Stories by me

Treasure Hunt

Although it was almost midnight, I heard the sounds of footsteps. I opened the door, expecting to see the gate keeper asking for water. It wasn't him.

Dressed in a fancy red coat, a woman in her forties stood at the doorstep, holding her hand out for me to shake.

"I'm Meredith Foster, a friend of your grandmother. You must be Jasmine." she implied.

"Yes, I am indeed Jasmine. Jasmine Rose. Please join me inside!" I suggested, shaking her hand.

She followed me into the massive mansion, that had once belonged to a very successful businessman, whom my great- great grandparents supported financially. It was given to us after his passing.

"I apologize for the litter. I didn't expect you to come until two days later." I blushed.

"That's alright, I came as soon as I heard. What is it that we're looking for, may I ask?" she demanded, in her thick British accent.

"My sister didn't tell you?" I asked.
She shook her head in response.
"Well, there's a room in this mansion, that has valuable family treasures. As the eldest amongst three siblings, it is my responsibility to find the room my grandmother left for us to unearth. This is the note that she left behind." I explained.

Meredith took the small piece of paper and read aloud,"Fifty percent off on all products, only at Michael's supermarket."
Frowning, she looked at me questioningly.

"Oh! I am so terribly sorry. That must be one of the pamphlets I found outside. I must have left the note somewhere here..." I ranted.

She followed me into the ball room, her eyes wandering to all the paintings and antique pieces that were still in mint condition.

"I must have left it in the kitchen," I muttered, gesturing her to follow me.

She followed me into the dark room. As she walked in further, I took the opportunity to swing the iron gate of the jail cell closed.
Flicking on the lights, I allowed the so-called Meredith to realize what had just happened.

"Jasmine? What is the meaning of this?" she shrieked in disgust.

"You aren't Meredith." I proclaimed.

Her eyes widened and for a moment  it looked like she wanted to argue, but I shot her a look and she decided otherwise.

"How did you know?" the woman squeaked.

"Well, first of all it should take much longer than a few hours to travel halfway across the world." I reasoned. "Although I have never met her, I know Meredith is French, and not British. But most of all, and the reason we called her is because she knows this house inside out. She would never follow me into the jail room thinking it was the kitchen."

The woman plopped on the floor, knowing her plan had failed.

"Who are you and what do you want?" I questioned.

"I'm a friend- or rather I used to be friends with your mother. As soon as I heard that you called Meredith, whom I knew you hadn't met before; to help you find the jewels, I rushed to come before she did, in hopes of keeping the jewels to myself!" she confessed, her voice trembling in rage. "Now I can't have them because of you."

"I have to stop you there. What jewels?" I asked, frowning.

"The jewels left in this mansion by your ancestors you foolish girl. Isn't that the treasure you are looking for?" she said.

"Oh no!" my laughter echoed through the bare room.

"Those jewels have been sold by our family years ago! We never let it get to the press. The treasure room I am looking for is filled with family heirlooms and scriptures about our heritage. Decades of knowledge is filled in that one room." I explained, amusement evident on my face.

The woman in the red coat stayed in that cell for the rest of the night while I waited for the real Meredith Foster, to come and help me find the 'treasure room' in this mansion full of secrets.