A short writing...

It's been awhile since I decided to write again. I'm hoping to get some momentum and some initiative to finish this story. I'm sharing this in hope that someone would tell me that I should finish this. Not sure, but knowing someone is waiting for the story to continue helps me get into momentum and start finishing the story.

Kinda long, but again, I hope that someone would help me get my momentum or groove back. Also, forgive me but I'm no pro when it comes to writing so I just write what I feel appropriate for the scene. Criticism and Corrections are highly appreciated.

Lucian was glancing once again at the open window in his office. The cold winter chill passes thru the window and blew on his pale white face. The dark night skies outside convey a rainstorm and yet it is already December. Rain at this season can only be a one-time seasonal mistake. Yet for Lucian, it bodes a coming change. His long legs, covered by a pair of black slacks, were perched above the table while he sat on the comfortable chair, looking at the bright lights outside the window as they shine inside the office. The lights inside his office are completely off which gives him a better view of the outside. Lucian always preferred the dark with a few lights coming from the outside. He can hear the noises of people and cars; passing in and out; as the rush of Christmas shopping raged on. Last minute gifts, last minute announcements, last minute for everyone to buy gifts. Lucian preferred to stay inside and enjoy the coziness of his office. Diane, his gothic secretary who’s an oddball at times, had gone out with Karl, his would-be assistant, apparently on a date. It was something Lucian orchestrated to have the night alone in his office. His deep, crystal blue eyes reflected the Christmas lights shining outside. There was once a time he had the holiday spirit, enjoying the hustle and bustle of Christmas and yet now, he glazes at it with an empty feeling. Again, the cold winter wind blew into his office and brushed his silver hair back as if it were hands patting him on the head. He could hear the wind, as if whispering. He closed his eyes, leaned back further into the chair, hands on his head. He took a deep breath. He knew he had a visitor. He heard a faint scratching noise. The visitor was so close, perhaps across him. Another faint scratch came from the next room. He continued to close his eyes and feel the presence of this peculiar visitor. Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the next room as it wanted to him to follow. The footsteps continued as he could hear it inside the very room he stayed. Lucian kept calm and didn't bother.

The window in front of him suddenly shuts down. Footsteps coming in from the other room grew louder as it headed out of the Lucian's room and into the next room. This interrupted Lucian with his thinking. He finally stood up, fixed his crimson tie, the collar of his white long sleeve shirt. He pulled out his pocket watch from his black vest to check the time, 1:01 AM, the witching hour it read. The walking became louder as Lucian gave a sigh, held his watch on one hand and moved to the next room.

It was empty.

He turned around and decided to walk back into his room. Loud scratches suddenly came from the door as Lucian knew; his visitor was leading him further. As he went to the main room's door, the scratching grew louder and louder as if there was someone wanting to claw its way in. Clearly from the door's cloudy window pane, there's not a soul in sight and yet the scratching and clawing continued. Lucian paid no attention to the noise and reached for the door knob as the scratching suddenly stopped. He opened the door slowly. No one was there. Lucian pulled his head out and looked at both ways, he found no one. An envelope hit his foot as he looked down and found it with his name written on top. He bowed down to pick it up, as behind him, a woman in an old bridal gown, stood a few lengths behind him inside the room. She was wore a stained, tattered and damaged gown, as she reached out to Lucian. She had a pale face, and her completely black eyes stared at Lucian as she tried to scream and call out to him. Lucian took the letter and went back inside, closing the door. No one was inside when Lucian turned around. He went back to his chair, sat down and placed the envelope on the middle of his desk and put his arms on the table, his head resting on his hands as he looked at the letter. It was an invitation. Lucian took the letter and opened the envelope and found a piece of paper with an address, hand-written finely.

"I guess we're spending the weekend there," he uttered. A faint smile appeared on Lucian's face as the ghostly bride floated above his shoulder, looking at the paper on his hand. Lucian turned his head to his right to face her but no one was there. Lucian chuckled, and leaned once again on his comfy chair; he lifted his feet and placed them on his fine oak office table again as the cold wind rushed in from the open window across his room. "Santa Claus is coming to town," Lucian hummed to the tune as he placed his hands together above his stomach and calmly closed his eyes. The dark sky continued to cover the night, and the Christmas carols played outside while Lucian fell sound asleep with a smile on his face.

