The red dress

It was nine thirty on Halloween-eve. As I crossed the long entrance hall of the manor, I paused and then I went to the front door, opened It and stepped outside..

That evening has started strangely. It was still soon, but that evening was very cold for being only that time.

Everything started one hour before when I was gone to my bed because I didn't feel very well and, notwithstanding It was the Halloween-eve, I wanted to stay alone without my friends. We were into a strange manor lent by Martin' s uncle, my best friend that was a bizarre short-man with a mania of dressing always with black and white colour, preferring a check pattern. I sometimes asked my friend some information of him but he always reassured me that he was only a few crazy because his wife was murdered near there when they were married only just few months... I was nothing calm!

The night seemed that was quiet: I went to my big bed but, after some minutes, a frightful breeze passed near my body as It wanted to wake up me. I straightened up, panic-stricken, panting because I dreamt as If somebody was into my room, but there weren't anybody, only a not-well closed door. I was too much nervous to return into my bed so I decided to go out my room for a walk: I wanted to find my friends; I feel the necessity in that moment to stay with somebody.

I heard a stroke: now It was half past nine. I was motionless in front of a big door, maybe because I was still thinking about what's happed when I was sleeping, maybe because I felt sick: at the moment I didn't know If opening the door or not. On the other side of that entrance there were my friends that dancing Brazil: they enjoyed themselves! Notwithstanding I could be happy for them I was scared more than before but I didn't understand what was frightening me. I had a cold sweat, my heart started beating quickly: now everything was clear, somethings going to happen to my friend. During I had this consideration the music stopped and I didn't hear anything. "What's happened?I wait some minutes but nothing....

I decided to enter inside, but another thing was happened: the handle of the door was going to melt but I managed in time to open It. The sight was terrible: each of my friends was off colour; the room, that before was well-decorated, now was totally grey with all the windows opened.

At first everything appeared without life in front of my incredulous eyes but after I saw a woman that I have not seen yet: she had beautiful brown curly hair and a spectacular red dress with a necklace of little diamonds but her face wasn't well-defined. I was interested by her, I wanted to ask her what's happened because she was alive differently by other. I was approaching her when I saw a photo near me: there were Martin's uncle hugged to that women.
There was a date near that image: 25^th December 1965! I heard my heartbeat very well, It seemed that It was going to stop because It was very quick.

I started running away, I was scared by her! The strange woman was chasing me, now I was able to see her in face: she hadn't pupils but I was petrified by her glance. I was continued running but I felt down hitting my head.

I woke up with a start: I was into my room. I heard nine strokes: Is It nine o'clock? Again?!

Was It only a dream? I didn't think It in fact I wanted to inform my friend about my dream.

I couldn't: I was terrified by what I had seen, because I had on me the red-shining dress of that woman!

Beatrice Del Bianco