Tell me again, Viola,” Ralph peered at his wife through his spectacles. “There was a white mansion with wrought-iron gates,” the lady swallowed hard, “Then…a shadow appeared-dark,mysterious and frightening!” “Viola, we’re at home, planning a holiday. It’s just a dream!” he consoled her. “A nightmare would be an understatement…” she sighed.
Viola was beautiful. Ralph was a wealthy gentleman, always absorbed in his books and paintings. They had met each other at an art exhibition. And after a few months, they had got married. Except for this recurring, disturbing dream, they had never had any troubles in their one year of marriage, so far.
At the moment, they were seated in their cozy parlor. While flipping through some travel brochures, Viola paled unexpectedly. “It’s the same mansion!”. Ralph stared. The picture exactly fit Viola’s description. “That explains it then,” he suddenly smiled, “You saw this picture somewhere and it stayed with you. So, you keep dreaming about it.” “No, Ralph!” she cried anxiously, “I’ve never seen it anywhere else before!” After searching her ashen face for a minute Ralph declared, “Then let’s go ahead and solve this mystery”. “What do you mean?” she whispered, her eyes wide open. “We’re going to spend our vacation at this castle,” he replied, sounding a lot more nonchalant than he actually felt. “Are you sure?” she asked. He nodded firmly. Villa Charlotte boasted of history, opulence and majesty, preserved by a tourism company. At the mansion, they were received by the caretaker, Tony. A large shaggy dog named Buster trotted at his heels.
However, there was something odd about the stout man, with a scarred face . He was coolly polite as he showed them around. “So, you’re the caretaker?” Ralph began amiably. Tony acknowledged him with a stiff nod. “For how long have you been here?” he continued. “A month, sir,” . “Um…who worked here before you?” Ralph was slightly deterred by his attitude. “Patrick, sir. He died a mysterious death,” he showed them into a balcony that overlooked the front yard, “Strangled to death right here. The culprit was never caught.” Ralph couldn’t decide what was worse, the awful event that had taken place or the matter of fact tone in which Tony had spoken about it.
His thoughts were disrupted by Viola’s soft voice, “There used to be a marsh here.” “Yes, madam,” Tony replied icily, “Just down the hill. Now, on the second floor, there are…” Tony began but Viola interrupted him. “…four rooms, two bedrooms with a parlor each.” Ralph was taken aback but Tony’s face remained impassive. As he led them through the marble staircase, Viola spoke again, “And the farmhouse?” Tony said,“It was here until a hundred years ago, madam.”
Ralph followed them in pensive silence. “This mirror,” informed Tony, “belonged to Lady Charlotte, gifted to her by her mother’s mother…” “Lady Viola,” Viola breathed. Tony stopped before an immaculate portrait.
“And here they are,” he gestured dispassionately, “They had been poisoned to death many years ago...nobody ever found out who did it. After that, people started calling this place ‘The Death Mansion.’ L ater, it went on to become a private holiday resort.” Ralph studied the painting meticulously. It showed two noble ladies with strikingly similar dark eyes. Viola appeared to be in a trance, her dark eyes fixed upon the portrait.
“How did you know all that, Viola? Are you quite sure you’ve never been here before?” Ralph inquired. “No, Ralph,” she shook her head resolutely, “But I feel connected to this place, like I’ve lived here forever and known those people in that portrait.” Ralph frowned, “This might sound a
little far fetched but a peculiar thought has entered my mind could you be a reincarnation of either of those ladies? You have similar eyes. and you even share your name with the older lady, Viola. Are these mere coincidences?” He gazed at his wife thoughtfully. who was trembling . He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I was thinking the same thing, Ralph” she sobbed, “It’s so strange .”
As Ralph struggled to come out of the deadly marsh, Tony laughed cruelly…Somewhere, a dog barked madly…Next, Viola’s nervous voice filled his head…She was trying to wake him up, hissing, “…a shadow…” “What?” he muttered sleepily. “There is someone in the house, Ralph,” Viola whispered frantically. Alarmed, he thought he heard a light noise outside their room..He put on his spectacles and sidled towards the balcony. It was past midnight and there was no moon. Suddenly, Tony appeared out of nowhere. “Tony? You scared me!” Ralph took a deep breath and furrowed his brows suspiciously, “What are you doing here right now?” “I am making the usual rounds, sir. But, if you don’t mind, wandering alone after dark in ‘The Death Mansion’ isn’t advisable for your health. sir,” Tony answered coldly. As he bowed and left, Ralph detected a momentary spark in those stony eyes. .
The following day was uneventful. They lazed around in the lawn, read and chatted. Ralph made friends with Buster but Viola wouldn’t touch it out of fear. Tony, as usual, stayed aloof. Ralph had an uncanny feeling that the caretaker had eyes at the back of his head. During daytime, the previous night’s events felt like a bad dream. And their fears returned only after dinner.
But nothing happened that night. Hence, it reappeared, a fortnight later. Ralph had been reading until midnight when he spotted someone tiptoeing towards the balcony. He quickly checked on his wife. Relieved, he crept along the carpeted corridor, carrying a huge vase. The moment the intruder stopped behind the curtains in the balcony, Ralph brought the vase down upon his head. He fell down with a shriek, unconscious. Ralph dropped the vase and turned the body around. He found himself staring at a handsome young man. A revolver was tucked under his belt.
Suddenly, a gasp made him turn around.For a second his wife, s resembled an angel and then her face contorted as if in pain. A dagger gleamed in her hand as she raised it above her head. “Viola!” Ralph breathed. But she didn’t seem to hear him. Eyes blazing with hatred, she screamed, “How dare you touch him?” Just then, two things happened in a flash. First, something furry knocked the weapon out of her hand, pinning her down to the floor with a menacing growl. Buster, the dog! Then Tony entered the scene with a gun and handcuffs, “Sir, I think you’re a very lucky man.”
“I am a detective, sir, and your wife is a criminal,” explaind, his voice characteristically frosty, “Her real name is Nancy. The other man is her accomplice, Jason. A smart and evil pair! It’s always a new story. And this time, they tried reincarnation. Nancy knew all about this place beforehand. Jason helped her, of course. First, they killed Patrick and now, they would’ve killed you, making it appear all the more mysterious. Then, she would’ve inherited your money and they would have vanished.”
Ralph stared vacantly at the police van pulling out of the gate, still finding it difficult to wrap his mind around the fact that his sweet wife was capable of something so horrendous. Bu. “So, you took the job to keep an eye on them?” he asked. Tony nodded gravely, “I’ve been chasing them for years. But I must assure you sir that you’re the first victim that got away.” Despite the warm mug in his hands, Ralph shivered. “Thank you, Detective,.”
A month later, Ralph was invited to a fundraiser. There, he was introduced to a pretty lady. “Mr. Ralph, you look familiar. Have we met before?” asked conversationally. “I am afraid, I don’t think so, madam,” he replied courteously. “Well, perhaps in past lives then,” she chuckled. Ralph dropped his drink with a crash and gaped at her in horror before striding out of the room without another word. “I am so sorry, madam,” the host hurried forward to apologize to the bewildered lady, “Mr. Ralph recently went through an ordeal, you see. Hasn’t been the same ever since…”
- Nitya Pandey
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