Afraid Of The Dark ✔️

16: Tears

Ida looked at Katya as if she'd just seen a ghost. She was silent. Katya sighed and started to regret telling her.

"I'm sorry Ida but I had to tell you. She was your sister too." Katya held onto her hand across the table.

Ida's expression was blank but she spoke. "I believe you. It sounds crazy but I believe you. I knew something was wrong when Elsa's death was announced but I was only twelve at the time so I wasn't sure. Dad was taken away by the police quickly and I didn't get a chance to speak to him. He was in prison for four years. Don't you remember?"

Katya couldn't remember. The only thing she could recall about her father leaving was her mother sending him away. "I don't."

"Well he was locked away for committing a crime. I presume murdering our sister was it." Ida looked disgusted. "Elsa is right though. The house you're talking about was our childhood home and thats why when I told Mum she forced me to get off the phone when I gave her your address. She said it brings back too many bad memories."

All of this was news to Katya. She knew there must have been a reason as to why she couldn't remember events in her childhood home and this must be why. Maybe moving here was a bad idea after all. She continued to tell Ida about everything else that Elsa had told her. Ida knew that their father had abused Katya but she didn't seem to know about him hurting Elsa too. She couldn't believe it when Katya mentioned about their father keeping Elsa locked in a cellar. Ida was clearly angry and upset.

"He must be an evil man. We're all better off without him. You said that Elsa told you that Jacob wasn't trust worthy? That's weird. Even a ghost thinks he's cheating." Ida managed a weak laugh.

Katya didn't feel like laughing. No one had told her that she had moved to a house a few yards away from where she grew up. A place where so many terrible things happened to her and her younger sister.

Neither of them spoke when finally Ida piped up. "It makes sense though. She wants revenge. Jacob is close to you like dad was and because of what dad did to her she wants to hurt Jacob. Maybe even before he can hurt you."

What she said sounded reasonable. It did make sense. But how was Elsa going to get revenge exactly? Katya had a feeling that it was going to taste bittersweet.

                              ***

The sun was still shining when the sisters decided to take an early evening stroll. Katya wanted to show Ida the abandoned house which was now known as their abandoned childhood home. Ida was intrigued to see what it looked like after all these years and was even hoping that she might catch a glimpse of Elsa. The trouble was Katya didn't know where she had gone.

Before they entered Katya checked the time on her phone. It was six o'clock. She quickly mentioned to Ida that the time moved faster in the house which Ida found interesting.

The door was open slightly so Katya pushed it slowly. Ida grabbed onto her hand as they walked through the threshold and into the house. It seemed like an ordinary home and something about it was different. Katya could sense it. There was no evil presence here. Where had it gone?

Ida walked into the lounge and looked around. "Everything is different. Perhaps someone brought it after we left. They didn't do a very good job with the decor though." She ran a hand across the dusty wall and then wiped it across her jeans.

Katya was confused. Why did it feel like this? Where was Elsa? She ran upstairs and down the corridor to the room at the end where she had her last encounter with her.

"Kat wait!" Ida called after her but she didn't stop.

When she reached the room it was spotless. There were no longer any of her old toys scattered across the floor. The only object in the room was the wardrobe. She opened it up and found Elsa's veil at the bottom. Her heart pounded in her chest as she began to feel dizzy.

Ida ran into the room and joined Katya at the wardrobe. She saw Katya holding a small veil in her hands. "That's Elsa's."

Katya looked at Ida. "This veil? You remember it?" She held it out.

"Yes. She used to love to dress up." Ida took the veil and started to cry.

Katya embraced her sister as she wept. She understood how upsetting this must all be for her. Katya felt a few tears well up as she buried her face into Ida's shoulder. They both stood crying in the empty shell of a home which sheltered them for many of their younger years. A place that was supposed to protect them and keep them safe which instead harboured terrifying and evil experiences.

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