A Criminally Haunted Love

Chapter 6 week 1 day 4

Pov change: bold
Thoughts: (bold and encircled)
Journal entries: bold and italics
Dream sequences: bold and underlined

                      Zoey pov
When she woke up, she yawned and turned over on her side and saw that Mal was already awake.
"How long have you been awake?" She asked, and chuckled when Mal jumped a little. (I didn't mean to startle him, but that was adorable as well as funny)
"Not long, how long have you been awake?" Mal returned the question.
"A couple of seconds ago." She answered.
"Come on, let's get dressed." Mal said, getting out from under the covers and standing up.
"Fine." She sighed out, and got out of bed.
"You're not a morning person are you?" Mal asked her, while she got clothes for the day.
"No, not really." She replied, walking behind the folding screen.
"Why aren't you a morning person?" Mal asked.
"I don't know, I guess I just don't like waking up early, you can come back here isn't." She said. (Is it just me or is he acting a little strange) she felt hands on her back, then felt those hands lace up the corset she was holding onto.
"Still don't know how you can wear these." Mal said, as she turned around and saw him walk to the other side of the folding screen, she rolled her eyes and finished getting ready.
"I don't want to wear these corsets but I have to." She said, as she walked to towards Mal, Mal didn't say anything he just walked behind the folding screen. She brushed and braided her hair while she waited for Mal, when Mal walked out from behind the folding screen she just stared at him. (He's handsome)
"What are you staring at?" Mal asked her, she blushed at being caught.
"Nothing." She lied, grabbing the video cameras, handed one of them to Mal and walked towards the door, before she could open the door Mal placed a hand on it, keeping the door shut.
"For nothing, you sure are acting like it's something." Mal said, and she blushed harder.
"It's nothing." She repeated, Mal stared at her then grinned and let go of the door.
"Ok." Mal replied, she stared at him unbelievably. (He doesn't believe me, does he) they left the room, and as they walked towards the kitchen they heard whimpering and running feet. But as they passed by the sitting room they heard a girl scream please don't kill him, then there was silence, then an ear-splitting scream. She jumped and grabbed hold of Mal's hand.
"Let's go." Mal said, she nodded her head and they walked faster to the kitchen. During breakfast they didn't say anything, afterwards as they walked back to their room, she held Mal's hand and Mal didn't say anything about it. He only just squeezed her hand, she didn't let go of Mal's hand until theywere inside their room.
"I guess we're reading just the journals today?" She asked, and Mal just nodded his head. (He doesn't have much to say today, is he ok) she grabbed the journals and gave Mal the journal he was reading from, and sat down on the couch.
"Go ahead." Mal said sitting down next to her, she nodded her head and opened the journal.
      April 5th 1905,
This morning after breakfast daddy told me to go to his office, so I did and not long after I arrived daddy walked in. I asked him what he wanted to talk about, instead of answering me, he asked me if I knew that my mom talked to him last night about me not marrying Mike, then he asked me if I wanted to marry Mal. I told daddy I didn't know mom was going to talk to you about the arranged marriage, then I asked daddy if I said that I wanted to marry Mal, would he call the wedding off between Mike and I, so I could marry Mal. Daddy hesitated before answering, he said that no I would still be marrying Mike, I nodded my head and started to walk towards the door but stopped when daddy said princess....he hasn't called me princess in a long time. I turned around and daddy told me that Mike is the better choice of the two brothers, I asked how he was the better choice, daddy said that Mike was good to me and he wasn't a criminal. I told daddy that Mike has made fun of my hidden rooms, and when I showed him and Mal the nursery, he asked why I was showing them the nursery. I said that it would eventually be a nursery again, then Mike asked why would we want children. Then I told daddy that Mike lied about his multiple personality disorder, daddy's eyes widdened then he asked me how I found out about Mike's multiple personality disorder, I told him that Mal told me about it. Daddy then said that I could leave and that he would talk to Mike, I left the office and began walking around the mansion, not really thinking of a room I wanted to go to. Eventually I found myself outside next to the stables where we kept the horses. Mal, Mike and Matthew were there as well, Mike was the first one to notice that I was there....well Mal noticed I was there first but he acted like he didn't. Anyway when Matthew realized I was there he apologized for not noticing I was there earlier, then he asked why I was out here. I accepted his apology then I told him that I was going horseback riding. I walked inside the stable and saw that one of the gardeners was feeding some