Morning came fast and it was already 9 AM. A scrawny young man with corn colored locks has tucked down on the computer and continued with his daily chore. His thick framed glasses reflected the report he was working on. On his desk, his name etched on a small wood plaque, Karl. On another room, a dainty woman, fashioning a maid like dress, continued to hum to a familiar Christmas tune as she prepared coffee and tea for her employer and colleague. White makeup, long and dark eyelashes, and red lips, black curly hair, black nail polish, this was her fashion statement and somehow no one bother to ask. She poured hot water onto two cups, placed a tea bag on each cup and prepared a small cup of coffee. She lifted the small tray, carrying her well prepared snack as she goes back to the main room humming. The silver haired benefactor continued to ponder in his office. Lucian was still gazing outside with the letter on top of his desk. Diane came in with tray on both hands, drops the tea on Lucian's desk and leaves. She goes back to the main room, drops the coffee on Karl's desk who smiled at least at Diane's effort. She goes back to the pantry and continued her own set of chores. Tons of paper work to be done and still, Lucian is out, his mind still wandering about. Karl, a little unhappy with the paperwork, could only continue to work on the documents that had been addressed to their office. A soft knock suddenly stalls his busy body as he looked around with no one else willing to open the door. Karl reluctantly went to the door to see who it was. A tall figure can be made out behind the cloudy window pane as Karl opens the door.

"Is this Detective Lucian Ferral's office?" A tall British man, carrying a small leather suitcase and cane, inquired. Karl, looking at the man from head to foot, could only guess that this man is not here to sell any goods. The man wore a fine black suit together with a fedora hat and a finely tied bow tie around his neck. The man gave a sophisticated appearance as he carried himself tall and elegant. The man suddenly coughs, "It is not polite to stare young man." The tall lean man informed Karl with his husky tone as Karl offered him to enter the small office. "I'm looking for Detective Ferral. Is he around?" the man continued to ask. Diane came out of the small pantry to see that they have company.

"Oh my, I didn't expect us to have a guest early this morning," She softly spoke with her cute dainty voice. The man took off his hat and bowed at the lady. Diane returned with a bow of her own. "Would you like some tea?"

"I would be delighted but my apologies madam, I am looking for Detective Lucian Ferral," the man calmly rejected the offer.

Diane smiled, "Please follow me." She led the guest to Lucian's office that was just across as the detective was still staring outside with no signs of returning to ground. "Lucian, we have..." Lucian raised a finger, halting Diane before she can continue and offered a chair to their guest while continuing his stare outside. Lucian turned his head to the man, who sat onto the chair he offered.

"What can I do for you?"

The man pulled out from his leather bag a folder with a bunch of printed documents filed inside. He was about to place it on the table when the man noticed the piece of paper on top the table.

"An invitation?" The guest inquired as Lucian smiled and offered to take the file instead of placing it on the table. "May I ask if this was sent by someone in particular?" Lucian kept the smile on his face as he opened the folder and breezed through the file. A picture of a lovely mansion was in the middle of the folder as he took it out and placed it on the table. Another picture of a lovely couple and two women were also found on the folder. "My employer wishes to hire you."

"What for? Your employer seemed to know more than I do judging from this record you just handed to me," Lucian returned with a question to their guest.

"You see, my employer, Mr. Raymond Ashter would like to procure that house you are looking at, but apparently we have... gone into a small problem," the man uttered with a deep emphasis on their problem. "We had made bids to this house and land but all of a sudden, we received word that the owner suddenly declined. We didn't hear any word from the owner and started to worry. Well, my employer started to worry. We then receive news that some of the bidders and a few more people were invited to spend a night at the mansion as guests," Lucian knew where this is leading; "I assumed that the invitation was also sent to you by the owner." Pointing out the letter on the table as Lucian found the same envelope inside. "Mr. Ashter is a busy man could not accommodate the request of a personal visit. He is worried that only invited and present guests are allowed to make bids on the mansion and land. He would like to request for you to visit and bid on his behalf. He would be glad to pay for your travel and services if you are... willing to accept, that is."

"It'd be nice to go on a vacation!" Lucian shouted. "Isn't it?" He knew there were ears listening to their conversation as Karl and Diane went back to their work, seeing Lucian was onto them. "What do we need to do?" Lucian asked as he faced the man with a cold smile.