Beneath those Floorboards Part - 2

                  Hello everyone.. Here's part 2 of my first horror story Beneath those Floorboards.. I would suggest you to read Part 1 if you haven't before reading this story below to better understand what exactly is going on.. hope you like the story and it keeps you gripped throughout.. Thank you 

              Part 2                                        

It was a rather dark night, must've to be a moonless night or perhaps it was just my room which was ill-lighted or maybe it was the eeriness that was making it seem so. The room felt colder than before with a strange stench in the air, a tingle down my spine and goosebumps all over my body when I heard my mom mutter under her breath, "Isabella!". My pounding heart skipped a beat. I choked with fear, gulped down the air and exhaled deeply while quivering at the eeriness of the situation.

I looked at my mother, her body shivering, her hands shaking, the fear on her face was obvious. Her lips were trembling, and her eyes fixated on the ceiling. I never saw my mother soo scared before. I took a deep breath. I could hear the clock ticking, the world froze for me in those couple of seconds. I didn't want to look but i knew i had to. I closed my eyes with my mouth trembling and heart pounding. Then suddenly in a swift movement I opened my eyes and looked at once to where my mother was looking. My eyes widened, and heart missed a beat, tears filled my eyes and i completely lost it. I stared at the ceiling like i was in some trance, my body froze, my mind was asking me to run away, to hide, But my body couldn't move at all. I was shocked and disgusted. I stared at the ceiling and let out a scream when i comprehended the horror that was in front of me.

 The ceiling of my room was splattered with some black liquid, like some rotten thickened blood dripping down on the bedroom floor. There were flies all over the ceiling, their loud buzz all of a sudden was deafening, but the worst thing was that life-sized doll covered in thick rotten liquid and flies, hanging, swinging, staring at me. Isabella, as my mother called it, was a doll made of hay, and what looked like rotten flesh of some kind, one eye popped out and hanging, hair tangled, half of it falling over its face. i looked at it with fear and disgust, when i noticed the dolls clothes, they were my clothes! How come it was hanging there all this time and i didn't notice? Was it done when i was sleeping? Or when i felt that cold gust of air in a swift motion when i was standing on the door? And who did it anyway? I was terrified, anyone would've been, I couldn't look at it any longer. I let out a loud scream and ran out of the room.

Mother and father followed me but i didn't stop. I was getting breathless, screaming, crying, pulling my hair, running. I went straight down to the first floor, I went the farthest i could go from my room. I stood in the further most corner of the living room then i sat down and cried. I had many questions. I wanted to run away. I wanted to know yet i didn't want to know. I was scared, with my lungs gasping for oxygen, my hands shaking, my legs going numb, my head getting dizzier, the fear was real. mother hugged me, letting out a cry she said, "Eliza, there's something that your father and i need to tell you". I looked at my mother, her face looked worried, nervous. I looked at my father, he seemed like he was holding his breath like he knew what was going on. I didn't utter a word, just stared at my mother and father with my eyes wide open. Father nodded at my mother, made a gesture, mother got up and went near him, i heard them mutter but couldn't make out the words they were saying.

Mother returned to me and said, "I'm sorry darling you had to see that", she looked back at my father, trying to gain courage before she spoke again, "Eliza, I'm sorry but you will have to leave". I was shocked to hear those words from my mother. she was very dear to me. why would she ask me to leave this house? My mind couldn't grasp anymore of whatever was happening around me. It was too terrifying and overwhelming. I stood at once and told her firmly, "Mother, tell me, I need to know, what is that? who did that? who is Isabella? and why are you telling me to leave? you need to answer me, please i need to know". I was getting impatient with every question i asked. My voice was shaking, my tone was changing, I was on the verge of tears when i heard my father scream at me in a firm angry tone, "Enough! Eliza! you leave now! I will drop you at Aunt Jennifer's house, pack your things. We will leave immediately".

I didn't want to leave my house, but Father looked earnest when he said he will drop me at my Aunt's place. My mother tried to console me but she persuaded more to leave at once, she told me this was for my best. I asked her, "What about you Ma? And what about Dad? What if that thing tried to harm you?" Mother said in a surprisingly calm tone that as long as i was not in that house, they both were safe. I thought about it and came to the conclusion that it will be best to take my mind off this thing for a while and maybe i can ask my aunt if she knew anything about this as i knew my parents would never tell me what was exactly going on. I didn't want to go inside that room so i asked my mother if she could get me a few of my clothes and necessary items as she didn't look afraid of whatever it was as much as i was, she agreed. Father told me he will quickly get the car's keys and went upstairs. He told me to sit quietly on the sofa and not go anywhere. He also told me to watch out and be careful as he ran up the stairs.

