Whisper (19 page)

FORTY-FOUR

Reunited

My Uncle James had returned from a trip to visit with my Aunt. Only he wasn’t visiting her, she wasn’t there. I stood in front of his study. Miss Brantshire sat at a desk eyeing me, sternly. “What business do you have with Master Caulder? He doesn’t like being disturbed.”

“It is a personal matter.” I say to her trying to remain calm.

My uncle opens the door ushering me inside. Becca wasn’t in there this time the tutor had her working in the library. I watched him retreat back to his desk. This wasn’t going to go how I hoped. My jaw clenched.

“What is it?” He asks, rummaging through papers.

“I need to show you something.” He glances up at me through his glasses. “I do not have time for trivial matters.”

“It isn’t I promise.”

He sets his pen down and sighs. “Very well, let me finish my work. Why don’t you go in the library with Becca and get a head start on our school’s curriculum.” I turned away and grimaced.

* * *

I had blinded folded my uncle. Pulling him forward I made sure he didn’t trip over any uprooted trees or rocks. We stood in front of the door. I had cleared away the ivy and pushed the door open. Guiding him inside my Aunt stood tense.

Pulling the blind fold off, my uncle wasn’t pleased with where we were. “What are we doing here?” He says sternly. “Dana found this place when we moved here after she died I vowed never to come here again. How dare you bring me here?”

My Uncle James scolds me until my aunt came up behind him, “James,” she says fluidly. “I have been waiting so long.”

He turns at the sound of her voice. It was like he lost the ability to hold himself up. I watched them come together. Glancing around, I could see life being added to the garden. Birds started to chirp flying in and out of the area.

Backing away, I walked to the other side of the garden to give them time together. When I turned my head back smiling, they were both gone. Where did they go? I asked myself searching for my aunt and uncle. Standing I started to move toward where they stood. I saw my Uncle James leaning down lifting a flower up with his fingers.

My aunt stood nearby. After a short time he approached me. “Thank you for this and it is time to go now.” I nod waving bye to her. “She won’t go anywhere,” I say.

I knew her spirit would remain in the garden.

FORTY-FIVE

Frozen

I am standing outside? I don’t know how I got here. I see the frost bite older boy in front of me. He walks toward the woods. Frost left behind in his wake. It is strange, I wonder who he is. My intrigue could be fatal I have to find out though.

I follow him into the woods. The frost trail is gone and he is gone. I am standing alone in the middle of the forest with no idea which way would lead back to the mansion. I could walk back the way I came. Only I was so focused on following him I don’t know which way I came from.

The strange dream woke me from a deep sleep. Carefully I crawled out of bed. I went to my armoire, grabbed some clothes and placed my hoodie on. Outside, I took the flashlight in my hand clicking it on. I could see the sky waking up, but barely on the horizon. Patches of frosted ice are in the form of footsteps leading through the woods. I glanced behind me. My breath is visible in front of my face.

They came to sudden stop. He leaned against a tree staring into the woods further. He stood on top of a small hill overlooking an expanse of unknown woods. I thought about announcing myself, instead I stood behind him waiting.

“I thought you might come.” He spoke facing away from me.

He sounded uncannily like Luken. It hit me, they could be related. He continued to keep his back to me. “You were headed away from the mansion toward the woods. I had to get some answers.”

The humor coming out of his laugh, resonated when he said, “I could hurt you. Though I am sure it crossed your mind already.” No, you would not hurt me. “Do you know who you are?” He asks sounding strange and tempting.

“I don’t understand what you mean?”

He sighs. Carefully he turned to face me. His pale skin illuminated with an ice blue. His lips a light bruise. I still couldn’t tell who he might be. I didn’t ask this time.

The boy turns away, this strange spirit who rescued me in order so I could return to Luken. He walked away deeper into the woods leaving frost followed in his wake. I headed back toward the mansion leaving him in peace.

Mid-morning Luken rushed into my room sitting at my side. A stricken look shadowed underneath his eyes. He avoided eye contact with me at first until his hands clasped mine. I did not understand. Luken shook his head. “Luken what is wrong?” He swallows, taking a deep breath.

“I have started have these dreams I can’t explain. Only I don’t think they are dreams since I am already dead. I have to tell you something, but it is more recent that I have discovered it. Well I don’t know how to tell you Avaya, but…”

Miss Brantshire barged into my room. “Get up now.” She said sternly. I felt like a child stalling to getting ready for school. She took one look at Luken. “What are you doing in here?” She asked him.

