I was suddenly overwhelmed by this desire to explore. To, may be, explore the unexplored. Just as though answering my wish, there appeared a small news segment about an ancient castle being opened up for the public to stay over for a month and explore. The lucky four groups that would get to stay there were to be chosen by an article writing contest. As good fortune would have it, I made it through the contest. Thus began the weirdest month of my life!
On a warm Sunday morning, we gathered outside the castle gates to receive our generous dose of do's and dont's before we kick-started our mini adventure. One look at the assembled groups was enough to make me comfortable. The group standing closest to me consisted of two photographers who looked extremely impatient to get started. Just farther ahead stood a group of four youngsters - Annie, Lucy, Jason and Dave, as I learnt later. And then came the noisiest group, a family of six people - mother,father and their four grown-up children. Now this great assembly made me seem like a 'loner' !
The first afternoon passed in a frenzy as each group tried to take up residence in the most interesting portion of the castle. I chose a room which had a great view of the faraway mountains shrouded in mist. The group closest to mine was that of the youngsters. The photographers and the noisy family took up quarters in the far end of the castle.
Then began the days of exploration. I was thoroughly enjoying myself. The room that I slept in seemed to hold a lot of secrets - secret cupboards, strange inscriptions, beautiful potraits of mystical creatures, antique furniture and much more. But the most interesting and strangely disturbing discovery that I made was a secret passage leading to - many parts of the castle! As the days went by I became more and more engrossed in exploring the passage, making rough maps and taking notes. Soon I had explored all but one room - a room which had been sealed shut. My better judgement told me that certain things were better left untouched!
When going out for my daily walk round the castle I always managed to gather information on what the other groups were upto. The photographers had literally captured every inch of the castle on their cameras (except ofcourse the secret passage!) and were now concentrating on taking pictures from outside the castle. The family had settled in to enjoy the feel of living in a castle, taking family photos and being noisy. If the family was noisy, then the group of youngsters were nosey! They kept prying on my work and could always be found hanging around my room while I was away.
It was during one such foray into my room that Lucy discovered my notes and eventually the secret passage so clearly described in my notes. She alerted her friends about her discovery and together they entered the passage. When I came back to my room I suspected nothing. But when I sat down to add a few more points to my notes, I noticed the missing pages. And one look at the trap door told me that I had some nosey intruders in my room!
More out of curiosity, than out of anger, I went in pursuit of the group. After one long hour of search, I found them near the sealed room. I hid in a dark corner of the passage and watched the youngsters who were deep in discussion. One if the guys then moved forward to fit mild explosives on the door. As the door was blasted open, cold musty air flowed out of the room. Everyone trooped in and stood around trying to get their eyes adjusted to the even greater darkness in the room. Jason tried opening the great windows, which would budge but little. Annie and Lucy lit candles. The room now looked far less darker and a wee bit warmer. Jason was admiring the paintings on the large wooden windows. Annie and Lucy were admiring the furniture in the room. Dave was busy trying to fathom the meaning of the incription written on the doors of a tightly sealed cupboard. Finally giving up on it, he tried to force open the cupboard. The cupboard doors began to creak slowly and with one more violent tug he managed to open it fully.
At first all seemed fine. Then, all of a sudden, a ruby red light shone out of the cupboard and a deep low wailing noise set in. Terrified I ran in to see what was actually going on. I was horror-struck at what I saw. An unknown force was trying to suck Dave right into the cupboard. Annie, Lucy and Jason were doing their best to hold him back. I ran towards the windows and tried to open it up fully. Something told me that warm sunshine would vanquish the dark force.
All the while we kept screaming for help. Just as I opened the windows and made myself heard to the outside world, I felt the force sucking me towards the cupboard. The noise had drawn the attention of the other groups who came running towards the open window. But before they could reach over to help us, we had been sucked past the cupboard doors. I was willing myself to open my eyes and defy the force in some way. The pressure was getting much too hard to bear. And with one final effort I opened my eyes......
