The Mystery Girl

Chapter 3: Reaching The Stone

I was curious now that nature gave me so many signs. But where should I start this? And another question was, WHEN should I go?
It was recommended for everyone to stay at home tonight.
Obviously, I'll never find empty roads like tonight on any other day. So, when all will stay at home, I will discover my way...

It was decided. Our mini lockdown birthday party alas got over at 12:30. It was already late. The family started leaving. Dad, mom and brother went to their house. I also left.

I reached my apartment at 1:30 am. It was a cramped apartment, and I stayed there because it was near my office. It was enough for a spinster to live alone. I turned on the lights. I sat for some time, observing the map. I decided, of it's nature that's brought me here, I will begin the path from my apartment itself.

I left the house at 2:30 am. I took a key of the house and sneaked out. I made sure no one should know about me going out at night. Not even anyone in the building. Because there were spies of my mom in the building and they would immediately report it to my mom.

I don't know why do ladies like to interrupt bachelor's life.

I started walking according to the map. The paths were quite old and creepy. I stayed in this area for the last 2 years but I never knew that such paths existed in my area. These paths didn't even exist on Google Maps. But, I could move from them. There were few people walking here and there before. But, I literally found no signs of life there. Other than the spider webs. Also, the spiders were big. I never liked spiders. I just stayed away from them. I then saw some rectangular frame fall over the ground.

Who would be here at such a lone place? I ran in that direction.

I alas reached the place. It was a dead end where there was nothing. At least some weird looking thing. There was none. I stood there in despair. Suddenly, I felt was turning around. But it wasn't me, it was a rectangular part of the ground where I was standing. I realized that if I stayed there I would start feeling dizzy. As I tried to come out of it, the ground tilted, and I came down slipping. Front of me, stood the rectangular frame, that was covered.

I sneezed, and the voice echoed all over the place.

I got off the old cloth cover. It was an old dusty painting. I wiped a little upper part of it with the cover itself. It became clear to me. But the face was still a little blur because of the dust. It was a painting of a Queen.

That wasn't a surprise, but the surprising thing was that her clothes were painted in shades of black. Queens are usually in golden shiny robes and dresses, right? Why a black lehenga? The only thing shining was the crown, which had become dull now, but I understood that it was variously coloured at one time.

But the clothes, they were black from the time the painting was made. She stood somewhat sideways, and kept her hand on her waist. Maybe as a style.
I tried scanning it on lens but I didn't have network. So, I clicked a picture of the painting and kept the photo as private.

Because no one in my family hesitated to take my phone and open any app in it. I kept my waterproof phone in my pocket.(I love to boast about it :)

I tried to see what was behind the painting, until I fell one floor down. I turned on my flashlight to see what was there. I never understand why does it become so dark when one is about to discover something.

Suddenly, a flash of light came and...

•••••

And yeah, I love to leave the end of the chapters on cliffhangers. Obviously that's the reason you, as readers come back to read.

So that's all for today, folks!
I'll be posting a spoiler for the next chapter on my channel as an edit. So, check out my channel, too.

Next chapter releases on Friday, until then,

Stay tuned!😊💖