Morning came and Tina had woken up, she took a shower and changed into a white shirt and denim jumpersuit. She walked downstairs to meet her parents for breakfast but was surprised when she saw a note on the table and the foods already prepared. Tina came closer towards the note and read it.
Sweetie...we are truly sorry for not keeping our promise. Your father was called early this morning to leave for work and we had to rush, we hope you can stay safe there. Just call your friend and let him stay there for a night with you, we promise we will be back early morning tomorrow for you. We love you very much---Mom and Dad.
After reading the notes, Tina sigh and slumped on the nearest dining chair. She looked at the foods set on the table and shook her head, she couldn't finish them all alone. She ate only the food that she liked and left the remaining for lunch. After she finished eating, Tina decided to clean the house to kill time. She was bored and felt exhausted as she cleaned the second floor all alone, the things left by the previous owners were placed on the room near the stairs and Tina sorted out those that can't be used.
She was busy dragging a bag of garbage towards the pile of dead plants she and her father had made before when she thought of Charles, "I guess I should go to town and talk to him. Maybe he will stay here with me, he still owes me for not coming here yesterday."
Tina smiled when she thought to see Charles again, she happily finished dragging the garbage bag towards the pile and washed her hands then left to town. Unknown to her, Sue was hiding from one of the trees inside the house looking at Tina with a blank expression but a small creepy smile formed from her mouth as the red haired girl left the house.
As Tina arrived at town, she immediately came to the library. Upon entering, she was welcomed by Charles' father who came at her with sudden speed.
"You...you! Where did you bring Charles?" the old man asked with angry eyes and Tina stared back at him with a confused look.
"What do you mean? I came here to look for him as well" Tina answered honestly but the old man didn't believe it.
He snorted and looked at Tina with suspicious look, "Lies...little girl, Charles was last seen with you. Didn't he left yesterday to help clean your house? He even bid goodbye to me before leaving, now tell me...where did you kept him?"
Tina shook her head, "I don't know what you're talking about. I swear I didn't see him at the house yesterday, I was waiting for him but he didn't show up that is why I came here."
Charles' father looked into Tina's eyes and found out that she was telling the truth, he gave a long sigh and sat on his chair. He then motioned for Tina to sit as well, in which the latter obeyed.
The old man then asked as he got a box from the drawer, "so tell me...are you the one living at the big ebony mansion?"
Tina remembered that Charles mentioned in between their talks the very first day they were cleaning that his father would object for him to go there, so she tried her best to lie.
"Huh? What are you saying? We live near here, but not in that house" Tina lied.
The old man stared at Tina suspiciously, "then I wonder where? If I recall correctly, there are no house outside of town aside from the ebony mansion."
Tina gulped, the old man saw through her lie but she remained calm and acted as if she was right.
"Then you must have not known there is another house that was just build" Tina replied.
The old man laughed, "don't lie little girl. Whenever there is a house that is going to be built, you need a permit to do that and I work at the townhall so I know if there will be a new house or not."
Tina gasped, "We-well..."
"Why don't you just tell me the truth, are you living in the house owned by this family?" the old man asked and showed a picture of the Lee family.
Tina looked at it and her eyes focused at their daughter, she then sigh with defeat.
"Fine...I do live there, and I am sorry for lying" Tina replied.
The old man then sat and stared at the photo he was holding, "did you know the history of that house?"
"If you mean the original owners then yes, Charles explained it to me" Tina replied.
"How about what happened to the previous owners?" the old man asked still staring at the photo.
There was a long silence and he looked at Tina who only gave a blank stare.
"So he didn't told you? Well i suppose anyone wouldn't considering you bought it..." he added and relaxed his back.
"What do you mean?" Tina asked feeling unease.
The old man sigh, "I am not telling you this to scare you little girl but it is best that you and your family should also leave that house."
Tina only looked at him with an even confused and questioning look.
The old man sigh again for the nth time, "you see...there are many families who bought that house because it was just low on price but quite big in size. Unfortunately, some of the families that lived there died and to make the matters worst...those with children, either one of them gets lost and found dead. The town tried to solve the case but nothing was accomplished, and even those that tried to solve the mystery were found dead a day or two after entering the house. Most of the townspeople here got scared of that and so they called that house cursed. But since the income of the town isn't flourishing like before, we all decided to keep it a secret from outsiders. Soon people bought the house, one family to another and some who had known the rumors left the house as soon as possible. That is why, while it is still early...leave that house. Tell your parents to leave."
"But...they left for a trip and will be back tomorrow, also...aren't you worried about your son?" Tina asked.
The old man grimaced, "I am...but...if he indeed went to your house, then I expect the worse."
Tina felt angry upon hearing those words, she slammed the desk making the old man surprised.
"Don't you dare speak like Charles is gone! He is your son, you shouldn't lose hope that fast" Tina shouted with tears slowly building in her eyes.
"Shut it little girl! If he hadn't met you in the first place, he wouldn't be gone. Besides, what do you know about that house if my son didn't told you about it? Nothing! As much as I want to keep a positive thought for Charles I can't as long as he is connected to that house! Didn't you just hear what I told you? Now...why don't you just go and call your parents to come back and leave that house!" The old man replied and Tina shot at him with angry eyes as he returned it with the same expression.
"I won't give up on Charles, I will find him" Tina replied and left the library as she came back towards the ebony mansion leaving the old man to look at her retreating figure with a tired expression.
To be continued....