Chapter 18: The Attic

Aurora's POV

I woke up and the first thing I saw was the ceiling. The light bulb is not on. Blue atmospheric lighting cascaded in from the window. I slowly sit up and my eyes suddenly widen up as soon as I took note of the room.

I recognized the soft grey colored walls and those white curtains... I look down and I touch the softness of the black velvety blanket. I'm not in my own room.

This is Steven's room! That bastard must have carried me all the way here while I'm asleep. I look around the room and then look at my right and the space is empty.

Looking under the covers, I'm glad I'm still in my costume. I let out a sigh of relief and rub my knuckles onto my eyes.

'DING DING'

I heard the sound of my phone ringtone and I tilted my head a bit.

Grabbing my phone as I drag my feet off the bed and I can feel the fuzzy feeling of the carpet meeting contact with my bare feet.

I turn on my phone and the brightness of the screen just made me shut my eyes and blink until my eyes are fully awake. I squint my eyes a bit and it's a message from Heather, saying that she'll return my shoes on Monday.

I didn't bother to reply back so I just turn off my phone and get off the bed. As soon as I open the door, I came face to face with Steven.

"Well good morning, sweetie. Did you sleep well?" He spoke with a smirk on his face.

I just rolled my eyes and I have no time for this. I just want to go back to my bedroom and sleep for the whole day.

"Aren't you going to say 'good morning' back?" He said.

I let out a sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. "Where's mom?"

"Oh, Mom and Dad won't be here until midnight and Toby is at a friend's house." He answered as he caresses my cheek. "It's just you and me for the day."

I pull my head away from his touch and I just walk past him and walk towards my room.

"I'm just gonna let it slide just this once." He said, loud enough for me to hear and I just ignore him. I twist and open the door to my room and lock it.

I put my phone on top of my side table and take off my blazer. But first, I dig into one of the pockets and I can feel my heart beating faster. It was empty. I check the other pocket and it's empty as well. The business card that the detective gave me is gone! Steven must have took it.

I throw my blazer away and walk over to the door and unlock it. I slowly open the door and I got a glimpse of Steven going down the stairs. As soon as I can hear his footsteps fading, I walk out of my room and head back to his room. The door is slightly open so I just quietly push the door and let myself in.

I start looking through his desks, side tables and drawer after drawer... nothing. I close the last of the drawers and I stood up to go back to my room. But then, I took note of his trash can. There are only a shredded tiny bits of paper and I pick up a piece which has the letters 'ian' on it.

I knew it. Well, I can't put them back in one piece since it's shredded into tiny pieces. Literally.

I throw it back and quickly head back to my room. But wait... a strand of rope caught my eye. And it just leads straight to the attic.

I hesitated at first, but then I reach my hand out and slowly tug and pull the rope as the attic door opens and the stairs slowly goes down and it landed, making a soft thud.

I take a deep breath before I start to climb up the stairs. One more step and I finally reached the attic. The first thing I saw was three computer screens, a rocking chair and a closet.

The attic was like those in many dwellings in the neighborhood in that it was tall and fully boarded. Sure, it was difficult to stand right at the edges where the roof sloped down, but there was plenty of room even for the tallest of adults. The windows had thick panes, the walls and floors were built of heavy timber and silenced reigned there.

As I take a few steps, creaks of the floor echoed throughout the room. I walk over to the desk with the three computers hanging there and my eyes widen... he's been watching this entire time... I discovered a panel of my bedroom which gives me the chills. I walk around and there's a picture taped to the closet door that caught my eye.

I walked over to the closet to get a better look. As I walk closer to the closet, I get a good look of the picture. It was a sonogram and I could never be shocked in my entire life.

There's not only one... but two babies in that picture which means...

Steven is not the only one.

But where's the other sibling? This family is more fucked up than ever.

I look to the other side of the room, which is just beside the closet and there seems to be something underneath the white cloth which is on a rocking chair. I slowly reach my hand, tugging on the white cloth and pull it.

Once the cloth is completely removed, I gasp and scream in shock and terror. It's a corpse of a woman! It smells so terrible and it's somewhat dried up and mummified and the corpse is wearing a dirty white and torn dress. I take a few steps back but ended up bumping into the table.

"Well, well, well..." I flinch as soon as I heard that voice, I can feel myself shaking in fear.

"Is my little princess being naughty today?" I turn my head to his direction and he's walking towards me. So, I step away from the desk and move to the other side. But before I get the chance to move away from him, he immediately grab my wrist and twists it.

"Ow! Steven, that hurts! Let go!" I shouted but he just let out a chuckle. A psychotic chuckle.

"I've seen you've met mother. Oh well, now it's time for your punishment."

Oh no... I tried to kick him in any way I could but he dodged every hit. I look down before using my leg to kick his crotch. I lift my leg and kick! He screams and fell to the ground.

"Ahh! You fucking bitch!" He screams and I grab my chance to get out of here.

However, I felt both of his hands tugging on leg and it made me to lose my balance and then he pulled me down and I found myself lying on the ground. Now, Steven is on top of me.

"How about we'll do the punishment here while mother is watching. I don't mind. " He said sadistically. He slowly leans forward while I tilt my head left and right and then I saw a lamp that seems to be broken not far from me.

I stretch out my arm and reach out for the chord and pull it as hard as I can. Luckily, I used all of my strength and I got the lamp. As soon as Steven's face is closer, I hit his head with the lamp and he screams once again and fell to the side.

I quickly get up and climb down the stairs. I run to my room but then Steven caught up to me really fast and pull my hair hard, which made me stop my tracks, and wrap his arms around me.

"Now you're being a little bitch. Looks like your punishment is going to be rough." He then licks my earlobe and I yelp.

While his arms still wrapped around me, he drags me to his bedroom. He quickly closes the door and lock it.

He then plops me into the bed and he climbs himself on top of me and starts unzipping his pants.

__

Some time later and he gets off of me and zips up his pants. I was just there laying on my side and tears starts to fall from eyes.

He brush some of my hair and tuck them behind my ear. I can feel his breathing closer and closer which send chills down to my spine.

"Now.. do you learn your lesson yet? For every single time you disobey me again, things will get more rough and messed up. " He whispered.

I just clench my teeth, close my eyes and continue crying. Every part of my body aches.

"Mom just texted me and I need to pick up Toby soon. Sleep well, little sis." He said before heading out of his room.

'I'm so sick of this... And now, I can feel the darkness crawling back to me. '