England, 1870.

It was a very stormy night. I tossed and turned once again in my bed. The rain fell in great torrents outside my window, and it seemed to be the cause of my restlessness.

I opened my eyes to my dark room; the occasional flash of lightening, and sound of thunder gave an eerie air around me. For some unknown reason, a terrible feeling plauged me, and yet, I could not begin to phantom it.

Feeling tired of forcing myself to sleep, I decided to get out to bed to do some reading. I lighted an oil lamp beside my bed, and putting on my slippers, I left my room.

Walking down the seemingly endless dark corridors of the house, I felt like a tiny spectre roaming the silent halls of my home. Only the lantern I held gave a source of illumination to the dark, wide space around me.

Reaching the library, I entered the large room, which was filled with books at every corner. I smiled in contentment; at the place where I could recall so many cherished memories of wonderful stories.

I selected a book and sat down to enjoy it, but after reading a few lines, my mind began to wander. The terrible feeling of foreboding seemed to have surfaced once again, and I felt restless. I began to worry about uncle; whether he was well wherever he was.

Oftentimes, he goes away on business and doesn't return for weeks. I have often begged him to take me with him to his trips, but he always promised he would do so in the future.

As I could not seem to find pleasure in reading tonight, I decided to just roam around the house. I took my lantern once again and wandered out of the library room.

It seemed to me that I had been walking for hours, as one does feel so if you walk in a dark silent place. It is like time seems to stop. It is in this way that I felt while walking through corridors after corridors, and it is in this way I also felt when I saw the dark shape of a person lying on the doorstep of my home.

A loud scream escaped my lips at the terrific sight that assaulted my eyes. In all my life, I had never had such a moment happen to me. As I stood rooted in fear, whilst regarding the body with wary, frightened eyes, it moaned and muttered some incoherent words.

It took me a moment to comprehend that the body called my name. Its voice sounded like that of my uncle, and I gingerly approached the body to behold in shock that it was in fact my uncle! I quickly set down the oil lantern and knelt to tend to him.

"Uncle! Uncle, what has happened to you?" I questioned him, whilst gasping at the terrible sight he presented. A sob began to rumble in my throat, and I rememberd my earlier horrid feeling.

I suddenly heard footsteps approaching behind me, and I turned to find a terrified and gasping Mrs. Butternut.

"Violet, what has happened??" she asked me as she came to examine the body that lay on the floor.

"My word, it is Edgar!" she gasped and spluttered, before gathering herself together.

"Quickly, let us take him upstairs and tend to him."

It has been three hours since uncle fell into a deep sleep. Now, even as I stared at his quivering brows and tousled hair, I began to worry about the reason for his present state. My mind began to form questions concerning who may have hurt him, and why.

Presently as I pondered these, my uncle began to stir restlessly. I was about to reach for a cup when he suddely grabbed my thin hands in his brawny own.

"Violet."

His voice was certainly heavy, though it seemed to be entwined with worry and fear.

"Uncle."

I answered to his whispered call, while I regarded him with worried eyes, and him, with scared eyes.

"Bring me my coat."

I stood up and brought him his coat, which was laid on an armchair by the hearth.

"Here it is, uncle."

"Reach into the pocket and bring the things inside it."

I did as he asked of me, whilst wondering the reason for his strange requests. I searched the pockets of the coat, till I brought out two things from them: a pocket watch and a sealed letter. I showed him these objects.

"Take them." he said, and it suddenly seemed to me that his voice had grown weaker. "Keep them. You will understand soon."

I looked at the objects in my hands, mystified by my uncle's words.

"Whatever do you mean, uncle?"

He once again touched my hands with his. His eyes looked very sad and regretful.

"There are things Violet....things you do not know. Promise me you will always keep out of harm."

Though I could not begin to comprehend my uncle's words, I hastily replied him.

"I promise you, uncle."

He seemed to relax a bit before muttering: "I do not think I shall live a long time now."

"What?"

A terrible shock ran through me at his grim words, and I began to feel a great wave of sadness and despair overwhelm me. Thoughts of why he had been acting out of sorts all night began to plague my mind, and the horrid feeling of foreboding I felt intensified.

"Please uncle, do not say such things."

I held his hand in mine, only to notice his drooping eyes and slumping posture.

"Uncle? Uncle?"

I shook him, only to come to the realisation that he had gone unconscious. Fear of losing him to death took over me, and I screamed his name loudly. And as I did so, suddenly, I saw a transparent form begin to rise out from his body.

I stood back in utmost terror, with the tears from my eyes still fresh on my face. I could not begin to comprehend the queerness of the situation, and the mere impossibility of the happening in front of me.

"Violet, Violet, what is it? Is Edgar alright?"

I could hardly feel anything as Mrs. Butternut shook me, before running to Uncle Edgar. I only stared and stared at the transparent form of my uncle, which now stood and stared back at me.

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