A story I made up... (part of it)

Dora’s Curse
Dora had always been a loner before she was found dead in her own room, naked and blood-stained.
The landlady, Mrs. Milton, was the first person who witnessed the ghastly sight. She had been irritated by Dora’s postponing the rent for three months in a row, and was determined to collect her money before Christmas. The shabby old lady put on her coat, with her worn-out walking stick in the right hand. She could barely breathe when she was climbing up the filthy stairs leading to the chamber her late husband left her when he died out of a mortal disease. While she was struggling to ascend the seemingly-endless staircases, she regretted bitterly about having let out this eccentric young woman her property. “I should have not trusted that ungrateful slut! Talk about lousiness! Heaven knows what that eerie girl has been up to all these days! I should break down that cursed door and kick her out today!” Mrs. Milton hissed outrageously to herself, and her whole body trembled because of the exhaustion. She remembered how awe-struck she was when she first met Dora, who appeared at her doorstep in one chilly morning wearing only a torn-down dress covering her slender body. Black veil covered the face and hair of this mysterious guest; only a pair of green eyes could be seen. The young girl implored the perplexed widow for a place to live, and she promised to pay her decent money providing that Mrs. Milton agreed to let her move in that day. Mrs. Milton’s heart pitied this child who seemed famished and helpless, but her voice inside her head told her not to be an old softie. How can a girl who could not even feed herself pay the rent? Even though she was suspicious, she still took the girl who became paler and paler every minute to the location. Much to Mrs. Milton ‘s surprise, the girl gave her what she had promised shortly after she saw the interior of the room—an amount of money that would be able to sustain the living expense for the last half of this year. After Mrs. Milton carefully put the money inside her purse, she smiled and prepared to leave. It was at that moment did she realize how stunning her new tenant was. Dora’s beauty was the rarest gem of all the precious stones in the whole world: her burning red hair was splendidly shining with the gleam of ruby, and her breathtaking eyes gave those who looked upon them an extraordinary delight. “Thank you, Mrs. Milton… I should take good care of your apartment.” It was the last thing Dora said to her. Mrs. Milton signed as she thought about the unforgettable face. How she hoped things would not end like this? She had found the girl amiable every month she came down to pay her rent. Mrs. Milton had been curious about where she had come from? Why she come here alone? Had she any relatives? But every time a question was asked, it was answered by a beam of shyness. As time passed, Mrs. Milton’s attitude toward Dora changed gradually. First by several men who arrived at her doorstep and asked to see Dora, then there had been days when Dora did not come back for many days. When she came back, she looked weary and grim. She seldom went out of her apartment, but there had been times when a burst of laughter or a weak sobbing sound would be heard in the middle of the night. About four months ago, Dora started to come back after midnight, and slept all day. Dora had solicited herself from daylight, thus Mrs. Milton did not receive her rent.
Mrs. Milton’s legs grew feebler and feebler as she climbed more stairs. She had been avoiding any event that could bring to intense activity of the lower body with the terror of causing excruciating pain. She stopped in midway and gently rubbed the swollen feet. It was difficult to recall that they were in good shape once in her life. She had once been a charming girl who walked, ran, danced with most gaily mien. When her youth reached the loveliest time she received an extraordinary gift—a pair of ruby red shoes from Ralph Milton, a young man who had wooed her, cherished her, and doted on her with deep affection. Those were days when youth was the loveliest and life was full of rosy prospects. She heaved a sign and shook her head slowly. “Useless! Useless!” She
All her tiredness turned into excitement when she finally reached the door, but her joy was soon taken over by fear. The door which was in good shape when she decided to lease this apartment to Dora seemed dilapidated as if it had not been used for many years. In fact, everything around this space looked deserted and broken-down. Feeling creepy, she knocked forcibly on the door for several times with no answer, then she took out the keys she had kept for backup and opened the door.
To Be Continued…