I don’t like being alone

The face I meet inside is not as scary as the ones etched on the gate. She has pale, alabaster skin with a wide-eyed innocent look. I wonder aloud how she lives alone in that expansive space. I expect fear in her eyes, but surprisingly, she looks okay with it. Born to the manor, perhaps, but to whom?

She makes no effort to answer my unspoken questions, but insists on walking along with me to the gate.

“Somehow, I like you”, her words are what I longed to hear, but the expression does not look so benign.

“The faces you see on the gate had once walked inside, just like you did. But I will give you a chance. Walk out before the sun sets, if you wish. Nobody goes out after that. I don’t like being alone here, and need people to guard me.”

Thursday photo prompt: Invitation #writephoto