| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted April 10, 2024 | Chapters: |
...7 8 -9- 10... 
|
  |
Sandra has a nightmare
A chapter in the book The Unwilling Heir
The Unwilling Heir - Chap 9
by Begin Again
ENDING OF CHAPTER 8
Her hands trembled with adrenaline as she reached the cottage. She flung the door open and rushed inside, locking it behind her. She collapsed against the wall, trying to catch her breath, her heart pounding in her ears.
"You're safe, Sandra." A tall, imposing man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes stood near the fireplace.
Sandra's eyes widened, and she screamed, "Who are you?"
The man turned to her and spoke in a low, gravelly voice. "I mean, you know harm, Sandra. Be careful in your journey at the mansion. Danger lurks in every corner. And not all is as it seems."
Sandra stammered, "How — do you — know me? And what danger?" Chills raced up and down her body as she stared at the stranger.
His words stunned her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something important about this man, something familiar.
Before she could question him further, she heard Lorrie calling her name. She stood, looked out the window, and turned back to face the stranger. Her eyes darted around the room, but he was gone.
Sandra unlocked the door and stumbled outside, collapsing into Lorrie's arms. The last thing she heard was the housekeeper saying, "Oh dear, you've strayed too far, I think."
*****
CHAPTER 9
With the help of James, Lorrie settled Sandra into her bed, tucking the comforter around her before taking James aside.
"Should we call a doctor? The girl had quite a fright, I fear."
"Are you sure that it was him? Or maybe it was one of the other guys?"
"It had to be him. Her face was drained of color. And if it were the Judge, Ryan, or Benny, they would have stayed because she'd seen them before. I am sure she found the cemetery, James. Her mind must be reeling."
"If Madeline hadn't shown up, we could have answered her questions, or at least some of them by now. That woman is nothing but trouble."
"Oh, I forgot! Earlier, Sandra said she thought Madeline had found the book." Lorrie lowered her voice. "We can't leave her alone. Her life might be in danger now."
"By Madeline, or are you suggesting he would harm her?" James walked to the window and stared outside. "He has a lot to answer for, but I don't think he would harm her. I guess Ryan could answer that better than any of us."
"Where are those three, anyhow? Usually, they are underfoot all the time."
"I suggested they stay away while Madeline is here. Being in the mansion, she could see them unless they spotted her first. Better to be safe than sorry."
"I suppose you are right. That woman needs to go. She's not welcome here as far as I'm concerned." Lorrie sighed.
"I understand, Lorrie. But you need to tread lightly until we discover how she murdered Noah."
"Do you think she did it herself?" Lorrie gasped. "But then, I wouldn't put anything past that woman."
"Let's worry about Sandra for the moment, okay? We need her to be on board and able to help us if this is going to happen. If anything goes wrong, our friends may be doomed. Especially since this is Benny's last chance."
"I know he jokes about it, but I just think it's his way of coping. Whenever he thinks about Noah, he wants to do away with Madeline himself."
"That simply can't happen. We went into this together, and we'll finish it together." James frowned. "Now, I suppose you should go and check on our houseguest. Is there a possibility that she is ill?"
Lorrie scoffed, "Not on your life. She's roaming the halls and snooping around. She's not sick."
"Then maybe I should ask the Judge to have a few of her old friends make a call," he chuckled. "It could prove very interesting."
Lorrie giggled. "Wonder if she believes in ghosts?" Still giggling, the housekeeper checked Sandra and then hurried from the room.
*****
Sandra tossed and turned beneath the comforter, her dreams turning to nightmares, swirling with terrifying images of the stranger who had confronted her in the carriage house. His face, so eerily similar to an old photograph of her long-lost father, haunted her.
She cried in her fretful sleep, "Father, where are you? Why did you leave us?"
James held her hand and tried to soothe her. He paced the floor when she calmed, wondering if they'd pushed her too far.
As she drifted deeper into the realm of dreams, she saw herself wandering through the dark corridors. The mansion seemed alive with secrets, with shadows moving in the corners of her vision. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was watching her every move.
As she continued to navigate the mansion in her dream, she could feel a chill creeping up her spine. The walls seemed to close in around her, the paintings of past residents staring at her with accusing eyes. The creak of the floorboards beneath her feet echoed through the halls as if the house's very foundation were alive with evil energy.
As she reached the grand staircase, Sandra hesitated. The stairs appeared to stretch endlessly into the darkness below, with only the faint glow of moonlight illuminating the way. Taking a deep breath, she descended into the unknown depths.
