CHAPTER 4: Out

Soundtrack: "Nostalgic Dream" - https://youtu.be/DLWqxqMYlXE

"It's about time we approve that you're ready... To go out there"

"... Out... There?" Vanessa tilted her head sideways promptly in wonder. In her entire life until now, her world only consisted of the Dutchwell estate and the forest surrounding them not exceeding 10 kilometers. "But I do go outside some times, I even went to the river with Eva to catch fish last week".

"That's not what we were referring to" Christopher interrupted. Wesley continued the other other male's statement himself. "What we mean is... It's time for you to explore what's beyond the world you know of and grew up in all these years."

"Far beyond 10 kilometers away" Goldilocks finished. Blinking fast a few times, the human lass was speechless. She idly sat up from her lying position for she wasn't quite certain on how to react to their unexpected announcement. The term 'world beyond' sounded so foreign upon her ears. Like a giant boulder suddenly catapulted onto a peaceful lake. The rest of the family members understood the silence within her shocked expression. So with a distinct nonverbal communication between them, they agreed to explain further.

The Dutchwell mother, Mrs. Meredith, clacked her black heels forward and sat on the opposite side of where Goldilocks sat on the pastel bed chamber, making the youngest female positioned at the center. "You see dear, yonder the rich and deep forest surrounding our home, there lies thousands or even millions of homes like ours. And those houses are inhabited by families too, just like us."

"However, the world outside has its differences and oddities that you may not be familiar about. So, err... We think it would be beneficial for you to see and examine the unique wonders of the outside. Well we're not saying that we're in control of when you're allowed to go or anything, but... We're just waiting for your answer if you're interested."

She patted her head slowly and lovingly, reassuringly showing that there's no need to rush or force out an immediate response from the girl. The brunette lowered her head a bit, indicating that she appreciated the head pats, but her mind was still focused on processing all of the information she received just now.

Something suddenly clicked in her. "Hold on... Explore the outside? How so exactly? What am I supposed to do out there specifically?". She asked. "Umm... Well, we thought about it and—" Evangeline tried to explain.

"School. Coleñio de San Francillo Jaquer. CSFJ for short. Down at West Point, Re— Ow!" Benedict cut the dark auburn-haired female off but he got jabbed on the head hard with a dull axe halfway by Wesley. Black liquid that smelled of metallic, rotten organs spurted out and dripped all over his body, staining the floor in the process. None of the individuals in the room minded that much, not even the human child. It was like they all got used to witnessing gory scenes like this that occurs within their home once in awhile. "You idiot! One at a time! Don't make her more confused than she already is!" the angry male raised his voice. Not too long, the impaled male's spilled blood slowly crawled back up to its owner, the half-open head sluggishly regenerating as well.

"School? You mean a school of fish?" Vanessa tilted her head to the right innocently, whilst crossing her arms and rubbed it with her hands faster, for the room temperature seems to drop down further every minute ever since the whole family (except the father) grouped in the human's bedroom.

"Allow me to clarify," Christopher offered. He sat on the end of the bed, two meters away from the girl (the pastel bed chamber was quite large, more than enough to support her figure until adulthood, that is, if she will not desire renovations). "School is a kind of educational facility for learning. You've been homeschooled all this time, but outside, there's a school where you get to learn with kids your age too."

"My... Age? Like, eight-year-olds? Not 184 like mom? Or 159 like you Chris?"

"Err... Yes"

There was a long-term silence from the girl as a reply. She crouched her back forwards, lowering her head then slid her feet to hug her knees and rest her forehead on her knee joint. Ultimately, she looked up. "Uhh... If you don't mind, can we continue this tomorrow? I'd like some alone time to think this through". The rest glanced at each other. "Well of course dear, take as much time you want", Mrs. Meredith consoled.

"Thank you..." Vanessa muttered before giving out a loud yawn.

"Good morning then Nesy"

"Good morning"

~♥~

Eyebrows arched onto each other and eyelids flickered open, dragging along chocolate-brown eyelashes with them. The pair of eyes pursed tight before they blinked slowly a few times before they were finally wide open. Their owner shifted her gaze to the alarm clock on her bedside table. And it's read 11:30 AM. 'It's too early, I should go back to sleep', is what the girl thought. But no matter how many twists and turns she makes to fall back asleep, all attempts were futile.

Sighing, she gave up trying. She let her mind wander to where her thoughts will take her. Eventually, lingered to the pending decision deadlined tonight. 'Hmm... What should I do?' she pondered. Relocating her attention to view outside the window, she noticed the sun shining brightly. Figuring that she won't be feeling sleepy anytime soon, she chose to continue her thoughts outside.

No one was awake at daytime, at least that's what the brunette concluded to herself. But accurately, everyone strangely disappears at daytime. Even if the girl searches in all the rooms of the manor, or shouts as loud as she can for their names, all were pointless. The entire estate resembles a former home reeking in abandonment during the day. Whenever she asked them about it they always change the topic or not answer at all, so she gave up being too nosy.

Which also meant that no one will be able to interfere with her feet skipping along the bright hallways, opening the gargantuan, antique front doors leading outside. She gasped and widened her eyes slightly, this was her first time stepping on the ground with the light of the sun's radiance instead of the moon's. And she instantly thought of how much she regretted not trying this sooner.

She passed by the ground's front terrace composed of various types of gardens. From flowers, to herbs (for the crops and vegetables were settled on the backyard). All of the edible plants were mainly for the human's consumption alone, the rest of the residents either have "unique" diets or simply don't require food ingestion. The lass was too behaved regarding this matter, choosing to ignore the quaint arrangement rather than question them about it.

On the 8-meter, polished stone pathway apropos from the front doors to the main gate where she currently walks on, there were scattered human bones everywhere, but only limited in the stony trail. Some were pounded to rough dust, while others were still recognizable that they were skulls, joints, and etc. And again, neither of the family members nor the maids and butlers would dare tell the girl the truth behind this. The young human remained oblivious to countless things.

At last, Vanessa reached the humongous main gate. She touched the iron bars then trailed her fingers along the vintage, curvy lever. She didn't need to move it sidewards and push the heavy iron barrier, for the gate itself seemed to have a will of its own. And when it sensed that the organism who touched it is a member of the family who owns the estate, it automatically started to creak open.

A gust of warm wind blew towards the female's fragile form, and she could feel adrenaline rush inside of her.

"This is it... I'm actually doing this"