On their way back to Greenside , all Shona could see was lots and lots of land. There was green grass everywhere and not that many houses. As they turned right onto a private drive way , she immediately dispised the place. The house was quite big and it was all marble and strong wood. She felt confused as she never had a memory of ever seeing this house before. But then she wouldn't remember it anyway .Atleast that's what her mother would say.
"Shona,welcome home darling", her mother smiled.
"Aww wow it's big",she replied very plainly while her mother picked on her lack of enthusiasm.
"Don't you like it?"
"It's just not what i expected."
"Oh yes ,well dear its not like you remember anyway!"
Kate replied hurridly as she signalled Charles to take her bags inside.
As they walked into the house Shona was quite shocked on how the inside contradicted with the view outside. The colours looked warm and welcoming but Shona couldn't help but feel like the hospital was more comforting. The house looked very old age. She walked around looking at portraits hung on the wall and laughed at how ridiculous the people's outfits and poses looked. As she stood there , one painting caught her attention, it was a painting of a white chubby doll falling holding a wilted red rose. She turned away and then noticed a garden of flowers outside.
"Mother,I'm going to see that garden!"
She rushed out like a little child running towards a playground. There was nothing she loved more than the smell of fresh flowers or the smell of dust when the first few raindrops hit the ground. She ran towards the compelling garden smelling but not touching any of the flowers. She walked around humming that same song she could never remember the words of then she saw a little girl sitting in middle of garden ,crying while looking down .
"Hey,are you okay?"she asked getting closer to the little girl.
"That bird is dead,"she sobbed while her finger pointed to the bird.
"I'm sorry,was it yours?"
"No,I was just watching it,"she said as she looked up and stared Shona into the eyes without blinking then smiled.
"Will you pick it up?"
"Yes of course......."she replied as she felt a cold chill at the glance of the child.
"Emily, but you can call me Lily,"she smiled again.
"Okay,Lily I'll pick it up for you."
Shona smiled at the little girl and walked past her towards the lifeless bird . She knelt down and felt the damp soil on the ground run through her warm fingers. As she picked up the sparrow she suddenly felt sad and grief. She felt sorry for the little girl and hoped the bird wasn't dead.
"You alright there?"
Shona heard a masculine voice which made her jump a little and throw the bird on the ground.
"Ah yes",she turned around to see a figure of a man.
"I was just looking at the flowers then I saw the bird and....."
She realised she had forgotten all about Lily when she went for the bird. But when she looked where the little girl was, there was nothing.She looked everywhere but couldn't find her.
"And......?",the man asked.
"Well,she is gone but she was sad because the bird was dead."
"That bird seems pretty much alive to me ma'am."the man said as he pointed at the swallow which was walking about searching for food before it flew towards him and landed on his shoulder.
"That can't be! Its dead!"
"Well dead birds don't fly. This one does so it's alive."
"But I saw it,it was dead! or its probably a different one," she said with so much confusion in her voice.
Shona didn't understand what happened. She had touched it and she saw it dead. But here it was,the same bird flying about. The man then saw how confused she was and offered to take her inside the house.
********************************************
Three hours later
"So did you tell her?"
"No , why would I?she'll think she's going mad."
"So instead you want her to think that she raised a fucking bird from the dead? Aww but wait the bird wasn't even dead to begin with! Come on George use that brain for once!"
Charles said pointing at his own head.
" You know there aren't any little girls here, not even within 10 miles of us."
"So what? She just had her meds anyway. You are so full of it Charles, don't even know what father sees in you!"
"He sees a real man not...."
"Not what? Say it Charles,"he said as he stood up clenching his fists.
"A useless,worthless mistake,brother!"
"So you're brothers?"
Everyone suddenly turned silent and looked at Shona.
"Honey,didn't realise you were awake!"Kate said calmly
"I just woke up. So you're brothers yet you look and sound nothing alike interesting,"she smiled as she took a sit at the dining table.
"Baby,this is George,my half brother. He's harmless and he stays in the barn like a caveman,"he said as he looked at him with so much hate hidden under his smile.
"I like caveman. Nice to meet you!" He nodded back.
"So who's Emily?"
Suddenly the whole house became silent but this time the silence was so heavy.
"Why do you ask?" Charles asked with a very hostile tone.
"I met her earlier,"she said.
"Its impossible, there's no way!"Kate muttered as she bit her nails.
"Okay,you guys are freaking me out. She was in the garden,ginger hair,cute green eyes really pale though..."
"She disappeared a year ago", George said as he stood up and left for his barn.
