Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 199) Forced Exhale
Still asleep and caught in a dream, Stephen looks up at the corner of the room he finds himself in. He sees the railing of a staircase and peering down through the slats are the blackest most sinister eyes he has ever seen. They are big, round, deep-set wells that have no light or sparkle to them. Curling round the wood are long thin fingers too slender to be anything other than bone. A foul breath of air comes from this beast as it lets out a long raspy noise as a dramatic forced exhale.
The laughter in the room grows to a higher level and if Stephen could move, he would immediately cover his ears. He feels snared and paralyzed with incredible pain that keeps him frozen and unable to jump up and run away. The bellowing laughs from those unseen have now turned into screeching cries and ghastly screams, as they now seem to be fearful themselves.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 198) Dream
“Where am I?” Stephen questions aloud from his slouched position in the chair as he falls into a deep yet restless dream state.
He sees an old photograph burning in the fireplace. The faces on the aged paper deform as they bubble and melt, then turn into gray ash. There is laughter in the room from a man and a woman, but he cannot see anyone nor does he know which direction the voices are coming from.
Bright firelight, candles, and old oil lamps have the room glowing in a golden light and it should feel inviting, but it does not. It feels cold and heartless here as sadness now comes to the forefront. He has pain in his chest, hard and tight as if being hit with an object in short bursts. This makes him stumble and as he falls to the floor, a most horrific sight flashes in front of him.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 197) Forgotten
Pulling the top stack out of items out of the trunk, Stephen slowly sifts through the photographs near the bottom that appear to be of his grandfather. The photos look to be of the manor when his grandfather was just a little boy. In fact, most are during the time the building was under construction and well before his grandfather was old enough to be the owner.
“So it is my grandfather’s parents that actually had it built.” Stephen mumbles to himself.
The ticking of the old clock and its periodic chimes, track the time that Stephen has lost complete awareness of as he picks through the contents of this wooden keepsake. He is growing very tired with the turn of each delicate piece of his grandfather’s history and before he realizes it, he is asleep in the chair.
Stephen slumbers in such little bursts that he rarely dreams, however tonight is different. Tonight he sees things his conscious mind missed and physically feels the fear of his grandfather as he lies helpless, tormented and forgotten.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 196) He Grins
Walking over to the sink, Stephen sets the bowl down quietly then leans his hands on the counter as he looks out the window at the manor. With the sun moving to the west, he knows there are only a few hours of daylight left but he cannot keep his eyes open any longer. He runs the water out of the faucet until it is warm then fills his hands and splashes it up on his face twice.
With a dishtowel in hand, he turns away from the window and pats the water from his chin. After running his hands through his hair a couple of times, he starts to walk toward the front bedroom when he sees the small trunk that he brought up from the basement. He has not delved into it as he feels he should, so he takes it with him to the sitting room and switches on a tall lamp near a dusty burgundy chair.
“Let’s see what we have here, I believe I deduced you are full of love letters.” He says to the trunk in a joking way as he sets down in the chair and positions the trunk on the end table next to him. “What’s that, you don’t wish to share? Well too damn bad.” He grins at his own words as he pops the lid open.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 195) He Dwells
Stepping out into the clearing from the dim filtered light of the woods, Stephen realizes he is at an equal distance from the Manor and the gatehouse. With hunger ruling his decision, he walks to the gatehouse where he rummages through leftovers the attendees packaged up for him after attending the funeral. He warms a bowl of soup and slices two thick pieces of bread off a loaf, and then sits down at the kitchen table. Quietly, he eats without looking around or focusing on anything other than the spoon as it clinks against the white bowl.
“Ah, I’m tired,” he says as he shuts his eyes then pinches the bridge of his nose with his fingers.
Sitting alone in the kitchen of the gatehouse, he dwells on the things he has witnessed since coming here. For years, the memories have plagued him, taunted him, frightened him to death and now he is here. He is right in the middle of the very place that it all started. Why? Why would he want to come here? Zsofia’s grandfather is right, there is nothing here for him other than bad memories and something evil that he wants no part of.
“What are you doing?” He asks himself as he stands up and takes his empty bowl from the table.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 194) Impressions
All of Stephen’s thoughts are buzzing in his head in random order and without conclusion as he follows the dirt path that winds its way back through the dense woods. He is thinking of his past, of his family, the dreams he had and then smothered, and of the future he hopes one day to have.
