What Lies Beneath

[ 3 | You're Playing My Game Now ]

The fear slowly began to fade away, she gathered all the courage to once again stand on her own two feet, still staring back at the painting— having a staring contest, as one would say. She waited for it to blink again, she looked down, gulping, preparing herself for the worst. She fidgets her fingers, attempting to relax. She inhaled deeply before returning her sight to the painting.

She walked towards the painting, but the painting didn't bother to blink or move. Emily was cautious with the painting, she gently lifted the painting, afraid to break it and to see what's behind it, but she found nothing. It was a normal painting, just hanging on the wall. Emily thought to herself if she's hallucinating or dreaming, she gently slapped her face hoping she'll wake up.

But out of curiosity, she gently knocked on the wall, she was going to knock again but she paused, the wall sounded so hollow— empty, like there's a room inside. Inside of these walls. She examines the wall for a hole, then shifts her sight to the back of the painting to see whether if it has the same problem. She then touches the wall, but nothing feels or appears different. She takes a step back, slowly returning the picture to its original spot.

"Emily?" Emily turned her head to the direction of the sound.

"Harnen?" Emily gasped.

"Oh! You remember me?" Harnen joked with a bit of excitement hinted in his voice.

"Uh, yeah." Emily replied, scratching the back of her neck.

"Why are you here?" Harnen asked, growing concerned.

"I was looking for you, the dining table is still dirty, I wanted to help clean it up." Emily explained, rubbing her arm to help herself to calm down.

"Oh, don't worry, the table will be clean shortly, we already have someone to clean it up." Harnen assured, flashing her a warm smile.

"Also it's nice of you to think about helping clean the table." Harnen added.

"Make yourself feel at home, not too much though." Harnen said.

"Of course, this is not my house after all, but thanks for letting me stay for a while." Emily said, smiling at the young man in front of her.

"If you need me, you can find me in my room, beside the room you were sleeping in." Harnen said.

"Do you remember the way back to your room?" Harnen asked, raising his brows.

"Of course." Emily lied.

"Okay, I'll be on my way to my room now." Harnen smiled, returning to his previous path.

Emily nodded her head but her attention quickly drifted to the painting. Though it was still in its normal form, Emily had suspiciousness floating around her. She desperately wanted to think it was a person. She wondered if it would be creepier if it was a ghost or a human..

She sighed before swiftly walking away, away to another hallway. Walking through what seems like an endless hallway, her eyes lit up upon noticing a door but this time the hallway finally had a door— Double sided door, quite different from the other doors she saw. Being a nosy girl, she went closer to the two brown doors.

It's a wooden door, with intricate detail carved on it. Her jaw hangs out as she observes the fancy details on the door, it's elegant and lovely. She snaps back to reality, twisting the door knob and pushing it open.

A loud ring resonates in her ears as she opens the door, and she glances up to see a small gold bell with a red ribbon above her. Upon entering the room, the firelight was soft on the floor. A carpet seated on the center of the fireplace with tables and chairs. It was quiet, the ticking sound of the clock filled the room with the burning wood of the fireplace, while the aroma of old books and s'mores filled the air.

She saunters about the room, dragging her fingers through the books and reading the titles on the spines. The library featured a second storey with shelves and stacks of books within the shelves. She was astounded to discover several books she had no idea existed, including some that were over a century old.

She stumbles upon a book that seems to take her interest, it is a book about Greek mythology. She can't deny that she's fascinated by Greek mythology and the legends that surround it.

She grabs the book, seating herself into one of the chairs. She flips through the pages, stopping at a specific story— Hades and Persephone. It's a classic story. Hades, god of the Underworld, happens to glance up at the world above, sparing a glance to the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Demeter, Persephone, goddess of spring. Whom he fell in love with when he saw her picking flowers one day in a meadow. Zeus consented to the marriage or at least refused to oppose it, yet he warned Hades that Demeter would never approve resulting Hades to kidnap Persephone.

"Well, Hades is half better than his brothers." Emily shrugged her shoulders.

"What have you stumbled upon?" A voice asked.

Emily closes the book, turning her head to the direction of the door. Adwen stood by the door, waiting for her answers.

"Just... The story of Hades and Persephone." Adwen nodded his head, sitting in front of her.

"Do you enjoy Greek mythology?" Adwen inquired, rising from his seat and grabbing a book from the shelves.

"Yes, I do. A lot." Emily replied, opening the book.

He returns to his seat and sets down a book. It appears to be over a century old. Emily shifted her book to the side, seeing what Adwen had done. Adwen flipped through the pages of the book, but it crumbled under his fingers.

"What book is this?" Emily asked.

Adwen closes the book, shifting his gaze to Emily "The Dictionary Of The Devil." Adwen pushes the book closer to Emily.

Emily opened the book, but felt a sting pain as her index finger drip blood on the page of the book. Adwen leapt to his feet and walked over to a cabinet, where he retrieved a first-aid kit.

