Mr. Linden’s Library

            There was a crunching of rocks under the Linden car as it pulled up to the Rod Iron Gate. Bella looked out of the car unimpressed by the scenery that stretched out before her. She stared uninterested at the vast wooded area ahead of her. Her dull eyes didn’t pick up the woodland creatures that scampered about. They couldn’t distinguish the beauty that filled the woods. Her untrained ears couldn’t detect the light pitter patter of the forest animals’ footsteps, or the faint gurgle of the lazy brook.

She turned her gaze to the medieval looking gate. The center bore the initials AL in fancy cursive calligraphy. The edge was decorated in vines of bronze. Golden leaves with silver veins stemmed out into a wreath outlining the center. Imbedded within them were slivers of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and countless other priceless gems.

            “Honestly Bella can’t you at least act interested?” Bella’s mother muttered as she slid out of the car then sashayed up to the gate. As she moved, her flowing black dress clung to her petit frame. Her auburn hair cascaded down her back to her waist. It looked as if her hair was a veil made of silk, flawless. She tentatively reached out and caressed the metal. “Bella, sweetie, could you come help me with the latch? It seems to be stuck.” Her mother called out. She turned to face Bella. Her appearance was stunning, yet surprisingly emotionless. It was made up of sharp, rigid angels, but could still make anyone stop and stare. Truthfully it was her eyes that dazzled everyone. They were icy blue; stone cold and hard as steel, shallow, with almost no depth what so ever. Bella stepped out of the car and shuffled over to the gate, no where near as graceful as her mother.

She struggled with the latch. She turned to her mother for help only to find that she had already reentered the car. Frustrated, Bella stepped back and slammed herself against the gate. The thin metal leaves crumpled, the bars sagged and bowed, and the latch buckled and fell to the ground. The gates flew open under the impact and sent Bella soaring head first into the gravel. Metal shards rained down, showering over her and pelting her painfully. She arose, mostly unharmed, and stumbled back to the car.

“Really, Bella, can’t you act a little more lady like? Frankly, Bella, it’s an embarrassment.” Her mother complained. “She wants me to be just like her.” Bella thought, mentally cringing.

The car continued to progress up the pebble path, toward the house. As they moved closer to the estate Bella began to notice some thing odd. There was a sense of evil lingering on the property. It was a suffocating sensation, as if the wind had been knocked out of her. A feeling of dread settled over her. Bella knew something was wrong. She glanced as her mother. She obviously wasn’t aware of the change. The closer they got the more anxious Bella became. Her heart sped up, her eyes darted back and forth, she could feel the adrenalin pour in her system. It took all her self-control not to jump from the car and run. As they pulled up to the old Victorian house a wave of numbness washed over her. Her heart slowed down, and she relaxed.

She looked around the grounds. The sights startled her. There were ornate tombstones and grave markers, and monstrous statues were everywhere. The pictures the statues made were frightful. They were scenes of the devil coaxing children into there hellish resting place, werewolves ripping the flesh off and gorging on its human victims, vampires piercing the neck of innocent young women, demons wrecking havoc on young men, witches cooking children in big black caldrons, and even ghosts taking over people’s bodies and leaching off their spirit.

The yard was in terrible shape. Leaves littered the soil, and the trees’ arms reached out to grab at the car. The wind whispered as it wiped through the bear branches. It moaned sorrowful songs as it skimmed across the crystal blue lake. The sun cast bizarre shadows that twisted and warped around the trees base.   

Her gaze drifted up to the gothic house. Hideous gargoyles stood guard by every window, and revolting dragons wrapped themselves over the high points of the roof. The house itself was colored in dark, rich pigments. Spider webs coated the openings and a bat circled the house. “Bella, honey, get out of the car, and go into the house. It’s getting late and your grandfather is expecting you.” Her mother said.   

As she stepped out of the car, she noticed that the bat was swooping down lower and lower. It dove straight down and began encircling Bella. Bella screamed an ear piercing shriek and began to swat randomly at it. It came at her bearing its fangs, hissing and clicking, before it finally left her alone.

She cautiously stepped up to the door and knocked on an old fashion rusted knocker. The door creaked open very slowly. She peered inside cautiously. “Hello, Miss Isabelle, won’t you come in?” a deep scratchy voice answered. An elderly man, dressed in a formal suit, stepped out into the doorway. “I’ll get Mr. Linden. He’s been waiting for you.” He turned and continued down a long dark hallway. “It’s only one weekend, one weekend.” Bella mumbled.

