CHAPTER 2: CLOSE CALL

Upon arriving in her room, she locked the door and closed the balcony doors before drawing the curtains shut. She sat on her incredibly fluffy bed and decided she needed a bath to clear her head. She certainly didn't expect the bathroom to be so nice; it had a bathtub and shower. It temporarily took her mind away from the previous incident. At least she could enjoy a bubble bath. The water was warm and steamy... it was a wonderful experience.

Susan found her pajamas in the box where her clothes were stored. She changed into them and opened the balcony curtains and doors. Standing outside, she enjoyed the evening breeze as it tousled her beautiful bright blue hair, and the cool air made her smile. She hoped that things would remain as quiet and peaceful as they were at that moment. Amid her tranquility, she recalled what had happened in the library and wondered if she was the only one noticing these strange occurrences. With her thoughts racing, she returned to the room and checked her purse for her phone.

When she took out her phone, the paper she picked up from the library slipped out and fell to the ground. She recognized it and picked it up. Upon closer inspection, she noticed it was a family photo that was hand-painted with watercolors. A man and a woman, presumably husband and wife, stood with three boys. The two older boys appeared to be around ten years old and looked almost identical, though their hair colors contrasted. The younger boy, who appeared to be around four years old, was being carried by the man. They were all dressed in English clothing that resembled the attire of wealthy people from the medieval ages, complete with frills and elaborate designs.

On further examination, she noticed that the woman had a baby bump. The photo seemed to have been taken next to a tree, which, although smaller, looked strikingly similar to the one in their front yard. She wondered if this family had once lived in the mansion as well.

Susan checked her phone and noticed she had missed calls from her friends. Realizing it was late and past her bedtime, she decided it was time to go to bed. She placed the photo on the side desk and got into bed. However, she found it difficult to sleep, so she played some music. As she stared at the ceiling, her thoughts began to drift. She thought about her friends, the mansion, the library, the photo, her family, herself, and even the people she might meet soon. She reflected on the silence in the room and hoped for ongoing tranquility before finally drifting off to sleep.

At night, Susan was the only one asleep. Liam worked on assignments while their parents were still busy with various tasks. As Susan slept, an uninvited guest entered through her balcony. The creature zipped towards her bed, and bright lime green eyes looked down at her. The eyes resembled those of a reptile, with narrow pupils that contracted horizontally, giving it a piercing gaze.

The figure drew closer to her face and opened its mouth, revealing razor-sharp teeth. It sounded hungry and lunged toward the poor girl's head. Just then, the room door opened, and the creature quickly escaped through the balcony. Susan's mother entered the room, saw that Susan was asleep, and wished her daughter sweet dreams before leaving. Outside, the creature appeared satisfied with its visit, as it had gotten what it came for. Then, it disappeared into the night.

Morning arrived, and Susan woke up with her hair tousled. She felt strange but couldn’t pinpoint why. Ignoring her instincts, she yawned and prepared herself before heading to breakfast.

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