Chapter 10: Vivian's Office
Alex had been right about the office. Yet another portrait was hung behind the desk. It was Vivian wearing the most exquisite pearl necklace. The old desk was littered with papers and there was a busted safe on the far left wall. Alex didn't hesitate to head for the safe Sam however froze at the doorway eyeing the painting. The eyes seemed to follow him and there was a low intermittent whistle that ran through the house sending chills up his spine. Alex began flipping through old documents that were in the safe. They had to have been the most important considering they'd been locked away for a reason after all. When Alex came back to the doorway he had in his hands a will, an old marriage certificate, and a copy of legal divorce papers.
“Don't worry… You don't have to go in, I brought the important stuff with me,” Alex closed the door gingerly, he had a small smile on his face as he passed Sam. It was kind of funny that Sam was scared of a portrait considering the actual ghost didn't seem to faze him but Alex didn't want to laugh afraid that would embarrass him.
“So what now? We take it to the group,” Sam caught up with Alex, falling in step with him.
“Yeah I mean the more people working on this the better. Everyone wants to get home and honestly I don't want to worry my parents too much. They freak out whenever I barely scrape my knee. I'd hate to know how they reacted when they found out that I disappeared when I was supposed to be doing my home literature homework,” Alex muttered quickly. He was focused more on the papers in his hand than the conversation with Sam, not that Sam minded.
Sam should have been offended but he wasn't. Alex was just trying to help everyone get home and he couldn't blame him for that. Sam stopped outside of what looked to be an old music room. The living room downstairs had a small piano but this room was full of instruments including a beautiful grand piano. He stepped inside unaware that Alex had followed him. His fingers gently brushed over the piano key cover wiping the dust off. If he got the chance maybe he'd be able to come back and play up here after all there was a violin, a cello, trumpets, a tuba, and various other instruments in the room.
“Can you play?” Alex was admiring the piano. He loved music almost as much as he did reading because it brought out the beauty in the world.
“Uh… yeah,” Sam turned back to look at Alex. Alex had sat the papers down on the cushioned bench in front of the piano and was looking around the room at all the instruments that were just sitting there collecting dust.
“I figured as much because you went looking for sheet music yesterday. I saw it in your hands when you got back to the library. I play the violin just so you know,” he admitted, admiring all the old instruments. Sam smiled at the sudden honesty. Maybe he and Alex could be friends. Maybe they'd stay in touch after they got out of here. After all Alex seemed like a pretty chill person over all. And at least now he wasn't so quiet. He headed back to the door as Alex gathered the papers back up and followed him to find the others.