My curiosity got the better of me, and I swiftly follow her. She leads me to a towering door, gilded with intricate patterns. When she moves to open the doors, worry overtakes me, what if my uncle hears the door open? What if he catches us? What if he punishes me?
I silently chide myself, these thoughts weren't going to help whatsoever. It's probably best for me to just trust that Lauren knows what she's doing.
Fortunately, it seems that luck was on our side, as as the door opened it made no sound. However, what awaits beyond the door takes my breath away.
Shelves upon shelves of books are stacked to the brim around the room. It's a sight to behold. My eyes widen with amazement, if you haven't noticed by my reaction to this colossal library, I'm a big bookworm.
When I was little I used to read books upon books to pass the time when my parents went on business trips. Mystery novels were always a personal favourite, I love how many plot twists there are!
Peering up at the ceiling I notice that every constellation in the sky has been recorded on it using small gemstones. There isn't really a word to describe the beauty of it. I identify a few constellations - Taurus over there, Ursa Major over there, and Orion's that one- before my train of thought breaks.
Footsteps begin to approach.
Fear envelops me like an old friend and I break out of my daze. The unmistakable heavy gait of my uncle is fast approaching.
Moonchild- I mean Lauren - grabs my wrist and sharply pulls me to a bookcase along the far right wall of the library. Her hand is freezing! But then again so is mine. It's a wonder this damn mansion is habitable considering how bloody cold it is!
She quickly pulls down a book titled 'The Devil's on the Prowl'. Quite fitting for our current situation if I do say so myself.
Once she pulls the book down, a secrets passageway is revealed. A bit cliché if you ask me, but who am I to judge when it's our only escape exit.
Lauren tugs me into the passageway as if I weigh nothing, making me almost collide with the wall. I open my mouth to protest, but she just glares at me and puts her finger to her mouth in a motion to silence me. I had no clue how I can see anything in this dim light, but I briskly shut my mouth.
I hear the bang of a door slamming shut and hold my breathe hoping that he won't find us. The footsteps approach. Shit. Please don't let him find us. I'm too young to die, I think.
The sound of the footsteps recedes and the bang of the door sounds. A sigh of relief escapes my mouth.
Lauren motions me forward into the dark passageway. This is where she murders me, I think, I can see it now. Jasmine Bennet. Age 17. Murdered. Murderer Unknown. Uncle grieves the loss of his niece.
My mind, being the reasonable thing it is, tells me not to follow her, but I guess my feet didn't get the memo as I continue into the darkness of the passage. I'm almost certain she's going to pull out a knife and stab me at this point.
After what seems like forever, we reach an oval shaped room, complete with an antique oak table, with a book encased in leather lying on it. Apart from that, the room is completely empty.
I pick up the book and flick to the first page. Diary of Andrew Bennet is scrawled on the page. Who knew my uncle kept a diary. Would it be considered as an invasion of privacy if I read it? Who cares anyway?
Before I read the diary, I remember the blood curdling scream from earlier.
"Hey, Lauren. I heard a scream earlier, do you know what it was?" I question.
The atmosphere soon becomes uncomfortable with her lengthened silence, but finally she speaks.
"That was me. You're uncle has a tendency to get, ummmm, unstable if I do something incorrectly."
Her eyes brim with tears, and I decide to not press the topic.
I give her a nod in understanding and return my attention to the diary.
I flick to some random entry in the book, my eyes devour the words.
I almost drop the book after reading the entry.