Horror Story-chapter 1

Chapter one

The pale blue sky striped with random streaks of cloud drifted amongst the bright warm sun. Stirring beneath was a small rackety horse-drawn carriage; bumping amongst the hills.

Lucy was sat in the carriage, with her younger brother Tom. She stared out towards the vast landscape in front of her; which was appearing and disappearing like a pop up book. She sneezed as they passed a meadow of lilac lavenders and wiped her wet eyes with her sleeve.

Lucy shivered and snuggled next to Tom for warmth, a cold breeze had started to make its way through the gaping windows of the carriage and filled it with a bitter draught.

The vast open landscape once outside of the carriage had now been extinguished and thick willowed trees hung over it whilst it made its way though the dark forest.

Lucy could hear the carriage driver coughing whilst suddenly the sky above was revealed as the swooping branches were swept out of view. The sky was no longer a pale blue but a murky darkness dotted with glints of stars; spots of rain found themselves splashing down to earth and soaring through the carriage windows hammering Lucy and Tom.

“Nearly there” shouted a husky voice. The rain had stopped and with its disappearance came thick fog clogging the surroundings; tom shivered and held tightly onto Lucy.

“We’ll be there soon” said Lucy reassuringly “just wait…”
They both were silent as the rough carriage strode on. The only noise that dared to pierce the deathly atmosphere was the shattering of tom’s teeth, the random flutter of ambiguous creatures and the rustle of the wheels.

Eventually, with the help of the glistening moonlight acting like a light-house in a storm Lucy made out the blurred silhouette of a tall, old manor set upon a small hill in the distance.

As the carriage steadily drew closer; Lucy made out a dark figure standing at the front of the great skeletal manor. Lucy prepared herself as the horses sped up the hill dragging the carriage towards Lucy and Tom’s dreaded future; as they became closer to the top of the hill Lucy caught a glimpse of a wooden sign post swinging in the wind, it read ‘the old manor’ it’s letters were faded and lifeless.

The ground became flat and the carriage was stopped. The horses hooves grazed the muddy ground as the carriage driver swung open the wooden door.

“C’mon” said the driver gesturing towards the outside of the carriage “get out”

Lucy pulled herself together and hesitantly made her way out of the carriage pulling Tom with her. Their feet touched the wet soggy earth beneath them; as the carriage was abruptly swept away.

They were left alone with a sinister-looking old man. Some time passed as Lucy and Tom stood glued to the spot in fright. As Lucy dared to look at the man, the moonlight highlighted the man’s sallow features; he gestured towards the inside of the manor; and not knowing what else to do; they followed.