The whole house was bustling as the maids prepared for the birthday vacation, while Felicia attended to time-sensitive issues.
In her room, Sybil sat in front of her vanity table, her aunt standing behind her, carefully styling her hair with fancy hairpins.
"So, baby, what shoes are we choosing today?" her aunt asked while placing the last two silver pins on either side of Sybil's head, glancing at her in the mirror.
Sybil's eyes instantly lit up at the question, and with a bright smile, she jumped out of the chair, placed her teddy bear on the vanity table, and hurried to her closet. After a few moments of rummaging, she returned to her aunt with a sleek black box.
"Here!" she exclaimed, handing it to her aunt with a bright smile that showcased her pearl-white teeth. "I want to wear these black shoes that Dad bought for me last week; they look so beautiful!"
"Hmm, is that so?" Her aunt opened the box and stared at the pair of elegant 3-inch heels for a moment before frowning and turning her gaze to Sybil.
"Why don't you wear the ones Mom got for you? I think they are prettier," she suggested, attempting to cover the box. But Sybil was adamant, and her aunt had no choice but to yield to her wishes.
"Alright then, let's try them on," she said with a resigned smile, kneeling to help Sybil with the shoes. Just then, the door swung open, and Felicia stepped into the room.
"Are you guys ready?" her voice rang out sharply, causing the duo to turn toward her.
"Omg!" she gasped, her jaws dropped as she stared at Sybil. "Wow, My princess you looks gorgeous! Your aunt certainly knows how to doll you up."
"Thanks, Mom," Sybil blushed shyly earning a chuckle from her aunt.
"Now back to the reason I came here. So, are you guys ready to go?" Felicia asked again, staring at her elder sister.
"Nope… Just a few more touches," Leticia replied, putting a pair of sapphire earrings on Sybil. Then she picked up two black purses and handed the smaller one to Sybil. Staring at their reflections for the nth time, she finally smiled in satisfaction, her eyes sparkling with pride.
"And now, people, we are done!" Leticia said, snapping her fingers and striking silly poses in front of the mirror. "So, how do I look?" She turned to her sister, expecting a compliment, but Felicia barely glanced at her. Instead, she took Sybil's hand and started walking out of the room.
"Hey, you scum! How dare you ignore me!?" Leticia yelled, pursuing them…
Hours later, Felicia, Leticia, and Sybil arrived at Monterey, and almost immediately, they all began the celebration and exploring; their first stop was the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where Sybil was excited to see many aquatic creatures. She spotted various kinds of fish, squid, oysters, rockfish, sevengill sharks, California halibut, and even a prehistoric-looking white sturgeon.
As they wandered through the vibrant exhibits, Sybil suddenly spotted a large octopus changing colors, she gasped and turned to her mom and aunt.
"Look! It's like it's playing hide and seek!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight as she watched the octopus dance like movement.
Turning to her left, she spotted a red giant sea turtle gliding gracefully through the water.
"Mom," she called, pointing excitedly, "I want it! Can you get it for me?" Her eyes sparkled with hope as she stared intently at her mom.
"Okay, darling, I will make sure to get one for you when we get home," her mom replied with a smile.
"Yeee, thanks, Mom!" Sybil screamed happily, hugging her mom's waist tightly.
After soaking in the wonders of the aquarium, they all continued their adventure at the cannery row, where Sybil immersed herself in a Treasure Hunt ride, diving into a pirate-themed treasure search.
She squealed with delight as they sailed through dark caves filled with treasures and animatronic pirates, her imagination running wild.
"Look, Mom! I'm a pirate. Arrr!" she shouted, waving her imaginary sword, while her aunt joined in on the fun, laughing as she pretended to battle her in a playful duel.
With spirits high and laughter echoing around them, they made their way to Dennis the Menace Park. The park was a playground of joy, filled with climbing structures and slides that called out to Sybil. With excitement she eagerly dove into the fun, exploring various mazes and tunnels while her laughter filled the air.
"Look, Mom! I'm so strong, I can climb to the top!" she shouted, scrambling up a large climbing structure, her tiny hands gripping the colorful plastic. Her mom watched, her heart in her throat, ready at every point to catch her if she ever slipped.
While Sybil was exploring, Felicia and Leticia found a nearby picnic table. They spread out a blanket and began to unpack snacks they had brought along.
Just then, a small group of children approached with their parents. "Can we join you?" one of the kids asked.
Sybil, overhearing , called out, "Come play with me! There are so many slides!"
As more kids joined in, Sybil giggled and ran back to the playground, leading the new friends to the tallest slide. "You have to try this one! It's the best!" she declared, her voice filled with excitement.
After a thrilling afternoon, the trio decided to take a break from the playground. They all settled on the grass, captivated by a magician performing nearby.
Sybil's eyes were glued to the show, her laughter echoing with each trick. The magician noticed her delight and, at the end of the performance, crafted a balloon animal just for her, making her day even more special.
Although both sisters had planned to take Sybil to many more fun places, the day was far spent, and the sun had begun to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. Reluctantly, they decided against it and headed to their reserved suite.