of the horses, I asked him if he could saddle up one of the horses, he nodded his head and got one of the horses saddled up. I was about to get on the horse when I saw Mike standing next to me, I asked him what he wanted. Mike said that his father and Mal went back inside the mansion but he wanted to see if he could keep me company, I thought about it for a second but I said ok. After we were on our horses we left the stables and rode around the grounds...it was pleasant until Mike said that he thought that Mal liked me, but he didn't know why....what was there to like about me. I didn't answer him, I just rode back to the stables, gave the gardener the reigns and ran to the hedge maze, I laid on the bench and cried. I don't know how long I was out there for, but when I decided to go back inside it was dark and I couldn't see, that is until I saw a small glow heading towards me....it was Mal and he was holding a lantern. He said there you are, why are you out here, everyone's looking for you. I told him to take a seat. When he was sitting next to me, I told him what happened that afternoon, afterwards he growled, sat the lantern on the ground and grabbed my chin softly but firmly. He said that he liked me because I understood him, I was interesting, I was funny, I was beautiful. I asked him if there was anything else, he chuckled and kissed me. Then he said there was but we would be sitting on that bench forever if he said anything else, I smiled and he smiled back as well as letting go of my chin, then I looked up at the sky. After a couple of minutes I asked Mal if he would help me find a constellation, at first he said no but after I begged a couple of times, he agreed. After a couple of minutes he said he found one, I asked where, he grabbed my chin again and pointed my face towards where he found the constellation. When I found it I said that he found Orion's belt, he said I know and let go of my chin. Mal grabbed the lantern and stood up, I asked him what he was doing, he said that everyone was still looking for me so we had to go, I nodded my head and stood up. I think he noticed that I was still a little upset because he pulled me to his chest and whispered into my ear that he was sorry that his brother was an idiot, then he kissed my cheek and my hand and led us out of the hedge maze. He let go of my hand when we saw everyone standing on the porch, when daddy saw me, he pulled me into a tight hug and asked Mal where he found me. Mal said that he found me in a small section of the garden that wasn't visible from inside the house and was difficult to find outside. Daddy asked me why I decided to go hide, I pointed at Mike, daddy asked why, I just shook my head and pulled out of the hug. Mom said to daddy to leave me alone and that she would take me to the kitchen, then she told Mal that he could come with us and he did. Mom cooked me something to eat since all the cooks left for the night. After I finished eating, she asked me what Mike do to make me hide the entire day, mom hugged me and said that she was going to have a talk with Mike and left the kitchen after I explained what happened earlier. I asked Mal if he wanted to go to the playground room, he looked at me in confusion but nodded his head. When were inside the room I sat down on one of the swings while Mal sat on the one next to me. I held out my hand and he grabbed it, we spent what felt like hours sitting on those swings and holding hands, eventually Mal stood up and pulled me up with him. He said that it was getting late and it would look suspicious if we both looked like we haven't slept, I blushed and nodded my head, we left the room and went to our separate bedrooms.
    April 6th 1905,
I spent the entire day with Mal, he asked if we could go down to the dungeon. I giggled and said we could, then I led him to the kitchen, the cooks ignored us, they all knew about the dungeon since it was located in the kitchen. While we walked Mal asked how long the dungeon was and if it was just the one hallway, I said that the dungeon was several miles long and that it was just the one hallway. By the time I answered all his questions about the dungeon we had reached the end of it and I told him so. He smirked and pulled me to him then he kissed me....this kiss was unlike all the others, it was more intense. When the kiss ended the dungeon didn't have a slight chill to it anymore and my skin felt like it was on fire. And I could tell that Mal was affected as well because I....well I could feel it, his reaction to the kiss made me blush, which made him laugh and give me an unapologetic apology. After he placed a kiss on my neck, he took a step back, a few minutes later we headed back to the kitchen. And from what the cooks told us, we spent the entire day down there because it was time for dinner. During dinner daddy asked me where Mal and I have been all day, I told him that Mal wanted to explore the dungeon and I made sure he didn't accidentally lock himself in a cell. Daddy raised an eyebrow at me but didn't say anything.....after dinner I thought about asking Mal to come to my bedroom but I decided against it.
