How Death Felt

2. Adventurous? No.

Okay, here goes nothing.

"Um, papa?" I called out to my father, who seemed very concentrated on the book in his hand. He put the book down and took off his glasses the moment he heard me call out to him.

"Oh, Lilly? Sit down." He said this as he pulled out one of the chairs.

I sat down. Feeling a bit nervous, I fidgeted with the hem of my dress. It was rare for him to be so available and attentive, and I couldn't help but wonder what he had in mind.

"Papa, I just wanted to quickly thank you for asking Katy for an entry to the manor. It means a lot to me," I said, not knowing what else to add.

He just stared at my face.

Say Something?

His gaze became more intense, almost as if he were searching for something in my eyes. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

"Hm."

That's it?

I remained seated, eagerly waiting for him to continue speaking.

Nope. This is useless.

I awkwardly got up before muttering a small 'Thanks again'.

As I turned to leave the room, Papa's voice stopped me in my tracks. "There's something you should know about the manor," he said, his tone filled with hesitation. Curiosity piqued, I slowly turned back to face him, hoping for an explanation.

"Yeah?" I asked, my voice filled with anticipation.

"They say there's something seriously wrong with the manor. Something supernatural."

"You believe that?" I asked in a mocking tone.

Papa's face grew serious as he nodded. "I've heard stories from the townsfolk, tales of strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena. It's up to you whether you believe them or not, but I thought you should be aware."

So you care about me?

My eyes grew softer as I stared at him.

"I'll be very careful, papa. Thank you for the heads-up."

He just nodded and went back to reading.

****

"You ready?" Katy asked as she played with her hair.

"As ready as I will ever be. I replied, trying to sound confident but feeling a flutter of nerves in my stomach. Katy grinned mischievously and grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the door. "Let's go then; adventure awaits!" she exclaimed, her excitement contagious. Taking a deep breath, I stepped outside, ready to face whatever strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena awaited us in the town.

"Mrs. Advone," Katy said, referring to my mom. "We will be leaving now."

My mom looked up from her cooking and smiled warmly at us. "Have fun, you two. And remember, safety first." I nodded, appreciating her concern.

"So, Lilly, are you excited?" Kate asked as we walked down the street.

"Definitely.' I replied.

The manor was located on the west coast, near a large cliff. Its gothic architecture stood out against the vibrant blue sky, giving it an eerie yet captivating presence. I was lucky enough to see the exterior, but that was all.

Wonder what's inside.

"How long will we be walking?" I asked Katy, as I had never measured the distance from our house to the manor.