The Phantom Manor
Written By Samantha Alban
Falling deeply in love, the two made plans to be married. The young couple sought Henry’s approval, but, Henry, enraged by what he thought of as a betrayal, vowed that he would do everything in his power to keep the two apart. He kept Melanie under tight watch, never allowing her out of his sight.
Months went by, and Melanie truly became a prisoner in her home with no chance of escape. But, in early 1860, Thunder Mesa was struck by a massive earthquake. Hundreds of townsfolk perished in the disaster, including Melanie’s parents; Arthur, crushed by falling timbers; Martha, of a weak heart. Though Melanie mourned for the loss of her family, she was finally free to follow her heart. At the encouragement of her betrothed, Melanie planned to flee the manor once and for all.
On the day, the young couple was to leave, Melanie eagerly awaited the arrival of her groom to be. As the hour of their departure passed, she became worried, but did not believe that Jake would abandon her. She vowed to wait for him. Hours turned to days, days to weeks, weeks to months, yet the handsome, young Jake never arrived.
When the gold rush hit Thunder Mesa in the mid-19th century, the Ravenswood brothers, Arthur and Henry, were sole owners of the Big Thunder Mine. While Arthur Ravenswood managed the family’s business ventures, his older brother, Henry, spent his days bullying and womanizing. Despite their contentious relationship, the brothers became extraordinarily wealthy, and ultimately built a grand manor on the hill overlooking the town.
When the brothers settled down, Henry and his wife, Martha, moved into the manor. Arthur and his wife, Gabrielle, remained childless until their death, but Martha bore a daughter, whose name was Melanie.
Illustrated by Kristen Watkins & Mina Flores
Melanie Ravenswood was the joy of the Ravenswood clan; her beauty was incomparable, her voice as sweet as a songbird, and as such, she was doted on from a young age. Nothing was too good for the young heiress, and every luxury available was bestowed upon her. Henry, a scoundrel and cad in his youth, became enraged at the thought of a man, behaving as loathsome as he had, taking advantage his sweet daughter. Fearing for Melanie’s virtue, he became overly possessive, forbidding her from leaving the mansion grounds.
And so, Melanie spent her days segregated and alone, her only companions were Anna and Jasper Jones, managers of the Ravenswood estate. Witnessing Henry’s treatment of Melanie as more of a prisoner than that of a daughter, the Jones’ secretly took Melanie with them on short outings into town. One afternoon, Melanie met a handsome, young train engineer named Jake Marshall. Jake was quite taken with Melanie at first sight, and a secret relationship grew.
Illustrated by Kristen Watkins & Mina Flores
Though his body was never recovered, rumors whispered that the evil phantom of Henry Ravenswood made good on his vow, even in death, bringing a terrible fate upon Jake, and keeping the young couple from being together. Despite a bleak destiny, Melanie never lost hope that one day her young lover would arrive. As the years pressed on, Miss Ravenswood remained at the manor, slowly cutting off contact with the outside world, yearning, waiting, for her lost love, alone.
Over time, the Ravenswood Manor deteriorated into what stands today, a broken shell of a once glorious estate. And although logic tells us it is impossible that Melanie is still alive after all these years, the townsfolk disagree. Tales barely breathed claim that Miss Ravenswood is still trapped, forever held prisoner by the malevolent spirit of her deceased father, Henry. The folks of Thunder Mesa say that on quiet, clear nights, when the moon is almost full, you can hear her soft, sad voice float out of the cracks of the old manor and into the crisp evening air, reaching far out into the darkness in search of her long, lost love.
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Illustrated by Kristen Watkins & Mina Flores