An Arlin Mansion Curse
Based on a true story

It has been a long, tiring day. Julie and her best friends, Dakota and Stacey were going on a vacation for a week, staying in the Arlin mansion. They have been in the car for about 7 hours already. They rented the mansion for the week so they had it all to themselves. The ride wasn’t very exciting. When you look out the window, all you saw was that you were in the middle of nowhere. Just many miles of dead trees and grass. “Are we almost there?” Julie asked her parents. “Actually we just arrived,” her mom said. The girls all hopped out of the car. “Wow, it looks like something out of a horror movie,’’ Dakota said. “Yeah it really does,’’ Julie agreed. “Boo!’’ Stacey said suddenly from behind them, grabbing their shoulders. The girls both squealed. “Hey Julie, your father and I can take care of you guys’s luggage. Why don’t you all go explore.’’ “Ok, thanks,’’ Julie said. “”Hey, look at this path,” Stacey pointed out. It was a stone path leading into the trees. “Let’s follow it!’’ The girls took off, running up the path. It led up a steep hill, through the trees. It was a bit treacherous. When they finally reached the top, they noticed it was a clearing but it was also a cliff,aka, a dead end. If they went any further, they would fall to their death. It was at least a hundred feet high. “Woah, that’s a little scary,” Dakota said. “It’s also cool!” Stacey said. “Can we go back?” Dakota said backing away. “Sure” Julie said. Back down the path they went. When they finally got back to the mansion, and were just about to open the doors, a huge snake slithered by. Dakota screamed jumping into Julie’s arms. “Aw he’s so cute!” Stacey squealed. When they opened the doors, each mouth fell open when they saw the inside. Old portraits hung everywhere, all in those fancy huge golden frames. The floor was a beautiful, polished wood, but the hallways and some rooms all had nice red carpet. Then there was a really tall wooden spiraling  staircase. The girls all gushed over everything. “Hey, your room is upstairs. You are all three sharing, but it’s quite a big room.” Mom called from one of the rooms. ‘’Ok”. The three rushed up the stairs. Julie counted 73 steps by the time she reached the top. “Wow, there are so many rooms in this long hall. It could take us all afternoon to find the room” Stacey said. They all split up and ran from door to door. “Hey guys! I found the bathroom!” Stacey said enthusiastically. “Great. Now when I have to go, I’ll know just where to find it!” Dakota said. Julie continued to look. Walking up the hall she stopped at this particular portrait of a young woman, maybe in her 20s. Julie read the golden plaque under it, which read: Portrait of Maren O’Connell taken in 1773. Lived 1751-1775 and died here in this mansion due to thieves breaking in and murdering her. They say her spirit still haunts the place. Julie shivered when reading this. Trying to not think about it she walked two more doors down and found the bedroom. “Hey everyone, I just found it.” she said. The other two ran over and peered in. It was a big room alright. With victorian furniture everywhere and a big mirror that covered one wall. “Oh my gosh, this is perfect!” Stacey said. They all walked in. “The bathroom has a golden sink and toilet!” Julie exclaimed. “That’s just..just..nice i guess.” Dakota said sitting down on the edge of one of the beds. After settling in, it was time to head down to the grand hall for dinner. Dinner was nice, and then it was time for bedtime. Two days later. The girls have been having a blast in the mansion. Now it was bedtime. “Goodnight Stacey. Goodnight Jules,” Dakota said, flipping her lamp off and turning on her side. “Goodnight” both girls replied. Stacey went under the covers and dozed off. Julie lay awake staring at the ceiling. She just couldn’t sleep. About thirty minutes later, she decided she needed some water. Grabbing her empty glass, she tiptoed down the long hallway with a candle stick so she could see. After filling her glass from the bathroom sink she went back but stopped at Lady Maren painting. Maren wore a face that almost looked sad. Died in this mansion….spirit still haunts the place. Those words floated back to Julie and stayed there. Suddenly Julie felt she was being watched. Looking around, she saw nothing. Then she felt a light brush against her and the air suddenly chilled. “Why are you here?’’ Julie, heart beating fast, turned around quick. Luckily, it was just Stacey and Dakota. “Oh, uh, I was just getting water’’ Julie said. “Jules are you ok? You seem, well, I don’t know. Scared or something,” Dakota said. “Oh i’m fine. I must be tired.” Julie said. They walked back to their room. Julie thought she saw a weird shadow running across the wall. “Ok, my pillow is really flat and it’s bothering me,” Stacey said. She went to the closet and pulled out a spare pillow. “Hey, what’’s that?” Stacey asked pulling out a wooden board. “It’s an ouiji board!” Julie said. “Oh yea! I see that now! Wanna play?” Stacy asked. “Sure.” Julie said joining her friend on the ground. “No thanks. I can’t mess with that stuff,” Dakota stated, hugging her knees on the bed. ‘’Ok then.’’  Julie has played with ouji boards so many times. They took turns asking questions. About thirty minutes into the game however, things started going down hill. Julie started feeling weird, like she wasn’t in her own body or skin. Then she felt a rush of cold air go into her body. “Umm Jules? You don’t look so good.” Stacey said. “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I FEEL FINE” Julie said with a sinister grin. “No, I think you need to go to bed.” stacey said. “I’m good. DO you think I’m stupid? Because you are” Julie growled. Stacey jumped up and joined Dakota on the bed. ‘OMG SHE’S POSSESSED!” Stacey screamed. The girls watched in horror as Julie grabbed a candle stick and started to threaten to burn them. ‘’ Jules! Snap out of it! You know this isn’t you!” Dakota said, tears rolling down her face. ‘’SHUT UP!’’ Julie hissed. Julie knew this wasn’t her. It wasn’t and its not. She is trapped inside her own body while this demon girl controls her. She couldn’t control it. Stacey jumped up and tried to calm her down. Julie took down the curtain rod and started waving it. ‘’Ok calm down,” Stacey said, holding up her hands. “CALM DOWN?’’ Julie swung the rod and hit Stacey over the head, and killed her immediately. Dakota was in tears, as Julie approached her. “Julie, if you kill me, I want you to know, I love you as a friend!” Dakota said. Then julie set down the candle and used her fingernails which have grown three inches in the last 5 minutes, and murdered Dakota by cutting her deep. Julie then went and sat down in the corner. Three minuted later, the demon left and Julie was normal again. She got up and looked around, only to see she was surrounded by blood. Her fingernails were normal again as well. “Oh what have I done? My friends, my best friends are all gone because of me” Julie collapsed on the ground sobbing. Her best friends since preschool gone. All their good times are nothing but just a memory now. They are gone and it’s all her fault. When she was able to regain herself a little, she went and took a sheet of paper and wrote a note to her parents. Mommy, Daddy, I love you, but it’s time for me to go. I’m a monster. I love you. Love, Julie. One huge tear fell on the note and completed it. Then she slipped on her rain boots, as it has started raining, pouring actually. Thunder roared as she ran outside, up the hill, to the cliff where she and her friends stood just three days ago. All together. Backing up and running, Julie threw herself off the cliff, down hundreds of feet. The sad thing is, this is based on a real story. Now Julie, Dakota, and Stacey will haunt the mansion together along with Maren, while their true spirits are in heaven.

Real pictures:

One bed in the room

The hallway

Entryway(the original floor is no longer there, as it wasn’t safe for tourists, and it doesn’t picture the top of the stairs)

Maren O’Connell portrait

The Arlin Mansion