Chapter 1
Toast
It all started when Thomas Fox stuck his big nose into Crooksville. He knew he shouldn't have, but how could he resist? There it was, a big old mansion just ready to be made into a big, juicy home for a loving family. That's what he did- Thomas Fox sold houses and flats from all over the world. Selling them, renting them, buying them, tearing them down…
Anyway, so when he was looking at a flat in Crooksville, he wanted to live there himself, the big Manor itself. He had heard all about it, of course, but were the rumours true? So he asked the land lord about the Mansion.
"Oh, you want to know about Crooksville Manor?" asked the Land Lord. "Haven't you heard the rumours, my boy?"
Thomas shook his head. "I heard one, about a ghost, I think."
"You don't want to live there, my boy." The Land Lord shook his head pitifully. "She haunts it, she really does. Lady Black, she once lived in Crooksville Manor, she was the Mayors husband, and everyone hated him. Mayor Crook really was a crook. No one liked him, but they didn't dare elect another person to rule. When old Crook died, Lady Crook was devastated. She was wearing black all the time, always in mourning. She was mayor, but no one liked her and they didn't care if they showed it.
"At Halloween, they threw eggs at the Manor's windows. At Christmas they smashed them with snowballs. Eventually the Mayor got tired of this and she chased some children down to a cliff. They stopped running towards the cliff- but she didn't. Nor did the Mayor survive.
"If you ever see her in the mansion- you're sure to die. She's known as Lady Black because she wears her black clothes and never leaves the Manor's grounds. Each person who enters the Manor, they die. Especially the children. And the bodies… never been found."
"Woah," Thomas said in awe. "I'd like to have it, please."
The Land Lord laughed huskily. "I'll give it to you for free! If you sell it then I'll give you fifty quid ever month for the next ten years."
"Really?" asked Thomas. The Land Lord nodded, he was been rather serious. "Done." They shook hands.
"Right, it's all set." Said a builder to Thomas. "It's all for you, now. All we did was unlock the chains from the doors, sir."
"Excellent," Thomas grinned. "Thank you, kind men."
"S'cuse me, sir," another builder came over from a car. "Your Thomas, right? Thomas Fox?"
"Yes, I am, why?" asked Thomas.
"Ohh, so sorry sir." The builder bowed, he was really shaky. "I've heard the voices from the house, sir. They say your name, sir. And someone else's, Ryan Fox."
Thomas froze at the name "Ryan Fox".
"Nonesence." He snapped. He didn't mean to be so rude- but Ryan's name was so painful to hear.
"Quite right, sir," the builder said quickly. "A load of dosh, sorry sir."
"Come on- lets go in then!" Tom grinned, rubbing his hands together for warmth. He stepped towards to big iron gates guarding the Manor. The two builders stepped back in awkwardness.
"It's nothing personal," one said. "We just don't like the building sir."
Thomas rolled his eyes and creaked open the gates, and creaked hem shut behind them.