Finn had invited Circe, Emma, Josh, and Katie to a family barbecue, which wasn't at all strange. He'd invited them to many family barbecues- but never at his dad's house (Finn's parents had divorced when he was 6). It would be a new place for the four of them.
The vibrant sounds of laughter and sizzling barbecue filled the air as Circe arrived at Finn's father's house for the family gathering. It was a change from their usual get-togethers at his mom's place, adding an air of anticipation to the day. As she stepped inside, the warmth of the welcoming atmosphere embraced her.
Conversation buzzed around her as family members mingled and caught up, their smiles radiating genuine affection. Circe couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as she looked around, searching for Finn in the crowd.
Spotting him near the grill, his easy smile and relaxed demeanor putting her at ease, Circe made her way over to him. They exchanged greetings, their eyes dancing with unspoken understanding. Finn's hand found hers, and they joined the others in the backyard, embracing the festivities.
Amidst the laughter and the tantalizing aroma of grilled delicacies, Circe found herself needing to use the bathroom. Excusing herself, she navigated through the lively gathering, seeking directions to the unfamiliar part of the house. The hallway stretched before her, its walls adorned with framed photographs, certificates, and intriguing artworks.
Curiosity tugged at her, urging her to explore the intriguing artifacts that adorned the walls. As she ventured further, the atmosphere seemed to change. Taxidermied animal heads, their glassy eyes fixed on her, lined the corridor, creating an unnerving ambiance. It's as if they were screaming at her to get out.
Her gaze was drawn to an intricate inscribing on one of the framed oil paintings proudly displayed at the end of the hallway. It shared Finn's surname and depicted a group of men standing near a large bonfire, their expressions filled with solemn determination... and malice? Circe's heart skipped a beat, a sense of recognition pulsating through her veins.
She studied it intently, her eyes tracing the faces of the men in the painting, searching for any resemblance to Finn. The flickering flames seemed to dance in their eyes, whispering untold secrets. It was as if the painting held a hidden story, one that begged to be unraveled.
Before Circe could delve deeper into her thoughts, a distant voice called out, breaking her trance. Startled, she turned to see Finn's cousin, Sarah, approaching with a friendly smile. "Hey, Circe! Need any help? The bathroom is just down the hall." Which made her jump, as her focus had been on the painting. Not on her surroundings.
Relief washed over Circe as she thanked Sarah and followed her directions. The bathroom was a sanctuary of sorts, providing a momentary escape from the enigmatic hallway. As she caught her breath, her mind buzzed with questions and possibilities. What did the painting signify? And why did it feel so familiar?
She frantically wandered Finn's Dad's weird house in search of Finn. "Yo. Finn, I'm gonna run home- had a girl issue"
"Huh?! Oka-"
"Bye!" She exclaimed, cutting him off.
And like that, Circe ran out the door.
With a sense of urgency, Circe ran back to her house and hurried into her bedroom, her mind abuzz with the fragments of information she had gathered. She jumped onto her bed and heard Amelia shout from the lounge "Circe! What have I told you about jumping on your bed?"
"Sorry, Mom!" She took out her laptop in a way that could only be described as the scene in sci-fi movies when the hacker character whips out their computer and begins coding green mumbo-jumbo on a black screen and suddenly the issue is fixed. Her laptop glowed with anticipation as she opened it and delved into the depths of the internet, searching for answers that seemed to escape her grasp.
She typed furiously, entering Finn's surname, the names of his family members, and any relevant keywords related to the haunting painting and the village it depicted. The search results were scarce, but amidst the digital labyrinth, a recurring theme emerged—a village long forgotten, a place erased from the annals of history, now nothing more than sprawling woodlands and ancient ruins.
As she delved deeper into the name of the village, she discovered the unsettling truth—it had suffered a fiery fate centuries ago, consumed by flames that reduced it to ashes and memories. The revelation sent a chill down her spine, causing her to shudder at the eerie synchronicity between the burning village and the bonfire depicted in the painting.
Her mind raced, attempting to connect the dots, but the pieces remained elusive, like fragments of a shattered mirror. The more she tried to decipher the puzzle, the more it seemed to slip through her fingers. Frustration tinged her thoughts, yet she knew that forcing the answers would only lead to dead ends.
Feeling the weight of exhaustion settling upon her, Circe decided to let her mind rest. She knew that clarity often came with the dawn of a new day. She closed her laptop, surrendering to the inevitability of sleep, hoping that the night would bring dreams that held the keys to unraveling the enigma that had consumed her thoughts.
Gazing through her window, watching the raindrops race each other to the windowsill, she allowed her mind to wander, searching for glimpses of understanding in the realm of dreams. Visions of flames danced before her closed eyes, intertwined with echoes of forgotten voices and shadows that whispered secrets just beyond her reach. Drifting into a fitful slumber, Circe embraced the uncertainty that accompanied her quest for answers. She knew that some mysteries were not meant to be unraveled overnight, and patience would be her guiding light as she navigated the labyrinth of the past.
173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwdoKGdrj4
