What Lies Beneath

[ 12 | Through The Forest ]

Casper sighs, leaving his brothers alone. He walks out of his brother's room, as he heads towards his room to sleep.

As the sun rises, peeking through the curtains. The girl suddenly springs back up from the sudden movement on the end of her bed. It was an old lady around her late 40s, standing there, folding clothes.

The lady noticed Emily staring back at her with confusion which made her embarrassed before apologizing about suddenly waking her up.

"It's fine." Emily said, scratching her head.

"I'm here to help you get ready." The lady explained, folding the last cloth on the bed before placing it inside a closet.

"Oh, quick question, what happened to Ms. Molter?" Emily asked.

"I mean, I want to give thanks to all the stuff she did for me." Emily explained.

"She suddenly disappeared when I was looking for her.. last night." Emily remarked.

The lady paused, thinking what to answer "I'm sorry ma'am but I don't know her whereabouts." Emily just nodded her head at the lady's answer.

The lady leads Emily to the bathroom before handing her her clothes and letting her clean herself up. The lady waited outside the bathroom door, it did shock Emily when she got out of the shower but Emily thanked her anyway. The lady leads Emily to a chair as she helps her style her hair and wear light makeup to Emily's liking. The lady also opened some drawers to pick some accessories- jewelry, earrings, necklace and then rings.

Emily smiled In awe, staring at herself in the mirror and thanked the lady once again. The lady couldn't stop smiling at the beautiful girl, admiring the jewelry on her.

"Is it okay for me to wear these things?" Emily asked, guilty for wearing a thing that isn't hers.

"Yes, of course! I have the full consent of the brothers." The lady replied.

Then the lady led her down stairs and outside the indoor garden which had a table with stacks of food. Emily got overwhelmed by the amount of food, but she still took a seat, she thanked the lady anyways.

The lady helps her get a plate and utensils to use and pick the foods she wants. As Emily picks the food she likes, Emily felt uncomfortable knowing the lady was staring at her which the lady quickly noticed and made her way out of the indoor garden leaving Emily alone.

Half way into finishing her food, there was a tap on the glass but she ignored it and continued to eat her food, then there's a tap again, but Emily thought it was just the wind tapping against the window. But the tapping started to get aggressive, pounding harshly on the window unable for her to ignore.

She turns to the direction of the window to find Authur pounding his hands against the window. When Authur finally got her attention, he flashes his smile and waved his hands at Emily. Emily stood up from her seat and walked up to where Authur is, pulling the window up.

"Hi!" Say Authur.

"Hi?" Emily said, confused at his sudden appearance.

"Are you busy?" asked Authur.

"No.."

"I mean, I have nothing to do anyways." Said Emily.

"Wanna go to the forest again?" Asked Authur.

"No"

"You know you could be a murderer or worse a serial killer." Emily said, crossing her arms.

"There is always that possibility." Authur chuckled.

"But no, I don't have the guts to do so." Authur admitted.

"How are you?" Asked Authur.

"I hope you recover from the accident that had happened.." Authur worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Knowing that the man is probably okay." Emily said.

"Probably." Authur mumbled, shrugging his shoulders.

"So, it's a no then?" Authur asked.

"I have to finish my breakfast." Emily said, glancing back at her plate.

"Just leave it." Authur said.

"No! I don't wanna waste food!" Emily said.

"And they don't even know I'm leaving." Emily roared.

"So, you're letting them in?" Authur asked, disbelief written on his face

"What?" Emily stood there confused.

"Nothing.." Authur mumbled.

"Well, you're wasting time. Let's go now!" Authur said, revealing his hand.

"I can't believe I'm going with you.." Emily shakes her head, holding on to Authur to get out of the window.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. I promise." Authur chuckled.

"Sure." Emily said, sarcastically before rolling her eyes which made Authur release another chuckle.

The man smiled at her before helping her get Inside the carriage.

"It's quite cold." Emily complained.

"Yeah because this place has the worst weather you could think of." Authur shook his head.

