July 19, 2020
They began moving their furniture in within the next few days, Edward had wanted to wait a while longer but Sarah couldn't muster any more patience. She insisted that they were in danger and that they needed to leave as soon as possible.
The Porters had only lived in their new home for less that two months and already they were off to a new one. Admittedly, the new new home they were moving into to was grander and they would be staying in it for free but that didn't bring much comfort to Edward's mind. Inside of the mansion held some kind of evil that Edward could feel. Perhaps it was the tunnels that stretched through the earth for miles under his feet, the unsettling feeling that he got when he walked down a narrow hallway, the hairs sticking up on his back when he passed by an open room, or the constant paranoia that something was watching him. Whatever it was, he knew something was off about the house.
Edward remembered the woman he saw. She sounded like his mother, yet looked entirely different. She wore a black silk dress and had hair, that resembled the dress, hanging down to her shoulders. He didn't know if he was hallucinating or if the woman he saw truly was really. In his gut, Edward felt that they were not alone in the house. Yes, Gabriel was staying in the house but there was something else living there with all of them. Something that didn't want to make its presence known yet. It was easier for Edward to believe in ghosts than Faceless monsters that roamed the woods.
Lillian skipped through the main hallway, humming a melody that Edward had never heard before. Isaac was walking Lucy out back and Shaber was yet to be seen. Their cat had run off up the stairs and hadn't returned in the last hour. Likely, she was scared and was hiding.
"Well, it looks like that's everything," Gabriel said. "Are you sure that you don't want to bring anything else over?"
Edward and Sarah decided to leave a good portion of their furniture at their old house, stored behind locked doors. It didn't seem necessary to bring couches, tables, kitchen utensils, and many other things when the manor was already nearly fully furnished with such things. Even the bathroom that was next to Edward and Sarah, Isaac, and Lillian's separate rooms had spare towels, toothbrushes, and shampoo and body wash. The Matthews must have had plenty of guests in their time at the house.
"I don't think so," Sarah said. "Thank you so much Gabriel. This place is perfect and we are truly so thankful for everything you have done for us."
Gabriel lifted a hand and smiled. "Don't you worry about it. Your husband has been invaluable to me thus far and I wouldn't want him having to worry about what he may have to go home to. Now, if he needs to, he can just head straight from work to bed."
The three of them chuckled. Edward was still unsure as to what Gabriel has seen in him. In truth, he was rather mediocre with helping Gabriel fix up the house and, needless to say, Edward didn't provide the best company. Perhaps the man was truly just trying to be courteous to him and his family but Edward wasn't so sure.
"Thank you again, Gabriel," Edward said.
Gabriel smiled at him and the two men shook hands. "You're very welcome. Now, I must head back into Matthewsville and pick up a few things. You guys get settled and make this place your home. I'll return later and we can get some dinner cooking."
They watched Gabriel walk out the front doors, leaving Edward and Sarah alone in the great house. They looked at each other but found no words to say. He knew that she was still angry with him but was reserving it for another time.
"I'm going to go unpack some things," Was all she said.
Edward nodded and watched as she took small steps up the right staircase and disappeared into the right hallway.
"Edward..." A voice whispered.
He jumped and scanned all around him, seeing portraits and statues. "Who's there?" He asked.
A small little breeze entered through the main doors and wrapped around Edward. It then, seemingly, redirected to the wall by the right hallway next to him. A portrait slid off one of the nails and was hanging off of another, rocking back and forth.
Edward walked over and adjusted it to fit back onto the nail. It was a picture of the Matthews children and several of their friends. Edward recognized Gabriel and what he thought to be his two sisters. There was also two others girls and another boy. He looked more closely at the photo and looked at the deep blue eyes of the boy that was standing next to Gabriel. His hair was blonde and silky and looked familiar to Edward.
He shrugged and ensured that the portrait would not fall again. The breeze brushed against him once more, prompting him to close the two doors, locking him and his family in with whatever lurked in the darkness.
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Lillian skipped down the hallway past her mother.
"Stay where I can hear you Lily," Her mother said.
"Yes, mommy!"
She skipped to the end of the hall where it split into another hall, one side going to several doors and the other side leading to a staircase.
Lillian looked down at her little wooden sheep and had its eyes look at hers. It was smiling at her. "What's up there Sir Billy?" She whispered.
The sheep only continued to smile at her, its beady eyes unmoving.
She began shaking. "I shouldn't go up there. Mommy will be angry."
Again, she looked to the sheep.
"No, Sir Billy, I'll get in trouble."
Her little wooden sheep told her to go up there. He said that there was toys and games and candy. Lillian looked back, seeing only the shadow of her mom in the hallway. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to just have a little peak.
She clutched the wooden sheep close to her and slowly walked closer to the stairs. With every step she took, it seemed like the steps were growling at her.
"I'm scared," She said.
"It'll be okay Lillian, trust me," Sir Billy said.
She scratched at her arm and wiped her nose with her hand. "Okay," She said.
