[Eerie music]
Jordan: Welcome to "Where is Araminta Green?" where I, Jordan Thompson, investigate the disappearance of my classmate and neighbor. Two years ago, I was the last person to see Araminta, and the mystery of her whereabouts just won't leave my mind. In this second part of the third episode, I'm... following an old lady, who may be a witch, into her cottage for tea.
[Witchy laughter]
Jordan: Yeah, I know... I may be about to be turned into a pig or something. This feels like a cut scene from Spirited Away—which does make me wonder if Araminta was a Studio Ghibli fan... I mean, her cat is named Kiki, just like a certain witch with a delivery service. But, regardless, I can't back down now. I've come too far. I've already tumbled down the rabbit hole at this point, finding myself in Wonderland.
***
[Cat meows]
Jordan: I guess if you say it's alright to go in, Kiki, then I'll trust your judgment.
Jordan (narrating): Kiki waits for me on the front porch while the lady has already gone inside. Her corgi, Cyril, sits in the doorway, wagging his tail in excitement about seeing new people.
Old lady (voice coming from further away): Are you coming, boy? I'll bring out the nice china for you, the ones with roses on them. And the crispiest ginger snaps.
Jordan: I'll be right there!
[Wind chimes]
Jordan (narrating): The melodic song from chimes dancing in the wind bellows while I walk through the blossoming garden and meet up with Kiki on the porch. Together, we venture inside the mysterious cabin. Cyril stays in his spot, allowing us to enter without objection. I take the opportunity to give the good boy a quick head pat.
[Dog barks happily]
Jordan (narrating): I don't know what I expected from the interior of the cottage, but whatever my expectations were, they're exceeded. And I mean literally exceeded, as the content of several cottages seems to be crammed into this one. Overflowing bookshelves line every wall, sprinkled with a thin layer of dust. The beams in the ceiling seem to bend inward, weighted down by a burden of dried flowers and herbs. On tables, chairs, and every other available surface are knick-knacks of all kinds: porcelain figures, pine cones stuck together into artwork and half-finished embroidery. It's not exactly messy, because except for the dust sprinkling, the place is spot-free, but it's certainly cluttered.
[Clatter from things being moved]
Jordan (narrating): I displace some books off a chair to be able to sit down. Kiki places herself atop a folded-up quilt in a corner, which almost seems tailor-made to be a cat bed. She's soon rolled up into a ball, lost in peaceful slumber. I wonder if that may have been her usual sleeping spot when she visited the cottage with Araminta.
[Clatter from porcelain]
Old Lady: Here you go, son. It's my own brew; rose petals and chamomile.
[Liquid being poured]
Jordan: Thank you. It looks delicious.
Jordan (narrating): The tea is light pink and has a floral fragrance, reminding me of perfume. Next to the teapot is a platter filled with intricately shaped ginger snaps, each one bearing a complicated geometric pattern. Thin layers of frosting complete the masterpieces, making them appear as if covered in spider webs. I hold one up to the light, admiring the craft with awe.
Old lady: [snickers] They're for eating, not just looking at. Have one. I certainly will!
[Cookie crumbles]
YOU ARE READING
Where Is Araminta Green? (ONC 2024)
Mystery / ThrillerAraminta was called a witch. Now she's gone. And the last person who saw her is looking for answers. *** A Good Girl's Guide To Murder x Wednesday *** Two years ago, Araminta Green disappeared. Her neighbor and classmate Jordan Thompson was the last...
