The Curse of The Cubic Necklace

7: Grandma's journal

ARI'S POV

It was a still and calm night. The half moon proudly hung on the sky, as its light reflected on the forest. I was tossing and turning in bed, as million thoughts ran through my head.

"Did grandma really curse me?" 

It seems like sleepless nights have become a habit of mine, as I was not able to sleep peacefully in the last 4 days. Nevertheless, I still tried to shut those thought out of my head, and sleep. Suddenly I felt a slow movement beside me.

I opened my eyes, and was met with the pale blue ones of Cleo's. "What are you still doing up?" she asked in a groggy voice. "Can't sleep. You?" I asked softly. "I need water," she stated simply. "Well, you can drink from mine," I said.

"No, it's fine. I'll go get it from the kitchen," she said and got out of bed. She quietly opened the wooden door, and tip-toed out. I took a deep breath, and turned back to sleep. Just as I felt my weak eye lids close, I heard a terrifying scream. I was wide awake and I jolted out of bed and ran out of the room. It was pretty dark, I looked around scanning through the hallway but I did not see anyone.

I walked back into the room, closing the door behind me. Suddenly, I heard a loud meow. "Ugh, can't the creepy stuff continue tomorrow?" I sighed and walked to the window. I looked outside, and spotted a familiar pair of green eyes. "Not you again," I grumbled. As I looked closer, it seemed to be pointing its paw to somewhere.

"My eyes must be playing tricks on me," I thought before climbing back into bed. A small yawn escaped through my lips as my eye lids started getting heavier. Just then, I heard the door creak open, as Cleo walked in. "Took you long enough. Almost thought you fell asleep there," I said teasingly.

I didn't get a reply. "Good night" I yawned as I turned to a comfortable position. Guess she was sleepy as well, so without a second thought, I turned my pillow to the cold side and pulled the sheets over my body and I got unconscious.

Next day

The morning sun shined brightly on my face itching for me to wake up. "Ugh...how is it morning already? Why does the universe hate me!" I groaned and covered my face with the pillow. 

Just as I was about to drift back to sleep, my stupid alarm clock started ringing. I tried to turn it off but I ended being defeated. In exasperation, I pushed it onto the floor hoping it would shut up, but of course it didn't.

"Fine I'm up, jeez!" I said sleepily as I sat up. I looked over to see a sleeping Cleo. "How does she do that?" I mumbled to myself, as my eyes landed on her neck. 

There were marks on it, that looked like they belonged to a hand. "What the heck?" I thought to myself, but soon got distracted in my own world.

"Earth to Ari Valentine...hello?" asked a very familiar voice, snapping me out of my little fantasy world. "Cleo? Oh hey, good morning!" I said shaken up a bit. "Hi...what's the time?" she asked. Her voice sounded dead, but I brushed it off. "It's 9:10," I stated softly.

"Hmm...okay thanks," she said as a yawn slipped out of her lips. I got up, folded my blanket and went into the showers. As the warm water touched my skin, I felt a light sensation run through my body. I guess this is how being peaceful feels like.

10 minutes later I was out of the shower to see Cleo ready to go in. "Hey you alright? You look kinda pale," I said. "Err..yeah I'm fine. Totally fine!" she said in her usual cherry voice. "Okay, but if you need to talk I'm here for you," I said hanging my towel.

"You got it," she said and slipped into the bathroom. I quickly tied my hair into a braid and went down to eat breakfast. "Hey Leo. What's up?" I asked as I walked towards the fridge. "I believe the ceiling. Why, what do you see?" he asked smirking at me. 

"It's too early for your jokes buddy," I said smiling back at him. "Just messing with you shorty," he said in a teasing tone. "Excuse me, but I'm NOT that short!" I said rolling my eyes. 

"Alright chill," said Leo chuckling like Chucky the doll. Honestly that movie scars the shit out of me even though I did not believe in horror scenes at all. "Hey, where's Luca?" I asked. "Dude's bathing. To be honest he looks kind of pale," said Leo with a concerned voice. 

"That's strange, Cleo looked lifeless too," I said. "You think their hiding something?" asked Leo worried. "I don't know, but we should wait and let them tell us themselves," I said. "Fair enough I guess," said Leo, shrugging it off.  

I made myself a bowl of cereals with ice cold milk, just how I like it. Grandma used to make it for me. She thought that I might spill the milk everywhere, which I did only 3 times! I laughed at my past memories.

 Not every memory from my past is bad. Some makes me laugh and some made me regret my whole existence in this world. Ouch! Those embarrassing moments in my elementary school is enough.

"Morning weirdos. What's for breakfast?" asked Luca walking down the stairs. "Make it yourself. I don't have time to assist you," I said shoving a spoon full of cereal into my mouth. "Selfish pig! You're only eating!" cried Luca.

"So? I don't like being disturbed while I eat," I said casually. "You're mean, hothead!" said Luca, playfully sticking his tongue out. "No need to act like a kid Luca. I'll help you," said Cleo, who had just came down.

"Thank you. At least someone's willing to help me!" he said folding his hands. I giggled slightly and continued to eat my cereal. "You guys do realize that the yearbook we found had no clues to help us right?" asked Leo all of a sudden.

I tensed up. He was right, the yearbook proves nothing. It also means that my grandmother is still the prime suspect. "Well, let us search the whole house after breakfast. We ought to find some clues," said Cleo pipping up.

"That's genius! Eat up guys, you're going to need all the energy you get," I said excitedly. Right then I felt like a 5 year old during Christmas. I know, very immature of me to feel so, but I love treasure hunting and this felt just like that.

After breakfast, the four of us started searching the house high and low. Of course we couldn't find anything immediately as the house was huge. Cleo got lost a couple of times and I would be lying if I said I didn't as well.

After about 40 minutes, I decided to go into grandmother's room. I mean isn't it the most logical thing to do? My aunt had locked it up earlier, but I managed to find the key that unlocks it.

I walked into the room, the wooden floor creaking as I did. The room looked very simple and not luxury at all. It had a comfortable bed, a few cupboards and a nightstand. It had been so long since I last stepped into this room, that everything looked different. I decided to check her wardrobe first. All I found was her clothing, knitting needles and a couple of yarn.

Next I walked over to her nightstand. The nightstand had a small drawer at the bottom, so I pulled it open. Inside I saw an aesthetic brown book and on the very top it read; 'Lillian's Journal'

Bingo!

A journal's the best place to write secrets in, so there should be some sort of clue written in it. Yes I know I shouldn't be going through a dead person's belongings, but it's the only way out of this mess. I went to the hall, the brown book under my hands and called out to the trios.

 "Guys, I found something!"