She stepped through the entrance. The door slammed shut behind her. She was enveloped in darkness. Her hand groped aimlessly, searching for the wall. “This way Mademoiselle.” The old man motioned her forward with his hand. Bella stagger through the gloom, trying to keep up with the old man. When she turned the corner she entered a room flooded with light and doubled over from the shock. When she had recovered Bella looked around the room.

 The site was just as bad as the yard. It to had status, but these were different. They weren’t scenes, although they were just as disturbing. Repulsive dragons, frightful demons, appalling devils, and dreadful skeletons adorned the room. Swords, with deadly sharp edges and glistening black handles, hung on every wall. There were dozens of them, each embedded with glittering jewels and engraved with disturbing names. Death Wish, Devils Dream, Evils Secret, Satin’s Revenge, and Lucifer’s Vengeance were the ones on the wall opposing Bella. There was a vast fire place, but even thou there was an enormous fire roaring inside; it gave off frigid waves of air. The room continued to chill and it grew uncomfortable very fast.

“Hello Bella” a voice spoke. Bella spun around and saw an old man dressed in an old fashion black outfit. Around his shoulders hung a sleek ebony cape. Bella’s Grand-Father. “Do come and sit down.” He murmured. She took a step back. “Maybe later,” Bella whispered “I’m kind of tired.” Her voice trailed off in to a breathy silence. “Then Allow Butler escort you upstairs.” Grand-Father recommended clapping his hands.

The old man that answered the door seemed to step from the shadows and appear next to her. “This way Miss Isabelle.” Butler volunteered. Bella followed him up the stairs and down a long dark hall. Doors lined the corridor. All closed. Except for one.

Bella left Butler’s side and entered the room. The walls were lined with books. Books, old and new, big and small, hardback and paperback, some bound in leather others in paper. Out of the entire collection one book stood out. It had a blood red cover made of scaly leather. Bella walked over to it and pulled it from the shelf. It was heavy and there was only one word on the cover. Labyrinth. It was etched in gold and shimmered under the setting sun’s last rays of light. She turned the book around in her hands. She was so engrossed in what she was doing that she didn’t notice that Butler had entered the room and now stood behind her. “I don’t believe that I lead you to the library Miss.” Butler announced. Bella jumped and almost dropped the book. “Really Miss that book shouldn’t be handled. Terrible things have happened because of that book.” Butler threatened, snatching the book from Bella’s hands. He reached up and placed it on the highest shelf he could. “Don’t come looking for it again. Now come along. You said you were tried, did you not?” Butler argued.

Butler then led Bella out of the library and in to a room further down the hall. When she entered her room her jaw dropped to the ground. It was nothing like the rest of the house. It was heavily adored with red velvet drapes and tapestries and had a warm shagged carpet. It had lamps, mirrors, and an antique looking dresser desk set. Bella walked in a Butler closed the door.

Bella unpacked and laid on the bed thinking. She just couldn’t get the Labyrinth out of her head. She was drawn to it. She had to have it, had to read it. She walked to the door and opened it a hair. Then a little more. Then more. Then more. Until she could peck her head out.  She looked back and forth. She saw that the hall was clear and slipped out. She slowly treaded closer and closer to the library. When she reached it Bella reached out her hand and gradually opened that door too. First a little. Then further. Until she could slip in. Finally, Bella was under the tall shelf with the book slightly hanging off the edge. She glanced around looking for a way up. Bella found what she was looking for. She dragged the chair under the ledge and climbed up. She grabbed the book and raced to her room.

Bella slid under the covers and opened the book. He had warned her about the book. Now it was too late. Once she started reading she couldn’t stop. She read until she fell asleep with the book open in her lap.

Once she was deep in sleep the book began to grow and sprout leaves. Soon vines emerged and began to coil there way around Bella. They pulled tighter and tighter. They yanked her in to the book and slammed her hard into the ground.  She opened her eyes startled. She stared in awe of her surroundings. The walls were thick strong vines and the ceiling was made of deep pockets of ivy. Bella stood up swaying. “Where am I?” She thought.

Bella shook her head to clear it. Her thoughts when back to the book she had been reading. “NO!” Bella shrieked. She was stuck and the only way out was to find the center. “How did they do it in the book?” She wondered aloud.  She reached out stroked the left wall. “If I keep my hand on the left wall I can turn around and follow the right wall back here.” She muttered, rubbing an X on the ground were she was standing. Bella Followed the wall marking an X at every corner she turned she went further and further in to the maze. After what seemed like hours she stopped and sat down in a daze. “Will I never get out?” she asked.

