WITHOUT

The Worst Move Ever.

The three sat quietly at first, not a word spoken.  Ready for action, or not.    Then....Geer slumped in a armchair close by. Bell opted for a chair close to Ethan. Ethan sat leaning against an armrest, one thought on his mind (He wasn't staying in the armchair!) He'd leave the small room, he'd do whatever he had to do. He wouldn't allow himself to fall for any of Geer's distractingly techniques (He often did. Geer was very good, at stopping him from whatever he thought he was about to do!)

But, not this time!

Ethan wanted to be where I was. That was the goal, the plan. Final.

~**~

Olive walked up to the front-door, looked for a door-bell. There wasn't one, but there was a large-ish door-knocker.      Ethan's mother felt that would make too much noise, but she did want whoever lived within the mansion walls, behind the grand front-door - To know, Rex and herself were there (Waiting to have the front-door opened)

At first, she really didn't want to do this. Rex, Ethan's step-dad definitely did.    

"Woman of mine, he's been pronounced dead.    But.....Something.   Just doesn't sit with me.    The boy's a cockroach.   Stamp on him, spray him with fancy-whatever's.   He always comes back.   And smarter than ever!.."          Rex had nodded.       "The other parents are going.      Your ex wants to check things out.   We should "check" things out too!    What's the worse we'll find Olive?      You were right, I was not....The boy really did die..."           Olive stared at her husband, crossed her self (Gave her husband a frown)

The front-door opened, they were shown in. Olive's head start to spin, her eyes drank the foyer in - The tiled floors, the white walls, the wooden finishings. This first part of the mansion was simple, furnished with a centre table and flowers, a display chair against a wall, a coat rank to the opposite wall. The servant stood to the side with an expectant look.

Rex took the lead, introduce himself and Olive...Asked to see who owned the home. Olive gave the servant a polite smile, looked around once more....Felt a hand pull her down a hallway.     A quick glance to Rex told her she was still with him, her eyes still kept taking her surroundings in. She also felt a prickly poke in her gut.     Her family had once been witch hunters (That was a few hundred years ago now, but some vibes never leave the bloodlines)

The servant showed them to a small but still intriguing "greeting lounge", they were offered seats....And informed "Mrs Clark would see them soon!.."         Once alone again, Rex commented he didn't like the paleness of the help....."Just something not right there, Olive.    White folk are white. But....Pale white is a sign of illness..."        Rex looked at his wife, then to the door-way.     Ethan's mother nodded. White is white, but that servant looked as if he hadn't seen the sun in a while (A long while)

Olive felt that wasn't right.   Another twitch poked her gut)    Olive placed her hand on her stomach.

Two minutes past, Rex stood....Did a small stretch...."Bad manners to keep visiting folk waiting!   Just plain bad manners.   Olive.  Let's see who we can find!..."       Rex flicked his hand to his wife, Olive stood immediately (Took hold of the open hand)     Rex swiftly walked both of them from the room, out into the hallway - Down it, and proceed in a direction he thought might take them to a main area.