Someone's following me
1946 Words
"Went out of town with my uncle." Dillan replied simply.
"Of course." I nodded my head.
"Where can I find a toilet here?" Chloe turned to Dillan.
"Go up the stairs and turn left and you'll find a door at the back." Dillan pointed a finger at the stairs.
"I won't be long." Chloe got up from the floor.
Seconds later, Chloe climbed the stairs and the guest room was silent. I tore my eyes away from Dillan and grabbed the first book in front of me. Its cover was completely black with obscure symbols.
"What is it?" Dillan's voice soon drifted around the living room.
"Nothing." I turned the pages of the book between my hands.
"You're angry." Dillan turned her whole body towards me.
"Why should I?" I lifted my eyes from the book to Dillan.
'You're going to tell me what I did to make you angry?" Dillan looked me in the eye.
"In Cassian, not out." I broke eye contact with Dillan.
"How do you know? Dillan rolled her eyes.
"I spoke to him this morning, at the cemetery." I closed the book in my hands.
"Is he in town ? Dillan furrowed his brow.
I could see the resignation and confusion on his face. I could tell that his own brother had lied to him.
"You didn't know right?" I raised an eyebrow at Dillan.
"I assumed." Dillan rose from the ground.
"I came back." Chloe's voice came from the top of the stairs.
"Sarah's already picked a topic for her history paper." Dillan squirmed in her armchair.
"Really and what is it?" Chloe settled in next to me.
"'Tower Ghost." Dillan picked up a glass of water from the table.
"Is this the abandoned tower that stands near the castle?" Chloe opened the book.
"Yes, she's holding a book that was found in that tower." Dillan smiled.
"It's untitled and everything that's written here is definitely not in our language." I took a closer look at the contents of the book.
"This book was found in the spring of 1885. That's when the legend of the woman who lived in the tower and was burned in a sudden fire started. The fire came from inside the tower. The only thing that has survived is this book. Later, the woman was nicknamed a witch because there was no explanation for this event." Dillan briefly told me about the book that was in my hands.
"A witch? Do such things exist?" Chloe sneered at Dillan.
"I guess it just depends on what you believe. Besides, it's just a legend." Dillan shrugged.
"And what do you believe, Sarah?" Chloe stared at the book in my hands.
"I believe it's a great topic for my history paper." I smiled widely.
Standing up, I tucked the book under my arm and made my way to the couch. I opened it and took a deeper look at everything it said. To my surprise, among the many obscure words, I could find other words like "Fire" "Protection" "Fracture".
"And what will you do?" I looked up at Dillan.
"I have an important call to make, I'll be leaving soon." Dillan rose from her seat.
I followed Dillan out of the room with my eyes. Soon Chloe was crouched beside me, holding out the book in her hand.
"What's this?" I tried to figure out where on the page Chloe was showing me.
"Moon Castle" or the well-known legend of the castle in the town. The legend tells of twin brothers born at the beginning of spring. The fate of the two blood brothers was sealed for them as soon as they were born. They spent their entire childhood in each other's company, and eventually had to die at each other's hands. The deeds, sincerity and stubbornness of these young men made them impressive in the eyes of others." Chloe read a page from the book.
"We already know that." I wrinkled my forehead.
"Look what it says next. On the fateful day when the brothers had to fight, another person died. A woman lost her beloved husband who was her rock and pillar. After that fateful night, only one person was left in charge of the castle." Chloe said, concentrating.
"You mean their father died and their mother just disappeared?" I looked up from the book at Chloe.
"That's a bit strange, don't you think?" Chloe looked at me with big eyes.
"Well, have you girls finished looking through the books yet?" Dillan stepped into the living room.
"How can a person disappear?" I glared at Dillan.
"Did you find the rest of the legend?" Dillan smiled.
"Yes." Chloe held up her hand with the book.
"It is believed that the mother, unable to bear the pain of losing her son and husband in one evening, simply committed suicide." Dillan sat in the chair in front of us.
"The legend doesn't say she committed suicide." Chloe didn't look up.
"Legends are sometimes twisted so that no one understands them." Dillan stared into the fire.
The phone rang in the background of the salon. It was only after another ringtone that I realised it was my phone. I hurriedly took the phone out of my pocket and put it to my ear.
"Yes?" I stood up from the sofa.
"Sarah turn on the TV with the news." Dad's voice rang on the phone.
