This may or may not be good. Idk because I've never tried writing a scary story before. Forgive me if it's pretty horrible? xD. I also tried to keep the violence PG13. :) 

Lilly stared up at the dark, imposing house. It was a two story with columns guarding the double doors. Once, a long time ago, this house had been beautiful. The french style windows were caked with dirt and the hangings blocking the view inside were heavy with spider's webs. Long dead rosebushes still crowded the lawn, the blackened leaves showing now sign of possible growth. It was strange, but the house seemed to be painted black. There was no splotch of color among the endless darkness. In the darkening twilight, the house was almost invisible. Mr. Ambrose strode up the steps, and Lilly followed hurriedly. After fiddling about with the door, he punched the glass in, and reached a hand inside, unlocking the door. He disappeared into the darkness. 

Mr. Ambrose entered the dark room, wrinkling his nose in distaste when he saw the white sheets thrown over various old pieces of furniture. The musty scent of the old house hung heavily in the air, the dust mites nearly tangible on their tongue. Lilly crept in after him, peering through the darkness.  Behind her, Karim lit a lamp and the sputtering sound of a flame flickering to life was the only sound in the room. "Sahib?"

"Yes, Karim?" Mr. Ambrose asked as he surveyed the cracked frames hanging crookedly on the wall. Through the thick film of dust, he briefly made out two figures, a man and a woman.

"It's deserted and there is no sign of the woman who called."

Lilly said quietly, "She could be upstairs. She said she was here, exactly here!" Earlier in the afternoon as she was writing down Mr. Ambrose's plans for the month in his planner, his office phone had rung. When Mr. Ambrose answered, a lady's voice echoed disjointedly through the speaker, sounding as though she were miles away from the phone.

"Mr... Ambrose, Miss Linton..." Mr. Ambrose had immediately started to question her.

"Who is this? Why are you calling us? I demand you answer immediately!" A dry laugh emitted from the phone, sending chills down Lilly's spine.

"That is.. No matter to you. Meet me.... At..." She spoke heavily now- as though it was physically hurting her to speak. "W-Wilding Park, 37." The sharp click of the phone ended the call. After an hour ruminating on a course of action, Mr. Ambrose finally decided it was in his best interest to meet the woman at the aforementioned home. He needed to know how she knew it was Miss Linton and not Mr.

He took only Karim and his secretary (Would it amuse you to know I wrote 'sexretary' instead of secretary before? Whoops.) knowing Karim was sufficient to protect the ifrit. "Karim, proceed, she may still be here. We need to interrogate her." Nodding, Karim walked down the hall, the rotting floorboards creaking beneath his feet. "I'll go this way, shout if you see anything." Mr. Ambrose left, marching quickly up the stairs, ignoring the ominous sounds beneath him.

Lilly was left alone in the dim room. Her chauvinistic boss had taken the only lamp with him and now she was left in almost pitch black darkness. An animal skittered across the floorboards, coming toward her. Judging by it's beady eyes, it was a rat. Lilly ran toward the only other door in the room and proceeded down the hall.

With a small gasp, Lilly crashed onto a side table, sending a jar smashing onto the floor. "Oops." She felt around on the table, hoping to find a candle of some sort. Her fingers met smooth wax. Uttering a small cry of triumph, Lilly reached into her pocket and lit a match. The candle soon illuminated the hallway.

Strips of wallpaper hung off the wall, revealing the dark rotted wood beneath. A beetle crawled out of the gap and Lilly turned away, disgusted. She continued down the hallway. As she turned the corner, a flash of black and white caught her eye. She turned toward it, hoping to see Karim. She screamed.

***

Karim stalked down the hallway, tense and alert for any sign of the elusive woman. The gas lamp was sputtering, throwing disjointed shadows across the wall. He opened the door to a room and a faint groan emitted from inside. He stuck his head in finding only the metal skeleton of a bed frame. White sheets covered what he guessed to be the dresser. He stepped inside, peering into the corners of the room.

Nothing.

He turned back toward the hallway, just in time to see the door slam shut. Karim jiggled the door knob and called through the door. "Sahib? Ifrit? Open the door!" Nobody answered him. He threw his weight against the door, expecting the flimsy wood to break. It merely bruised his shoulder. He tried again, feeling slightly anxious now. Nope.

A groaning sigh sounded behind him, the sound guttural and loud. Karim turned slowly, sending the candle light shifting slowly across the room in an arc. It alighted upon the pale woman, in a ragged white dress, with long black hair thrown over her face. She raised her red eyes and smiled, revealing blackened tooth cavities. The candle blew out, leaving him in complete darkness. The woman laughed hoarsely, the cackling the only sound in the room other than his own, heavy breathing.

