Don't you remember?

September 19th: A little Golden Key

Jake looks at all of us. His eyes are darker than I remember. His features are no longer soft the way they were when he was a child. He is no longer a child. I have not studied him this long since the final time we spoke. He places a large hand on Bellamy's shoulder. Bell looks so small near him. At least that has not changed.

We go back out to the truck, and I hear Jake scoff in disbelief.
"This piece of junk still works?" he chuckles.
"For the most part."Says Bell jingling the keys. He smiles softly. He always smiles softly. Jake takes shotgun making it awkwardly tight in the back seat. I remember this place being a lot more spacious. Lacey presses herself against the door, and I'm trapped in the middle. Eliza glances at Lacey every few seconds. If they're going to kill one another, I don't want to be caught in between.

"Now, where are we going?"Asks Jake. His eyes are on the swinging emerald charm.

"Home."Says Bellamy, and I feel my heart skip a beat. We're going back to our abandoned castle. The last place we were all together, before. . . .

Jake looks out the window avoiding looking at any of us for too long. He escaped this. Us. And now he's being pulled back in. The cars constant sputtering sound from the ancient engine fills the vacancy of our voices. No one dares to break this silence. I can't keep my eyes off of the emerald. It almost catches the light the same way his eyes did. The gleam and swirl of colors. It's mesmerizing. I wonder if the others see it too. How similar it is to his gaze. As we drive through the main street, I notice just how bleak this place has become to me. When we were younger and would run down these brick walks, everything seemed so colorful. But now even the pink and blues of the small shops that line the street seem faded into gray. Bellamy takes a turn up a road I forgot existed; it is the only road that runs alongside the impenetrable forest. As we go along, I begin to notice the little white flowers that are still in bloom all along the road and forest line. I have not been up this way since the last day. Bellamy stops momentarily as we come to the end of the long stretch of road. Before us lies a gigantic set of gates that are as old as the estate that they protect. He opens the car door and walks towards the gate. The rest of us remain still as he gently pushes open the gigantic gates. The white gravel moves under the wheels of the truck as we begin to ascend the long drive through the estate. This place has become foreign to me, but yet, nothing has changed. The ancient Ash trees grow in their coiling shapes, and the grass is still a shade of green indescribable in words. Upon the hill the mansion comes into sight; it looks far more decrepit than I remembered. Maybe that was all my imagination. There were few times in which I ever came here.

"I forgot what it looked like."Whispers Jake just barely audible. The once white pearly stones of the house have turned a stained gray-black color that looks as if the house itself is slowly fading from existence. Bellamy circles the truck around the crumbling fountain in the center of the drive, and we all pile out staring up at the gigantic home.

"Should we knock. . . ?"Asks Eliza. She stands on the first granite step staring dead ahead at the gigantic and intricately carved doors. In that moment, the doors swing open and there stands a vulture looking man. He is tall, thin, and dead terrifying.

"Sir Bringham, long time no see."Says Bellamy walking up to the man as if he is a familiar friend.

"Young Bellamy,"Nods Sir Bringham."I knew it would not be long before I saw you rowdy bunch once more." He looks to all of us, and something in his icy eyes reminds me of summers. There is a sadness in his gaze that I cannot ignore. He remembers all of us, and yet, I barely recall him. He steps aside and ushers us in. The place is sad but pristine. Nothing is out of place, just as I remember.
"I trust you remember where his room is located?"Asks Sir Bringham raising a gray eyebrow at Bellamy.
"I believe so."Bellamy says resting his hand on one of the intricately carved finials made of a dark wood. We begin up the steps slowly as they creek quietly under our light feet. The landing splits off in two directions and we take the stairwell to the left. The hall off of the steps is dimly lit and lined with ancient looking oil paintings. Each one of them is of different men all of similar face and expression. Every single one of them has black hair and swirling emerald eyes. As we all silently walk down the hallway, my eyes fall on a portrait different from the rest. A young man and woman are standing together in proper attire. Her gown is one of a queen's, and her eyes are as dark as the night sky and her hair is a soft auburn. The man beside her has the signature black hair and emerald eyes. She is holding a small child in her hands- no more than an infant. Ashland never spoke of his mother nor did his father. All we ever discovered was that she had died in an accident when he was very small. I can't tear my eyes from the woman; she has to be the most beautiful piece of art I have ever seen. Bellamy rests a hand on my shoulder making me realize that I have stopped at the portrait while the others had walked ahead.
"Do you know her name?"I ask quietly.
"Alethia,"He answers. "come, his room is at the end of the hall."

I nod and follow the others to the closed door at the very end of the long stretching hallway. The gathered dust is what first catches my attention, but the strange keyhole is the second. Jake reaches out and swipes a streak of dust with his pointer finger. 

"Him and his keys."Sighs Eliza sadly looking at the golden doorknob. 

"Jake, try the top of the door."Says Bellamy referencing to the thin outlying edge above the door. Jake reaches up moving his hand from side to side until a small gold key falls from the ledge onto the deep green carpet. He bends to pick it up and looks back at us.

"Who would like to?"He asks quietly holding the key out. Without thinking I reach out and take the small old key from his hand. I put my hand around the cold golden medal and slowly put the key in and turn until I hear a barely audible 'click'.