I didn't want to be in this house anymore. I was sitting on the sofa in the living room waiting for my father and mother, scared, but i couldn't stop thinking about what had happened just a few moments ago, i was constantly looking upwards where my bedroom was, and at the stairs on the second floor that leads to the 3rd floor. 3rd floor didn't have much going on. Most of the bedrooms were on the 1st and the 2nd floor. 3rd floor had only 1 huge bedroom which was the biggest room in the house, on the other side where there was a little space, was the entry to the attic which was exactly in the opposite direction from my bedroom on the 2nd floor. The 3rd floor was narrower than the 2nd floor which had 2 bedrooms and a balcony that remained closed all the time.

The bedroom on the 3rd floor was always closed. Since my grandmother passed away i was never allowed anywhere near that bedroom or the attic. I spent most of my time in the backyard, the living room or my bedroom which was on the second floor. I tried to sneak in the bedroom on the 3rd floor once when i was a kid, But mother caught me and the rules got even more strict. I was even forced to take the bedroom on the ground floor. I remember crying my eyes out as a child to have my bedroom back. I eventually got my bedroom back after a few weeks but I had to promise my mother that I would never try to sneak on the 3rd floor again and I never did. In a few coming years, i completely forgot about it until today.

"Eliza! Let's go" father called. I looked at him and was about to get up when i heard a loud bang on the 3rd floor. I stood straight up, looked at my father, he was a tall, muscular, a handsome old man, with a pointy, well-trimmed moustache, and silver and grey beard lightly covering his face. He looked right at me, then my mother, they both nodded as if they knew what had to be done. Mother looked at me, walking towards me, i saw her eyes glistening with tears. Stress and fear were completely visible on her face. Mother's bright face with that sunshine smile was lost. She was breathing heavily, she kept my bag down and with her hands extending towards me, she walked to where i was, held my head in her warm palms, kissed my forehead and said, " I'm sorry my child for you had to watch this, but you need to go now. Alone. I'm afraid your father won't be able to take you to your aunt, but you must go, and you must hurry." My heartbeats fastened, there were soo many questions rising in my mind, i looked at my father, i could not take this anymore, my hands and legs started shivering, my lips trembled, tears were on the edge of my eyelids, i was about to speak, when a wooden plank came falling straight to where i was, i screamed, frozen in fear i couldn't move, father jumped towards me and pushed me out of the falling plank's way. I screamed, i cried, father picked me up, looked me in the eye and shouted, "Leave, Leave now! Eliza! Listen, child, please, Now, just leave". I picked the bag lying just about 3 feet away from me. Father hurriedly gave me the keys to the car, and i spurted out. I was outside the house, i ran towards the car, opened the door, put my bag in, and got inside the car as soon as i could.

I sat in the car for a couple of minutes. I was frozen with fear, my heart pounded loudly, i couldn't move a muscle. How was leaving my parents alone in that house, going to help them be safe anyway? What if they were lying to me, to keep me safe? I couldn't leave without them. But i needed answers as what was going on in my house, and i would never get those answers from my parents, they would never tell me. I had a strong gut feeling that they would be safe and as soon as i get all the answers to whatever was happening there. I could make it all go away. 

Aunt Jennifer lived an hour drive away from our house. She lived in a decent-sized wooden house alone with her pet cat. Her husband died a couple of years ago in a war, and she had no children of her own. Aunt Jennifer was a very friendly and open-minded person compared to my parents. When i was off to boarding school, I would always visit her during my vacations before coming home. My memory at my house of me was from when i was very little, and not going to any school. Since i started boarding school. I visited home quite occasionally. Now i knew why my parents always kept me away from our house but i didn't know how it all started, and what was it, i needed answers, i stomped on the accelerator and drove off as fast as i could.

My car storming in full speed on the muddy road. I was trying to get a grip on the road. The road seemed wet and slippery though I didn’t hear the rain anytime today. My leg on the accelerator pressed hard. It was a dark night with fog rising on the horizon, little to no lights on either side. Dewdrops forming on the windshield, I figured, it was a relatively cold night. Summer was around the corner, so the cold weather during this time of the month was quite strange. I closed my car's Windows as the eeriness of the night was creeping me out. I looked straight ahead on the road and just kept driving. The huge trees on either side of the road were swinging with the air. They stopped any lights from reaching the road, and the road lacked street lights as well.

