Towards the Farthest Side: A Collection Of Sci-Fi Short Stories And Novelettes

"Abomination Part 13"

The back gate was as deserted as what old Greta told me. The back lawn of the manor was filled with patches of people who are either too drunk or too absorbed in their own groups of gossipers to care to notice a strange woman in an ill-fitting teacup dress crash the party.

The night is deep already and the partygoers becoming too carefree to spot an intruder. Even the guards have let their guards down in exchange for merrymaking.

It's as if destiny wanted me to break in.

I entered the back door of the kitchen and found it empty, the dishwasher basin filled with used plates and glasses, and the counters soiled by tidbits and crumbs of the foods they have served the guests.

Whoever are the kitchen personnel they sure don't know how to clean up after them.

I entered a door that leads to the same living room where Maybel previously entertained me when I first came here. Guests have taken the liberty of occupying most of the seats, while some are standing on corners sipping wine and chatting. I tried my best to avoid having close contact with them, any questioning might give me away.

All I need to do is find the master bedroom, find that document and get out.

I was about to take the wide ornated staircase when I heard Maybel's upset voice descending from it. I need to turn around to avoid her seeing my face. She was talking to a tall lean man in white sleeves and black pants, barking orders at him.

"When they start clearing up, all you have to do is sweep the house and try again. If it's the same, then that's when you start with our last resort." The tall man nodded.

"Remember, no one must be inside. I don't want to have some murder case thrown at my lap, it's the last thing I need before I leave this godforsaken country." Then when the tall man confirmed that he understood everything, she waved him off.

Maybel joined in with some of her guests and her mood changed from sullen to merry. I took the stairs and searched for the room.

The master bedroom was not that hard to locate, for from all of the rooms in the second floor it is the only one having double-doors. I tried turning the knob but found it locked. I was thinking of shoving it open when I heard steady footsteps echoing in the hallway. I hurriedly searched for a place to hide and decided to get inside a nearby room. The inside of the room was dark but the light reflected from the outside of the windows showed two couples naked and making love on the bed. Luckily they were too busy to pay me any mind, or perhaps too drunk.

I waited for the footsteps outside the hallway to pass before I took a peek to see who it was. It was the tall man that Maybel previously conversed with. He opened the mster bedroom with a key and went inside. I know this is my only chance to get inside that room, but I need to be silent. I took my shoes off and the carpetted floor muffled my steps.

I went outside the hallway and approached the master bedroom door, slowly I turned the knob and opened the door and fortunately it didn't made any sound.

Inside, the tall man didn't open the lights, instead he is using a small flashlight as he rummage to drawers and cabinets. I crouched behind a wooden table and watched the tall man do his business, praying he doesn't locate the same document I am looking for first.

Finally the man sighed and shook his head as if defeated, then he went to the door and exited the room, I heard the door click when the man locked it from the outside. I could hear his shoes tap on each step outside as he walk away.

Now is the time.

I hurriedly went to search for the document through the same drawers and cabinets the tall man previously looked into. But there was none that resembled the document I was looking for.

I tried to recall for details on that flash of memory I had in the hospital, but none would fit for a clue. I was growing desperate when I notice the only odd thing inside the room. I notice a large old photo of mine hanging on a wall. Philip might have ordered not to take it down, even after my death, even after he remarried to Maybel.

The picture looked dusty, not something that could catch one's eyes in an instant. I dragged a chair and reached for it. I noticed that behind the picture there was a latch. I tried turning latch and a piece of parchment fell off.

My hands were trembling when I reached for it. This must be the document I was looking for.

I scanned the writings with only the lamps outside as my source of light.

The writing reads:

"The Last Will of Philip Terona and Loren Terona."