With each step, the feeling of being watched intensified. Shadows seemed to dance along the walls, whispering unintelligible words in her ear. Sandra quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest. The air grew colder, the atmosphere thick with an oppressive dread.
A ghostly figure emerged from the shadows, shrouded in darkness, with piercing eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. She felt an icy chill run down her spine as the figure advanced towards her, his whispers growing louder and more menacing by the moment. Sandra's mind raced as she tried to understand what was happening, but all she could do was stand there, paralyzed with fear.
Out of nowhere, a mysterious woman emerged in a striking dress with a plunging neckline, black silk nylons, and long slits up the sides. She glared at the figure with disdain. With a commanding voice, she snapped, "Leave her be!" The shadowy figure lurking nearby vanished.
Without explanation, the ballroom was gone, and she stood in the meadow, the moon casting an eerie glow on the four looming graves. The man who resembled her father was standing in the dark shadows, surrounded by the judge, the detective, and the hitman. They spoke in hushed tones, whispering secrets that Sandra couldn't quite make out.
Her heart raced, and a chill crept up her spine. The surrounding air seemed to thicken, suffocating her in a veil of fear. She couldn't help but feel as if something ominous was about to happen. She felt her throat tighten.
The man turned to her, his eyes burning with intensity. "You must right the wrongs, Sandra. The book holds many secrets. A treasure lies within the walls and needs to be returned to the rightful owners. These men need your help." He gently touched her cheek, and then they vanished.
*****
*****
Lorrie tapped on Sandra's door and opened it, motioning for James to join her in the hallway.
"Sandra, Lorrie needs me, but I'll be just outside your door. Will you be okay?"
She nodded and pulled the comforter tighter around her, whimpering, "Are you coming back?"
"Yes, I promise. You can call my name if you need me sooner."
James patted her arm and stepped into the hallway, where Lorrie waited impatiently.
*****
"Well, they can't go far, now can they?"
Lorrie erupted into giggles, and her entire body shook with joy. "Maybe I should become a ghostwriter," she said between gasps of laughter. "A ghostwriter, get it?"
Her hands trembled with adrenaline as she reached the cottage. She flung the door open and rushed inside, locking it behind her. She collapsed against the wall, trying to catch her breath, her heart pounding in her ears.
"You're safe, Sandra." A tall, imposing man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes stood near the fireplace.
Sandra's eyes widened, and she screamed, "Who are you?"
The man turned to her and spoke in a low, gravelly voice. "I mean, you know harm, Sandra. Be careful in your journey at the mansion. Danger lurks in every corner. And not all is as it seems."
Sandra stammered, "How — do you — know me? And what danger?" Chills raced up and down her body as she stared at the stranger.
His words stunned her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something important about this man, something familiar.
Before she could question him further, she heard Lorrie calling her name. She stood, looked out the window, and turned back to face the stranger. Her eyes darted around the room, but he was gone.
Sandra unlocked the door and stumbled outside, collapsing into Lorrie's arms. The last thing she heard was the housekeeper saying, "Oh dear, you've strayed too far, I think."
*****
CHAPTER 9
With the help of James, Lorrie settled Sandra into her bed, tucking the comforter around her before taking James aside.
"Should we call a doctor? The girl had quite a fright, I fear."
"Are you sure that it was him? Or maybe it was one of the other guys?"
"It had to be him. Her face was drained of color. And if it were the Judge, Ryan, or Benny, they would have stayed because she'd seen them before. I am sure she found the cemetery, James. Her mind must be reeling."
"If Madeline hadn't shown up, we could have answered her questions, or at least some of them by now. That woman is nothing but trouble."
"Oh, I forgot! Earlier, Sandra said she thought Madeline had found the book." Lorrie lowered her voice. "We can't leave her alone. Her life might be in danger now."
"By Madeline, or are you suggesting he would harm her?" James walked to the window and stared outside. "He has a lot to answer for, but I don't think he would harm her. I guess Ryan could answer that better than any of us."
"Where are those three, anyhow? Usually, they are underfoot all the time."
"I suggested they stay away while Madeline is here. Being in the mansion, she could see them unless they spotted her first. Better to be safe than sorry."
"I suppose you are right. That woman needs to go. She's not welcome here as far as I'm concerned." Lorrie sighed.
"I understand, Lorrie. But you need to tread lightly until we discover how she murdered Noah."
"Do you think she did it herself?" Lorrie gasped. "But then, I wouldn't put anything past that woman."