I was shivering, breathing heavily, trying to keep the car on the road. I knew soon this muddy mess called a road will join the state highway, and from there i will reach my aunt's place in no time. I knew soon i will see houses couple of meters away from the road with dim lights twinkling.it is always a relief to see people, fellow human beings when you are afraid of dealing with something, anything.

I hit the accelerator harder, changed the gear, tears filled my eyes i couldn't see the road ahead. I pressed my teeth against each other. I wanted to cry, i wanted to scream. My left hand reached my eyes to wipe the tears with the sleeves of the silk top i was wearing, when suddenly i thought i saw my mother right in the middle of the road. I stomped on the break and the car halted with a jerk. I was right in the middle of the road surrounded by nothing but the never-ending darkness and the huge trees which only added to the eeriness. My subconscious mind knew i shouldn't have stopped, but my eyes saw my mother, my dear mother on the road, so the first reaction to the sight of my mother was to halt the car. I knew i should've kept going. It was too late to stop and wonder what was that i saw. I was too afraid to look back too. My mind was screaming at me to just start the car again, to storm off, and never stop again until i reach my aunt's place.

I don't know what it was though, there was a force that kept me seated there for soo long. I decided to look back slowly through my car's mirror. my heart was pounding, i was breathing very slow, i was trying to avoid any sudden movements, or maybe i was just frozen with fear. I slowly moved my eyes to where the mirror was. I was scared to even look at my own self in the mirror. I was not ready for the horror that maybe, possibly lurking behind me. The air grew colder, there was a little gap i assumed between the cars window and the roof, i could feel a little breeze on my cheek and neck. The air that was entering the car had a distinct smell, a little similar to what i smelled earlier at my house. I was too afraid to even look sideways. I kept staring just a little off to the mirror hoping to catch a glimpse of something or someone with my peripheral vision, but i couldn't see anything. I finally thought i was wasting my time sitting there trying to catch a glimpse of whatever i saw. Maybe it was just my imagination as i was scared already, or maybe the tears on my eyes earlier made me see some kind of illusion. I knew i was procrastinating. I decided i didn't want to look, I decided to just get out of there as soon as possible.

I touched my keys which were already in the car's keyhole. I slowly started chanting, "I need to go, i need to go, i need to go..." My voice getting louder with every word i utter, "i need to go, i need to go, I NEED TO GO, I NEED TO GO... I SCREAMED!! And turned the key at once but the car didn't start. I panicked. I turned the key again but the car didn't start again. I wasn't afraid anymore. I was petrified, with my anxiety to the top of the roof, my hands started shaking, i could hear my heart throbbing clear and loud. Suddenly the air felt thin and i could hardly breathe. Slowly i felt a grip around my neck, a grip that was getting tighter with every breath i was trying to take. I was almost stuck to the car's seat with something that i couldn't see trying to choke me to death. My hands, shaking, trying to hold on to whatever i could get a grip on, my head tilted a little to where the mirror was when i saw a black cloud-like shape behind my back. The visibility was getting less and my head was getting dizzier, my vision was fading, yet i couldn't even struggle against the force that was strangling me, and choking me.

             I couldn't die there though, I was supposed to reach my aunt's place, i was supposed to find answers, i was supposed to help Mom and Dad set free from that entity lurking in our house. Dying here would be such a waste of life. I opened my eyes at once, looked in the mirror straight behind my back where the thing strangling me was supposed to be. I could see nothing but a dark matter like a cloud surrounded me and the whole backseat, i struggled, i fought, i choked, but i pulled myself away from that seat. I grabbed my bag which was lying in the seat beside me and tried to hit that thing which was choking me. I then opened the car door and ran outside. I ran and ran and kept running until i reached the highway. I wasn't even sure how many meters or kilometres I ran. I was too scared to wait there and I was too scared to stop.

