The Night I met Emily the strange...

It was nine-thirty on Halloween eve as I cross the long entrance hall of the manor, I posed and then I went to the front door, opened it and stepped outside.

My friend Henry was absolutely right when he told me that the manor has been deserted for many years. I had just visited it, but I could not find anybody: all rooms were full of cobwebs and absolute silence reigned everywhere…

I had hardly come out when a trumpet blast coming from inside called my attention. I couldn't believe my ears, I posed, but any sound was repeated... Firstly I thought it was a result of my imagination, but as I started walking to come back home, I heard a sound of violin. No doubt it was a real sound, so I turned round abruptly and I went back to the entrance hall.

The sound was getting louder and louder and suddenly it turned into a sweet music. It was so fascinating and I was so curious to find out who was playing the instrument that I decided to follow the sweet notes: they were coming from the left, where a long passage linked the kitchen and the living room... next to the kitchen there was a little red door that I didn't see before. The music was coming from there!!!

I plucked my courage and I opened the creaking door. Narrow stairs conducted me to a narrow corridor, that ended with another door... behind was a big curtain, and as I drew it I was overcome by wonder: in front of me there was a small ancient theatre full of masked people dancing everywhere. What a weird party!!! The crowd dragged me to the dance floor, I was completely confused... anyway... I started to dance. I met many nice people and a really beautiful girl, Emily.

Towards midnight the party ended and everybody started to go out. I offered Emily to take her home, but she refused. I insisted and eventually we reached together the entrance hall. We stepped out from the manor and my eyes fell on a stone. I approached: it was a tomb, but there was something strange... the name and the picture of the dead corresponded with a boy that I met at the party!

I turned my head and I saw another tomb with the name of another boy present at the masked ball...

I couldn't believe it: I was surrounded by tombs of people with the same name and the same aspects of people that were dancing in the theatre!

Suddenly I turned my head to tell Emily, but...

She was heaving a tomb's cover and quickly she slipped into the grave.

The manor was again quiet and deserted.

Valentina Rizzo