Sold?

"It seems I'm a bit tired from the drive." Arius pulled out the documents and raised them up, "I'll just take these." He smiled.

Matthew nodded and let go of my face as Arius started making his way out. Along the way he held my wrist and dragged me with him.

"Let's go."

I didn't respond. I was in a daze and was busy thinking, So I didn't realize when we even reached the castle gate.

When I realized where I was Arius was nowhere to be found. I looked around but there was nothing but a huge gate in front of me, a long road behind me and trees on my left and right.

Oh God… I was too lost in my thoughts…

I was just really happy to see to Matthew and well, I think he'd be a great choice if I want to forget about Arius.

I clenched my fists, I still want to know more about him but I don't want to fall for him knowing these feelings will never be returned. And knowing how our families destroyed each other, it would all be wrong.

It hurts!

Just thinking about it hurts me…

I took a deep breath and entered through the slightly open gate. It seemed like there was no other building or people nearby, just the castle.

I began walking straight ahead. The road lead to the big wooden door of the castle. Crows cawed as the sun began to set and I wondered if the castle grounds were actually a bit higher than the rest of the town but I couldn't tell, for the farthest I could see, I only saw trees.

As I reached the door I froze in my stance upon hearing a wolf's howl.

What the fuck… Why am I hearing this here?

Nah uh man! I'm going straight in! I ran inside through door and shut it behind me.

I let out a sigh of relief and turned to see the dark lobby. It led to a stairway at the end and had one door on the right and one on the left, both were open and showed long carpeted hallways.

It has a spooky air to it… Why aren't the lights on? I looked around and saw that the lightbulbs on the ceiling were actually on but they were breathing their last and needed to be changed.

Seems like no one really looks after this place. I looked to the left, the place is really clean, not a speck of dust anywhere… So I guess I'm wrong? Someone is looking after this place. I mean it's a huge place, there are bound to be servants here.

I turned to the other hallway and saw a person walking in it.

"Arius" I called his name but he didn't listen and turned around a corner. I ran after him, "Arius!" There is no way I'm staying here alone. The dim lights in the hallway flickered as I made the turn he did and saw him at the end of the other corridor. As my eyes landed on him making his way through a door in the hallway I sprinted towards him with full speed.

The door he passed through was about to close but I caught the knob in time and opened it again and ran in. Then paused.

The room was empty. There was no sign of anyone there but there was a door on each wall and it was perfectly symmetrical, with the same look on all four sides.

At that moment the thought crossed my mind

"What if this place really is haunted?" My heart started pounding and my eyes went wide at my own words.

I began to panic. The room around me spinned in confusion.

Wait! Calm down! I should go back to the entrance! Arius will come back, I mean he's not cruel enough to leave me in such a place.

I clenched my shirt over my chest with both my hands and opened the door to go back to the lobby.

I began walking back and took the same turn from the hallway back to the previous one, then walked all the way to the end just to find a set of stairs.

Huh!?

I shot my head back towards the long greyish hallway. That's not right… How did I end up here?! In the silence I heard the sizzle of the bulb in the corner of the wall, it came to life, illuminating the place a little better.

I could feel my eyes get watery and it felt really chilly.

"The lights are dimmer." I gasped lightly as I heard someone speak.

"Okay. Let's leave it be." There was someone else.

I shot my head up. Someone was up there talking. I desperately need someone right now! I made my way up to the second floor but unlike the first one the hallway was wider and had a room right next to it. A candle burned quietly on the hallway table, melting away silently drop by drop. Someone must have put it there but who?

I looked around.

I can't see anyone!

I wiped my tears before they fell out and sniffled.

There's no need to be scared. I told myself and walked forward. The people who were talking should be around here.

As I walked I heard whisperings from around the corner. I gulped and made my turn from there.

"H-he-hello?" I walked ahead, this corridor was better lit somehow so it made me feel better.

"I think I heard someone." It was a woman's voice.

"What?" Another female replied but their voices were far away.

Oh God! I relaxed a bit as I heard these voices and picked up my pace to reach the other end of the hallway but I slowed down once again as I saw a light appear from the turn.

I was a few steps away from the turn when I stopped and the momentary relief I had vanished.

The silhouette that came along with the light was rather strange…

The shadow on the wall was big, someone was holding a lantern in his hand and walking this way.

My breath got caught in my throat as a tall pale figure emerged from the corner.

My eyes went wide along with getting teary when I saw the seven feet tall thing in front me.

It had long disproportionate limbs, weirdly long fingers with white skin and long black messy hair. The droopy dead eyes and elongated head made it even more horrifying. It looked at me and spoke in a cold whisper, "Who?"

I shivered as I saw it's crowded teeth and then I noticed a protruding chest bone on his bare skin.

I screamed as it walked towards me and I turned around to run away. I ran to wherever my body was taking me. Through the corridors in which I could barely even see since my vision was blurry now.

I wiped my tears away and saw moonlight on the floor coming from another turn up ahead.

A window!