2:59

I moved into my dream house today. It was a steal of a price; a fully furnished, old Victorian country manor that looks out in the middle of the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. It is quiet - my nearest neighbour is a good thirty minute drive away - but I’ve always enjoyed my time alone. The house is a mess and looks like it hasn’t been lived in for years, with cobwebs, dust, and dirty floorboards, but nothing a good mop and a lick of paint can’t fix.

I’ve started unpacking the master bedroom. It is a large room with an ancient four poster bed and rich velvet curtains, draped across a dome shaped window over-looking the lush green fields. The room is dominated by an enormous old oak wardrobe, sitting in the corner opposite the window. The ceilings are the height of two grown men standing upon each other’s shoulders and the wardrobe nearly touches the top. The proportions are odd and out of scale; as it rises it becomes wider and leans into you, as if it is leering. Despite the beautiful craftsmanship, the wardrobe leaves me feeling unsettled. I’m sure it is worth a small fortune though, so I’ll sell it eventually. For now though, it serves its purpose. I hang my clothes in the wardrobe and put the rest in an old chest of drawers from my last place. I make the bed and then it’s time to get to work downstairs.

I decide to start cleaning the kitchen. It’s a real mess, but even in its grubby state I can see the potential, so I put my iPod on and get started. After a few hours of hard work I start to see progress, the kitchen now has a warmth which it didn’t before. I return to my room feeling pleased and reward myself with a long, hot shower.

Still smiling, I return to my room and see all my clothes scattered across the floor. My smile disappears. Fucking kids; neighbours must be closer than I thought.

‘You better get out of here or I’ll tell your parents!’

My voice echoes back at me. Silence. They’re probably long gone by now anyway. I set about gathering my clothes but after a long day I can only muster the energy to pile them next to the bed. An eerie feeling sticks with me though and I decide to take a walk to clear my head. I reach into my chest of drawers for a jumper; oddly they are all still folded neatly. After some fresh air and a solid day of work I’m shattered and happy to go to bed early. First night in my new bed and the mattress is so comfortable that I can’t keep my eyes open even if I wanted to.

Suddenly I’m awake. The clock reads 3.00. With my sleepy eyes I look at the bottom of my bed and to my horror a little girl is sitting on top of my pile of clothes. She must be about ten or eleven with long jet black hair. Her back is to me and she’s sharply jerking, in a sort of crying motion, but she doesn’t make a sound. I’m scared stiff, my eyes are watering with fear and I’m shaking uncontrollably. I have to get a grip; this girl is clearly distressed.

‘Hey, is everything alright?’

With that she stops jerking and slowly starts to turn. Her skin looks transparent, as if it hasn't seen daylight for years. I’m speechless, my hands start to clench onto the sheets. A cold sweat spreads over my body. Finally I see her bleached white face. She looks at me with huge black eyes but it is like looking into a void of nothing. I hear the pity in her voice.

‘Daddy says we’d be safer in there’.

Then with a sudden jolt I’m sat up in my bed, alone. I’m trembling in shock. I lay back down but sleep is near impossible after that fucked up dream. I looked at the clock. It reads 2:59 ... the wardrobe door creaks.