Nonhuman

Chapter 3- The Letters and The Revelation

Late as it was, Cece couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t help but think of the papers in the curio cabinet, locked up tightly.

         As much as she tried, she couldn’t help herself. Trying to be exceptionally quiet, she snuck out of her room, down the hall and into the breakfast nook. Ella kept the curio cabinet key in the top drawer of her desk, which was in the den across the hall. Cecilia tiptoed over into the den and tugged on the top drawer.

         “Crud,” Cece whispered when it wouldn’t budge. She pulled and pulled but it wouldn’t open. Giving up, she went back into her room, closed the door and finally managed to fall asleep.

         The next morning, Cecilia woke up way too early. Looking at her phone, she saw that the time was 4:30 a.m. Unfortunately, she was starving. Cece knew her parents wouldn’t care if she had a midnight snack- or early morning snack- so she got out of bed and walked into the kitchen. On her way she passed her parent’s bedroom.

         She was expecting no noise, and was quite startled when she heard voices from inside the room.

         “…let her read the letters…bracelets…”

         “Birthright… biological….”

         “… Ella… dangerous… Cassandra wouldn’t…”

         A quiet sigh emitted from the door, and then the squeaking of the hardwood alerted Cece to run back to her room as quickly as possible.

         Zane stuck his head out of the door right as Cece slipped into her bedroom.

         Late the next morning, Cece woke up shivering. She wasn’t sure what her parents were having a late night conversation about, nor was she sure she wanted to, but she knew she had to read the letters now.

         Meaning she had to find the key to the drawer today.

         A nearly impossible task.

         Cece sighed, pulled some sweatpants on over her sleep shorts and headed into the surprisingly quiet kitchen. Usually her parents blared Fall Out Boy while they made breakfast, but no one was home. A bright pink note was set out on the table.

Cecilia,

         We were called out by our boss. Will be back sometime around noon. We left at 8, in case you didn’t get up until late. Make sure your room is clean. No leaving the house.

         Love you!

                  Mom and Dad

 

         Called out for work during winter break? Cecilia thought it was a little weird, but took the opportunity to break into the curio cabinet and read the papers- or letters, whichever they were.

         Half an hour later, Cece gotten ready for the day, eaten breakfast, and been through 3 rooms to look for the key to the curio cabinet. Thoroughly frustrated, she returned to her room and clipped her new bracelet onto her wrist. Maybe it’ll bring me “luck”, Cecilia thought.

         It was 10:30 when Cece returned to searching for the key. At 10:45, she gave up, thinking Ella was probably smart enough to bring the key out with her. Returning to the breakfast nook and the curio cabinet, she twisted the bracelet around her wrist, thinking.