I reached the highway panting and out of breath.  There were streetlights though which was a relief, and a few cars passing by, i decided to see if i could get a lift and not stand at a place where i just came running. Frankly, i was scared of being followed by that dark matter or ghost or ghoul or whatever that was, i wasn't even sure how it followed me there, there was a moment i thought i was dreaming or hallucinating perhaps, but couldn't come up with a reason to that possibility. I kept walking South, that is where my aunt's house was at, i tried to take a lift, but no car would stop. That was very understandable though, why would someone stop the car in the mid of the night for a stranger. I gave up on the possibility of a lift and kept walking. It was a half an hour drive, DRIVE! I knew i would have to walk for more than an hour. I decided to cross the road and walk alongside the front yards of a few houses that were at a few meters distance from one another, that way if i have another encounter with that dark matter or "It" i can just run to one of the houses or at least scream for help and be sure that someone will come down to check.

So i crossed the road and kept walking. I walked for more than an hour without any incidents. Soon i could see some familiar houses nearby. I saw the market which was alongside the highway, it was closed with pieces of clothes hanging from the roof or covering the portion where the unsold things were supposedly kept. I took a left at the market's end.. I knew from there Aunt Jennifer's house was approximately 200 to 300 meters away. The road was darker than the highway, with 1 lamppost for 2 houses. The lampposts were dull compared to that of the highway lights.  There was little to no lights in the alleyways that were after every 4 houses. I kept walking. I survived walking here in the shivering cold with my feet hurting so i thought i would survive a couple 100 meters too.

I felt a little confident When i reached halfway down the street. But when i reached the first alleyway, i wasn't sure anymore. To my right, a lamppost’s light flickered. I narrowed my eyes and could feel the corners of my mouth turn down with fear. I glanced to my left and saw a dark alleyway. Did something just move in there? I tried to smooth out my expression, gulped down the fear and hoped that anyone watching or 'anything' watching doesn’t notice my slight increase in speed. I glanced around quickly and saw no one but an ill-lighted road behind and a few houses a couple of meters away with a light yellow tint of light.

A tingling, creeping sensation crawled up my spine. Joined by the feeling of being watched, I up my walking pace just a little more. I looked around for the last time and then I ran for my life. I ran and ran and didn't stop until I was outside my Aunt's house. I banged on her door, I screamed her name, sweat dripping from my forehead, my feet were going numb, and as I thought the unknown behind me would pounce on me, the door opened. I finally reached my aunt's house, i got in pushing my aunt in with me, and i locked the door slamming it behind me. I let out a shaky laugh and i sighed, i peeked out from the window beside the door but i found no one.

Aunt Jennifer stood in front of me, looking at me with a scared and confused face. I was out of breath, sweating, and in my nightgown standing in my Aunt's house in the middle of the night. She was worried about me. She held my face between her palms and asked me if i was alright. Her doe eyes squinted, her forehead wrinkled, with a concerned face she asked me, " Eli, is someone following you? What happened? What are you doing here at this time? Where are Rosalie and Edward?"

Rosalie, My mother, she was a fine lady. The first woman in The Zugravescu Family to ever go to the university for higher studies. She was a strong and independent woman though she seemed very elegant with rosy cheeks and curly hair falling over her shoulder, she had piercing blue eyes, and elegance that of a Queen. She was born in a fairly middle class and a very religious house, at least that is what i was told. They firmly believed in their mythology and supernatural forces but they didn't believe in science much. They found science and anything sort of against the rules of whoever they considered their God and hence it was all a taboo.

 Rosalie, my mother didn't completely agree with their beliefs and pursued her studies. She was a bright student. Even though she was opposed by many from her side of the family, she went to school, got a scholarship and kept pursuing her higher studies. She got a scholarship from the University of Aradea, where she met Edward Bennett, my Father, he was an English Professor. An Englishmen, Far from his territory, teaching English literature in the university. He instantly fell in love with the fierce woman that my mother was. Rosalie's parents didn't approve though. So Edward and Rosalie had to Elope. My Aunt Jennifer was the only one who stayed in touch with my mother even after she eloped. Eventually, she too ran away from her homeland and settled with My mother and father. Here, she fell in love with an army man and later got married.

"Eli, Eli, Are you listening to me? Eli!??" My aunt stood in front of me, worried, with her palms on my cheek, I looked at her, and i left out a loud cry. I fell in her arms, my back against the door i sat there, holding her, and i cried as she hugged me tightly in her arms. She picked me up, and we walked to the sofa in the living room. I sat on the sofa, while my aunt sat beside me, still holding my hands, she asked me firmly this time, "Eli, Tell me, What happened?". I looked at her, gained some courage and told her everything from the start, how i heard the floorboards creak, how i fainted, what happened at night, how mother and father asked me to leave for her house, what all i faced while coming here, i told her everything in detail. Her face was stunned, her eyes were open wide, and she just kept staring at me through the whole narration.

