Cicely and Ace stayed the rest of the week with the natives of the tribe, who went and collected the body of Victoria Ashdown, who they buried just outside the house.
The cousins spoke very little in the following days, as they could only hear the screams of Victoria in their ears any time they attempted to speak. It haunted them what they had done, despite the fact that they knew that they had done the correct thing. But still.
Kalila, bless her, was good enough to hear the story in private, and repeated it to whoever wished to hear so that Ace and Cicely were not forced to tell it over and over again. The two of them were tired enough as it was, and the events were already more than traumatic.
At the end of the long week, when the ship from the mainland came to collect them, Ace and Cicely bid everyone in the small village goodbye, and walked towards the docks.
Neither of them knew why, but they, along with Kalila and Oni, decided to take the path that passed by the infamous Ashdown Manor. The house was considerably different from before, even from the outside you could tell. It was brighter, almost. Stunning and full of light casting more than just shadows, but reflections off the glass. Butterflies floated around on the sunbeams, and birds chirped happily.
However, as they walked by, Cicely grabbed Ace's arm and pointed, telling him to look quickly.
And there, standing by the door of the house, was a smiling Victoria Elizabeth Ashdown, standing beside a tall man who resembled her almost exactly. High cheekbones, dark hair, and sparkling eyes.
The spirits waved, both of them beaming, and anyone with half a brain could understand what they were trying to say to them.
"Thank you."
THE END
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Ashdown Island
Mystery / ThrillerAshdown Island has been holding secrets from the mainland for centuries. Now, when someone is on the verge of uncovering those secrets, what can the final lady of Ashdown manor do?
