A Silhouette
1317 Words
It was a sunny day. Elizabeth's favorite. She liked having a warm coffee while sitting in Denies' porch.
She has been keeping it a secret. Louis never allowed anyone to go there. She had the keys so she entered when he was gone. She made sure there was no disgusting smell coming from the walk in closet. Elizabeth never checked on Noel like Ace thought. She was sure he would be long dead by now. Why? Not just a gut feeling, no one has been taking care of him.
She blew a faint blow at her coffee to cool it up as a warm breeze flew by and didn't mess her hair a bit, which was pulled neatly into a bun. She was sitting on a hanging egg chair. It was for Denies of course.
She has been using every machine or object the 16 year girl owned. The girl who should've been living now as an 18 year old college girl. But that old woman was one of the reasons to prevent that from happening.
"Liz"a voice called out. The old woman jumped in her seat. A few boiling hot drops of coffee got spilled on her white blouse. She groaned loudly as she felt the hotness touch her neck. She bit her lips and stood up furiously, cursing Merida, the other maid.
She peeked from the door and when she was sure that no one was there, she walked out.
She walked straight to the kitchen and spilled the coffee in the sink. She put some water on her blouse to clean it up and turned to Merida, who was frowning suspiciously at her.
"Where were you? Didn't you tell me you were going to clean the terrace?"she asked as she was cleaning the kitchen island.
"Yeah, I found this cup of coffee on the table. It's probably Xander, that kid is so reckless"Liz rolled her eyes with a chuckle.
"But Xander doesn't drink coffee"Elizabeth opened her mouth faintly and closed her eyes as she realized what she said.
"Oh yeah, I mean Louis"she smiled at the young woman "You know, he hasn't been in a good mood lately. It's probably why he forgot and left it there."
"Mr. Brown left early today. He wasn't here when I woke up. Beside, you have a coffee stain on your shirt, the coffee is yours, isn't it"she laughed.
"It's not"she yelled. Merida stumbled back and widened her eyes at her. She has never seen the calm old woman shouting before. It was such a rare sight. "I'm sorry I shouted, today isn't the best for me. Anyways, why did you call me?"she took a deep breath then exhaled, trying to calm herself.
"Your p-phone was ringing. The caller id was 'daughter'. I-isn't she de-dead?"Merida bit her lips nervously as she asked this question.
"Umm yes. Yes she is. This girl is like my daughter so that's why I love calling her that. She is like what Denies was to me"The old woman relieved a sigh, faking sadness and sorrow.
"Don't be sad. You should move on, it's better for you. I actually wonder how Mrs. Santiago was like. I hear bad things about her but when you and Mr. Brown talk about her, it seems like she was an angel."
"No. She IS an angel" Elizabeth grinned. Merida shrugged it off like it's nothing and nodded. She didn't think about what the old lady meant at that moment. "I'm going to take a call now, I will come and help you after I finish"Merida nodded before Liz walked away.
She walked to the terrace and dialed the same number. A few rings were heard before the phone was picked up. As soon as the girl on the other side picked up, Elizabeth whisper shouted "Amanda, are you crazy?! Why would you call me? I told you to never do that, I should be the one calling you."
"Mom! It's an emergency. I don't know what happened. I saw a silhouette in the garden. I didn't take it seriously and walked down after 10 minutes or so. Mom, someone had turned the oven on! If I wasn't there at that time, the kitchen would be on fire"she said in one breath.
"Are you sure you aren't the one who turned it on?" Elizabeth asked feeling worried.
"100%"she answered sounding sure.
"That's not good"she stated "Who could it be? Do you have any admirer or enemy at your college?"She asked her daughter.
"I mean, no. It's my first year there and I just made one friend. She's not scary, just a goofy and quiet girl" Amanda answered after thinking for some moments.
"Quiet people are the scariest, Amanda. You should know that very well by now" She laughed. Her daughter rolled her eyes and hung up the call after they said their goodbyes.
Elizabeth took a deep fresh breath. She glanced down as she could see the whole city. Well not whole but nearly. She stood there as if she owned the place. It's like she has taken Denies' mom place and was now acting like her. What a silly old woman.
Meanwhile, Merida was thinking about Elizabeth. She has been working here for two months and so far, she hasn't liked that old woman. She seemed mysterious and suspicious. Like a snake hidden in her clothes. She wondered if she was the only one thinking so. Mr. Brown acted as if she was his mother. It's like he was deceived or hypnotized.
'Ugh what a stupid thought' she huffed at how her mind was wondering off to strange things about this woman. Once, she thought that she was an evil wizard under a disguise of a lovely old woman. 'She can never be a man, right?'
"Oof Merida, stop thinking so stupidly!"she yelled at herself, thinking that she was alone.
"Thinking about?"she heard a gentle voice behind her. She immediately turned around and blushed furiously.
She had a crush on Mr. Hudson for a while. He is Louis' bodyguard, Tyler.
"Umm nothing. I was just singing"she laughed anxiously.
"Oh how lovely, a song has your name in it and with no melody, just lyrics"he laughed while shaking his head at her. She was even more embarrassed. Couldn't she say another reason? "Can you please make me a small sandwich, I haven't ate breakfast today"he lied. He just wanted an excuse to talk to her. She nodded and started making him one.
She made it quickly and handed it to him on a plate. "Your favorite"she smiled softly at him as he thanked her. She kept on secretly admiring him as he was taking bites of the tuna sandwich.
"Who was that man? I saw him get out two days ago. I've never seen him before. I'm pretty sure he was Xander's friend but I'm asking because it was after midnight and I found that quite strange?"she asked him as the sandwich dropped from his hands and fell messily on the plate.
"What? Where did you see him"he stood up and rushed to her. He took her shoulders in his hand, scaring her"Tell me, where?"
"He was in the garden. I was looking out of the window of my room. Don't worry he's probably Xander's friend or something" she stuttered out.
"One of the bodyguards had an emergency so I was there guarding in his place. All of the other guards were sleeping. No one walked out"He said sternly. She gulped down after hearing that.
"PRANK!"she suddenly screamed. He huffed and ruffled with his hair. "Really Merida! I thought you were serious"she gave him a sorry smile. He chuckled, took a last bite of his sandwich and walked out. 'It must be related to Elizabeth. I have to figure this out on my own. Tyler would surely not believe me if I told him that she's suspicious' she thought.
- Writer