***

Mr. Ambrose made his way down the stairs, having found nothing in the rooms upstairs except for a few dead bugs and a deceased rat. Other than the odd feeling of being watched, there was nothing interesting in the house.  He sighed, this had been a complete waste of time. Whoever that caller was, she was going to pay for making him go all the way out here! Suddenly, a piercingly familiar scream echoed from downstairs. Immediately, his thoughts diverted to Lilly and he jogged down the stairs, leaping down the last few feet.

Just in time too, for Mr. Linton was just rushing past the stairs,  heading for the exit. Without thinking about it, he reached forward, gathering her into his arms. She was trembling. As his vice like grip tightened around her from behind she let out another piercing scream, shattering the silence. He clapped his hand over her mouth, hissing into her ear. "Mr. Linton, what in the blazes are you doing?" She stilled in his grip.

He turned her around, finding himself face to face with her petrified one. Her eyes were so wide they could've been compared to coins. He raised his hand so that she could speak, but still kept a tight grip on her waist. "What happened, why did you scream?"

She took a deep shallow breath, chest heaving against his. "A- a woman was there but..."

"What?"

"I think... She was dead." He squinted at her, trying to see if she was lying.

"What did she look like?"

"She had long black hair covering her face, a long ragged white dress, and when she smiled... Her teeth were black." She let out another shaky breath.

"We need to leave."

"As soon as Karim comes, we will." She sighed against his chest, then seemed to realize what she was doing. She jerked away, cheeks flaming red. He watched her, amused. They stood in silence for a minute.

Then, Karim's earth shattering footsteps accompanied by hoarse bellowing made it's way toward them. Mr. Ambrose pulled Lilly aside just in time before Karim burst through a door, flattening it. He was yelling prayers and curses in his native language. Karim burst out through the front door, and Lilly ran to follow him. As soon as Karim had stepped past the threshold, the door slammed shut, causing Mr. Linton to smack against the door. She groaned.

"I can't open it!" She pulled and twisted, but the door wouldn't budge.

Mr. Ambrose sighed, taking his place at the door. He kicked it. It didn't give. He punched it, muscle rippling at the tension. It only bruised his knuckles. "We're locked in."

"Huh, I never would have noticed!" Lilly shot back sarcastically.

Mr. Ambrose was about to retort but something caught his eye. A woman with long black hair and red rimmed eyes. When she caught sight of him, her lips peeled open in a grotesque smile. He gagged as a beetle crawled out between the gaps of her blackened teeth. Reaching behind him, he grabbed Lilly's arm and with the other, took out his gun from the waistband of his pants. He leveled the gun at the woman calmly. 

Lilly, noticing for the first time Mr. Ambrose's raised weapon, cast a look behind her. She yelped. "That's her! That's the woman!" 

Icily, Mr. Ambrose replied, "I am aware of that fact, Mr. Linton." 

The woman staggered around, making her way toward the two trapped in the corner. Mr. Ambrose caught a glimpse of her leg. It wasn't pretty. Chills started to run up his spine as she came closer and closer. He raised the gun, placing his hand on the trigger. "Don't move. I'm warning you!" Ignoring his demands, the lady walked closer. She raised a clawed hand, only three feet away. BANG! 

The wraith flew backward, into the wall. He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she was surely incapacitated. He lowered the smoking gun. He trained his gaze on Lilly. Her tanned, freckled skin was bleached white by fright. "She's gone." Slowly, she shook her head and pointed. He turned. Once again, she was making her way toward them, not once slowing down. As he gazed at the pale figure of the deceased woman making her steady way toward them, Mr. Ambrose felt the sharp pangs of something... An emotion he hadn't felt in a long, long time. Fear. 

*** 

Mr. Ambrose fired another shot at the spirit, this time aiming for her head. A hole appeared in her forehead, right between her eyes and a drop of black blood seeped out before it healed. She didn't stop. Lilly cast her eyes about the room, searching for another way out. The kitchen! She grasped his hand, pulling him toward the door. For a second, their eyes met. Then he shot another bullet into her face, gouging one of her eyes out. He turned and ran with her, deeper into the dark mansion. 

In the kitchen, Lilly headed for the cabinets and drawers, digging through them to find a weapon. Ignoring the heavy cobwebs clinging to it, she grasped the hilt of a kitchen knife. When she turned around, knife in hand, Mr. Ambrose was reloading his pistol. She counted the bullets as they went in. One, two, three, four. Four shots. Where was Karim and his mighty saber when they needed him? Running like a baby no doubt. If she ever lived through this, she wouldn't ever let him live this down. 