“Talking, this is my home, this was Lizabeth’s room.” Miss Brantshire pulls her lips tight, “you know what I mean.” Luken nods, “I know. I am being careful.”

Miss Brantshire turns back to me. “Your uncle would like to speak with you in his study.” She left her cold tone to linger.”

After I showered, I head to my Uncle James’ study. Luken followed unseen, I felt him at least I thought it was him. My uncle sat slumped in his chair. He leaned over writing on paper. “What is wrong?”

He comes to give me a hug. “Nothing, I just wanted to discuss with you about going to Palm. Did you still want to go?” I nod. Becca glances at me from under her hair. She is drawing in a book.

The grief my uncle hung out too tired him. Wrinkles started to appear on his forehead. At least he still had Becca. It surged an idea in me. I remembered my Aunt Dana roaming the hidden garden. He should know she is there.

That I night I fell asleep with the sound of footsteps passing my room. Luken appeared beside me holding his finger to my lips. Luken shook his head. He laid over me and I fell asleep.

Luken! I called out. I stood surrounded by snow. Why was I looking for Luken? I trampled through snow and ice searching to find him. Frantically I twisted in and out of trees. I don’t know what mountain I am walking through. The mansion is nowhere in my sights. I saw someone walking in a distance they walked in an area out of view. Trying to follow I come to a stop nobody is here. I started digging in the ice, nothing is here. As I kept searching I called out to him again. “Luken, where are you?” I shouted.

I started to hear a far off distant echo. A chorus of ghostly voices searched.

“You won’t find him in time.” A male voice spoke in my ear. I spun around. “You won’t find him.” The words ripple.

I ran until I came to a place with more frost and ice than snow. A girl’s haunted laugh splits the air. “Luken can you hear me?” I asked. Nothing answers back to me.

Continuing to walk, I thought I saw Luken standing ahead of me. It must have been my imagination. I tripped over something in the snowy ice. A frost covered log. I am lost. I don’t know how to find my way back to where I started calling for him.

Out of thin air he stood before me. It was the boy who helped me.

I sat up in bed. Taking calm breaths, it spurred something in me. Luken lay next to me. It appeared like he slept. I had to figure it out soon. The dream started to fade away from my memory.

Walking out to my balcony, I leaned against the railing. Staring out, I see the nearby mountain. Snow covered the most of it.

FORTY-SIX

Recovery

Opening my eyes Luken stood over me staring. “Don’t do that to me.” I said catching my breath. He smirks, “Come on I have something to show you.” I followed him. It seemed like we were walking for a while until my foot hit an area full of ice and snow.

I remembered this place from my dream. Luke helps me up over a slippery slope. We kept walking. “Where are we going?” He gestures for me to keep following him.

We stopped at a pile of snow. Luken bent down for a second, when he came up something was different. Besides there being this kind of snow during summer. “Luken,” I ask he stood still, too still for my comfort. I touched his arm and he swung around. It all happened so quickly. “Real mature thanks.” I brushed the snow and frost out of my hair. “I think I love you more that way.” I grabbed a pile and threw it at him and he ducked.

“Why are we really here?” Luken caught me in his arms when I fell forward.

“I tried to tell you before but we were interrupted.” He turned away for a minute. “I’ve been having these dreams and I don’t know but I think it might have something to do with my disappearance. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“What do you remember?” I asked urgently

“Just enough to know that there was possibly snow.”

At least it was a start.

We turned to walk away and I feel an explosive headache. I grabbed my head. The scream so eerie and shrill, crows flew from trees in the woods. I felt my body falling forward. I wasn’t able to stop it from happening.

I saw the black fog behind my eyelids. Not again.

This time though I knew I had fallen unconscious. I saw myself at the beginning standing on the beach. Luken spoke me. I thought it had been a dream, but it wasn’t. I ignored his warning and got in the car with my parents. We went to the pizza parlor.

My dad sent me inside to save a booth, only my parents didn’t come inside. I walked around the corner to the parking lot to find my mother stricken with fear telling me to leave. “Go back inside Avaya,” she said.

There was a figure standing ahead of them. “Get in the car.” He said. My father refused.

“Now,” the voice commanded. We piled into the car. The male voice hid his face behind a black hoodie. I remembered I was supposed to come to Vermont to visit my Uncle James while they were away with a travelling art show.

I don’t know where we drove. I was trapped in a moment of terror. I stared out the window when someone drove passed glancing my way I started mouthing help to them. When he pulled the car over, forcing us out of the car we were in the middle of nowhere.

