Mystery in the Victorian Manse

Chapter One: Screams from Below


A faint creak in the old, red-carpeted step disturbed the solemn silence in the Victorian manse that evening. Julia gripped the smooth, worn mahagony handrail on her right as she surveyed the faces in the photos in frames on the left. She saw her father's face, and her mother's, smiling at her a welcome smile. She saw other faces, but didn't recognize them. She wished she had known them, for they looked like family, and wondered if they might come to life as she took another step.

For such a large estate, this staircase is quite narrow, Julia thought. Not enough room for two people to stand next to each other on the same step.

Her thoughts were interrupted by muffled screams from the basement.

"Don't leave me!" cried one voice.
"Please take me! Don't go!" screamed another.


Julia tightened her grip on the dark handrail. Who was screaming? Where were those cries coming from? Could anyone else hear them? She looked down the staircase and saw a woman about her age coming up, slowly, deliberately, on the red carpet, examining the photos. Neither of them spoke, nor did they dare lock eyes. Julia looked up the steps to see a tall, grey-haired man with limber legs was about to reach the top where the hallway expanded out into many rooms. Apparently he couldn't hear the cries and screams.

She remembered nothing of her journey to this mansion except that it was by invitation only. The invitation was in her hand, signed by the owner of the manse.


To be continued...