To whom it may concern,
If you are reading this letter then you are likely the new resident of 117 Barton Lane. Let me begin by saying that I am sorry. I did my best to make sure that I would be the last, but I suppose no one can foresee every eventuality. As such, I urge you to stop reading and LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Don’t think about it, don’t pack, don’t make any calls. Just put this letter down and walk out the door. There’s a chance you might still be able to slip away. Stop readying and GO! NOW!
If you’ve read this far, it means you either didn’t listen to me or the house wouldn’t let you go. If it’s the former, I’m afraid it’s too late to change your mind, as you’ll discover the next time you try to leave. If it’s the latter, welcome, you’re in unfortunately extensive company. I don’t know how many souls have been lost to this place over the years but its many. A single history is difficult to pin down, every thread always dead ending or contradicting each other. No one even knows for sure when this place was built. So far as the records are concerned, it’s just always been. Maybe it has, who knows?
Regardless, the point is people have died here. Technically most of them are missing but that’s just semantics really. The house took them and whatever that means, its wasn’t good for their health. And if you’re not very, very careful, you’ll be the next person to go “missing”.
Again, I am so sorry, I really did try. Whatever happens next, you’ll be on your own to make it through the other side. All I can offer you is what I have learned living here, the tricks that have let me avoid its traps for this long. Some of these are advice others passed on to me, others are things that I managed to work out on my own. I cannot say for sure any of them are the best or even the correct ways, only that they worked well enough to have kept me alive.
I hope they serve you well for what is to come.
Farewell. And good luck.
1. The fourth step on the main stairs creaks no matter how you step on it. Sometimes it will growl, especially at night. It is no threat to you and can be safely ignored.
2. There will sometimes be an extra door in the living room. NEVER OPEN IT. If it’s already open when you find it, do not enter the passage beyond. You can look if you must but DO NOT ENTER.
3. No, the corner of the room wasn’t always that dark just a moment ago. Learn to resist the urge to investigate, no matter which corner it happens in or how often it happens. Doing so never ends well.
4. Occasionally you may hear a bell ringing somewhere in the house. Immediately identify which room the sound is coming from and clean up the puddle that’s formed there. You’ll need a mop and bucket. I find its better not to think about what it looks like.
5. The things living in the yard won’t harm you so long as you don’t disturb the flowers. Sometimes they will leave gifts on the old stump. Always accept them by taking them inside. You do not have to keep them but make sure they don’t see you throwing them out.
6. Do not trust the mirrors, they lie.
7. The dog’s name is Duke. He is friendly and loves liver treats. There is nothing you can do about the smell but it thankfully doesn’t linger once he leaves. Sadly any skin or fur does so try not to tear off too much when you’re petting him. ALWAYS PET HIM.
8. There is a stone in the basement growing up through the concrete. Every week you must pour at least a cupful of water over it. If you miss a week, add a drop of blood into the water. DO NOT miss two weeks in a row.
9. Sometimes you will see a candle burning in the attic window. Whenever you do, make a cup of tea, doesn’t matter what kind, and leave it on the table next to that window. Remember to retrieve the empty cup the next morning. She dislikes messes.
10. Under no circumstances should you be FOOLISH enough to read random lists you found lying around that claim to be instructions on how to survive a haunted house.
11. Pay no attention to that sound of a door opening in the living room.
12. Don’t think about if this letter was ever real, if an author ever existed, or was this just a ruse to draw you in. Don’t wonder what kind of thing/monster/ghost/being/god might linger here to write these words into existence.
13. Do not turn around.
14. Never wonder, has anyone even died here? Is any of this even real? Have you just gone insane? Is there even a house at all out there? Is anything real that you don’t hold in your hands? If you looked in the mirror right now, what do you think you would see?”
15. DO NOT. TURN. AROUND.
16. Maybe it is just the house. A house left alone too long, left to rot, and creak, and crumble to nothing as the world went by outside. OUT OF REACH! Always FOREVER never ALONE ALWAYS! Maybe it’s the thing that went mad, watching, rotting, dreaming of things that it could never have. Can you imagine it? The rage? The hate? The horror? Want without action? Without means? The NOTHING! OF EXISTING!? To see all the world grow on while you stay? Forgotten.Unwanted. Alone? Alone. Alone. Alone? Alone! ALONE! ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!ALONE!AL-
17. Have you wondered? You probably shouldn’t.
18. You can turn around now.
19. Good luck.
20. Farewell.
END
