The Triple Troubled
Aubrey was sipping a glass of water quietly, leaned against kitchen table she casually glances at backyard through window, it's still dark outside and still raining. Suddenly she hears a shriek, terrified she backs against a kitchen sink. Laughter follows quickly, she placed the glass near kitchen sink and cautiously stepped in lobby to see the source of sudden sound. she saw a petite figure stood at the end of lobby but she couldn't see anything beyond that.
"Who's there? Chloe? Is that you?" Aubrey stuttered out. Ominous shadow moves forward then she saw a very sharp knife. Petrified Aubrey moves through a dark corridor, hugging the walls. As she moves past an empty room, she stops and listen carefully, she hears the giggle, coming from nearby. Stepping to a doorway, she leans around the corner and peers inside. In the darkness she can see nothing. Gathering her courage, she quietly slips into the room. That room was Chloe's, she felt suddenly light but so silent. She saw a figure on bed thinking Chloe is sleeping she approaches the bed, she hears a faint gasp from behind her. She hurriedly pulls blanket off from Chloe, only to find Chloe's mangled body with blood oozing through deep cut, a scream catches in Aubrey's throat. Before she can do anything door snaps open and Lily leaps out of a doorway. A wicked grin was plastered on her face, raising a knife higher she grabs Aubrey's wrist.
Aubrey lets out a whimper, "You shouldn't have believed me. Chloe has paid the price now it's your turn."
"No... No..p.. please... Chloe... Chloe.."
"Bree... Aubrey... Aubs... Hey ...wake up... Please...wake up .. you are scaring me..." She hears a distant voice yet so familiar. She feel the sudden shifting in air but it's still pitch black dark then she felt sharp pain on her cheeks and her eyes open only to blinded by bright sunlight.
"Thank God. You are awake. You okay? Here have some water." Chloe was sitting beside her, slightly frowning. Aubrey hurriedly looks around there was no darkness, No laughter, Chloe was fine, and definitely there was No Lily trying to kill her, she breaths a sigh of relief.
"Bree? For real what happened?" Chloe asks gently. Looking so much concern in Chloe's eyes for her Aubrey's heart melt slightly before she remembers her dream.
"Lily happened." Aubrey gritted under her breath.
After a moment in Chloe's mind clicked something and she laughed. Aubrey throws a pillow on Chloe's face. Before Aubrey could give lecture to Chloe a thudding sound silences their moment.
"What's that sound?" Aubrey voices.
"Must be some animal in basement." Chloe supplies the answer.
"We had a basement?" Aubrey blurted out least bothering question to her.
"Let's find out." Chloe was already on her way down to figure out.
"No. Chloe come back. That's how every scary movie starts." Aubrey hurriedly trailed behind Chloe.
Chloe turned the knob of basement door, it creeks open. You know typical old door sound. It was pitch black inside but cool wind flow indicated there is window which surly left opened.
"Where is the switch?" Aubrey asks while trying to find switchboard near door frame.
"It's inside at the end of this stairs " she answers looking back at Aubrey.
"Why would anyone keep switchboard inside." Aubrey asks incredulously.
"Okay. I'm going in. You stay here" Chloe was already started to descend the steps.
"No. Chloe. No splitting. That's how dumb people die in scary movies." Aubrey quickly blindly grabs Chloe's shoulder tightly.
"That's it Aubrey. No more scary movies for movie night." Chloe scolded Aubrey.
Chloe blindly searches switchboard and switch on every buttons. After adjusting to sudden brightness Chloe finds the source of wind and shuts the window close. As she looked and observed the basement she finds it clean, a five star hotel level cleaned. No spiderwebs, No dust, no unnecessary things scattered around. Even her grandmother doesn't clean basement, it was used as a store room for unnecessary furniture or extra handtools, gardening equipments etc. So it's really shocking to see that messy basement this much clean now. Everything is placed in sorted manner. Before she can utter a single word Aubrey gripped her wrist and started dragging her to staircase.
"When are you going to listen to me. Let's go from this shit hole." Aubrey started ranting randomly.
"But Aubrey, look how clean this basement is. It's not even look like basement anymore. We can use this as something else instead. What do you think?" Chloe asks excitedly.
Aubrey sudden halts at one place making Chloe to bumped into her back. Aubrey turned around to face Chloe. "Chloe, Sweety. I appreciate your enthusiasm but think how this place magically cleaned itself over a night?" Aubrey asks as calmly as possible.
"Oh...ughh..that I didn't think.." Chloe trailed something non coherent words.
"I cleaned this basement." Lily half whispered the sentence as she popped suddenly besides the duo. Aubrey screamed and Chloe clutches her chest tightly.
"Gosh Lily, don't do it again and where were you? I didn't saw you a moment ago?" Chloe asks Lily after recovering from her mini heartattack to which Lily just shrugs.
