Chapter 9. Mischievous
[ Everett ]
Clover's eyes roll to the back of her head and her hand slips from the ladder. My words get caught in my throat as I reach out to grasp for her falling figure, and out of pure luck, I manage to catch her hand. However, my luck doesn't strain very far, for when I catch her palm, her body falls into the ladder and she slams her head against one of the steps of the metal stairs. Surely she will be unconscious for more than a few minutes. Accompanied by her dead weight hanging off of the ladder and forcing me down, I yank her up and drape my arm around her waist while her head rolls atop my shoulder. With a sigh of relief, I continue the journey down the dark tunnel of mystery with Clover in my arms.
Fainting of all things.
What had her all upset?
Once we reach the bottom, I carefully step down from the ladder and swing Clover's legs up to catch them with my other arm. Heaving the girl up to secure her in my arms, I carry her towards a wooden chair that sits in the dim lighting of the hatch. Easily, I lay her down on the chair and rest her head against the back of it.
"You're okay..." I whisper to her, but mainly to myself.
Her wavy hair ends at the tips of her shoulders and part of her locks are scattered across her face. Delicately, I pull back the loose strands and tuck them behind her ear. She's lucky she didn't get too badly injured. Figuring the place is stocked with the essentials; food, water, weaponry - I decide to search the hatch and find something to eat, or maybe some information about the original owner. Through the dim lit room, I grope my way around until coming across a light switch.
Light engulfs the room immediately. There are two wooden desks on either side of the main living room area that are piled with papers, photos, folders, and boxes. There is one torn up jacket lying on the chair that Clover is on, and three closed doors leading to other mysteries. My feet lead me to door number one, which reveals a bathroom. Door number two is locked, and door number three is a shabby bedroom with only a small bed and a closet.
Disappointed that the man who lived here isn't a secret agent or a ninja of some extravagant kind, I huff and remember the two desks piled high with papers.
The first desk is mainly folders full of background checks on everyone living out here; except for me, for some reason. I frown at the thought, knowing everyone's reason for being out here it because of me. The sole reason they live out here, I mentally swear never to reveal to Clover. Continuing my investigation, I happen to come across my missing item; my missing letter.
"Holy..." I murmur to myself, my heart beginning to pulse rapidly.
How does he have this?
I swallow the growing lump in my throat when gazing down at the neatly handwritten letter from my younger sister, Eliza. She left this letter behind for my family and I before she died of cancer. Her death hurt my brother the most, to the point of... well, I would rather forget what he got himself into. It hurt to read the letter over again, but I kept it with me as a reminder of her.
My eyes graze over my little sister's words for the hundredth time in the past four years.
"Dear family,
By now, I'm assuming I'm dead. I told you all not to worry about me, but you all couldn't resist, huh? Mama, I'm sorry to leave you so suddenly after Papa's death, but please don't lose hope; please don't let this ruin you. I'll be looking out for you guys once I'm gone, and I wish the best for you all. Evan and Everett, please don't abandon Mama once I'm gone, please look after her. You two are my best friends, and I'll miss you more than you'd think. I love you all, and I can't stress enough - I'll always be here with you. Don't forget about me, yeah? I'll meet with you again eventually, but until then... Live your lives. Evan, before I am gone, I'd like to tell you that your brains are going to get you far; Everett, your kindness will bring you so many amazing things; Mama, your love will bring joy to everyone you'll cross paths with. Now I know you're all probably mentally making fun of my cheesy confessions and moral words, but know that I love you. Don't worry about me, I'll be going to a better place...
With Love,
Eliza. "
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Trespassing | ongoing
Mystery / Thriller❝You're just going to give up?❞ ❝There's a difference between giving up and knowing when to stop trying.❞ * * * When Clover Garner strays away from her campsite during her family's annual camping trip expedition, she ends up lost in the...