“What could have made those footprints in the house?” He mumbles to himself as he notices animal tracks along his walk. “Did some wild animal get in the house? It’s a possibility.”
He says this to himself as he looks down trying to find a match to what he saw. Unfortunately, none of the impressions in the dirt and mud appear to be anything like what he witnessed on the dusty floor of the manor. Then there is the strange behavior of Tamas and the game he says he was playing. This in itself Stephen finds to be very puzzling and he cringes when thinking of Tamas pointing up at the second floor as if his playmate was standing there.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 193) Priority
A bit shocked at the strange events of the day and this final discussion with his deceased grandparent’s best friend, Stephen is confused and bewildered as to his full purpose here. His entire family is gone, except for his aging great-aunt and two or three extended members he would not even recognize if he ran into them on the street. On one hand he wants to build something out of his inheritance and on the other, he wishes to be alone to hide from society.
Both options are a possibility here. He can renovate the manor and make it a prime vacation spot for visitors, or he can hide in its walls not allowing anyone to enter, that is if he is able to rid it of what lurks inside. He has no idea as to which way is best, but one thing is for sure, he is hungry and food is his top priority at this moment.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 192) Go Home
Stephen stays quiet with the hope this will allow Laszlo to continue speaking without getting angry, especially after the odd comment he just made. Why would he say the ground is tainted?
“Your grandparents were good people, loving and kind. They were my best friends and I watched them go through heartache because of my own stupidity.” He says in a low tone. “It all started there, then your grandfather fell ill and they had to move out.” He paces back and forth for several seconds without speaking then stops directly in front of Stephen and looks him straight in the eyes.
“You need to go back to the states and let that place fall down around itself into a pile of rubble. Go home Istvan, just get on a plane and go home.”
With that last statement, the elderly man turns and quickly walks to his front door, enters the house, and quietly closes the door behind him.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 191) Tainted
“This all started after your great-uncle passed.” Laszlo looks away but Stephen can tell the man is crying. “It’s all such a mess.” He continues.
“So, what exactly happened?” Stephen presses but tries not to offend. “I was told my great-uncle had a heart attack which is nothing out of the ordinary. People die from heart attacks every day.”
“He was trying to renovate the old place, like you want to do.” Laszlo states then wipes his eyes before looking back at Stephen. “He did all his scurrying about at night, alone.” He shakes his head and rubs the back of his neck. “No one should live there, not you, not anybody.”
“Why?” Stephen questions and this seems to upset the old man.
“What? Are you three? Why this, why that! You’re always asking questions! You just shouldn’t!” He says as he looks back at his own house to see if Tamas is within view, he then lowers his voice and slowly turns to face Stephen once again. “I’m sorry, there is just so much that has gone wrong there, I don’t want anyone else to fall victim to it. It’s tainted ground.”
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 190) Wandering
“Thank god!” Says the elderly man as he takes Tamas in his arms and hugs him in a loving way.
He then speaks to Tamas in their native Hungarian tongue, kisses the young man on the cheek and calmly sends him to the house. Now the old man turns his attention to Stephen.
“He went up there again, didn’t he?” Laszlo questions, as he looks Stephen in the eye.
“Yes, but. . .” Stephen starts to take up for Tamas.
“There is no need to defend him. He knows what he is doing.” States Laszlo as he looks down at the ground. “I’m worried about him; he just started this. . . wandering business. He never used to go up there, not until. . .” His voice trails off as he rubs the back of his neck with his hand.
“Until what?” Stephen asks a bit shocked that they are actually able to carry on a conversation.
After what happened earlier in the morning, with himself in a panic as he ran out of the manor nearly knocking the poor man down, Stephen is surprised Laszlo is allowing him to step foot on the property. The name-calling that followed Stephen’s escape truly upset him and he was just now expecting more of the same from this elderly yet strong man. Thankfully, to immediately order him off his property does not seem to be the case. Laszlo actually acts as if he has something to say.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 189) Insults
Stephen is taking it slow and steady for Tamas has a slight limp that keeps him from having a very fast stride. This wooded area blocks the sun to a point that Stephen even begins to wonder if time has escaped him and evening is approaching. There is not much conversation on this stroll except for the occasional tap from Tamas as he points out birds and small woodland animals when they scurry by.
