THE HEIR OF BLACKTHORN

CHAPTER 4

4. SHADOW

Had the neighbors brought in their properties already? I contemplated within myself, but it was too early for that. The time was 6:15 a.m. when I woke up. So what time did they pack in? The house was too dark, and if there's one thing I knew for sure, there was no electricity in that house 'cause it got really damaged last time the old neighbors were there.

And suddenly, I thought I saw a shadow casting beneath the shrub........a human shadow, but the gates are tightly sealed, so how come?

I shivered this time, not from the cold, but from the unknown, as the shadow seemed to come further but retreated immediately. I shot my window closed as I stepped backwards fast, just to bump into a soft wall that wasn't meant to be there.

"What's wrong, Ixy?" Mum asked, as I turned to face her, with concerned wrinkles on her face. She was in her nightwear but seemed to have freshened up.

"Ooh Mum, when did you get home?" I asked, hugging her, feeling secure for a moment.

"Around 2:00 a.m. this morning," she replied, hugging me back. "What happened?? You seemed shaken for a while back there," she asked again, pointing at the window.

"Have the neighbors moved in? I think I saw someone there in their front property/lot."

"No, Ixy, they've not moved in yet," she replied.

"Buh the curtains changed and the gates padl......."

"Yh, yh, when I came back around 2, I saw a big truck in the front gates. Guess they must have brought their properties, as the housing agents said," she replied, interrupting me.

And I nodded to end the conversation.

"So you have to prepare, 'cause you don't seem to have had your bath. I'll be waiting for you downstairs," she said, giving me an up-to-down look. Now I see where B got her judging look.

"Yes, Mum, I'll go prepare," I said as I dragged my feet heading to the bathroom. I knew today's morning was never a relaxing day.

"I wanna go check on your sister again, so better be fast about it, Ixyyyy," I heard her shout as I turned on the shower.

I love my Mum so much, although I won't lie, she can be annoying sometimes.

When I got downstairs, Mum and B were already prepared, so we went out to the lot as we waited for Mum to get the car from the garage.

"Ixyy, Mum said the neighbors must have brought in their properties," Barbie said while looking at her nails.

"Yh, she told me this morning. Why are you asking?" I replied, staring down at her.

"Nothing, just asking," she replied.

Mum drove the car to the front gate. We looked at each other, then.......

"Shot gunnnn!" B screamed at the top of her lungs as she ran to the front seat.

I rolled my eyes, then giggled. I entered the passenger seat right behind Mum.

We entered the front gate, as plenty of cars were already there. B and I came down as Mum parked the car. When she was through, we headed to the front door together.

As we entered the church, people were already seated, while some were also coming. We went straight to the right side, five seats away from the altar, our usual spot. We sat down with B sitting in between us.

Then, immediately, the Priest came inside, while we stood.

"Ixy, please take me in this angle," B pleaded as I took her pictures after church.

I was, like, literally getting annoyed. Like, wtf, I've been doing this for the past 20 minutes since after church. She was already getting on my nerves. Mum went to the Priest to bless holy waters and praying materials, and I've been taking B's pictures for the longest I could count.

She isn't getting tired of posing, but I'm literally tired of taking the pictures. And mind you, she doesn't know how to switch. Like, she can't take pictures, only to pose.

"Come on, girls, I'm done. Let's go," Mum said, coming out of the church.

I heaved a heavy sigh of relief as I shouted, "Shotgun!" heading to the front seat.

I entered the car and shut it right on B's face. From the glass, I could see her face turn into a really ugly monster.

I was happy; at least her joy of making me stressed was gone. I wouldn't have kept taking her pictures, but we had a deal sooooo. I heard the door shut as Mum entered the driver's seat, and then I heard it shut louder as B entered. I knew it, of course, as she deliberately sat behind me in the passenger seat to kick the back of my seat so I wouldn't be comfortable.

"Muummm, Barbie is hitting the back of my chair and by so........" I faced her from the front. "Getting your car dirty," I said, smiling at her, the smile she gets when she's getting in trouble.

"B, you'll go feed the dog when we're home," Mum said.

I smirked at B, then turned back to my phone as a sigh of triumph came out.

I entered my room, so exhausted. I could hear Mum telling B to go feed the dog quickly so she could help her make lunch/breakfast. I heard B grumble as she left.

I showered, wore my black shorts and black singlet, and lay on my bed, feeling so tired and exhausted. I didn't know when I fell asleep.

I was walking down the path that led to the front lot of a building. It was a narrow path. I don't think I've seen it before, but one thing I knew for sure was that I've never seen this part, but the environment was getting familiar as I delved in, and then I saw it again.....it stood there for some seconds and all of a sudden……