I thought maybe she wouldn't believe me. She got up, quietly went in her bedroom with a blank face. I sighed, facepalmed with disappointment and sat there thinking how to make my Aunt believe in whatever i just told her When i saw her return with what seemed to be a book. I was confused, but before i could ask her anything my aunt quietly said to me, "there's something you need to know". My eyes widened, i got up eagerly, she gestured me to come in the bedroom with me. I quietly followed her.

We went into the bedroom, she gestured me to sit on the bed. She then hurriedly closed the doors and the windows, she covered the window panes with curtain, then came and sat beside me. I thought maybe she got paranoid, or maybe she did believe me and knew the answers to what was happening. She kept the book between us, slide it towards me and whispered to me, "I know you won't believe me when i tell you this, but you will have to trust me. No matter how advanced we get, there are still certain things out there, those which even science can't explain". I looked at the book then i looked at her in confusion and asked her what she meant. She looked at me, then looked down while playing with her fingers, In her slight romanian English accent with a heavy sigh she said, " Doesn't matter you call it magic or witchcraft, existence of Gods or Devils, a subject which no one can be definite about, but My dear Eli, Your Mother and I, we come from a place where we have seen people do magic or you may call it witchcraft, rituals and sacrifices." My eyes widened as i heard the word sacrifice, but my aunt didn't seem affected so i let her talk. She continued, " Yes there is a story, a reason for what you said you experienced my child but It isn't my right to tell you what happened Eli, all i can do is give you this book. Hopefully, you will understand it." I stopped her mid-sentence, in confusion i asked, "What!? What are you talking about? Magic? God, the devil? SACRIFICES?" I enunciated on the last word and questioned her in confusion and anger this time, "What is that you can't tell me? I'm not understanding anything. Tell me Aunt Jennifer. I need to know."

I was breathing faster than usual, my feet were tapping on the ground, i was anxious, scared, and confused. Aunt Jennifer looked at me, took my right palm in her hand, and placed her other palm over it, she looked at me with a very Sad, disappointed face, then her eyes lowered, her voice was soft and breaking, i could feel whatever she was hiding from me was breaking her heart. So i asked her again, "Aunt Jennifer, you have to tell me, i have to know, i left my mother and Father in that house with that thing alone, i came here for answers, please Aunt Jennifer, please, i need to know. Whatever it is, i will stop it, i promise," with every word i uttered, i got eager and impatient.

She got up, walked a few steps and told me, " Rosalie and I were very close as kids. Do you know Rosalie is actually my cousin and not my real sister? When my mom died.. Or perhaps i should say. Sacrificed, i was.." I stopped my aunt as soon as i heard the word sacrificed. I got up from the bed and went to my aunt, i put my hand on her shoulder and i looked directly in her eyes. Her eyes were numb with tears. My eyes were wide open with shock. I asked her again, " Sacrificed? What?." She held both of my hands, walked me to the bed, asked me to sit. I sat on the bed with my Aunt.

The book she gave was still lying on the bed. I looked at the book. I touched that book. It was a leather book, a dark brown coloured leather almost like the colour of dark chocolate but rough and scratched, with more carved leather segments stuck on its cover, it had a black coloured thick thread attached to it which helped keep the book close. The book's surfaced look worn and mouldy and the pages from the side i could see looked stale yellow tinted.