“Don’t hurt my baby let her go.” My mother urged. “She is the reason I am doing this. I saw an evil smirk form against young lips. It was Jefferson. The guy grabbed my father shoving him down he hit my dad in the head with a hard object, knocking him out.

“No,” I screamed. He shoved my mother to the ground. He made me watch as he wrapped his hands around her throat. I couldn’t save her. When I tried he shoved me off him. I fell backwards connecting with the ground. My father was unconscious. I got down by his side. “Dad,” I said feeling tears sting my eyes. He wouldn’t move.

The guy grabbed me, “get in the trunk.” He shoved me. It all came rushing back in clips. I didn’t hear or see it all happen this time. I tried making a break for it before he closed the trunk. All I saw was black. I caught his face before I went into unconsciousness. I knew him now…Charles.

He didn’t drive for long before he opened the trunk and shoved me to ground. I hit my head and watched the taillights fade away. When I woke up I found my way to the lights. Someone had called for help. I hoped that was what happened.

“Avaya…” I heard the slithering whisper. Slowly my mind resurfaced to consciousness. The slithering tone turned into recognition. “Luken,” I called.

I woke up in his bed. This was new. “That was more than a headache, what happened?” Bethanne sat next to me moving away the cool cloth she dabbed against my forehead.

“I remember.” I said my voice came out with the suppression of tears getting stuck in my throat. “I remember what happened to my parents. Charles killed my parents, only I don’t know if my dad actually died, but I saw him with my mom so he must have. He was trying to get rid of me because I was supposed to come here for the summer. Somehow he knew where to find me.

“I tried to warn you,” Luken said quietly. “I thought it was a dream.” He shook his head.

“I saw Charles. I think he has been watching Avaya.” He says to Bethanne. How would she know about him? I didn’t ask any questions.

In agreement I nodded.

Charles wasn’t the only one I had to watch out for, someone else who I can’t see or at least I haven’t seen her completely. A girl, she terrifies me. Luken seems to know, but won’t say much. At first Miss Brantshire seemed to be against me, until I learned she is harmless.

“Rest for now.”  Luken coaxed.

I woke up in my bed during the night Luken must have brought me back to my room. I snuggled up to my pillow. Staring at the photo of my parents I smiled with the false sense of hope my dad will be coming to find me soon.

EPILOGUE

I went for a walk in the woods alone. Luken had told me he had a surprise for me. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. I felt the strange sensation of someone tracking me. Nobody followed behind me. The sweeping cold covered me like a blanket until I felt comfort and warmth.

“Avaya,” a woman’s voice called out to me at close range. “I am right here with you.”

The realization hit me. I knew her voice. Instantly the tears pricked my eyes, not coming out. Whipping around, my hand flew to my mouth. I froze in place.

An ache in my heart protruded crying out loudly. “Mom, you’re here.” She nods smiling. A man appeared at her side, I smiled the tears not coming out, but filling up in my eyes. “Dad, you’re here too.”

I tried to run to both of them. “No, Avaya you mustn’t. We are sorry baby that you had to leave home. It took a while to learn where you ended up. The house is waiting for you exactly as it was when we left home that day. None of us knew we wouldn’t be returning.” Dad spoke up, “we heard we could visit you. Your mother and I didn’t hesitate to come to you.” I wanted to wrap my arms around them to know I wasn’t dreaming.

Instead, I stood where they asked. My mom added when she said, “she does have a rare gift.”

“Do you know what you are able to do sweetheart?” My father asks. They both smiled encouraging. I had that same sense with them, they weren’t telling me something. “No I keep being asked that question.”

My mom runs her hand down my cheek while dad tucks my hair behind my ear. Luken approached from behind me. My parents moved closer to each other stepping away from me.

“You did this?” I asked. His lip lifts partially on the side. “I did. Would you like me to wait?” I shake my head.

“This is my boyfriend Luken. He has been taking care of me and doing his best to keep me safe.” Mom smiles, “we know and thank you.”

Both my parents carefully approach me wrapping their arms tightly around me. My mom and dad kissed my cheek holding on to me a bit longer. “We cannot stay Avaya. I am sorry this had to happen. Sometimes things work out for the best.” She smiles nodding toward Luken.

The tears waited to spill over. “No, no do not cry for us,” my father encourages.

“We love you Avaya,” they say in unison. “I love you both too.”

Luken stepped in behind me. He held me back against him. My parents turned and faded away.  I faced Luken wrapping my arms around his neck. This had been harder than I imagined it would be.

