A Cure for the Blind

Chapter 5 - We Are Not Alone

Chapter Five

We Are Not Alone

"Now that we're all in the same page, we can get things moving." Victor smiled confidently and walked through the room. "We will be known under different names. Do not pronounce the name von Mallesch unless dire circumstances ask for it."

Ethel shrugged. "It's not like we're used to it, anyway."

Victor seemed conflicted about this observation, but apparently decided to choose the positive perspective and mumbled, "Good. Then you're no longer looking at Victor von Mallesch. You are now looking at Gabriel McGrath, a prominent and respectable young businessman. I have just arrived at St. Agnes to finally meet my associate - Amos Skeffington, in person."

"Do you think he'll recognize you?" Selina asked.

"No, ten years is much too long for that. We're not exactly children anymore, are we? No one should be able to tell who we are, no one is expecting it."

"Gabriel..." Ethel whispered and then laughed, "Oh, I see... You chose your second name,Victor Gabriel. But where does the McGrath name come from? In fact..." She suddenly walked towards her brother in a slow strut. "I am more than interested to know how you found yourself in possession of such large amounts of money." She eyed his expensive clothes. "The Skeffingtons took all our riches for themselves."

Victor looked away. "The money I currently own comes from an old acquaintance of mine and so does the name." He quickly returned his eyes to her. "But that is of little interest now. What matters is that my new identity is more than settled in, it's rock solid. I've worked on it for quite a while." He took a deep breath, as if scaring away something from his mind and proceeded, "You will follow my example and take your second names, it will be easier for you to remember." He looked at Selina. "So, you will now be known as Beatrice LaFontaine and nothing else."

Selina silently nodded and crossed her arms around her chest. She looked paler than usual, uncomfortable, like she had the urge to throw up. Ethel didn't seem to notice though, as her response couldn't be more different, "Then I shall be named Marie Stephens from now on", she declared with disregard.

"Exactly." Victor smiled again. "You must understand, the most important thing about this is our secrecy. We must be swift and effective, without calling too much attention. The fewer people understand that we know each other, the better. The fewer people realize that we're living here, the three of us, the better as well." He looked around the room. "I realize that buying this house was a risk but... I just couldn't bear leaving it in their hands any longer."

Silence crept in, as each of the siblings took one more look around their old home. Avoiding, most of all, the portrait of their family and their siblings' eyes, Selina finally broke the quietness, "The night is settling in." Victor stared at the tall and wide windows, as if to confirm her observation. "I think I'll try and prepare us something to eat." She dived towards the small bag of groceries that Victor had bought and quickly walked towards the kitchen.

"Well..." Ethel put her hands on her hips and watched her sister leave. "I would offer to help, but I'm terrible in the kitchen. I guess I'll be doing you both a favor if I decline from cooking." She sat on the dusty couch, studying her nails again.

Victor was lighting the old lamps around the living room and eyed her with reprehension. "Then you'd better busy yourself with something useful."

"Such as?" she hummed, callously.

Victor grabbed an ancient broom from the corner of the room and handed it to her. Ethel looked at him with honest disbelief on her features, giving him the will to laugh. "You can't be serious!"