Rosa looked at herself in the mirror, pleased at her look "I hope this is okay." she twirled in her pastel yellow skirt and matching blazer and smiled. She looked every bit professional. She softly touched her shoulder length hair with one hand and spritzed some perfume on her chest with the other.

She smiled "Courteous, Welcoming, Pleasant." She repeated the words as she grabbed her dark brown satchel, its seen better days. She walked down the steps of her apartment, quickly shooting a text to Basil "Headed to the mansion!"

A quick bubble and a thumbs up emoji appeared from her phone. With a simple response, she slipped it into her pocket and sighed. She got into her small little red car, a cute automobile for such a small mouse.

Heading out to the mansion was the easy part, she soon started to see the scenery change from vast towering skyscrapers to simple fields and wide-open spaces. She loved it. The sudden change was nice for her. The busy schedule she had didn't leave much time for her to enjoy her city. She whispered again "Courteous, Welcoming, Pleasant." Again, and again.

Finally, she reached a fork in the road. The navigation screen starting to blur and glitch. She whispered, "What the heck?" and the screen turned back on "Turn right." The directions said. Shrugging her shoulders she started down the road in her little car.

The dirt road was rough, and the path became foggy quite strangely. The wild oak trees naked of leaves almost pointing the way to go. Rosa started to feel queasy as she headed down the strange road. The fog becoming denser. "I hope I don't hit anything." she stopped the car, and put the car hazards on and stepped out.

"I can't see a thing." She glanced behind her, then ahead of the road. "Hmm" she grabbed her phone and looked at the directions, the phone starting to glitch "C'mon." And the phone shut off. She shoved the phone into her pocket, assuming it was a quick update that was needed.

There was a sudden whistle in the wind that blew her hair north, beckoning her. The whistle faintly turned to a choir of sound. Chills ran down her neck and she got back in the car quickly. She slowly started to drive forward; the fog still heavy around her. The headlights didn't provide much guidance, there was no point in having her lights on.

The fog suddenly moved out of her way, lifting its heavy curtain off her car and allowing her to finally see her surroundings. Rosalie gasped; the mere sight caught her off guard.

A giant gate; towering above her and making her feel small. Stopping the car again, she stood to just get a good look at the gate with her own eyes, without the car window in her way.

The sheer size of the black gate was magnificent, covered in dark tangled vines and branches. The top of the gate had now rusted lavish leaves and sparrows at the precipice of the gate. A shield with the letter 'G' adorned the middle.

"Some tender love and care should take care of the rust..." she gazed west of her, the gate continued and on and on until it disappeared from her eyes. Same for the east. Mustering up some courage she walked to the gate, seeing a large padlock and chain wrapped around the middle. Her lip pursed, "Great." Looking around if there was an intercom system around her "No luck." She walked to her car thinking aloud "I should call Basil, maybe he knows how to get in."

A creak, and a shutter as the black gate opened. Rosa turned slowly as the gate welcomed her passing. Maybe I triggered their alert system? There must be cameras around she thought.

Getting into the red car, she slid her seatbelt over her body and drove through. She absorbed every single detail going in, The greenery, the rotted shrubs and overgrown ivy. The abandoned fountain dried out in the center of the property. There was a lot of work to be done.

Finally, the car stopped on her own will, finally turning it off. With a sigh she looked herself in the rearview mirror. Fluffing her hair, making sure no lipstick was on her teeth, she looked very nice. Grabbing her leather bag, she stepped out of the car.

Rosa flattened out her yellow skirt. She touched her stomach feeling the butterflies beacon her nerves. "Courteous, Welcoming, Pleasant." Taking a breath, she summoned her best smile and walked up the rotted steps.

Taking in the door, ten times her size with a rather large bronze door knocker with a rose at the top. She grabbed the knocker underestimating the weight.

One knock...

Another Knock...

Another final knock…

On cue, the door creaked open, and Rosalie gasped.

A rather large rat opened the door. He had a very profligate coat of crushed red velvet and lined with a dark grey wool. A satin cravat with an obnoxiously large diamond in its center. The coat was truly something to marvel at, with swirls of vines and thorns that glimmered from the sunlight.

Rosas eyes scanned to his face, a sizable nose and the most beautiful long grey ponytail with silver hairs twinkling within the pool of grey. His eyes were hard to read, gentle but severe like the beginnings of a storm A shiny blue grey that made Rosa distracted "Oh I'm so sorry for staring... you have very nice eyes." She laughed "I'm Rosa Ramirez, I was sent by the preservation society."

The voice spoke, low and grimly "Yes of course… we have been expecting you for some time." He motioned for her to follow "Please come in. We have prepared the place settings."

