Trapped
1025 Words
After coming out of his trance, Austin got so scared that he insisted on finding out what's going on. When he started having those dreams about shooting himself, he already found it weird. But now that there was a manifestation of those actions in reality, he was terrified he’d really successfully hurt or kill himself next time it happened. He was possessed, he was aware of that now. Snippets of the things he had done while in trance earlier with Jerome had already come back to him, and he shuddered.
Remembering the book the agent had given them, the brothers took it from the car back to the study to see what they could learn from it. They vividly recalled the agent telling them to read the contents of the book should they have any questions about the estate. However, things were completely different from what they had been expecting. Nonetheless, the contents were still fright inducing to say the least.
The hardbound book was actually a compilation of news, articles, rumors, and facts collected all over the years starting in 1843, when an unsolved case of the m******e occurred in this very house. The rumored culprit was no other than Jehan de Lancret, the second son of the last noble directly kin to the King of France.
In the book were also the recurring cases of young people, all aged twenty-one from different parts of the world who ended up dead in Le Désespoir. All died from a gunshot wound in the head, all self-inflicted, the same manner Jehan died.
Upon reading all of these, Jerome had been horrified and terrified for his brother. Austin matched all the victims, in age, in everything— and Austin had nearly killed himself in the same manner.
If Jerome wasn't there at that time…
The most disturbing fact was that the book also contained a portrait of the de Lancrets before the m******e. Austin had looked exactly like Jehan while Jerome was the dead ringer of the eldest son, Johann. The third son, however, in Austin’s fright, the third son looked exactly like the boy he had run after a few hours ago, the one who took him to the spring.
"What are we going to do now? We need to stay here for two more weeks," Austin asked worriedly.
At the rate things were happening, he was afraid he might really do something next time and his brother wouldn't be able to stop him.
"We don't have to stay here," Jerome answered and the younger boy searched his face with his questioning eyes.
"We don't really need this inheritance. I'll take care of you— and no, it's not about pity," he said upon seeing his brother's guarded expression. "I'll never do anything out of pity. I'm doing this because I want to."
Austin hesitated for a while and then he nodded. He knew his brother enough to know he's sincere. Still, he's not so comfortable taking anything from him.
"I'll pay you back for mom's operation," he promised. "I might not do that yet, but I will when I finish studying."
The older one really didn't want his brother to pay him back, but he also knew that Austin had his family's pride, and that it was important for his brother to return the money, and so he nodded.
"That's a deal then," he said with a smile. "You better become a good doctor when we return to Seoul," he continued as he offered his hand for a shake.
Austin looked at his brother and smiled a genuine smile.
"I will," he promised as he took his brother's hand.
Jerome’s chest constricted and he felt like crying, but stopped himself. Instead, he ruffled his brother's hair as he stood up.
"Let's go," he said as they both walked out of the house towards the van.
"What about our things?" Austin asked as he settled on the passenger seat.
"There’s no need to bring them," his brother answered. "We'll just get new things when we get back to Paris," the older boy continued as he switched on the engine.
The machine started only to sputter and die after a few seconds. Jerome frowned as he restarted the engine and it happened again.
"What's wrong?" Austin asked. He too was frowning as he waited for his brother's answer.
"The car won't start," the older one stated and they stared at each other for a moment.
"Let's just walk," Austin suggested.
He knew it would probably take a whole day for them to walk back to town, but that was much better compared to staying here in this creepy place.
"Okay," his brother answered and they grabbed a small bag each and filled them with food and water, their passport and wallet secured inside their jacket pockets.
They started walking towards the main road without looking back as soon as they were all set. They couldn't wait to get out of the haunted estate. Usually, it took just fifteen minutes to get back to the main road. This time though, the brothers noticed that they had been walking for quite some time already, and yet, they're still quite a distance away from the main road.
"Was it really this far?" Austin asked his brother.
"I don't know," Jerome answered as he turned around. "It wasn't this far from the house when we came…" His voice trailed off upon seeing the house a few feet from where they were standing, the van just behind them.
"Holy s**t…."
Both brothers stared at the house, their hearts beating furiously in their chest in fright.
"Run!" Jerome ordered and they started running.
After a few minutes, they got tired but when they turned around, they were still on the same spot.
The two collapsed on the ground, catching their breaths.
"What's going on?" Austin asked nervously. "Does this mean we're trapped here? We can't go back to New York?"
Jerome reached for his brother's hand and gave him a squeeze. He was scared too, but he didn't want to give up. Mustering his courage, he opened his mouth to challenge the unseen.
- Writer
