Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 39) Snaps Open
Turning the key back to the starting point, Stephen pulls it out and inspects it but his findings show it is unchanged. Again, he pushes the key in and gives it a turn, and begins to apply pressure once more. With a loud pop, it easily moves to the right followed by a dry sounding click. The door is now unlocked and it snaps open slightly. Small particles of dust fall to the ground as Stephen stands very still looking at the door and the thin opening between it and the doorjamb. Keeping his eye on the crack, he eases the key out of the lock and sticks it back in his pocket where it will be safe.
Pulling on the handle, the door glides open with ease exposing a dark entry hall with a light-colored tile floor. Stephen steps inside and his eyes immediately follow the split staircase, curving up each side of the entry hall and meeting on a long landing to the second floor. A large tarp covers a huge round window that if exposed, would surely fill the room with morning sunlight.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 38) Anticipation
The building is massive as it looms over him shadowing the entire walkway and yard in darkness. The air is chilly standing here with the sun rising behind the tall walls and Stephen shivers as he looks down at the bulky key in his hand. The anticipation of stepping inside such a magnificent place has his adrenaline level spiking and he reaches for the pills in his pocket. I just need one, he thinks to himself as he jerks his head back swiftly forcing the pill to the back of his throat. Quickly he swallows it down.
The door is as grand as the building itself, with shiny wood and metal flowing together romantically intertwined creating a very interesting look. Looking at the keyhole, he lifts his hand up, with key extended, and slowly pushes it into the lock. With great hesitation, he gently begins to turn the key but he feels resistance and is afraid that if he pushes much harder, the antique metal may bend or break.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 37) Wonderment
The closer Stephen gets to the structure the more ominous it becomes with its light gray walls of stone, rich wood trim and tall thin windows. Early morning birds are chirping in the trees of the woods to his right and he hears running water echoing up from the valley below. A small grey rabbit scampers across the path, stops to look around, and then hops off ducking into a shrub to hide.
Stephen finds this mix of woodland creatures and human architecture fascinating and overwhelming at the same time. He has always lived in the city with loud vehicles, constant movement, and very few wild animals. Even though he likes to keep to himself, being here alone, in the middle of the country, without any neighbors or strangers to interact with, seems quite frightening in itself. Let alone his wonderment of the history and mysteries of the immense building he now finds himself standing directly in front of.
“Unbelievable,” Stephen says to himself as he looks up the soaring shadowed wall to the tip of the rooftop.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 36) Droplets
After washing and rinsing his plate and utensils, Stephen wipes his mouth and digs around in his pants pocket for the key to the main house. It is a large long skeleton key with intricate details giving it a gothic look, which Stephen likes very much. Holding it in his hands, he flips it over several times inspecting and admiring the intricate handy work of the person who made it.
Pushing the kitchen door open for the second time this morning, Stephen steps out into the tepid air and leisurely begins to walk in the direction of the immense old house. With the sun coming up behind it, the structure looms over the open hillside and Stephen cannot take his eyes off the site. Long shadows stretch out from its walls covering most of the ground in dark hues of gray and blue. The stone path is wet from the fog and droplets of water cling to the grass, trees, and shrubs that are growing in clumps along the walkway.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 35) Reason To Hurry
“How could they live here and not want to be there?” Stephen questions his grandparents decision to lock the main house up tight and dwell here in this smaller, almost cottage like version.
He goes back into the house and pulls a frying pan out of a low cabinet. Last night his aunt shared that she had purchased staple items for the kitchen and as he rummages around, he pulls out a carton of eggs, butter, bread, two types of jam and his favorite part, coffee.
“Now this is going to be a meal.” He says as he grins.
With a small dollop of butter melted and swirled in the pan, he begins to fry four eggs. The furnace is still working properly and the house has warmed up nicely along with the temperature outside. While buttering his bread he glances out the window and can see that most of the fog has lifted, which gives him reason to hurry along with his breakfast.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 34) Captivating
The yellow hue of the sun reflecting off the low hanging fog casts shadows across the meadow and hills that lead to the large old manor. In plain view are the steeples and peaks of the roofline as well as towering chimneys of stone rising up above the obscurity of mist and drifting clouds. It reminds him of childhood stories of castles in the sky and mystical places his young mind used to dream up. There is a sense of shock at the enormity of the structure and excitement that he will finally be able to step inside its thick historic walls.
Letting the kitchen door slam shut behind him, Stephen steps to the edge of the rock patio as he stares at this captivating sight. From a distance, the exterior is in good condition and he hopes this means the interior will be much the same. His impulse is to start walking in that direction but with the fog still low and thick, he feels it is best to wait an hour or so, not to mention he is very hungry. He knows a hearty breakfast will get him off to a good start with plenty of energy, which he feels he will need, but he can barely take his eyes of his new possession.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 33) A Glimpse
Already the little house feels much warmer and looking at the window, Stephen can see the sun is up and attempting to burn off the heavy fog that greeted him as he awoke earlier. Leaving the trunk where it is, he walks across the kitchen and out the back door to see if the weather has cleared enough to catch a glimpse of the manor.