"Place settings?"

"I am getting ahead of myself." Laying out a hand "I am Henry Dolion Gracey." She gracefully took it as he laid a kiss upon it "I am the father of Master Gracey." He kindly added "As I have mentioned we prepared place settings for dinner tonight."

"Oh!" Rosa said, "I was hoping to leave within the next two hours?" She swiped a hair out of her face "Dinner would be in the way- "

"My son hopes to discuss this at dinner." Henry said "We must have a good dinner in order to discuss future dealings with our estate?" he kindly smiled "Please don't think of this as an uncomfortable invitation Madame... we had assumed something trustworthy in your eyes through the advertisement." He said with a welcoming gaze.

Rosa weighed the option. She could stay a little while longer "That's fine... I guess." She added to herself "I would love to look around and take notes of what we would love to obtain for the restoration."

She looked in the main hall "This is outstanding!" gasping at the large chandelier "Look at that chandelier! It's as if it hasn't been touched in years... Amazing condition."

Henry softly chuckled "Everything here has been in our family for generations, untouched as well as you can believe."

"May I call you Henry?" he nodded "Henry, if our society gets a hold of this specific property, I assure you there will be a line out the door for people to see all this." She grinned "Awesome."

"If you'll follow me into the main dining room, we can discuss more of the ornate architecture." Henry offered his arm, which Rosa happily took, she never experienced this kind of antique kindness. They walked to the left of the main hall, into the dining room.

A long table assembled in the middle with all kinds of food, deserts, petit fours that you can imagine. A fireplace was in the far left of the room, warming the place with its bright glow. The cold air was envious of the heat the fireplace provided. The white stone and grey marble glimmered against the red flames. Rosa released herself of Henry's arm and walked to the fireplace, quickly jotting down original fireplace, antiqued marble.

Henry smiled kindly at her "The master was very pleased when he heard you could come on such short notice. Normally we would not have called you here so abruptly."

Rosa turned to him, still jotting things down "I'm so glad I was the one you called for, as a historian I am eating all this up like a buffet!" she giggled to herself. She shook her head in stupefaction "This is more than I ever dreamed of!"

"What do you think of the house so far?" he asked, his smile radiating through the sunlit windows.

She grinned and pointed to the fireplace "Seriously? I've never seen anything this incredible in all my life."

"Haven't you?" a voice from the shadows. Her head turned behind her, the voice stepped into the light of the fireplace. It was a rat, tall with bright amber eyes. They looked as if they were fetched from the night themselves. He had slicked black hair, with flickers of the darkest blue under the light. He wore dark colors, Purples in his coat, black in his trousers and the mutest of plum on his cravat. Next to Henry, he seemed as if he didn't want to be seen from anyone. There was no doubt he was handsome, familiar from another time. Rosa blushed, making the fur on her neck stand on its ends.

"Oh!" she gasped "Hello."

The voice, like silk and honey said, "My grandfather spared no expense when he built this mansion."

Rosa, not wanting to show how awkward she was gladly pulled out her paw "I am Rosa Ramirez. Of the- "

He gladly took her paw and kissed it tenderly, another moment for her to blush. Rosa's green eyes widened Stop. Stop. Stop blushing. She giggled as he spoke "I am aware of your Prescence. He bowed to her "Hello…" looking up "My lady."

She gasped "Oh, Rosa is just fine."

"Indeed." He continued "I am Ratigan Edwin Gracey." He continued to smile "I have been awaiting your arrival for a very long time." He gazed at her, something underneath his eyes was hiding so much.

"Ok." Rosa simply said "I heard you would like to discuss things through dinner. so why don't we go ahead and get that started?"

Behind them, two servants gazed at the girl in the dining hall, looking at each other and back at her "Could it be?"

The other mouse in servants' clothes looked at their companion "I think it's her!"

The clouds in the sky started to roll in. A dark omen for the stars and moon to be hidden tonight for their safety. The rain started to slightly sprinkle around the grey property. The only light was in the far-left corner, lit by the fireplace in the dining hall.

Rosa sat at the table as the servants swirled around her, filling chalices and serving trays of fresh and hot food. The rich smells of gravy, and slow cooked roast filled the air. It would make any hungry mouse salivate. Rosa didn't take notice however, of the servants next to her.

One was a short male white mouse, with grey sideburns and dark brown eyes. He scooted his tray around the table with no difficulty. As he was hunched over, it looked as if he had a permanent scowl etched on his face… a possible observation.