"Let's worry about Sandra for the moment, okay? We need her to be on board and able to help us if this is going to happen. If anything goes wrong, our friends may be doomed. Especially since this is Benny's last chance."
"I know he jokes about it, but I just think it's his way of coping. Whenever he thinks about Noah, he wants to do away with Madeline himself."
"That simply can't happen. We went into this together, and we'll finish it together." James frowned. "Now, I suppose you should go and check on our houseguest. Is there a possibility that she is ill?"
Lorrie scoffed, "Not on your life. She's roaming the halls and snooping around. She's not sick."
"Then maybe I should ask the Judge to have a few of her old friends make a call," he chuckled. "It could prove very interesting."
Lorrie giggled. "Wonder if she believes in ghosts?" Still giggling, the housekeeper checked Sandra and then hurried from the room.
*****
Sandra tossed and turned beneath the comforter, her dreams turning to nightmares, swirling with terrifying images of the stranger who had confronted her in the carriage house. His face, so eerily similar to an old photograph of her long-lost father, haunted her.
She cried in her fretful sleep, "Father, where are you? Why did you leave us?"
James held her hand and tried to soothe her. He paced the floor when she calmed, wondering if they'd pushed her too far.
As she drifted deeper into the realm of dreams, she saw herself wandering through the dark corridors. The mansion seemed alive with secrets, with shadows moving in the corners of her vision. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was watching her every move.
As she continued to navigate the mansion in her dream, she could feel a chill creeping up her spine. The walls seemed to close in around her, the paintings of past residents staring at her with accusing eyes. The creak of the floorboards beneath her feet echoed through the halls as if the house's very foundation were alive with evil energy.
As she reached the grand staircase, Sandra hesitated. The stairs appeared to stretch endlessly into the darkness below, with only the faint glow of moonlight illuminating the way. Taking a deep breath, she descended into the unknown depths.
With each step, the feeling of being watched intensified. Shadows seemed to dance along the walls, whispering unintelligible words in her ear. Sandra quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest. The air grew colder, the atmosphere thick with an oppressive dread.
A ghostly figure emerged from the shadows, shrouded in darkness, with piercing eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. She felt an icy chill run down her spine as the figure advanced towards her, his whispers growing louder and more menacing by the moment. Sandra's mind raced as she tried to understand what was happening, but all she could do was stand there, paralyzed with fear.
Out of nowhere, a mysterious woman emerged in a striking dress with a plunging neckline, black silk nylons, and long slits up the sides. She glared at the figure with disdain. With a commanding voice, she snapped, "Leave her be!" The shadowy figure lurking nearby vanished.
The woman gazed at Sandra, studying her from head to toe. Her voice was soft and sweet as she spoke. "Sweetheart, you can't be here. The madam would never approve."
Another stunning woman draped in a sheer peignoir appeared, her eyes filled with sadness and her voice rougher than the first woman's. "Something tells me she's looking for something else. The key, perhaps?"
"Stop! It's not safe for her to be here. She needs to go back."
Sandra wanted to protest, but the first woman opened an armoire and found a small silver bell. As she rang it, the sound was magical, and within seconds, a well-to-do man appeared and took Sandra's hand.
"Come with me, dear. Your dreams can't take you here. Those awaiting the darkness dwell behind these walls, still foolishly counting their gold pieces. They would steal your soul if they could," he said, leading her away from the women.
The man led Sandra through a maze of dimly lit corridors, the air thick with the scent of opulence and deceit. As they walked, the man whispered warnings about the dangers lurking in the shadows, about the power-hungry souls trapped within the mansion's walls.
Sandra's heart raced with fear as she followed the mysterious man into the opulent den of darkness. In the distance, she could hear the faint echoes of sinister laughter and the clinking of gold, sending a shiver down her spine.
Suddenly, they reached a grand ballroom adorned with crystal chandeliers and velvet curtains. Masked figures filled the room, dancing in a macabre frenzy, their faces twisted with greed and madness.
The man turned to Sandra, his eyes glowing with a mix of compassion and caution. "You must find the key, the key, to unlock the truth and escape this cursed place," he said cryptically before disappearing into the shadows.
Without explanation, the ballroom was gone, and she stood in the meadow, the moon casting an eerie glow on the four looming graves. The man who resembled her father was standing in the dark shadows, surrounded by the judge, the detective, and the hitman. They spoke in hushed tones, whispering secrets that Sandra couldn't quite make out.
Her heart raced, and a chill crept up her spine. The surrounding air seemed to thicken, suffocating her in a veil of fear. She couldn't help but feel as if something ominous was about to happen. She felt her throat tighten.
