A Moonless Castle

As a child, my mind always spun large, fantastic tales. Of mystical castles, maids and butlers who danced about as they waited on me hand and foot. Smiles were always on their face, and outside the enormous window in the ballroom, there was never a cloud in the sky.1

Nor was there ever a sun. It always was a bright night, with the moon full and silver in the sky, lighting up the otherwise dark castle.2

In this castle, it was just me and the "help" as they were so called, in their flowing dresses and coattails. We held parties just for me, and I was so very happy, all laughter and smiles.3

Then, these daydreams and dreams of the night faded as I grew to a teenager and began falling in love. I left the castle behind, with all the beautiful music and silent help.4

This is how I remembered these dreams for years and years, and I would smile each time I remembered them. However, quite recently I visited my mother in the nursing home that she was put in when I was merely eleven, as she had much medical difficulties, and had been very old upon having me; it was a miracle for somebody of her age to have given birth.5

Back on track, I was visiting her, and she asked me quite the peculiar the question. "Do you still have those nightmares?"6

I was confused by these words. "Nightmares? I always had good dreams as a kid, mom."7

This is when things got out of hand. "Yes, they started out well... but those dreams in the castle that you always had, they always ended horribly from what you told me..."8

I had absolutely no recollection of nightmares! I had always found it odd that I didn't have them like other children, so it was impossible.. It must've been her mind getting to her in her old age, so I smiled, and reassured her that I "no longer" had them.9

That night I went home and got in bed with my wife, who was already asleep, and the dream I found was something of a surprise.10

I was in the castle of my childhood, surely, but it was not the same at all. The moon no longer shown full and bright, leaving the ballroom dark, with only a single candle on the opposite side to provide any light. 11

The candle began to come closer, and a dear maid from the past was holding it.. Her name was Annabelle if I recall correctly. So I whispered out her name, "..Annabelle?"12

She said nothing, just continued her slow pace towards me. Finally, she was close enough to reach her hand out and touch me, though she didn't. She just stared down at her feet, her hair blocking out her eyes, so that I could only see that toothy grin she was wearing.13

Remembering my position in the castle, I huffed out my chest, and sternly said, "What is the meaning of this Annabelle?"14

The grin grew wider, and her head snapped back with laughter. "You left, master! Welcome home!" she said excitedly after a moment, and her happy-go-lucky smile from years passed replaced the somewhat frightening one... It must've been a trick of the light.15

"Sorry to have kept you waiting..." I played along.16

"Oh, it's no matter at all! You are a busy man after all... Now come, come, we have a celebration set up, we've been awaiting your arrival.."17

Grinning and remembering all the fun times I'd had in this world, I eagerly followed her out of the ballroom, and through the corridors. 18

It was silent as we made our way through the long, dark corridors, but soon enough we arrived in the dining room. I could see, for there were more candles, but all was still dim so I could only vaguely make out the outlines of the dinner on the table, and the butlers, maids, and chef that surrounded the table.19

"Welcome back~" they sounded all at once.20

"Ah, it's good to be back..."21

I could swear one of the butlers chuckled as I said that.22

"I expect a marvelous dinner, my dearest friends~" I chimed happily, truly enjoying the dream.23

"..Friends? Is that what we are to you?" a young girl, probably one of the maids' children that was in training questioned.24

I ruffled her hair. "Of course, darling..." She was precious!25

The silence was broken they all started laughing, and I reluctantly joined in. This was starting to get peculiar.26

The chef then began speaking, and the laughter ceased at once. "My food will not go to waste! Please enjoy, as we light more candles."27

I nodded with a smile, and sat down at the table, beginning the feast. Oh my, this sure was a splendid, better than any food I'd had in the real world in ages...28

The maids took a main candle and lit up candles all around the room as I feasted. Finally, I had finished off the turkey and mashed potatoes, and whilst looking up for something to drink, I noticed that all the candles had been lit, and there were paintings on each and every wall.29

These paintings were rather frightening to say the least. On one wall, the first painting was cheery, with laughter and one butler, I believe his name was Abel, was behind the piano. Then there was another of me where I seemed ready to cry with Abel gripping tightly on my arm, and the last painting was black.30

The next wall was of a young me following Annabelle through the bright corridors, happy as could be. The second was of me tripping into the dining room. The third, again, was black.31

The wall to my right had yet another child me sitting down to dinner, smiling with child-like dimples about. The second, my eyes were wide as the knife used to carve the turkey was hanging from my mouth. And the third was black.32

I looked behind me to see the final paintings, but the candles at that wall suddenly blew out, and Annabelle and Abel were above me.33

"We missed playing with you, master..."34

The rest of the light was gone, and I never awoke.35