Chapter 6

As soon as I wake up, I want nothing more than to fall straight back into my slumber. I bury myself further under the blanket, fighting off the frozen air of the house now that the fire has fizzled down to nothing, but the pounding of my head doesn't let me drift away again. Water and food. That's what would make me feel better.

Throwing the blanket away from my face with a huff, I notice that only Landon is here, sitting cross-legged on the floor while watching Jinx lick himself clean. Landon hears my grunt as I prop myself up on an elbow and he smirks at my state.

"Someone was tired," he teases.

I give him a half-hearted smile, running a hand through my tangled hair. "Where are the others?"

"They had to go," he tells me. "Usually I'm up at six helping out on the farm, but I got a free morning."

My half-closed eyes linger on him for a moment. He smiles charmingly as Jinx moves closer to him, swishing his tail and sniffing Landon's hand. There's something very sweet about the way they interact, it makes me forget about how weird it is to have a guy in my new manor house who I've barely known for ten hours.

At least I'm living a bit more, I guess.

"Can you make pancakes?" I ask him.

Landon chuckles. "I can make a whole lot of good breakfast foods. You look like you need it."

I roll my eyes at him, not one ounce of me able to feel irritation towards him. "I think you owe it to me after making me drink so much last night, creep."

He laughs as he stands to his feet, stretching out his stiff limbs, before heading out of the room. I lift Jinx into my arms, reassured by his presence as always, before hurrying after Landon. After the events of last night, although my memory is slightly hazy after the alcohol intake, I'd much rather not be left alone right now.

When we make it to the kitchen downstairs, I notice that it's a lovely day outside. The rising sun sparkles through the gaps of the trees and graces the variety of wildflowers blossoming outside in the garden. Back home, my view would mostly consist of grey. Grey houses, grey people, grey cars travelling along a grey road.

There's no doubt about it. Matthew Harrington saved my life, making it a whole lot brighter in the process.

"Is it pancakes you want?" Landon asks, bringing me back into the room.

"I don't mind," I say, placing Jinx onto the floor so he can go and eat his own breakfast from his bowl. "There's should be some bacon in the fridge. I don't know. I need to go shopping."

He pulls open the fridge, pulling something out and chucking it onto the table. "There is bacon," he says as he does so. "But, yes, you really do need to go shopping. There are some actual supermarkets about a twenty minute drive away, but most people here buy stuff from the farm shops. It always tastes better when it's organic."

"Organic means expensive, right?" I ask. I jump up to sit on one of the stools surrounding the kitchen island. I still can't believe I own a kitchen like this. I've never enjoyed cooking before, but maybe the space and appliances that I spent hours cleaning yesterday will give me some inspiration.

Landon turns to look at me inquisitively as he starts to make the food. "If you can afford to live in this place then surely you can afford more organic food. All of it comes from the farms around here, including my own."

"I inherited this house," I remind him. "And the bills and maintenance are being paid by the Harrington's money. I don't actually... have a lot to my name."

Landon nods in understanding, turning to continue cooking. "Well, there's always jobs being offered around here. I can help you look, if you wanted."

"Why are you being so nice?" I say, eyeing his back.

He chuckles, throwing me another look over his shoulder. "I've lived in this village with the same people all my life. It's nice to meet a new person, and it would be unfair of me to let you navigate this village by yourself."

"I'd be okay," I tell him, although I'm not entirely certain if I would be. I've taken care of myself for a long time, but it's nice to have a friend here who I already know I'll be able to turn to for help.

Landon continues cooking breakfast until we both have a plate each full of a small stack of pancakes and strips of smoky bacon. The incredible aroma clouds around my face as he places it before me and I tuck in.

We're quiet while we eat, although there's a question filling my head that I desperately want to ask. It's probably not a good idea, considering I just met him and I wouldn't want to scare him away, but I need to get to the bottom of what I may or may not have seen last night.

I wait until he's finished his food before asking.

"Landon," I start, finishing chewing the last bite of my pancake. He glances up, waiting for me to continue. "Is there... have there ever been rumours of his place being haunted?"

He assesses me for a moment, presumably trying to work out if I'm joking or not. But I'm not, and he can see that. "Haunted?" he asks.