The next was his counterpart, she was slightly taller than him, with a stunning black muzzle and grey fur. Her bright almost lavender eyes sweetly filled the glasses and served food, her skinny paws swiftly grabbing things off the furthest reach of her with ease. She cheerfully gazed at Rosa, who in return smiled kindly but not with a familiar energy. She didn't notice the uniforms either, a dark green maid's uniform for her and teal for the gentlemen. The uniforms seemed out of place and out of style. From a lost time forgotten.

Ratigan Gracey however could not keep his gaze off Rosa, watching her every move, the way she lifted her glass to the way she wiped her chin with her napkin She's perfect. He thought Finally.

He smiled, simply picking at his food. His father noticed his bearing and cleared his throat grabbing his attention. His son was too eager, continuing to gaze at her he asked, "So Madame Rosa, what do you think of the property so far?"

She placed her drink down "Oh. l thinks it's incredible. The Italian influence. The Renaissance style of the molding." Her eyes shined at the chance to show off her knowledge of the place "The attention to detail is stunning. You never see houses like this. Or at least l doesn't."

Henry smiled kindly "I knew she was the perfect person to see this property." He waved to his son "My son and I seem to have vast differences in who to trust."

Ratigan continued to smile "My great grandfather took great care of this place. Great care and love went into the building of this mansion. This house is my inheritance." The male servant filled his glass. Ratigan placed his hand up to stop the pour "My birthright." His eyes saddened at her, to gain sympathy "But lately it's become too much to bear."

She looked to both "Oh how so? Perhaps we can go over the paperwork now if you're eager."

Ratigan, his eyes still on her asked "Tell me, my lady, do you believe in ghosts?"

"Ghosts?" she spoke aloud. Ghosts? She contained her skepticism "Hmm, to an extent. I do believe in passing on and what not... But..." she thought her words carefully "Why would we want to include ghosts as a selling point, I would hate for all this extravagance to be laid waste to a tourist trap."

The small male mouse walked to Henry, whispering in his ear quickly and heading back to the kitchen "We've received word that the roads are flooded... the storm has become too large."

"Storm?" on cue the thunder rattled the house, the windows shaking with a great force. The lightning crackling in after liking its dance partner. Rosalie gasped "Oh! Well, I wasn't planning on staying." She rolled her eyes "I mean I did prep some clothes, thank goodness I did, but I really can't stay- "

"No worries at all... I'm also afraid you have no other way out." Ratigan's eyes glinted under the light of the candelabra "Think nothing of it. We will set up your sleeping arrangements. For now, you're welcome to a tour? Would you enjoy that?"

Rosa, seeing her options to either brave the storm or stay. She'd rather be safe. With a kind nod, she tried to hide her nerves "I would love that very much. Thank you." She grabbed her phone out of her pocket "Oh, I did want to ask about any outlets I can use? I need to call my boss and use the WIFI."

The entire room paused, not knowing exactly the words that left her lips. Ratigan shrugged his shoulders "I'm afraid there is no service here that you speak of, but we can all get that situated in the morning."

She looked around and stupidly cursed herself "Of course, I apologize I should have known that you didn't have any of that here."

Henry smiled and stood "Think nothing of it my dear, we are grateful to have you." His eyes twinkled "Ratigan, why don't you show our lovely guest around?"

He stood and walked to the end of the table, offering his arm "My lady?"

She blushed again. Oh, this is so embarrassing she thought. But something about being treated kindly by this tall gentleman made her heart skip a beat. "Uh huh." She stupidly stood and grabbed his arm, as he led her down the long, long hallway.

Ratigan and Rosa walked down the long hallway on the first floor, taking notice of the detailed wallpapers and wood paneling. Rosa gleefully took her fill with her eyes "Oak wood, yes?"

"Good eye!" he said, "My great grandfather used the trees around the property to build most of the foundation." He smiled and used his free hand to touch the top of hers "I have never met someone so intrigued with antiquities."

"It's my passion, I used to work in a thrift store in my teen years- "

He interrupted "Thrift store?"

She assumed he didn't know "It's a store where things are abandoned, people donate things like clothes and things they don't use anymore."

"That's sad." He stopped, his tail ceasing to sway behind him "Why would someone do that?" Rosa thought, no one has truly asked that before. "Well, someone may have no use for the item. Or they passed on?" she questioned her own thoughts. Ratigan shook his head "It would be terrible if any of these wonderful items laid waste to ruin." He looked around "So many memories."

She touched his shoulder tenderly "If I can be so bold, I would never let that happen to a place like this."

He smiled back at her, stepping closer "Thank you, my lady." He offered his arm again "Shall we to the library?" And she happily grabbed it.

