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The week after my graduation I accepted a job offering thousands of miles away for an elderly couple living in Europe. Miriam and her husband James Alcott had worried about one another's health for some time as they were close to reaching their mid 80's. The pay was a hearty sum and almost too insane to pass up to I jumped at the position as soon as I heard of it. In the end I wanted to work somewhere with beneficial clients and patients to learn from and even possibly research.
When I finally got off the plane, I was at the exit terminal getting Theo situated when I heard someone calling my name. A middle-aged man was standing at the terminal holding up a sign embroider with my name. "Miss Delaney over here, my name is Roy Culstable I am here on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Alcott. I cautiously walked over making sure to keep a firm grip on Theo's leash, the Alcott's hadn't mentioned someone picking me up from the airport, but I still was grateful.
Roy shook my hand and grabbed my luggage from me ushering me towards the exit where a car waited. "Miss Delaney I am very pleased to meet you, I've heard nothing but good things about you." His accent was thick and new so I stifled a laugh as he miss pronounced my name.
"This is Theo, I guess you can say he's my child." Roy laughed so loud that people around us started to stare. I couldn't help but laugh too as Theo looked at me probably wondering what the hell was so funny. We left the airport shortly after and besides the many of people I saw leaving the airport the city was empty and quiet with grass hills and farms as far as I could see. Roy informed me that the ride was over four hours long and that I should make myself comfortable.
As we drove through the grassy hills and country roads Roy turned on the radio and played the local news. There was something about women going missing in the night and a possible sex trafficking ring was taking place right under the constables noses. I was really paying attention now when one of the victims mothers came on to speak about her daughter. "Please bring my Victoria home, she is just a girl with no direction and in need of her mother. I beg you to give her back to me, I won't come looking for you and I won't question it just bring her home."
Roy turned the radio off soon after and stared dead ahead not saying a word which made me nervous, this was a village though in Hampshire so surely I wouldn't have to worry about possibly being kidnapped in the night. I felt bad for the mother and hearing her weep through her tears as she cried about the whereabouts of her daughter. About an hour before we made to Belmore Manor I heard the familiar whines coming from Theo letting me know he had to go. When I asked Roy if we could stop on the side of the road he insisted we continued as it wasn't much farther. Theo was whining so loud now and farting in-between that Roy started to gag and had no choice but to pull over.
Before I could warn Roy he opened the car door and Theo made a mad dash into the nearest village breathing like a maniac as he ran away. "Theo!" I screamed as I tore after him.
The village was deserted except for a church that had its doors open slightly and a low orange light flickered in the entryway. I saw the familiar pile of dog crap and followed the paw prints all the way to the church. When I popped my head inside the door to see if Theo had gone inside I saw an elderly woman sitting at the church pew muttering and praying before a large object draped in a black curtain.
The woman turned around as I walked closer and slowly put her hands down, "Hello, have you seen a dog or rather heard a dog run by? I'm sorry to interrupt your prayer but he's lost."
The woman looked at me and said nothing, she stood collecting her things and started to waddle past me. "You shouldn't be here, you don't belong here. GET OUT NOW! WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW WILL KILL YOU GIRL!" She screamed at me and left me standing alone in the middle of this strange church utterly perplexed. I quickly left the church and was met at the door by a group of men most of them old in age. The younger men were standing at the front of the group with rifles and arms crossed.
"MISS DELANEY! I HAVE THEO HERE!" I saw Roy running towards me carrying Theo and panting. Roy looked at the group of people and he slowly approached they all ran off in opposite directions. I was scared at this point and ran to Theo grabbing him and telling him off for running away like that. Roy insisted that we get back to car before dark so we would arrive on time for dinner.
"Roy, who were those people? Do they come up the Belmore at all?" Roy seemed to be processing his answer before he spoke. "Those are the locals Miss Delaney, this isn't America after all. Savages the whole lot of them leeching off the Alcott's generosity but you don't have to worry about them they tend to keep to themselves here." As if the conversation was over Roy flipped the radio back on and we continued on in silence.
Two miles out there a large gate and stone wall to the left and right and Roy left the vehicle to allow us entry inside. I heard the large lock click and the gate creek open slowly as Roy struggled to push. As we continued on there were woods lining both sides of the dirt roads lit with torches, it was magical watching the lights flicker and finally arriving to the Belmore manor.
