The Lady in Black

I looked around, lost. I had been on my way home when the storm started. I looked around desperately for shelter. Lightning flashed behind me and the boom of thunder made me shake. I hurried along down the muddy road. When I spotted a house on a hill. A light was on inside even though it seemed abandoned. I hurried up the hill and to the front door.

I knocked three times before it opened. A young woman stood there, her skin like a vampires and hair as black as the night sky. “May I help you?” She asked.

“I don’t mean to bother you miss but I have lost myself in the storm and I can’t find my way home. May I stay here until the storm sides? I promise I won’t be a bother to you.” I said and the sound of thunder made me jump.

“Alright,” she sighed, opened the door for me, and shut it once I was inside. “Stay right there I’ll go get you a towel to dry off with.” She hurried away, her high-heeled shoes clicking on the wooden floor. She reappeared in minutes and handed me a warm black towel. I thanked her and dried off as best I could. “Please leave your shoes here to dry, if you need me I’ll be in the kitchen and I’ll show you to the guest bedroom after dinner.” She said then disappeared.

I finished drying my hair and hung the towel over my shoulders as I took off my muddy boots. I was thankful that my socks were mostly dry. I walked into what seemed to be the living room and looked around. It was small with a couple of chairs facing the fireplace. Paintings in black, white and red hung around the walls. After studying them, I walked over to the fireplace and sat down. I looked at the painting that hung above the fireplace if was of a black cat with amber eyes. It seemed to stare at me but I shook my head at that.

The clicking of the woman’s shoes reached my ears and I looked up to see her standing beside and a bit behind me. “That was my cat; she died a few weeks ago.” She whispered and I looked back at the painting.

“Did you paint it yourself?” I asked and I saw her smile out of the corner of my eye.

“Yes, I did. I finally got her to pose for me.” She sighed.

“You’re a very good artist.” I commented and she shook her head.

“Dinner’s done.” She said and left the room. I quickly stood and hurried after her, finding her at a small table with two plates on either side. She did not look up at me but seemed to acknowledge my presence. I sat down across from her and picked up my fork. I picked up a piece of the meat and ate it. I instantly knew it was ham, my favorite.

“You’re a good cook.” I told her as I ate another piece.

“Thank you I’m glad you like it.” She said and I looked up at her and saw a smile on her black lips.

“I do, it’s delicious!” I exclaimed and started to eat more. The rest of dinner was silent. Once I was done, she took of our glasses, plates, and silverware into the kitchen and returned within minutes.

“I’ll show you to your room.” She told me and I nodded standing up. She took me past the kitchen and opened the first door on our right. “You can sleep here for the night.”

“Thanks and I’ll see you in the morning.” I said and walked inside. I swore I heard her say no you won’t but I thought I was just being silly. I laid down on the hard wooden bed and soon sleep found me.

I woke up to the bright sun. I sat up and it felt like someone had slapped me. I lay on a broken old bed in the middle of a destroyed house that sat on top of a hill. I rushed to my feet and found my boots by what I guessed to be the door. I quickly put them on and hurried down the hill scared out of my mind. I turned around and saw the woman dressed in all black standing in the broken doorway of the house.

I ran and never looked back.