Alison returned to the cottage she was temporarily renting, which was simply furnished with a bed, a table and a few chairs. A few of her paintings hung on the wall, the colors somber and the strokes messy, as if they were a reflection of her inner world. She went to the table, opened a drawer, and took out an old diary. It was Sarah's journal, which she had found while sorting through her sister's belongings, and it contained a record of Sarah's thoughts during the last few months of her life.
She opened the journal and ran her fingertips over the familiar handwriting. Sarah's handwriting was delicate and elegant, and each line seemed to flow from the depths of her heart. Allison's eyes rested on one of the pages, the last entry in Sarah's diary.
"October 15, Sunny
Today, Jackson took me to the gardens at Greystone Manor. It was beautiful, like another world. He told me he liked me, even said he loved me. I didn't know whether to believe him or not, but the sincerity in his eyes was too much to resist. I knew what the townspeople thought of him, and I knew what secrets his family carried. But when he looked at me, I felt special, unique.
But why do I always feel a little uneasy? Behind his tenderness, there seems to be something I can't touch. Maybe I'm just too afraid of losing him."
Alison's fingers trembled slightly and her eyes reddened. As she continued to scroll down, she realized that the next few pages had been torn out, leaving only a few tattered corners. Her heart sank as if these torn pages held the truth about Sarah's death.
"What are you hiding, Jackson?" she murmured. she murmured, her voice filled with anger and pain.
She clutched the journal to her chest and closed her eyes, trying to calm her emotions. Sarah's smile came to mind, so innocent, so bright. She couldn't accept that such a full of life girl would leave this world because of an "accident".
"I won't let you die in vain, Sarah," she whispered, a cold determination in her voice. "I will make those who hurt you pay."
She stood up and walked over to the window, her gaze piercing the night and landing on the gray stone manor in the distance. The mansion looked eerie in the moonlight, like a sleeping beast that might awaken at any moment. She knew she had to get in there and find more evidence.
The next morning, Alison woke up early, changed into simple clothes, put on a hat, and hid herself from the crowd. She went to the Greystone neighborhood and watched the activity on the property. She knew that Jackson rode his horse every morning, and this was the perfect time for her to infiltrate the estate.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Jackson rode out of the gates of the manor on a black stallion, followed by several servants. Allison waited until they were out of sight, then quickly made her way around to the side of the manor and found a half-open window. She looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then tumbled in.
The interior of the manor was sumptuous, but it had an icy aura about it. Allison carefully made her way through the corridors, out of sight of the servants, to Jackson's study. She pushed the door open, quickly darted inside, and closed it behind her.
The study was filled with books and papers, and portraits of the family through the ages hung on the walls. Alison walked over to the desk and began to rummage through the drawers. Her fingers flicked quickly and gently through the papers, looking for any clue to Sarah's identity.
Suddenly, her eyes rested on an unmailed letter. Sarah's name was written on the envelope in Jackson's handwriting. She quickly opened the envelope, pulled out the paper inside, and began to read.
"Dear Sarah.
I know you've been avoiding me lately, and I know what you suspect. But believe me, everything I've done has been for your protection. There are too many secrets in this town, and I don't want you to be a part of them. Please give me some time and I'll explain everything.
Love always.
JACKSON
Allison's hands trembled slightly, anger burning in her heart. "Protect her? Is that how you protect her?" She murmured, her voice full of sarcasm.
She stuffed the letter into her pocket and continued her search. Just then, there were footsteps at the door. Alison's heart sank and she quickly ducked behind the curtains behind her desk.
The door opened and Jackson walked in. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the room as if each step was a step on Alison's heart. She held her breath and pressed herself against the wall, trying to disappear.
Jackson walked over to the desk and seemed to sense something. His eyes scanned the room, finally coming to rest on the curtains. He approached slowly and reached out to pull back the curtains.
Alison's heart almost stopped, but just then the servant's voice came from the door. "Sir, your horse is ready."
Jackson stopped moving and turned to leave the study. Alison breathed a sigh of relief and quickly emerged from behind the curtains, leaving the manor house with a light hand.
When she returned to the cottage, she spread the letter out on the table and stared at it icily. "Jackson, your cover will soon be blown," she whispered, her voice full of determination.
The seeds of vengeance had taken root in her heart, and the game had just begun.