Empty Castles

A tall iron gate, about 15 feet tall encloses the castle, scaring most wanderers who may stumble upon the beautious building away. Those who happen to linger long enough to locate the lock and key must push the heavy gate open in order to get through. The castle is a bit of a distance from the gate, as it is also surrounded by a deep moat. Those interested enough in the mystery of the seemingly abandoned castle may choose to build a bridge to get across it. Many have tried. Many have given up. A few adventurers have chose instead, to swim across the moat, completely unaware of the inhabitants of the man-made lake. To their chagrin, leeches stuck to their skin, sucking the blood from their bodies and depleting them of energy. Some would manage to escape the moat while some were not so fortunate. The persistent however, would complete the bridge and make it across the moat. The distance from the moat to the castle entrance is not a long one and it is quite the nature walk. A beautiful, striving garden makes its home the front yard. Roses, magnolias, sunflowers, begonias, blue-bells, carnations, daisy's and a number of other plants and flowers paint the scene with color and life. Birds chirp songs at day break, providing a soundtrack for the day. When the sky fades to a dark shade of blue, the moon shines brightly, giving light to the creatures of the night as they dance beneath the stars. Owls hoot and crickets chirp in perfect harmony with the wind brushing past the trees. The castle itself, still a bit far but close enough that you can see the moss and ivy growing up its walls, the stained glass windows, and the immense wooden door, serves as a backdrop. Some get lost in the image of the beautiful garden and the thought of the wonders of the castle. They end up staying in the front yard, becoming closely acquainted with the life outside. That is enough for them. The extremely curious, however, those who care enough to know the contents of the castle, push on. After being distracted by the wonders of the garden, they carry on to the castle. To their disappointment they would come to find the door locked. After searching for a key to unlock the iron gate, building a bridge to cross a moat, and prying themselves from the trap of the garden, they are infuriated and turn back around. With distasteful thoughts on the castle, they leave, cursing the entire property in their mind, burning their bridges behind them. All for the better of course, for the disappointment of not finding a key to the door is less of a disappointment than if, say, they were to find a key. If they were to find the key, they would have opened the door, perhaps expecting a glorious mansion of a building. Instead, the furniture in the castle is torn. The curtains hanging from the windows have burn holes. Glass shattered on the ground. The wood on the floor would easily splinter a barefoot and creaks loudly under every footstep. The castle is cold and the light does not work. It is hard to say what might of happened to the castle for it to be in that condition. One might say years of misuse. It smells of mold and cobwebs cover every corner. If one were to make it inside the castle, they would be disgusted by the mess and they would turn around to join the others who have tried and who have failed. With an even greater feeling of disappointment than the rest, despite having accomplished what none of them did by actually making it inside the castle, they would speak to others that they may run into who are about to attempt the same mission. "Don't bother, its a waste of time. Go back to your own home. There's no hope for that place." For there is not. The owner of the castle lives alone in the attic. The owner watches from the window the pitiful efforts of her unwanted visitors. If one were to ever make it inside the castle, she would not go downstairs to greet them. For she knows as well as her curious visitors that there is no hope for the castle. That it is a waste of time. That it is not to be bothered.