Final Stay at the Manor

As Crystal heard people screaming, “Where are our children?!” from outside, she dropped her fork.

The screams grew louder, and there was the sound of shattered glass, followed by the cries for help. She clenched her jaw as she picked it up.

“Sorry, but what was that?” she asked.

Her assistant, Gemma, drank a glass of water while her hands trembled.

“Nothing,” said Gemma.

Gemma turned away and stared at the ground, her short grey hair covering whatever expression she might have had.

“You heard that, right? I’ll be back.”

“No, Crystal, wait!”

Crystal ran out of the dining room, past the dark corridors with candles, imitation skulls, and books, toward the open air. The odd stench and dust circulated throughout the hall. She coughed as she ran.

I knew this place was trouble the moment I stepped in. Ah, whatever, I should try to be brave!

A crowd of people gathered around a small shed next to the manor, with a dilapidated door and a roof with cracks and pieces missing. The mob had shovels and sticks.

My goodness! They must have broken through the front gate! Now what? I’d better make my escape.

“Not again,” said her assistant’s brother.

Crystal flinched once she heard Victor’s voice. He stood behind her, arms crossed, and eyes on the crowd.

“Is this a regular occurrence?” remarked Crystal.

“I told you not to speak of it,” said Gemma, poking Victor away with her elbow.

“Oww! There’s no use keeping it from her; it’s happening in front of her,” he said.

Crystal faced them and crossed her arms as well. Victor had long grey hair and round glasses.

“May I know what you’re keeping from me?” asked Crystal.

They looked at each other with blank faces and said nothing. So, Crystal sighed and looked at the floor.

“I’m sorry, you have both been hospitable toward me, but it’s time I take my leave,” she said.

Gemma’s brother reached for Crystal's sleeve and said, “I will tell you everything. Stay.”

“Goodbye!” said Crystal.

He gripped her sleeve tightly, enough to rip it off.

“Please, let go of my sleeve,” said Crystal.

He then took her arm; it hurt as she tried to free herself.

“Let go!” yelled Crystal.

She pulled away, and he let go, causing her to fall. Victor chuckled and walked away, leaving Crystal on the floor.

Ouch, that jerk! My elbows are stinging.

“What was the point of that, Victor?” she muttered under her breath.

She saw that the siblings looked at each other. They soon started laughing.

Once I reach home, I’ll definitely fire Gemma.

Crystal watched as Victor mumbled something she didn’t understand, waved his hands around, and soon disappeared.

Where did they go? Am I in a horror movie?!

She looked around for Gemma, who wasn’t there either. Crystal got up and was about to fetch her backpack when she heard even louder screams. Once she returned to the balcony, she saw people dragging a male child out of the shed, whose age was not over ten.

“What?!” yelled Crystal.

Are there actual children in here?! I shouldn’t wait for my belongings. I do need money for the bus…

“Step aside!” yelled Victor.

Crystal watched as Victor, with antlers and strange clothes, created a ring of fire around him. The crowd gasped, and many of them ran away.

“No, you step back! Damien, check for more survivors,” yelled a young man in front of the child.

“Roger that, Leon!” said a voice, but Crystal couldn’t see who said it.

She then noticed that Leon changed into strange clothes in the blink of an eye. He had a white pirate shirt, brown slacks, a long blue coat, and a hat with goggles. Moreover, there were two guns in his hands.

“Ah, it’s unfortunate that you have that weapon,” said Gemma.

“However, it’s even more unfortunate for you that we have our ultimate power, Obstructive Brainwashing!” said Victor.

Victor swung his hands around and created a green orb while Leon fired a bullet. However, an invisible barrier stopped the bullet.

Leon clicked his tongue as all of the mob began to follow him with the sticks and pitchforks.

“Ugh! Snap out of it. It’s not that hard, I promise…” said Leon.

He dodged and fired a bullet at that person.

What? I thought he was on their side? Surely, the brainwashing is temporary!

Crystal shuddered while she ran and retrieved her backpack, only to race out to the balcony again.

Should I hide or should I run?!

“Excuse me, miss…” said a voice.

“I come in peace!” yelled Crystal.

She dropped her backpack to the ground with a slam. There was a sigh, followed by a speck of light that transformed into another young man. This one had half of his face covered with his hair, and he wore glasses.

“You’ve never seen a sprite before. Well, it’s dangerous out there. Follow me,” he said, in a monotonous, almost yawning voice.

How is he so calm? What choice do I have?

“Okay, please lead me outside,” said Crystal.

Damien turned back into a speck of light.

