No! It can't be! I slammed on my car brakes. Damn, as a child I'd spend summers with my grandfather, a mile down the road. We'd drive past the old Warner estate often, but never at night. Only during the day. At night, Gramps would drive the long way home, by old County Road H. Added a few miles, but he always said best not to tempt fate. As a modern world-citizen, I didn't believe in fates to be tempted. I did as I damn well pleased, driving past the old Warner estate in all kinds of weather, day or night. Err, of course I lied to my grandfather, saying that I didn't - no point worrying him! And tonight, I'd not only driven past, but foolishly STOPPED when I saw what couldn't be true! But there she stood, a beautiful child. Warner's granddaughter? I'd seen 100 year old black and white photos of her, but never color. Here she was in color, softly lit. So color ... meant I wasn't dreaming? She looked good for being 110 years old! Yet the craziness didn't stop there. The gate was open ... but three years ago I'd helped my grandfather weld the old iron gates closed! Local teens kept cutting the chains, going into the old house for a dare - not all of them came out again. He'd said "No one has any business going in there!" In fact, this morning, my grandfather had mentioned to me that last night the gates had been set aflame again. Iron gates burning? Had to be kids playing pranks! A can of gasoline to give the old locals something to talk about. My grandpa dismissed this, saying he would have smelled if gas had been used. No, he grinned, saying, the gates burned whenever the vines grew too dense; he joked that the ghosts of the old manor liked to see who was driving by - which was why he never drove by at night. I'd just smiled. No one really believed the old house was haunted, did they? I certainly didn't. Then the ultimate insanity - I could see the old mansion through the gate ... but that was impossible. A violation of physical laws! No one could see the house from here! Too many trees and hills were in the way. For cry'n out loud, the damn house was nearly a mile into the old estate, down a long winding road! You couldn't see it from ... ... then I notice the child had started walking towards my car. After a moment's panic, I took my foot off the brake, stomping on the gas. Instantly, the car engine died! Utter silence surrounded me. Even the sounds of the wind and night had vanished in the eerie calm. I opened my car door to run, but my seat-belt wouldn't unfasten. The child was getting closer, her hand stretched out. Damn seat-belt! The button pushed. The F*er clicked, but it won't release ... Credits: [PP2014/10 and GIMP][G2F, Scaled and tweaked][Ciara Hair][Fayre Dress for G2F][Curious Gateway]