Once more, she started walking up the stairs, hearing a creak with every step. She pulled open a latch door above her head and gently pushed up on it. It was quite heavy for Lillian but she made every effort to keep her noises to a minimum. She didn't want her mommy to know.
Lillian peeked her head above and saw a light turned on with a pretty pink rug and word blocks scattered across the floor. Then she saw more little wooden animals. There was a horse, a duck, a bird, and so many more. She squealed with excitement but knew she couldn't tell her mom about this place, else make her mad.
She walked into the room and saw several packages of Fun Dip on a little table. Lillian rushed over and ripped open one of the red ones. She scooped the red sugar out with the stick and licked her lips with delight. Sir Billy was right, this place had everything.
Wasting no time, Lillian ripped open another package and put the sugar into her mouth faster than she could swallow.
"What are you doing in here?" A girl behind Lillian asked.
Lillian dropped the fun dip, red sugar exploding all over the floor. She wanted to scream but didn't want her mom to find out.
"I was having some candy," Lillian said.
The little girl walked over to the latch and looked out of it. "You shouldn't be in here. If she finds out that you're in here, she'll..." The girl began sobbing. "You need to leave."
"Do you live here?" Lillian asked.
"Yes and I'm not allowed to have visitors."
"Why aren't you allowed to have visitors?"
The girl looked at Lillian with worry and impatience.
"Because she'll get angry at me if I do. Now listen, you need to get out of here before she comes back. You don't want to be here at night or she'll know you're here. Do you understand?"
Lillian shook here head and slowly walked over to the latch where the little girl held it open. "I'm sorry," Lillian said. "Sir Billy told me there was candy up here."
The other girl looked to Lillian's wooden sheep and shrieked. "Where did you get that?"
Lillian couldn't answer before the girl snatched it from her hand and ran it over to her bed and stuffed it under the mattress.
"Give me Sir Billy back!" Lillian yelled.
"She knows your here!" The girl said. "You need to get out of here as fast as possible!"
"Who are you talking about?" Lillian asked.
She saw the terror return to the girl's eyes as she looked behind Lillian. A tall shadow stood behind her as a pair of hands touched Lillian's shoulders.
"Tabitha? Why are you yelling at this little girl?" The woman said.
Lillian couldn't scream. She didn't want her mom to hear but... she also couldn't scream. Something was preventing her from screaming.
She turned around to see a tall woman with curled black hair standing before her.
"I..." Tabitha stuttered. "I was just telling her to get out of my room."
The tall lady looked down to Lillian. "Now that's no way to treat guests. I'm so sorry little girl, my daughter is a little rude. What's your name?"
"Lillian," She replied.
"Lillian. What a wonderful name," The lady said. "Now Tabitha, I want you to apologize to Lillian."
"But mom..."
"Now."
Tabitha looked to the floor and walked up to Lillian. "I'm sorry," She said softly.
"Tabitha. Look at Lillian when you apologize and say it loudly."
"I'm sorry Lillian," Tabitha said.
"It's okay," Lillian replied. "I'm sorry I ate your candy."
The lady laughed and walked up to the ripped open Fun Dip. "Don't you be sorry Lillian. Tabitha eats candy all day. She could do without the sugar for one night."
Tabitha's eyes returned to the ground and Lillian looked at the mattress where Sir Billy was buried.
"Can I have my wooden sheep back?" Lillian asked.
"Your wooden sheep?" The lady asked, looking puzzled.
Tabitha's eyes widened and she very gently shook her head.
"Tabitha took it and hid it under her mattress," Lillian said.
The lady looked at Tabitha. "How very rude of my daughter," She lifted the mattress up and pulled Sir Billy from the springs. "I'm very sorry, dearie, here's your sheep back."
A single teared rolled down Tabitha's cheek.
"Now, Lillian, I need to have a talk with my daughter. Go back to your mother, okay?"
Lillian smiled and made her way for the latch.
"Oh and Lillian."
She looked back to the lady, seeing a darker expression on her face.
"Don't tell anyone you were up here or saw anyone. I'll give you lots of candy if you don't, okay?"
Lillian nodded her head yes and exited from the latch. She looked back up and saw it swiftly close and she heard nothing else. Lillian skipped down the hallway noticing that her father and mother were standing out in the hallway.
"Lillian!" Her mother yelled.
"Hi Mommy!" Lillian said.
"Where have you been?" She asked. "We've been worried sick, looking for you."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ705VQdcqU4
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Lillian remembered the reward she would get for not telling anyone. "I was just exploring the house."
Her mother let out several deep breaths and clutched Lillian to her chest. "I told you to stay close to me. Don't go off like that again, understand?"
"Yes Mommy," Lillian replied.
"Good. Now go to your room for now."
Lillian walked to her room, still holding Sir Billy to her chest. She closed the door behind her and looked at her bed. It was dull as compared to Tabitha's bed. Now she wished she could sleep up there with her.
She laid on her bed and looked into the eyes of Sir Billy once more. The smile was even wider and the eyes were even larger. Sir Billy was wrong. Lillian was going to like this place.
End of Part 2
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