Tales of Gloomsdale #1: The Hidden Attic

Chapter Thirteen

"Glooming?" Matt gasped in shock. "Like, the name of the town?"

"Well, it's actually Gloomsdale," Willow corrected.

"Close enough," Matt muttered. "I heard we were in the same house as the people who used to live here. The founders of this town. I thought it was just a myth, but now... I can see that it's all true."

"I heard the same thing," Willow admitted, to his surprise. "The woman who married the mayor, and how her daughter was shunned and left behind." Willow picked up the picture of Adrienne, observing her smiling face with slight sadness. "I can't believe we're looking at her. Adrienne had a different last name, probably. I'm not surprised she didn't want to take her stepfather's last name. She hated him, but even aside from that, it sounds so... well, gloomy."

"Why didn't you tell me you knew before?" Matt demanded.

"Why didn't you?" Willow retorted.

"I... I guess I didn't want to believe it," Matt admitted. "I couldn't believe something so crazy."

"Neither did I," Willow agreed. "I thought Genevieve and Talia were just messing with me. They said I was just like Adrienne, since my parents don't have time for me either and my brother hates me as well..."

"Oh, come on. That's not true," Matt insisted, feeling slightly guilty. "You shouldn't listen to those jerks. Besides, she's gone now. Just like everyone else who used to live here." He decided not to mention the part that he had heard about how her spirit sitll haunted the house.

Willow lowered her head. "I know it sounds weird, but going through these letters.... I can't help but think about how lucky I am."

"Lucky?" Matt asked.

"I always felt sorry for myself," Willow explained. "I wanted things to go back to the way they were, back when Mom was around. I didn't want a new mom and brother, especially when they didn't even look like me."

"Really?" Matt stared at her in surprise, shocked that his usually upbeat stepsister had the same feelings as him. "You don't act like it. You always seem so happy and cheerful. Not like me. My mom always tells me I should be more like you, instead of complaining all the time."

"Somebody had to be strong, after Mom left," Willow explained. "I had to take care of Dad, even though I was sad as well. I forced myself to smile and be happy for him. Then he married somebody else, and I felt he was just replacing Mom... and when I found out I was going to have a new brother, I felt he was replacing me as well." Willow picked up a letter. "But I didn't let it show. I tried to be move on, like he would want me to."

"Wow. I... I didn't know," Matt admitted, remembering how he had felt almost the same way.

"Reading these letters, though..." Willow observed Adrienne's messy handwriting. "I realize how good I have it. I mean, your mom is really nice, and my dad has mostly gotten over my mom leaving. Adrienne had it way worse. Her dad was forced to leave after everyone shunned him, her stepdad was a jerk, her mother barely had time for her, and her brothers and sisters hated her as well for being different. You can be a jerk sometimes, but you're not nearly as bad as they seemed to be."

"Uh... thanks?" Matt replied uncertainly.

"At least Hazel didn't seem to hate her," Willow said, scanning the letter. "She was the only one Adrienne was related to aside from Daniel, I think. And the only other girl. But they all ended up leaving her... after she ran away. Maybe she got brought back... and they just left her afterwards? That's even worse."

"It doesn't matter. They're all gone now," Matt assured.

"Not entirely. Adrienne's portrait and picture were still in the attic," Willow reminded.