Chapter 33: He is Back
"Anything!" They spoke at once.
"Not now, I'll let you know when the time comes," I exclaimed.
As I glanced at the time displayed on my phone, a sense of urgency washed over me. "I must go see Mr. Darkwood immediately. His grandmother and her caretaker were tragically murdered last night!" I exclaimed, rushing, making my way out.
Willow's eyes widened in shock, exclaiming, "Oh my God!"
Vincent was equally shaken, replied, "I had no idea either!"
Upon returning to the house, I noticed that Mr. Darkwood's car was parked outside. I approached his door and knocked. He emerged from inside and fixed his gaze on me as if he had witnessed something both dreadful and captivating at once. His eyes mirrored the conflicting emotions he was experiencing.
Despite his previous promise to himself to never see me again, the heart has a way of longing for what it desires.
He made way for me by leaving the door open and stepping with his back against the door.
As I entered, it felt as though we were meeting for the first time. We sat facing each other, our hands clasped together, and for a while, silence enveloped the room.
Eventually, he mustered the courage to ask, "Would you like something to drink? Perhaps tea or coffee?"
"I'm fine, thank you. I just wanted to check on you. I'm deeply sorry for your loss," I replied, rising from my seat and approaching him.
He tightly gripped the cushion in his hand as I settled beside him. "You vanished as if you were never there, as you didn't exist at all. No calls, no texts," I remarked, my voice filled with a gentle complaint.
"Then, out of the blue, you appeared last night and witnessed something that no one should ever see... I mean..." My words trailed off, unable to fully express my thoughts.
"I apologize, my phone was stolen," he explained, his gaze locked with mine before once again shifting to the floor.
"I apologize for what happened. Did they hurt you?" I inquired, extending my hand toward him.
However, he quickly withdrew his hand before mine could even touch his.
Understanding his discomfort, I placed my hand back on my lap.
"I'm fine, they didn't hurt me. I simply allowed them to take my phone, and they left. I have filed a complaint though," he replied, forcing a smile.
"Do you have any idea who did this? I mean, who killed them?" I asked, clearing my throat while gazing into his eyes.
"To be honest, I have no clue. They were the most innocent beings on this planet, and I never imagined someone could do such a thing to them," he replied, running his fingers through his hair.
Placing my hand on his shoulder, I reassured him, "If you need anything, just let me know." I stood up and departed.
Later that evening, feeling bored, I decided to apply for an open mic night at a café called Muse & Mugs.
Unfortunately, their previous performer recently passed away under mysterious circumstances, and they are in search of a musician, singer, or anyone who can captivate their audience.
My mother also encouraged me to enjoy myself and pursue what I love. Besides, the events of the previous night have made me realize the importance of diverting my mind from things.
I was shaking as my fingers nervously tapped against the polished wood of my table. I glanced at the clock on the wall, then back at the piece of paper in front of me with the phone number for Muse & Mugs scribbled in the corner. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my phone and dialed the number.
The phone rang twice before a cheerful voice answered, "Muse & Mugs, this is Claire. How can I help you today?"
"Hi, Claire," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "My name is Everly, and I play guitar. I heard that Muse & Mugs hosts live performances, and I was wondering if I could speak to someone about setting up an interview or audition."
"Hi, Everly!" Claire's joy was visible in her voice. "Yes, we do host live music nights. Let me just check with our manager to see when we can fit you in for an audition. Can you hold for a moment?"
"Of course," I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I waited. I could hear faint music playing in the background, probably from a playlist to match the café's artistic vibe.
After a minute, Claire came back on the line. "Great news, Everly! Our manager, Mark, is available tomorrow afternoon. Can you come in at 3 PM for a quick audition and chat?"
My heart leaped. "Yes, 3 PM works perfectly. Thank you so much, Claire."
"No problem at all! We're looking forward to hearing you play. Just bring your guitar and any other equipment you might need. When you arrive, just ask for Mark. See you tomorrow!"
"Thank you, Claire. See you then," I said, hanging up the phone with a big smile on my face.
I set my phone down and turned to Mom who was watching me impatiently.
"Guess I have an interview tomorrow!" I bounced my eyebrows. Mom clasped her hands with excitement.
Upon returning to my room at night, I noticed that Granny's bathroom door was slightly open.
My attention was immediately drawn to the stain that I had seen before, and I couldn't help but notice that the hole next to it had grown larger on the wall.
Just as I was about to investigate further, my mom called out to me, causing me to squint in her direction.
"What is it?" she asked, interrupting my train of thought.
"Remind me to clean this stain tomorrow!" I replied, closing the door and turning back toward her.
However, before I could fully process the situation, I heard a whisper calling my name in a chilling rhythm, "Everly?" It sounded like the man from my dreams, Irritated, I growled, "Go to hell!" and spun around, only to realize it was my mom standing behind me.