A Time of Yesteryear

The lush grass swayed subtly to a passing gust of wind.  A trail of ivory silk flowed from Madeleine’s long skirt, dragging against the ground.  She heaved a sigh of reluctance and took a single step along the trail.   A weathered path of stone wound around the outstretching lawn.  It lead beneath a canopy of tightly spaced trees, whose branches cast eerie shadows against the ground.  With a growing sense of inner courage, Madeleine proceeded to the rather creepy castle.  
       A low-standing window was set into the exterior of the spacious castle.  It was blocked by tangled, unkept weeds, stretching across the stone surface.  The young girl brushed a spider web off of the seat below the barred window, and perched herself upon it.  She was familiar with the widely known legend amongst the townsfolk, of a haunted castle set atop the highest hill west of Kempton Creek.  Madeleine was of the fearless sort, however.  She needn’t worry herself with petty myths spread about by word of mouth.
       Beyond the dusty window pane, covered with thick, steel bars, an unlit parlor remained.  The castle hadn’t been a home to anyone for decades, perhaps even centuries.  The door was locked, and the welcome mat wrinkled and overturned.  Madeleine winced, so as to capture a better view of the parlor’s interior, but her attempt was unsuccessful.  She fetched her lantern from its spot beside her, holding it up to the inset window.  The flickering flame dimly illuminated her surroundings, enough so that Madeleine could catch a vivid view of the parlor’s interior.

The young girl took a sudden gasp, holding her trembling palm over her mouth.  “Who ... ?  How ... ?”  She stuttered.

       On the opposite side of the window, a couple danced across the hardwood floor.  A series of perfectly aligned chandeliers hung from the ceiling, adding a sumptuous touch to the sizeable parlor.  They were dressed in formal attire, which looked as if it could very well be from a former century.  The woman wore a full-length dress, lined in lace, pearls hanging down the front.  Her dancing partner was dressed as peculiarly as so, in a tightly fit vest with glossy, brass buttons.  The danced to a seemingly slow tune, one of which was imperceptible from where Madeleine stood.  Though the young girl was in plain view of both of the mysterious people, it didn’t appear as though either of them so much as acknowledged her existence.
       It was in that very moment that Madeleine paused, and took a moment’s time to let the sight of this sink in.  She blinked in befuddlement, and quickly shifted her attention back to the tall, glass window.  To the young girl’s great despair, however, nothing was there.  The faint light which streamed from the lantern’s flame depicted only an empty parlor, occupied with splintered furniture scattered freely about.  Madeleine scanned the window with great disappointment, and turned away, resting her chin in her hands.


“This castle holds memories of the sort which cannot be erased.  The years which have elapsed mean nothing ... for neither time nor mankind can take back what will forever inhabit this castle.”  She peered up into the open sky and smiled.  “The good old days of yesteryear.”