“Don’t go in the house

That sits on the hill

The souls are sleeping

They’re waiting to kill

Don’t go to the house

Just leave them alone

For if you wake them…”

​

 

“I forgot the last line. Isn't there another line?” Amanda asked me as she sat up at the foot of my bed. We had been nonchalantly chatting about Black Rose Manor for about an hour when I had gotten distracted by stumbling across Matt Thompson's facebook. Amanda was still stuck on the topic of the old run down mansion as I got lost in Matt's photos. "V? Are you listening?" Amanda asked again as she stared between my phone and I. "V!" She hissed, exasperated with me as she threw a kernel of popcorn on my lap. 

"Huh?" I shook my head looking at her. I was completely off the mansion topic that she didn't want to let go of.“Oh... I don't know. Does it really matter?” I asked dismissively as I continued to look at Matt’s latest Facebook post. He’s so hot! I thought to myself as I stared at his picture. We’d shared a couple classes with each other every year since middle school. I’d always had a crush on him but since we started our junior year he had been dating Emily Anderson, which of course was killing me!

"Yes it matters. Have you ever gotten something stuck in your head and couldn't remember a portion of it. That always drives me nuts!” Amanda exclaimed as she stared out of my window over at the tall desolate hill looming on the outskirts of town. Black Rose Manor had sat on the hill for over a century. Of course with a house that had been in the town so long, there were sure to be a thousand rumors about its inhabitants. It didn’t help that the entire property was a decayed and decrepit eyesore. “Come on, V, you remember the last line don’t you? I'll leave you alone if you tell me.” Amanda gave an exaggerated sigh as she belly flopped on my bed.

“I honestly don’t remember the last line. I haven’t heard that rhyme since we were in elementary school. Can we stop talking about the old house already? Let’s talk about more important things... like plans for the weekend.” I suggested the switch in topics to Amanda because in all honesty, even at 17, the subject of the Mansion and the Whitmore family creeped me out.

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Black Rose Manor used to be the crown jewel of Morton Marsh. Jonathan Whitmore designed and built the house, and every exquisite detail to it, for his gorgeous young wife, Isabella. The Whitmore family was the richest family in Morton Marsh and quite honestly one of the most influential in the entire East Coast. Jonathan was the sole heir to a Railroad tycoon and his hauntingly beautiful Isabella; the daughter of a powerful French Lord. They had moved to Morton Marsh from New York City in the late 1800’s. Isabella was pregnant with their second child and was due shortly after the completion of their new home. The proud husband let his wife name their new home and she proudly declared it Black Rose Manor, explaining that the inspiration for the name came from the roses surrounding the property. The roses were so dark in color one could mistake them for black instead of the deep red that they actually were.

Every servant stood in eager wait, the day that young Jonathan and his little family moved in to Black Rose Manor. It was a time of almost spellbinding happiness for everyone that lived and worked within the enormous walls of the Gothic mansion.

As soon as they moved in, the Whitmore’s spared no expense in showing the high society of Morton Marsh that they were now the town’s reigning family. Decadent feasts and masks were given in the ballroom every weekend, it seemed. The women of the town could always be heard buzzing about what Parisian fashion Isabella was seen wearing and almost fainting at the sight of her exceptionally handsome husband. It didn’t take long for them to be exactly as they had intended; the First Family of Morton Marsh’s powerful elite.

But behind Isabella’s beauty and Jonathan’s charm and their son, Edward’s, adorable innocence, there laid dark secrets beckoning to be told. The beautiful lies and terrible secrets instead lay dormant- contained, behind the foreboding walls of Black Rose Manor.

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-----------------------------------

​

"Veronica, what are you doing today" My mom asked, smiling like the cat the got the canary. That smile always meant me taking my brother with me.

"I'm going to hang out with Amanda, Matt, and Will at the coffee shop. Please don't ask me to take Eddie along!" I pleaded almost desperately with my mother, knowing that it would be to no avail. I would be stuck with the annoying 10 year old.

​

Of course I was, and of course it would be the only time Matt didn't have that stupid girlfriend of his with him.

"So you remember yet?" Amanda asked as soon as I sat down at Joe's Coffee Shop. She cocked an eyebrow, knowing how much I hated the subject. Why did she have to start this topic again? I haven't even drank half of my coffee yet.

"No I don't remember yet!" I replied, instantly annoyed that she would bring it up. I was really tired of Black Rose and talking about it always left me slightly unsettled.

"Do any of you guys remember the last line to the rhyme about Black Rose Manor?" Amanda asked Matt and Will seeing the confused looks they passed back and forth between them.

"Oh hey, I know it!" Eddie shouted as he drank his hot chocolate. His little face was covered in the whipped cream and chocolate topping of his drink. His odd cut hair blowing in his face.

"Sure you do, brat!" Amanda snickered as she patted his head. The rain had been steady the entire morning but was slowly dwindling to a sprinkle by the time we had finished our coffee. "I do! The kids at school talk about it all the time. It goes..." Eddie stood up excitedly as if he were climbing on some invisible platform. 

