Velvet Walls

Chap.11, The voice

That night, I have another strange dream. I was climbing through these tunnels, big enough for me to crawl through. Inside, they were normal drywall, painted the same yellow color as my childhood bedroom. I used them to travel to different rooms.

I wake up with a headache. I groan, I don't know why I drank so much last night. I never do. I guess I was just trying to distract myself from having a one-on-one conversation with Alistair. I have no problem talking with just Donivan. Though he definitely has that "older brother air" about him. They're both so well put together, there's just something about Alistair that's so...intimidating. I can't figure out why.

Delia told me that the whole family is going into town for a birthday today, so I have the house to myself until later tonight. I get up to make myself breakfast. I really need coffee. I love Sunday's. On Sundays, my family would always go to church in the mornings, so my room would get up early and make breakfast. Those were the only days we really had time to eat breakfast together. And on Saturdays, Eve wouldn't get up until it was time for lunch. Eve. I immediately reach for my phone to send her a text. I miss her so much. I hope that she's doing well without me, but I also hope she's thinking about me.

I have a few chores today. I don't expect they'll take long. But once I'm done with that, I have no idea what I'll do.

I go upstairs to eat, and everyone is already gone. I sit by the huge glass windows and drink my coffee. Its raining again today, so there's not much I can do outside.

I'm sitting eating lunch after I've finished with my chores. An idea pops into my head. I haven't really gotten to fully explore the house yet. There's still some rooms I've never been in. I don't want to be a snoop, but technically this is my house too. It's like having a maid. If her job entails taking care of the house, she should be able to see it's entirety. Plus, it's not like I'm going to touch anything. Putting up my dishes, I decide to start with the upstairs. I walk through the kitchen to the guest room. Inside, there's windows against the back and side walls. The bed is pushed against the back wall. The whole room is decorated in a lilac color, including light purple walls and an accent wall of floral wallpaper. It's soft and sweet looking.

I then open the door to Alistair's room. Unlike the other room, I step inside. I instantly feel a sense of unwelcome, like I shouldn't be here. His presence is heavy even when he isn't here. The room smells vaguely of the cologne he wears. The walls are a rich dark green, and all the furniture is dark wood or black. His desk has paperwork neatly organized. The shelves in his room hold a few books. I gently run my fingers over one of them, a book on finance. Figures. I walk over to his bed. It's big, for one person. His room is so organized. Also figures. I wonder how angry he'd be at me if he knew I'd been in here... I've left nothing out of place, but I get the feeling he'll still know. I leave the room.

There's a staircase out behind the living room I haven't been up yet. I climb it and find what I was expecting, an attic space. Although it is a nice attic. I go back down and make my way to the other part of the upstairs. There's a bathroom on the left side when you exit the secret library door. I ignore it and head into Adrijana and Susa's room. It's also really pretty. The walls are covered in a delicate light coral wallpaper. Their beds are on opposite walls, the one by the closet has the decorative white letters "Susa" above it. The other near the window, has a draped pale pink canopy over it. It's any young girl's dream room. Over the desk is a poster of Taylor swift. I smile and leave.

Next is Donivan's room. I feel my excitement build as I open the door. It's similar to Alistair's room, except the walls are dark blue and it's less organized. Overall it obviously belongs to Donivan. I vow to only take a peek in Mr. and Mrs. Dervishi's room. It's for sure the largest bedroom. The walls are a light blue color. Likely Delia's doing. It looks like a room fit for a king and queen.

I go back downstairs, and open the door to Miroslav's room. It's the smallest, and looks like the room of a typical pre-teen boys. There are plenty of sports posters on the walls. I'm about to head to the basement, but I hear something. A voice, similar to the one I heard last night. I whip my head around. No one's supposed to be home yet. Maybe it's a security guard...? But it sounded like a younger girl's voice. I don't hear anything else, so I just go downstairs. I walk over the the other end of the basement, by the big staircase. There's a room with a gym and a home theater inside. Of course, what mansion wouldn't have those things? I then look in Gijon and Ira's room. It's pretty fancy too, the walls are a beige color, and there's a large closet.

As I'm walking to Lorah's room, I swear I hear it again. Now it's coming from down here. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I thought last night it was just the wine, but...I don't know. Maybe it hasn't worn off yet? Doubtful. I shake my head. This house must just be driving me crazy. That's all. I'm not used to being in such a large, empty space all by myself. My mind is probably just filling in the silence with something familiar. I continue to Lorah's room, satisfied with that rationalization. Lorah's room is definitely decorated to her liking. The walls are a stormy blue, and it's decorated in a woodland theme. Her bed is surrounded by tall bookshelves. Out in the hallway, there's a staircase leading down to a door that I've never gone down. I try the door, but it won't budge. Just as I accept defeat, I hear the voice again! This time I'm sure I'm not imagining it. I bound up the stairs.

"Hello?"

No reply.

I continue to hear muffled talking. I'm certain it's coming from somewhere down here. I follow the sound until it leads me to the room with the velvet wall. The same place I heard the singing. What is going on?? The voice is still muffled and unintelligible. I realize it's the loudest near the velvet wall. I press my ear up to it. It sounds like someone is talking on the other side of it, but I know that's impossible.

"Hello..?"

The voice stops for a moment, then starts again. My throat feels dry.

"...Hello?" I try again, a little louder.

A beat, and then a young girl's voice replies: "Hello?"

I jump back. The hell..!?

I feel dizzy. All of my hairs shoot straight up like I've been shocked.

I don't hear the voice anymore. But I do hear everyone arriving home upstairs. That's odd...I could've sworn I wasn't down here for thar long. I shudder, shaking off the strange feeling and head upstairs.