Hello! Since this is my first story, I think it would be appropriate to introduce myself. So I'm Solielunami, I come from the Netherlands, meaning English is my second language. :)
After reading the story " The North Tower" from P-Artstypants, I desired the haunted house, ghosts au! She created, with this I wanted to give it a little try myself. Hopefully you're able to enjoy it, I will kind of make up this story as I go, so I'm curious to see how this plays out!
" Here it is. " The driver announced, slightly disoriented, she looked out the window.
The castle, the one she visited frequently during holidays before her uncle got sick, she could barely remember it now. Only vague memories, forgotten in the past through the dealings with her uncle and own matters. Astrid visited it only a few days ago, to take care of some things before she fully moved in. But she looked upon the castle differently now that she knew she was actually gonna live here.
It's walls so tall, looming down upon the gardens. Vegetation unkept, and of course it was, nobody was around here to keep it nice and clean, at least, not of which she was informed of, otherwise they would've done a pretty shitty job.
" You gonna live 'ere? " She could see the look on the driver's face, slightly questionable.
Slowly she nodded, " Yeah, I do. " His eyes narrowed, but then kind of lightened again, " Well, ye seem like the type! " He said, as if trying to change the subject.
She tried to look at herself through the eyes of another.
Saggy blonde hair covering a small part of her face, put in a complicate braid that went down the small of her back, wearing dark clothes combined with a distinct face and piercing eyes.
Mentally she was laughing at his very awkward attempt of changing the subject, though this was kind of stereotyping. She couldn't really judge him though.
Astrid gave no answer but a awkward smile to his statement, and simply said her goodbyes after she grabbed the luggage. He drove away, as she walked to the porch of the eerie but magnificent building.
Arriving there, she fished out the key out of her pocket. After unlocking the door, she grabbed the few bags and suitcases she brought with her and stepped in the castle, her castle.
The hall was quite large, larger than she remembered it to be, in fact, it was huge. Taking it all in, she gave a quick glance at the small table near her, placing her fingers on it, she swiped across it and looked at her fingers. To say she was surprised was an understatement when she found her fingers spotless, this place has been abondoned for a few years, they had said, with no cleaners in employment, she sure as Hel didn't clean it, she knew perfectly fine which rooms she did and which she did not, so how the Hel could it be cleaned?
Deciding to take action upon that later, Astrid grabbed her belongings and walked up upon the grand staircase. If not for the fact she knew this area quite well because of her childhood, and the visit she had beforehand, she was pretty sure she would get lost very easily.
The walls on the first floor were a dark green, which had faded and shraded throughout the long years. Remembering the room she always claimed as her own, she made way. Throughout the walk to the room, she admired the decoration around her, even though everything was old and worn out.
Arriving at her destination, Astrid opened the door. Slowly creaking it open, she peered in. Everything was the same, she realized with a small smile.
Since she was alone in this matter, Astrid took it upon herself and cleaned some parts of the castle herself a few days before. Even though the rest of the house was dusty and foul, she still found it to be more pleasant that at least few rooms which she deemed important for now, were a little clean.
Astrid gave a quick look to her watch, 5 am. Since it was the middle of autumn, it would be getting pretty dark in no time. Luckily, it has been renovated throughout the years when it came to it, a few rooms had electricy, which also contained her room. She began unpacking the things she thought were important for tonight, including her sleepwear, her mobile phone and other necessities.
About an hour later, she called it a night, tired of all the moving and decided to get herself ready for bed. Changing into her pajamas, which consisted of quite baggy sweatpants, an old shirt she owned since she was 17 and, to her own amusement, pink fluffy slippers which gave quite a shocking contrast to the rest of her outfit and surroundings.
" Now the bathroom. " Astrid muttered to herself, not that there was anyone else she could talk with. She assumed.
When she left her room, she realised how one place could totally change with the setting of the sun. Instead of the mysterious rich walls with the most precious decorations, it seemed like the kind of haunted castles you could see in those typical horror movies.
Moonlight illuminating the dusty furniture, creating quite honest bone-chilling shadows, and the all too nagging feeling of looking behind you.
Astrid had none of it, she was not one to get afraid of spooky castles, and went on doing her businesses in the bathroom with ease.
And after texting various persons to let them know she was doing well and went asleep, she settled in the large bed and closed her eyes, resting for now. Not conscious enough to hear the creaking on the floor in the hallway.