Moon Above Paradise

2

The door opened ever so slightly, light peeled onto the doorstep from the hall behind it. A gold tinted door chain prohibited the door from opening further. A rather small figure poked their head out from behind the door. A short preteen, pale skin, short messy ginger hair, long dark eyebags, peered up at Raymond. After a short second of processing the situation before mumbling in a strong Scottish accent,

"...Can I help you?"

"This is Paradise manor correct? Also what in the bloody hell are you doing up at this ungodly hour?"

"You woke me up with your ungodly presence, you old spark bag."

"Hey! No need for that kind of attitude of yours. Now can you please answer the first question I asked you, you twit."

"You think you're my father now or something? Also yes this is Paradise Manor, good day."

The young teen nearly slammed the door in his face. Ray slid his foot between the door and the door frame, wincing as the two collided together. Through gritted teeth he hissed a quick "Wait!" Pulling out the letter that he carried with him this whole time, he slid it through the open crack. "The owner of this property sent me here for something. I'm not sure why or what it is but apparently it has to be important."

With a swift yank, the young Scot took the letter out of his hand. After about 30 seconds or so, the door chain was unlocked and whacked itself on the back of the door. Slowly opening the door now, the teen stepped out from the doorway, letting the man with a foot pulsating with pain inside the manor.

"By the way, would you mind telling me who you are? I don't recall a face like yours being associated with the Doctor's little board of...acquaintances." Raymond queeried, hanging his taupe coat in a small coat closet left of the doorway.

"Viola."

"Viola...you're the-"

"The kid who survived the carjacking, yes, I know." Viola cut Raymond off in a sharp tone.

Raymond, slightly appalled by the interjection, raised his hands up before muttering an "Okay."

From the front entry, an expansive hallway lined with rooms led to an ornately decorated staircase which curved at a forty five degree angle. A grandfather clock towered over the two as they walked past. After a mere five steps from the clock, Raymond nearly jumped out of his skin as a single massive 'gong' rang throughout the hallway.

"Good heavens, it's one in the morning already?"

"Yeah. I don't think you're gonna meet your little playmate anytime soon since he's probably balls deep in some experiment or something I don't know."

"Excuse me?-"

"First guest room is upstairs on the right, next to that really old portrait"

Viola bluntly explained, pointing at the second floor walkway above them.

Raymond simply gave Viola one last look before solemnly shaking his head as he climbed up the stairs. 'Wow. I can't believe I took nearly three hours to get here this man is so incompetent enough that he he relies on some child to give me orders? Can this man not come out and greet me himself? The gall. The absolute gall. I still don't even know what I'm here for nonetheless!!'

As he stopped by the guest room door, dropping his suitcase to open the dark mahogany door with a Brookshire silver latch handle, Viola piped up once more.

"Oh, he'll be in the kitchen once you wake up. Maybe then you two can have a little coffee date."

She smirked as she wavered off into the study, adjacent to the grandfather clock.

'What is up with this house. I feel like I'm going insane.'

Raymond sighed before entering the bedroom. Inside, a full sized bed on the right complemented with two mahogany nightstands on each side. A wood dresser of the same color stood on the right with a framed mirror hanging inches above it. Ray placed his suitcase on a crimson cushioned chair situated in a slight angle of a southern facing window. Opening the suitcase, he fiddled around and pulled out his sleepwear for the night. After changing and doing a quick de-stressing breather, he finally crawled into bed. Letting his small frame cave into the satin pillowcases and sheets, one last thought flickered in his mind as he drifted off into sleep.

'I am here. This is actually happening. Fifteen years, and now I get to see him.'

'My long lost friend.'

'My friend...'