Chapter 29 The hidden compartment

Chapter 29 The hidden compartment

ELENA’S POV

Secrets must be unfolded in the dark. These words keep ringing in my head as I dress up for my mission tonight – a visit to the Cade Mansion. Black on black is not my style, but tonight I go out looking like a shadow. I adjust my jacket countless times, walk back and forth to the kitchen not looking for anything in particular. I guess I am trying to shake off this prickling sensation on the back of my neck; it feels like someone is watching me. Hands travel to the light switch, I turn off the lights. For five minutes, I just sit there; my eyes scanning the room, hoping to spot those eyes, those invisible eyes that I feel are watching me. 

My alarm rings, indicating that it’s time to move. Quickly I jump from the bed and head towards the living room. Now in the living room, I hesitate at the door. What if this is a mistake? What if you just end up risking everything you hold dear? What if you do not come back alive? 

I raise my head up, exhale in confidence. “Then I die trying”. The words slip out of my mouth in response to the “what if’s” in my head. 

I open the door and run out before another bout of fear and doubt sets in. I bring out my phone and call the driver. He arrives within seconds, and the next thing we are off to the mansion.

I carefully search my bag in the car to make sure everything needed for my mission is complete. The driver tries to make conversation but gives up because I wasn’t responding to his comments. I look out my window at the busy streets. Then a light breeze starts to blow. I shut my eyes to allow as its cold hands caress my face. 

‘Everything is going to be alright Elena, you have got this. I whisper these words of reassurance to myself. Almost immediately I see a faceless woman dressed in white appear. She tells me not to go. Bids of sweat suddenly appear on my forehead despite the breeze. I open my eyes immediately. Heart racing I reach for my bag pack to collect my bottle of water. This was going to be more difficult than I thought.

The driver doesn’t spare a second more after dropping me at my destination. He drives out at breakneck speed. Guess I will have to book another driver to come pick me after I am done. 

The mansion is just like these haunted houses in the movies. Creeping grass on the walls, dark and gory. Could this be a movie? I often wonder if my life is a movie and there are people watching me from a television. This will mean that nothing in my life is real. My quest, this mission, will all be an act to entertain the audience. And this mansion will be a mere prop.

I stand there staring at the mansion, thinking these thoughts.

“Well let’s see if this is a movie”

I march forward stealthily. There is a full moon tonight, but even the moon’s light cannot cut through the darkness this mansion emits. I get to the front door where I get entangled in cobwebs. Quickly I bring out my flashlight and hair pin to open the front door. This is my first time trying the hair pin trick, I pray it works. Constantly I look over my shoulders, and scan the environment for any sign of life. 

“Click” 

The hair pin trick was effective. I step inside; flash light in hand, bag pack over my shoulders. Dust and more cobwebs welcome me. A rat runs over my leg giving me a scare, I jump and the flash light drops from my hands. I pick it up but it starts to flicker on and off.

“No, no, no,” I say in frustration as the light eventually goes off.

“Ooh shit” My hands are shaky as I try to bring out my phone. Then I saw it. The shadow of something moving.

My eyes widen in fear and my breathing becomes labored. 

“Who the hell is there?”

Silence, with only echoes of my voice.

I return to searching for my phone, I find it and turn on the light. Then the shadow appears again and remains static. I walk up slowly with a stick I find lying around. Then the shadow moves and a cat appears in front of me as I lift my hand in attack. It jumped out the window.

I breathe in relief realizing it was just a false alarm. I need to move fast, before something actually happens.

I run up the stairs to my Dad’s office as indicated in the note. As usual I use the hair pin trick to get in. Once inside I stare for a while at the place where my father’s last breath of life still lingered. Feelings of nostalgia and longing enveloping me…

I set to work. Documents fly in the air as I open one drawer after the other, careful not to make any sound. I can still feel the invisible eyes on me but this time I didn’t feel afraid; just a surge of energy.

I walk up to the next set of drawers, pulling out books upon books. I sit on the floor searching each book. My alarm rings again, indicating the time was past eleven; how did time move so fast!!! I turn off the alarm in anger. 

I need to take off this stupid jacket. Jacket on the floor I sit down to continue searching through the books. A owl hoots from outside heightening my anger.

Shut the fuck up!!!

A spider crawls close to me; again I jump up in fear. Then I kill it with the book in my hand. 

I kick and punch an imaginary figure. This is pointless!!! The voices screamed in my head. 

No, I am getting close to something, I respond back.

I move over to the floorboards, lifting one after another. Could there have been a mistake in the note?

I stand up and pace about for about five minutes. My phone buzzes indicating low battery. This mission cannot get any worse!!!

I resume my search, this time opening drawers again with the speed of light. I walk over to the old table, searching the documents on it. Tired I walk back to the books I searched before. Another rat runs past my leg, and the next thing I land on the ground close to some blue prints. I try to pick myself up, but the pain in my waist didn’t let me. 

Ahhh!!!!

I raise my palms to my face in frustration. Then I manage to sit up. I continue my search, this time looking the blue prints over. I feel something beneath my fingers like a lump. I feel adrenaline rush through my spine. Quickly I press the lump and a small drawer slowly rolls out of the wall. I crawl to the drawer in a rush, my whole body shaking. 

I find an old napkin wrapped neatly over something. Inside the napkin I find an old key with a name written on it; my father’s initials!!!

This is it, this must be it, I whisper to myself.

I pick up the napkin again to search for any other clue which it might hold. I see a small note written at the bottom.

Lyons Bank… Caper City…