He chuckled but she couldn’t and struggled to smile back.
‘No, they’re fine. I was up there yesterday and everything is surprisingly solid. It’s true what they say, they definitely don’t build them like they used to.’ She let him lead the way and she hesitated at the foot of the stairs feeling like a caged bird; her heart was flapping so hard inside her chest. A feeling of dread washed over her and she looked down to see a large dark stain underneath her feet.
Surely not. It can’t be after all these years. Would blood still be visible to the naked eye?
Will had made it to the top and was now watching her. ‘Are you OK? You’ve gone white. You’re not going to pass out on me, are you? Why don’t you wait there and I’ll go check it out.’
‘No!’ Her voice was sharper than she intended. ‘I’m fine. Wait for me.’
He held out his hand towards her. ‘Come on, I’ll pull you up.’
She ran up the stairs slapping his hand away. ‘You are such a cheeky git, Will. I don’t need your help, thank you. I managed to come up here all by myself yesterday.’ All the same she followed behind him letting him lead the way as he checked every room: still no sign of Jenna.
At the far end of the hallway they found a narrow staircase tucked behind a partition wall. Annie knew where this led and felt safe walking up them to where the servants’ quarters once were. Instinctively she knew which one belonged to Alice and stepped into the small, cosy room. A warm glow enveloped her. Will walked on checking out the other rooms along the small passage. Annie felt as if she was in a different time. Staring out of the window she could see the huge oak tree which towered above the overgrown garden below. The tree where Edward had attacked the girl and where his broken-hearted father had hanged himself.
Will’s voice broke her trance. ‘There’s nothing up here.’
Annie whispered, ‘No, not anymore.’
They went back down to the first floor. As they approached the schoolroom Annie thought she was going to be sick. She leant on the doorframe as he looked around the room.
Will had walked around the house oblivious to the atmosphere. Annie, on the other hand, was afraid of her own shadow.
‘I’m sorry, you were right but I suppose it was worth a try. I can’t believe those mantelpieces have never been stolen. They must be worth a small fortune.’
‘Ah, I can tell you why. There are too many scary stories about the woods and the Abbey and I doubt any burglar would be brave enough. Anyway there is no access for vehicles; it’s a totally private road. Only my brother and the council have keys
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