The haunted house

On the outskirts of town, on the slope of a steep hill, stood the rickety old mansion. In its prime, the building was magnificent and was the site of lavish parties hosted by the town's wealthiest benefactor. He was eccentric but it was part of his charm.

Each year, he would host a Halloween party. Most of the town would turn out for the event, eager to participate in the festivities. The old man liked to surprise his guests. Long before fireworks were common, he had a fireworks display which mesmerized the town. Celebrities appeared unexpectedly. One year, he commissioned someone to ride through the party dressed as the headless horseman, terrifying his guests. The old man loved nothing more than seeing the delight on his guests faces.

Well, almost nothing more... Although he did enjoy the company, the parties, the surprises, he did it all for his wife. She was a plain woman, simple in her tastes and of humble origins. She was the old man's opposite in every way. Yet together they were a perfect match.

The wife fell ill in the summer of 1920 and died in late September. The townspeople didn't think the party would happen that year, but the invitations still came. Apparently, on her death bed, she told her husband to carry on the tradition and he always did exactly as she asked of him. The event lacked some of its usual luster and celebration without her there.

The old man's movements were marked with heavy sadness. When he disappeared early from the party, his guests though he was making arrangements for the surprise and eagerly speculated about what it could be.

There certainly was a surprise that year, but not the kind anyone was expecting. The old man was found, noose around his neck, swinging from the rafters.

Ever since that night, the house remained vacant. It fell into disrepair and, rumor had it, the old man's ghost still haunted the place. Sounds come from the house at night that no one could explain. The piano played though no one sat at it, the phantom pianist playing the same songs the old man would play for his wife when she was sick. Streaks of light appeared inside the house, though the electricity had long since been cut off. All the usual stories...

Over the years, stupid groups of kids tried returning to the house on Halloween so they could spend the night inside a real life haunted house. Most of the kids turned back before ever crossing the creaky porch. The ones who dared cross the threshold were never the same.

But these are just silly ghost stories. They can't be real. At least, that's what we thought.

I don't remember who had the brilliant idea that we should spend the night at the haunted mansion this year. But quickly the suggestion took on a life of its own and there was no stopping us. We packed our bags, fabricated stories to tell our families about where we'd be and waited impatiently for Halloween to come.


Check out the other Theme Thursday Halloween stories. I'll finish this story off on Halloween of course...