He reappears, slowly taking Emily's hand in his and putting a cotton wrap to it. Stopping the blood from overflowing.

"Paper cut?" Adwen asked which Emily replied by nodding her head.

"Sorry, I stained the book." Emily lowered her head.

Emily shifts her gaze to the page while Adwen patches Emily's wound, feeling guilty as her blood damaged a pentagram on the page. Adwen rose up after finishing Emily's wound and returned the first aid equipment to the cabinet. He sits down again, closing the book and returning it back on the shelf.

"Sorry." Emily mumbled, lowering her head.

"It's fine!" Adwen chuckled, patting her head.

"Don't worry about it, no one reads that." Adwen continued, hoping to cheer Emily up.

"Here! You can have this book." Adwen hands her the Greek Mythology book she was reading.

Her eyes lit up "Really?" She asked which Adwen replied by nodding his head.

"You can even take it home. If you would like." Adwen smiled which made Emily smile.

"Thank you!" Emily beamed in excitement.

"Welcome, enjoy your stay here." Adwen suggested.

"May I ask, is it still snowing outside?" Emily asked. Adwen switched his gaze to the massive window behind her, which had the wind pounded against the glass.

"I'm afraid but yes." Adwen nodded his head, still staring at the window. Emily turned her head to the window before sighing.

"For your safety, I advise you not to go out." Adwen suggested which Emily nodded her head to.

"Hey-" Casper paused upon noticing the two figures.

"Yes?" Adwen asked.

Casper shifted his gaze to Emily who was busy reading the Greek Mythology book. He frowns his brows, signalling his brother, to why Emily is here. Adwen shakes his head, returning his attention back to Emily. Ignoring his brother stares, Casper scoffs, moving closer to them.

"I need to speak with you." Casper stated sharply.

"Sure." Adwen said, shrugging his shoulders and returning his gaze to his brother.

"Alone." he said, his gaze fixed on Emily.

Emily shifted her focus from the book she was reading to Adwen and Casper. She let out a shaky chuckle before exiting the room, closing the two doors behind her.

Still reading the Greek Mythology book, the book still stuck on her nose. She soon realizes that she will pass by the painting she saw earlier. It sent shivers up and down her spine. She exhaled slowly, keeping her composure.

Emily soon found herself in front of the painting that blinked at her, but this time, it's different. It's not her heart-shaped lips, her smooth pale skin, her rosy cheek, her small pointed nose, her silky dress but her eyes, it's now unsettlingly deep brown eyes— staring right back at her.

Emily's body tense just thinking about it blinking again. How could her light blue eyes change to deep brown eyes? Did they change it? Replace it with another painting? Is it a moving picture? I'm hallucinating? Did they drug me to feel like this? So many thoughts run through her mind.

A loud thunder outside made her scream, dropping her book. She hastily walks away, her body getting more tense every step she makes. She wasn't sure why but it was unbreathable to say the least yet her heart was pounding. This sensation was crawling her skin and ripping her apart but she kept walking— far away from the painting, soon enough she felt her legs getting sore and numb. She stops, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

She studies her surroundings, still gasping for air, attempting to figure out where she is. There's no denying the place was luxurious, with massive chandeliers, sculptured statues, and tall pillars with artistic patterns. To her left was the imperial staircase, leading back upstairs. A figure stood on the top of the staircase looking down on her, the figure jog down, flashing a warm smile when he caught her eyes

"Hey!" A voice call out.

"Hey, it's me Adwen" A giggle fell off his mouth.

"Oh, hey" Emily was able to breathe again, fixing the clothes she was wearing.

"Uh, quick question." Adwen said.

"Hhm?" Emily hum, raising her brows.

"Have you seen my brother, Harnen?" Adwen asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"He said to me he will be in his room if I need him. He's probably in his room" Emily replied, flashing an awkward smile.

"Oh, I just went pass-" He let out a confused whisper but not loud enough for Emily to hear.

"Thanks" Adwen cheered, heading back up but before he could even reach the top, he stopped in his tracks.

"Don't lose yourself too much. It will be hard finding the exit once you lose yourself" Adwen suggest "And it will be hard for us to find you too" Adwen added.

"Yeah, I won't wander too far." Emily assured.

"I don't want to be a burden to any of you." Emily added, flashing him a smile.

Adwen returned a warm smile once again, turning his back on her to fulfill his mission— on finding his brother.

"Wait, wasn't he in his library minutes ago?" Emily thought to herself, she remained motionless, trying to comprehend how he had gotten up there.

She pauses before shaking her head, she twirls around, staring at the chandelier above her but her eyes landed on the front door. She snap back to reality, hurrying towards the door

Now in front of the front door, she used all her strength to push the door but it didn't move.

She grabbed two of the handles pulling it but it didn't work, so she pushed it away from her as hard as she could but to her dismay the door didn't budge.

"f**k, It's lock." Emily whispered to herself before banging her hands on the wooden door.