Dark Secrets

Chapter 33: Falling and Falling Until I Fell (2 of 2)

“No need to apologize.” Diso smiled at her. “I get that a lot, I’m already used to it.”

“What about you little lady, what’s your name?” April turned to Desa.

“Oh, I’m Desa, the new member of SOS, it’s nice to meet you April.”

Well April’s not wrong, Desa is actually the shortest member of our group Alessia is 5'6" tall but she looks like have the same height as Troye at 5'8.5", who’s the shortest among us men.

Desa is only 5'3" and I’m currently 5'10", so I usually look down at her and she looks up at me when we’re talking while standing.

“Come, I’ll introduce you all to Mr. Crossey, he’s waiting for everyone in the living room.” April leads us the way inside the mansion.

Michael Crossey, a botanist, known for making hybrid plants that produce exceptionally unique appearances which is beyond their natural foliage.

He gave us a tour around his mansion and even showed his greenhouse to us that really made us all fascinated because of unique breed of plants that we all seen for the first time.

After a stroll around the area as we also had our preliminary investigation since Troye, Alessia, and Desa had been talking to each other while we’re on tour using their sixth sense; we were sent to the guests’ rooms that are good for two people.

Diso and I shared a room right across the room where the 3 decided to stay since being alone at night isn’t ideal knowing the haunt happening inside the mansion.

We haven’t met Mrs. Crossey yet and their daughter but Mr. Crossey told us that that they’ll join us for dinner later.

Since we have some time left before dinner, we gathered in one room where we set up all the equipment, we need for our investigation.

“I don’t think the little girl running around is human. She’s too fast and I only see a glimpse of her but every time she appears, I’m getting goosebumps.” Desa shared her experience when we toured the house earlier.

“She’s playing with Desa as she’s been laughing while running like she’s totally into hide-and-seek with her.” Troye added.

“I don’t want to freak everyone out but I smell sulphur, you all know what it means, right?” Alessia looking at us.

“I guess we should start working now, we got no time to waste since we’re dealing with inhumane presence and not just a ghost.” Ashton using his leader tone to give us orders.

Mr. Crossey gave us permission to do whatever means necessary to get rid of the spirit that haunts his family, so we drew a lot of trap in every room that we’re using inside the house.

After making preparations, we’ve been called for dinner by one of the Crossey’s servants who’s quite sceptical about our agenda.

Apparently, the family has been scammed before by people who are only after the money instead of really helping them out of misery.

They agreed to SOS club because George provided the member’s information just to prove that we’re not initially after their money and we really want to solve their case.

The Crossey came in last at the dining room, they look like a normal family for me but I can see in Mrs. Crossey’s eyes that she’s desperately in need of help.

“Everyone this is my wife, Evergreen, that’s why she’s perfect for a botanist like me.” Mr. Crossey humouring us as he introduced his wife who stand beside him.

“Please call me Ever instead of Green or Mrs. Crossey.” she uttered as she tried to show the shy little girl hiding behind her. “Look sweetie, we have a lot of guests today and they’ll be staying with us for a few days. We have a lot of handsome men joining us for dinner.”

The girl peeks her head behind her mother while looking at us. “What are they doing here, Mère?”

“They will help us, sweetie. They will get rid the bad spirit in our house so that we can live normally again.” Ever explained to the little kid. “We don’t have to be afraid anymore of Cijji.”

“Is Cijji the name of that doll, Ever?” Desa asked without hesitation.

“Yes, that’s what the doll told my daughter.” Ever almost burst out in tears. “Being all of you in here, I know that I’m not going crazy.”

“You’re not Ever.” Alessia uttered. “What you’ve seen, heard, or experience they’re real but you shouldn’t let fear take over you.”

“That’s what it wants from their victims, the more you get scared the more you make it stronger.” Troye added. “We’re here to help you, we know how much you want to be free from terror. This is your home and you have the power to cast out unwanted guests.”

“Exactly what I’ve done to those impostors who used some theatrics to fool us just to get money.” Mr. Crossey said. “Knowing everyone’s information here, I’m sure that you’ve got no ill intention on us. Specially, Pluto, I’m still surprise that a Nevaeh got interest with such matter. Does your family know what you’re up to?”

“No, I trust that you will adhere with the confidentiality agreement contract that you’ve signed to our club, Mr. Crossey.” I replied.

“Of course, you’ll keep this craziness in our house a secret from the public as I keep everyone’s identity in this club. I understand why everyone wants to keep a low profile and remain anonymous, all of you have a normal life and some of you have reputation to keep.”

“As long as we’re clear, Mr. Crossey, although few of us doesn’t in dire need of money the price you offered for us really means a lot.” Ashton making his appeal. “We will make sure to get rid of that de- … inhumane presence in your house.”

He almost broke a rule that we set when we’re dealing of such entity, we can’t say the word d-e-m-o-n out loud.

Their dining room is good for 20 so we had 4 chairs available while we’re having a feast, when suddenly the chair beside Ross moved like someone took a seat beside him but invisible to everyone except for Desa who’s eyes got bigger while looking at the chair.

“Mr. Crossey who was the woman on the painting at the 2nd floor near the staircase?” Desa asked the man at the centre table.

“That’s my late aunt Elsa, she died 25 years ago because of cancer. She had no family of her own that’s why she transferred this mansion under my name, I’m her favourite nephew.” Mr. Crossey replied. “So, she’s the one who’s been coming here at this time??!”

“You mean you’ve been experiencing it even before you had the doll, Mr. Crossey??!” Alessia asked. “How come it hasn’t been mentioned in the report you gave us, George?!”

“I wrote everything on that report whatever Mr. Crossey have told me, he didn’t tell me that he also got his late aunt stuck in this house.” George explained himself.

