Brayden's POV
"I just got back to this Town and bro give me a break, it hasn't changed a bit since I left. Even the forests have got denser, it was such a pain to find my little, white house in these damp, green woods." I said in a dramatic way to none other than but Mr. Fred Davies, my younger cousin. Unlike me, he has always lived with his parents.
"Ughh you're so lucky, Brayden." Fred whined. Wait, this is lucky? "You know, we had never visited to our ancestral house in Calvin. Whenever I asked Dad about that "Royal Mansion" he just gave me the "oh not so great" hand wave, so I never got to see it. But you're allowed to live there, I'm JEALOUS", he shouted like a wolf and... hung up. 'If for once, you could've treated me like an elder', I thought to myself. But I can't blame him, we never had those brotherly get-together anyway. We mostly chatted over phone and the once in an year, my interference in their "Oh so Modest family."
I was 15 back then, when uncle decided to send me to New York to continue my studies. I never objected though. And why would I? After the death of my parents, there was no one who actually cared about me. That night, that horrifying night just left me with only nightmares, keeping me awake for countless nights. It was a torture, to keep reminding yourself the incidents and there was no one to tell me that 'It's fine, You're safe'. So I don't want to remember those bad things now, when I'm already Here. This is the place where everything started, 10 years ago. I lost my parents, my childhood and Her... Shaking my head, I looked for the keys in my pocket. I have been standing outside the huge rusted, iron gate for over 10 minutes and I didn't even realize that. So I got the key from my pocket, and put it inside the keyhole.
The gates opened with a thud sound of metal grazing wet, grassy grounds like those of the palaces during Elizabethan Times. On taking a full look of the view in front of me, I was dazed. If I say that it's a mansion, It'd be a Shame. It is so huge and enormous, I can feel that I'll have a tough time in finding the way to the kitchen as I can constantly feel this tightening in my stomach. I know it's not something I'm seeing for the first time but 15 years had passed and memories fade with time. With so much going in my mind, I started walking towards the giant house. I opened the wooden door. The smell of sandalwood and damp walls filled my nose. The marble floor was covered with dust. The house looked so aged yet a tinge of pride is still there in it's appearance. And here I'm completely alien to this magnificence, and dressed in a pair of ripped blue denim and a black full-sleeved shirt. I know Uncle never wanted me to come back here, it was me who forced myself to come back to where I belong. The copper vases, lamps, all antiques tells the story of my ancestors who had died in this house. I walked up through the stairs, staring at the giant portrait of my great grandfather. I wiped the dust from the portrait. The image of a brave, honorable soldier, who fought in numerous battles to save the County. It was all in the past. I felt my chest heavy. I realized that the sound of my foot is echoing in the spacious hall, and saying that someone is here to disrupt their isolated peace. "Sorry for that Old man", I muttered to the portrait of my grandfather. He always used to tell me about how strong and brave he was in the battlefields. He always wanted me to live a carefree life and not be caged in the royalty of their lifestyle. Maybe he would've agreed with the idea of me living in New York too. A carefree and spoilt life. I used to spent most of the time outside with my friends. Going to college on weekdays, doing late night parties, outings on weekends, same routine every week. I missed this calmness.
I threw myself on the large, king-sized bed, too soft and comfortable, and closed my eyes. I'm just too tired to do anything, after a 6 hours long journey. So I'll just sleep for an hour and then decide what to eat. And just like that, I drowned in a deep, peaceful sleep.
Suddenly, my eyes opened into the darkness. I looked at my phone "It's 8 o'clock already. Damnit I slept for a whole 2 hours. I need to clean these room, unpack my stuffs, cook something for my hungry stomach... O God I have so much to do and I'm having a bad headache" I panicked. I saw the window was open and the window panes were colliding into one another. The cool breeze felt nice. I moved to close the windows and... the curtains covered my face. I pushed it away from my face and pulled both the panes and put the lock. I noticed it was a full moon night and the clouds are dense. The town is a little bit far from these woods. Maybe tomorrow I can run an errand there, also I have to buy groceries and many other things as I'll be living here for a pretty good time now. I turned around and a shadow of someone just flickered near the door. I walked quickly to see who it was but there was no one in sight throughout the long hallway and it's just too dark. Aunt already informed me that the caretaker uncle will come by tomorrow morning, so I need to suit myself for the night. I walked to switch on the lights... and I came to the reality that the power supply is stopped since no one had lived here for over 15 years. I turned on my mobile torch and went to look for a candle or lamp. I placed every step carefully, not to trip over anything expensive. Well, I'm a picky and cautious person. So I just walked and walked and wait, 'Did I lost my way?' I thought to myself as I'm walking for too long than the time when I came up which was 2 hours and 15 minutes back. My one hand was on the wall, and my eyes wandering around to find the stairs. My eyes fell on a door at the end of the hallway. It was too dark to even locate the knob and the torch is of least help. Finally, I didn't find it and tried to push it open and bravo, it's locked. I turned on my heels just to twist my ankle and hit on something like a wooden button? I'm starting to see things now, I guess. I heard the door behind me opening with a wood-creaking sound. I turned back and it was Dark of course. I don't remember to have something like this here but yeah it had been a pretty long time and I was too young at that time. So I stood up and entered the room. I saw a lamp on the top of a table. Oh crap, I forgot the lighter in my backpack. Now I can't walk back to my room, by this long hallway, with my aching ankle. And now, I'm not in the mood to play Sherlock Holmes and find mysteries in this secluded, hidden room. So I took the lamp and walked out of the room, carefully locking it. I went to my room and lighted the lamp. I placed it on the dressing table. I thought that if I go out to do anything in this darkness then soon enough I'll find myself in a hospital. So I just started munching on some waffles which I've saved on the way. And just like that the night fell asleep.