Much to his surprise, the fog has dissipated considerably but he was not prepared to see what is now partially coming into view from high upon the hill.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 32) Folded Pieces
Blowing the dust off the top, Stephen pops the trunk open to find photographs and folded pieces of paper. Picking the first few pictures from the top, he squints to view the images but because the lighting is so dim, he cannot properly make out the faces or words written at the bottom.
“I think this should come upstairs with me.” He states as he places the items back in the trunk and closes the lid.
With it held safely under his arm, he carries the old wooden case with him as he takes one last look around the room. Carefully he climbs the rickety staircase back up to the main floor and pushing the tattered wooden door open.
Gently he places the small trunk on the table, tosses the blanket that he had wrapped around his shoulders on top of it, and turns around to secure the door to the basement by forcing it shut.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 31) Furnace
Looking down and bending slightly, Stephen spots the furnace at the far end of the murky basement, so he continues to descend carefully to the dirt floor below. Along the wall, at the foot of the steps, he discovers jars of jams, vegetables and sauces that years ago were stored away for safekeeping. After inspecting the furnace, he finds a large switch that is in the off position.
“I sure hope this doesn’t blow me up.” He says to himself just before he closes his eyes and pushes the lever in the opposite direction.
With a puff of dust and a shaky rattle, the furnace and blower start up. Slowly the noises ease as the unit quiets down and it appears to be performing correctly. While in the basement, Stephen looks around at the few items stored there. He finds an old broken chair, outdated canned goods, and a small wooden trunk.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 30) Thin Metal Steps
Looking up, Stephen sees the thermostat on the wall.
“Well that means the furnace is around here someplace.” He says as he rubs his chin and pulls the blanket tighter around his neck and shoulders. He then looks to his left.
Cracked open about an inch is a narrow door with peeling white paint and a broken latch. Stephen steps over and slowly pulls it open exposing thin metal steps that lead down to an earthen floor. He clicks the switch on the wall and a dim light snaps on with a spark but it continues to light the basement enough for him to find his way.
The metal stairs squeak and shake with each step and he begins to wonder if he should continue. Stopping midway down he stands still allowing the steps to steady themselves and begins to think, if they break apart, how would he get back up to the main level?
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 29) Tosses Them
Turning to his right, Stephen passes through the room where his relatives and their friends gathered last night. He finds two paper napkins that he missed when cleaning up and swiftly gathers them in his hand. Wadding them into tight balls, he enters the kitchen and tosses them, one at a time, into the wastebasket. Glancing around for a door, other than the one that leads outside, he continues his search for the basement.
The kitchen is rather small with white painted cabinets and dingy rugs on the floor, one near the sink and one at the back door. There is an old recipe, written in Hungarian, attached to a clip hanging on the handle of the cabinet over the stove. It has aged by turning the color of parchment yellow and the ink is faded. It is as if time ended when his grandfather passed, as if things are still as they had been fifteen years ago except much older, dirty, and practically falling apart.
Again, this brings up questions as to the whereabouts of his grandmother. He is sure the recipe would have been hers and it is obvious his great-uncle was not much of a housekeeper for dirt and dust has gathered on nearly every surface of the place.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 28) Try This Alone
“No better time than now to inspect the furnace.” Stephen says to himself as he walks out of the room stopping at the hallway. “Well, last night would have been better I suppose,” he whispers as he looks down the hall at its uninviting appearance.
He is not sure how to access the basement and he hopes his investigation does not include any of the rooms or doors down the gloomy hall that to this day he still fears. Pulling the pill container out of his pocket, he twists the lid off and dumps two tablets out into his hand.
“No,” he says aloud as he looks at the medication. “No, I’m going to try this alone.” He tips his hand up allowing the pills to slide back into the bottle and stuffs it into his pocket. Tapping his jacket with his hand, the contents rattle in a muffled way.
“At least I know you’re there if I need you.” He says as he swallows hard with nervousness.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 27) He Shivers
The ticking clock sounds again stirring Stephen from his slumber as the chime rings six. With a twitch, he opens his eyes and looks around in a confused manner, then wipes his hand across his face as he yawns. He now realizes where he is.
“Two hours of sleep,” he says to himself. “That’s practically a record. I never get two hours straight.”
Running the back of his hand along the sheer curtain, he pulls it open exposing a foggy morning. Trees that sit only feet away from the house are barely visible, as they stand silent in their misty blanketed world.
The gravel drive looks wet with dew and the rocks have a slight sheen to them as if covered in a thin layer of glistening ice. He sits there for several minutes looking out as if waiting for someone to arrive, but no one is expected.
