A loud bang permeated my thoughts as I drove along the dark country lane. My car swerved sharply to the left almost sucking me into the ditch as I struggled to keep control. The starting rain lightly hitting the roof as I shut the engine off and opened the door to survey the damage.
It was so quiet outside, almost surreal as I walked to the front of my car, the cool raindrops hitting my heated flesh as I took in the mutilated tire that was now attached to the rim of my car.
'Dammit' I spoke aloud to myself. The sound of my own voice swallowed up by the rain.
I looked around, nothing was at all familiar. I was en route to a birthday party at a friend's country home and as per usual got lost.
I kicked what was left of my tire and leaned back against the fender of my car and pulled out my cell phone. 'No service' flashed at me from across the small screen. I closed the phone and looked upward, sighing to myself. Such was my life...I swear sometimes I'm cursed! This was supposed to be a quick trip to a friends house for drinks, be polite and meet a blind date...gracefully bow out and be home for bed by 10pm. Glancing at my watch...which had stopped at 10:05pm..I wasn't going to make it.
I turned and went to the rear of the car and started to get the required gear. Checking through all the compartments I was not surprised to find that I had no jack at all. Thanking my sister, who had had the last blow out in my car, I was sure that it lay somewhere on the side of the road between here and where ever the hell she went. Now surely a housing project for a group of small furry creatures.
I spun around, searching for life. It had been about an hour since I left my friends house and about a half hour since I had seen another car on the road. Surveying a full 360 degrees I could just barley see a light atop a hill just to my left. I didn't think it was that far and surely there was someone home at this time of night. So, grabbing my jacket, Oh wait now, that's right...no jacket...I hadn't anticipated a walk through the rain in tonight's festivities, I wrapped my arms around my already soaked clothing and started my trek.
Finding no driveway or path, I made a beeline toward the light. My heels sunk into the damp ground and my skin dimpled as I walked. I was cold. Bloody freezing actually. The sound of my teeth chattering competing with the sounds of the night around me. My nipples puckered almost painfully against the material of my white blouse, my once cute, flirty little black skirt clung to my legs like a wet rag as I walked. My hair hung in rattails around my make-up streaked face.
I glanced up at the 'house' as I got closer and closer to it. House was a relative term when referring to the place I found myself approaching. Mansion was more appropriate. It was huge! There were lights shining through the windows on what looked like three floors, it was very gothic looking but I was sure that it was probably just the rain and the night that made it look almost menacing.
I approached the huge double doors and raised what looked to be a large lions head knocker, letting it fall against the door plate with a loud 'CLANG'
Doing this twice more I had almost given up hope and started to turn away as the door slowly opened. I found myself staring into one of the most stoic faces I think I have ever seen in my life. He looked me up and down slowly, fixing his stare at my cold hard nipples that were jutting out in front of me and I found myself almost cringing at his perusal. Then, making me jump a little he spoke to me in a rather monotone voice,
"Can I help you?"
I stumbled on my words, hoping he thought is was more from the cold than from his seemingly lifeless stare at my rain soaked body.
"Yes umm...sorry to umm...bother you but...I ...umm....that is my car....." I wrapped my arms around myself as he continued to stare at my chest, "Do you have a phone I might borrow?"
He smiled at me then, an almost surreal kind of grin as his eyes finally met mine. "Of course young lady, please come in"
I stepped through the threshold and into the house. The door closing behind me with only a small click. The little noise sent a shiver down my spine as I turned to Mr. Creepy Guy and asked where the phone was.
He led me to the library, I assumed that's what it was because the room was full of books from floor to ceiling. Decorated in dark reds and browns it was opulent and rich looking, a very alpha male type domain. He left quickly, closing the heavy door behind him.
I almost ran to the large desk, seeing the phone like a beacon of light atop the dark wood. Lifting the receiver I almost cried out in frustration hearing only the click-click-click of an obviously dead line.
I turned around to find Mr. Creepy had returned to the room. I started to thank him, explaining that I would return to my car and see if I could flag down a passing motorist to take me into the nearest town or even back into the city.
He smiled that unsettling smile again, "You will find no one out this late at night. I have spoken to the Masters and they has graciously offered you lodgings for the night," his voice was still devoid of any emotion as he spoke, "I will show you to your rooms."