Chapter Three
''Welcome'', Annabelle said wearing a cooking apron and holding a wooden spoon.
''What smells so nice?'', Peter asked following his nose into the house.
''I'm baking cookies. They'll be ready in a couple of minutes and I'll serve you upstairs. Go now, Jasper and Kylie are expecting you''. The three teens crossed the hall and climbed the wooden, spiral staircase. Meanwhile, Emily kept looking around in case she saw that man but he was nowhere to be found.
''I hate the idea of staying here, Peter. I won't be able to sleep tonight'', she whispered.
''How else can we find out what's going on?'', said her brother, who at least on the surface, didn't seem to worry at all.
''Leo! Guys!'', Jasper shouted. ''Come on!''. The two boys sat in comfortable armchairs playing their favourite video-game, while Peter and Emily settled in the two-seater sofa positioned across Kylie's bed, who was sitting there reading a book.
''What's up, Kylie?'', Peter asked but she gave him her usual, bored look.
''I'm reading a book'', was her answer.
''Sorry for the interruption. I brought your cookies and cool sour cherry-juice'', Annabelle said with her nasal voice leaving a tray on a small table. Then, she left without making a sound, just as she did when she came in.
''Kylie, we need to talk to you about something'', Peter said while the boys drank the juice and ate their snacks. ''Who stays in the bedroom downstairs?''
''Downstairs?'', Kylie repeated leaving her book on the side-table and drinking her juice with a sad look on her face. ''Our grand-father was supposed to stay there. Unfortunately...''
''He... He died?'', Emily guessed with a pale face.
''No, he didn't. He's staying with us'', Kylie said with an ironic smile. ''You are both so gullible that I couldn't resist''. Emily was about to rush her but a glance from Peter restrained her.
''We're surprised that we've never seen him outdoors.''
''Yeah, you know, lately grandpa has lost his mind so we can't allow him to wander. Actually, would you like to meet him?''
''Meet him? You mean... Up close?'', Emily said terrified just thinking about it.
''Of course. Why? Are you scared he might eat you?''. 'In just a couple of minutes, Kylie has already joked twice. This certainly looks suspicious', Emily thought.
''Why not? Let's go'', Peter agreed.
''Follow me'', she said leaving her empty glass next to her book. ''Jasper, Leo, we're going to see grandpa. You stay here, right?'', Kylie informed them as they left the room. When she closed the door behind her, Jasper looked at the tray, where two glasses of crimson juice remained untouched.