Darcy Coates [Coates - The Carrow Haunt

Esteemed Guests

R emy waited, shivering, on the wide stone porch as the van crunched along the gravel driveway. The near-full moon washed light across the overgrown topiary garden and stone guesthouse as distant waves battered unseen cliffs .

Despite the chilly autumn air, she had a full tour booked. From her vantage point, she could see faces pressed against the vans windows, trying to glimpse the building, some grinning, others looking apprehensive. Remy tried to bite back a grin of anticipation .

The bus crawled to a halt, and Jones leapt from the drivers seat to wrench open the sliding passenger door. Remy held a lot of fondness for Jones; he was nearly eighty but still had a quick energy in his wiry frame. She paid him to shuttle her guests to and from their hotels or homes. He did the job with an unfailing smile and an eager, bobbing bow. But, though hed worked with her for nearly two years, Jones had never accepted Remys invitation to see inside Carrow House .

Eight visitors, a mix of young adults and older guests, descended from the van. Jones greeted them with a quick bow and waved them towards the porch. They clustered just short of the first step, glancing across the house, the gardens, the imposing stone gables, and the dark windows .

Remy adopted the familiar pose, one leg ahead of the other to highlight her costumes silhouette, her right hand on her hip and her left thrown towards the sky. She took a deep breath and projected her voice so that it boomed through the night. Welcome, esteemed guests, to the infamous Carrow House. I sincerely pray no misfortune will befall you during your stay .

She knew she must look hilarious in her elaborate 1900s-inspired dress, but that was part of the fun. Guests werent just paying to visit the states most haunted house; they were paying for an experience. And Remy, lover of period dress and dusty books, was more than happy to oblige. The stiff black-silk uniform made her a passable impression of a gothic Edwardian-era housekeeper, and perfectly matched her storys vibe .

The guests responded positively, some chuckling, others nodding. One middle-aged lady clapped twice. Remy lowered her hand and twisted, swinging both the black skirts and her long dark hair in what she hoped would be a dramatic way, then fixed her audience with an intense stare. Tonight, you will hear tales of the macabre and the nightmarish. You will see firsthand the rooms where unimaginable horrors have transpired. And perhaps you may even be visited by a being from beyond the mortal realm. She held up a finger and raised her eyebrows. Your driver is about to depart, and he will not return for nigh on three hours. If any of you fear your courage wont endure, this is your final chance to leave unscathed .

The small crowd glanced amongst themselves, but no one moved. They never did, but Remy let the silence stretch a few seconds, enjoying the rising tension. Then she relaxed her pose and dropped the theatrical act as she beckoned them forward. All right, great! Come on up here, gang. Im Remy, and I cant wait to show you this house .

After a few more chuckles, the tour group shuffled up the four worn stone steps. Remy moved back into the shadowed doorway to make room for them. She took a second to assess her group: two middle-aged women, probably sisters or close friends, had locked their arms together. The three young adults gave off a touristy vibe. One balding man squinted through round glasses and kept smoothing his jacket. A woman who looked equal parts embarrassed and thrilled to be there squeezed her lips together to repress a grin. And a tall dark-haired man hovered near the back of the group, his face impassive but his eyes bright in the dim light .

Remy put her hands on her hips. Her short height meant she had to crane her neck to see everyone in the group, but she made sure to make eye contact. Anyone here suffer from seizures? Heart conditions requiring medication? Is anyone likely to struggle climbing stairs or walking for an extended period? They were all questions the guests had been asked when booking the tour, but Remy made sure everyone shook their heads before waving to Jones, who remained standing by van .

Smiling, he gave her a quick nod then leapt into his seat, slammed the door, and hit the accelerator. The engines roar and the crunch of gravel faded as he sped back to town. It was an hours drive, but Jones seemed to prefer being on the road to waiting outside Carrow .

All right. Remy grinned at her group. Im glad you could all join me tonight. Its going to be a real treat. Ive been running this tour weekly for close to two years, and this house continues to surprise me. Some quick housekeeping before we begin. Dont leave the group. Some parts of this building arent as structurally sound as they look, and Id rather not have to fill out any insurance paperwork tonight. Dont touch anything, no matter how pretty and tempting it is. Most of the furniture in this building is antique, and the owners have been very generous to let us tour their house. Lets keep it clean for them, okay ?

She paused to wait for more nods then continued. Ill point out bathrooms as we pass them. No photography is permitted insidesorry, thats the owners decree, not minebut youre welcome to take pictures of the outside. Youll have a chance to do just that before you leave. Some guests have actually caught some supernatural phenomena in their pictures. If you find anything of the sort, Id love you forever if you emailed them to me. Thats about it. We ready to begin? More nods answered, so Remy swept backwards and beckoned her guests through the gaping doorway .

Although shed been at Carrow for close to an hour before the tour started, Remy had purposefully turned off the lights in preparation for her visitors arrival. She flicked the switch, lighting the foyer and bringing its treasures into sharp relief. The guests gasped and oohed appreciatively. Remy couldnt keep her grin off her face as she dipped into her theatrical voice a final time. Welcome, dear ones, to the dreaded Carrow House !

His Cold Eyes

R evealing Carrow House to her guests was one of Remys favourite parts of the job. The building was the perfect blend of decadence and desolation. She gave the group a minute to appreciate the cobwebbed chandelier suspended high above them, the magnificent twin staircase cloistered in shadows at the back of the room, the slashed portraits hung on the walls, and the mahogany armchairs that still bore axe marks .