Enchanted: The Run

Chapter 7 & 8

Chapter 7

Skipping down the stairs, I called out to Jayne, “Jayne the girls are going to sort out the boxes, could you call dad and ask him can we buy some new furniture for the attic and then ask him if he’s ever coming home...”

“Actually Jayne left with Fred to collect your father’s money, it’s just me.” Austin said with a glass of water in his hand.

I took the glass from his gentle hand and put it on the counter. We caught each other’s eyes for a moment and in that moment I saw rain, fog, darkness and I heard screaming. The scream woke me up from the dark moment.

“What was that?!” I jumped.

“What?”

“The screaming?” I became very aware, “didn’t you hear it?”

“No, that’s not funny, come on let’s just check on the girls.”

I decided not to tell him about the darkness, he wouldn’t believe me anyway. Instead we rejoined the girls.

“Hey girls, did any of you scream?” Austin said holding my hand leading me into the attic.

“No, but I totally will! Lexi didn’t tell me you were hot!” Riley got excited.

“This is Emma and that’s Riley, she gets excited over cute things.” Ashley gave him a nudge.

“Lex, there’s some boxes of yours up here.” Emma pointed to some dusty boxes named ‘Lexi’ that were hidden in the corner.

“I’ve never had anything here before; this is the first time I’ve been to this house?” I looked weirdly at everyone.

“Do you want to open it now...alone?” Emma asked respectfully.

“No... um, I’ll do it later...” I was speechless.

“I’m back! Your father put £10,000 on a debit card for you lot to use!” Jayne yelled when she came home.

“Oh, that’s Jayne... girls could you go buy stuff on the internet like for a chill-out zone or whatever.” It was all too much.

As soon as they left I turned to Austin, “Could you please just put that box in the garden and wait for me to look at it?”

He picked it up and said nothing but he did smile at me.

I sat down looking through a box labelled ‘Early Days’, there were photos I’d never seen before, like a younger looking version of mum and dad kissing. I turned the photo over which read

‘Erin and John’s first date’.

There are even baby photos of me and playing in a garden!

“I don’t understand?” Austin knelt down to see what I was talking about, “I should, but I don’t recognise any of these photos?”

“But they’re of your mum and dad, a couple of you. Oh what’s that?!” He picked up a picture of a girl in a hospital bed.

“I think it’s... never mind...” It would have been a wild accusation.

“Ahem” Fred stood in the doorway. “So, how much is left to do?"

“Moved all the boxes, so, just a clean and decorating!” I smiled.

“Well Jayne and I can clean the attic; however, your father is requesting you downstairs.” He said a little edge-y.

“Dad can Austin come back tomorrow and help decorate with the girls?” I asked walking down the stairs with Austin following behind.