Fated Desires

Cherry Dawson looked at the antique grandfather clock, the long hand ticking closer to the number twelve. The ticking noise was keeping the rhythm of her heart pounding. She was anxious and scared to be entering her new workplace. Who would have thought Cherry would end up here, cleaning and scrubbing the mansion of the prestigious Sparks family? The thought made her stomach twist in a knot. All Cherry wanted was to provide for her mother, a woman who had given her life and so much love.

But being here was the only way Cherry could think of to bring in some money, to ensure that her mother got the medical treatment she needed.

She had arrived early, wanting to leave a good impression, despite her nerves. She knocked gently on the front door, and was greeted by Mrs. Hettie, the head housekeeper. She was a tiny, elderly woman, whose face was lined with wrinkles, and her grey hair was pulled back into a bun. She looked at Cherry suspiciously.

"You must be the new girl," she said, in a voice that sounded like sandpaper. "I'm Mrs. Hettie. You're to follow my instructions to the letter, and not to step out of line. Do you understand me?"

Cherry nodded, feeling intimidated by the woman's harsh tone. She felt small and out of place. She followed Mrs. Hettie down the long corridor, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. They came to a stop in front of a large, mahogany door. Mrs. Hettie turned to Cherry.

"This is the main foyer," she said. "You are to keep it spotless at all times. It is the first thing that guests see when they enter the mansion, and it is of utmost importance that it is kept pristine."

Cherry nodded again, taking in the vastness of the room. It was filled with antique furniture, and paintings hung on the walls. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting rainbows of light across the floor. It was the most extravagant place Cherry had ever seen, and she wondered what kind of people could live in a place like this.

Mrs. Hettie handed Cherry a bucket and a mop, and showed her how to clean the floor. Cherry worked quickly, her heart beating in her chest. She didn't want to make a mistake. Finally, she was finished, and Mrs. Hettie inspected her work.

""I suppose it will do," she said, in a grudging tone. "Now, I'll show you the rest of the house."

They continued their tour, and Cherry's eyes widened at the opulence and grandeur of the mansion. Mrs. Hettie led her up the sweeping staircase, to the second floor. Here, there were more rooms, each more extravagant than the last. Finally, they reached a room at the end of the hall.

"This is the master bedroom," Mrs. Hettie said. "It belongs to Mr. Sparks, the head of the household."

Cherry's breath caught in her throat. She had heard rumors about Mr. Sparks, that he was a cruel and ruthless man. She had heard whispers that he had made his fortune through unscrupulous means, and that he was not to be crossed. But as she stood in front of his bedroom door, all she could think of was how she was going to keep it clean.

"Don't forget to dust the crown molding," Mrs. Hettie said, as she turned to leave. "I'll be back to inspect your work in an hour."

Cherry gulped, feeling a knot of dread in her stomach. She looked around the room, taking in the mahogany furniture, the silk sheets on the bed, and the crystal vases on the dresser. She took a deep breath, and got to work. She dusted every surface, swept the floor, and made sure that every inch of the room was spotless.

When Mrs. Hettie returned, she was clearly impressed. "Well done," she said, in a tone that sounded almost grudging. "You may have a future here, yet."

Cherry felt a sense of relief, and she hoped that this would be the start of a new chapter in her life. Little did she know that this would be the start of a journey that would take her to places she never could have imagined, and change her life forever.

It was only the first day, but already Cherry was feeling the weight of her new responsibilities. She was starting to wonder if she had made the right decision, coming to work at the Sparks mansion. But then, she thought of her mother, and her resolve strengthened. She would do whatever it took to make sure that her mother got the medical treatment she needed.

But as the days went by, Cherry started to notice strange things happening in the mansion.

She would hear strange noises in the night, and see shadows moving out of the corner of her eye. She tried to brush it off, telling herself that it was just her imagination. But then, she started to see things that she could not explain. One night, as she was cleaning the library, she saw a shadow move across the room. She looked up, and saw a figure standing in the corner, staring at her. Her heart started to pound, and she was too scared to move. The figure took a step towards her, and she let out a scream. The figure disappeared, and when she turned on the light, she saw that there was nothing there.

Cherry was shaken, and she wasn't sure what to think. She tried to tell herself that it must have been a trick of the light, or her imagination. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something strange was going on in the mansion.

As the weeks went by, the strange events continued. One day, when she was dusting the dining room, she saw a figure out of the corner of her eye. She turned, and saw a tall, dark figure standing in the doorway. The figure was dressed in a black cloak, and its face was obscured by a hood. The figure started to move towards her, and she felt a wave of terror wash over her. She tried to run, but she felt like her feet were frozen to the floor. The figure got closer, and she could feel its cold breath on her neck. Just as it was about to reach her, the sound of a door slamming echoed through the mansion. The figure disappeared, and she was left standing alone in the dining room.

Cherry's heart was pounding, and she felt like she was about to faint. She didn't know what to do, so she ran to her room and locked the door. She sat on her bed, trembling, and tried to make sense of what had just happened. She knew that she had to tell someone, but she was afraid of what they would think. She decided to confide in the only person she felt she could trust, Mrs. Hettie.

Mrs. Hettie listened to her story, and her expression was grave. "I'm afraid I have some bad news," she said. "I think you are being haunted by a ghost."

Cherry felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"The figure you saw, it sounds like the ghost of Mr. Sparks' first wife. She died under mysterious circumstances, and there have been rumors that her spirit haunts the mansion."

Cherry was shocked. "What do we do?" she asked. "I don't want to be haunted!"

"Don't worry," Mrs. Hettie said. "I will help you. There are ways to get rid of a ghost." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pouch. "This is a special blend of herbs that will help keep the ghost away. Put it under your pillow, and it will protect you."

Cherry took the pouch, and put it under her pillow that night. She lay in bed, and tried to relax. She was still afraid, but she was starting to feel a little calmer. Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, she heard a creaking noise in the hallway. She froze, and listened intently. It sounded like someone was walking down the hall, and then there was a knock on her door. She was too scared to move, and she waited in terror for what would happen next.

After a few minutes, the door slowly opened, and Mrs. Hettie entered the room. She looked at Cherry, and smiled. "There is nothing to be afraid of," she said. "I just wanted to check on you."

Cherry let out a breath of relief. "I was so scared," she said. "I didn't know what to do."

"It's all right," Mrs. Hettie said. "I'm here to help you." She sat on the edge of the bed, and took Cherry's hand. "Now, try to get some sleep. Everything will be all right."

Cherry nodded, and closed her eyes. She tried to relax, and soon she drifted off to sleep. As she slept, she dreamed of a peaceful meadow, with a warm sun shining down on her. She felt a sense of peace and contentment, and she knew that she was safe. The dream seemed to last forever, and when she woke up, she felt refreshed and calm.

Cherry stretched, and looked around her room. It was still dark outside, and she realized that she must have slept in. She got out of bed, and noticed that the pouch of herbs was still under her pillow. She smiled to herself, and decided to keep it there. She felt like it had protected her while she slept