The Haunting of Westmoor Manor

A cold spring rain fell upon her skin as if it were the sky weeping; Mother Nature’s haunting cry echoing throughout her veins, as each droplet left its harrowing translucent stains on her face.

Closing her eyes she tilted her head to the heavens, as if it were her call to beckon more of what Nature revised to use as a cleanse over this place. For she too was crying out her own haunting plea, only that cry never seemed to be able to leave her lips. It became stuck in her throat like Snow White’s poison apple, knowing there would never come a prince to save her; she had to fight to save herself, and that is why she was here.

Westmoor Manor had its secrets, as did she. But as she approached the heavy door with engravings weaving its story into wood, and gold, Ellie Thorton knew behind those walls that chilled her to the bone, she’d have to remember what was always intended to stay forgotten; and that made the cry in her throat swell up even more.

It had been ten years since she left the Manor; A decade that she spent aimlessly trying to place tragic memories in a box she’d buried away behind her tired eyes. She promised herself she would never return; that she’d leave those ghosts to rot in the rooms that they occupied, alone, and with no way to torment another broken soul. But here she was, bags in hand, her legs shaking at the thought of what she might endure here again. But she had to, for Minie, for Bodie and for the whispers in the trees at night that begged for her to save.. Them.

The hooting of a Barn Owl echoed off the foothills and carried along the breeze, twisting it’s eerie plea into her rain soaked hair. It was a warning, she knew instinctively; even a bird understood what dangers would await her here, and though she wanted this to be the end she feared it was only another beginning.

The entrance into the foyer was as she remembered, elaborate and old, yet simple and authentic. Dim lighting shown from the same Chandelier that hung above their heads, which looked ready to come crashing down. The twisting staircase with its cracked marble steps and the same red Italian rug that draped down them. A chill ran up her spine and made its way into her pours. “Hold it together Ellie”, she told herself taking a deep breath.

Miss Thorton, You’re here early.. Mr. Graves said with a cracked voice. “Yes, I apologize, I’d actually hoped I wouldn’t be late,'' Ellie said respectfully. “Oh now it's No bother, I rather appreciate punctuality. And given that you’re here we can just skip to the importance's, shall we!?” Mr Graves led her down the hallway and through the glass doors to the left, into the Kitchen. Still very much as she recalled.

Seated around a very large dining table were five people, two of them children. A young boy, and girl. Of course, only nature would abide by the same rules of those the ghosts would torment. A white lace cloth hung to the table, and was topped with lit red candles. The lighting in the room was accompanied by a full moon’s glow through the windows, making patterns like a painting on the dining room floor. Mr. Graves gave his nervous attempt at formal introductions. His wife, Betty, who was trying to hide that she’d been biting her nails, held fear across her face like it had been fashioned into her pale skin. Miss Alice, the children's Nanny, who Ellie could tell had seen more than she ever bargained for. Father Crowley, who sat poised, and stern at the head of the table, holding the hand of Betty. And then Robert, and Sonia, the only real reason she was here. They held each other's hands tightly, and in her arms the girl grasped her ragged Teddy whom she’d named Pepper. Terror was painted across their innocent faces, and behind Roberts warm brown eyes, she could see the same desire to protect his sister as she had for her siblings those ten years ago.

After what seemed like an hour of settling in, Ellie finally gathered the courage to “set the stage”, so to speak. Answering the questions of those around her that never left their lips, but was dancing across their expressions wildly. “As you all might know of the story, a dozen years ago I left this place without my siblings. I had fought with everything in me to protect them, to get them out of here in one piece, and I failed. I will not do that again. The ghosts of the Manor want to claim any soul that falls into their cold, and bitter arms. I promise you I will do everything in my power here to prevent that from happening to your children. In the summer of 1925 a Family by the name of Westmoor built this place, and within the walls of this Manner Brigim Westmoor buried the bodies of his wife who was pregnant with a baby he claimed was not his, and his two children, a son and daughter. The ages of Robert and Sonia, and my siblings Minie and Bodie. Mr Westmoor took his own life in the attic two days later. The spirit of Westmoor's wife haunts this place, grieving and angry. She both wants to claim the Children she lost in a sense, and to seek justice for the tragedy she endured. The spirit of the Brigim is ravenous, he holds the ghosts of his family hostage here, and anyone who gets in the way of changing that is a dire threat.”

“What we do here tonight is what should have been done ages ago, what is the only option to save these children and prevent this ever happening to another innocent family.” Taking in a deep breath, Ellie turned to look at the people around the table she sat with. Sadness, Fear, and Rage filled the room from the energy they held within them. And a chill ran up her spine like cold finger tips.. She heard the whispers coming in, and in a sudden movement the candles blew out at once. Betty screamed, and Sonia started to cry. “Robert, hold on to her!” Ellie blurted with her voice breaking. “It's going to be okay, but we must stay seated. Do not show you are afraid, he feeds on your fears.”

Locking hands, the Father said a prayer of protection, and banishment in Latin; and the Graves Family held space for Ellie. As she stood and shouted a plea to the Ghosts that claimed this ground of haunted memories, she whispered into the chilling winds that whipped around her face and tangled her long, dark hair. “You are free from him, from this prison, from this dream. I take the place that you once held, hear what I say to you now, and let this be.”

She felt the pain of the shotgun rip through her stomach, and the warmth of blood spilling out onto her Navy Blue Dress. The room faded away, and she saw through a broken mirror in an empty dark manor, the reflection of Mrs Westmoor. Her wavy Blonde hair halfway in a bun, and the other softly laying on her shoulders. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she felt the sadness of heartbreak, and tragedy as if it were her own. Her Blue dress turned to a dark red, and the form of a pregnancy was prominently showing. A pregnancy that would never come to term, a babe that would never have the chance to be born. The heartache she felt within her grew stronger than the death that clouded her, and it then turned to rage. In flashes, both the horrors of Ellie’s life and Mrs Westmoor's played their broken records in front of her; and like heavy waves crashing over her and sinking her down she couldn’t fight their wicked might.