As the carriage starts to move, it's made its way to a place where Emily doesn't know where it is but it's odd enough that she is familiar with it.

"Isn't the weather nice?" Asked Authur.

"Yeah" Emily said standing beside him, admiring her surroundings.

"Follow me." Authur said which Emily followed.

As they walk deeper into the forest

a house— a manor welcomes them

Emily's jaw dropped, it's massive and luxurious. Is everyone here rich or am I just that poor to be fascinated about everything? Emily thought to herself Then Authur open the two front door, revealing a luxurious interior design of the house.

"Is this your house?" Emily asked.

"Yeah, don't worry too much." Authur said.

"Where's your parents?" Emily asked.

"Oh, they went somewhere. Probably to work. " Authur said.

"Do you have siblings?" Asked Emily as they made their way into the living room.

"Yeah, living their life. Not sure what, they don't tell me everything." Authur said.

"Since I'm the youngest in the family." Authur stated.

"Quite annoying, they treat me like a naive baby" Authur complain, then a lady with a tray comes inside the living room, placing a drinks down

"You kind of are." Emily whispered.

"Are you thirsty?" Authur asked.

"Not really." Emily answered.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Stay here, I'll get something." Authur said, getting up and walking out of the living room

As Authur fade from Emily's vision, Emily sat there, waiting for Authur to come back.

Admiring the house, it seems so modern and luxurious. Emily picks up Authur's glasses that were laying on top of the coffee table, as she tries it on, it makes everything very clear and brighter but as she removes it, something moves on the corner of her side.

Emily turns her head to the right, trying to figure out what just moved. Emily grabs the glasses again, wearing them before looking around her. She noticed shelves filled with picture frames, She headed towards it, observing the picture frame, it wasn't dusty nor dirty. The pictures are filled with guys, naked- no, without a shirt, smiling towards the camera, it is not just that. A picture that seemed like Authur's family caught her attention, it was Authur, his parents, then 3 guys and 1 girl.

Emily continued to observe the picture frame that was sitting on the shelves, they seemed like a healthy family, beautiful and very fit.

"Who are you?"

Emily turned behind her as the guy stood in front of her, the guy was wearing beige pants and a white T-shirt. Emily stares, collecting the right words to say as the guy stares at her intimidatingly, which makes Emily struggle more to find words.

The guy made his way to Emily, as Emily stood there not moving, the guy grabbed her arm before dragging her outside.

"Look, I don't care. If you're trying to find Aiden, don't." Said the guy, crossing his arms.

"You're probably his 6th girlfriend already.." Said the guy, rolling his eyes.

"Huh?" Emily stood there dumbfounded.

"Who the hell is Aiden and how did I become his 6th girlfriend?" Emily mumbled to herself.

"Yeah, he's cheating. Wake up!" Said the man.

"Emily!" A voice inside yelled which Emily recognized as Authur's voice.

"Authur!" Emily shouted, trying to get his attention which she successful did. She heard his footsteps running to her way.

"Hey, what- " Authur pause noticing his brother looking at him

"Oh, this is Emily, my friend." Authur said pushing his brother away before holding Emily's arm to lead her back Inside to the living room

"Isn't that my glasses?" Asked Authur.

"Oh, sorry. I just wanted to try it out, then got kicked out.." Emily said, removing the glasses off her place and setting it on the table where she found it.

"Okay!, listen. What are you to my brother?" Authur's brother yelled, walking inside the living room.

"Ace, Leave her alone!" Authur said, taking a deep sigh.

"Here, check this out." Authur said, placing the box on the table as they both sat down.

"What the hell is that?" Ace questioned.

"You're not needed here.." Authur opens the box.

"Rude.." Ace whispered, walking towards them.

Inside the box was a necklace, her eyes ran across the necklace, admiring its beauty. The diamond sparkles in the light, a heart shape, whose heart is bound to another heart, like two hearts beat at one, a two piece of a love puzzle, unbreakable by its design and compatible for each other.

"Do you like it?" Asked Authur.