   April 7th 1905,
Daddy made me spend the entire day with Mike and we spent it in the third floor sitting room. The first thing he did was apologize for making fun of my hidden rooms, then he apologized for suggesting that we weren't going to have children, then he apologized for what he said the other day. I asked him why and I guess he understood that my question was for all that he said. He went into a long explanation of how he didn't understand the purposes of the hidden rooms, that since he never thought of children he assumed that I never thought of having children, then he apologized again for the other day. Mike said that I have plenty of likable qualities, just that he thought that Mal wouldn't be interested in any of them. I asked him what are my likeable qualities and what he said actually made me smile....I'll make this clear I do not hate Mike, I even like him but I do not love him. Mike asked if he was forgiven, I said yes, then he asked if he could have a second at the marriage proposal. I asked what he meant by that, he said that he hasn't been the best fiancee but he wanted to be if I could give him another chance. I said I don't know I thought thought to myself that he never had the one chance. Mike said that we'll be getting married anyway, I didn't say anything I just nodded my head and left the room, I spent the rest of the day with my mom.
She closed the journal with a shaky breath, and looked at Mal who was almost as pale as she was. (Is he ok...but then again I probably don't look much better)
"Are you ok?" She asked Mal, who suddenly shook his head.
"Yeah, why?" Mal asked her.
"You're as pale as I am." She said.
"I'm fine, just a lot of information to take in." Mal replied quickly, then opened the journal in his hands and began to read aloud.
     April 5th 1905,
Today Thomas took Zoey up to his office probably to talk and I spent most of the day roaming around the mansion, that is until father and Mike found me and dragged me to the stables. I asked why we were out here, father said something about spending sometime as a family....well that was plan until Zoey arrived. She said she was going horseback riding and went inside the stables, I was going to join her but father stopped me. He said it was about time that Mike spent some time with Zoey, honestly father acts like Zoey never spends anytime with Mike. Anyway father led me Thomas's study and Thomas was there, I asked what this was about, Thomas said it was about Zoey. I asked what about her, father said that I should leave Zoey alone, I asked why, he said that I wasn't the one marrying Zoey, it should be Mike she should be spending more time with. Before I could say anything Thomas said that we only want what's best for Zoey, I said that dictating who she spends her time with isn't what's best for her. I walked to the door but Thomas called me back, I turned around and waited for him to start talking. He asked me if I wanted to marry Zoey, I said that you wouldn't allow it even if I said yes and left the room. I walked down to the sitting room on the first floor and Cora was there. She asked me why I wasn't with Zoey, I told her my father stopped me, she asked if Thomas talked to me. I said yes and he asked me if I wanted to marry Zoey, I told him that even if I said yes, he wouldn't allow it. Cora said that she'll talk to him some more, not long after dinner was ready and I knew something was wrong when everyone except for Zoey was at the dinner table, it didn't help that Mike looked guilty about something. Almost halfway through dinner I stood up, father asked what I was doing, I ignored him and asked Mike what did he do, and his guilty expression worsened. Thomas asked what did I mean, I said that Zoey and Mike spent the afternoon together, now Zoey isn't here and Mike is here with a guilty expression on his face. Then I turned back to Mike and asked him again what did he do, he reluctantly said he might have said the wrong thing and now Zoey might be upset. I told him, he was an idiot and that I was going to search for her and left the room, I noticed that everyone was following me, I decided to go look in the hedge maze. Luckily I was able to find her there but it looked like she was crying and I knew it had something to do with it. I sat down next to her and Zoey told me what happened and I was so so angry at Mike. After I calmed her down she looked up at the sky and I continued to look at her. Suddenly Zoey looked at me and asked me to help her find a constellation. At first I said no, but after she asked me again, I told her I'd help. It took a couple of minutes but I found one and a few minutes after I showed Zoey the constellation, we left the hedge maze holding hands. We let go of each others hands when we saw everyone on the porch and Zoey's father pulled her into a hug and Thomas asked me where I found her. I lied about where I found her, then he asked her why she disappeared all day, she just pointed at Mike. Thomas looked at me curiously then slightly glared at Mike, Cora took Zoey to the kitchen and I went with them. Not long after Zoey explained what happened earlier to her mom, Cora left. Then not long after that Zoey asked me to come to the playground room with her, I was confused as to why she wanted to go there but I nodded my head yes. Once inside, Zoey sat down on one of the swings and I sat down on the one next to hers, she held out her hand and I grabbed it. We spent what felt like hours holding hands but I knew that if we stayed there all night everyone would be suspicious if we both looked like we didn't sleep so I stood up, making her stand up as well. She asked why and after I told her why, she blushed but nodded her head then we left the room and went to our separate bedrooms.