“Because unlike the terror that Cijji gives to us, the spirit in this dining area never, even once harm us.” Mr. Crossey defended.

“She can only make this family safe in this very room because this is where she had a lot of memories with you, Mike.” Troye uttered.

“Yes, that’s what Aunt Elsa calls me, Mike.” Mr. Crossey nodded excitedly. “Everyone else calls me Michael but she’s the only one who calls me in a nickname.”

“She also said that she tried to warn you about the doll but you ignored the sign she showed you.” Troye continued.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Elsa. I wasn’t paying attention. Thank you for guarding me all the time and now your taking care of my family.” Mr. Crossey looking at the blank chair as he speaks.

“Why are you still staying here?” Desa asked the spirit.

“Because Mike doesn’t want me to leave.” Troye relaying the message to everyone. “He always calls for me when he’s having a hard time and I can’t just ignore my nephew who is like a son to me.”

“That’s actually true, my husband always calls for Aunt Elsa like he’s summoning her whenever he gets frustrated with his experiments.” Ever feeding her daughter as she speaks.

“Aunt Elsa is my role model, the reason I become a botanist.” Mr. Crossey said. “I’m continuing her legacy. Does being stuck in a living world when you’re already a spirit a bad thing?”

“It depends on the reason the spirit is staying and didn’t crossover, in this matter she’s looking after you until you succeeded on the experiment she started. Once that reason is fulfilled, she can rest in peace also if you let her go completely.” Desa responded.

“Currently, I’ve only attained 84% of the project, I’m still working on it but I can’t for now because of this matter about that doll.”

“Here’s another thing, Mr. Crossey, your greenhouse is also a safe zone because it’s a territory of these small creatures that help you take care of those plants.” Desa added. “That’s why whenever you feel that you’re in danger, the three of you can ask for their protection, specially you Mr. Crossey.”

“Small creatures, what exactly did you see in the greenhouse? Dwarves, fairies?” I asked curiously to Desa.

“Fairies??!” the little girl exclaimed. “Are there fairies in the greenhouse??” she asked excitedly.

“Yes.” Desa smiles at her. “So instead of playing in your room alone, you should go to the greenhouse and the fairies will play with you too. You only need to believe for you to see them.”

“I do believe in fairies!” the little girl shouted enthusiastically.

“Maybe I smelled pixie dusts earlier that’s why I snooze.” Alessia playing along with the girl.

“Pixie dusts?! there are pixie dusts in the greenhouse too??” the little girl getting more excited with the news.

“Hey, are you two making things up?!” I whispered to Desa beside me. “Fairies doesn’t look like what’s in the fairy tale books.”

“I know, I only see their sparks because they’re too small but even so I think they’re indeed fairies lurking around the greenhouse and their castle is on that huge tree at the centre.” Desa said.

“How sure are you that they have a castle on that tree?!” raising my eyebrows at her as she sounded so suspicious.

“I just know.” she shrugged her shoulders. “Where else could their castle be aside from the innermost top of the tree??”

“Under the tree as they give the life to that tree or the tree provide for them, either way they can’t be on top because that’s where birds make their nest.” I reasoned out.

“Ah, right. But whatever, I’ll figure it out when I asked them.” she said like she has a plan or not.

“They won’t tell you where they live unless you come with them and if you do come, you’ll be gone for years before you can return or not at all depending on them.” I explained things to her.

“Fine, Mr. Know-It-All, you win.” she sneered at me. “As far as I know there are elementals in that greenhouse and it’s a no go for any spirit may it be human or not without their permission.”

After having dinner with everyone and the ghost of Elsa Crossey in the dining room, we went to our respective rooms to have a rest.

It’s been a long day for everyone, and we all still have jetlag from long flight, we all could use some sleep even just for a while.

The next morning, after we all had breakfast, Ashton, George, Adam, and I listened to the recorder we turned on last night if we captured any strange sounds while we’re all sound asleep.

We also check the films of the cameras if they were activated and took some photographs of paranormal activities in the house.

“Bloody hell! What’s that sound?!” Adam almost throwing the headphones after he listened to a growl like there’s a wild beast got inside the house last night.

“I’ll call Troye and Desa, I also have peculiar developed photographs here coming from the playroom.” Ashton put the photos on the table.

“We got radios remember? turn to their channel to call them up here.” I reminded Ashton that we got handheld transceivers.

“Ah right. What would I do without you Pluto??” Ashton turn on his radio and called the two to get in our meeting room but they came with everyone out of curiosity.

“I don’t understand, this isn’t a little girl at all, who is this?” Desa looking at the photo while others listened to the voice recorder.

“It doesn’t have a definite form, Desa. It can be whatever it wants or whoever it wants to copy like a shapeshifter.” Alessia responded. “It’s not even hiding from us like she’s challenging everyone.”

“This growling, it’s mocking us.” Troye said. “But there’s a bit rage because we’re trespassing in it’s territory, it doesn’t want us here.”

“Whatever it is, this mansion isn’t his or her territory, this is my house where my family lives, this is our home and I want that presence out of here!” Mr. Crossey firmly said.

“Of course, Mr. Crossey, that’s what we’re here for.” Ashton said. “Being said, no one should be here tonight aside from our members, it’s dangerous and we can’t risk anyone’s life when we cast it out.”

“You may stay in the greenhouse for tonight, Alessia, Luke and Matthew will accompany you and your family.” I uttered.

“I’ll tell the staffs to leave and return tomorrow afternoon.” Ever went out the room immediately.

“Can you really make Cijji go away??” Emilia, the little girl, asked.

“We can do it, believe us.” I crouched down to be at her level.

-End of Chapter 33-