As they near the stone and wood house that Tamas calls home, Stephen discretely takes a pill from his bottle and slips it into his mouth, undetected of course by his young friend. He is expecting an encounter with the old man and from what transpired earlier in the day, he worries it will be another bout of name-calling and insults.
As if on cue, Laszlo Eszes comes marching out of his home to meet them in the yard and Stephen is mentally preparing himself for an argument. The look on the old man’s face is of stress and worry.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 188) Interacted
To Stephen, the sound and description from Tamas, validates what he himself has seen in the past and what he believes he is currently seeing here at the manor. Tamas has a childlike mind and there is no way he could invent such a horrible thing on his own. It is obvious he has interacted with the creature here and possibly communicated with it as well. But why? What could this evil thing gain from such an innocent soul? For that matter, what does it gain from killing old men?
“I need to get you home, Tamas. Will you show me the way?” He asks politely but feels nervous and worried for not only Tamas and himself, but also for anyone who enters the walls of the manor.
“Yes,” replies Tamas as he claps his hands happily.
After locking the main door, Stephen and Tamas begin walking along the path and about one fourth of the way down from the manor, they veer off to the left on a footpath that leads deep into the woods. The air is cool but comfortable as they slowly stroll thought the thick canopy of trees and delicate underbrush.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 187) Next Question
Looking behind him at the second floor landing, there is nothing out of the ordinary. It is empty and undisturbed but when Stephen turns back, Tamas is out in front of the manor looking up at the windows once again. In an attempt to catch sight of what Tamas is seeing, Stephen runs outside and stands next to the young man but does not notice any movement from the windows above. He looks at Tamas who grins and then looks down at the ground as if the game is over.
“When you play, is it with a man or boy?” Stephen asks and Tamas frowns and shakes his head no.
“A woman or girl?” This question receives the same result. He is afraid to frighten Tamas, but he is compelled to ask the next question.
“Does your friend wear shoes? Like you and me?” Stephen taps the bottom of his shoe with his fingers. Tamas frowns and then shakes his head no and bends down to remove his own shoe.
“No, no. It’s okay, leave your shoes on, I understand.” Replies Stephen and Tamas grins happily.
“You are doing great, Tamas.” Stephen states as he pats the young man on the back. “I just have one more question, okay?” He asks.
“Yes,” Tamas replies as he nods his head up and down.
“Does your friend talk?” Stephen waits while Tamas turns his head and seems to be trying to say something. After a few seconds of tipping his head and attempting to speak, Tamas lets out a long wheezing sound that is such a close match to what Stephen has heard that he takes several steps back from Tamas. An uneasy nervousness seems to surround Stephen as he looks back up at the manor, then to his young innocent friend.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 186) Points
“You were hiding?” Repeats Stephen. “Why were you hiding?”
“Game,” replies Tamas as he claps his hands.
“You were playing hide and seek? With Zsofia?” questions Stephen but Tamas shakes his head no then steps back, looks up at the house, then steps back to the door.
“I’m sorry, Tamas. I don’t understand.” Stephen says gently and as he lets go of the door, it swings open farther than it had been. “Can you tell me who you were playing with?” Stephen questions as he watches Tamas closely.
To his surprise, Tamas giggles and runs his hands along the side of his face as he nods yes and makes a loud squeaking sound. It is obvious this is a positive and happy expression. Smiling that they are having this conversation, Stephen laughs with him and asks once again.
“So you can? You can tell me who was playing with you?” Stephen laughs as he feels this is a breakthrough in their ability to communicate.
To his surprise, Tamas steps to the side and smiles wide as he points up at the top of the staircase behind Stephen. This is not at all what Stephen expected and the freezing chill of fear runs along his spine as he quickly turns around to see whom or what might be there.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 185) I Hide
Turning slowly Stephen steps back, merely staring at the wooden door as if questioning what he heard. Again, there is a knock, it is faint but is clearly coming from someone outside.
“Who is it?” Stephen yells rudely hoping that will deter the person and send them back down the road. He doubts it would be Zsofia, she would knock and yell out to get his attention instead of just standing there, tapping.
“It’s times like this when a peephole would be nice.” He says to himself as he becomes angry for no apparent reason. “I said who is it?” He yells as he flings the door open. Standing just outside the door is Tamas. He is waving slowly and has a gentle smile on his face as he looks at Stephen.
“Tamas,” Stephen says in a calm tone. “Are you looking for Zsofia? She just left. You must have passed her on the path.”