The library was colossal. A domed ceiling at the top and winding down, vast staircases carried up into what seemed like the clouds. Books laid shelf after shelf; volumes unaffected by time. The smell of olden books cascaded in the air along with the heavy smell of dust. Rosa's green eyes scanning every part, spinning around to take it all in "I can't believe it! This is miraculous!" she laughed with delight "All these volumes and original manuscripts! This is a gold mine!" she spun again to admire the books, accidently tripping in the process. He immediately came to her side, catching her by grabbing an arm around her waist and another arm quickly grabbing her hand. It seemed as if he appeared out of nowhere, as he was a couple feet away from her prior to her fall.

Her eyes shined up at his deep amber brown ones. He was truly mesmerizing to her. And to him the same, maybe even more. He helped her up and she avoided his gaze "Thank you... I'm clumsy when I get excited." She flipped a piece of hair away from her face.

"No trouble at all.." he stepped closer to her, a nose distance from each other. His breath hot against her neck. Another chill down her spine.

She stepped back "Mr. Gracey-" she began making sure not to trip. He chuckled "Please, Ratigan is my name, Mr. Gracey is my father."

"He's a very kind man."

"Raised me to be sincere, proper, a true gentleman. I hope I have accomplished that."

"Yes." She answered. She fiddled with the side pocket of her coat between her first finger and her thumb "I did want to ask, This house. lt's been in your family for generations. lt's your home. Why do you want to sell it?"

He looked around the library, sighing heavily "These walls are filled with so many memories." He looked at the window, the rain dripping down the glass. "Some of them painful. l think for you to understand, l really must show you." He offered his arm once again "lt's all right. There's nothing to be afraid of." A light rumble of thunder roared around them. She smiled kindly and took his arm, he began to walk with her at his arm. They turned towards the stairs of the library, heading up and through to the second floor entrance "Although it might be a bit worn and faded from its original grandeur, this house was once filled with so many things. So much life. With grand parties, dancing, laughter, and, above all, hope." He placed a hand on her arm, making her blush lightly.
"Being a Gracey meant that you were denied nothing. The world was yours." He led her through the doorway, the portraits of long past almost looking as if their gaze was following them. It was ominous. Unsettling even.

"What happened here, Mr. Gracey?" she corrected herself "Ratigan." She asked with a smile.

His face saddened, he was within his own thoughts "She did."
"Who?"
"Rosalie." He said, his bright eyes shining with love and yearning "Hers is the story that haunts these walls."

Henry, watching behind them with a smile, looked to the two servants "Go prepare her room.. and pour some wine for them."

They continued down hall after hall, the place seeming like a maze of the same scenery. Ratigan showed her the many portraits and ancestors of the past, where she keenly listened as he spoke. They finally entered the very room Rosalie sadly passed in: The sitting room. Still as it once was. The once shiny windows now stained with time and sun damage. He sighed at the sight "She died here in this house. She was so very young. So very beautiful." He spoke so fondly of her, it was like a fairytale the way he told the story, mesmerizing as if he was there all those years ago. "She was in love with the heir to this mansion."
"Your great grandfather." She mentioned.
He looked away from her at the windows "And he loved her more than life itself. But they were from different worlds and couldn't be together." He sighed heavily "A mouse and a rat in that time would never work. No matter how much influence she had."
She walked to him, facing the window with him "How did she die, Ratigan?" his eyes glazed to her and she could have sworn the thunder roared again "She took her own life. Poison. After that, his life became unbearable. And so, without hope, without love, without Rosalie by his side, he hung himself. His soul wanders these halls, waiting for her to return.

lf you listen carefully, you can still hear the beating of his broken heart."

"How tragic.. what an awful ending to her and him." She wiped her eyes "I wish there was another ending to this tale."

"Would you care to see more?" he looked to her, Rosa's eyes glittered against the moonlight that started to peak from the dark clouds. She nodded "Absolutely! Please show me!"

Around the second floor, Ratigan pulled a lever on one of the statues opening a staircase to the attic.

She laughed "And secret entrances, this is awesome!"

He smiled at her "After you, my lady." She curtsied and headed up the steps, her eyes eating up every detail. They walked into the dusty attic, artifacts covered in white pristine sheets, were truly no use to the dust covering every inch except her footsteps. Dust everywhere, until she came across a beautiful white gown, an 19th century style still pristine from the top to the bottom. Laced with beads and puff sleeves. Complete with satin gloves and a diamond tiara at the top of the dress form. Rosalie gently touched the lace as he spoke "This was to have been her wedding dress."
"Oh, it's lovely" she added.

"It would have been lovelier if she'd had a chance to wear it. Now it serves only as a dark reminder of what could have been." His eyes saddened, this tale really affected him.

