Disclaimer: Neopets isn't mine ask anyone, they'll tell you so.
Author's note: I haven't written in an eternity and a day so I suppose now's the time to start. Then I'll just wait another eternity and a day before I update again. Oh goody... The text used for Kaymara's diary is 14 because it's hard to read otherwise.
Chapter 13
Some Answers
"Hey, you remember the day the house caught fire?" I said casually as my sister ate whatever it was she was having for lunch. Judging by the gagging sounds coming from her general direction, she did. Seeing as Kaymara always believed herself the polite and proper one (though how she still sees herself like that I have no idea) I sprung a question on her before she could recover.
"You wouldn't happen to know how I died, would you." A short silence followed before Kaymara answered.
"There is a large amount of charred rubble in your room... You were crushed under it, I heard you're screaming. You were dead when I got there..." I was a bit surprised at the answer, but by the tone it was said in I decided it was safe to ask another.
"So what happened to you?" I ventured. There was another long pause.
"..." Kaymara was silent for a moment and then replied with a question of her own. "You do realize we are still not on speaking terms?" I nodded figuring she could see just fine. Her yellow eyes blinked as she registered my response. "Fine, then you and I have no more to speak of." I remained silent for a while trying to think of the times before Kaymara's change and my death. I mumbled something and Kaymara's utensils were again set down. I could feel, see her staring at me but she let it pass. Picking up her silverware again she continued eating. Another moment of silence passed before Kaymara broke it again. Her yellow eyes gleamed before she said, "You're excused Katherine." I left with some haste; I had more questions to answer but my sister obviously wasn't going to answer them. Pushing off the ground at the stair top, I made my way through the floor of the second floor, and then renewed my pushed to go to the third floor; the floor with all the bedrooms.
I stepped into my room first. Where I died. Debris was all over the place and I suspected Kaymara was right about my death. I stepped through the charred remains of my room, as I looked around the blackened area, I wondered why I never thought of going up here. Kaymara. Kaymara had convinced me nothing was up here, nothing special, nothing of importance. I figured there was no reason to come.
I stepped backed into the hallway, there wouldn't be answers in my old bedroom, just affirmation of my sister's words. It was strange, being up here. I walked passed my parents room and went into Kaymara's. I would check our parents' room later. Right now I wanted to know more about Kaymara.
The room was hardly recognizable. Bits of debris and remains of now unidentifiable objects litter my sister's bedroom floor. I picked my way around the room, taking up pieces of paper and books that had miraculously survived. By the time I came back to the door I had my arms full. Of course it would only be then that I realized the papers were all either blank or too charred to have enough information to be of use. I've never felt more stupid. I dropped the loose leafs and settled down with the first book... which turned out to be a thesaurus. The second book I flipped through though was Kaymara's diary. Jackpot! I placed the other books aside and flipped to the front of the burnt book. Unfortunately even in her younger years, Kaymara wrote in a loopy and barely readable scrawl:
Dear Diary,
I found a bell today. It was the most fantastic silver I ever saw. I want to string it and give it to Mother. That might cheer her up. Father's been sick lately. Both Mother and I are sad. Katherine is in the dark on this, Mother wants her to stay happy. "No use having a dark cloud over all of us." She said. Mother's like that, always finding a bright side.
Dear Diary,
It's been a few weeks now but Father's condition hasn't changed. Katherine has started asking questions. I gave the bell to Mother. She said she liked it very much. I'm glad. I hope she where's it always, so at least I can remember a time she was happy if Father dies.
On and on the short entries went, all things I knew or thought insignificant. The last entry though was strange, and as I read the tear-stained page, I thought I had something.
Dear Diary,
This shall be my last entry, my last sane act. After the fire, after I found out that Mother and Katherine were dead, I found out several valuables were missing. Those fools! I shall take back what is rightfully my family's. Oh, but suffer the most is the fool that took from Mother's jewelry box the bell. My bell, Mother's bell. I don't care what I have to do but I will get back what is mine. No matter if I must kill every soul on this planet...
Something clicked as I read the page. I turned back for…Kaymara. I remember hearing crying, and going towards it, back the way I came. Kaymara had been writing this page when I approached. I had asked her what the matter was. When she had turned, she had screamed. I had been so confused then, when I didn't know I was dead. Glancing at the sky I noticed the sun had started to go down, I went back down to the living room and slipped the book under the couch with my jacket and gloves. Then I took up my usual position by the door. Tomorrow I'd ask Skip about what exactly he knew about the fire, he knew something I knew that much. Perhaps he knew about the stuff that was taken. Till morning though I guess I'll be stuck with my thoughts...