Zsofia left only a minute or so ago and she said it takes twenty to thirty minutes to get to her house or to town. How is it that she did not see her brother? Stephen looks around the door in the direction Zsofia went, but she would already be out of sight and hidden by the line of trees at this point.
“No Zsó. . .fia.” Tamas states slowly. “I hide.” He says and then laughs.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 184) Nonchalant
“I’m usually at the teahouse for about thirty minutes after we close at five, so if you get bored or want to sit with a friend for dinner, you can always look me up.” Zsofia says quickly as she walks down the hall toward the main entry.
“I may do that, you know, sometime in the future.” Stephen replies as he follows her to the main door, which is still secure and locked from when they entered hours ago.
Pushing the bolt to the side, he swings the door open and without turning around or stopping to say goodbye, Zsofia continues walking and exits the structure. Not until she is several steps away and out from under the shade of the house does she lift her hand and wave.
“See you later!” She says without turning to look at him.
Her nonchalant conduct causes Stephen to grin as he closes the main door and turns to face the room. Slowly his expression grows solemn and he reaches for his pills. Several times, in the last two hours, he wished he could take one but not in front of someone who seems to handle things in a very informed manner.
Mostly though, he does not want Zsofia to think he needs such a vice. She would never understand his dependency and may even consider him weak for it. He pops two pills into his mouth and slowly swallows just before there is a knock at the door.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 183) The Spiral
“So what are your thoughts?” Zsofia asks not stating any specific subject.
“On what, the house as a whole?” Stephen questions as he carefully follows her but keeps checking above them too for anyone or anything that may follow.
“Well, that and. . . have you gone into town yet?” She questions.
“No, I haven’t.” he replies quickly and Zsofia stops and turns to look at him.
“Oh, well then you need to come into town and have a snack at my tea house sometime. It’s only a thirty minute walk, that’s how I get back and forth.” She smiles.
“Okay, sure. I should do that.” He says as he looks up once more at the steps above them.
“I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.” She teases then turns and continues down the steps.
Even though she is not looking at him, Stephen can tell Zsofia is smiling as he follows her down the spiral of steps until reaching the bottom floor.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 182) Reaction
“Are you okay?” Zsofia asks with a worried look on her face as she takes Stephens hand in hers.
“Yeah, I think so.” He says in a weak voice. He replies, trying to act as if everything is fine, but he knows something is definitely wrong. He has never had such a strange sensation before and of all the things he has found to be troublesome in his life, nothing has ever caused such a reaction.
“Here, let’s go over to the north-west corner.” Stephen says as he starts walking in that direction and Zsofia follows all the while, watching him closely.
Just as he expected, in the corner is a glass door that opens to the spiral staircase that will take them down, allowing access to all four floors. Feeling a little stronger than just a few minutes ago, he pulls the door open and allows Zsofia to go in first. Their shoes make clinking sounds on the metal steps as they begin to descend to the lower levels.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 181) Clear
“Did you hear that?” Zsofia laughs as she refers to the ridiculous echo the room produced from such a simple sound as the click of a door. “Imagine if you had a band playing up here, perfect acoustics!” She yells with hands out to her side as she walks toward Stephen then laughs at the sound of her own voice.
Stephen slowly starts to walk toward her but his legs feel heavy and his head is not clear. With cloudy vision, all he can think about is getting downstairs and out of the manor safely but his eyes will not focus properly.
“Stephen?” Zsofia questions as she come near. “Are you alright?”
As her voice reverberates loudly in his ears, the strange reaction he was having immediately ceases and he finds himself standing directly in front of her. Her voice is clear and the weight in his legs is no longer holding him down.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 180) Paralyzed
Just as Stephen enters the glass corridor and closes the door behind him, he hears an unsettling scratchy and gurgling voice. “I see you Istvan” it states in an ambiguous muffled way.
This run of words sends chills across his shoulders and down to his legs as he freezes in place. He cannot move and there is a thick full pressure in his throat. He is watching, paralyzed and helpless, as Zsofia walks further and further away but he cannot yell for help. That voice, that horrible nasty wicked voice. Where did it come from? There is no one else here except for him and Zsofia. If it is the creature, why now is he not able to see it?
All the way on the other side of the open floor, Zsofia pulls the door closed with a loud click that seems to resonate far longer and more intense than normal. Turning around she looks at Stephen and grins.
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