      April 6th 1905,
I asked Zoey if we could explore the dungeon, she giggled and said we could. While we walked down in the dungeon, I asked her question after question about the dungeon and I could tell she was happy to answer all of them. I didn't realize we reached the end of the dungeon until Zoey said so, I suddenly realized that we were several miles away from the house, so I did what I've been wanting to do since this relationship began....I kissed her...I mean I've kissed her before but this was more intense and long. When the kiss ended I saw that I got the reaction that I wanted from Zoey.....her eyes were filled with lust and her skin was warm like she was running a fever. When she blushed I realized she wasn't the only one affected by the kiss, I chuckled and though I wasn't sorry I apologized and kissed her on the neck and took a step back. A couple minutes later we walked back towards the kitchen, when we were back in the kitchen one of the cooks said it was time for dinner so we headed for the dining room. During dinner Thomas asked Zoey where she was all day, she said that she was helping me explore the dungeon. Thomas raised an eyebrow, Cora smiled a little, father glared at me slightly and Mike looked a little upset but nobody said anything, after dinner everyone went to bed and I could tell that Zoey wanted to ask me something but she didn't....I wonder what she wanted to ask.
     April 7th 1905,
Thomas made Zoey spend the day with Mike, Thomas asked me to spend the day with him, since I knew I couldn't refuse I nodded my head. He led me to his office, once inside the office and the door was closed, we both sat down. After a minute of silence he told me that last night Cora asked him to call off the wedding between Zoey and Mike, he asked me if I wanted to marry his daughter, I gave him the same answer I gave him yesterday. Thomas frowned and said that he only wanted what was best for his daughter and he thought that Mike would be what's best for Zoey, I asked him why he thought that Mike would be good for her. He said that Mike would be good to her, I said that Mike has made her cry on multiple occasions and had lied to her, Thomas said that he had talked to Mike. I rolled my eyes and asked if that the only thing he wanted to talk to me about was me not marrying Zoey and why Mike was, before he could answer I  left the room. I walked past Mike on my way to the first floor, I was going to ignore him but he stopped me, I growled out what he wanted. He told me to leave Zoey alone, and I snapped I wasn't going to let this weak idiot tell me what to do. So I pushed Mike against the wall and growled out that he nor any of his weak personalities are going to tell me what to do. And that if Zoey wanted to spend time with me then she could, I left after that and spent the rest of the day outside.
She watched Mal close the journal, then look at her in confusion.
"What?" She asked. (Do I have something on my face)
"Why are you crying?" Mal asked her, confused she touched her face and realized her cheeks and eyes were wet.
"I don't know." She replied, she was lying and she knew it was a bad attempt at it because Mal didn't look convinced.
"Is it because of these journals?" Mal asked her, she only looked away from him.
"You do remember that they are not us right?" Mal asked.
"I know they're not us, I don't know why these journal entries upset me." She replied, looking back at Mal.
"Are you sure?" Mal asked, she nodded her head. (Is he worried)
"Let's get something to eat then." Mal said, standing up and held out his hand to her, she grabbed it and Mal pulled her up. She placed the journals on the dresser and they left the room, as soon as they left the room they heard running footsteps, and she moved closer to Mal. As they walked past the sitting room they heard a girl scream don't kill him, then there was silence, then the girl screamed.
"Let's go." She said, and started to pull Mal foreword. (I guess he agrees with me because I'm not having much trouble dragging him to the kitchen)
"I hope you don't mind a quick dinner." She said, listening to the noises coming from outside the kitchen. (Is this what Cora meant when she said Matthew and Thomas were going to get restless the further we read into these journals)
"I don't mind." Mal answered her, she nodded her head, not five minutes later they were eating dinner.
