Last Christmas

Stavely Hall had been empty since the early 2000s, it had most recently, years before that, endured a protracted renovation. There had been ambitious plans to create a luxury spa, but the works were bedevilled by accidents and contractors folding, to the point it was simply abandoned. This glorious home of 300 years was neglectfully left to collapse while TikTok ghost-hunters and urban explorers gloated at its sorry decline. Denny-Z was no exception. He needed Christmas content, and Stavely’s tragic tale of the wronged housemaid was perfect.

Lucy Clough was accused of stealing three silver knives on Christmas Day 1919, the inebriated master of the house had challenged his longstanding butler to find the culprit or face his own sacking. Panicked, the dour-faced butler hastily accused a young, inexperienced maid, who, after being confronted, threw herself from the top of the grand staircase onto the hard, tiled floor of the entrance gallery.

“I’m here, while you guys enjoy your turkey and roasties, at Stavely Hall to find Lucy.” Denny-Z chirped. “In the last video, we heard from retired builder Neil that mishaps befell the foreman in particular when they worked on this site. Apparently, there’s always activity on Christmas Day, so here I am.”

Denny-Z, wrapped in a yellow padded jacket and thick woollen hat, climbed the condemned, curved staircase towards the upper landing. Above, jagged holes yawning in the roof poured mottled midwinter light onto the grimy tiles, which were pooling with brown sludge. The steps creaked with each of his careful treads, breaking the still silence. Suddenly a rustle from above. A desperate whisper drenched in sobs.

“There are too many forks!”

Denny-Z looked up into the darkness. There, at the top of the stairs, leaning over the balcony, she stood. He flashed his phone around, desperate to catch her image. Before he could focus, there was a flurry and she tumbled over disappearing into the darkness beneath. Denny-Z darted to the top of the stairs and looked down. Suddenly, he sensed something behind him. He turned to see the hands of the rage-filled butler reaching towards him.