The wraith once again appeared in the doorway. It's eyes flicked around the room as it hesitated at the door. The eye Mr. Ambrose had shot out had reformed, and now fixed it's red gaze upon him. He glared back. The woman turned her head slowly to Lilly, it's eyes snapping down to the knife clutched in her hand. The blade gleamed a wicked silver in the night. 

OOOOOOOOOAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!  The woman screamed, eyes flashing in anger. Her hair rose and she floated off the ground. 

"GET BEHIND ME!" Mr. Ambrose roared, firing two shots at her. The bullets ricocheted off. The spirit rushed at them, mouth gaping wide in a piercing scream. The last thing Lilly saw was the blood red color of her eyes. 

*** 

A man and woman walked smiling out of a little chapel, their families and friends blowing kisses and cheering. The woman was clad in a beautiful white lace dress and clutched a bouquet of red roses.  Black hair tumbled in waves down her back. Her new husband was garbed in a nice black and silver suit, his dark blue eyes glittering with happiness. The woman turned, facing away from the audience as young women gathered behind her, ready to catch the flowers. A blur of bright red later, and they were in the clutches of a blonde woman. 

The couple smiled winningly again, then stepped onto the roofless carriage pulled by two chestnut beauties. The clattering of the hooves resounded against the pavement as the horses were driven home. 

The scene blurred, reappearing again in front of the same house. It was painted white now, and the rosebushes were alive and thrumming with life. Delicate roses of many different colors spanned the front lawn. The woman laughed as the man picked her up bridal style and carried her over the threshold of their new home. He leaned down and kissed her, closing his eyes. The woman did the same. The look of pure love on both their faces were evident, even in the way their lips moved in a gentle embrace. The man opened his eyes, setting her down in the entrance hall of their home. He leaned forward, whispering something in her ear with a sly smile. The woman blushed red, but nodded. 

The man led the way up the stairs and into their bedroom. The door closed behind them and did not open for many hours since. The scene changed again, and now it was dark and dim. The stars twinkled in the window next to their bed. The woman was dressed in a thin robe, the man only in his trousers. He said something to her, and she nodded, embarrassed. The man went downstairs. He drank a glass of water, holding his head in his hands when he finished. Rummaging in  a drawer, he grabbed a container of pills, throwing them all into his mouth. He prepared a quick meal, soup, and another glass of water. A red rose was laid next to the bowl. Then, seemingly as an afterthought, he grabbed a knife and placed it in his back pocket. 

As he ascended the stairs, the dark irises of the man were clear. They were dilated to mere pinpricks, and the previously pleasant shade of blue had curdled to a poisonous black. He returned to the room, and gave the woman the tray. She rewarded him with a kiss and started wolfing down the soup. Her husband watched with slitted eyes trained on her throat. The pulse of her heart was evident when she swallowed. When she finished, he leaned over and kissed her hard on the throat. The tray was dropped haphazardly on the ground, the bowl clanging against the floor. The man laid her down, straddling her while he kissed her. She shivered and gasped as his hand slid into her hair. Reaching behind him, the man grabbed the knife and raised it above his head. 

The next few images were too horrible to bear, and in vain, Lilly averted her eyes. The shrieks of the poor, poor woman echoed in the night before being smothered. The struggle ensued, the woman just once breaking free of his tight grip and falling to the ground. Red spread across her torso and her eyes leaked from pain and heartbreak. For the first time, Lilly heard her voice. "How could you?" Anger and pain was evident in her voice. Her husband didn't say anything, and merely stabbed downward. The woman crawled away staggering to her feet. She didn't get far. 

After what seemed like hours, the woman stopped struggling, falling lifelessly against the man that had been her husband. Wordlessly, he wrapped her up in the blood soaked sheets of their bed. He hoisted her up, once again in the bridal style position he had before. He ascended the stairs to the attic, pulling down the trap door. Inside the dusty, gray room, he looked for a place to hide his wife. Her coffin became her grandfather's old weathered trunk. He dumped her inside, folding her body in the small space. Seeing as her elbow wouldn't fit, he broke her arm and pushed it inside. He slammed the lid shut and locked it. 

*** 

Lilly returned to her body, shaking. Tears leaked from beneath her eyes, but she was unwilling to open them. She had fallen to the floor during the outpouring of memories. The poor, poor lady! She had hardly seemed older than her! She opened her eyes and pulled herself into a sitting position. Beside her, Mr. Ambrose was doing the same. He too was quivering from the experience, and surprisingly, unshed tears had formed in his eyes. The spirit was in front of them, just floating there, waiting for them to do something. 

Lilly found the knife she had picked up still lying by her feet. She kicked it away, sending it spinning into the darkness. Then she stood, facing the woman. Mr. Ambrose followed suit. "I'm sorry for what happened to you. That- that must have been horrible..." 

"I too am sorry for what you have endured," Mr. Ambrose told her, for once showing emotion like a proper human being. 

