Chapter 126: Chapter 126

Half an hour prior...

The dinner had been as successful as Geneva would have wanted. She was just as happy as any mother would be about seeing her son once again when she thought all hope had been lost.

She had also specifically restricted it to the family only, as the outside world only speculated on what had happened to Ian, but no one was privy to its details. It was the main reason that the wedding pictures and other media were edited to include him. Even the many ’obstacles’ of the day had proved to be no problem for Geneva at the end of that fateful day as she remained in all smiles.

Geneva and Alex retired for the day after Ian and the small team had left. Geneva’s reservations and tiny dilemma that had risen as a result of Ian’s actions from that morning had already been shelved by the time her head hit the pillow for the night.

Currey, on the other hand, had mainly been missing from the dinner that evening because he had an important task to complete.

Very far away from the estate, in one of the main plum tree orchards, Currey appeared soundlessly in the dense trees. It was very dark all around, but not a single soul was in sight.

He had a load on his small back that looked very ridiculous to any eye that would have chanced upon him. The load was so huge that one would wonder how he was able to shoulder such a sizeable load without succumbing to its weight.

He walked straight through the neatly arranged rows of trees, glancing around and nodding in satisfaction at the work done there. Currey did not break a sweat despite that load on his shoulder, hanging low on his back and almost touching the floor as he walked, heading deeper into the woods.

When Currey arrived at the spot he wanted, he dropped the load with a thump and flicked invisible dirt off his shoulders. Currey stretched out his neck and then turned it left and then right, cracking it until he let out a sigh that echoed in the quiet night.

He turned to his left at an open field; hesitating a bit, he turned back to the dense trees again and nudged one tree with his foot, making it fall on its side. The tree was uprooted from its very roots, with its roots lying visibly on the side.

He glanced indifferently at the empty hole. Even in the darkened orchard, Currey clearly saw his surroundings as if it were day. He opened the load that had been on his back, showing the lifeless and cold, stiffened body of the worker who had been killed that afternoon.

Currey effortlessly picked up the body and then dumped it into the gaping hole. He bent and anchored the tree, sliding and pushing it up right back into the hole on top of the body. He pushed the disturbed earth right back below the tree, firming the earth.

After this, Currey placed his hand on the tree and closed his eyes. The tree glowed in the dark. The dense trees slightly obscured a bright shade of green light that was visible for miles around.

It was a peculiar phenomenon that would have been seen from afar, except that there was no one to see. After this, Currey brought out his handkerchief and cleaned his hands, disappearing in the same way as he had arrived with no evidence of what he had just accomplished. Pedro, the worker, was gone, and no one would ever find a trace of him! Currey’s work was done.

Back at the estate, and after all their employers had left, the workers went into a party mode. There were so many delicacies that were not part of their daily lives. It was not as if the Thornston residence workers were not cared for at all.

All workers in the estate were treated like family, and their meals were superb, but on this night, they were enthused. The tables were overflowing with all sorts of meals that they did not even know where to start or end. The highlight for them was, of course, being able to taste Ava’s dishes, which were initially served.

Light music was playing in the background, and some danced to their contentment.

They had been slightly reserved in the presence of their employers, but with them absent, all hell broke loose, and they let themselves go.

Such festive modes were rare in the estate, and they took full advantage of that, partying and enjoying themselves deep into that night! They were assured of never disturbing anyone as their masters’ sleeping quarters were so far apart and far from where they were.

The three children sat there for a while after finishing their meals. They had minimal activity in their lives, and seeing the live atmosphere, they enjoyed it passively as much as they could. It was Ingrid and Gabriel, more so than Samantha.

Gabriel was the first to start dozing off.

"Let’s go!" Samantha said and got her chair without waiting for them. Ingrid pushed her glasses up her nose, stifling a yawn herself. She nudged Gabriel.

"Let’s go," she also whispered.

Gabriel rubbed his tired eyes and slid off the chair, timidly following his two sisters as they made their way back into the estate and into their new rooms.

Samantha went with Gabriel into his room first. Despite her cold outlook and the fact that she did not like her new parents, Samantha was still a dutiful older sister. She helped Gabriel shed his clothes and bathe, then change into his pyjamas.

She tucked him into bed. "Goodnight, Gabriel,"

"Goodnight, Sam," After Samantha was satisfied, she turned off the light, re-entered her room and locked the door behind her.

With the turning of the lock, Gabriel shrunk down in his covers.

He pulled the covers up to his nose, leaving his eyes straining wide to look around the darkened room. Gabriel had never slept alone before as far back as he could remember. The thrill of the room died off then. The room now looked so big and scary to his young eyes.

His eyes peeked left, then right, taking in all the small abnormal sounds around. All of a sudden, his heart dropped. On the walls, there looked to be a growing shadowy arm stretching out with each passing second. Gabriel’s heart began to pound heavily, and he shrunk back even more, fear clouding his senses.

He scrambled down from the bed and ran towards Samantha’s connecting door right then. He pounded loudly, looking back frantically at the same time.

"Sam?! Open up! Please!"

No matter how much Gabriel hit on the door with his small hands, Samantha did not open up. However, the tentacled hand continued to grow steadily on the wall.

Gabriel gave up after a few minutes and dashed towards the opposite direction to Ingrid’s door. Luckily for him, this was not locked. He twisted the handle and barged into the room just as Ingrid was about to get into her bed.

Ingrid reached for her nightstand and put her glasses back on.

Ingrid furrowed her eyebrows and looked at her younger brother. She wondered why he was there at that time, and then she noticed.

"What is it, Gabriel? What happened?" She got off the bed and then rushed towards Gabriel, who looked to be on the verge of tears.

Ingrid had never in her life seen Gabriel like that.

"Can I sleep with you?"

Ingrid did not understand, but after studying her little brother for a while, she seemed to deduce the problem, even though she was not too sure.

It was normal for Gabriel to be scared as he had never slept alone. The apprehension and panic were still on his being. Ingrid wiped away his sweat and hugged him.

"Of course, you can sleep with me. Why do you even ask?"

Ingrid held his hand and led him to her bed. She got on, and Gabriel got in by her after she had scooted in.

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

Gabriel shook his head. He was a little embarrassed to say it.

The two of them then pulled the covers up, preparing for bed. Ingrid leaned over Gabriel and turned off her bedside lamp. However, it didn’t take long for a similar thing to happen.

Gabriel hid under the blanket and held on tightly to Ingrid, shaking a bit.

Their new rooms were very spacious, but that also added to the possibility that some things might lurk in corners, at least in their minds. There looked to be many places for whatever Gabriel was scared of to hide.

This time, Ingrid did not answer because she was also encased in her own small fear square. However, knowing that Gabriel was scared, she did not want to say that out loud.

"Can we go to Mama Shelby? I want to sleep with her."

At that moment, Ingrid was not thinking. She knew what they had to do. She bolted up and put on the lights. A few moments later, they found themselves at Shelby’s doorway. Ingrid had never entered that room, but it was like a second home for Gabriel.

"W-hat if, M-ama Sh-elby is asleep?" Ingrid asked as they got there, hesitation stepping in.

"It’s okay. Mama Shelby would not mind. Besides, there is light under the door."

Gabriel opened the door slightly and peeked in, seeing Shelby on top of Ian. He brightened and stepped back to Ingrid, "It’s okay to go in, Ingrid-"

Ingrid relaxed before Gabriel added,

"Mama Shelby is here... I even see Dad, too!"

Ingrid stiffened, but Gabriel had already dragged her into the room, closing the door behind them.

They were safe from their fear triggers in their room, but were they safe from whatever was waiting for them inside their new mother’s room?

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