Lara and The Mansion in the Woods

Being New, New Being

Time flew so fast Its almost a month since I came here. Most of the time Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher were not around and I’m only left with a few servants. There are five staffs that serve this place Mr. Poncho the cook, Mrs. Hudson the one in charge with the two other maids, Mr. Alfred the butler, Mac the janitor, and Mr. Wilson[SJIS1]  who’s always in his workshop maintaining the horses and sheep in the open field on the left side of this huge estate there’s a barn there where he always stays. The right side of this place is a beautiful garden with lots of beautiful flowers and some neatly maintained bushes, I’ve always wanted to go there but I don’t have much courage yet. They were all introduced to me when I first got here, and the sketchiest among them is Mr. Alfred. I did ask for his aid sometimes but there’s something that feels heavy when I’m with him. The way he act seems normal at first but when observed closely, he murmurs even when no one is talking to him. He even laughs sometimes. I’m very observant with the things that happen around me. Maybe at some point I’ll get used to this.

I’m still not comfortable calling them Mom and Dad because they haven’t connected with me much aside from the grandiose welcome party they pulled out when I came here. There’s cake, which I never had in a very long time during my stay in that orphanage, Ms. Fletcher said she personally baked them for me. Mr. Fletcher played happy birthday on the grand piano on the living room when all of us finished eating. We had “family time” together, I felt warm after so long. Tears freed my eyes. I feel very grateful for everything, they gave me a chance in life. My emotions are mixed realizing that if that man didn’t rob us and mom and dad never died, they will be the ones sharing these kinds of moments with me and my brother. It could have been us, but the past is the past and it can’t ever be re-written. I’m just happy for them giving me opportunity to feel that again. I’m here at my bedroom lying down in my huge bed staring at the celling. I laid my back on the smooth, plump, newly laundered bed. I had a thought in mind that keeps circling in my head ever since I got here. What did they see in me that urged them to adopt me? I still can't believe that all of these is happening. I still wonder if this might be a dream and that I slipped in the girl’s room while looking that pendant then accidently hit my head against the floor. Maybe my body is at the hospital and I’m under a coma and this purgatory again. The real one. I pinched myself feeling a small amount of pain “maybe this is real after all”. I let out a smile as I realized the sun is up and sunlight is seeping through the window. This house is huge so I decided to roam around explore the place. In the past few days I don’t feel like roaming around much since I’m still getting used to this place. I dressed up and decided to wear the jumper that’s in the cabinet and my t-shirt.  The jumper felt used but not to the point that it is wearing down but it feels like someone used to own and wear this. It’s a little short in length but it doesn’t look awkward, so I never minded. When I got myself fixed, I decided to go out of my room, I’m surprised by Mrs. Hudson. She is the one in charge of the maids and she also cooks. She looks like Mrs. Doubtfire on the movie portrayed by Robin Williams, we used to watch that movie during Friday nights when I was 9. I remember watching it over and over again and we never got tired of it.  They looked so identical even their accents were alike except that Mrs. Hudson is so white and had black curly hair and she’s a bit fatter and taller. “hello there dear? Going somewhere?”, Mrs. Hudson asked curiously after she saw that I’m dressed. “Hello Mrs. Hudson, I’m just going to roam around” I shily answered. “ok dear, there’s breakfast downstairs just ask someone to aid you ok?”, She said as she continues to sweep the floor. I replied with a nod and a smile. I’m still not used to these people. They seem so protective and very welcoming. I decided to walk by the kitchen first to see the food. As I was walking downstairs, through the hallway, I passed by one of the three butlers and asked “Hello young mistress? What can I do for you?”

“I was just going to check what’s for breakfa-“ I didn’t finished talking because he talked over me as if he predicted what I am going to say. I felt weirded out, but I didn’t mind. Maybe it’s just the ways around this place.

“Oh I see your hungry. May I assist you?”

“No ne-“ I didn’t finish talking again as he walked towards the hallway leading to the kitchen

“allow me to assist you. This way please” he responded, while pointing at the right with his palm opened.

“No need to assist me sir. Thank you”

For a moment, we just stood there staring at each other. I can feel the awkward air and I’m soon to c***k up when suddenly, he bit his lips until it bleeds. I was about to react but I soon realized that I can’t move , I tried to move but it feels like my soul is stuck in my body. “this is strange” I said still trying to figure out what’s happening but when I shifted and looked back to him, He grinned until his lips torn and his eyes turned black. He had blood dripping from his lips that he bit earlier the place started to go dark and cold, I couldn’t move I want to run but I just can’t. I couldn’t even shut my eyes as if something is forcing me to look, I started screaming and screaming. “Are you alright mistress?” asked the Mr. Alfred. At the blink of an eye, everything is normal and I’m sweating. I didn’t mind that maybe it’s just my imagination or maybe I’m hallucinating of strange things because I’m hungry. “do you want me to assist you?” asked the butler again. I said yes this time because I’m afraid things might escalate badly if I refuse. I still feel strange and weirded out from all of these. I’m no stranger with hallucinations. I did experienced it before but never like this. Following the death of my parents is the trauma it left in me. I used to see and hear stuff. I remember screaming after I saw a pool of blood in the floor even though nothing was really there. I went under a destressing therapy and luckily, I recovered after 1 year. Its not easy to get over your parents’ death. Maybe I’m just stressed, and things subside after I get used to it. We continued to walk towards the kitchen.

 [SJIS1]Mr. Poncho the cook, Mrs. Hudson the maid, Mr. Alfred the butler, Mac the janitor, and Mr. Wilson