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Chill bumps form on my arms. Has the temperature dropped that much?
I roll down the window and a cold breeze blows into the car. My cheeks redden from the frigid wind and my breath is visible when I exhale through my mouth. I roll the window back up and turn on the heat.
I turn to see that Ed appears to be cool, calm, and collected like the summer heat didn’t just turn to winter frost.
“This is weird, isn’t it?” I try to get him to talk, but my attempt fails once again.
“Hmmph.”
That’s it? No thoughts or explanations?
The gravel road ends at a large pair of iron gates. I park the car and get out. Cursing my summer attire.
When I got dressed this morning it was warm and sunny. Never in a million years did I think I would be less than fifteen miles away from home and be in the middle of winter.
What is going on?
Shivering, I put my keys and wallet in my shorts pockets and pull open one of the iron gates and step inside with Ed following close behind me.
“Is Dad here?” I motion to the large vine-covered mansion that looks down on us.
He nods but still refuses to speak. His gaze darts all around the barren yard. It looks more like a horror movie set than it does a front yard.
The stone walls are covered with vines. Dormant bushes and trees are scattered throughout the yard.
A dull glowing light draws my attention to the side of the house. Or should I refer to it as a castle?
Craning my neck, I spot a tower in the distance. Yep, this is a castle. When did our town get a castle?
Continuing through the yard, I climb the steps to the front door.
Turning around, I see that Ed is still clinging to the gate.
“Are you coming?”
He looks around before whispering, “No, I’ll stay out here.”
“You will freeze.” I dig into my pocket and grab my keys. “Here, you can wait in the car and stay warm.”
“Be careful.”
He looks worried, but turns around and jogs back to the car.
Turning my attention back to the task at hand, I bang on the giant wooden door.
I wait several moments before banging again.
If Dad is here, why isn’t anyone answering the door?
I press my ear against the door to listen for noises inside.
Nothing.
It is as eerily quiet as a ghost town.
I remember the glowing light on the side of the house, so I walk down the stone steps and walk towards the light.
At the corner of the house, hidden just behind a waist-high ivy-covered stone wall is one lone rose bush with one glowing red rose.
