Chapter Thirteen
Edward rose in a mixture of shock and amazement, the couple doing same. They stood speechless as Nelly interrogated their daughter.
"Who told you, the dog?" Nelly asked on.
Anna shook her head negatively.
"Your friend?"
She nodded affirmatively.
"Does this friend of yours, have a name?"
The little girl made no response, but quickly turned and darted out of the house, under the inquisitive gaze of everyone.
"I bet my whole account she knows something we don't." Nelly spoke first.
"She's five!" Beatrice snapped angrily, making the first run. She was followed quickly by Alex and Edward.
"Argh!" Nelly growled. "I hate kids."
They met Anna standing at the far end of the backyard, staring down lucidly.
"What is it honey?"
They got no response.
"Anna, why did you bring us out here?" Beatrice asked again, slowly.
The little girl said nothing, but pointed to a corner of the house close to the hedge. It was overgrown with thick weeds, and Alex wasted no time as he began tearing them off with his hands bare. Edward joined him, but pricked his finger on a thorn.
"Ouch! That hurt."
They opened the bush to reveal a small stairway leading downwards to a door.
In silence, Beatrice went down first, followed closely behind by Alex.
"Aren't you coming?" Edward asked Nelly, halfway down.
"There's no way I'm going in there."
"Chicken." He taunted, moving on.
Entering through the opened door, Edward covered his nose as an offensive smell hit his nostrils.
On seeing the gruesome sight in front, he turned and threw up.
"Good Lord." Alex muttered under his breath.
In front of them was a dark bloody scene; lifeless bodies hanging almost everywhere to the ceiling and most lying carelessly on the floor on the blood stained floor. All had one thing in common - empty eye sockets.
"Whoever did this was a monster." Beatrice mumbled shakily. "Nothing but a monster."
"Guys?" Nelly called from above, her eyes fixed on the dog whose face and paws were covered in blood.
"You so definitely need to come see this."