"Instead of just talking about it let's go to the mansion!" Will interrupted as he downed the last of his drink, "We don't have anything else to do right now. Why not?"

I was about to object until I saw Matt's face break into a smile as he enthusiastically agreed with his best friend. Why did they want to go there?! I felt my stomach turning in knots as they discussed it. I started to object using the excuse that I had my little brother but realized that this may be the only time I get to spend with Matt away from Emily.

​

I felt sick with unease as we made our way down the winding path leading to the gates of the property. Everyone around me chattered excitedly about what we would find in the house. And all the stories surrounding the horrible deaths behind it's walls.

​

"I heard that Isabella killed both her kids to get back at her husband for cheating on her! And that she killed all of his mistresses!" Amanda stated as she looked towards the hill.

"I heard that she went crazy after killing them and started luring kids in from town that looked like them just to end up killing those kids as well!" Will added as he crept up behind Amanda to jump at her.

"I heard she had hundreds of porcelain dolls that supposedly she turned the kids she lured from town, into!" Matt chimed in, also getting excited by what would happen once we reached the manor.

"Guys, I really do know the last line to the rhyme!" Eddie exclaimed, jumping around in excitement.

"Yay, we're here!" Amanda squealed nearly jumping at the gate then frowned upon seeing the heavy iron padlock intertwined with the rust coated bars.

"Let's hop it." Matt shrugged as he started to climb the massive iron barrier.

​

As soon as I jumped down to the other side the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I was immediately engulfed in an eerie feeling of being watched. We walked up to the dark mahogany doors and tried the heavy brass knobs. They opened easily, as if the house were inviting us in.

Stepping through the threshold I gagged at the sickeningly sweet smell of decay. The smell was powerful and seemed to be embedded in the walls.

​

Come in, dear...

​

What was that? The soft voice hissed throughout the dark entryway. Nobody seemed to hear it except me. My mind raced trying to make sense of what I just heard. 'I'm just hearing things. Quit being paranoid, Veronica! Matt's gonna think your're some sort of a spaz!'

"Well, one thing was true about this house. The whole place is a dead zone. You can't get any type of reception here." Matt sighed as he showed his phone to us. Everyone immediately took out their cell phones to see if it was true. Of course, it was.

"Doesn't anyone else smell that? It's like a sweet rotting smell?" I asked finally, looking at the faces of my friends to see if anyone shared my sentiments about the stench in the house.

"Don't worry, V, it's just the dead rats." Matt whispered as he gestured towards the corner nearest to us and the corpses of what had to have been at least a dozen decent sized rodents. I gagged upon seeing the emaciated, half decayed rat bodies and turned my face away to not fixate on them any longer. I blinked rapidly trying to get my eyes adjusted to the dark a little more as I focused on the corner of the room.

And saw a pair of eyes glaring at me through the blackness.

​

Don't go in the house that sits on the hill...

​

"Did you guys see that?" I whispered through clenched teeth as I whirled around to face my friends. They all answered with stares of confusion. "Never mind." I shook my head, not waiting for them to answer.

"Let go find the tea room. I heard Jonathan hid money in there." Will's voice echoed through the house as he strode through the door that I had just been looking at. We followed the hallway until we got to a large rounded doorframe. The inside of the room lay in darkness, the large expansive windows cloaked with heavy deep blue curtains. We couldn't open the curtains for fear that someone might catch us snooping around the old house.

"Here, I think I have my zippo." Matt reached into his pocket and pulled out a little silver lighter with a dragon etched on the side. He tried lighting it several times but it stubbornly refused. Finally with one last stroke, the lighter gave light to the gloomy tea room and the hundreds of glassy eyes that had been staring, unblinkingly, at the group.

We had found Isabella's dolls.

​

The souls are sleeping...

​

Amanda screamed at the sight of all the old and frayed looking dolls and without hesitation bolted out of the room. "Amanda!" I cried after her as I ran to keep up. She was a good distance away from me and I struggled to not lose her as I ran. All I kept focusing on was the long mane of flowing blonde hair zig-zagging through the maze of hallways.

Finally I had caught up to her in a tiny room towards the back of the house. It appeared to be a bedroom of sorts, with lace detailing everywhere. Judging from the size of the room, I assumed it was a servant's bedroom. "Jesus, Amanda, did you have to bolt out of the room like that. We'll be glad if we're able to find our way back to the boys. The boys... Eddie! Omigod, I left Eddie! Come on, Amanda. What is the matter with you?" I rambled on as I stalked up to her, huffing angrily at the back of her head.

"I'm...Sorry..." She giggled as she slowly turned around. It was not Amanda, but another girl. She wore clothes that seemed too old to be current fashion and a maid's apron around her waist. Her smooth locks of hair were matted down to her face with a rust colored liquid that had dried on her forehead. Her dark eyes gleamed as she advanced towards me, her smile frightening and sweet at the same time.