Bella sat slummed against the wall when she heard footsteps. She looked up startled. “Hello. Is anyone there?” Bella questioned “Hello…” someone answered. A young boy poked his head around the corned. Bella stood up. “Hi” she began uncertain “My name’s Bella. What’s yours?” The boy came into full view.  He had shoulder length, shaggy, blonde hair. His clothes were torn and tattered and it looked like he hadn’t had a bath in weeks. “I-I-I’m S-S-S-Sam” he stammered looking down at his feet. “C-C-Can you get u-u-us out?” “I don’t know the way out.” Bella said “sorry”

Bella and Sam wondered about through the twist and turns until they lost hope completely.  “So, now what?” Bella inquired. “Like I know.” Sam retorted. “He obviously got over his shyness” Bell thought. Sam stood up suddenly. Something small fell out of his pocket. They both lunged for it. Bella got there first. “What is this” Bella “Nothing. Give it back! NOW!” Sam bellowed, suddenly defensive. Bella fumbled with the fastener and it popped open. “A compass” Bella spoke softly.

Bella stood up and began following the compass. “Hey! Give that back!” Sam screeched, running after her. Bella stopped suddenly and Sam knocked into her. “Here.” Bella mused. “What!?!” Sam demanded. Bella pressed her hand up to the wall. When she pulled away the vines opened up in to a grand entrance. The book sat on a wooden stand in the center of the opening. Bella ran to it and opened it. Vines began sprouting from it and spiraling there way around her. “Sam” Bella shouted, hysteria rising in her voice. Sam ran toward her and the vines encircled him to. They pulled tighter and tighter and wrenched them through the book. Bella crashed back into her bed. Alone. “Sam” Bella breathed.

The door began to open. Bella shoved the book under the covers and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. “Miss Isabelle. Time to get up. Your mother’s here.” Butler informed her. He closed the door again. Bella sprang up and repacked quickly, got dressed and left the room. On the way down she stopped and put Labyrinth back on the shelf.

As she was loading her things in the back of the car she took one more look back at the house. It suddenly didn’t seem so scary. They pulled out of the gravel driveway and left the house behind. As she looked back at the forest she saw a shady figure standing, leaning on a tree. “Sam?” Bella sighed. “What was that Bella?” Her mother inquired “Nothing mother,” Bella said, looking back out. The figure was gone.

Ten Years later Bella was sitting in front of the TV when a news bulletin flashed under the screen. “Tonight Samuel Adams’ body was recovered after a two week investigation. The murder was apprehended and is now facing charg-” Bella turned of the TV wondering if it was the same Sam.

As she got ready for bed that night she picked up Labyrinth. She turned it over in her hands a couple times before putting back on the shelf and going to sleep.   

Reviews

[Weaver]