"It's quite pretty." Emily answered, observing the necklace.

"Do you want it?" Authur asked.

"No." Emily said.

"No, I mean- it's pretty but I shouldn't be the one having it." Emily states, trying to sound less rude.

"Why not?" Ace asked, getting Emily's attention. Ace stood in the opposite direction, looking down at her.

"Uh, I don't think I have the right to get it." Emily explained.

"Why not, your Authur's friend." Ace remarked.

"Ace, stop."

"Here, accept it, I wouldn't mind you having it." Authur said, closing the box and putting it into a plain black tote bag before handing it to Emily.

"Thank you!" Emily whispered, quite guilty about accepting the box.

"No problem." Authur smiled.

"Okay, how did you meet my brother?" Ace asked, Emily mouth was about to release a word, Authur interrupted her.

"We're leaving." Authur gently grabs Emily's arm, heading out the house with Ace yelling in the back for them to get back.

As they hop Inside the carriage, Emily pulls out the box and the necklace out its box, admiring its design. The necklace carried such perfection that Emily had yet to witness, until now. Something about it captured her soul.

As she admires the necklace, Authur admires the beauty in front of him, Authur has this bad habit, he still hasn't changed- finding beauty and forever in temporary people. Her beauty demolishes the heavens and the skies, shining brighter than the sun and the stars.

The carriage had stop, somewhere. The door opened, a hand sticking out, lending them a help, Emily accepted the offer, getting out the carriage as Authur followed after.

"Still remember when we went here?" Authur asked, smiling at the moments replaying inside his mind.

"Yeah, at least you didn't murder me." Emily joked.

"Okay, Your jokes about me killing you is making my mind explode." Authur chuckled.

"Come, follow me." Authur walked away, somewhere to the forest.

Emily turns to the man that was riding the carriage, gently smiling at her which she gladly returns back before following Authur.

They continue to walk on the floor carpeted with a moss so green. They sit near a brook and a small waterfall, listening to the coo of a dove, the song of the birds and the awe of the owl. The dry leaves flew with the wind and passed them, she gazed along the way— to wander deep into her surroundings which lure and mesmerize her.

Then a sudden roar of exploration interrupted the flowers from blooming around her, the flashing sun ray turned into a massive dark cloud above them, everything had suddenly stopped, Authur and Emily both turned their head to the direction of the sound. Trying to figure out what it was.

"Stay here." Authur whispered, quietly walking towards the sound of the explosion.

A minute has pass, Authur is still yet to return, Emily sat there, worrying. Did something happen to him? Then a footstep crush the dry leaves that laid on top of the mossy floor. As she turned to the direction of the sound, she stood up hoping it was Authur but it wasn't, it was a man, covered with piles of clothes whose color is black, the man carrying a long rifle in both of his hands.

Out of fear, Emily spirited away, which made the man's attention all on her, the man yelled, running after her. Emily runs through the forest, passing by tall trees, avoiding big rocks to not trip on her feet, her heart beating fast as adrenaline rushes through her veins.

Emily yelled in pain as she went flying backwards, Emily looked up, finding the same exact man that was chasing her.

No, it's a different man, as the man chasing her was still chasing her, hearing his aggressive footsteps but they sure do look the same. Emily uses both her feet and hands to crawl backwards, away from the man but the man pointed his gun at Emily which Emily pauses.

"Don't hurt me!" Emily yelled, using her arms to cover her face.

"What are you?" The man yelled.

"Huh?" Emily sat there dumbfounded at the question.

"Look at me." The man demand but Emily hesitated.

"Right now!" The man demanded once more, pushing the rifle closer to her.

Emily finally removed the arm that was blocking her face, the man stared at her which she did too. The man stepped back, his actions made it seem like he was in shock. Then the man removed his black helmet, revealing his face. He was good looking, his bone structure was once of it, with clear skin, freckles painted on his face, while his eyes grew such a hazel color.

"You're not a vampire..." The man said that sounded more like a question.

"Then what are you?" He whispered.