Page 23
WHAT
IS
HAPPENING?!!
Hazel could barely hear a thing happening around her at the moment. Why on earth is there an ancient painting of her in some secret room in a house where she worked as a maid?!!
This painting was unmissable a painting of her….but like ancient art.
She was wearing clothing going way back as far as in the '80s or '60s maybe. Her brown hair was piled in a bun and her eyes were the same colour as hers.
It was unmistakable.
This is a painting of her!
But how…
"Hazel!" Chole called
Hazel turned to her, her expression unreadable.
"Are you okay? We have to leave now. Its almost midnight " Chole announced moving closer.
"Yeah, I'm okay. " Hazel smiled
"Come on" Chole heads towards the door.
Hazel took a picture with her phone and covered up the painting. The trio hurried out of the room as quietly as they could.
"The cabinet!" Chole reminded
"Right" Orna pulled the cabinet back in place within five seconds and they hurried towards the entrance where a guard stepped in, a gun in hand.
The girls exchanged looks, not sure what to make of the tiny little twist here.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, his eyes unreadable behind his dark shades.
Orna had a lot to say about the guard's sense of fashion but now isn't the time for that is it?
"I'm the assistant chief of staff. I wanted to make sure everything in here is in order" Hazel smiled
He glanced at both Orna and Chole with clear suspicion.
"I needed help. They're here to assist me" Hazel assured
"Looks like he still has his suspicions. Tell me something Mister, who wears a pair of shades indoors and at night?" Orna asked
"Orna!" Hazel cautioned
"What? He's the one being suspicious" Orna muttered in the complaint.
"Enough Orna!" Chole cautioned
The guard took off his shade, making Orna feel terrible for what she just said. He had a horrible scar on the left eye, a brutal line from his brows down to his lower eyelid.
"I. I didn't realise…"
"You shouldn't be seen here by this hour. You should go to bed miss" The guard offered, giving Hazel a slight bow.
"S..sure. Come on "
They took their leave, Orna feeling terrible for what she had just said as they returned to the staff quarters in silence. Whatever they had to say to each other can be done behind closed doors.
Chole shuts the door behind her, leaning her head on the frame as Hazel settles on the tiled floors, Orna right beside her.
"That was close" Chole concluded as she joined them, leaning on her bed frame.
"Tell me about it!" Orna replied "I didn't realise he might have a scar…" she muttered.
"I wouldn't have known that myself. It's not your fault" Chole pats her
"And once again, learn to mind your business? Why and where he wears his shades has nothing to do with you'' Chloe adds
"I'll just apologise tomorrow." Orna smiled, already back to her jovial self once again.
"Agreed" Hazel smiled
"But that room sort of made my day. I found that pipe thing that lights the fire. I only see those things in movies Chole admits
"See, that room is a tiny museum," Orna said, beaming in pride.
After all, she was the one who discovered the room in the first place.
"Although, half the things in there belong to a lady for sure. From her hairpins to her jewellery" Choke informs.
"You found jewellery?" Orna asked with wide-open eyes.
"Yeah. A few pieces. The owner of the box probably doesn't fancy such or half of it was stolen or taken before it was kept in that room" Chole offered
"I'll see for myself" Orna smiled mischievously
"It's great seeing things like that but Orna, don't pick anything from that room. Who knows, that room might be haunted" Chole informs
"And since when did you start believing in ghosts?" Orna asked in suspicion
"What is that supposed to mean?" Choke asked
"As far as I know, you don't read fiction and yet you believe in ghosts" Orna arched an eyebrow.
"Back me up here Zel," Chole pleaded
Hazel was long lost. I'm her thoughts, barely paying attention to the discussion.
"Zel? Are you okay? You seem a bit lost back there" Chole asked
"Yeah and a bit quiet too" Orna adds
"I'm fine. " Hazel assured
"Or, she needs a lot of rest. It's quite an exhausting day if you were to ask me. Day one of our crazy job and so much has happened" Orna's odds
"True. We should get some sleep. It's pretty late" Chole advised
"I'll take Hazel's bed. I can't have Zam asking where I was. It's really hard to tell a lie around those soul-digging eyes of hers" Orna explained, earning laughter from both Chole and Hazel.
"Orna? I thought she's your gist buddy" Chole asked
"Gist buddy? Yes. Nosy roomie? I didn't sign up for that" Orna shook her head
The rest of the night passed by in a blur, Hazel could barely believe everything that happened in just one day!
What would happen in a year?
And why on earth is there a painting of her in some secret room? And what triggered her hallucinations this time?
Hazel needed answers and she had no idea where to get them. From who? And when?
Should she tell Chole and Orna about it?
No, that would only make them worry about her nonstop.
But what is she going to do now? She needs to get some pulls for her hallucinations at least.
First thing tomorrow morning, she's going to call her psychologist and get answers to her current health-mental problem….
Hazel was glad Orna chose to sleep on her bed or she'd have trouble sleeping…
Nit when she had the craziest hallucinations just a few hours ago.
After thirty minutes of her mind wandering here and there aimlessly, she fell asleep.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The next day welcomed the trio with loud alarms ringing through the speakers.
None of the girls moved from their beds, staring at the lights on the ceiling.
"I don't feel like myself" Orna moaned
"I feel like a heavy bag of potatoes" Chole replied
"Hazel?" Orna taps her.
Hazel whined as she embraced Orna like a little child.
"I don't want to wake up!!" She whined
"We might have an excuse to give Gwen but you have nothing to say for yourself assistant head of staff" Orna laughed
"You're not helping Orna" Hazel whined
"Oh, I'm aware and I'm glad I didn't get picked for such a tedious task. You have to be an example for the others" Orna started, preparing to read a whole book of Hazel's responsibilities.
"Stop Orna or you'll have one week of veggies and nothing else" Hazel warned
"What am I? A kid?" Orna replied
"Oh trust me Orna, I have way too much power in my hands already" Hazel tickles Orna who laughed to her heart's content.
"Come on you two, we have a day to get ready for!" Chole cautioned
"Coming mum!" Hazel teased
"Yeah, yeah. I bet you'll have a lot of explaining to do when Gwen gets here" Chole reminded
"You are such a killjoy!" Orna snapped.
The duo got out of bed and headed to the bathroom after picking up their towels and toiletries bag.
The bathroom was steaming with the majority of the warm bath we were having.
Images of last night flashed in her memory but this time….
What happened after she drowned…
First a shadow of a man….then a big white bear….
Then darkness again.
"Hazel, can you believe Orna? She wants to turn this place into a shower fashion show" Chole laughed
"What?" Hazel puzzled
"What? It would be amazing" Orma beamed
"What's going to be amazing about a shower fashion walkway? Are you serious right now?" Chole asked
"Think about it. Water running down your body, bringing out all those sexy curves" Orna said dreamily
"Orna, whatever you do, marry someone who matches your energy or else?" Chole flicks her tongue.
"Of course, I will marry someone who matches my energy. It would be boring to marry someone who's always so serious and realistic. Sheez" Orna made a disgusted face.
Chole laughed
The shower went on smoothly and they were soon ready for the day's job. Hazel had to report to Vincenzo's room to do some cleaning.
Breakfast preparations were going on and Chole was doing a great job at monitoring things.
She knocks on the door quietly, dreading the fact that she had to come face to face with him after what happened…
"Come in"
Hazel took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She's going to be fine…
Right?
Hazel turns the knob and steps into Vincenzo's room. She scanned the room for him but he was nowhere in sight.
Not sure if that was a good sign, she steps in and shuts the door behind her
Vincenzo walks out of his closet, his white shirt lose, exposing his well-chiselled chest….