Short Stories - A Collection Of Flash Fiction

Lilies In The Valley

I unlocked the door to go inside the huge mansion left empty. The overly wealthy owners are on a trip to Europe and left me in charge of their plants, which they have so many of, including a rare orchid and explained specifically that if their lilies in the front room die: they won't pay me.
     There was a small brass watering can, that could probably only hold enough for two plants at a time, sitting on the window sill in what they called the "nature room." It was beautiful, something out of a magazine or mythical realm. There were wooden shelves holding up tons of plants against the white-stained glass.
     I grabbed the can and filled it up in the laundry room's sink and slowly started watering plants one by one while playing music from my phone to hush the silence.
     Once I finished the nature room I watered all the lilies just a little more than I did the others. I went to fill up the can again but before I got out of the room I heard a voice hum along to the song I was playing.
     "Who's there?!" I froze, terrified, aiming the can in case I needed to defend myself.
     "Oh I'm sorry honey, don't be afraid," The most beautiful voice I've ever heard said. It also weirdly reminded me of something or someone but that was the least of my concerns.
     "Who the heck are you?!" I dated my eyes all around but saw nothing.
     "Don't be alarmed when I say this but... I'm the lilies you just watered. Thank you for that by the way, I was hoping someone would come soon." I couldn't pin-point where the voice was coming from, it sounded like a collective voice from the lilies.
     "How can you talk?"
     "Why does that have to matter? What matters is that I have information. Information about the Quins. I want to save you, honey, you seem like a very nice young girl. Don't get swept in with them."
     "I'm not... I needed some extra money and watering plants is easy."
     "Melanie,"
     "How do you know my name?!" I interrupted.
     "Oh, I'm trapped in this situation, aren't I?" The lilies sounded nervous.
"What do you mean...?"
"The Quins showed me their beautiful house once. I lived in a trailer park and always dreamed of a nice house, not this big but it's the closest nice house I was welcomed in." I spin around while listening as the voice started to feel more and more familiar.
     The lilies continued on, "Don't mix up with them. Trust me... I'm the girl in your grade that got "killed by a car." I'm her..."
"Stella...?" My voice cracked of shock. I didn't know her but the school mourned a whole day for her.
     There was a sad but short silence.
"Could you get me some more water in the biggest pot?"
I watered her and noticed what looked like tears on the leaves.