Mansion Of The Dead

Again and Again

Once Victor got home, he ran to their house. He then saw his grandmother as he opened the door and gave her a tight hug as she was sitting.

"How was your day, dear?" Grandma Lala asks as she was sewing one of Victor's torn clothes.

"The usual," Victor replies with a smile as he puts his bag and lunch box away.

"I'm going to wash up for dinner, Lala. I'll help you here after." He continues, while he takes steps on the stairs.

He arrives in the bathroom and washes up as he normally would, but as he was in the middle of it, the thought of the path and the figure he saw strangely sent chills down his spine. So out of fear, he tried to wash up as fast as he can. Soon, he was quickly out of the bathroom and he went downstairs to his grandmother.

As he went downstairs, he helped his Grandmother prepare dinner.

"Could you set the table for me dear?" His grandmother asks as Victor was chopping some vegetables to add to the soup.

Victor didn't seem to hear it, even though he was just a few inches away from Grandma Lala.

"Victor?" His Grandma asks, yet he didn't seem to hear again, so his grandma decided to tap him on the shoulder.

This immediately kicked some sense into Victor, and he was frightened.

"Are you okay, dear?" His Grandma asks with concern written all over her face.

Victor was still in a bit of shock, yet he managed to nod and smile.

"Will you set the table for me?" She asks once again, as Victor was about to finish cutting the vegetables.

"Sure, Lala." Victor smiles as he leaves the cutting board and knife in the sink.

He then went straight to setting the table, yet he was still clearly deep in thought.

His grandmother noticed how Victor is a bit bothered by his thoughts and this made her wonder for a bit.

"Why is this boy acting weird today?" She asked herself, but she just shook the thought off her head as she was stirring the soup.

Soon they both finished their jobs, and it was time for dinner. They sat at their seats and ate in their small wooden table.

"So what are your plans for this summer, dear?" His grandma asks as they were both eating dinner.

"I don't really have plans, maybe I'll spend it again roaming inside the house or catching some grasshoppers." He said after he swallowed what he was chewing.

His Grandmother replied with a kind smile on her face, and so on did they eat.

They soon both finished eating and it was time for Victor to wash the dishes, for it's his duty to do so. He piled the dirty dishes at the sink and diligently washed each one of them. Soon he had finished washing the dishes, and it was time for bed. He changed to his sleeping clothes and brushed his teeth, and while he was yet again alone in the bathroom, he felt uneasy and couldn't calm down. He mustered up the courage and went on with brushing his teeth, and not long after, he was off to bed. Victor, feeling bothered by his thoughts, couldn't sleep so he went to his grandma to ask for a soothing tale, again.

"You're here again? You sure are a fan of those tales that I tell you." His grandma said with a smile on her face.

Victor responded with a nod and they both went to Victor's bed and his grandma tucked him in for a tale.

"So what tale do you want to hear this time?" His grandma asked with a smile, as she named a few interesting tales.

Victor shook his head politely.

"I don't really want to hear tales right now, Lala, can you tell me again about my parents, and our other family members?" Victor asked.

"Oh, well I suppose I can tell you about them again. As, I've told you before, your father was a hard-working carpenter, and your mom was a lowly yet excellent seamstress in this town. Your mom and dad were a lovely couple, and though they were poor, they loved each other very much. Your father did his best at his job, and he even worked extra for the needs of your mom who sadly, had a complication in her heart. Then, you came into their lives..." She pauses and touches the tip of Victor's pointy nose, which made Victor scrunch his face up into a smile.

"They were overjoyed to have you in their lives and named you Victor, because you were the only baby in our family who was perfectly healthy or didn't die after being born. Ah, I still remember when your mom first held you, you were this cute and tiny baby, yet full of life and happiness and as for our relatives, they all passed away with such odd deaths, and some just disappeared like your grandfather." She continues with a bit of a frown forming in her face.

"Lala, can you tell me more about mama and papa?" Victor asks, though he already knows what his Grandma will say.

"Sure, dear. Your mom was a bright and cheerful lady, while your dad was hardworking and kind. They met each other and fell in love in college. They soon got married after graduating, but they didn't have any luck in finding decent jobs, that's why they lacked money most of time." Her story got cut off, as she saw Victor sleeping already.

"Well, you never finish your mom and dad's story dont you?" She giggles.

"I hope you don't end up like all of your family and relatives, Victor. Stay alive till the end and live a good life for us, okay?" She says as she heaves a sigh and her smiling face turned into a concerned look.

She kissed Victor's forehead and adjusted his blankets and pillows. A few tears were starting to build up in her eyes but she quickly wiped them away in fear that Victor might see her crying. She stood up and said goodnight and returned to her bed. A few minutes later, they both were asleep, as they were both tired.

The morning sun dawned upon their faces as the birds sung their happy melody and the leaves fluttered in the summer breeze. Victor wanted to sleep more, but he woke up earlier than expected. Thanks to the alarm he forgot to turn off yesterday before going to bed. He didn't want to get up so he tossed and turned in bed a few times. Reality hit him that he had no choice but to get up so he ended up fixing his bed. After this, he went downstairs to the bacon-smelling kitchen, as he was already hungry. In the kitchen, he saw his grandmother cooking the usual breakfast, eggs and bacon. He then greeted her with a sleepy "Good morning, Lala". He then went to his grandma so he could ask what he could do to help.

"Why does that goodmorning still sound like a goodnight?" His grandma chuckled.

He told her about the alarm he forgot to turn off and they both laughed at this humorous experience. A few laughs and minutes later, breakfast was ready and in front of them was a beautiful and filling breakfast. Without any hesitation, they both ate up to fill their hungry bellies. After eating, of course it was time to wash the dishes, and since it was already summer it was Victor's job to do so.

As he was washing the dishes, his Grandma was preparing to go to the market.

"Victor, dear, I need to go to the market. Watch the house while I'm gone, okay?" She says as she closes the front door.

He waved goodbye with a smile and he was left alone in their house. Nevertheless, Victor knew how to do the house work and he was quite productive while his grandmother was gone.

As he finished his chores, he had nothing to do so he got bored. As a result of his boredom, he roamed around the house but sadly he found no fun. He decided he'd go out to their small grassy backyard and there he found a few dragonflies buzzing around and a few butterflies gracefully flapping their colorful wings. He sat down in the shade under the big tree, with nothing to do, and an empty head. Then out of the blue, the thought of the path hit him once again, the more he thinks about it, the more he's drawn to it. He was so deep in thought but they suddenly got interrupted when he heard the front door open and his grandmother yelling his name. His Grandmother had already arrived, and with a lot of food from the market. Victor helped Grandma Lala put the food away which she bought and then they spent the day bonding with each other.