"To love someone so much and then lose them so suddenly. l can't imagine how awful that must be." He placed a tender hand on his shoulder, which he touched with his opposite one. He smiled "lf you truly love someone, they never leave you. They remain in your heart forever." He smiled at her again, the tension that could be cut with a knife. She looked away "Maybe we can see the ballroom?"

"Of course.." he stopped and led her down. Her footsteps were shown across the dust… but his were nowhere to be seen.

At last, the final room of the house worth mentioning on the tour. He swung open the large brown oak doors to a large hall, a dark chandelier at the top unlit. The hall was severely empty and ominous. The floor to ceiling had once again been covered by windows and darkly shredded curtains.

"This house has waited so long to have its shroud of darkness lifted." He walked to the middle as Rosa looked around "And tonight, for the first time in, oh, so many years, l believe it may be possible that the story will finally end differently."
Rosa stopped in her tracks, the last statement seemed off, "Hm?" she quirked a brow as he smiled proudly "Do you believe that love is about second chances? About forgiveness?"
"Yes, l do." She said, her face matching his.

He sighed, "Now, Don't you remember?" he stomped his foot
"Remember? Mr. Gracey, are you all right?" she stepped to him, hoping to help.
He stepped forward, scaring her back "Don't you recognize me at all?"
Rosa chortled "Mr. Gracey- What are you-"

He stomped towards her, grabbing her by the shoulders "l thought certainly bringing you back to Gracey Manor would help you remember."
Rosa looked scared, her eyes darting everywhere "Remember what? Mr. Gracey, you're scaring me." She attempted to release herself, he was too strong.
"Where it happened?!" he yelled. Suddenly with a wave of his hand, glowing apparitions appeared around them, dancing around in a beautiful waltz. The women mice dressed in fine fabrics, and the men dressed finely in suits of fine satin. The ghosts seemed to not acknowledge them, parading around and spinning in unison. Rosa started to shake, not knowing what was real and what was in a dream "What the-" he moved her towards him, not letting go "Where we spent our last moments together. Where we danced together for the last time before you...Before you killed yourself!"

He grabbed her hands, as she forced herself away, trying to pull away from this delusional man "But now you've returned to me. And at long last, we can be together." His voice commanded the hall "Why do you not remember?" he saw her wandering eyes "You were my world, my life! And l have loved you in death as l did in life!"

She let go and attempted to push him off her, only for her hands to push through him as if he was made of smoke and fog, she screamed "Let me go!" and ran right through him to the doors. She quickly glanced forward only to see him again "Why do you not remember?" she yelled and ran through him again, running through the hall to where they began.

He appeared in front of her again "You are her. You are Rosalie." He smiled kindly "You must be!"

"No!" she said, grabbing her bag off the counter. He walked towards her "Can you not sense it? Search your heart. l am your one true love." He attempted to grab her hands only for her to flinch, she didn't know what to do. Run through him again only to appear somewhere else? Or listen and try to evade his touch "And now we can finally be together."

She ran. The opposite way through the other side of the hallway, rounding the corner she suddenly she crashed right into Henry "My lady, what seems to be the problem?"

"Something is very wrong; I need to leave."

"I'm afraid that's not possible." Rosa, out of curiosity touched Henry's face, only to feel the same smoke and fog as before, he sadly gazed at her "Oh my god." She simply said and turned to run through him back to the hall, both the ghosts backed her into the door "Don't you understand? Rosalie, you must listen to me!" Ratigan added.

"I'm not Rosalie!" she opened the heavy door and ran through.

Henry added "Please! l implore you. You can't leave yet!" she ran to her car, quickly grabbing her keys "I can't believe this- "they appeared at her side attempting to speak to her, she would hear none of it "Leave me alone! Get away from me!"

"You can't leave yet!" Henry added again.

Rosa quickly turned her car on and put it in reverse, zooming down the dirt road until she reached the fog, the rain not adding any help. The cars lights suddenly hit something hard. BOOM! All her airbags popped open; she was desperate. She exited the car and began to run through the fog, her breath huffing and puffing rapidly.

At last, it looked like the end of the fog, she sighed a breath of relief and ran through it.

But it wasn't the dirt road… she was back at the mansion… she looked around. Perhaps she ran the wrong way. She ran through the fog again, this time opposite direction... no… it was the mansion again… she tried again… back to the mansion she was set. There was no escape. She turned, her heart beating faster as she met Ratigan's intense gaze. Panicked, sweaty, heart racing, anxiety high she fell, but not until he grabbed her and held her in his arms. He slowly strode back into the house, the rain falling on everything but them.