"Rod Iron Gate" - Is this the actual name of a place, or did you mean "wrought iron gate"?
comma after "out of the car"
"stretched out before her" - delete "out"
"Her dull eyes didn’t pick..." - This and the following two sentences are narrator intrusion - not necessarily a bad thing, but you need to be aware of it. Sometimes it pulls the reader out of the story a bit.
"Imbedded" - "Embedded"
"slivers of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and countless other priceless gems" - ...And no one has made off with these gems why? Could they be glass instead?
"Honestly Bella can’t you" - commas before and after "Bella"
comma after "out of the car"
comma, not period, after "to be stuck" - don't capitalize "her mother called"
"rigid angels" - "angles"
comma, not semicolon, after "icy blue"
"what so ever" - "whatsoever"
"no where" - "nowhere"
comma after "to her mother for help"
"thin metal leaves crumpled" - Is she that strong? Any metal sturdy enough to hold its shape for a gate's ornamentation is strong enough to withstand normal impact from a (normal) person hitting it.
"more lady like" - "more ladylike"
Her mother calls her by her name a lot; she's going to end up HATING that name just from the associations.
comma, not period, after "an embarrassment" - don't capitalize "her mother complained"
Exact thoughts work best when italicized - putting them inside quotes makes them look like the character is speaking them aloud.
comma after "closer to the estate"
"notice some thing odd" - "something"
"Bella knew something was wrong" - This sentence is unnecessary - you've already shown us that she knows something is wrong.
"glanced as her mother" - "at"
comma after "closer they got"
"she could feel the adrenalin" - "and she could feel the adrenalin"
comma after "Victorian house" (Ah. That explains the faux-medieval lettering on the gate: Gothic Revival)
"the sights startled her" doesn't fit with "she relaxed" from the previous paragraph. Do you mean "the sights surprised her"?
"There were ornate tombstones and grave markers, and monstrous statues were everywhere" - weak phrasing, but interesting details - try reordering: "Everywhere she saw ornate tombstones, grave markers, and monstrous statues."
"The pictures the statues made were frightful..." - "The statues made frightful pictures: scenes of the devil coaxing children into their hellish resting places, werewolves ripping the flesh from and gorging on its human victims, vampires piercing the necks of innocent young women, demons wreaking havoc on young men, witches cooking children in big black caldrons, and even ghosts taking over people's bodies and leeching off their spirits."
Really vivid imagery there - the long list works because it shows Bella being a bit overwhelmed by all of it. Under the circumstances, perhaps "surprised and disturbed" would best describe the effect the statues have on her.
"the bear branches" - "bare"
"It moaned sorrowful songs..." -combine with previous sentence - "through the bare branches, moaning sorrowful songs..."
"the gothic house" - In this usage, "Gothic" should be capitalized (refers to an era in history and a style of architecture meant to imitate buildings from that era)
comma after "coated the openings"
no comma after "get out of the car"
comma after "getting late"
"your grandfather is expecting you" - Nice surprise! I wondered what these people were doing at this old house - learning that Bella's grandfather lives here adds an interesting twist to what could happen next
comma, not period, after "expecting you" - don't capitalize "her mother said"
"she noticed that the bat was swooping down lower and lower" - "she noticed the bat swooping lower and lower"
"began encircling Bella" - "circled Bella" (a single bat cannot encircle anything except perhaps a mouse or bug)
"ear piercing shriek" - "ear-piercing"
"began to swat randomly at it" - "swatted randomly at it"
"bearing its fangs" - "baring"
"old fashion rusted knocker" - "old-fashioned, rusted knocker"
"The door creaked open very slowly." - Of course it did. We'd expect nothing else of a house like this, in a story like this: the slowly creaking door is a classic.
"deep scratchy voice" - comma after "deep"
"long dark hallway" - comma after "long"
comma, not period, after "one weekend"
comma after "This way"
comma after "she turned the corner"
comma after "When she recovered" (delete "had")
"The site was just as bad as the yard" - Technically correct, but I think you mean "The sight was just as bad as the yard." (what she sees, as opposed to the place itself, if you get the distinction)
"It to had status" - "It, too, had statues"
"Repulsive dragons, frightful demons, appalling devils, and dreadful skeletons adorned the room" - There are a lot of adjectives here that don't really tell us much about what the things look like. Why are the dragons repulsive? (Keep in mind that a lot of people find at least some dragon images appealing.) Why are the devils appalling? Is it just what they are, or is there something particular about these statues that makes them worse than would be expected from the subject matter?
"embedded with glittering jewels" - Not on the blades, I hope. Do you mean "embedded with glistening jewels on the hilts"?
"Devils Dream, Evils Secret, Satin’s Revenge" - "Devil's Dream, Evil's Secret, Satan's Revenge"
"even thou"- "though"
comma, not semicolon, after "roaring inside"
comma after "continued to shill" or delete "it"
"Hello Bella" - comma after "Hello" and after "Bella"
"an old fashion black outfit" - "old-fashioned"
"Bella’s Grand-Father"- "Bella's grandfather"
comma, not period, after "and sit down" - don't capitalize "he murmured"
new paragraph with "She took a step back"