“Come on Avaya, we should get back. Your uncle is taking you back tomorrow and I must stay here. If you need me I will see you in your dreams.” Luken takes my hand guiding me toward the mansion.

* * *

We arrived at the airport early in the morning. I breathed in the salty air hovering from the beach. The driver headed to my house, pulling into the driveway. I stared at the house. It hurt to go inside, to see my parents portrayed.

“Go on I will wait here.”

I stood outside the front door mustering up the courage to cross the threshold. I walked into the emptiness. The silence irks me. Grabbing hold of the banister, I headed upstairs. My trembling hands reach for my bedroom door.

Clothes are on the floor where I tossed them before we left for the beach. The clothes on my bed were the ones the two detectives waited for me to pack. I tossed the ones that were too light for Vermont weather. Photos hung on the walls. Being here is surreal. There was a creak up stairs catching my attention. I remained in my room listening intently.

“I always loved sitting in here with you.” I jumped and spun around.

“Mom, I didn’t expect to see you here.” She gradually smiles as she comes toward me. My mom wrapped her arms around me holding me briefly. “I didn’t want you to go through this alone. Your father and I decided one of us should be here with you.”

She picked a few photos off the wall placing them in a book I had not seen before and set them in a bag. She gathered several items of clothing and placed them in a box. My uncle said we would go through the rest of the house at a more appropriate time.

“I want you to take this with you.”

She hands me a small box. I opened it to find a couple rings and a bracelet. While we were going through packing up my room, my mom helped me box up my belongings to ship to Vermont.  After we finished my room felt half bare.

“I want you to go into our bedroom with me this is important Avaya.” Shaking my head, I can’t go in there. “It’s too hard, I’m not ready.” I swallowed tears.

“Do not cry Avaya, we are happy. We don’t have you with us, but we don’t want to see you until it’s time, understand?”

I nod.

Slowly I entered their room. My uncle must have entered the house, I hear him downstairs call up to me. “Avaya are you doing okay?”

Taking a deep breath I close my eyes for a second before I respond to him. “Yes, I am all set. I just have to grab one more thing.”

I heard his footsteps on the stairs. My mom hurries into the bedroom retreating to her closet. She didn’t come out for a while. I turned around realizing my uncle stood behind me. “Avaya,” he frowns, “my stuff is all set, just needed to be in here for a moment. Then we can go.”

My Uncle James walks away, I shut the door.

My mom comes out with a necklace in her hand. It has an antique design displayed on the front. She places it around my neck. “We were waiting to give this to you, but wear this. It’ll keep you safe.”

“Do not worry I will keep it with me always.”

My mom gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, “Avaya darling, this will be the last time you see me until it is time for us to be together again.”

We hugged, she blew me a kiss waved goodbye and disappeared.

I walked out the door, when I got down stairs I walked into a bright light engulfing me into its luminescence.

* * *

I woke up in a hospital bed. How I got here I have no idea. A woman wearing a top with print and white pants came in the room. She smiles, “welcome back.” I searched for Luken. Tears filled my eyes, but they didn’t spill over. He isn’t here.

“Shh, calm down it is okay.” I looked around wondering,
where am I?

“Are my parents here?” I asked. “No sweetheart, they didn’t make it.” Oh right, I forgot. There was an accident. More than an accident, the memory slowly resurfaced. “My uncle is he…” The nurse frowns not understanding what I am talking about.

Tubes are stuck in my arms connected to a bag of fluid and monitors making beeping sounds. My clothes are all gone. Her voice faded away, I heard the nurse calling for a doctor. A man came in the room I didn’t recognize he is wearing a white coat with tan slacks and a blue dress shirt. “Hello, Avaya you mind if I take a look.” I shake my head. He holds a flashlight to my eyes. The brightness is too intense I turn away. “Okay.” He says.

“Where am I?”

“At Palm Memorial Hospital,”
What!

I must have been grinning because the doctor smiled, “good to see you awake.”

They released me from the hospital after a couple days. They didn’t know anything about an Uncle James or detectives Bennett and Carl. The doctor said I had been in a coma for a while.

Through money left to me by my parents I left. I stood in front of the boutique shops in Woodenbury. Checking around, I found Hattie’s Treasures. People walked around in troves. My driver waited for me. There is a store full of historical information in the area. “Excuse me?” I call out to an elderly woman stacking some books on a shelf.

