Her pale white skin glowing through the fog. Her soft breathing let out a warm breath of air everytime she exhaled. Her long, shiny hair, waterfalling down her back, and ever so slightly could you see her dark brown eyes gleaming like a marble. A thick gust of air blew my way and one second I could see her but the next, she was gone.

 I was on a trip with my mom and dad not knowing what was going to befall our arrival. A long, spiraling pathway led up to the house. Pieces of wood stuck out of the fence and termite holes covered the walls. As we started to unpack in our cottage, I felt an eerie sensation and a cold gust of wind gave me goosebumps all over my arms. Something didn't feel right about this cottage, I could feel it.

 "I'm going to check out the rest of the cottage." I told my mom as she hesitantly nodded and told me to stay away from the bedrooms. I slowly walked up the stairs which creaked under me and made a horrible noise. As I slowly started to reach the top of the stairs, I was sure I saw something... or someone. I heard someone faintly whisper " Let me out"

I turned the corner and decided to wash up and when I looked at the mirror I saw 2 words stained in red. I slowly read them out to myself, hoping that what they said wasn't true and in horror I realised what those words were telling me.

 " Go Away."

I quickly ran downstairs to tell my mom but when I got there, she was gone. I ran to the front door hoping that she was just getting boxes from the car but my mind kept telling me that something was wrong. There was an eerie silence as I stared outside in disbelief which quickly faded as an antique vase shattered into a million pieces, and a mixture of broken glass and porcelain lay mere inches away from me. I sighed in relief when I saw my mom and dad walking down the street holding boxes in their hands. I wanted to scream at them asking where they went leaving me alone and terrified but I realised that it would make no difference to get mad at them when I had bigger things to worry about. 

Later that night, we sat down at the dinner table. My mom's cooking was delicious as ever but an uneasy feeling sat at the pit of my stomach. I looked outside and was sure I saw a figure standing there.

"Let me out", I heard it again

 I gasped and looked away but when I looked back, it was gone. 

I was dreading bedtime but knew that I would have to go to bed eventually. As I walked through the dark hall I saw old, dirty paintings of people who had blank stares on their faces and dark black eyes. As I slowly walked to my bedroom I could feel them all staring at me. Their eyes followed every step I took and watched me ever so quietly.

I got to the door and with much hesitation slowly started to twist the doorknob. As the door opened a stench of rotting onions hit me in the face. 

My eyes started to water as I quickly ran inside holding my nose to keep the fumes out. I tossed my backpack in the corner and slowly looked around the room. I saw cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and ants scurrying around the floor. I sat on the dusty bed and watched the grime and dirt fly into the air. The dirt stung my eyes and the stench of onions made the pain 10 times worse. As I opened my eyes and slowly started to stand up I saw it.

I saw the figure again standing right in front of me. She had pale skin and dark black hair streaked with gray. Her hands were cut and bruised and they were stained with blood. She was wearing a white dress which was spotless.

 "Let me out", she whispered again.

She took a step closer to me and reached out. I flinched and prepared myself for whatever was going to happen.

 I couldn't run away because my feet were stuck to the ground. I couldn't scream for help because my mouth was sealed shut. I blinked ever so slightly and when I opened my eyes, she was gone. I woke up the next morning only to find myself on the ground. Was it a dream? My back ached and my clothes smelled like onions. I quickly scurried past the hall of paintings trying not to look them in the eye.

 I ran to the library and opened up a dusty book. I read for hours and hours slowly unfolding the truth of the cottage. I was shocked to find out the secrets that people were hiding from me.

50 years ago there was a woman named Alberta Jones. She lived in this cottage and grew to love it. She decorated the walls with beautiful tapestry and made sure to place fresh flowers in vases every day. Unfortunately everything changed one fine day. She had just received a letter saying that her son had died in the army. She couldn't believe it. She had lost her son. He meant everything to her but now he was gone.

Alberta couldn't care anymore about the flowers or her tapestry. She never cleaned or cooked and she never took any long walks in the park. She died a few years later in her own home and her ghost stayed there. Her soul was trapped inside the walls of her home and no one ever noticed. 20 years later a young couple on their honeymoon came to visit the cottage. People say that once they went in, they never came out.

To this day Alberta stays in her home watching everyone who comes in and she watches everyone who leaves. People can see her figure standing beside them and they say that her cold, dead stare can steal your soul. People can hear her whisper asking them to let her out. Let her out of the prison that is her own home.

 "LET ME OUT"

I woke up with a startling gasp only to find myself in my room under my covers. I saw my dog Bailey curled up at the foot of my bed. I saw my parents sleeping in their room. I took a sigh of relief but when I laid back down I saw a glowing red signature scratched into my desk. I looked over at my journal and it was signed, Alberta May Jones, 1857 - 1912. 

"Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy." "I keep it in a jar on my desk." - Robert Bloch