period after "Bella whispered"
new paragraph with "The allow Butler to escort you..."
comma, not period, after "you upstairs"
"Grand-Father" - "Grandfather"
comma after "recommended"
"old man that answered" - "who"
comma after "This way"
comma, not period, after "Miss Isabelle"
"long dark hall" - comma after "long"
"All closed. Except for one"- Good use of sentence fragments
comma after "bound in leather"
comma after "entire collection"
"a blood red cover"- "blood-red"
comma after "It was heavy"
start new paragraph with "I don't believe..."
"I lead you" - "led" (unlike "read," the past-tense of "lead" is not spelled the same as the present-tense)
comma after "to the library"
comma, not period, after "Miss"
"announced" isn't the right word - perhaps "stated"?
"Really Miss that book" - commas before and after "Miss" (always use a comma or commas to separate a direct address from the rest of the sentence)
comma, not period, after "because of that book"
"Butler threatened... "Butler argued" - the second verb doesn't fit, and neither tag is even necessary - I suggest deleting both
comma after "entered her room"
"warm shagged carpet" - Could be trivial, but a shag carpet doesn't fit even with cozy Victorian decor. Maybe "plush Oriental carpet" instead?
"walked in a Butler" -"walked in, and Butler"
"and laid" - "and lay"
"Then a little more. Then more. Then more" -more good use of sentence fragments
"could peck her head out"- "could peek her head out"
comma after "When she reached it"
comma after "that door"
comma after "She glanced around"
"Bella found what she was looking for" - awkward - try "...a way up, and found one."
"He had warned her about the book. Now it was too late" - Why is this italicized?
comma after "deep in sleep"
"coil there way"- "their"
"around Bella. They pulled tighter and tighter" - "around Bella, pulling tighter and tighter"
comma after "opened her eyes"
"in awe of her surroundings" - "in awe at her surroundings"
comma after "thick strong vines"
comma after "Bella stood up"
"Where am I?" - italics instead of quotes, unless she says this aloud - don't capitalize "she thought"
"thoughts when back"- "went"
comma after "She was stuck"
"the only way out was to find the center" - How does she know this?
"She wondered aloud" - "she"
"She reached out stroked" - "She reached out and stroked"
comma after "keep my hand on the left wall"
comma, not period, after "right wall back here" - don't capitalize "she muttered"
"were she was standing"- "where"
"Bella Followed"- "followed"
comma after "followed the wall"
period after "every corner she turned"
comma after "seemed like hours"
"slummed against the wall" - "slumped"
comma after "She looked up"
start new paragraph with "Hello...," someone answered (notice comma after ellipses)
new paragraph with "Bella stood up"
comma after "Hi"
comma after "she began"
period after "uncertain"
new paragraph with "The boy came into full view"
"He had shoulder length, shaggy, blonde hair" - "He had shoulder-length, shaggy blond hair"
comma after "torn and tattered"
comma after "Sam"
comma after "stammered"
new paragraph with "I don't know"
comma, not period, after "the way out"
period after Bella said - capitalize "Sorry" and period after
"wondered about through the twist and turns" - "wandered about through the twists and turns"
new paragraph with "Like I know"
new paragraph with "He obviously got over his shyness"
new paragraph with "Sam stood up suddenly"
new paragraph with "What is this” Bella" - "What is this?" Bella asked."
Start a new paragraph each time there is a change in speaker.
comma after "with the fastener"
You should describe the object a little bit before you get to the part about Bella opening it. You don't need to say what it is, just say something like "it was metallic, a fat disk about the size of her palm" or whatever.
comma after "compass"
comma after "stopped suddenly"
Y'know, I'm not sure why they're arguing even before the matter of the compass comes up. And Bella taking the compass away - can't they share it, since both are trying to get out? - makes no sense, either.
comma, not period, after "Here"
comma after "When she pulled away"
"there way" - "their"
comma - or exclamation mark" after "Sam" (Bella shouting this)
comma after "Sam ran toward her"
"They pulled tighter and tighter and wrenched them" - You use a form of "they" to refer to two separate things here - clarify by changing it to "and wrenched Bella and Sam"
comma after "Sam"
comma, not period, after "your mother's here"
comma after "On the way down"
comma after "in the back of the car"
comma after "at the forest"
new paragraph with "What was that, Bella?" (notice comma after "that")
don't capitalize "her mother inquired"
comma after "Nothing"
"Ten Years" - "years"
"two week investigation" - "two-week"
"turned of the TV" - turned off" - comma after "TV"
comma after "for bed that night"
I'll be honest - I don't like the name Bella, ESPECIALLY for any story with supernatural elements. I do like that you've given the character a name that sounds a bit old-fashioned and elegant.

[mihir]

Really interesting story.
The plot is excelent, but I think you could do a lot better toward the end. it semmed like the end was a bit rushed and badly thought out

[Dilan Gray]

Interesting story. I liked it.

[Smiter19]

“I don’t believe that I lead you to the library Miss.”
I think thats a mistake the Don't?

"Bella walked in a Butler closed the door."
Another questionable sentence.

Nixie, I love you writing. Brilliant! As soon as i started i couldn't seem to stop. YOUR A WITCH!
Its a shame she didn't get to spend more time with her... Grandfather. Well You've inspired me again haha.
100/100 even if you have a few grammar and spelling mistakes haha.