​

They're waiting to kill...

​

"What the hell are you doing, V?" Amanda's voice cried out as I whirled around to face her. I didn't know what to do. She was just standing in the doorway to the bedroom looking frightened as she demanded to know who I had just been talking to. Without even pausing to talk, I grabbed Amanda's hand and ran down the hallways desperately trying to find our way back to Matt, Will, and Eddie.

"Hey V, we're up here. You gotta come check this out!" Matt called to me from the second floor as I finally found my way to the foyer where we first started. I wanted to just leap out of the door and run away from the house without looking back. But my brother was still somewhere in the house.

Amanda and I crept quietly up the stairs to the second floor trying hard not to make a sound. As soon as I reached the landing the stench of rot hit my nose once again. It was mixed with the faint smell of perfume. I searched the corners for signs of more dead rats but couldn't find any, and yet the smell was stronger on this floor.

​

Don't go to the house...

​

"Come here and check out this study." Matt called out again a little louder this time. I followed the sound of his voice to a room at the right of the curved staircase. It was a large room filled with antique furniture and dusty books. The walls were adorned with paintings that I assumed were family portraits. The first painting was of a handsome young man with a stern expression on his face. His hair was the color of spun gold and he stood proudly atop the carcass of a bear, a gun perched on his shoulder. Underneath the portrait the name 'Jonathan Whitmore' was etched on a small gold plaque. The next was a painting of two children;  the girl in a beautiful ruby colored chiffon dress, diamonds adorning her hair and ears. She sat on a velvet cushioned chair, a look of sadness permenantly carved on her face. The boy, a few years older than the girl, stood behind her with his hands clasped behind his back. He had the same stern unsmiling expression as his father. The same little golden plaque sat underneath their picture with the names 'Edward and Elizabeth Whitmore' engraved on it. The last was a portrait of a gorgeous young woman. Her ivory skin almost glowed luminous through the canvas, and her chocolate brown hair a beautiful contrast to her complexion. The most striking thing about the woman was her eyes; doe eyed in shape but a glittering sapphire color.

I stared heavily at the picture trying to figure out what it was about the woman that seemed off. I couldn't pinpoint what it was but despite this woman's beauty, there was something odd about the way she looked.

​

Just leave them alone...

​

After a moment I realized what was different- she was smiling.

An icy chill ran down my spine as I continued to stare at her face. Her smile seemed to be growing wider as I stared at it, contorting unnaturally as the lines at the corners of her lips continued to stretch out, the smile becoming more of an insane grin.

"Did you guys see that?" I bit back horrified tears as I turned to look at them, and found that all 3 of my friends were staring wide eyed at my brother and I. "What's wrong with you guys?" I asked them quietly, afraid of what else might happen.

Will cleared his throat and peered into my frightened face. "Did you notice something, V?" Will asked, his voice as quiet as mine. When I shook my head he continued on, his eyes boring into mine, "Except for your eyes being brown... you look almost exactly like Isabella. And your brother looks like, Edward, her son." He trailed off gazing over in my brother's direction.

I pushed him away with a ferocity I hadn't intended and keeled back to slap him across the face. I was angry that he-that they, would make that distinction. I looked nothing like that woman and her creepy picture and I couldn't even believe that they would compare my brother to Edward, who was at least 5 years younger than he was.

Suddenly I felt dizzy, the room started turning and spinning before me. I couldn't get my eyes to focus and all I could see were the blurred silhouettes of my brother and friends... and someone else.

A figure I couldn't make out, coming closer to me, softly humming a haunting melody as she reached her pale hands, formed into claws, toward me.

​

For if you wake them...

​

Finally my friends saw what I was seeing! Matt grabbed me as my body went limp and threw me over his shoulder as he ran down the stairs and out of the house. Will and Amanda followed close behind us dragging Eddie between the two of them.

I laid on my bed staring at the ceiling for what seemed like an hour. I turned what had happened at that house over and over in my head, trying to make sense of it all. Somehow in all of my analyzing I must have dozed off.

I awoke with a start and bolted upright staring in the darkness of my bedroom. Something was sitting on my desk. It's eyes staring at me glassy and cold, the expression on the dolls face was that of fright and helplessness. The brown hair cut in the exact odd way my brother's was.... I threw the doll and ran to the bathroom to throw water on my face in the hopes of waking me up from this nightmare. I looked in the mirror at my reflection, trying in vain to calm down. There was something odd about the girl staring back at me. She was almost identical to me except for her eyes... They glittered like Sapphire...and the horrific grin plastered to her face. I opened my mouth to scream and that's when I heard it. The soft voice hissing in my ear, the rhyme that had haunted me since childhood:

​

"Don't go to the house

​

That sits on the hill

​

The souls are sleeping

​

They're waiting to kill

​

Don't go to the house

​

Just leave them alone

​

For if you wake them.......

​

... They may follow you home."

 

 

 

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