The Haunting of Palmer Mansion #1.3_4a_color

Brittney worked her way through her calculus. She sat cross-legged on the sofa, her phone playing white noise to help her concentrate. The cavernous room felt almost cozy.

“That math looks hard,” an unfamiliar voice said. “I always tried to study in this room too. The fire always made it so snug and comfy.”

Surprised, Brittney looked up to see a boy roughly her age leaning against the great timber mantel. Even more surprising, a fire now roared in the fireplace. The white noise on her phone shifted to the crackling and popping of a blazing fire. Brittney felt the room swim around her. Were those animal heads on the wall? But like in all dreams, she accepted the fantastical as mundane. The boy had short red hair, freckles, and looked like he’d been dressed by Huckleberry Finn. “I’m sorry, who are you now?”

“I’m Tom. And you are Miss …?” Thomas bowed and raised his eyebrows, clearly looking for her name.

“I’m Brittney.” She giggled. He had such strange affectations. “How old are you Tom?” Brittney put her homework down on the coffee table and brushed her long brown hair behind her shoulders.

“I’m nineteen.” Thomas finished his bow and leaned back against the mantle with an air of insouciance. “Always nineteen.”

“Well, that’s very strange. I’m eighteen, but not always.” Brittney laughed again. “For example, just a few weeks ago I was seventeen.”

“I see.” Tom smiled. “What sort of games do you like to play?”

“I don’t know. Mostly 4x strategy games.” Brittney looked around the room. Where had all the ornate furniture come from? The fire cast everything with an orange glow, but offered no heat.

“I don’t know what that is, Miss Brittney.”

“What games do you play?” Brittney smiled at this odd boy.

“I play carnal games mostly. Those are the most fun. Don’t you think?” Thomas looked down at his trousers and there was an obvious bulge growing there. Soon it was an impossibly large tent.

“Oh, my. What’s that?” Brittney’s smile faded.

“Do you want me to show you?” Thomas shrugged out of his suspenders and reached down to unbutton his trousers.

“No. I don’t want to see it.” Brittney shook her head. “It’s too big. Too big,” she shouted.