Page 4 of The Haunting of William Thorn

His eyes pricked, catching him off guard.

William swallowed down the sudden urge to cry, biting his tongue until the urge disappeared.

Until now he’d tricked himself into thinking this would be a good thing – he could decorate the rooms as he desired, filling them with furniture he didn’t need to pass by another for approval.

Books. Lots of room for books.

Normally, that thought would bring William some joy. In his current circumstances, it didn’t at all.

It was never meant to be like this , he thought, staring at the manor as the taxi rocketed up the narrow driveway. We were supposed to do it together… not my future, but our future.

William distracted himself from the dark, intrusive voice that poisoned his mind. In doing so, he drank in every ounce of detail the fading light of day cast upon his new home.

The building was relatively symmetrical, with six windows on the left and a matching six on the right. In between was an entrance tower with a single window and a stone arch leading to an old cedar door hidden in the shadows.

Dark vines with wine-coloured leaves spread across the brick of the building, reaching around the chipped window frames, which were likely once white. Those veins were like hungry tendrils wishing to devour the manor whole.

William would eventually need to call in a landscaper to stop Mother Nature from swallowing Hanbury. But such tasks could wait.

Stacks of tall chimneys scored skyward like blades of stone.

From studying the floor plan he’d been given William knew that fireplaces had been built into almost every room.

This was because the manor was constructed when modern utilities like electricity and gas were not commonly used.

Although, he had been assured the electrics had been installed over fifteen years ago when the last occupants attempted to live in the manor.

Attempted being the word the solicitor had used.

Hanbury would likely not pass any safety tests with ease, but like the need for a gardener, that was an issue for another time. And William could say goodbye to the hope of a strong Wi-Fi set up for the next seven days.

More time for peace – for reading or writing or whatever he wanted to do. A detox from the internet, and from the world. That was more what he was looking for over the next seven days.

Hanbury looked surprisingly well kept for a building that his solicitor said had been empty for almost over a decade.

Dominating rosebushes stretched out from either side of the manor.

Only a few were left in bloom this late in the year, making it look like the shrubbery was bleeding with the sporadic spots of red.

William cringed at the bright colour, which had once been his favourite but which he now dreaded. He hoped the inside of the manor reflected the surrounding grounds, although he had little hope.

“It’s certainly a challenge,” the driver said, drawing William out of the trance the manor had set upon him. Reluctantly, he turned his attention to him, noticing a parental look of concern creased across his already wrinkled brow.

“That’s exactly why I bought it,” William lied, short and sweet, as the car slowed to a stop.

“Well, it will certainly keep you busy.” The click of the door sounded as the driver stepped free, stretching his legs.

He walked over to the window at William’s side and peered through the slight opening.

“I’ll help you with the bags. But I would like to be back on the motorway before night sets.

This isn’t the type of place I’d want to be when it gets dark – no offence. ”

“None taken.” William didn’t miss the man’s fearful glance at the manor and the violent shudder that passed over him.

As they got to emptying the bags, the driver never passed further than the exposed porch, just shy of the front door – the door that William soon stood before, with a long key in hand – as the realisation of how real this was sank in.

“That’s everything out the boot,” the driver said, breathless and cheeks stained. “From here on out, you’re on your own.”

“Thanks… you know, for your help,” William said, although he could barely take his eyes off the front door.

He could see hints of shapes through the frosted glass panels within.

It was late afternoon, and autumn ensured the nights were growing darker quickly.

William knew he should get inside, check the electrics and unpack the food, but he just couldn’t bring himself to move.

“Most welcome.” The driver hovered. “Um, Mr. Thorn. Pardon me for prying but…”

As if you haven’t spent the past three hours doing just that , William thought in return but chose not to stop him from continuing. “What’s up?”

“If you were my son, I would be worried knowing you were out in the middle of the vast Cotswolds, alone… staying in a house the locals would have preferred torn down…”

“Is that what they said?” William asked, feeling a strange stone drop in his stomach, joining the many rocks that already weighed it down. “They’d want it demolished?”

“It was nothing really, just a passing comment from that shopkeeper I was telling you about. She mentioned it was almost agreed that the building would be bulldozed until you came along. Stonewell didn’t seem terribly happy about it.”

“The bulldozing or me?”

“You.”

William never was quick to defend, not until he had his heart torn from his chest and shattered into a million unmatched pieces. Now, he found the heat rising in him, clogging his throat as his mind whirled with something sharp to say.

“So, what they say about small towns is true then,” William said, trying to keep the annoyance from his face. “Take a shit, and the entire town knows about it before the water in the toilet bowl does.”

He revelled in the red stain spreading over the driver’s plump cheeks.

Later, William would run over his conversation and regret the sharp things that came out of his mouth.

But that was what the bottle of wine was to help for.

He considered this restraint personal growth, considering his tongue had lost him a lot of friends in the past year.

The driver scoffed, shooting the manor at his back a wary glance. “I’ll be back as requested next Saturday,” he reminded. “If you need me any earlier, you’ve got my number. I’m only a call, and a hundred or so miles, away.”

“Next Saturday will be fine,” William said, hating the way he sounded but unable to stifle it.

All he wanted was to be alone. To distract himself with the plans and work laid out before him for the next week so he didn’t have to think about anyone else or their opinions.

Silence. It was all he wanted – needed, more like.

And that was it. William watched, key still clutched in hand, as the taxi sped off back up the long track.

It was as if he couldn’t get away any quicker.

Clouds of dust billowed behind the car, blurring it from view.

Then he was gone, and William was finally alone; his only company was the sea of plastic shopping bags, two suitcases and a worn backpack, all in a mound beside him.

Or so he thought.