Soon I silently explained to Dillan what I needed and we made our way towards the room I wasn't in yet. We entered a small dark room. In the middle of it was a massive wooden table and chair. On the table was a computer and a glass with an unclear liquid. Behind the chair was a whole wall of bookshelves. In the middle of the wall in front of the desk was a television set. I could see a huge window with curtains on the left and a few shelves and a wilted flower vase on the right. Dillan picked up the remote and flicked through the channels, stopping at the news.
"Amerry Lingston has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Last seen last night in the city centre. Anyone who knows or sees anything please contact the Police Commissioner's Office." said the newsreader.
"Is this Lucy's classmate?" Chloe started to panic.
"Yes, that's her." I nodded my head.
"Sarah can you still hear?" Lucy's voice came on the other end of the phone.
"I'm here. Dad mentioned something?" I asked in a calm voice.
"No, they haven't found her yet." Lucy's voice sounded sad.
"Okay, I won't be home long. Tell Dad I'm fine." I ended the phone call.
"Can I give you a lift home?" Chloe offered.
"No, I'll walk." I shook my head.
We had already left the small room and were standing in the doorway.
"Thanks for the afternoon girls, hope to see you again." Dillan smiled broadly.
"Thanks for the history lesson." Chloe waved.
Chloe and I walked towards the car that was parked in the backyard. I stopped and waited until Chloe got in and started the car.
"If you find out anything, give me a call." Chloe said as she opened the window.
"Sure." I gave her a thumbs up.
I walked down the familiar road that led to my house. After a few minutes of walking, I could see my house. I walked through the front door, but it was completely silent.
"Lucy are you home?" I called out.
"Yes." Lucy's voice came from the top of the stairs.
"Are you all right?" I stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"Despite the fact that a second person has gone missing in less than a week. Yes I'm fine." Lucy climbed the stairs towards me.
I hugged her, letting her know that I cared about her and that I was rooting for her.
"I'm going to go to the city to distract myself." Lucy slipped on her shoes.
"Maybe dad mentioned when he'll be back?" I lurked in the doorway.
"He said late, don't expect him." Lucy stepped through the door.
"Be careful." I smiled, looking into my sister's eyes.
"I will be." Lucy replied with a calm face.
Silence fell over the house as the door closed. My mind was spinning with thoughts of what was going on in this town and I couldn't get Cassian's name out of context. I shook my head to clear the bad thoughts and decided to make something eat to distract myself. I walked into the kitchen and my eyes fell on an envelope placed on the table. I walked closer and my name was written on it. I could recognise this handwriting anywhere. I eagerly opened the envelope and took out a sheet of paper filled with fine handwriting.
"Hi my dear Sarah. If you are reading this letter, then I am dead. I can imagine what a strong and brave woman you have grown up to be. I would like to hug you tightly, to see you graduate from school, to attend your wedding with a tear. Nevertheless, everything turned out differently than I planned. Born into the Willow bloodline, you are a very special Sarah. I can't protect you from where you live, but I can protect you from people who wish you ill. I hope my little final gift to you is one you will always carry. Know that I love you immensely and will always be proud of you. Your mother - Eira."
I could feel my cheeks getting wet with rolling tears. I picked up the envelope and looked inside. At the bottom was a small ring. I turned the envelope over and took it out to have a better look. In the middle of the ring was a large red pebble that glittered, and around the sides of the ring were three small blue pebbles with silver threads. I put the ring on the ring finger of my left hand, which fit perfectly. I smiled immediately and put the letter written by my mother back in the envelope. Little memories of the time I had spent with my mother swirled in my mind. Another tear rolled down my cheek, I wiped it away with my hand and went upstairs to my room. My appetite was completely gone, all I could think about was how this letter had got here and what its real purpose was. I sat on my bed and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, thinking about what was happening in this town. I looked down at my hand, on which the ring that my mother had given me glittered. Unable to bear the silence in the house, I texted my dad that I had gone to see Chloe. I put Mum's letter on the desk next to the computer and took the stairs to the first floor. I put on my shoes and locked the door and headed down the darkening street towards the city centre. The streets were quickly occupied by the coming evening and it became quite dark and uncomfortable. I could hear cars passing by and other people hurrying somewhere. I took the old path towards the town park. I heard footsteps behind me and looked over my shoulder. A vague silhouette ten metres away from me was walking in my direction. A little frightened, I quickened my pace towards a more illuminated part of the park, but the man following me was not a single step behind. Slowly, I took my phone out of my pocket and put it to my ear.
"Hello?" Dillan's voice reached my ears.
"Someone's following me." My voice shook slightly.
- Writer
