Twisted

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

                        Leah's POV

    Arriving at the my house, the Blank's mansion, I walked to the main house and opened the door. Silence, that's what I met as usual. The house is decorated quite plainly. All white. Deprived of life.  That's how it became four years ago. It's quite smile how everything can change in just manner of seconds or time. At one moment your filled with joy and life, the next yiu know its like you have been deprived of all that. Like it never existed to begin with.

      Sighing, I fixed my expression and took a breath in. 'We cant have things left like this after all' I thought with a smile, "DAD, SIS, I'M BACK! ANYONE HOME? AUNT MAGGIE!?" I yelled out knowing full well that they were all inside, but was met with yet another silence. Sighing, I was about to walk upstairs to my room when,...

     "Third mistress, is that you?" 'Ahh here we go.' I thought,  hearing the familiar voice. "When did you get back?" She continued, "I thought you will be out for a while with your friends to celebrate your coming back." Aunt Maggie, a kind elderly woman in her late seventies, our head maid said with a serene smile, walking slowly with her wooden sticks in hand, towards where I was rooted.

   I quickly walked to her and held her hand that was not holding the cane, to provide extra support for her. "How was the house while I was away?" I asked as we walked towards the stairs.

    "It's the usual." She shook her head. "I tell you, without you around, this place is deprived of life, like the cemetery. "

    I couldn't even argue with her, because I knew what she said was no joke. "How have Dad and Sis been?" I inquired.

       She shook her head again, "They haven't met or talked to each other even ones since you left. I'm telling you, this two still act like four years ago after the incident. I don't think they have left that moment self!" She was shaking in anger, and so was her cane.

     'Sigh, it's really the usual.' "Aunt Maggie, why don't I go get on the cook for tonight's welcome back meal and you go get some rest?" I suggested.

      "No third mistress, we can't have that. You just came back, so go freshen up and ill take care of the rest." Aunt Maggie said with a warm smile.

    "But," "No! Don't even try to have a debate with me right now. Nothing you say will change my mind. " She said strongly, making me swallow back my words of denial, thanking her with a resigned smile, I watched her turn around to head to the kitchen. They number of people who worked here had been reduced four years ago after the incident. Like Aunt Maggie said, it's like time had stop moving from then on. I then head to my room ones I was sure she had reached the kitchen safely.

...

   We are now eating our dinner, Aunt Maggie said that the dessert made by the chest will be the highlight of the meal. I can't wait to try it. Our chef is really good at making mouth watering desserts.

        Dad, as usual, is wearing his black suit. One will wonder if he was having a business meal or a family one. Everything about him has turned business. He rarely pays attention to the things at home or talk to us. Before I would have been sad about it but we end up getting used to it. Especially at this moment it's an advantage. All right, time to get my plan into action! Operation GT, which stands for Get Ticket, is a go! 'Its a nice name, don't you think?' I thought, ayya, I really need to stop talking to myself every time.

    "Dad!" I called out, ones I saw he was done with his meal and was about to ask his personal assistant, Williams, who was standing three feet behind him, to hand him one of his files, might I say, it's regarding his work like always! It is always weird eating in Front of Mr Williams! I mean, who can stand someone watching you while you eat? That's awkward from both sides! 'Stop! I'm getting side tracked here.

      "So there's this exhibition being held by Madam Éclair next month, one of my favourite work by ****, 'AMORE' is going to be showcased on that day! I was wondering if you can help me get an invitation, since it's invite only!" I said sweetly, all in one breath and showing my puppy eyes.

     Dad looked at me, I increased the power of my puppy eyes, 'fall for my puppy eyes! Agree to my request!' I chanted.

     "Hhh OK, all right. You can stop before you end up straining your eyes, Leah." Dad agreed to my request with a smile.

       "Yay! Thank you dad! I know I can always count on you!" I yelled out excited, almost falling of my chair.

      "Stop being giddy now and sit down properly. " He said which I obediently followed, even though I was still gilled with energy and humming.

    Now that I've got the go for the invite,  the dessert special is all the more looking appetising! Aunt Maggie, I think it's time to being it out. I thought to myself looking at Aunt Maggie, and like usual, she read right through me and sent a younger made beside her off to it.

     While I was excitedly waiting for the dessert, dad said, dampening my previous mood.

     "What about you, Celia? What do you plan on doing with your time!? Don't tell me you are planning on locking yourself in your room again?!" Dad yelled out furiously, making my sister, Celia, who had been quite as a mouse since the beginning of the meal with her head lowered to flinch.

    "I'm..." Celia said nervously with her head still bent, so softly that one could barely hear her voice.

      "Your what?!" Dad interrupted her. "Take a look at you sister!" He yelled pointing at me.

     "Dad..." I tried to intervene but Dad didn't even stop.

      "Don't stop me Leah!" He stared at me angrily. "You always protect her in all situations! Take a look at your sister Leah!" Dad pointed at Celia, " Don't you see, you have made her think that ita OK to stay in her room all the time! You might think your looking out for her by standing up for her but all your doing is giving her the chance to keep on being this way! Your mother will not be happyto see her like this!"

     "Then what should I do?!" I yelled back, loosing control of my emotions. "Do you think I also like seeing my sister being like this?! No dad, I don't!" Tears were starting to block my vision. "I have tried dad! I have tried to keep this family in tact ever since mom and big sis left us! Do you know how hard it is? Do you know what I've been through...?"

     "Leah,..." Celia called out lowly.

      "No!" I stopped her, "Let me talk. I am sick and tired of always trying to make things work out between you and dad! Do you think your the only ones hurt?" I asked them but left no chance for an answer. "Hah!" I scoffed. "I had to experience living life without having my mother and sister with me since I was thirteen for crying out loud! I didn't even know much about the world then! But do you see me crying or blaming the world for my misfortunes? Nooo, because I know that they are people who have experience worse! I'm happy that they both get to finally rest from the pains of their illness. I'm happy that I still have a father and sister. Why do you all want us to stay in the past? Do you think I don't love them as much as you both do?" I stood up from my seat.

     "All the warmth in this house left along with them! This place no longer feel like how it used to anymore! Do you think they'll be happy seeing us like this?" I asked them. "All I want is to get our family back together! Like how ut used to be! I missed how we laughed as we have our meals, how we make joked with each other, our teasing, our family picnics every weekend. I missed having them here! This place is so lifeless without them!" I wiped my tears that had start to fall before I knew it.

   "If you will both excuse me, I have an assignment that needs to be completed. " I left the room without looking back, too afraid to see their reaction properly and too angry to try and reconcile, and went back to my room. I flopped on my bed and lwt my tears flow.