The man turned to her, his eyes burning with intensity. "You must right the wrongs, Sandra. The book holds many secrets. A treasure lies within the walls and needs to be returned to the rightful owners. These men need your help." He gently touched her cheek, and then they vanished.
*****
Sandra woke up drenched in a cold sweat, her heart pounding. She cried out in desperation, "Don't leave me. Please don't go." Her eyes darted frantically around the room, and then she scrambled from the bed, crawling on the floor, searching beneath it.
James knelt beside her and pulled her trembling body close to him. "Sandra, calm yourself. You had a nightmare. Everything's going to be okay."
Sandra's eyes met his, and she shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No, it's not. The stranger said I needed to help them, but how can I if the book is gone?" She sobbed violently, her body wracked with fear.
James wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the floor and placing her back into bed. He held her close, comforting her as she slowly calmed down. But even as she lay there, with her head on his chest, she couldn't shake the feeling that her dream was only the beginning of a nightmare yet to come.
*****
Lorrie tapped on Sandra's door and opened it, motioning for James to join her in the hallway.
"Sandra, Lorrie needs me, but I'll be just outside your door. Will you be okay?"
She nodded and pulled the comforter tighter around her, whimpering, "Are you coming back?"
"Yes, I promise. You can call my name if you need me sooner."
James patted her arm and stepped into the hallway, where Lorrie waited impatiently.
*****
Lorrie approached James with a look of urgency and quickly reached into her apron pocket. She retrieved a small prescription bottle and held it out to James. "We've got proof. She killed Noah."
James took the bottle from Lorrie's hand and scrutinized it. He read the label aloud, "Digoxin. Where did you find this?"
Lorrie replied, "I found it in the drawer when Madeline asked me to look for new bedding. It was hidden among a stack of blankets."
James looked puzzled. "Why do you think this medication killed Noah? Isn't it a heart medicine?"
Lorrie nodded, "Yes, it is used to treat heart conditions, but neither has heart problems. Why else would she have it?"
James shook his head in disbelief. "I don't know why she would have it, but how could a heart medication be lethal to Noah?"
"It causes irregular heartbeats, and if she'd added it to his coffee or nightly whiskey, it could have killed him."
"Hmm! That's a strong possibility," James said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Would it have shown up in an autopsy?"
"According to Sarah, she works with Doc Travis at the morgue. One would have to know what they were looking for, but with the right test, it would."
"Good job, Lorrie! If we get an autopsy, we could catch her. But for now, we need to discover where the book is and calm Sandra down. Also, Ryan needs to talk with his friend and discover why he approached Sandra and his intentions. This has gotten so out of hand." James sighed heavily, lost in his thoughts.
"Can you reach the guys? You said you sent them away so Madeline wouldn't see them."
"Well, they can't go far, now can they?"
"I suppose not, but I worry about Benny taking chances."
"The Judge will keep a close eye on him. Speaking of the Judge, I need him to arrange a visit for Madeline. It's time she sees who she's messing with."
Lorrie let out a playful giggle. "Oh, that sounds like fun. Can I watch?"
James shook his head. "No, you have more important things to do, like caring for Sandra and keeping her safe."
Lorrie huffed. "I suppose you're right. I'll have to leave it to my imagination."
James couldn't help but smile. "Your imagination! Oh, dear, I am sure you'll outdo the actual visit."
Lorrie erupted into giggles, and her entire body shook with joy. "Maybe I should become a ghostwriter," she said between gasps of laughter. "A ghostwriter, get it?"
James rolled his eyes and groaned. "I'll find the guys, and you stay with Sandra." He turned his back to Lorrie and walked toward the stairs, unable to hide his amusement.
Sandra Monroe - fledgling investigative reporter
Annie - Sandra's loyal assistant
Les - Sandra's boss
Detective Ryan Hamilton
Judge William Parker
Benny Gonzales - The Hitman
Lorrie - the housekeeper
James Matthews - writer living in the mansion's carriage house
Noah Wakefield - deceased
Madeline Wakefield - widow
The Familiar Stranger
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Annie - Sandra's loyal assistant
Les - Sandra's boss
Detective Ryan Hamilton
Judge William Parker
Benny Gonzales - The Hitman
Lorrie - the housekeeper
James Matthews - writer living in the mansion's carriage house
Noah Wakefield - deceased
Madeline Wakefield - widow
The Familiar Stranger
You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2024. Begin Again All rights reserved.
Begin Again has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.