H&S: Story Of Dorothy Oneshots

Pt. 2 Dorothy & The Exorcist

      Woohee traversed the ruins of the fourth floor, exploring for no other reason than to try and uncover some history on the mansion's inhabitants. There was always some way she could. She circled a disfigured, broken granite statue of a woman in the middle of the floor and entered a bedroom. The door creaked as she pushed it open with her small hand.

     "The mother's room." Woohee muttered the obvious, observing the perfume collection on a vanity, the bright colors of the furniture and bedding, and the mannequin modeling a dress in the corner. Odd, she finished her train of thought in her mind, usually married couples sleep together. She took a look around, not wanting to linger for too long for the sake of privacy and not wasting time.

       After examining the disrepair of some objects, Woohee closed her eyes and channeled her energy. Opening her mind's eye and focusing it on the things filling the room. Each had a story to tell, but she could feel the pull of the queen sized bed overpowering all other influences and luring her towards it. Woohee flattened her palms against it, flickers of glowing blue embers surrounding her hands.

    Instantly, a vision came to life vividly inside her mind. Blurred, unfocused. She could see Dorothy giggling as she kneeled next to the bed and yanked up the comforter that obscured what was underneath. However, all Woohee could see in the darkness of that space underneath the bed was knees pulled up to a small chest and hands clasped around them. A small figure hiding. Boy, girl- she didn't know, but it was certainly a child, and a pale one at that.

     "Well that memory didn't provide much use." Woohee sighed under her breath, a little irritated it was all this room had to offer. She quickly reminded herself there was many more rooms to explore, and headed for the door. However, before she could leave, a book on the desk in the far corner caught her eye. It was teetering off the edge, and ink was spilled over the desk, pooling around a discarded feather pen.

      "I may have spoke too soon." Woohee said as she picked up the book and realized it was Maria's diary. She felt a bit uncomfortable, knowing she was invading privacy, but knowing it was for the greater good pushed her to continue. She read the entries, skipping the irrelevant ones and taking great interest in the mention of dying servants and the apparent declination of Dorothy's mental health. How she often seemed grim, incoherent, and unresponsive after the deaths, but when taken to a doctor, was proved to be in okay condition.

      "Two maids with vines wrapped around their necks, found in the garden." Woohee repeated a line from the diary as she departed the room, satisfied with the knowledge. An image of the demented ghost maids with lacerations around her throat flashed in her head. Already, the unanswered questions of a budding mystery circled in her mind like piranha. 

   If Dorothy wasn't suffering from shock, then did she just have something to hide? Who or what killed the maids?

     Woohee knew she'd be saved some of the trouble if she just questioned the family then and now, so she made her way back to the father's room. When she passed through the doorway, she was met with startled bright orange eyes. Dorothy stood a few feet away from the bookcase, which was now placed aside to reveal the secret study they were hiding in. She looked like she had been caught red handed stealing from the cookie jar, and immediately delved into the habit of fidgeting her hands.

     The young exorcist slapped a small hand to her forehead, clenching her jaw. If there was one thing that annoyed her, it was children who just couldn't stay out the way of trouble. "What are you-"

      "I want to accompany you!" Dorothy blurted in a hushed voice, nervously balling up the corner of her dress in her hands.  She glanced to the hidden room for a split second, then continued. "Please, let me, and don't tell mom and dad. You'll need me, you'll see!"