Sliding up straight in the chair, he tilts to the right for a view of the fireplace. As expected, there is no longer a flame burning, even the coals are cold and black in color. It is now that he shivers and pulls a blanket from the bed, draping it over his shoulders before standing up.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 26) Chance To Rest
What would it be like to have his parents here guiding him? Stephen knows he would be working alongside his father as they restore the property and he could really use a warm loving hug from his mother. With a sigh and a thickness in his throat, he leans back in the chair and closes his eyes. Oddly enough, he easily drifts off to sleep.
No wind is blowing outside to cause any disruption to the blatant silence of the small gatehouse. It is as if the world is holding its breath for Stephen to have a chance to rest. With his arms across his stomach and head tilted to one side, he is completely relaxed and peaceful. He maintains this position for quite some time.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 25) Rhythmic
Shifting his position in the chair, once again Stephen pulls the curtain back to stare outside, but this time releases a long wide yawn. His eyes feel heavy to him and since there is nothing to see but the darkness of night, he lets the thin fabric fall back into place.
Resting his head against the back of the chair, he folds his arms in front of him and closes his eyes. The rhythmic ticking sound from the clock is the only noise in the house other than the occasional pop or spark from the slowly dissipating flames of the fireplace.
With his head tilted back, Stephen opens his eyes and leans to the right to catch a view of the fire. Pleased that it is safely contained and still burning strong, he slides down a little further in the chair and stares at the floor. Memories of his parents consume his mind at this hour and he wonders how things might be today, right now, if they were still alive.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 24) Clumps Of Dust
“This picture must have been taken when we were here years ago.” Stephen says as he takes the photograph from the table and holds it up to the light.
Running his fingers along the aged frame, he smiles at the kind expressions on his father and grandfather’s faces. They were so much alike in many ways and he is thankful that at least he does have a few good memories about his past here. Somewhere in the other room or down the hall, a clock is ticking loudly and after making a clinking noise, it begins to chime the hour, four o’clock.
“The sun should be up in a few hours.” Stephen mumbles as he places the photograph back on the night table where he found it.
A long piece of lace covers the small round table giving it a feminine look, but layers of dust have turned it an odd shade of gray. Little clumps of dust cling to the foot of the bedpost as well as the bottom of the curtains. It will take a lot of work to get this little house cleaned up and looking as it should. If this is any indication as to what the main house may be like, Stephen realizes he has his work cut out for him.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 23) His Control
Leaning his head back, Stephen looks up at the ceiling and its smooth cream-colored surface. He follows the crease where the walls meet at the top and starts to count each time he completes a full square of the room.
This ritual of sorts is a trick he uses on himself to keep his mind active and under his control, instead of letting other more troubling thoughts slither in. He makes this pass several times before he notices a photo sitting on the night table. It is of his great-uncle who he barely remembers meeting, his father is in the middle, and his grandfather is next to him.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 22) Distance
The property is in the country with no street lamps and the nearest house is beyond a forest of trees and nearly thirty minutes down the road. He has never been one for socializing and having distance between him and others is actually perfectly fine with him.
From where he is sitting, he can see out the bedroom door and has a good view of the fireplace in the adjacent sitting room. He is desperately trying not to think about the wicked creature that may be lurking here but his mind, as is the usual situation, begins to build out various scenarios and they all include images from that fatal day.
Why was he able to see the skeletal grinning monster when no one else could? He has been to doctors who dismiss his story as an overactive imagination and explain he may suffer from mental illness but Stephen knows better. He knows they are wrong. He knows there is no medicine he can take, and no drink he can drown in, that can correct what he knows is real. However, he never wants to attempt to prove it, for this would mean coming face to face with that evil hideous being once again.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 21) Settles Deeper
Stepping back inside the kitchen of the gatehouse, Stephen walks to the sitting room fireplace and tosses two large logs onto the red-hot embers and low flames. The dry wood takes immediately brightening the room with its fiery yellow glow. After standing there for several minutes to warm his hands, he quickly walks to the other side of the house, passing the hallway without giving it a second glance and enters a dark room.
He turns a lamp on in what he believes is logically the master bedroom. Stephen sits down in a plush overstuffed chair and due to his movement, a slight puff of dust rises from the fabric. Sitting near the window, he reaches over and pulls back the thin sheer curtains covering the glass as he peers outside.
“It’s as dark out there as it is out back.” Stephen murmurs as he settles deeper into a slouching position in the chair.
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Shadows Of Guta (Excerpt 20) No Difference
There is no breeze or movement as Stephen stands there in the dark trying to see into the shadows of the landscape. A shiver crosses along his shoulders as he realizes there seems to be no difference between the chill and stillness inside the house to this bitter cold and silence outside.
He can see a path that he knows leads to the house on the hill. He remembers looking at it those many years ago as he stood in this very spot. He kept asking if he could go there and look around but neither his father nor grandfather would give him permission, so he sat and wonder about what it must be like inside.
He always pictured it like a castle, with walls of thick grey stone, heavy iron fixtures, and tight hidden passages. Now, as an adult, he has a far greater understanding of what he should expect to find when the sun comes up. He realizes there will be much to do to restore it properly and his days of investigating for hidden secrets left him along with his childhood.
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