Breathless and scared, I slammed the huge decrepit door close, shutting out the howling wolves that had pursued me relentlessly. My dress torn and stained with mud, I closed my eyes relieved to be alive as I leaned back against the wood door. Taking a few long breaths I slowly open my eyes. Rushed, I had never noticed my surrounding, an old mansion hidden deep within the forest. Cobwebs and dust layered thickly across lavish furnishings and a grand staircase. Stone floors looked cold and bare and as I stepped away from the door I heard an echo of it dancing off the naked walls. I rubbed my arms feeling a cold wind whip around my body. My thin cape was no match for the cruel chill.
"Hello?" I questioned loudly, searching for a stir of life. There was no respond but my own voice in reply. I took another step hearing it echo. "Hello?" I yelled a little louder. Still nothing. In the dim hallway I saw a shadow quickly dart pass catching my curiosity. I followed, "Hello?" I repeated a little softer. "Anyone there?" Still only silence.
Stepping into the shadows, around the bend of the hallway, hidden from the view of the door, was a light flickering from an entryway toward the end of the hall. I walked the length of the hall clenching my dirty brown cape tightly around me. Soft luscious dark brown curls brushed my face as it started to come undone. I paid it no mind as I followed the light.
"Hello?" I asked one last time as I stepped into the doorway. Much to my surprise a crackling fire danced in an extremely large fireplace. Two chairs sat facing the fire with a small round table between them. Between the chairs and fireplace was a large white lush rug, which looked warm and clean.
I found myself undoing my cape with one pull of the string. The room was warm and I felt for a moment that I knew this place, that it felt familiar to me. Alas, it could not be true, for I was a stranger in a strange land.
Spying a book on the table I stepped forward, wanting to know which book was being read. Oddly enough I did not hear my steps, but I took no heed to the uncanny silence as my thoughts were on the book. The brown leather cover creaked when I opened it. I laid the cape on the back of an empty chair so I could easily flip through the pages. Much to my dismay, all the pages were blank; thinking it odd I laid the book down.
"Good evening." Came a richly accented voice behind me. Startled, I gasp as I twirled around to see a handsome tall man standing at the doorway. My heart started to flutter as I felt myself blush by his mere presence.
"Hello." I replied softly. A small smile crossed his crimson red lips.