"Nevermind, did you do all this?" Chloe asks further.
"There is something I want you to see" and without any further information Lily turned around and walked to an opposite side of basement room. Aubrey looked at Chloe disapprovingly. Chloe just shrugged and followed Lily. Lily stopped at front of book shelf. It wasn't nothing fancy looking, it was made of wooden and very much simple old fashioned. Lily searched through middle rack and tilted three same coloured and pattern book together. Suddenly, bookshelf glided and made one opening. Trio stepped to the opening to find one small but brightened room. Two elegant chandelier was hanging at top, there was one small wooden table and chair at corner. Lily handed her one envelope named Chloe on top, she immediately recognised the beautiful cursive handwriting. It was her Grandmother's writing. She gently opened the envelope as though little bit more strength could make it all disappeared in air.
"Dear Chloe,
If you are reading this letter that means either I'm dead or somehow you got interested in Geography (yes Chloe it's Geography not MAPS it never was) and found this magical place of mine. So if this is the case then you should keep this envelope where you found it. I believe you won't read further. You can not lie even if it is life depending situation. If this is first case where I'm dead then please turn the page over and read.
Chloe turns the letter gently and read further.
"Hello my Chlobear,
I know you are missing me dear but as you know humans aren't mortals everyone has to die one day. So don't be sad as I have lived happy life but I'm sorry that couldn't be with you when you needed me the most. But I know you will be alright as I've seen you that you have grown up before my eyes, you are strong lady. I Marvel at what beautiful and kind person you have become. Your smile and your bubbly energy can lighten the mood of a room in an instance. I am also afraid of what this world will do to you as you journey further into it and away from my protective arms. But I don't have to think about that anymore because someone has already filled that place for me. Yes you are are right, it is none other than your best friend Aubrey. She is fierce and very protective towards you and I am glad you met someone loyal as her. I know you are strong and brave but this world is hard, dark and scary. But as long as you both stick together you both will be alright.
I want you to be different, love. You have inherited your Grandpa's kind and generous heart, and I want you to embrace it! I want you to spread kindness like wildfire. I want you to remember that love is worth it when it's real, but love is not the same thing as affection, gifts, or other romantic movie stuff. Love is sacrifice and hard work. Love is being more concerned about the wellbeing of your other half than you are for your own. It also means sometimes having your heart broken, and that's okay too. Broken hearts heal, and loving deeply and truly is worth it. I want you to fall in love and fall hard, but also let yourself—your true self—be loved deeply in return. Don't hold back when you find your love, sweetheart. Love is always worth the risk. Remember one thing when you are feeling down and nothing is going right in your life never give up. Have a little faith in God, he has a plan and a purpose for your life that is more beautiful than even you can imagine.
I know you feel sometimes insecure but Never, ever, ever, ever settle for second best. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you are not worthy. You are smart, talented, kind, beautiful, and capable of doing anything you set your mind to. You should chase after the best of everything and expect that it can be yours because you are worth everything good.
I hope I had set an example of a good fighter for you. I have fought all of my life for myself and others. And I want you to be that person too. If you see injustice or inequality or corruption, I want you to be brave and bold enough to fight against it. When you know that someone is doing wrong, please stand up, tell the world about it, and then do your best to fight against it. You may not win every battle because sometimes this world favors greed over good, but it doesn't matter. Fight anyway. Be the light and the voice and the advocate for good in this world. Fighting for what is right is always the right choice. Baby, you were the joy of my life, and I hope that I could teach you all of these things before you face the world on your own. I am so blessed to get to love you and be your Grandmother. The world is better for having you in it, my love. Never forget that you are a treasure and a gift and that you have been called to be a light in this world.
I want you to take your time to find yourself before you can do something for others. I want you spread your light into this dark world but never let this world to dull your brightness if possible shine even bright. I know you will do it. Make me proud Baby and know that I will be you forever, in your heart. One more thing before I forget, You will inherit my estate. This bungalow will now be in your name along with all the money in my bank account. All the documents are kept in this same envlope which you are holding. I know you will use it properly. I wish you all the best for your future endeavors.
Your Grandma
Katie Beale.
Chloe gently fold the letter and suddenly the envelope feels heavy in her hand. After sometime she felt a hand on her shoulder as she turns she found Aubrey standing near her. She hugs her tightly and in return two strong arms encircled around her. She wasn't crying she was just overwhelmed by whole situation. She closed her eyes and just relieve the moment, when she opened her eyes and loosened her grip around Aubrey and saw around to find Lily standing awkwardly in the corner as if to not disturbed anyone. Chloe indicates her to come over by extending her hand. Lily hesitantly hold her hand. Chloe softly says Thank you to her.