It looked lonely. Tall, looming, forgotten, and so on: all described the mansion. The bared windows kept the haunting rumor of something not human inside. Or maybe I was overreacting. The bars could be placed for protection. Then again, the first floor was the only floor with barred windows. Had the occupant been so worried about the storm winds crashing against the fragile glass?
No, I was surely overreacting but I would have to wait. At least with my friends along, I wouldn't overreact so much. I turned around to head to his meeting place.
"Excuse me, were you looking for someone?" a voice inquired. The hand on my shoulder came out of nowhere and created an inch of space between the earth and me.
"N-n-no," I squeaked, backing up. The atmosphere just felt so heavy that I wanted to leave as soon as possible. Now, to add to my discomfort, an unknown man appeared.
"Oh, please forgive me for startling you. My friend use to live here some time ago so I thought you were looking for him," the stranger explained.
"How long ago did he leave?"
"Maybe three years," the stranger said with a sigh. "I don't keep track anymore."
"Oh, sorry to hear that Mr.…"
"Ryuuzu," he finished suddenly.
"Mr. Ryuuzu?"
The man nodded, approving of my pronunciation. "Well, if you ever wish to visit, walk right in. This house is always looking for visitors."
I smiled and nodded my head. "Thank you Mr. Ryuuzu. I will!" I chimed happily as I glanced back at the house. It didn't seem as bad now. A thought occurred to me though. "Oh, do you know the time?"
"I'm sorry. I'm not quite sure what time it is with this old watch. If you give me a moment, I can rewind it," Ryuuzu explained. He pulled up his sleeve to reveal the watch. The hands moved forward like a dying animal on the side of the road, desperately pulling up and forward with its damaged limbs, bleeding on the cold, lifeless road. The poor animal and the hands on the watch moved barely and inch toward its next destination. The watch continued to move in this slow pace until I watched as the stranger turned the dull notch. His thumb and index finger – rough and filthy from yard work supposedly – twirled the notch until a click was heard. The hands sprung into life as they moved along the numbers. I continued to watch for another moment as the second hand rushed around the aged numbers. It always paused for a split second longer at twelve than at any other number before proceeding.
"I think I have enough time, so it's ok if you don't know," I finally said with a smile, moving away slowly. The watch fascinated me but at the same point, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand nervously. And why was it so hesitant to pass 12?
"Very well, come back to visit anytime," the stranger said friendly. Ryuuzu nodded his head and let me leave without anymore delay. I glanced over my shoulder at the smile on his face. Did he know I was planning on returning in the near future with my friends to confirm the rumor of the haunted mansion?