Aunt Jennifer picked the book, Looked at the book, holding it close to her she continued, "Yes Eliza, Sacrificed! I Don't have a lot of memories of my mother. I was 8 years old when this happened. I didn't understand then. Rosalie's Mother, my aunty Daria adopted me and treated me as her own. Rosalie was hardly 3 years old then, she won't remember any of this. She only remembers and knows what we want her to know." My eyes twitched at this sentence, so i interrupted and asked my Aunt, What she meant. She told me, " Rosalie was a little child. This wasn't her pain to experience but mine." I took a deep breath, gulped down some air as i continued listening to my aunt, " Rosalie must have told you, how we weren't allowed to go to school or study. Our tribe only believed in the knowledge it acquired from our elders and ancestors. It only allowed us to worship our God and to have faith in him. Any other source of knowledge was a taboo and prohibited, But your mother was a very curious little girl, and the curiosity only increased as she grew up." I half smiled at my aunt as she continued telling me more, " I followed everything aunt Daria wanted me to. Rosalie opposed everything her mother asked her to do, she wanted to go out and study, i did all the field work and learned about our traditions and gods. One day Rosalie came home and told Aunt Daria that she got some scholarship and that she wished to go to the university. Her mother opposed her, Rosalie still went, she left home, and lived in that University. I met her a couple of times while she was studying in the university. I supported her, gave her news about our tribe and home. She told me about her friends, this went on for a few months. One day, Rosalie came to me saying she was in love and wished to get married to an Englishman. I told her Aunt Daria would be furious but she didn't agree. I went home told her mother that Rosalie wishes to marry, she is in love. Aunt Daria was infuriated. I convinced Rosalie to elope, Aunt Daria was one of the most respected member of our tribe. Studying in the university was forgivable but wanting to marry someone outside the tribe was prohibited and the punishment was death." My heart skipped a beat as i gasped for air while staring at my Aunt. I asked Aunt Jennifer, "What happened then?" She told me in a fragile voice, " You know What happened. They eloped. But Aunt Daria never forgave them. Aunt Daria lost the respect she had in the tribe. She stopped coming out of the house. One day she came to me and told me that we are going to England. I instantly knew why. I tried to convince her to leave your mother alone but she wouldn't listen. So we both came to Trichester. Rosalie was pregnant at that time. Edward was not home that day. I Saw a lot of fear in Rosalie's eyes and anger in Aunt Daria's eyes that day." Aunt Jennifer hesitated, and with a cracking voice said. "I dont know if i should continue, Eli, it will be best if Rosalie herself told you the story that follows." To which I replied to her in a firm tone, " No! I need to know what happened. If Mother wanted me to know, She would've told me and not asked me to visit you. I need to know. Please tell me what happened."

"That day seeing your mom open the door, looking at her pregnant stomach, Aunt Daria said nothing. Absolutely nothing. I was very scared. I thought she would do something. I was very scared but she did absolutely nothing. She saw her, and she walked away. We came back home. The days went by , a few weeks went by, Aunt Daria stopped coming out of the house, she stopped talking. Just a few weeks later, she passed away." I was still trying to process everything, But i eagerly kept listening, " i went to her room one day to give her food but instead found her body lying on the floor with our tribe's traditional symbols, mostly used during a sacrifice. Her body lied on the floor with blood splattered all over the room. I panicked. I called our tribe. They told me that those symbols indicated it was a dual sacrifice. Requires a pair but they should be related. The symbols carved on the cement flooring indicated it required a grandparent and a grandchild. I was scared but i was angry at what Aunt Daria had done, Because failing to fulfill whatever required during a sacrifice or a ritual resulted in very bad results. As a kid I saw people suffer when they failed to complete a sacrifice or a ritual. I saw how much pain they endeavoured. I knew about this witchcraft. I studied it as a kid and i saw Rosalie with a child. So to protect Rosalie, i came here, In Trichester." My aunt stood up, walked a few steps away as she completed her sentence. Then she turned and said to me, " i can help you Eli". My eyes were numb, i lowered my eyes as i tried to comprehend the horror then i looked at my aunt and i said, " So whatever that is, the thing that is following me is because of an unfulfilled sacrifice?" Aunt Jennifer put her palms on my cheeks, and in a nervous tone said to me

" Yes, and it requires your sacrifice. It wants you. You have to be careful my dear Eliza. It won't do any harm to your Parents, but if it gets to you, it will take you. That is why Rosalie and Edward sent you to me."

      

I was not quite sure how to react. I was astounded, confused and scared. Aunt Jennifer quietly then handed me the book and told me, "You will find everything about our tribe's culture and tradition in this book. But you must not tell your parents about it, Rosalie does know a few things that took place, but she won't be able to comprehend the whole truth." I looked at her, gave her a nod and took the book. I was not sure what to do. I sat on the bed for a few minutes with my head lowered and that book in one hand. Aunt Jennifer gave me a pat on the shoulder, asked me to take a look at the book and walked out of the bedroom.

