Lara and The Mansion in the Woods

A Faint, Loud, Voice

“Honey,” I looked up from my plate of eggs and bacon on the dining table “we’ll be going on another business trip, so behave while we’re gone, ok?” She added while checking something in her purse. I nodded in response. “Mrs. Hudson?”, she said while Mrs. Hudson stood near the doorway, carrying a heavy suit case. She’s also helping with loading their stuff needed for the trip “Yes ma’am?”, she promptly replied.

“Take good care of Lara while we’re away, we have to get going now, or else we will miss the schedule” Mom commanded to Mrs. Hudson. “Yes ma’am, understood” she said in a reassuring tone. “Mac, bring our luggage,... Mac?” She finally noticed that Mac the janitor isn’t here.

“Ma’am, I believe Mac will be a little late today, um, he said that he had personal matters to attend to” Mrs. Hudson spoke up for the absence of Mac.

“Oh, well, why didn’t he tell us? He just decided he won’t come, and didn't even cared to inform?” Implied Mr. Fletcher, with a hint of irritation.

“He, um, I don't really know sir, he just told me to tell you if you ever asked.” Her tone changed a bit

“If I aske—" Mrs. Fletcher cut him off

“Well, honey, We need to leave, I’ll just get Alfred to grab the luggage.” she added

There was a slight tension in the air, then, He let out a sigh.

A moment later mom, dad and I stood at the porch of the mansion, dad patted my head, and handed me a red pouch, the size of my palm,

“We’ll be back soon, and I'll get you more of those too.”

He smiled, I opened the pouch, and it was a small, gold ring with a ruby embedded in it. I hugged and thanked him for it, and off they went. I watched through the window, as their black Limousine drove through the gate of the Fletcher's mansion, and disappeared in the morning horizon.

I tried not to look at any of the portraits on the wall as I walked through the hallway. After all of that, I finally reached the kitchen door, twisted the doorknob, and went in. I thought this would be the best time to be able to explore the mansion and find “a place in this house”. In the Kitchen, I found Mr. Poncho cooking a delicious meal, I could tell just from the smell of it. I can't wait for lunch. Even if I just had breakfast with Mom and Dad.

As the aroma of the steak spread throughout the entire kitchen, I remembered the ghost I met in the library. What was her name, “Eilif?” I thought aloud. The faint sound slipped my lips, Mr. Poncho heard the name I said and suddenly stopped cooking. "Eilif you say?". He said in a strangely curious tone. And that look on his face, as if judging me and what I know. Does he know about eilif?

“Yes actually, read about him in a book, um, you know, Eilif Peterssen? Norwegian painter”. I mentally thanked that friend of mine in the orphanage that seemed to really like art. “I’ve seen his work you know, like the, um, what was it? I pretended to think. Right! The ‘summer night’. It’s a”— The cook cut me off with a wave of his hand. “Right, right.” I mentally thanked my friend again.

“By any chance, have you seen Mr. Albert?”, I said desperately diverting the subject elsewhere. He chopped some onions and put it in the searing pot. He wiped his hands in the kitchen towel and replied “Well, I saw Albert. I think he's just came back this morning, why don't you go to the garden? You might find him there.

“Ok I’ll check. Thank you”