Entangled Strings Of Fate

CHAPTER 2: A Secret

Earlier disappointed but now scared, Claire went inside the mansion again and thought of where everyone could go at this early in the morning.

She thought about what she should do now, whom she should call them and ask but thinking what if they are in some danger and my calling them puts them in a bad situation, next she thinks to call the cops and inform them of the situation, but before doing so, she decided to recheck and make sure that they aren't here so it doesn't create any scene later, while rechecking she also wonders if she had missed anyplace to check earlier.

Thinking that it came to her, that she hadn't been to the study yet, she suddenly realized this, when she entered the mansion through the front door and stood in the foyer. She had forgotten to check there since her father had forbidden any children from entering there.

She still remembers that day when she was running away from Jane who was trying to chase her, in their game of chase Claire fell short to see the glass of water that fell on her father's file, on which he'd been working on for a while. This caused them all to become completely drenched. However, they were fortunate that they merely received an earful and were not punished, but they have been unable to walk back thereafter.

After giving it some thought, she decided to have a peek inside the study and headed in that direction. As she got closer and around the corner of the study, she heard the voices of her parents and the other folks she was looking for coming from there.

Hearing those voices she instantly felt relieved that they were safe and sound at home, but soon, she began to wonder why they were all there together.

"What could they possibly be discussing? It's not as if they would be planning a surprise birthday party for me at this hour; that would be absurd, especially since it's D-day. So, what conversation are they having this morning secretly? Is that a secret too? Well, whatever it is, I'll find it soon enough."

"Silence..."

In an instant, as a thrill of curiosity coursed through her, she was jolted back to reality by her father's thunderous yell.

The sudden outburst sliced through the atmosphere like a knife, halting her train of thought and demanding her attention. The room fell eerily silent, a heavy stillness enveloping everyone as they exchanged worried glances. It felt as if a shadow of dread had descended, hinting that something was terribly amiss."

"Talk slower." she heard her father say it, this time in a calm demeanor, which significantly showed that, he didn't want anyone to hear them.

Soon to his announcement, she could only hear low whispers which also started to fade now.

So, she tip-toed and without making any sound went and stood by the door and started to hear their conversation attentively, as they were talking in a really low voice, she placed her hand at the doorknob to open the door to hear it clearly as she has become more curious now then she was.

But before she could do that, she felt someone's presence behind her, which made her stunned, thinking she'd been found by an elder hearing their conversation.

She considered what she could say to escape the trouble she found herself in, but she eventually decided to not say anything. Because it was obvious she had been caught eavesdropping, and any attempt to tell a different story would only prolong her punishment.

Breathing out, when she looked back, a smile creped out on Claires face, on finding Jane, her hands which she had clutched feeling busted, opened.

Staring at her from her brown eyes, standing behind her, Jane gave her a confused reaction, "What are you doing here," Jane asked.