I was thinking about what i had experienced earlier. I remembered how I was sitting in my bedroom, quietly reading when i heard the floorboards creak. I remembered how I was alone, helpless, and as my aunt said, if it wanted me, as a sacrifice, why didn't it take me earlier when it had the chance? I knew Aunt Jennifer was definitely hiding something more. I loosened the black thread circling the leather book and slowly opened the book. In huge black font, right in the middle of the page was written, " Pwoicce - The tribe of Witches". On the top corner there was a name written with a deep black coloured ink, 'Lamia'. Who is Lamia? I thought this was my Aunt's Book, i decided i will ask her about it once i finish reading the book.

 It was dawn. I wanted to get the answers by the sunrise and go home and just stop that thing from ruining the peace in my family, so I skipped to the next page without thinking much. On the next page was a drawing of what seemed to be a bonfire but instead of the rocks around the bonfire, there were skulls. Above the drawing of the skulls, there was a marking in English, 'Infant skulls'. There were drawings of masked people around it. There were writings too but i couldn't understand the written language. I realised the writings on the right side were not same as the writings on the left. On the right side, the writings were worn out and in a different language, a language that i couldn't decipher. I never learned about this language in my classes either. But the left side was the interesting side. The text was in English, and the ink quite resembled the latest used black ink. but the images were dull and faded, even the book was quite worn out compared to the markings i found in English.

I turned to the 2nd page, then 3rd and 4th, i flipped the pages frantically only to find more text, both of an ancient unknown language and the newer English markings, and images of human-like beings performing various rituals and what looked like a dance form of some kind. I found images of godly beings or deities of whom i never heard before. Going through the book was itself a daunting experience. I was turning pages of the book when a light ray of the sun touched my book. The Sunray was slowly and steadily moving in rhythm with the movements of the curtain. I looked outside the window from the slight gap the curtains provided. It was morning and the sun was rising.

Today's morning felt so beautiful with a few dusky orange rays of sun entering through the window panes. I got up. I took a deep breath and i walked out of the room. I saw my Aunt on the sofa in the living room. In front of her was a carved wooden tea table with a thick pane of glass on top. She was brewing Tea. There was a sweet apple scent, highly soothing my senses. The eeriness of the cold and daunting night somehow vanished. I walked towards my Aunt with the book held close to my heart. I looked at the book, i sighed before talking as i nodded my head and asked my aunt, " Why? I just want to know, why did you give me this book? What do i do? I didn't understand a thing. The writings are something i have never seen before. They don't resemble any of the ancient languages i have studied. It is neither Latin, greek, Hebrew, nor it is Egyptian or basque." Aunt Jennifer asked me to sit, she handed me a cup of the tea she was brewing and she picked up a cup for herself. She moved the cup slowly and steadily in a circular motion, closed her eyes and inhaled. I looked at the cup in my hand, the fragrance from the cup was mesmerising. I kept the book on my lap and holding the teacup in both of my palms, i brought the cup near my mouth. I took a deep breath. My eyes were numb, with tears sitting on the waterline of both of my eyes. I had a heavy feeling in my chest. My heart ached as i gulped down the air from the teacup. I whimpered. 

Still holding the teacup close, head still lowered, i said in a cracking voice, " I'm Scared, I'm scared Aunt Jennifer. I don't know what to do. I want to go back. I want to hug my mom and i want to see my Dad. I don't even know if they are alive. I'm scared, very scared." Listening to me, My aunt kept her cup aside, she took my teacup as well and kept it on the table in front. She held my shoulders with both her hands and moved me slowly so that my face was in her direction. I was still crying, whimpering, she took my hands and said to me, " Rest for a bit, my dear Eliza, you need rest, I will finish up some chores, then I'm going to go to the market, I will also go get your car. When i return home, we will cook lunch together, and i will teach you how to read that book but for now, you need to rest." My eyes lit up, i looked at my aunt. i just wanted to know how to stop that thing in my house. I didn't care much about the book. I just needed a solution for the situation i was in. I sighed and i nodded. I got up and walked towards the bedroom. I closed the door behind me. I was tired, with a mild headache. I lied on the bed with a blanket covering my whole body, i hugged the extra pillow that was on the bed and soon fell asleep. 

It was dark and quiet. Moving just my eyeballs i looked to the left and then to the right. To the right side, i saw something. I saw a silhouette walking towards me. Everything was a blur, it was Dark, and quite reddish if you ask me, i could hardly see any visible features on the dark figure that slowly walked towards me. As it came close it grabbed my neck by its hands and tried to choke me. I struggled, i tried to push it away. I kept screaming, "No, Don't, stop, Who are you? Please stop. What do you want?" I cried i screamed, i tried to push it away. My screams now turned gibberish as i gasped for air. It didn't stop though, it kept choking me. My eyes slowly closed and i drifted away in a dark abyss. 

