The Endless Night

Chapter - 8

Beth sat on the beautiful peach sofa, resting one hand on the arm of sofa and holding the phone with another. Her exquisite face impatiently waited for the call to be lifted as if it's been ages since she has last spoken to her husband though she heard from him the night before. Normally, it would be dad who calls initially but today he didn't.

During the call her only concern was if he had eaten sufficiently or had he eaten anything at all. Her worry enhanced when he honestly replied he didn't.

Suddenly the door bell rang and she had to hang up on him after bidding short goodbyes, despite the fact they had to speak something more.

Beth opened the doors herself. Aunt Lara showed up. She is my dad's youngest cousin who used to visit grandpa a lot before she moved to London.

Mom welcomed Aunt up in her arms.

"You look prettier every time I see you" She gave an honest complement to my Mom.

"And you look exactly the same gorgeous Lara" Mom said and they smiled at eachother.

Aunt Lara bent her tall body to unbuckle the shoes of her little son who was not older than 5 years and politely asked him to shake hands with everyone but instead the naughty boy grabbed her black silky hair that were hanging down since she was bent. She patiently released his grip and turned the kid over to us. He then shook his hand quickly with the three of us and hugged mom.

She embraced Hannah and then hugged me saying "Two little dolls grown up and beautiful". Hannah was smiling widely looking up at her with amazement since she adored her when she was young.

Jamie wanted to go out with Chris after the game to explore new places. Jay bids Aunt Lara goodbye moments after the hello's. He packed the Xbox back in the box handing it to Chris. "See you later" Chris said with a warm smile.

Ladies rested their backs on the sofas and talked about well-beings and whereabouts, while I decided to have a some fun with little munchkin standing beside the center table playing the toy car. I pulled a chocolate out of my jeans, provoking him to come near. Surprisingly he did come to me. Maybe because I don't look like a kidnapper yet.

"Hi, I'm Stella, your distant relative and you?" With the sweet little voice he said "I am Matt.. and.. honey that's that" I was balled over at his response. Who the hell is hidden inside this innocent little kid. I could do nothing but laugh. "Who taught you this?" I asked curiously. "Err-my mom" he said. What an honest kid. I laughed harder.

"Okay, that rhymed. Did your parents teach you any other rhymes?" He nodded and began to sing 'Wheels on the bus' and numerous rhymes one after another with enthusiasm.

I heard mom and Aunt Lara talking about Granpa. She condoled us and started to talk about gran, about how she remembers them. I concentrated back at Matt, who kept telling me about new poem he learnt.

I heard mom telling her about how everything between dad and grandpa was so well until grans death. Dad never wanted to leave granpa alone.

"Steven and I decided to start-over with a new life here. We even started to research best academic institutions for kids. But the night Steven decided to tell his papa, he was filled with dismay at the news. It was quite a big news, not a good one for him. Later they had argument in the study room. For the first time I heard them argue. Their voices were so loud that I could hear down this hall. Steven was forcing him to come stay with us if he won't let us start all over again. He didn't agree either. He thought what he wanted was best for us"

"Steven said 'You always wanted me away, was I..' he hesitated but his mixed emotions exploded and he said 'am I an experiment?' At this point his Papa yelled "Get out of this house" though he never cursed him. We did leave the next day and they never spoke for almost a year."

"Stella" Matt almost yelled. I jerked back. I was not an eves-drop person but mom was too occupied to realize I might hear it.

"Yes?" I looked at Matt questioningly.

"Uh-Can-I ask you-something? He said stopping at each word. I nodded.

"Do-you-have-Boyfriend?" Asked the little kid. Gosh he's just 5 years old and he got more confidence than I do. I never dared to ask Chris if he has a girlfriend. I stalked him on social site to know about it. Darn I must take notes.

"No" I replied with a smile 'what is he up to' and I glanced at his mom who had no idea what her son blurts out when she's not around.

"Uh-Why? Is it because you're ugly?" Asked the little monster, innocently.

"What?" I said and my jaw dropped to the floor. "What a demon of a child!" I muttered under my breath, not realizing that someone could've heard it. Not knowing there could be a demon of a child in the house.

Meanwhile mom showed Aunt Lara around and the changes she made in the villa.

"Remember the copper oil torches outside these windows, I got them removed and look at the modern Kurdish one's, come I'll show them to you from the balcony upstairs" They were already half way up.

"Boy, you better go to your mom". I sighed at the thought that this kid isn't going to drop unusual questions at me anymore. He ran upstairs, slowed down and yelled in his tiny voice "I'll come back to you, for the answer".

I shook my head in disbelief.

After sometime they all came back.

"So, did Steven decide to shift back to Wakefield or Sell the mansion? After all it's a big place Uncle Harrison left behind in his Will" Aunt Lara asked. Mom thought for a moment and said "I'm not sure about the shifting but I do think, we'll give a visit once in a year".

After talking for a while she said "I must leave now, it's been great meeting you all." She called her driver so I bid her goodbye before she leaves. I climbed the stairs with my legs feeling heavy and moved towards my room to get rid of the clothes I've been wearing long enough for it to become uncomfortable.

I went in my room, knowing that everyone was downstairs I didn't bother locking my door. I don't even lock my door when I sleep. I pulled my shirt slowly over my head and out of my arms. At that moment I sensed someone behind me. I slowly turned around and saw Matt. I squealed holding my shirt closer to me. "KNOCK before you enter... and why are you still here when your mom is leaving for home?" I almost yelled at the kid.

He didn't move or said anything. I kept staring at him until he pointed above my cupboard and said "My mom is up there" in half-whisper.

I wanted to look above my cupboard but I didn't. I heard their car engine roar, so I quickly wore the shirt back. I peeped to see their car in our garage moving towards the front door. "You are not supposed to be here, follow me" I hurried towards the front balcony to see if Aunt Lara was looking for Matt, only to find out something truly unbelievable.

I couldn't believe my eyes and all the other senses when I saw Matt in the car, waving his hand smiling at mom from their car which started to move away from our place. The only question hit me hard in my head ringing like an alarm,

"Who was that in my room then?" I could feel my body going numb.

At that moment I knew something isn't right in this place, it was no longer a normal incident. It was clear for me that it's something insidious.

Fear seeped in my body and my bones felt weak. I turned around and slowly walked back to my room with heavy steps. There was no kid. I was sure I saw one few minutes ago and I also spoke to him.

I remembered his words that he said while pointing towards the corner of the ceiling just above my cupboard and those words rung in my ears

my mom is up there.

I stood in my room gazing at above the cupboard. As soon as I blinked I saw a long-haired witch with a torn skin sitting above my cupboard with her bruised legs hanging down. My knees trembled with fear.

In a fraction of second the witch was out of my imagination. No one was up there. It was my minds interpretation of what might be up there.

Fear still didn't leave as the fact remains the same that the kid in my room wasn't real.

I-I need to tell someone, something is wrong in this villa. I thought aloud and ran as fast as I can to find Mom, Hannah or Jamie. I glanced around hall the and when I found no one I went straight to mom's room. I felt relieved when I saw her sitting on the bed facing the wall.

I called out "Mom" in a slow voice and then waited for her to turn. But she didn't.

I called out "Mom" again before taking a step towards her.

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