Chapter 2

2017

It's hard to believe that the beginning of a new life can start with the most heartbreaking experience. Unfortunately, I am under such circumstances. It was harder before anything became easier, and I'm not the only one to have gone through it.

Time seems the only distance that exists between my great great great great grand' mere Nicollette and me.

Our circumstances and situations have almost reflected one another in different periods of time. Certainly, it is no coincidence we are related, but now I wonder the reason her existence was kept a secret so persistently. I only fell upon her identity by mistake when my curiosity leads me here, and I discovered the portrait after knocking over a few boxes.

And the response from my grand' mere, being old enough to know.

What is behind this story that allows me to know only upon a certain age?

As I rush down the steps from the attic, I find it is dawn already. "How long have I been reading?"

I quickly dismiss the idea and run down to meet my grand' mere in the kitchen.

"Bonjour, Nicollette," she says over the sizzle of bacon and eggs. "Did you enjoy your reading?"

"I have a question..." I ask hastily. "Why was my great great great great grand' mere kept from me? Why did I have to accidentally learn of her in order to get access? Why were my parents so secretive?"

A sigh left her lips, but it wasn't a sign of hardship. It was rather relieved. "Many years ago, when your historical grand' mere was married, she was thought to be insane because of her claims that the opera ghost was real. It was then promised that the first-born daughter of the family that is born shall be given her name, and return the name to its original pride."

My eyes go wide as my lips fall agape with shock. "Me... I'm... I'm to return the name to its original glory..."

"Hence your mother's secretive manner of your historical grand' mere."

I shake my head, rubbing my temples as I process the information. "But who is she to believe that I would even believe in something as ancient as a ghost tale? Is that her concern?"

"Her reasons are her own," she explains further. "She swore me to secrecy, but I did not feel it was right to keep it from you, especially since you are so your grand' mere. And there is an entire story behind her claims that goes beyond the suspicion of the phantom."

"What are they?"

"No one knows what happened to L'oiseau chanteur silencieux."

I look down at the journal sitting in my hands, realizing the very thing she had been hinting at me. "You mean... the truth behind the story is..."

"All we have ever known of our dear Nicollette was her documentation in this single journal. If there is any story beyond these pages, you will have to find it yourself." She bends down and places a hand on my shoulder. "And the one person I know determined enough to do so is you if you will have this case."

Birthed to host a name in which I must return pride. The name of my ancestor I did not know, until my curiosity leads me to her, all by the sheer accident of my clumsiness.

It's amazing I learn this all now in the way that I did.

Now I find an entire mystery rests on my shoulders.

How my family intended to educate me on the news I have come to know on my own, I may never know. But I am certain now their reasons would be biased, as my knowledge would be based only on what they have told me.

My new access to her history, however, has given me a new advantage so I may discover for myself what it is they never intended me to know.

As every investigation goes, one's first task is knowledge.

If I am to get anywhere with a theory or assumption, I must first conduct my efforts in reading the entire journal and note anything that sparks interest or suspicion, or that may lead me to discover what happened to her all those years ago after she disappeared.

I rummage through my drawers and pull out an unused journal, pens, pencils, sticky notes and anything that would render useful in this journey, and begin my investigation, writing the first words inside the cover: Operation: Songbird