A Most Desirable House for Sale A Glenmoor Short Story & Other Wynter's Gothic Ghost Tale: Wynter's Gothic Ghost Stories, #1

By W. B. Aodh

Wynter's Gothic Ghost Tale

 

Things don't go bump in the night without a reason.

Every ghost has its story waiting to be told. A Most Desirable House for Sale, A Glenmoor short story and five other ghosts' stories are no different.

A Most Desirable House for Sale

We all have a dream house, and we all have a house to sell. Yet in every village, town, or city. there's always that house that no one is interested in. Glenmoor was that house. Glenmoor had a history. A history, Paula the local estate agent dismissed. that was until she went to view the house before her perspective buyers. Would you buy the house if you knew its secrets.

Six gothic ghost short stories. Stories of mind games and murder. A woman scorned and a woman banished. Houses abandoned and books with curses. A husband and daughter's long wait is nearly over. And a house with a secret never to be revealed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Owl Toad and Mole Publishing House
• Release date: May 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223306191

Book preview

Now We Play.

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Taya stared into the sombre, vacuous sky, musing over the missing stars and absent moon. Her favourite part of the day had arrived, and it was time to play. As hard as she tried to make her presence known during the day, she went unnoticed.  Nothing more than a blip in a busy household. Unworthy of attention in the constant daily activities going on around her. Now, she patiently waited until the sun set, and the sky was black. When the house settled down and all was quiet. When the Shaw’s were in bed and peace had descended.

When the Shaw’s moved into the old house six months ago, she had watched them. Playing a little trick here and there. Moving a schoolbook from one room to another or into the wrong school bag. Time wasted Taya decided when the Shaw’s remained unfazed by her mischievous antics. Not one to give up, Taya stepped back, watching the family while re-evaluating her plans.

Taya turned from the window to face the landing. A smile teased her lips. The house was calm. It was time for the games to begin. She glanced at the white door to her left. This room she intended to ignore. Sally, the little girl who sleeps in there was of no interest to her. She slipped past the first door on her right. Patty was too preoccupied with her electronic devices to notice Taya. As she reached the door next to Patty’s, Taya hesitated. Cammie was her choice of playmate. The mother of the two girls. There was no husband, boyfriend, or partner to spoil her fun. With one last glance down the empty landing, Taya slipped into the bedroom.

The curtains were drawn, barring any light from the streetlamp. Through the stillness of the room, Taya approached the bed with a muted tread, to stand beside the sleeping woman. With the quilt pulled over her shoulder and her face hidden beneath her brown hair; Cammie was oblivious to the voyeur studying her. Listening to her gentle breaths as she dreamed. Taya had performed this ritual for weeks. Wondering what the woman dreamt. Taya frowned. It has been so long since she slept, she has forgotten what it was like to drift into a place of wonder and escapism. As she watched Cammie, she knew what her next move was going to be. Taya glanced at Cammie as she slept in ignorant bliss of her nightly visitor. Her breathing steady as a slight tilt teased the corner of her lips. While Taya stared at the sleeping woman, she tried to recall when she last slipped into someone’s dream. Doubt plagued her, holding her back as she contemplated making the next move. Wondering if she would succeed on her first attempt.

Knowing there was no reason to delay, Taya sat on the bed, covering Cammie’s hand with hers. When Cammie murmured, Taya glanced at her. If she had a heartbeat, it would have skipped a beat. When the woman continued to sleep, Taya laid down beside her, curving her body around Cammie’s back as she hooked her knees behind Cammie’s.

Closing her eyes, Taya listened to Cammie’s regular breaths. The soft lull of her breathing soothing as Taya strode through the dark corridor. There was no shadow or light as she wandered down the deserted passage. Neither was she daunted by the darkness surrounding her as she strolled further and further down the winding path. Deeper and deeper, she ventured until she saw the bright white light. Using the illumination, Taya stepped into Cammie’s dream world. She remained where she was. Listening to the sounds resonating around her. Taya frowned at the barren canvas awaiting her. Tilting her head from side to side, deciding which way to go. How could she discover Cammie’s darkest fear when there was nothing to see. Taya’s foot tapped as she pondered and searched for clues. As she stared into the nothingness, the aroma of freshly cut grass and children’s laughter lured her from her musing. Taya stopped tapping as she paused to listen to the new sounds. Then she stepped forward. The laughter grew louder as she traipsed closer to the ruckus.

As she strolled further into the nothingness, the white mist faded, and Taya found herself standing by a park fence.  Horse Chestnut trees blossomed in preparation of the autumn conker harvest for children to play with, cluttered the path to her right. Children’s laughter continued to fill the air and Taya smiled as she stepped through the park gates, following the childish chuckles until she reached a bench opposite the busy play area.

On the swing, Patty, with her brown hair flying over her face, kicked her legs forward, forcing the swing to reach as close to the top bar as possible. Sally, three years younger than her sister, climbed the steps of the slide. Her green eyes sparkling with laughter when she reached the top and waved at Cammie, who waited patiently at the bottom to catch her daughter. As Sally slid down the smooth chute, she waved her arms in the air, hurtling towards her mother. When she reached the bottom, she hauled herself up and ran for the steps once more.

Taya watched Sally slide down the slide several times. Then switched her attention to Patty. The seven-year-old stood on the swing and Taya smiled as she rose from the bench. The child was fearless. Was this Cammie’s secret. That something could happen to her children. There was only one way for Taya to discover the mother’s weakness. With a lick to her lips, Taya stood in front of Patty, holding her arms out to the young girl as she called out to her. Jump, Patty. You know you want to.

Patty looked at Taya, frowned. Then glanced to Cammie. Look Mummy, I can fly. With a bend of her knees, the young girl vaulted from the swing. Her arms stretched out in front of her as she collided towards Taya.

No, Patty. Stay on the swing, Cammie shouted. Her heart thundered in her ears and her stomach dipped to her knees as