What Lies Beneath

[ 4 | The Winter Is Not Cooperating ]

Her fingers hugged the doorknob and shook it as hard as she could, causing the door to rattle after a while. She stood there staring at the door. After a while, she moaned in defeat, realizing she was trapped. Well, that's exactly how she felt. She bangs her hands on the wooden door but she paused, not wanting to break it. She gave herself a mental slap, scanning her surroundings before shifting her attention back to the door.

She shakes her head, having seen nothing or even what is outside. She peers through the adjacent window. She could barely see anything because of the cold dead snow covering the window but it's clear to her the cold death of winter— clouded sky, dark and grey. The white snow dusting the green leaves, tiny snowflakes falling from the sky while the roaring wind pound against the window glass.

"Ms Emily?" Emily stood there in frustration. She wants to get out but couldn't find any way to do so.

"Yes?" Emily said, calming herself as she faced the voice that was coming from behind her.

"Do you remember me?" The figure walks down the stairs, maintaining eye contact.

"You never introduce yourself." Emily muttered, frustration still evident in her voice. She can't help it. She's strap and this guy had the audacity to ask her a question about himself.

"My apologies, I'm Casper." It was the guy during the breakfast session. The one who looks snobby and probably the only person who doesn't welcome her, let alone greet her, and now he's here?

"Ah. The one who cursed what the f**k during breakfast?" Emily blurted as a matter of fact. Didn't like the way this Casper suddenly showed up.

"Oh, is that how you remember me?" Casper asked, quite in disbelief that his impression was not good enough but seeing her figure made him release a chuckle.

Emily nodded her head, rolling her eyes. She doesn't mean to be unpleasant; after all, she is only a visitor.

"I thought it was a good first impression though." Casper whispered, inaudible to Emily's ears.

"What?" She squinted her eyes.

"Nothing." Casper shakes his head and descends the remaining stairs before approaching her.

"Anyways, we have a serious problem." Casper announced, face turning in all seriousness mode, if that even makes sense. His face was already serious to begin with.

"What?" Emily tilted her head, anticipating his answers.

"The winter fall has come, the darkness fills the sky, the ice crippled the road, and the freezing wind dances around outside." Casper explained, rolling up his sleeves.

What words. It seems like a riddle. He's pretty good. She thought, staring blankly at him.

"So...?" Emily didn't quite catch what he wanted to convey. She's confused even more.

"So? Well, you won't be able to go home." He speaks straightforwardly, no nonsense or jokes. His statement was like a bomb to Emily's whole being. How does he even know, that's what came running to her mind. She shakes her thoughts away.

"Unless you want to die, you can go ahead and do so." He added, frankly speaking while staring directly at her. She fidget her fingers, feeling uncomfortable upon his stares.

Emily straightens her back before rolling her eyes away. That was a stupid suggestion, however, if you think about it, it's not actually that bad. Though it will cost her body temperature to fall and some frostbite here and there, it's worth the try, she just really needs to get out of this place, as fast as she can, you never trust anyone, after all. Even if they're kind, she never lets her guard down.

"Uh, for how long must I stay here?" Emily asked, scratching her head.

"Not sure, you can ask the weather though. It might know until when this snowstorm will last." Casper muttered, his sarcastic replied made Emily looked at him in disbelief. This man was out of this world. He turned his back on Emily, walking away to only he knows, leaving Emily still, looking at him like he got two heads.

You asked him a simple and sincere question, to only be answered like this? full of bullshit, she thought to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Thanks, I'll be sure to do that." Emily sassed before scoffing. She walked away to find a way to get the hell out of the place, especially away from him.

After further exploration and walking through the corridors, she found herself inside a room, it was luxurious like any other rooms she has seen and haven't seen inside. It had enormous windows and tall pillars with exquisite embellishments but this one had a massive painting hanging on the wall. It was so massive, it's not impossible for the naked eye to see.

Emily squinted her eyes in an attempt to see more clearly, pushing her hair behind her ears. This painting was unlike anything she had seen before— it wasn't a sunset or a landscape. She wanders off her thoughts as she stares, fully enslaved by the aura of the painting. In the painting, stood 3 tall young men. One was in the middle, sitting on a wooden chair, the person to his right seemed to be holding a watch while the person to his left seemed to be holding a book, an old century book. She tilts her head to the side, finding the book familiar, after further thinking, she shakes her head, not remembering the book.

Their body hugged a vibrant suit and gleaming accessories, silver-like jewels but upon closer inspection it was diamonds, she stepped back, astonished. Yet their faces were tense, their faces laid expressions that were a mix of fear, confusion, and exhaustion. Each face appears to express distinct emotions, which does not appear to be optimistic. Their expression and energy did not match the vibrancy of the painting, which is not what it was attempting to portray.

