Elif's POV

What I saw infront of me was unthinkable and horrifying. The body of that man, Mr. Richard, was lying on the ground. His face was looking at the right wall, and his back was facing the ceiling. I moved nearer. His eyes were closed. There was blood, brownish and dried, mixed with the dust, on his left side. A strong, foul smell was all over the room, making me feel nauseous and want to puke. 'Was he dead?' My heart stopped at that thought. I rubbed my upper arms to get warm. I covered my nose with the shawl and bent down. I hold his right arm and turned his body to see if he was still breathing. But what I saw just made my skin crawled.

At that moment, I wished if I could've died that day, instead of dealing with these horrible incidents. The man was surely dead. I should have come earlier then I could've saved him. 'I killed him. A person died because of me. I am a MURDERER.' I cried and panted. The sight was horrible and too painful. I shivered. I was frozen to that spot for a while. Then I heard footsteps coming from the hallway. 'No I can't let them know about this. Brayden won't be able to take this.' I stood up and gathered some strength. I saw an old, wooden cupboard. I dragged the body with all my strength and pushed the body inside the cupboard. It was filled with old newspapers and documents. I closed the door tightly. I switched off all the lamps and left the room.

When I got up to the library, I remembered that I have forgotten the keys in that cupboard. The footsteps were getting nearer. I don't have time to go back now. I hurriedly pulled the bookshelf . It was heavy but somehow, it closed. I slowly got out of the room and closed the door behind me. I was about to leave when I saw Aunt Rachel coming this way. I switched off my torch and kicked the flower vase stand. Hearing the sound, Aunt Rachel looked sideways and I took the advantage of the darkness and hid behind the curtains. Aunt looked around but seeing no one, she turned for her room.

I hid there for few minutes and then left the mansion. Just as I was about to close the door, I heard a loud scream. The night was silent. Even the sound of the wind is crystal clear. I ignored all screams and ran for my home. But when I reached there, I saw Uncle Matthews and a few foresters gathered in a circle. I pushed through the crowd and reached to the front. Then I saw the body of Mr. Davies, lying at the edge of the lake. It had turned white like chalk. Soon the people called for Mrs. Davies and the other family members. All this while, I just stared at the body of Uncle, cursing myself for all that had happened.

Uncle Matthews came back with Brayden's grandpa , and Brayden hugging his grandpa's legs and shivering. He was crying and fear was painted all over his face. 'But where is Aunt Rachel?' I thought. I walked over to Brayden's side. I was feeling too guilty and pained to talk to him. If he knows about all these incidents, he will hate me forever. I put my hand on his shoulder to comfort him. He burst into tears. I don't know what to say. I looked at his face, as if he was asking me "Why did you let my Dad die? Why didn't you save him?" But it was too late to save him.

Unable to handle it anymore, I spoke "Brayden, calm down. You have to stay strong. Where is your Mom?"

He wiped his tears and said "Yes, I have to be strong and look after my Mom and Grandpa." His grandpa put a hand on Brayden's head and cried. It was too much to handle for the old man at this age. Uncle Liam was his dearest son. His younger son, Mr. Levent Davies, had always stayed away from this place. I've never seen him in person, only heard about him from Uncle Matthews.

"Umm... Grandpa, where is Aunt Rachel?" I asked wiping away my own tears.

"I don't know either, Elif. They called us in such a hurry, I didn't get the time to look for her." He said.

"Okay Grandpa, you stay here with Brayden and I'll go and call Aunt Rachel." Grandpa nodded. They left with Uncle Matthews, for the cremation ground. It was too late for an autopsy. And, it's for the good.

I went to the mansion again. But when I stepped onto the threshold, my shoulders felt heavy. I shivered. I called out, "Aunt Rachel.... Aunt Rachel". There was no response. I went up the stairs, looked into every room. But Aunt Rachel was no where to be seen. Now I got scared. 'Did she find out about that room?' 'No, I can't take up anymore.' I clenched my fist and gulped the stress building in my chest.

I was about to press the wooden button but heard some sound from the other end of the hallway. It was from Aunt Rachel's room. I knocked but the door was half- opened so I entered. I saw there was no one. The armchair was moving and the windows were open. I went to close the windows and felt someone's presence at my back. I peeked over my shoulder but there was no one. I closed the window panes and turned to go out of the room. But the door closed on itself. I got shocked. I kept on rotating the door knob but no use. I sat down. I felt tears coming out from my eyes. I was tired. 'Why is all these happening to me?' I felt like running away from here, from this house, from Calvin, from everyone. It's hurting so much. I felt there was something under the bed. I moved and looked under the bed. There was nothing. But when I stood up, I saw Aunt Rachel sleeping on the bed. She wasn't there before. I freaked.

I walked to her. I gently patted on her arm but she didn't budge. I moved to the other side. I saw her face and I felt my blood drained out of my body. Her face was full of scars and blood was all over. I tried to speak but nothing came out from my mouth. I was hardly breathing. Then I saw her eyes open suddenly. I felt a bit relief but it was scary. "Aunt-" , I tried to say but she suddenly threw me against the door. I cried in pain.

"Elif, go away. Run away. This is Evil. You need to run." Aunt Rachel was screaming. Her voice was cracking. It was too dark, I couldn't see her face clearly. I tried to move forward but I felt my neck was hurting and I can't move an inch. Suddenly, I saw Aunt Rachel moving up. She was floating in the air. I was trembling in fear. I crawled towards the window. Her body was flying in the air. It broke out of the window and the next thing I saw was Aunt Rachel holding onto the window edge and hanging. I tried with all my strength to pull her up but it was not happening. It felt like she was being pulled by someone from down.

"Aunt Rachel, I can't let one more person die." I saw pain in her eyes. She was crying.

"Elif" I looked into her eyes. She was always like a mother to me. She cared for me and always treated me well. "Elif... It's of no use. This will not let me live. I don't have much time left." The same words. "I want you to do something for me. I want you to tell Brayden and Dad to go somewhere away from here. They have to leave this house. It's not safe here. Brayden might not be my real son, but I've loved him more than my life. He has to live. Can you do this for me?" I nodded. 'So all this while, she knew the Truth.'

I heard someone laughing. I turned back to see if someone was there who can help me. But as I turned, Aunt Rachel yelled "I won't let you harm my family." And she left my hand and pushed me. It was all too fast. I looked down the window. She fell but there was a smile on her blood-stained face. I ran away from that room. I went to the back of the mansion and there I saw Aunt Rachel lying on the ground, under the window from where she fell.

I moved near. Under the moonlight, what I saw was a body lying motionless, Aunt Rachel... was Dead . Another Death. 'Everything is going wrong around me. I'm so useless, neither could I save Uncle Liam nor could I save Aunt Rachel.'

It was so cold and dark. There was no one. I saw the blood beside Aunt Rachel's body. "Blood". My voice was barely audible. The sight of blood made my head ache . I felt breatheless. My whole body was trembling. I screamed. I screamed again and again. I walked backwards and ran away. I ran deep and deeper into the woods. My feet was in motion and don't know where is the end. I kept running with just one question buzzing in my mind, 'Why are the people around me keep on dying?' I don't want to live anymore. It's too much pain I'm holding in. 'Why is it so hard?' I was running far and far as Uncle Liam and Aunt Rachel said. I hit on something, I don't know, it looked like a tree. I fell down and there was only darkness in front of my eyes. My eyes were closing. My head was killing me. All I remembered was the pool of Blood. I felt breathless. I parted my lips to scream but I fainted.

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