Felix Cottage

Every night was a nightmare.

She has been like this for two, three weeks, wait, nearly a month. Only a month. But, the sufferings and pain made her feel like it has been years. That accident. It was what that made her like this. It ripped her life and soul apart. The life that she wished to end has been ended by someone. That, someone, had made her a soul wandering between the earth and abode. A ghost. Well, that's what people call her and that's why they say Felix Cottage is haunted.

I heard about Felix Cottage long before my friend had gone there. My friend is a writer. For the past few months, he has been working on his new book, something about unconditional and impossible love. He mostly writes romance novels, but this time, he decided to add a thriller twist to it. That's why he decided to move to Felix Cottage in a quiet, charming hill station. Felix Cottage is owned by an elderly couple, who has been in that area for years. My friend was getting frustrated due to lack of ideas and thought that moving to a silent, isolated place will do him some good. He heard about Felix Cottage from an acquaintance who had gone to the same place. It was a housing inn and the only housing inn in that whole area. So, my friend decided to book a room there. He was quite excited. However, I was worried.

"You know that people say that cottage is haunted right?"

"That is the only one that provides accommodation in the whole area. Also, I don't believe in those things."

"People do avoid that place. There are talks of that cottage is haunted. A woman who lived in that place died due to unforeseen circumstances. Many people who had lived there claimed that they felt some kind of presence around them. I think you should look for some other options too."

"I have already booked there. Anyway, it is for ten days. Hopefully, I will get some new ideas and will be able to complete my manuscript. Anyway, how do you know all this?"

Unlike my friend, I was interested in the supernatural and paranormal. So, I read a lot about that. I read about Felix Cottage on the web and was intrigued by it.

"Just be careful."

"Yup, see you after ten days."

You can imagine my surprise when he came back after two days. He looked different and was shivering. It was past midnight and I couldn't help but feel worried.

"What happened?"

"You were right. That hotel is haunted."

Back at the Felix Cottage,

"He left, eh, as usual."

"Yes, the writer left yesterday night."

"Why is this happening here? Every customer checks out immediately after they check-in."

"You should know why."

"I wonder what he saw this time."

The old couple looked at each other, guilt filling in their eyes."

I managed to calm my friend after a long time. All I could get from him was that he saw a woman. That woman was dead. I had no idea what he was talking about. Then it hit me.

"You saw the ghost?"

"No, but I did see...."

"Did something happen there?"

"Yes, I, no, the woman....she was killed and"

"Can you calm down and tell me what happened."

After a few minutes,

"I sat in my room thinking about my story. I decided to sleep early to wake up early. But, as I was starting to sleep, I heard knocks at the door. It was the old woman, who asked me if I wanted something. I replied no and closed the door. Just as I was about to get on the bed, I heard another knock. I opened and came to face with a young beautiful woman. She smiled and asked me if I was a writer. I said "yes". She gave me a book and told me that even she was an aspiring writer. She wanted me to read the book and give her my feedback. I was sleepy, so I told her I will do it tomorrow. 

Suddenly, she became...."

At this point, my friend started pacing.

"Her face suddenly changed, Arav. It became something else within a minute. The dress that she wore was suddenly soaked with blood and what else. The beautiful face changed into a monstrous...I can't describe that Arav. She slowly started walking towards me with a frightful grin on her face. I felt numb. Then I started running outside. I stepped down the stairs and slipped down. I think I passed out. When I got up, I was still laying on the floor. I rushed upstairs, packed my things, and got the hell out of there."

"I am sorry, but at least nothing happened."

My friend did not say anything. He went over to his bag and pulled out a brown-colored book. 

"What is this?"

"On my way here, I again encountered her. I was driving fast to come here. However, I had to stop for petrol. I went to take money from a nearby ATM. When I came back, I ......saw her there. I went numb. I couldn't move or scream. I did not know what to do. She just sat there. The next moment, she was gone. Just like an illusion. But, this book was there. I don't know what to do."

"Did you read that."

"Yes."

He gave the book to me.

"Read it."

I opened the book. There were daily entries of a woman who could have been a good writer. And then, at last, the last page, there was this;

Every night was a nightmare.

She has been like this for two, three weeks, wait, nearly a month. Only a month. But, the sufferings and pain made her feel like it has been years. That accident. It was what that made her like this. It ripped her life and soul apart. The life that she wished to end has been ended by someone. That, someone, had made her a soul wandering between the earth and abode. 

"How did she die? You must know."

"She was found hanging at the hotel. It was suicide."

"Then what does this mean?"

"Well, I am not sure. She was staying in that hotel for a month before her death. She moved there to complete her first novel."

"Then?"

I hesitated. My friend sensed that.

"PLEASE!!!"

"Well, she was attacked by some thugs who were staying at that hotel, one night. She was traumatized because of that accident. Since it was a small town no one knew about this. Her manuscript was destroyed that night. She could not handle that."

"How was her manuscript.....?" " She did not have anything valuable. In the ensuing fight, it got, well, they tore and threw it away while searching her room."

"How did you know?" " I have my sources."

I learned about it from Diwar, the acquaintance who had gone there earlier.

"They were never caught, eh?" What should I do?"

"Tell her story."

"What?"

I gave him the diary.

"My hopes, dreams, visions.....will live on forever. The story that I write will live on even if I don't. It surely well."

"But?"

"This is your lead. It is up to you."

This is what I can say about my friend's experience in Felix Cottage. I don't know her story nor do I know what my friend is writing nowadays. I can only wait and hope for the best.