• A mansion… abandoned at the top of a hill. Isolated from urban civilisation, the mansion sits at the outskirts of Berrywood town. Many people bought it and lived in the place, but no one stayed longer than a week. All left after experiencing the unexplained and weird encounters in the house. Humans aren’t the only ones trying to inhabit the place, crows tried to make nests at the roof of the mansion, but something seemed to drive them away. Ivyrose’s Mansion was never considered haunted, but something still seems very strange.

    Realms
    Chapter 1: Visitor

    One knock…
    Two knocks…
    On the third knock, there was still no answer from Ivyrose’s Mansion. The daring delivery boy left the newspaper on the doorstep of that creepy mansion and quickly left. No one ever answers the door, but there are still orders coming from that mansion. ‘The residents are probably asleep upstairs,’ the delivery boy thought.

    Berrywood town was a special place. It was a place where rain never stops.
    No scientist had ever figured out why it didn’t stop or where the town gets its never-depleting water source to produce such a downpour.
    However, ever since the first owner of Ivyrose’s Mansion died nine years ago, on July the fourth, the rain stopped. No one knows why.

    Ella got up from her peaceful slumber.
    The knockings of the delivery boy woke her up.
    Lazily, she dragged herself to the front door. After grabbing her copy of the newspaper, she sat herself down at the dining table and sipped her coffee. Everything was normal.

    Ella was an attractive young lady, who had just emerged from her teens. Any guy would fall in love with her at first sight.
    However, Ella was never socialable.

    She lived alone in Ivyrose’s Mansion, and was the only one who inhabited the place longer than anyone who stayed in that place, other than the original owner himself.
    She moved in two years ago, on her father’s death anniversary, which is also her birthday, July the fourth.

    Ella never locks the front door, she knew that no one ever visits her, she also knew that delivery boys never have the guts to open the door. This was the perfect place to isolate herself from anyone else. She loved the place and nothing ever happened to her.

    Next morning, there was a knock on the door.
    Ella was awake, but she didn’t want to answer it. It was probably the delivery boy again. He’ll leave soon enough.
    But this time, the visitor was persistant. He knocked for a few more times. Ignoring it, Ella went about doing her own things. Then, something different happened, the doorbell rang. Ella was surprised. ‘No one ever used the doorbell!’

    Ella answered the door.
    It was an old man dressed like a butler.
    “What is it?” Ella asked.
    The old man stared at Ella for awhile, then replied, “I’m a butler allocated to this mansion. My previous master was dead, but then I found his journal, stating that he wants me to take of this mansion until the day of my death.”

    Ella stared at him, and let him in reluctantly. “Fine, you may stay, but you’ll have to work as my butler then, since this is my house now.”
    “Fine with me miss…” The butler said.
    “Silvers, Ella Silvers.” Ella responded.
    “Yes, alright… I shall serve Mistress Silvers then.” The butler said again.
    “You have any luggage?” Ella asked
    “No, all my belongings are still in this mansion.” The butler answered.
    “Name?”
    “George Wilson”
    “Okay George, you can start helping me by cleaning this place, I tried doing that, however the brushes doesn’t seem to cooperate with me.”
    “Right away Mistress Silvers.”

    Next few weeks, everything was peaceful. George was sure working like he never aged. Available at impossible times.
    Other than his wonderous efficiency, Ella once saw him piling up sand in the middle of a hot afternoon.
    Aside from George unusual habit of buiding sand castles, everything was fine.

    Ella strolled down to the gardens. She never ventured into it since she was trying to clean up the place for the past two years. Dust bunnies seemed to appear as soon as they were cleared.
    Just then, she came across the hill of sand that George was piling up a few days ago.
    Ella wondered, what was he drying to bury. A corner of a gray brick was seen sticking out of the sand.
    Ella’s curiosity built up, she began to dig out whatever George buried.

    Moments later, she was horrified and shocked to see what she uncovered.
    A grave.
    Her eyes widened as she read the details stated on the grave.

    :: George Wilson (the butler)
    :: 1947 – 20…

    The rest of the details was corroded by acid rain.
    However, the name of the grave was noticeable.
    She stared at the grave in horror, she was living with a ghost all along!

    George appeared behind her. “I never knew you would find this Mistress Silvers.” He said monotously.
    “You… You… You were dead!?” Ella shivered in fear.
    “I never said I was alive Mistress Silvers.”
    “What… What are you… going… to do…? Haunt… me?” Ella’s fear was growing.
    “Amusing Mistress Silvers, why would I haunt you? After all, we are both the same.”
    “What… What do you mean… the… same?”
    “You never knew?”
    “Knew… what?”
    “You are dead, Mistress Silvers.” George replied.

    …To be continued