Truth be told (Short story)

Truth be Told

My shoulders fall as I walk up the cobblestone steps—the wind whipping at my face and blowing my red hair in every direction. I let out a huff as I push against the giant oak doors to open my childhood home. I wipe the salty tears from my puffy eyes. It all just feels like a bad dream. A dream I should be waking up from, but never will.

The change in atmosphere is evident. With my father gone the house seems almost haunted. His furniture is primarily covered in white cloth to keep the dust off. The moving company called this morning to confirm the address and time for pick up tomorrow.

I walk through the entryway with a checkerboard print and up the ancient staircase with carved creatures watching your every move. I sweep my hand on the railing as I travel up the creaking steps, and as I lift my hand I notice the dust that covered my hand almost completely. I shake my head and wipe my hand onto my black jersey hoping to clean off most of the dust. With each step toward the study, my heart starts to race. The second nature of knocking instantly comes to mind as I lift my hand and my eyes widen at the movement as I drop my hand to my side and turn the golden handle on the door.

I open the door and enter the sun-soaked room. Cobwebs glitter in the sunlight against the window frame. I scan the room. Images of my father standing on a ladder and reaching for books that were as high as the ceiling, or pacing up and down with a notebook in hand, and lastly him looking out the window with his infamous golden monocle and when he turned around it was as if his worried expression was glued to his face. All just memories now for me to keep.

My eyes travel to the giant desk on the other side of the room. Papers scattered, ink and quills laying around, and in the middle of the chaos was his most prized possession, the golden monocle and next to it a letter with my name written with blotchy black ink on top. I slowly walk closer, eyeing the letter with 'Cassy Ashburry' right in front of me.

I pick up the letter with a shaky hand and move to open it.

Dear Cassy,

If you're reading this I assume that I have been unsuccessful in my research. I had been trying for years to understand the golden monocle which had somehow just shown up on my doorstep one day. I know how you hated it and presumed it was the reason for our bad luck, and somehow you were right.

I cannot openly speak about it where anyone could read it, but I will say this. The stories of the monocle were all true. Use it well.

All my love,

Your Father.

I close the letter. My mind spinning. My thoughts run wild as I try to remember the stories my father used to tell me about the monocle. Stories of ancient worlds being left vulnerable if you looked through the glass. It showed the truth beyond what the mortal eye could see. I return my gaze to the messy table and my eyes linger on the monocle. I let the paper fall back onto the table and grab the monocle off of the table. It feels ancient to the touch. Golden from the constant rubbing against flesh. Most likely how my father used to run it through his fingers before lifting it to his golden brown eye. He never left the house without it.

I lifted the ring closer to my face to inspect it. Flipping it over and back again. One side had an 'X' carved into it and the other side was left blank. Must be to mark the side you should use. I thought to myself as I folded it into my palm and held it firmly in place. I let out a sigh as I look back at the letter and then opened my hand.

"The stories of the monocle were all true," I speak into the empty space. I move over to the wide window that covers half the room from the floor to the ceiling. My stomach turns as a shaky breath escapes me. I take the monocle and place it in front of my honey-golden eye as I shut the other.

I instantly jump in shock. The monocle fell to the plum carpet as I held a hand to my chest to try and steady my racing heart. My eyes are wide open. I turn my gaze to the floor hurrying to find the golden ring in the fluffy carpet. Panic sets in me as I drop to the floor. I run my fingers through the thick carpet and feel the metal slap against my fingers. I grab it off the carpet and instantly jump up to where I stood only moments earlier.

"Let's try this again." I blurt out to myself. Trying to convince myself that it was all part of the plan. I place the monocle with the side of the 'X' against my cheek and brace myself as I open one eye to look through it.

The once windy blue sky was now grey. The whole world has flipped. I watch through the cracked window at the burning forest in the distance. Buildings fall to dust right in front of my eyes. People rummage through the streets, limping or crawling their way through the streets. I squint at the people below. They look... different.

My eyes finally adjust to the smoky view and something looks eerie. The thing looking back at me isn't human. Its eyes are gone. Black holes fill those spots, blood dripping from the sockets. Its jaw is locked in a set scream. I take a step to the left, not expecting it to see me, but its whole head moves wherever my body moves.

I grab the monocle from my eye. My chest rises and falls at an alarming speed. Can it see me when I can't see it? Questions flood my mind. I look back at the desk overflowing with papers.

This was what he saw! This was why he never wanted me to be in his study. Realisation hits and regret instantly fills my heart. I glance at the monocle in my hand, turning it over so that the unmarked side was now in my sight.

"There is always a balance." I think back to the words my mother spoke before she died.

I press the unmarked side into my cheek as I set the monocle on my eye. A bright light filled my vision. I closed my eyes and quickly opened them again to adjust to the light. This time an entirely different view comes into sight.

Bright cherry trees fill the forest below. People dance around below, singing and cheering. Their clothes are clean and their cheeks are a blushing pink. Everyone looks angelic. Even the sky and all the colours of the world look brighter. Golden dragons fill the sky.

I smile at the difference from the other world I saw only minutes before. A loud bang at the door makes me jump. I grab the monocle from my eye. "Open up!" Someone shouts from the other side of the door. The monocle sat in my palm as the realisation hit me.

Someone was after this. That's why he disappeared. That was why we buried an empty casket today. Someone knew and was out to get them.

This wasn't just some prized possession, this could make or break worlds. And here I stand inches from someone who might be out to kill me. Now I have to choose, do I ignore my gut and open the door or use my father's research and this monocle to find him and bring him back to stop whatever the hell might still be coming?

Before my mind could even process the decision I opened the window and climbed onto the roof.

This is where the journey begins.