I woke up to a dazzling beam of light, escaping from the transparent glass panes. I rubbed my eyes and lifted my body from the bed. I changed into my jogging clothes. I was coming down from the stairs, when I noticed an old man sweeping the dust from the hall.
"Good morning Uncle Matthews. You look young even after so many years. How have you been?" I greeted him. I knew him since my childhood. He was actually one of my grandfather's trusted men. My grandfather took him when he was an orphan, and since then he have been living with us as a family. "Oh Young master, Good morning to you too. I'm just a happy to go with man, I was living in the Church this whole time. After you all left, this house looked so desolate, I couldn't endure the loneliness. So I thought to spend my last days of life in meditation. But now as you've returned, I'll visit the house more often." He coughed finishing his speech. The wrinkles on his face showed how much he used to smile back then and he still does. This feels home. I smiled at him and hugged him.
Uncle Matthews made a small brunch for me. Yes, I'm on dieting and I workout a lot whenever I get time. So now there is something which I have to know from Uncle Matthews. He came out of the kitchen with a glass of orange juice in one hand and a mop in another. "Young master, you enjoy your drink, meanwhile I clean up your room." He said with a smile. " Umm Uncle I wanted to ask you something. Do you know anything about the room at the end of the hallway in the top floor?" I asked in a not too excited tone. His face turned whiter. "Young Master, it's better we leave the things how they have been. Going through the past will only torment your Soul and nothing more. If the time comes, you will eventually know." I just looked at him confused, trying to figure out what he meant. "Okay Uncle but can you tell me where is Elif?" If I'm not wrong, I saw a flicker of fear and pain in his eyes that made me shiver a little. He quickly regained his cool composure. "Oh Young Master, she has gone to her mother's hometown. She will stay there for a few months. Why master, did you miss her?" I just felt I was exposed to the truth that I had missed my childhood friend so much. How childish. I returned my gaze at him. "Umm no I mean yeah... I just wondered how she have been these years. I tried to contact her but she never received my call. And neither she responded to my letters. Maybe she is still angry on me." I felt sad thinking about it. She was always smiling just like uncle. She was one of Uncle Matthews' relatives. Uncle adopted her when she was just a baby. We used to play in these woods. Time was good when we were children. "She is not angry at you. Don't worry Young Master, she had waited for you all this while." Uncle brought me out from my reverie of thoughts and left me hanging with questions.
It's 10 p.m. and I was just reading the Looking for Alaska when I heard a sound, might be of a glass breaking to pieces. I kept the book at side with the page mark on page 77. I walked towards the hallway. Uncle had lighted all the candles before leaving, as it might take a while to regenerate the power supply. I saw a broken vase lying on the floor. I carefully picked the glass pieces. OUCH !!! One of the pieces just pierced into my toe. I pulled it out and my toe was bleeding badly. I stood up to take the first aid kit but I didn't. Suddenly, I felt my shoulders too heavy. I peeked behind my back there was nothing except that mysterious door. I found myself shakily walking towards it. I pressed on that previous wooden button, and the door opened. I entered into the room. I took the privilege to light the candles in the room. The room looked warm and yellow in the candlelight. Now when I see clearly it's a Study room or more precisely a library. The room was small with a huge bookshelf touching the ceiling. There were so many books mainly classics and related to history and some of Shakespeare's too. But my eyes fell particularly on a book which was a bit dusty, and lying on the table top from where I took the lamp last night. I blew away the dust and saw a picture half- out from the book. The picture was of a beautiful girl in a red dress and black hat. She looked young with an innocent smile, looking at whoever the photographer might be or maybe her boyfriend. But something felt strange about this girl, as if I know her which I don't. But why is this picture at my house and inside this book and who is She? I questioned in my mind, looking at the picture. I opened the book, and turned the pages and it looked like someone's Journal. I moved to the first page. There was a letter. In italicised letters it was written-
Hi,
My name is Elif Wilson.
And my eyes widened in shock.