RIVER VALLEYS PAST

Chapter 16

         "You are overreacting" Bailey scoffed, turning to face Rita with a look of disgust. Rita rolled her eyes in annoyance. It's been a day since they've been here, and neither of the sisters was able to get along with each other.

              "How is this overreacting?" Rita asked in a calm but shaky tone, furiously tapping on the keys of her laptop keyboard. Riley groaned, slamming her hands against the marble countertop, ignoring the stinging pain in her palm.

           "You need to get over it, that was years ago Rita, it was out of our control," her voice raised with each word, glaring daggers down at her older sister. Rita simply shook her head, leaving the kitchen with tears in her eyes.
 
            "There's always a way," Rita murmured to herself, leaving the kitchen with her laptop in hand, tears burning her gaze as she left. Milly sighed, turning to face her younger brother and cousin.

          "It's been like this since we got here," Becky scoffed, pushing around a piece of bacon on her plate. "I still don't even understand what this is even about," she added, glancing over at them suspiciously.

              "Mom always said they were all loving siblings," Alex stated, swallowing the last of his French toast and eggs.

              "Nothing about this is loving," Milly scoffed, turning on her heels, "I'm going to explore a bit," she stated, leaving the kitchen. Her gaze trailed up the staircase leading to the second floor. Her hand landed on the cold railing, running her hand up the railing as she ascended the stairs. Walking along the corridor, looking into every room. Entering one of the many rooms in the manor, she came across a room decorated in pink. Walking further into the room, she saw a picture frame resting on the old pink vanity.

          A smile spread across her face, seeing a photo of her mother smiling brightly, dressed in her cheer uniform, one of her pompoms in the air, and the other connecting to a hand. Pulling the photo closer, she saw that the photo was cut in two. Leaving the other person a mystery.

            Resting the photo in its place on the vanity, she turned away slowly, scanning the room before leaving. The room across from her mother had a sign resting on the door that said 'Azaya's room'.

           "Azaya," she smiled, knocking on the door to her room. Azaya was her favorite cousin. It's been a few years since they last spoke, but her love for her cousin was infinite. Even after so many years. After a few minutes of not receiving any response, she rested her hand on the door handle, twisting it left and right. But to no avail.

           "What are you doing?" a voice echoed through the corridor, startling her. She gasped, snapping her attention to her grandfather Sam, who stood behind her in anger. "That room is off limits," he snapped.

            "I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I just wanted to say hi to Azaya, I haven't seen her in years. I just wanted to catch up," she sighed. A look of sympathy flashed over him, but as quickly as it came, it went. The tear burning his gaze made him blink several times before replying.

          "No, now leave from there," he demanded, confused Milly nodded, slowly walking towards him. His gaze not once left her. Her gaze fell back on the door, holding a mystery she knew she had to uncover. This was her favorite cousin. She had to know why she wasn't allowed into the room. "Stay away from that door if you know what's good for you," he threatened once she was close enough. His words echoed through her mind as she descended the staircase leading back into the foyer. Her mind wondered as she walked towards the back door.

            "Ow," she mumbled, bumping into someone.

           "You okay, Milly?" Sam asked, a worried look on his face as he gazed down at Milly. She looked up at him in confusion.

            "Weren't you just upstairs?" She asked in confusion. Sam's eyes squatted in confusion, slowly shaking his head.

              "No, I've been out back gardening," he replied, showing her the gloves he had been holding onto. "Is something wrong?" he asked. The unsure look on her face said otherwise as she shook her head. Sam watched as she walked away quietly, staring off into space.

              "What did you do?" he asked once she was out of sight. A breathy sigh flowed through the air.

              "What makes you think I did something?" Lucian asked, appearing out for the shadows behind him. Sam glared over his shoulder at him, Lionel simply shrugged before replying "Fine, but there is a reason their parents kept her death from them, I'd suggest you keep it that way" he said before disappearing once again.

         Sam sighed, knowing he was not wrong, being what they were and what they knew. Sam knew it was best not to ask questions.

           "What's wrong with you?" Alex asked, watching his dumbfounded sister enter the kitchen, looking lost in thought.

            "Probably saw a ghost," Becky joked, not knowing how right she was. "Anyways, let's go exploring."

             "NO!!!!" Milly exclaimed, snapping out of her trance, both heads snapping in her direction. "I mean, why explore this old place when we can go on a tour of the town" Milly suggested, hoping they'd take the bait. Becky and Alex looked at her dumbfounded, but nodding in agreement anyway, a sigh of relief slipped past her lips. Something about this place made her feel uneasy as if something was going to happen. She wasn't sure what, but it felt wrong.