It was getting colder and darker all over the place as the days passed. The leaves could be seen falling from the trees. There was a chill in the air overnight, frost on the ground in the morning, and the air was covered with mist and fog. There was still a lingering warmth but always a constant reminder of the cold to come.

The Campbell family was in their home, Silverstone, having their tea and talking, the children eager for their coming holidays. The phone that was kept on the table, belonging to Mr David Campbell, began to ring, making him get up and walk towards it.

When he returned, he looked thoughtful yet happy.

"Our plans for your holidays are to be changed, kids." He said.

"What happened, dear?" said Mrs Evelyn Campbell, his wife, her face displaying her confusion.

"Your brother, Edward had called. He has to go for a work shift to Boston and Nora is going with him. So the children...he asked whether they can stay here." said Mr David Campbell.

"But David, you know that I had to go for a trip at the weekend. You too would be going to your meeting. Our kids can stay alone for 2 days, but now..." She trailed off.

"What happened, Mom?" asked Bree, looking at her parents.

"Your cousins are coming over, dear." said Mrs Campbell.

Breanne looked suspicious and confused. "But mom, that's a piece of happy news! You appear to be tensed." She said.

"I'll tell you about that later, dear one." said Mrs Campbell with a tone that meant no arguing.

"Cousins, mother? Who?" asked, the younger girl, Annie who till now was playing with her doll.

"Your mother's brother's children. This time, your cousin brothers are coming over to spend their holidays. The elder one is to join your school, Bree. He's a year younger than you. They were till now at Boston but moved over this summer. " It was their father who replied this time. Now, there was just a mile difference between their houses but they couldn't contact each other till now due to various issues.

Bree, who was delighted, nodded smiling but her sister, Annie had mixed feelings. She was both delighted at meeting her cousins, yet wary of them. But one could not blame her for her thinking either. Her friend at school, Mary, had often told tales about her own cousins and others in general. She too smiled and nodded, but her smile didn't share her sister's enthusiasm.

That evening, while Mrs Evelyn Campbell was going through a few files, Bree walked up to her.

"Mom?" She called.

"Yes, dear?" Her mother asked, without lifting her eyes from her work.

"Can you tell me why you were worried when you told us about our cousins? By your response, I thought you felt it was to spoken privately. So, can you? You know you can trust me mother. " asked Bree.

Mrs Campbell sighed, putting her pen away, and turned towards her daughter. She gestured her to sit on a nearby chair, which she did. She looked a bit doubtful but upon her daughter's reassuring look, she decided to tell the matter.

"Your father and I have to go out for our work, this weekend. One of us at least would of course come back quickly. But for one day, you four would be alone in the house. Usually, when this happens, you know we ask the neighbours, who are our great friends to keep an eye on you and there would be no issues. But this time..." She trailed off.

"What about this time, mother?" asked Ashley.

Evelyn spoke in a low voice, "They are coming here almost like guests. Your father and I are seeing them after long, and when your uncle is dropping them here because they are not at the house, then how can we let them stay here like that?"

Breanne smiled at her mother reassuringly. "Is that all? You need not worry at all, mother. You had said before, Casprian is in my school in the 4th grade. Also, they're our brothers, we are part of the same family. So why would it be bad? Don't worry Mom. We'll take care. You can go as you usually do."

"Of course dear. You're the eldest here. Now, if anything happens, give us a call, alright? " said Mrs Campbell.

Now, you would wonder, why did Mrs Campbell decide to leave her children and how would her worry vanish just on her daughter's assurance even when she was a child? The only reason was that they had been in such situations before too and had beautifully dealt with the situations. So she trusted her daughter who knew to take up responsibility better than any other 10 year old.

Days turned into nights and the Campbell family was engulfed in their packing  and getting ready for the trip. The children would help them at times, and otherwise play or read which they both loved to do. 5 days has passed since Mr Edward Cresswell had called. Today, the Cresswells were to drop their children at Silverstone and go for their trip.

Mr Edward was an engineer at Aveva and was to attend a meeting of his company in the coming week. His wife, Mrs Nora Cresswell was a head accountant working in the same firm and was to go with him.

Mr David Campbell was a scientist who worked in a science research organization. His wife, Mrs Evelyn Campbell was a teacher who taught both school and college students and also took home tutoring.

Bree waited eagerly at the entrance of their house with her parents to welcome their family. But Annie was nowhere be found. She had, a few minutes ago, gone upstairs for something but didn't return yet.

Soon, a car could be seen coming towards their home, and parked at the common parking area in the surroundings.

"That's Silverstone. We all used to stay here till we moved to Boston. There's David and Evelyn-Hallo!" said Mr Cresswell walking towards them, with Mrs Cresswell, Casprian and Julian.

The Campbells walked out of the wooden door towards their guests.

"Welcome to Silverstone! Hallo, all of you! It's lovely to see you! And my, how the children have grown up!" cried Evelyn.

There were hugs all around, and then the children walked into the house. They liked it. It felt old and mysterious with the furniture being a bit modern.

"Where's Annie?" asked Caspian, looking around for their sister.

"Oh, she was here right now. She went upstairs, a few seconds before. Annie!!?" said the girls' mother and then called for her younger daughter.

"Coming, Mom!" came the immediate response. The truth was that Annie had gone upstairs thinking of meeting her cousins later. But since her mother called, she had to come down.

With a smile on her face, she came down running.

"They're here already? Sorry for the delay!" She said. When she saw her uncle and aunt, she burst into a genuinely happy smile and hugged them. She had seen them, once or twice. She waved at her cousins with a smile and stood next to her sister.

There was no room for Mr Edward Cresswell and Mrs Nora Cresswell to stay as they had to catch their flight soon, so they decided to leave soon.

Bree had immediately bonded with her brothers and showed them around the place, talking about their school, and other things.
But Annie had excused herself soon after her uncle and aunt left and had returned to her room.

Soon, it was late night, and the children went to sleep in their rooms. Annie and Bree were to share a room, near the balcony and Casprian and Julian were to share the room next to it.

As soon as she entered the room, Bree walked up to her sister and sat near her.

"Annie? Why didn't you come with me to show Rilian and Casprian around?" said Breeanne.

"It's nothing, Bree." said Annie climbing over her bed which Bree copied.

"Tell me. You know I wouldn't judge you. I promise not to tell anyone about it. You can talk to me." said Bree.

"I just feel something's wrong with them. I don't like them much." said Annie.

"What are you saying, Ann? That's not true and you know that." said Bree, looking at her as if she was crazy.

"Leave it, sister." said Annie and closed her eyes.

Ashley found her sister's behaviour really peculiar and even stupid.

'If only my sister would understand how wrong she was...' were the thoughts of Ashley, as slowly sleep took over her.

Hello Friends! I hope you like this chapter, forgive me if I offended anyone. Stay healthy and stay safe! Adieu!