Outside on the large marble steps stood five women, three men, and who I was assuming the Alcott's from the distance I could see them. They waved to us as we approached the house, I left Theo in the back seat and approached Mr. and Mrs. Alcott shaking both of their hands.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, I hope the flight wasn't too dreadful flying in business. Mrs. Alcott said as she embarrassed me. "Not at all, I had a very easy flight and I appreciate you both again for giving me this opportunity. Roy took my luggage inside and placed Theo in his crate before taking him inside too. Mrs. Alcott took my arm in hers and guided me to the dining room. There was a dinner prepared and it smelled wonderful. Roasted duck, potatoes, carrots, and a rhubarb pie that was just placed on the dining table by the cook.
I sat down across from Mrs. Alcott and Mr. Alcott sat to the left of her. The head of the table seat was empty which I glanced at a little confused if another guest would be joining us. "Our son Victor was supposed to join us for dinner tonight as well but work has been overwhelmingly busy for such a successful young man."
"Is that your only child Mr. and Mrs. Alcott?" Mrs. Alcott nodded her head solemnly and pointed to a paintings about the dining room mantel. It showed the Alcott's with three children and the eldest son sitting in the middle. "My youngest son and daughter died in a boating accident when they were four and seven so it has just been Harold, Victor, and me for many years now. You wouldn't mind evaluating Victor too when he is in town would you Miss Delaney."
I was more than happy to help anyone who needed my assistants but understood that the Alcott's probably had some hidden grief they hadn't dealt with just yet. "Mr. and Mrs. Alcott of course I would be more than happy to put my skills to use to whomever you deem in need of my services. Mrs. Alcott smiled and patted my hand, "I think you're going to love it here dear."
The Alcott's apologized and promised me that they would both show me around the estate first thing tomorrow and that tonight I should rest. My room was bigger than my condo with a private bathroom and closet. There was a door leading to a terrace that overlooked the front yard of the mansion and into the woods. There were lights shinning in the woods and they seemed to almost be moving but I decided that it was just the torches flickering from the wind blowing through the trees.
Theo was fast asleep on the newly silk sheets and I climbed into bed quietly making sure not to disturb him. It was three in the morning when I heard the familiar woofs and low growls from Theo in the dark. I sat up rubbing my eyes and reached for my glasses, they were gone I looked all over and could only see the dark shape of Theo at the end of the bed facing the bedroom door. When I looked over Theos head I saw a dark figure standing in the corner.
I froze trying to make sense of the foggy silhouette I was seeing not daring to look away just in case it moved. Theo growled and placed himself between me and whatever was at the door and then... it moved. It made it slowly crossed the room as Theos growls became full on barks as he backed up to making sure I was still there.
I felt screaming when my voice caught in my throat and then my phone lit up somewhere on the ground illuminating the dark room. Whatever it was flew across the room and jumped on top of me I screamed as Theo tried to attack whatever it was and then I woke up.
Sun light was streaming through the sheer currents as they rippled from the breeze, I wiped my hand over my forehead as I felt my self sweating feverishly. I was shaking and my shoulder hurt something bad. When I went to the bathroom my entire shoulder a purple color and I attempted to massage the pain away.
What did I do last night? Fight Theo? I had just started to remember the dream but if it wasn't a dream I knew Theo wouldn't have rested and the little fart demon was still knocked out from last nights escape.
I brushed my teeth and my hair still nursing my bruised shoulder and groaning as the pain intensified. I took three ibuprofen and put on a white blouse and black skirt that went to my ankles. I slid on my docs as I expected there would be nothing for me to do today since the Alcott's expressed a very important gathering happening in a few weeks. Before I made it out of my room I noticed scratch marks on the bed post.
"Was that already there? Was the nightmare that vivid?" I couldn't wrap my head around it and refused to believe that a monstrous creature actually attacked me in the night but still my shoulder hurt something fierce. As I made my way downstairs bright and early I heard the familiar sound of Roy and on of the cooks chattering in the kitchen. Roy stepped into the hall and saw me coming down the steps. "Miss Delaney, breakfast will be served in fifteen minutes. You are welcome to take your seat at the dining room table just as before."
I thanked Roy and made my way into the dining room where Mr. Alcott was sitting reading the local newspaper and sipping what I assumed was turmeric and green tea. Every time he sipped it he pursed his lips as if the taste was the worst thing he'd ever had. He noticed me watching and chuckled, "Miriam, she thinks we'll die soon if we don't start taking care of ourselves so I drink Turmeric twice a day to keep my metabolism up." He sipped it again and made a spluttering noise before putting it back down.
"That is true though, it will also help with your energy." As we sat in silence there was a knock at the front door and Mr. Alcott left to see who would be visiting this early in the morning.
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