Then I heard a strange voice. I opened my eyes at once. I was panting, breathless, i was sitting on the floor in a corner with my ankles intertwined and knees close to my heart. I buried my head in my thighs. I heard a noise, steps on the floorboard, slowly creeping towards me. I buried my head even deeper. It was cold and dark, i had goosebumps all over me. I felt a tingling sensation on my spine and the fear crawled up my neck. I thought i could never open my eyes again. I thought maybe, this is the end, the end of my life. When i heard the door slowly open with a horrifying creaking noise. My heart beats fastened, i squeezed my folded legs even more close to my heart and i buried my head further in my thighs. The crawling feeling on my spine and neck was intense. I closed my eyes tighter and kept both my palms on my face covering my ears and eyes. The voices hitting my eardrums were high pitched laughter, and squeals, both of them somehow merged, followed by my Aunt's voice, "Eli! Eli! Eli getup Eli. Eliza! wake up, Eliza! Are you okay? Eli, Sshhh shhh, it's just a nightmare, Eli, wake up, I'm right here, Sshh, I'm right here my dear Eli, please wake up," i was still sitting in the corner, with my palms covering half of my face, somehow the voice seemed to deceive, like being done on purpose so that i would look at whatever horror was there in front of me. I still dared to open my eyes, i was sweating, panting, with my aunt sitting right beside me on the bed. I heard her say, " My sweetheart, it's okay, Aunt Jenny is here, Don't worry love," she caressed my face, then gently embraced me. All the fear somehow vanished, yet there remained a longing and emptiness in my heart, i was afraid of course but also determined. 

Aunt Jennifer told me it was noon. Almost lunchtime. I woke up with a sigh of relief, what i saw was just a nightmare. , "Hey Eli, Lunch is already prepared. I thought of not bothering you with the preparations as you were deep asleep. Come on, come along," i heard my aunt say as she walked out of the bedroom door. I got up. Yawned! And walked towards the kitchen. The kitchen had a lovely wood carved dining table and chairs. I sat on one of those chairs, gave a half-smile to my aunt as she was serving the food. She smiled back saying, "you okay my dear? I looked at her and just gave her a nod without uttering a word. We silently ate our lunch. Aunt Jennifer did ask me about the nightmare but i just sighed and told her it was nothing, maybe i was just scared regarding the safety of my parents which caused me to have nightmares. I told her everything was fine and kept eating.

Post Lunch we sat on the back porch of Aunt Jennifer's house. We had the Book 'Pwoicce- The tribe of Witches' with us. I flipped through the pages as my aunt explained to me things she understood in that book. According to my Aunt, Her Mother's was the last generation who understood the book completely. This book was given to her by her mother. Until today, Not once was her mother, I.e., My great Aunt ever mentioned of. Aunt Jennifer sat on what she called her favourite chair, it was a bergère chair covered with emerald cloth and gold embroidery. I noticed my Aunt was nervously moving a lot, tapping her fingers and struggling to hold onto a smile. I moved my chair a little closer to my aunt's chair and held her hand in my hand and softly, assuringly told her, " Aunt Jennifer, i know you are worried. I am too, but there is nothing we can do if we don't figure out what we can do to stop it. You are the only person who knows and you have to believe me when i say, i will stop it." Aunt looked at me and smiled. I picked up the book from my lap and opened it. I opened the first page, Moved my finger where it was written 'Lamia', took a deep breath and asked my aunt, "Lamia? Was Lamia your mother Aunt jenny? Was she a bad person?" Aunt Jenny's eyes widened as i asked her this impertinent question. She avidly interrupted me before i could say anything further, "No Eliza! She wasn't. She was the most beautiful person and a splendid human being. I was confused, it was only yesterday when she told me she was sacrificed or murdered. So i asked Aunt Jenny, "But you told she was..." Aunt Jennifer stopped me mid-sentence saying, " Yes! I know. She was, but. " Aunt took a sigh before she continued saying, " but she wasn't a bad person Eliza. They were wrong about her. They did wrong to her. Her own sister did wrong to her." I squinted my eyes and shockingly looked at my aunt, " Her own sister? You mean..?"...

To be continued...