“Yes can I help you?” I am taken aback for a moment, realizing I don’t recognize her at all. My nerves relax. “I am wondering if you can tell me anything about the owner of the Vandersen Manor.” She paused, “That isolated mansion, oh dear that place is abandoned.” Hmm. I am beginning to think my summer has been only a dream until it occurs to me to ask about three locals I met.

“Could you tell me how to find someone, well a few people?” I read her name tag, Gladys. “Depends on who it is?” It was a long shot but I found the courage to ask. “Could you tell me how to find Xavier, Nicolette, or Chrissi? I seem to have misplaced their phone numbers.” Gladys’ lip trembled slightly.

“Here,” she hands me a piece of paper. “I think it is best if you find out for yourself.”

I followed the directions she gave me. Stepping out of the car, this wasn’t right. A memorial stone stood in front of me. Three photos placed on the memorial caught my breath. It had Xavier Donavan, Nicolette Roglin, and Chrissi Hope. My three friends had died in a car accident months before I ever met them.

Not wanting to stay, I asked the driver to take me to the Vandersen Manor. Ivy covers the outside. We pull up, it is like the first time I saw it. Imposing and daunting. Walking around back I look up at the balcony leading into my room. For a brief moment I saw a girl I recognized staring coldly down at me from a second floor window.

I went into the mausoleum, “Luken I am so sorry,” I touched his antique photo. Standing there for a moment, taking a deep breath I am ready to go inside the mansion.

The foyer is exactly as it had been a few days ago. Being in here alone is dank and eerie. I spun around at the sound of a door closing. I felt like I am not alone in here. Pacing myself, I walk up the stairs. Another door opens and closes.

Standing in my room the eeriness faded. Nothing in this room made mention that I stayed here at all. Instead I felt like a stranger in somebody’s home. Moving away, I turn there it is. Luken’s hallway, Cool air halted me from walking up the steps. A familiar presence gripped my nerves. “Luken,” I ask breathless. The air lingers on my neck as though someone is breathing on me.

Carefully turning nothing is before me. I walked down the hall until I came before the mirror. I jumped startled to see someone standing behind me in the mirror. A girl wearing a high waist dress is staring at me. Her skin is silver pale with long shiny black hair. Lips that are bluish purple. Celia was standing behind me. “Celia, what happened?” She smirks maliciously. “You can’t see them can you?” I shake my head. “Luken is he…” Celia’s smirk turns serious.

She steps closer to me. “Didn’t you feel him standing behind you?” Swallowing I nod. “Yes, what happened to me?”

Checking out her nails she shrugs, “it happens sometimes, you weren’t dead Avaya. It was time to return to your body. Whether you wanted to stay or leave was not your choice to make. “Remember I told you I died.” I nod. Turning away from the mirror she stands before me. “I will show you.”

Her hand reached out for mine before I could pull away. I stand in the mansion in a different era. It must have been in the mid-1900s. The Manor is bustling with people all over the place. “My parents had bought this place. They wanted it to become the Vandersen Manor Inn. This was a party to introduce the idea to their friends.”

We walked to the window. A dance floor lay in the grass. The whole place appeared different. As we walked away from the window she pointed to a man. “He was mine. A dashing young man my father had approved of my being involved with. We strode through the woods. On our way back I fell tripping over a branch hidden in the ground. I rolled down an embankment. I hit my head on the ground, I barely felt any pain it happened that quick. I stood over my own body watching the horrified look on my future husband’s face.”

“Celia I am sorry.” She shrugs it off, “it was long ago.”

I am alone. The realization shocked me. Until the faint echoes of laughter filled my mind. A strange laughter I have heard before. The hallway’s main hall seemed to stretch out longer than I thought it would.

“Avaya,” my name echoed. Luken…I hear him calling me.

My eyes popped open, I sat up glancing around. Luken he sat next to me. I am lying in the grass in the back of the property. The faint malicious laughter faded away. I sat up on my elbows. “I was so scared I thought I lost you.” It had been a dream.

“We better get you inside.” I saw a girl wearing a faded gray dress giggle scarily. She turned and disappeared into the forest.

Frightened, I felt myself bolt up. Breathing rapidly, sweat dripped down the side of my face. I am in my room. My uncle is sitting there relieved. “What happened?” He looks down, “I caught you at your house as you came down the stairs. You were just not there any longer. We rushed you back here. My on board doctor said you were resting.”
Resting?
I thought.

When they left Luken came in. He helped me to my window. In the far distance I saw the same girl as she turned away and watched her faded gray dress disappear into the woods. I glanced up at Luken staring out into the woods, he spoke. “She found you.”