However, they made one last stop for ice cream from a local vendor. Sybil chose cotton candy flavor, her favorite, and with sticky fingers, she licked her cone joyfully.
As they walked back, the warm evening air filled with laughter and the sweet scent of ice cream, they reflected on the wonderful day they had shared.
"So, baby, how was today? Did you have fun?" Sybil's mom asked once they were all seated at the back of their ride.
"Mom, today was wonderful! I had so much fun, and I can't wait to go back, especially to the big glass house where I saw those big fish and the amusement park where I got to be a pirate!" She beamed enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with delight, earning a warm chuckle from both her aunt and mom.
"Hmm, is that so?" her aunt asked playfully, resting her chin on her hand as if thinking. "But I thought you were scared of the glass house?"
"No, I wasn't scared of it" she defended, frowning slightly. "It's just that the animals there were too big, and it felt as though they were swimming towards me," she added, waving her hands to illustrate.
Her mom chuckled softly, shaking her head at her banter while her aunt smiled teasingly.
"Ohhh, my bad," she said, holding her hands up to her chest. "Anyways, we are staying here for two weeks, so don't worry; you'll have more time to go back there."
"Really?" Sybil asked, staring between her aunt and mom.
"Yeah," both sisters responded in unison.
"Oh my God! Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Aunt!" she exclaimed, letting out a big yawn as her eyelids began to droop slowly.
"You look exhausted. Why don't you get some rest? Don't worry, I'll wake you up immediately we arrive there, okay," her mom spoke softly, patting her head gently.
"Okay, Mom," she yawned, placing her head on her mom's lap, slowly drifting off to sleep.
The vehicle fell into silence; only soft breaths and the sound of wheels on the pavement could be heard as they drove down a lonely track lined with trees, their branches arching overhead, creating a natural canopy that filtered the moonlight, casting soft shadows on the surface.
"Leticia…" Felicia called softly as she adjusted Sybil's head on her lap.
"Yes?" she mumbled, her gaze far from her physical environment.
"Do you really think she's the one?" Felicia asked, her voice laced with an unpredictable emotion.
Leticia sighed and slowly turned to her sister. "We are the last pure breed left; what do you think?"
"Yes, I know we might be, but what about…" She tried to say something, but Leticia covered her mouth with her right hand, her eyes narrowed on the rearview mirror.
"What's going on?" Felicia whispered through her fingers, staring at her elder sister, who had a grim expression as if faced with death.
"Felicia, something is not right," she spoke slowly, her eyes still fixed on the mirror.
Suddenly, a shadow moved in the darkness behind them, and Leticia's grip tightened.
"Shit, we're being followed!" Leticia declared as strange voices suddenly echoed behind them.
Blood drained from Felicia's face at her sister's words. Her breath came out in quick gasps as her gaze slowly turned to the rearview mirror, panic creeping into her posture.
"Norman, step on it!" Leticia shouted, her voice sharp with urgency as she sensed her younger sister's fear. The driver, immediately grasping the situation, took a sharp bend and slammed on the gas.
But then, just as they felt the rush of speed, the car screeched to a halt, jerking everyone forward. A piercing scream escaped Felicia's lips, her heart racing as she felt the adrenaline surge through her veins.
"What's happening?" Sybil mumbled groggily, her sleepy eyes fluttering open to the surrounding chaos.
"Norman, what's going on?" Leticia demanded, ignoring her niece's question, her calm facade beginning to crack as she glanced at the driver, who was frantically scanning their surroundings.
"Blocked in front!" Norman shouted, his voice laced with panic. He turned the wheel sharply, trying to reverse, but the rearview mirror revealed another vehicle closing in behind them.
Felicia's breath quickened, sweat trickling down her forehead as she turned to Leticia. "What do we do? We're trapped!" Her voice trembled with fear.
"Stay calm," Leticia urged, though her own heart raced. She could hear more strange noises echoing in the darkness—low growls and shuffling footsteps that sent chills down her spine.
The sisters exchanged frantic glances as the sounds grew louder, resonating off the trees that loomed like silent audience around them.
Sybil stared at the two sisters before her, fear etched on her cute little face. Instinctively, she lunged forward and hugged her mother tightly, burying her face in her mom's chest as her nails dug into her back. "Mom. Please make it stop; I'm scared," she cried, her tiny voice trembling.
Just then, a loud booming sound echoed through the air; a thunderous crash that seemed to shake the very ground beneath them. The sisters jumped at the noise, their hearts pounding as they impulsively leaned toward each other for comfort.
"What was that?" Felicia gasped, her breath hitching in her throat.
"I don't know," Leticia replied, her voice barely above a whisper. The calmness she had tried to project was slipping away as dread filled the air around them.
The noises intensified—scraping sounds against metal and low growls that seemed to surround them from all sides. Panic surged through Felicia as she felt trapped in a nightmare.
"Norman! We need to get out of here!" Leticia cried out desperately.
But before he could respond, another booming sound reverberated through the night—closer this time—and they all froze in terror as Shadows danced across their windows.