Just then, they were startled by the sound of the doorbell, causing Diya to jump up in surprise. She shot a bewildered glance at Caleb, before turning back to Tabitha, her expression reflecting her confusion and uncertainty.
"Is it the doctor?" Diya inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Tabitha shook her head, gesturing towards Brianne's room to indicate that the doctor was already inside, attending to her. Diya turned towards Caleb, perplexed about who could be at the door, as they weren't expecting anyone. Caleb stepped in quickly and advised Diya to go upstairs while he checked to see who it was.
Tabitha whispered nervously, "What if it's a robber?"
Caleb, with a smirk on his face, responded, "Don't worry Tabitha, I have my secret weapon - a broomstick!"
Tabitha looked at Caleb sceptically and asked, "A broomstick? What are you going to do with that?"
Caleb replied with a grin, "I'll sweep him off his feet!"
Caleb's joke was so bad that even the crickets stopped chirping. Diya and Tabitha couldn't help but roll their eyes and shake their heads, wondering if they should start a fundraiser for a new sense of humour for Caleb.
Diya yelled at Tabitha, "Quick! Run to my room and grab the baseball bat by the nightstand!"
Tabitha, in a panic, sprinted to the room grabbed the bat looked at Diya, and asked, "What do I do with this?"
Diya replied, "I don't know, but at least we can give the burglar a sporting chance!"
As Caleb turned the doorknob, his heart raced with anticipation. He prayed that it wasn't any robbers like Tabitha said earlier. When the door finally swung open, Caleb was left speechless, standing there in disbelief.
Summoning his courage, he managed to find his voice and asked, "Who are you?"
Diya was so shocked to hear Caleb's voice that her hair stood on end as she had just stuck her finger in an electrical socket. She quickly scurried down the stairs like a squirrel on a mission to see who it was. When she saw Brian at the door, she hugged him so tight, he almost turned blue. Meanwhile, Tabitha, who had been clutching her chest in terror, felt like a balloon that had just been popped when she saw Brian's familiar face. It was like she had been holding her breath for so long that she forgot how to breathe, but Brian's arrival was just the exhale she needed.
Diya asked Brian in shock, "How did you find this address? Did you secretly hack into my GPS or something?"
Brian, with a playful grin, replied, "No, no. I just bribed your dog with a bag of treats and he led me straight to your doorstep."
"Brian, how did you know that we are here? I'm curious," Tabitha spoke from the bottom of the stairs.
"I received the address from Brianne last night," he replied in a casual tone, but then his expression changed. "Is Brianne okay?"
"Why wouldn't she be okay?" Tabitha nervously chuckled.
Diya gave Tabitha a look that could have frozen a hot cup of coffee and signalled for her to zip it. Caleb was completely clueless about Brian's identity and why he was lurking around the mansion like a lost kitten. Diya saw this as a chance to play matchmaker and introduce Caleb to Brian, hoping that sparks would fly. It was like a scene out of a cheesy romantic comedy but with a touch of mystery and intrigue.
Caleb's heart skipped a beat as he stood frozen in his tracks, his mind in a state of shock. The realization of what had just occurred hit him like a ton of bricks, sending a wave of apprehension coursing through his veins. He knew that Brian would be beyond furious if he found out that his beloved girlfriend was lifeless and motionless upstairs. Caleb couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt gnawing at him as he pondered what to do next.
"Hey man, I know this has been a rough night for you," Caleb interfered suddenly.
"I think I am getting old. My body needs a warm-up before ringing doorbells now," Brian replied with a laugh.
Caleb chuckled sheepishly and said, "I've got an idea that might help take your mind off things for a bit. Come with me to the wine cellar and we'll have a drink together."
Brian sighed and was unsure if he should follow a stranger to the wine cellar that night, "I don't know, Caleb. I don't really feel like drinking right now.
"Trust me, it'll be good for you. We can talk, share some stories, and just relax for a bit. It might help you take your mind off things," Caleb suggested.
"Alright, fine. Let's go," Brian agreed at last.
Looks like Tabitha and Diya can finally breathe a sigh of relief! Thanks to Caleb, Brian is now headed to the wine cellar instead of hovering around them like a lost puppy. Who knew that a wine cellar could save the day?
While down at the wine cellar, Caleb asked him, "So, have you ever tried this Merlot before?
Brian who was seated on one of the rusty chairs, took a sip and said, " No, I haven't. It's actually pretty good."
"I knew you'd like it. You know, I remember the first time I tried wine. It was at my sister's wedding. I was so nervous about giving the toast, but a glass of Chardonnay really helped calm my nerves," Caleb replied with a chuckle.
Brian smiled and said, "You have a sister? What is her name?"
"Angella Baxter," Caleb's smile faded off thinking about his sister suddenly.
Brian who was clueless about Caleb's change of expression, took another sip and said, "You know what, Caleb? This was a good idea. Thanks for inviting me down here."
"No problem, man. Sometimes it's good to just take a break from everything and enjoy some good company and a nice glass of wine," Caleb clanked his glass cup with Brian and smiled.
As they ascended the stairs, Diya and Tabitha felt their hearts sink in despair. They were confronted with a chilling sight - Brianne's body lay motionless and lifeless on the bed, her skin growing colder by the minute. The two friends exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do next. They were fearful that the stench of decay would soon fill the air, even though there were no visible signs of decomposition yet. As the panic set in, they knew they had to act fast to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
"Oh my, we can't keep hiding the truth from Brian about her," Diya exclaimed with a worried tone.
Tabitha sighed and mumbled, "Brian, that lifeless girl's boyfriend could be the death of us."
Diya shook her head in annoyance at Tabitha's remark and started walking back and forth in the room, restless and uneasy like a cat that had just given birth and was trying to settle down. Tabitha touched Brianne's arm, noticed how hot it was, and quickly pulled Diya to her side to witness Brianne's temperature herself.
"Why is she burning suddenly?" Diya wondered to herself, feeling bewildered. "She was cold a minute ago."
"This is why the doctor couldn't determine the cause," Tabitha stated. "One moment she was hot, and another moment she was freezing."
She realized that it was not Diya who stumbled upon this mysterious book first, but rather her friend Tabitha. This newfound knowledge sparked an urgent need within Diya to investigate whether the contents of the book had been perused by anyone. The weight of curiosity now hung heavy in the air, compelling Diya to dig deeper into this peculiar situation.
"Tabi, do you remember the book you found next to Brianne? Did you manage to read it?" Diya asked, her curiosity piqued.
Tabitha hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice filled with concern, "No, I didn't. Why are you suddenly so worried?"
Diya took a deep breath, mustering the courage to reveal the truth to Tabitha. She spoke with a convincing tone, hoping to convey the seriousness of the situation, "Tabi, I need you to understand. That book contains spells, dark and dangerous spells that have the power to harm whoever reads them."
Tabitha's eyes widened in alarm, her disbelief slowly transforming into a grave realization. "Are you serious, Diya? How did you find out?"
Diya's voice quivered slightly as she explained, "We went down to the basement to look for that book. One moment, it was there, and the next, it vanished. I never expected Brianne to have taken it."
"I'm curious. What's the deal with this White Devil that you mentioned?" Tabitha asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Well, the White Devil is none other than -" Caleb burst into the room, loudly calling out Diya's name.
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💕Hey there! You guys must be curious to know about the White Devil. Who is this mysterious figure? Do you have any clue? Or is he related to any of the people living in the mansion?
Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for reading! ❤️