Ellie ran through the hallway, both siblings' hands gripping her own. Fear, adrenaline, and determination screamed loud inside her. “Ellie, he's right behind us!” Bodie yelled at her. And she heard Minie’s cries bounce off the walls as they rushed to the front door. The cold air that pierced her skin like a knife, the shrieking of the ghost's bitter voice in a hurry down the bloodied staircase, the chandelier lights flickering and swaying.. Side to side, side to side. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.. The sound of her heartbeat was felt as slow, hard hammers from inside her chest; bumbum bumbum bumbum. The Family pictures on the wall falling from their carefully placed settings; the shards of glass making flurries upon the floor. Bodie’s face full of such courage, Mini’s full of fright, and her own she might have imagined, full of both.

They made it to the door, it was open and they were almost safe; just right there, only two more steps and.. SLAM! The door was shut and blocked by the Monster they nearly escaped. He stood there with a wryly smirk on his face, his black hat tipped to the side, and blood stained on his white t-shirt, holding the shotgun he used to destroy the family that couldn’t escape his madness. He flickered in front of them like candlelight right before it burns out. And in an instant, the images her eyes held changed.

Mrs. Westmoor held her crying children in the closet as Brigim's footsteps grew closer. "Its to stop hiding Katherine, he exclaimed loudly. You know I'm going to find you, just like I found out what you been tryin to keep from me. Those kids wont save you, so you might as well come out." Each heavy step in their direction a step too close to death. "Shh babies, you have to stay quiet, we can't let daddy find us okay!? She comforted them the best she knew how, but deep down she knew it wasn't enough. The pit in her stomach occupied more space it seemed that the life growing inside her womb. Tears streamed down her eyes, and she kissed her children's faces one last time.. The footsteps stopped, and the door flung open, in a rage Brigim was yanking her to her feet; and Katherine fought against him to her end.

Ellie stood in the foyer of the Manor, back into her own time and body. She dropped to the floor, a wave of emotions rushing through her and spilling out from wails into her hands. Robert rushed to her side, and Sonia soon followed. "Please don't do this miss, he said sadly; Mama said you have to die to get the ghosts to leave us alone. There has to be another way, right?" She choked back tears, and turned to him. Holding his hands, and Sonia under her arm sobbing. It's going to be okay Robert, you are going to be safe, and that is what matters. I promised your parents I would end this, in any way possible. This, this is what it takes, and I am sorry it has to be so." As the words left her lips, she felt the weight of that sacrifice like a dozen rocks crushing her down into the dirt. She would save them, this time. And She'd be with Mini, and Bodie again. It was worth it, she said in her head. It had to be.

A storm had rolled in, and the dark thunderous clouds draped over the manor as if it were there to watch the bittersweet horror that would soon play out. A window shattered in the dining room and Betty yelled for help, running into to her aid Ellie, the children and Mr Graves stopped short to see what was making the chaos was an Owl who had broken its wing; flapping wildly on the floor of broken glass, and rain and wind blowing his feathers around the room. Ellie searched the kitchen for a towel while Mr. Graves tried to calm his frantic family. She rushed back and carefully scoped up the owl and held it to her chest. Moving into the living room, she sat down by the fireplace to examine the owls injuries. He hooted a painful huff, and twisted under her grasp, and then he stopped suddenly. Looking up at her, his wide eyes pieced into her own, and she felt a chill run up her spine, and trickle its intuitive whispers into her core. He had been with her all this time, she thought, possibly speaking the words aloud. Right at her arrival here he'd been yelling at her, trying to get her attention and she'd only taken it as a warning not to enter. But it had been the opposite, hadn't it!? A call to bring her to this place, and to this moment. He was a guide, a messenger, an Angel to light her darkest night. And every memory, both of her own and Mrs. Westmoor's flashed through her mind, and around her as if she had been transitioning between the slides of a projector. All little pieces of stories that made up a whole, that told a tale of horror that would lead to a fateful triumph of defeat, and a bittersweet send off.

And as the memories came to their stop, the slides burned away before her eyes, and so did everything around her. She was left with ashes at her feet, the Manor dark, and empty. It's time, she said softly and confidently. In slow motion she watched the family leave.. The children fighting against the strong arms of their father, crying and reaching out for her. She held a hand out to them, its going to be okay she mouthed. The wind rushing in as the front door opened for their escape. Ellie.... She heard them call. Tears streamed down her face, as she turned her head away and towards the task at hand. They were safe, that is all that mattered. She took the poker and flung the embers from the fireplace out into the floor. The flames engulfed the rug and surroundings quickly, dust to dust, ashes to ashes.. She'd burn this place down and never again let another soul be left to sorrow inside its walls. Holding the Owl close she smiled as he calmly watched her, and slipped away into a deep slumber. A bright blue light burst from within his lifeless body and surrounded her. And replacing the light the illuminated in front of her arms stretched out, Mini and Bodie stood smiling, arms ready to embrace her. Peace, she felt peace, in the chaos that raged around her body that burned with the manor, and dark memories, she was with them again, and they were free. Katherine, and the children found their way to the light they should have always known. And Brigim wailed against the fire, and the storm that brought its wrath against his furry.

They had justice, and she had relief. This end was but only a beginning, and these grounds that once held their haunting stories of brokeness now held hope. There is no longer a thing to fear; for I am the ghost at the end of this story.