Chapter 1

"Hey, where are you all going?" I shouted as Ava and her friends ran to hide in some bushes. Since the newcomers had moved into the old Kestler Mansion it has been the talk of town. It was believed that the old house was haunted. Rumour has it that old Mr Kestler had gone insane when his wife died and killed himself and that their spirits still dwelled in the house. It would be interesting to know who would be stupid enough to buy a house reputed to be haunted. Ava and her friends had been nagging me to knock on the mansion's door and see if the newcomers were still alive. Since the moving truck had come with priceless antique furniture, so it was said by Mrs Connor, no movement around the house has been seen. Mrs Connor also said that the owner, Mr Morrison, had driven a very fancy silver sports car. "Apparently he is very rich, " Mrs Connor had told my mom,"I've spoken to his butler when he had come to the local hardware store, Logan Montana, funny name but very good manners mind you, and he said that Mr Morrison had moved to our small town so that he could have some peace and quiet. Sounds like he's a bitter old man."

I suddenly regretted knocking. It had been several weeks that not even the butler was seen in town. Perhaps they were murdered and buried somewhere in the garden, between the rose bushes… I shivered and pulled myself together. "Don't be ridiculous, Page!" I whispered to myself. The door suddenly opened and the butler appeared. He seemed annoyed that someone was on their doorstep.

"Sorry to disturb you sir," I said,"some concerned folk asked me to see if everything is alright here?"

"Everything is fine, thank you," he replied, smiling a bit too late for it to be sincere.

"Is there anything else I could help you with?"

I felt like a little child being scolded. I smiled back faintly.

"No... I'll take my leave. Good day."

Somehow I felt disturbed as I walked down the footpath. The autumn wind was blowing, tugging at my hair and showering leaves. It was almost as if I was being watched… The place almost did have a ghostly feel to it. I pushed the thoughts out of my head and walked on. Ava and her friends were eager to know what happened.

"So they are not murdered by the ghosts after all," Ava said disappointed.

"I did what you asked, now you live up to your end of the bargain and head home, Ava!"

She made face at me and her friends laughed.

"I will not ask you again. Mom will not be so lenient when she hears…"

"Okay, okay, I'm going!" Ava interrupted, throwing her hands theatrically in the air,"it's so hard to be a teenager! You wouldn't understand..." They set of running. Probably to 'report' to the boys, usually hanging out at Sam's Diner where I worked as a waitress. Ava just turned 13 and she doesn't let a moment pass to make it clear she's now officially a teenager and acts like it gives her the right to be mischievous. It wasn't that long ago that I had been a teenager, but for Ava that is probably centuries ago.

Our town had a healthy group of youngsters. True, they did get into trouble quite often lately, but nothing too serious. Old George, the police chief, had threatened to throw them in the cells for the night, but nothing further came of it. He was too soft on the kids. Many of the others were too.

I finished my shift and went home. One day was much like the next. We had had very good weather until now. This morning it was heavily overcast. Winter was finally coming. Usually Everett had very few good weather days. Mostly it was overcast like today, rained or at times became very misty. I had not suspected it to rain before I reach Sam's and started running. I usually walked to work and home. It saved on fuel and wasn't so far anyway. My hair was already a mess. I just came around the corner and was about to cross the street when I heard the sound of tyres screeching. Everything happened fast. An old Chrysler bakkie was sliding towards me. It would hit me before I could even try to jump out of the way. I had not heard or seen it coming in the rain. I had just thought that this would be my end when something slammed hard into me, but not from the direction I was expecting. I hid my head on something hard, then everything was black for a while. I regained consciousness as someone calling to me. The voice that was talking to me had a strange accent to it. Finally I could make out the face. It was divinely beautiful. Curly dark-blond hair and green eyes. The kind I usually see in my dreams.

"Are you an angel?" I asked dazed.

The person smiled faintly. "Do not move. You may have sustained internal injuries," the voice softly spoke to me in the strange accent. Other people now started crowding around us. Mrs Connor's voice sounded up somewhere. She would always be where there was something happening. I tried to sit up, but the stranger kept me down and repeated to me not to move. I blinked, trying to see him better. He was dressed in a long grey coat. He had a hat on and gloves. He almost reminded me of a detective. A blond, green eyed detective! Now my hallucinations were really getting out of hand! But he couldn't be a hallucination. Mrs Conner don't usually talk to my hallucinations. The ambulance just arrived and they loaded me onto a stretcher. As they lifted me, pain shot through my back and neck. I lost consciousness again.

I could leave hospital the next day. Had it not been for my saviour, I would have been smashed by the Chrysler bakkie and would have had much more serious injuries. I had just hit my head quite hard and strained some of my back muscles. I learnt that my saviour, Mr Morrison, is a doctor. He would replace old doctor Smith, who had wanted to retire for three years. I was booked off from work for the rest of the week. To my disappointment I didn't see Dr Morrison again before I left. I was supposed to keep close to bed, but like my little sister Ava, I didn't have very good hearing when it came to do's and don't's. Two days later I found myself walking up the pathway that lead to the old Kestler's mansion. Mrs Connor couldn't stop talking about the bitter old man, who turned out to be a stunning, gorgeous young man, and his heroic deed. I wasn't sure how to say thank you. Finally I had bought a small basket with a mixture of fruits and chocolates, closed in cellophane and tied with a blue lint. I didn't wait long before the butler opened the door. He recognised me.

"What brings you to our door again, miss Mckennitt? Concerned folks?"

"No…" I smiled, then held the basket out to him,"this is for Mr Morrison. Just to say thank you for saving my life the other day." The butler looked surprised.

"I know Mr Morrison is at work. I didn't want to go there and disturb him…goodbye," I said abruptly and started walking down the pathway when a voice called out to me.

"Wait!" I turned to find the blond haired angel next to the butler. He asked the butler to take the basket inside, then came to walk with me. I blushed tomato red. I didn't expect to find him home! Again I was struck by his beauty. No, he cannot be a detective. He must be a supermodel, I decided. Maybe that is why he's so rich. He looks not much older than me…

The strange way he looked and smiled at me made me feel very self-conscious.

"Sorry," he suddenly said in his strange accent,"I made you feel uncomfortable."

"No, not at all," I said, and felt a little guilty for not telling the truth,"I didn't think you'd be home," I said to change the subject.

"Doctor Smith said he had to be there until the end of the week to finish off. I'm only taking over from him next week."

"Oh," I replied as we walked further in silence.

"Thank you for the gift," Mr Morrison said with a brilliant smile that made my knees feel weak.

"It's nothing…" I said blushing again, and looked away quickly. Then curiosity started getting the better of me. This was the perfect opportunity to get to know a bit more about our mysterious new doctor.

"If you don't mind me asking…why did you decide to move to Everett?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"To have some peace and quiet. My family also thought it a good idea…"

Involuntarily I looked at his left hand. There was no ring. He seemed to have caught my gaze.

"I speak of my parents and my sister."

I felt stupid and hated myself for blushing so easily. It looked like the sky was starting to clear up.

"Forgive me if I don't accompany you the whole way, Miss Mckennitt, but I had promised Mrs Connor that I would pay her a visit this morning." To my surprise he took my hand, and lifted it to his mouth. His lips barely touched it. Then he smiled his dazzling smile and took off. Several minutes later I still stood on the same spot, trying to figure out what had really happened and what parts I had hallucinated. Just then the sun broke through the clouds.

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Chappie one done!!! (-: