glass angel

Roses

after finding the next clue aphmau and aaron decided that they should wait until the weekend to look for the next and to call it a night. both teenagers saying their goodnights as aaron walked away from her grand home, travis on his shoulders who was waving at zane who was perched on aphmaus hip, tired eyes falling shut. Smiling softly aphmau walked into her home.

Time skip to the next weekend cuz I'm lazy.

Aphmau sat on her bed next to Aaron looking down at the writing on the photos they had found.

"roses hidden behind thin glass?..."

She muttered to herself in confusion. Aaron failing to answer her questioning, deep in his own thoughts.

"roses...thin glass....frames of brass....frames..."

He wondered aloud before his eyes widened in realization.

"a painting..."

"hu?"

Aphmau asked. Aaron turned his head towards her and spoke.

"think about it, roses hidden behind thin glass. Why would she say anything about actual roses?they would have been long gone by the time anyone found her notes."

"I guess so... So it would have to be something else?... How do we even know its a painting?"

" because, the note says that the roses are loosely held by frames of brass, and what in this house is made of brass?"

"...Everything?"

"I meant that sounds like it could hold something we would be able to cut away."

" I know! But all of the paintings I the house are boarded by wood, not brass."

She said, defeat in her voice.

"not every painting"

Came a soft voice from the doorway. The two teens turned to look at the owner of the voice only to find Raquel standing there.

"Raquel? What are you doing here?"

The young girl asked.

" I came when I realized you were looking for the photos in this house"

" wait...How did you know we were looking for the photos?"

"I was talking to your mother on the phone when she mentioned you were looking for a clock dating back for quite a while. I realized you had found the note in Zane's box just as I did many years ago."

"you found it?"

"yes... I never could figure it out though.. But thankfully you did, those boys deserve to be happy"

Raquel smiled. A saddened look on her face.

" anyway"

She piped pulling herself away from her thoughts.

"the only paintings that had brass frames are in the safe in the basement. Here this is the code."

She said, passing a piece of paper to the teens before wishing them good luck and leaving the room.

The couple looked at one another before making their way down to the basement. Sat in the far corner of the basement sat a large safe lined in various shades of blue and green gems. Typing the code into the safe it opened. Inside lay a single painting of a vase full beautiful red roses. Their vibrant green leaves bright again the beautifully painted background. But amounts the roses lay a single withered rose. Brown petals dangling feebly from the shriveled stem, clinging to what remained.

Nodding to Aaron she passed him a pair of scissors motioning to the decaying rose. Taking the scissors he jammed them through the ancient painting hitting something behind it. He continued to cut away at the painting when suddenly a small golden key fell from the hole.

Picking it up the teens noticed that paper had been tied to it with a vibrant green ribbon.

" we found it" aphmau whispered in awe. "We really found it"

pulling the ribbon away they read the writing.

' in your hands you hold a key,

A precious item that belongs to me

In the east wing where the wind does sing,

Tucked beneath the queen and king

A small white box lay in silks wrap,

A small doorway rests in back,

The key you possess will show you the way

But will not take form in the light of day'

Both teens look at each other, wide smiles plastered on their faces. Thay were one step closer.

So I kinda forgot about this for a while.... Oops.