THE ORPHANAGE

Chapter Nineteen

MABEL’S POV

I was cleaning my kitchen counter with a rag and a spray bottle when my door bell rang, “coming” I yelled as I quickly took one last swipe off the counter and rushed to get the door

My eyes widened as I saw Martha and the kids standing by my front door, “hey Martha, what a wonderful visit” I said excitedly as I hugged Ashley “sorry for the unexpected visit but can we come in?” She asked faintly, “oh sure sure” I said and I paved way for them to walk in, peter is even here too.

“sorry for the unexpected visit” Peter said as he walked up to me, “no it’s okay, you’re family. You’re welcome anytime you want, please feel at home” I smiled brightly

“Hey sis” Martha walked into the kitchen, “what’s wrong? I noticed you’re not in the best of moods and I didn’t want to pressure you to tell me what’s wrong” I leaned on the counter and I watched her sigh

“I-we” she broke down in tears and I quickly pulled her into a hug, “it’s okay, you can talk to me” I patted her hair and she sniffled

“We are going through a lot, Juniper and her friends. They- they um played around with an Ouija board and the spirit has been haunting them, juniper is in the hospital and one of her friends is dead. We’re not safe at home at all and we can’t contact the priest, it’s a whole lot” she broke down again as she finished explaining and my jaw dropped

“all these happened and you didn’t bother calling me?” I asked, “we thought we had it under control, until we lodged in a motel and it caught- it caught fire” she sobbed

“oh my God” I sighed and hit my hand on the counter, “you should have called me, you should have” I complained

“I’m sorry, we just need a place to stay till we can contact the priest and cleanse the house” she wiped her face, “you can stay here, my place is your place and besides I get lonely so you can stay till anytime” I assured her and she managed to smile

“Thank you so much sis” she hugged me, “have they eaten?” I asked about the kids

“they have but nothing serious or good, just like junk to hold their stomach” she rubbed her back, “I can see you’re tired, just relax I’ll handle it from here but hope the baby is okay?” I placed my hand on her tummy and she sighed

“hopefully” she said, “It’s fine, just wait I’ll prepare dinner. You can stay in any of the guest rooms” I added and she smiled “okay sis” she whispered and as she was walking out of the kitchen, she bumped into peter and she glared at him before brushing him off.

Okay, I feel the tensed atmosphere between them. “Thank you very much for having us” I heard peter say and I turned swiftly after bringing out a pot from the cabinet

“oh, it’s not a problem. She’s my sister and she’d do the same for me any day” I said and he smiled, “um- I don’t mean to intrude but I can feel that things aren’t right between the two of you” I added and I opened the tap to fetch water into the pot

I heard him sigh and leaned by the counter, “ I don’t understand what’s been going on lately, it’s like everything is falling apart and i- I don’t even know what to do” he ran his fingers in his hair

“and I’ve just been under a lot of pressure and I accidentally take it out on her”  he added, “I wouldn’t say I can relate but all I can say is just be patient and have hope that everything will turn out just fine In the end” I closed the tap and placed the pot on the gas

“will it? you know that’s easy to say when we’re not on the run from something that we can’t even see” he shrugged “what exactly is going on? Because if I say I understand you I’m just lying” I folded my arms

I don’t understand what’s going on, “in three sentences, we’re being haunted” he said and my eyes widened

by ghosts? Is that even real? I mean as a philosopher I’m not meant to believe what I can’t even see

“yeah it’s quite real and it can damage your mental health is care if not taken and you’d seem like the crazy one, but I’m on the right track to find answers and I hope I find it soon enough” he said and was about walking out the kitchen

“wait, I suggest that you give Martha some time and you too you need some space till you get yourself together again” I said and he nodded before walking out of the kitchen