The speck glided down the stairs and said, “Follow me.”

Crystal raced down the steps as her pulse increased even more. Her legs shook as she dodged the bodies of people on the ground. However, one of them rose, followed by the rest of them. Crystal shrieked while avoiding stepping on them.

“Where am I?” said one of them.

They’re not… dead? I just hope they’re not zombies.

Soon, they yelled, “Well, what happened to our children?”

Leon said, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t get them this time.”

“Useless! You aren’t a savior.”

“Please, settle down,” said Damien, transforming from a speck back into a person.

The people all left at once, aside from Crystal.

Damien said, “Good thing I always carry a water stone!”

He threw it into the growing flames, and smoke formed while it became soot.

“What the hell!” said Leon.

He pressed his watch and changed as if his clothes were breaking down into a hoodie and jeans. He sat down on the grass and buried his face in his arms.

“How did you do that?” asked Crystal.

Her eyes glittered after she saw that magic did exist, and it wasn’t some excuse that criminals used.

“Long story,” he said.

“Damn it, those kidnappers! We should call the police,” said Crystal.

She pulled out her cellphone.

“The police don’t believe in this matter. According to their records, the children are all dead,” said Leon.

“Oh, no...” said Crystal.

She swallowed hard and placed her phone back into her bag.

“I’ll get them. Don’t worry, they’ll keep him alive,” he said.

“How do you know that?” said Crystal.

Am I imagining things, or is that a piano and a violin I hear? Must be someone’s phone.

“I was a victim once, too. Anyway, glad to meet you. I’m Leon,” he said, scratching his head.

“I’m Crystal.”

He smiled. He had deep black hair with green highlights and was skinny.

“I’m glad I harmed no one in this fight,” he said.

“How, though? I thought you shot them,” said Crystal

“Nope. My right gun only makes people unconscious for twenty minutes. It’s good for scaring people away,” said Leon.

“Oh… Good,” said Crystal, clasping her hands together.

“Let’s search for more captives,” said Leon.

She took him to the interior of the manor, and they searched the strange house full of archaic oddities. It was full of strange porcelain dolls and odd musical instruments like rusted flutes. The cushion cases were all satin, and there were candles in every corner.

“I’ve got the feeling they wanted to kidnap me, too,” said Crystal.

Leon picked up a skull from a corner that had a candle underneath.

“It’s better to leave…” said Leon.

One of the walls began to crumble.

“Something is happening to the walls… Run!” said Crystal.

Every turn they took led to walls caving in. All those items came falling. It filled the air with white dust and powder, and Crystal had no time to think. The crashing sounds made Crystal’s ears ache.

At last, they made it outside. They were panting from all that running.

“Thanks for saving my life… I’m very careless, and I take a while to notice something. You’re very lucky to have escaped with all your belongings,” he said.

“Yeah… No problem,” said Crystal, smiling.

He reached inside his pocket and held a box in his hand.

“It was meant for someone else, but I think it will suit you,” he said.

Huh?!

It was a locket that was shaped just like his watch.

“Was it for your some girl who rejected you?” asked Crystal.

“Oh goodness, no. I probably won’t ever tell her. She will definitely reject me,” he said.

“That sucks.”

I don’t even know this guy, and I’m already jealous.

Crystal smiled at the locket, which was golden and filled with green gems with a dark pink rose in the center.

“Sorry, but I can’t accept this.”

“Are you sure? The locket has chosen you.”

“What do you mean?”

Is this some absurd pick-up line?

“It kept ringing with music once you came near. It’s magical, just like my watch.”

He then took out a card that had Myrtle Costume Jewelry in bold letters on it.

“In case you want to buy more of it,” he said.

“Wow, what a business strategy,” said Crystal, slamming her palm into her face.

Leon laughed and said, “Rent and tuition ain’t cheap, you know. Anyway, let me get you some transport. Is the bus okay? Go home.”

Crystal hailed a cab instead. Leon waved goodbye while Crystal smiled.

In the cab, she opened the locket packaging and wore it. The words written on the paper backing were “Good luck to you.”

She kept looking at it all the way home. It could be opened, and inside there was a tiny, ticking clock.

I just hope that there's nothing suspicious about this pendant.

Crystal reached home and checked her phone, and she saw she had a text from Gemma.

“I quit.”

She would fire Gemma anyway. What was Gemma expecting?

Crystal paid the driver, entered her apartment, and sighed.

Who’s going to pack the whole autumn collection now that Gemma is gone? Me, only me… I’m exhausted.

While Crystal slept, her phone rang with missed calls from Yasmin.