"If... If there's anything we can do..." Lilly continued, waiting for the ghost to respond. 

She did, in a dry, hoarse voice. "Fiiiinndd myyy bodyyy.... Fiiind mee.... Puut... me... to reeessst." 

"We understand. And will you let us go after?" She nodded once and disappeared. 

Mr. Ambrose led the way up the stairs, and Lilly followed in silence. Everything was familiar now, and shook her to her core. To have been murdered by someone she had clearly loved so much... It must have been agony. Unbidden, her eyes drifted to Mr. Ambrose's broad back. He would never. 

Mr. Ambrose stopped under a faint square in the ceiling of a hallway. "How do we get up there?" Lilly asked. In response, he raised his gun, shot the ceiling, and pushed her against the wall, protecting her from the debris. His heavy weight, the copious amounts of dust and plaster raining down on them, was pressing against her, suffocating her slightly. Panic rose in her chest and pounded in her ears. Was he going to kill her too? Then his weight disappeared off her chest, and she breathed a sigh of relief. He coughed, holding his hand over his mouth, and she quickly did the same. 

"Get on my shoulders." 

"What?" 

"Get on," Mr. Ambrose barked impatiently, crouching down in the chalk white dust from the gaping hole in the floor. Unsure, Lilly stepped onto his shoulders, holding his head for balance. His hair was unnaturally soft... He rose to his full height, almost unbalancing her. To make up for the quick ascent, she clutched at his hair so harshly she heard a growl from beneath her. With a smirk, Lilly grabbed the edges of the jagged hole and pulled herself up into the attic. It was darker here than below, and nearly pitch black. There was no moon, but a few silver stars shed slivers of light into the room. Mr. Ambrose reached up, and Lilly grabbed his hand as he jumped. His momentum carried him up, and soon, he was forcing his muscled shoulders into the hole. His tailcoat was surely ruined now. 

Lilly helped him up and with him, started to search the attic for the trunk. Sheets of white cloth covered the long forgotten pieces of furniture, and every time they whipped one off, fountains of dust rained around them, settling in their clothes and hair. Every few seconds, they sneezed. Soon, the attic was uncovered, all the white cloths in a corner. There was no trunk. 

"Where is it!?" Lilly cried. 

"I don't know, keep looking." 

"But, we've looked everywhe... Oh." The brass corner of a box peeked from underneath an over turned piano. "Mr. Ambrose, look." He followed her gaze. 

Together, they peered underneath the piano. It was indeed, the woman's poor excuse for a coffin. They heaved the piano over, spilling the ivory keys across the floor as they threw it into a corner of the room. "Move, Lilly." More surprised at her name falling from his lips, she moved as he aimed the gun once again. His aim was true, and his last bullet splintered the heavy golden lock. 

A brilliant white shaft of light came through the dark clouds from outside, resting upon the trunk. Mr. Ambrose toed the trunk open, and a dry, sweet smell permeated the air around it. Inside, exactly like the images they'd seen earlier, was a skeleton, still clad in her frayed dress. Faint spots of dried blood was visible on the lace on her torso. There were a  few black hairs still clinging to the skull. 

Lilly stifled a sob, and closed her eyes. Mr. Ambrose, it seemed, was not in his right state of mind, for he drew an arm around her shoulders and hugged her tightly. The pale ethereal form of the ghost once again appeared, but she was not as she was the day she died. She looked happy and contented, her flowing locks, full lips, and shining eyes the image of health. She looked down at the two people below her who'd allowed her to finally rest, after 68 years. She smiled, once, then faded into the moonlight. 

Minutes later, Lilly stumbled out from the house, looking like a ghost herself. Mr. Ambrose soon followed, closing the door behind him. Karim, who'd been pacing like a dog before the house, cried out in relief. 

"Sahib! Ifrit! You are alive!" He exclaimed. 

"Yes, Karim." Was his response. 

"No thanks to you!" Was hers. 

Mr. Ambrose shot his secretary a glare. "It is true, Sahib. I have failed you." Karim knelt before Mr. Ambrose. "My fear controlled me, and I apologize. There- there was this spirit.." 

"Yes, we are aware. She is resting now. Come, Mr. Linton. We must get you home." 

They stumbled wearily into his rickety chaise, still pulled by the grey horse. "Drive, Karim," He mumbled tiredly as he settled against the seat. Lilly didn't even last a full minute before dropping into his lap. He smiled tiredly, and rested his hand on her hair, stroking it softly. He looked at her peaceful, contented look, and something rose up in his chest, enveloping his heart. His head dropped back against the seat, watching the first rays of the sun coming up over the horizon. 

"I'm never going to hurt you like that, Lilly. I promise."