I nod slowly, avoiding his piercing eyes by glancing over at Jinx.

"All I've ever heard are stories about this place being haunted," he chuckles, taking our plates to move them next to the kitchen sink. "But that's all they are. Stories. Rumours."

"What kind of stories?" I ask.

"Oh, God, there's load," he says. He sits back at the island, itching his leg with his expression deep in thought. "Ghost children, demons, headless corpses roaming the halls. All the usual bullshit that's associated with a big house that's been left to rot away."

Nodding again, I pick at my chipping black nail varnish.

"Why'd you ask?" he questions, still watching me. A bit too intently.

"I--" I really don't want to tell him. We barely know each other and as soon as I tell him about what I saw, he'll be quick to label me as a freak, and I don't want to be known as the creepy girl living in Windchime Manor. But... what I saw, if I even saw it, is making me go a little crazy. "Are you sure they're just stories?"

This time Landon snorts, standing up from his stool. My heart sinks. He already thinks I'm crazy. "I can't say I've ever been much of a believer of ghosts, and I don't think any paranormal sightings have been spotted in this place so... yes. It's all just stories that kids make up to scare each other."

Propping my elbow up on the surface, I rest my chin against my hand. He notices my shift in mood fast and sighs. "Why? What is this about?"

"I think I--" Oh God, here goes. "I think I've been seeing things. A face. Eyes. I even heard a gasp last night. But it was weird. It was like I knew I was being watched but... I couldn't properly see who was watching me."

"Oh my God," Landon laughs, throwing his head back slightly. "You've lived in the village for a whole twenty-four hours and already you're believing the ghost stories?"

"I'm being serious," I mumble, unable to laugh along with him. He stops laughing straight away, searching my face for any sign of deception. But he finds none.

"Seriously?" he asks me.

"Yes," I say. "I mean, it's probably because I've been tired and I got drunk last night but... I don't know."

Landon sighs, sympathy softening his features. "Look, Em," he starts. "I won't lie, I see things sometimes as well. So does most of the world. You're right, you've been tired and you got very drunk last night, so I'm sure it's just the stress of moving into a big, empty house by yourself that's fooling you around. Once you get settled here, and you will, I'm sure these 'sightings' will disappear and you'll forget all about them."

I hum in agreement, still chipping away at the nail varnish. "I hope so."

Landon thinks for a small while, an argument happening behind his eyes. Then he exhales. "Would you feel comfortable being here by yourself tonight? Because if not, I can come round again. Please don't find it creepy. I genuinely want to help."

I narrow my eyes at him playfully. "That's something a creep would say."

"I promise I will do nothing to hurt you," he says, drawing a cross on his chest with his fingertip. "Cross my heart, hope to die."

I smirk at his antics, already feeling drawn to Landon. I couldn't explain it for the life of me, but after taking care of people for what feels like my entire life, it tugs at the strings of my heart to know that there's someone who wants to look out for me. It's something I don't think I've ever truly had.

"That would be great," I say.

He smiles, before glancing around the kitchen. "I'm afraid I'll have to get to work soon. What will you do in the meantime?"

"Probably go shopping," I say, shrugging my shoulders. "Get some food. Clean more of the house. There's so much work to be done, but the place is a lot less scary when it's daytime."

"I'll get over here as soon as it starts to get dark, then," he says. "You have my word."

I beam at him. He's sweet. Definitely not something I've seen in a man for a while.

We chat about anything other than the topic of the supernatural before he has to head off for work. As soon as he does, I find the nearest supermarket on my phone and get into my car, deciding to get the shop done. It's weird having some spare money to get some more food than I usually would, but I know it's not going to last forever. Hopefully Landon can help me on my job search later tonight because I seriously need to find one.

Drinking for the second night in a row is definitely not the best idea, but I treat myself to a bottle of wine anyway. Whether I open it up tonight or leave it for another day, we'll have to see. Once I've finished up the shop, I drive home, filling up with petrol on the way.

The house is quiet when I get back. Very quiet.

Maybe I should have listened to Samantha. What have I got myself into?

WC: 1798