And sat upright. I was safe in my bed at home, and it was the early hours of a Sunday morning ! It had all been been a dream. The weirdest dream ever !!
On a warm Sunday morning, we gathered outside the castle gates to receive our generous dose of do's and dont's before we kick-started our mini adventure. One look at the assembled groups was enough to make me comfortable. The group standing closest to me consisted of two photographers who looked extremely impatient to get started. Just farther ahead stood a group of four youngsters - Annie, Lucy, Jason and Dave, as I learnt later. And then came the noisiest group, a family of six people - mother,father and their four grown-up children. Now this great assembly made me seem like a 'loner' !
The first afternoon passed in a frenzy as each group tried to take up residence in the most interesting portion of the castle. I chose a room which had a great view of the faraway mountains shrouded in mist. The group closest to mine was that of the youngsters. The photographers and the noisy family took up quarters in the far end of the castle.
Then began the days of exploration. I was thoroughly enjoying myself. The room that I slept in seemed to hold a lot of secrets - secret cupboards, strange inscriptions, beautiful potraits of mystical creatures, antique furniture and much more. But the most interesting and strangely disturbing discovery that I made was a secret passage leading to - many parts of the castle! As the days went by I became more and more engrossed in exploring the passage, making rough maps and taking notes. Soon I had explored all but one room - a room which had been sealed shut. My better judgement told me that certain things were better left untouched!
When going out for my daily walk round the castle I always managed to gather information on what the other groups were upto. The photographers had literally captured every inch of the castle on their cameras (except ofcourse the secret passage!) and were now concentrating on taking pictures from outside the castle. The family had settled in to enjoy the feel of living in a castle, taking family photos and being noisy. If the family was noisy, then the group of youngsters were nosey! They kept prying on my work and could always be found hanging around my room while I was away.
It was during one such foray into my room that Lucy discovered my notes and eventually the secret passage so clearly described in my notes. She alerted her friends about her discovery and together they entered the passage. When I came back to my room I suspected nothing. But when I sat down to add a few more points to my notes, I noticed the missing pages. And one look at the trap door told me that I had some nosey intruders in my room!
More out of curiosity, than out of anger, I went in pursuit of the group. After one long hour of search, I found them near the sealed room. I hid in a dark corner of the passage and watched the youngsters who were deep in discussion. One if the guys then moved forward to fit mild explosives on the door. As the door was blasted open, cold musty air flowed out of the room. Everyone trooped in and stood around trying to get their eyes adjusted to the even greater darkness in the room. Jason tried opening the great windows, which would budge but little. Annie and Lucy lit candles. The room now looked far less darker and a wee bit warmer. Jason was admiring the paintings on the large wooden windows. Annie and Lucy were admiring the furniture in the room. Dave was busy trying to fathom the meaning of the incription written on the doors of a tightly sealed cupboard. Finally giving up on it, he tried to force open the cupboard. The cupboard doors began to creak slowly and with one more violent tug he managed to open it fully.
At first all seemed fine. Then, all of a sudden, a ruby red light shone out of the cupboard and a deep low wailing noise set in. Terrified I ran in to see what was actually going on. I was horror-struck at what I saw. An unknown force was trying to suck Dave right into the cupboard. Annie, Lucy and Jason were doing their best to hold him back. I ran towards the windows and tried to open it up fully. Something told me that warm sunshine would vanquish the dark force.
All the while we kept screaming for help. Just as I opened the windows and made myself heard to the outside world, I felt the force sucking me towards the cupboard. The noise had drawn the attention of the other groups who came running towards the open window. But before they could reach over to help us, we had been sucked past the cupboard doors. I was willing myself to open my eyes and defy the force in some way. The pressure was getting much too hard to bear. And with one final effort I opened my eyes......
And sat upright. I was safe in my bed at home, and it was the early hours of a Sunday morning ! It had all been been a dream. The weirdest dream ever !!