Emily thought to herself, she was over-analysing too much, a little too much but don't most of the paintings have deep meaning to it? Unless you ask the person who painted it, the one who dragged their paintbrush across the canva to create an amazing painting filled with baroque elements. Only the creators know what secrets lie beneath it.

Under the painting was a book, on top of the wooden table, opened wide, ready to be read out loud. It was opened in the middle page, she scans through the letters, dragging her fingers through the page before gently picking up the book, not wanting to damage it.

What seems to be written inside is the history of the Khabensky. It talks about the 3 young brothers. First was Harnen— honored to be the one who finds the most tasteful ingredients across the world, then Casper— honored to be the one who makes scrumptious and delightful wines, and lastly, how could we forget, we have Adwen— honored to be the one who writes most of the extravagant and out of this world recipes.

They were famous for their winery, their business took off like wildfire, people across the country wanted to try their wine from the destitute to the wealthy. People desired the aroma of their freshly opened wine, poured into their glass, not caring if it was morning, evening or night. Oh, If only they knew what it's made of.

Their winery was built in 1883, by Mr. and Mrs Khabensky, the birth parents of Harnen, Casper and Adwen. Soon enough, their luck ran out, and their firm soon failed, making the winery go bankrupt. Fortunately with the help of the brothers, 20 years later, the brothers were able to establish and renovate the winery and have their business back.

Now, the winery produces the best wine across cities, one of the best, as one would say. The components are working in harmony— the acidity, smoothness, fruitiness, sweetness and the alcohol. It was perfect, blended so well with their mysterious paradox ingredient. Most people ask them what makes the wine so balanced that no component awkwardly sticks out, what do they do to blend it all in? yet they never give a reply, staying out of the spotlight, why wouldn't they?

People call them mysterious, timid and tense, not really open-minded brothers. They're secretive, that hides more than what they say or what they do. Hiding words and actions that mortals wouldn't quite comprehend.

"Wait, they had a winery business? Huh?" After reading the book for quite some time, she understood the place a bit. How luxurious it is and how they're filthy rich, that to them, thousands are just pennies.

"No, no, no. It's more than a winery." A sudden voice whispered at the back of Emily's ears, It was a lady's voice.

Emily froze in her place as that voice sent shivers down her spine, making her hair stand up. As far as she knew, she was the only lady in the entire estate, which was an incorrect attitude, but the way that voice talked seemed off, it sounded unsettling.

Her heart started to throb, yet she struggled to breath, her hands started to tremble but the lady continued to whisper, beside her ears, loud enough for her to hear. Another shiver ran down her spine as a sudden cold breeze embraced her.

"It's more than a winery. The village here praises and worships the Khabensky family, but years pass by. Suddenly, the vibrant village soon went into complete darkness. The smiles, laugh, love and happiness was soon replaced by cries, screams, shouts, hatred and fear. You don't know them and they don't know you, how can you trust them? After all, why would Harnen find a girl like you here? A girl wanting to go home, a naive, clueless girl. You don't know anything." The voice faded, filling the room in silence.

A sudden force pushes her down, she moans in pain as she hit the floor. She stumbles to stand up, standing there, she didn't know what to do. She built all the courage to turn around and run somewhere, somewhere safe. She doesn't want to look back. Who wants to listen to a woman whose voice sounds so unsettling? Well, not Emily. She doesn't care if the voice she heard may be alive or may not.

Emily hurried through the corridors, she felt someone was chasing, she didn't turn back, she kept running. Her heart won't stop throbbing. Using both of her hands to push past every single door that is in front of her and there, she stood again, freezing and shivering. She was outside, she could see the snow falling, the frozen fountain and the white trees. She can hear the falling snow getting swept away by the wind. She extends her hand, feeling the snowflakes melt on her palm.

She made it outside, she sighed, white mist, blowing out of her mouth. She doesn't particularly understand how she got out but she did. Even though the snow had obscured her vision, she could make out a gate, so she dashed towards it.

Her shaking hands finding a way to the open gate, she eventually succeeded in removing the lock and pushing the gate open. She immediately ran out, she didn't understand how she totally got out of that mansion but she couldn't care less. She runs and runs through the thick snow— battling against the strong wind, as she lifts her body through the thick snow beneath her. The thick clothes she had couldn't stand against the wind, her body starting to get numb— about to collapse at any moment, nose and cheeks glowing in shades of red.

She sighed in relief when she found a village, a quiet village. After all there's a snowstorm, who in their right mind would want to stay outside? She hurried to the houses, knocking on every door she could find but nobody's answering her knocking plea, she begged them, yelling for their help. Then all of the sudden, her whole numb body was pulled against someone, somewhere, a hand covering her mouth. She flinch, attempting to squirm out of the person's grasp.

"Shh! They'll find us!" A woman's voice whispered into her ears.