"I'll wash the dishes in the morning." Mal said after they finished eating. She didn't say anything, just walked towards the door and immediately grabbed Mal's hand, when he looked at her questioningly she blushed. (Hey you offered.....but I probably am holding his hand too much) Mal smirked and led them out of the kitchen, while they walked she tried to ignore the increasingly growing cold room, and she could tell Mal was too. Once they were inside their room she let go of Mal's hand. (He almost looks disappointed, does he like it when I hold his hand, why would he)
"Should we talk about what happened in those journals?" She asked Mal.
"I would."
She and Mal looked over towards the window and saw the ghost of Cora Flores standing there.
"Is there something you've got to tell us?" Mal asked.
"Yes there is." Cora answered.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Sit down." Cora said, nodding towards the couch.
"Do you now know why I'm helping you two?" Cora asked, once they were sitting down.
"It's because you helped them right?" She asked, looking at the journals, Cora nodded her head.
"You do know we're not them?" Mal asked.
"I know, but unlike the others who have visited this place and died here....I sensed something was special about you two, and I'm not talkingabout the fact you two aren't in a relationship or have the same names as my daughter and the fiancee I approved of." Cora answered.
"Why did Thomas hate Mal?" She asked.
"My husband didn't hate him." Cora answered.
"Could've fooled me." Mal said.
"I know it probably seems like that would be the case, but Thomas did like Mal, but not long after we told the three there was going to be an arranged marriage, Matthew told us that Mal had a record and didn't want to marry. So my dear husband decided to spare Zoey the heartbreak and forced a marriage between her and Mike. Of course I've seen the way my daughter and Mal acted with each other and I knew they would be happy together." Cora answered.
"What I don't get is why Thomas and Matthew are attacking us if they know that we have the same names as well you know?" Mal asked.
"That's a hard question to answer since I haven't talked to either....since the incident. I'm guessing it's because you remind them of the two." Cora said.
"Was it that way with everyone that has died here?" She asked.
"No, everyone that died here, died because of Thomas and Matthew's anger." Cora answered.
"What were they angry about?" Mal asked.
"I don't know." Cora answered.
"That doesn't give us much to go on." She said.
"I'm sorry....I've got to go, I'll talk to you two later...good luck." Cora said, then Cora disappeared.
"I think we should go to bed." She whispered, and walked over to the dresser next to the closet.
"Mal, come help me?" She asked, from behind the folding screen....though she phrased it like a question, they both knew it wasn't really a question. Mal walked behind the folding screen and she could feel Mal watch her take off her dress, once the dress was off she felt Mal's hands untieing the laces of the corset. When Mal untied the last lace, he walked back to the other side of the folding screen. A couple minutes later she walked out from behind the folding screen a couple minutes later she walked out from behind the folding screen. She watched Mal walk back to the other side of the folding screen, while she walked over to the bed and got in. Once Mal was in the, they turned off the lamps and fell asleep, that night she had at least to her an odd dream.
Mal and here were walking to the kitchen when Mal stopped them,she looked at Mal confused when he took her by the hand and led them to the secret ballroom .
"What's going on?" She asked.
"I thought it would be relaxing...so would you like to dance?" Mal whispered the question in her ear, she paused before nodding her head slowly. Mal smirked and pulled her closer to him and they started to dance, a few minutes later they slowed to a stop. She looked at Mal questioningly, Mal just smirked and started to kiss her neck.
                    Mike pic
"This is just getting worse and worse." He mumbled, but he knew Vito, Manitoba, Svetlana and Chester heard him anyway.
"We won't be able to make them leave Mike, honestly despite how scared she might be. Zoey probably doesn't want to leave the mansion until the three weeks are up.....you should now know how much she's been wanting to explore this mansion." Manitoba said.
"I know.....I just hope we don't end up dead by the time these three weeks are up." He replied.
"Well if they follow Cora's advice they might actually survive this Vito said.
"You idiot that might just be what kills them and us." Chester ranted.
"What do you mean Chester?" Svetlana asked.
"I wouldn't take advice from a ghost." Chester answered.
"You've got a point there Chester....what do you think Mike?" Manitoba asked.
"I think the only thing we can do is wait and see what happens, as well as hope Cora isn't dangerous." He answered. (Zoey and Mal had better be careful....but they probably already know that).