Eyes of White

Chapter 5: Mysteries and Messages

The twins trailed Zania, whispering furiously on the way.

"Did you see how she changed the subject? It was like she didn't want us to go and look at the clock!" Penelope hissed.

"Yeah. And remember how she had to think about what the fourth room was? She lied!"

"Totally. And what about when she said how we aren't allowed to go onto the roof yet, but never the third floor? How does that even work?"

They entered the kitchen and Penelope remembered the door. "Zania, what does that black door outside lead to?"

"Which door, dear?"

"The black one. Is it a cellar?"

"Oh, no, as magnificent as this house is, I don't have a cellar."

"Then what's that door?"

At the same moment as Penelope asked this question, Zania dropped a metal pan on the floor and a huge shattering noise was heard, even though nothing actually broke. "When you've quite finished!" Zania spoke these words directly towards the pan.

Persephone tried a different approach. "Grandma, is there a floor below this one?"

"You'd expect so, wouldn't you?"

"That's not an answer."

"Oh, deary me, it's not, is it? Oh, call me Zania, not Grandma. I can't abide names like that." With that, they spoke no more on either of the subjects of lower floors and names.

"Zania, what time is it? Why didn't you tell us before?" Penelope folded her arms.

"I simply had no idea of the time at that point. It's over there, on the microwave." She pointed at the clock on the microwave. It was flashing red and the numbers read, 7143.

Zania walked over to it and slapped its top. The numbers flickered to green and read, 10:42.

"Why was it flashing like that?" Persephone asked.

Zania had to think of an answer before she said, "It's old and malfunctioning. I was... supposed to call the... the town's repairwoman, but my phone is malfunctioning as well."

As if agreeing with her, the phone started ringing insistently. The rings seemed to be shaping the words. 'Evil. Coming. Evil. Coming. Be. Aware. Evil. Coming,' over and over.

"They're all in place!" Zania shrieked inexplicably. "All four of them!"

The phone buzzed a little, like it was giving an apology, then fell silent. Zania smiled at the twins. "Would you like your chocolate iced?"

Persephone shook her head. "I don't like chocolate."

"Oh, that's a shame. I can flavour it in any way you would like. Just go and tell the cupboard what you would like, and open the doors."

Persephone walked over to the pantry and, feeling more than a little silly, she whispered, "Caramel, strawberry and vanilla flavouring, please."

The cupboard creaked and Persephone opened the doors. Everything seemed to be pushed back into the shadows except for three small vials, which were labeled Caramel flavour, Strawberry flavour and Vanilla flavour. Persephone picked them up cautiously and gave them to Zania. Zania smiled. "Thank you, dear. Penelope, what would you like?"

"Oh, um, just chocolate and vanilla, I guess."

"Roast chicken on a sandwich or just on a plate?"

"Plate," Penelope said firmly, while at the same time Persephone said, "Sandwich."

"Iced or hot?"

"Iced," both twins said at once.

"Here we are, lunch time." Zania set two overflowing plates in front of the twins.

Penelope still had something bugging her. "Zania, what does that door lead to? The black one?"

"Oh, you know, a room."

"You're very vague."

"Iced drinks!"

Delicious smells wafted from both the food and the drinks. They entered the twins' minds and their fast-moving brains skidded to a halt. The smells became the twins' favourite things: Penelope's, a thunderstorm, and Persephone's, a huge tidal wave. Breeze and waves wiped away their every thought, and when the thoughts returned, the thought about the door didn't return. Penelope had forgotten the door completely.

~~Yay for forgetting stuff! But, there's one thing you shouldn't forget, and that is to vote!~~