G... G... GHOST!

Bethany opens her eyes to the soft light around her.

Sitting up, startled and momentarily confused, she looks around her and her eyes come to rest on Mandall, who in turn is staring curiously at her.

“I slept off again, didn’t I?”

He chuckles. “I won’t judge. I got what you needed and we are in front of your house now. I told the maids to pack what Anastasia would need while you rested.”

“You, really, are thoughtful. How about we go inside while we wait?”

“Sure.”

He’s been here twice in two days. Fun, interesting and a complete change from his boring life.

He is getting married to a woman he has known for barely a month… each time he thinks that, his mind automatically replays what Sam had said before, and that completely reassures him that even if it ends in premium tears, he would have good memory out of it.

And, that is why he is walking guardedly behind her, keeping an eye out for her. She is currently walking better than she did before and everything seem to be back to normal. Earlier, she had been as white and pale as a sheet and he had honestly been frightened, unsure of what to do.

For some reason, her situation feels like his and he has this urge, almost on display, to just grab her and protect her. Doing all the confrontations for her, taking care of her mum for her… because she looks so beautiful when she is smiling and he would love to keep that look on her face until forever comes to an end.

“Mandall?”

“Hm?” He replies, snapping out of his thoughts.

“Come on.” She chortles, taking his hands.

At the end of the hall, he spies a bigger room. He had noticed before too that everyone who had guided him around had managed to maneuver him away from that room.

“What is that room?” He inquires.

Bethany glances there, then at him. “Come on. You’re my fiancée anyway. I’ll show you.”

She turns around, steeling herself for her first view of the room after the first and second time.

“This is the main living room in the whole house.”

“Wow. Its majestic. Why don’t you use it though?” He asks again, looking right at her. By the time he sees her take a deep breath, he realizes but its too late to take back the query.

“This is where the tragedy happened that night.”

“I am sorry.” He mutters under his breath but just loud enough for her to hear him.

“Its completely fine. At least Mum’s back, it will make it a lot more bearable. Also, ill be moving out soon anyway so I just have to bear with it for a couple of weeks.” She smiles sheepishly.

“Where are you moving out to?”

“Uhm… my husband’s house?” She interjects sassily, making him laugh.

“That’s the only place you are allowed to go anyway.”

“Ooh. Is that jealousy I hear?”

“Yes.” He replies point blank.

She leads the way away from the living room and to the tea room, their rendezvous point.

As soon as the doors click shut behind them, Bethany turns around and hugs him, just leaning her head on his chest.

Mandall pauses mid stride. “Are you okay?” He asks softly, raising her eyes to his.

“Yes… no… I don’t know. It is overwhelming. You are my only anchor in these times.” She stares at him point blankly, her eyes swimming.

Something about those eyes mesmerize him and he can’t seem to look away. Oh no… it feels inappropriate. She is sharing how she feels and he can think about is how full her lips look today? Think fast! What can you say…?

“Uhm… I’m happy to be here.” He mutters the lamest sentence he could have stated at that point.

“Me too.” But she does not move.

Her hands stay on his chest, and she is not breaking the eye contact they are sharing either.

She looks at his left eye, then the right and slowly, her wandering eyes come to a stop on his lips.

Both of them move at the same time, crashing into the other in the middle. Their lips meet in a hot embrace, kissing fiercely. Mandall picks her up effortlessly and she wraps her legs around his slim, supportive waist and he helps her balance, their lips still locked tight.

Walking gently, he drops her on the couch they had sat on the day before. Her eyes are nothing but warm and neither are his, both are filled to the brim with longing, longing for the other.

Mandall yanks off his tie and leans over her, being careful not to press or suffocate her with his body as he resumes his kissing, her swollen lips war in his mouth. He soon leaves her lips and lets his roam over her neck, smooching her deeply in the crook of her neck with her eyes closed and lips left yearning.

He moves to her forehead and kisses round her face, then he returns to her lips that he reclaims fiercely like his life depends on it.

Bethany’s hands fly up to the nape of his shirt and she starts to undo his button— A shrill and high pitched scream echoes in the air and the duo stops, rudely interrupted.

Mandall pauses, frowning, his gaze level with Bethany’s.

“Did you hear that?” She whispers.

Mandall nods, standing up straight, trying to ignore how red and flushed her face is, not to talk about the obvious being kissed lips.

Then the scream comes again, but its not one person’s scream this time.

“We have to check it out.” Mandall posits and dashes out, Bethany coming close behind him. Following the sound of the commotion, he ends up in the kitchen with an open door leading to the back of the house.

“Stay here, ill check. I don’t want you to get into any danger.”

Touched, but stubborn, she creeps behind him as he exits the house through the back door.

And soon enough, Bethany herself screams, hers louder and more scared than the rest.

Gina walks out, being the last person, and wondering why everyone has scattered in different directions. “What is going— G….g…GHOST!” She screams, fainting on the spot.

Out of the dense forest behind the whole grange, Paul Worth walks out, face caked in dirt and blood and just as he nears the house, his lost and faraway eyes

meet Bethany’s petrified ones, then he passes out.