Mysteries of the Past

Chapter 1- On the Way

Greens. Trees. Plains.

Addison Marie Carson-Ryland observed the scenery from her parents' car. She, her little brother and her parents were on their way to her grandmother's old house, which was found on the outskirts of towns. With her thoughts scattered everywhere and her head moving to the beat of the song she was listening to, it wasn't a surprise when she jumped slightly when the car slowed to a stop.

'Finally' she thought. It was an 8-hour drive on the way to the old house so they had to take a stop to refill the fuel and rest for a little bit. She looked out the window and saw a store. Upon seeing it, she went out the car and started to make her way towards the store.

"Mom! I'm gonna go buy us some food!" Addison called out to her mom who was with her father helping him refill the gas.

"Sure,dear! Do you have enough money?" Mrs. Tatiana Ryland replied. Addison nodded her head.

"Take your brother with you!" her mom added.

"Come on, kid." Addison said to her 8-year-old little brother, Ryder, who was playing the game Snake on her dad's old phone. As they made on their way to the store, Addison's thoughts went back to the time when she and her family heard the news of her grandmother's sudden death.

It was around five in the afternoon on a normal Sunday morning. The Ryland family were on their way to a formal charity event, which starts at six, that her father was invited in, being a business man and all, it seemed like it is a requirement for her father and his family (them) to come.

"The dress looks lovely on you, dear. Stop pulling it." Mrs. Ryland said to her daughter while fixing her husband's tie.

"But mom, it's too short" Addison complained, still tugging the dress that her mother bought for her because she thought it was 'nice', down. 'Why were these things even invented? They bring no use to me, no use at all', she thought.

"Deal with it." Her mom scolded her while flattening her father's tie. "Now," she paused "I wonder where is that brother of yours?"

"I'm here, mom." Ryder replied, running to the hallway with a large stain on his polo shirt.

"Look at the large stain! Why do you always stain your shirts? Well, it's good that I have an extra one for you. Here, wear this." Mrs. Ryland said, dressing Ryder up. After doing so, she stood up, straightening her dress and grabbing Mr. Ryland's arm.

"Okay, we're ready to go."

Just as they were out the house. Addison heard the house phone ringing.

"Mom! The phone's ringing, I'm just gonna answer it for a bit, it might be important." Addison said, running over to the phone.

"Okay, dear. Just hurry a little bit or we're gonna be late." Her mom replied.

"Hello? Who is this?" Addison answered the phone.

As Mrs. Ryland waited in the car, she wondered what was taking Addison so long. Looking out, she saw the front door open and her daughter running to the car.

"Finally, I wa-" Mrs. Ryland was cut off when she saw her daughter's pale face.

"What happened, dear? Who was on the phone?" She asked her daughter.

"Grandma died, mom. I just spoke on the phone with Mrs. Oak. She said it was so sudden, she died in her sleep, mom." Her daughter replied.

"What?!" Shocked, Mrs. Ryland turned to her husband who was wearing the same expression as she is. They immediately went out the car, cancelled the event and called in other relatives. It seemed like everyone had heard of the news. Mr. Christian Ryland then started to call Mrs. Oak, the housekeeper again to gain more information regarding his mother-in-law.

It seemed that the death was really sudden and shocking. The doctors had said that she had been perfectly healthy when she died. It was really a rare case. The doctors cannot find any traces or causes of her sudden death. It was a mystery. It seemed like his mother-in-law had already known she was going to die sooner or later. She already made her last wishes and the inheritance. One of her last wishes was to be buried right next to her husband, which was in their backyard.

Upon knowing her last wish, Mr. Ryland immediately called in their relatives again to inform them when and where the funeral would be held.

After doing so, Mr. Ryland put the phone down and looked at his family, sighing he gathered them all in his arms and whispered "Pack your bags, we're going back to grandma's house."

"Addie! Addie!" Addison heard her little brother say while tugging her hand. She was immediately pulled back into reality.

"Come on, you've been standing by the door for a couple of minutes already. Hurry, I want food."

"Yeah, yeah, let's go buy something to eat then, kid." Addison replied, grabbing a basket near the counter and making her way to the food section of the store.

A few minutes later, well more than a few minutes later, after deciding which snack bar to buy- she decided to buy both-Addison and her brother went up to the counter to pay.

"Good afternoon! That will be a total of 15.75 dollars." The woman behind the counter said with a smile.

"Here" Addison said giving the money, smiling back.

"I received an exact amount of 15.75." The woman said as Addison waited her things to be put in a plastic bag.

"Ryder, stop playing with the displays" Addison scolded her brother.

"No no, it's okay. Here." The woman handed Ryder the toy he was playing with. Addison started to protest, but the woman insisted.

"Thank-" Ryder paused. This made Addison stared down at him.

"You okay?" Addison asked.

"Uh, I'm fine." Her little brother replied.

"Anyways, come on we gotta hurry up to reach to grandma's." She told him.

"Oh, are you visiting somewhere here?" The woman asked.

"Oh yes, we're visiting by the outskirts for our grandmother's funeral" Addison replied with a sad smile on her face. All of the sudden the woman's smiling face dropped and her hand shot up, grasping Addison's arm tightly.

"You have to be careful of everything in that place. You must learn to not stoop around, girl. There are things that are meant to be hidden. But if you do" The woman paused and with wild eyes, started smirking. "Set me free." She said in a low and raspy voice.

"Let me go!" Addison said, horrified. As soon as she managed to take her arm out of the woman's grasp, Addison grabbed her brother's hand and the stuff she payed and marched out of the store where her parents are waiting in the car.

"Addie! What did she mean by that?" Ryder asked, looking up at her with wide eyes. Addison's face softened as soon as she saw this.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing little bro. Come on, let's go back."

As soon as they went back to the car, her mother asked "Everything alright?"

Without hesitation, Addison replied.

"Yes."