Brahms Heelshire

Mr. and Mrs. Heelshire had hired you some time ago. They lived in a huge mansion with an even bigger garden. Your job was to keep the garden in good condition and keep rodents and woodland animals away. You did it without complaint, especially after seeing the generous amount of money the elderly couple was willing to pay you for a job well done.

There were other people working for them. A man, Malcolm, who was in charge of bringing the weekly groceries. And a woman, Greta, who acted as a nanny.

Greta's job struck you as truly odd. A nanny? And not just for any child, but for a doll. Malcolm had told you the story: the Heelshires had lost their son in a fire, and the doll was their way of coping with the grief. You understood, but that didn't make being around the doll comfortable. In fact, it gave you a bad feeling. The mansion in general gave you a bad feeling, as if it were hiding a huge secret behind its walls.

That was the main reason you preferred being outside, in the garden. Anything that kept you from being inside the mansion for too long was welcome. But it wasn't all sunshine and roses.

Mrs. Heelshire had houseplants, plants that you had to water. It wasn't a complicated task, but you always had to mentally prepare yourself before entering. The old wooden door creaked when you pushed it open. The floorboards also crunched under your boots as you approached the living room, where the plants you were to water were located.

For you, this part was always unnerving, because there was no one with you, but you always felt as if someone was watching you. And the silence became so heavy that you could barely bear it. You reached the living room and a sudden chill ran through you from head to toe. Whenever you passed by doorways, you felt a shiver.

But they paid well. That was your only consolation.