Part 5

"Oh, so many books.."

I said this as I slowly pushed the wheelchair into the room.

"Elena told me that you are very addicted to books."

When I stopped the wheelchair in one corner of the book room and looked at her, she nodded her approval.

"So... what book are you reading today..?"

Walking between two rows of tall bookshelves, I heard that and turned back to her.

Her hand was reaching for a book in the middle of the second shelf, and I picked it up. But suddenly the house bell rang, and I quickly placed the book on her lap and left the room.

"Mrs. Serena, someone is here.. I'll be back soon."

After saying that to her, I quickly ran towards the front main gate of the bungalow.

I saw a rather fat, middle-aged looking man and a daughter who looked to be about twelve years old, but I didn't know who it was.

"Good morning, children.."

He said it very politely.

"Good Morning.. "

I also responded by looking at the little girl and him in turn.

"My name is Giuseppe.. I am the one who cleans the grounds of this garden.."

"Ah.. I didn't know that before, Giuseppe.. I'm really new to this bungalow.."

I said it guiltily.

"It doesn't matter, children.. then I will start my work.. "

"This is my daughter Federica.. She often comes to the bungalow.. to spend time with Mrs. Serena."

He wanted to say it while touching his daughter's head.

"Good Giuseppe.. Come Federica.. Let's go to Mrs. Serena.. "

As Giuseppe left on his errands, little Federica followed me into the bungalow.

"Are you Amelya?"

She posed her first question as such.

"Ah.. Does Federica know my name too..?"

I asked.

"No.. I have been told by my sister Emma about you.."

She said it with a very beautiful smile.

Of course, that past Saturday ended with a heavy day of work duties. Federica, who comes here two or three times a week, has been a great help to me, being an informed nanny about Mrs. Serena's many needs. After asking her many things that I did not know, I started cleaning the inside of the bungalow, carefully handling the old household appliances there. Until I finished all those activities, I was a little out of the loop because I spent time with Ms. Federica and Serena.

Having taken the afternoon meal from the bungalow, they had left again with the beginning of evening, so again only Mrs. Serena and I were left in the bungalow. Since it was gradually getting colder, Mrs. Serena and I stood in front of the fireplace at the end of the porch.

"Don't you like to read books?"

Looking out the large window in the hall, I turned towards Mrs. Serena because of her cold hands caressing her.

"Why not... I really like it.."

I told her to look at her letters.

"Do you mind if I borrow books from Ms. Serena's little library..?"

When I asked her, she closed her eyes for a moment and nodded her head up and down approvingly. They were somewhat affected by this feeling of loneliness and felt it as a great comfort to me.

"Shall I bring a book..?"

I asked, tilting my head like a little girl. Placing her cold hand on my head, she stared at me with unspoken pain.

"I will come.. soon.."

Kissing his hand, I quickly entered the book room. Passing one bookshelf after another, I returned to the hall with a few selected books.

More than a week has passed since the trip. I was slowly getting used to the time spent with Mrs. Serena and the duties of the Kassoli bungalow. Although it was comforting that those supernatural events that happened on the first day spent here did not happen again, I was still not ready to forget the words I heard that day.

But, as there is no clue, I still haven't gotten a chance to find the end of the story. Even though I felt that Mrs. Serena knew all this, I was not able to hurt her feelings by hearing any of it from her.

In the fortnight that I had, seven days had passed, and the third Saturday of December was dawning. Since Christmas was only a week away, I started cleaning the whole bungalow, starting from one corner. After giving Ms. Serena her breakfast and medicine, I sat her in the room and had to clean the downstairs. After cleaning all the dusty books in the book room and packing them again, I looked for a moment at that book that I suddenly saw.

There was no name mentioned in the book with a thick black cover. Out of curiosity, I carefully flipped through its pages, one by one. Among those pages that had turned yellow, disfigured people were painted here and there. Those pictures, which could be thought to have been drawn by someone suffering from severe mental illness, managed to shock even my mind.

Many of the paintings there were defaced by drawing human figures of various shapes and drawing sacrificial inscriptions all over them. Some other paintings had human bodies but deformed animal faces. Pictures of people taking their own lives with sharp weapons were also spread among them.

'Who might have drawn these pictures..? '

'Whoever it is, it is certain that these pictures were drawn by a person suffering from severe mental pressure...'

' But who is that? Was he trying to tell me in the dream about this person who drew pictures? '

An endless number of questions were plaguing me. But somehow I have to solve the hidden secrets of this mysterious bungalow that no one even hears about. It would be comforting to Mrs. Serena, as well as to the unnamed.

I left the half-cleaned book room when the wall clock said nine-twenty in the morning.

After staying at the Kassoli bungalow for a week, I prepared to go out for the first time. Assuring Giuseppe and his daughter Federica would be here in a few minutes, I got ready as quickly as possible and entered Mrs. Serena's room.