Chapter Three

Nicholas Brown

I emerged from the bathroom a few hours later with a towel wrapped around my waist. The afternoon sun seemed to have set. Water dripped down from my slightly long hair, running along the length of my spine, only to be absorbed by the towel. I waste no time In drying myself and putting on a pair of fresh clothes. I open the doors to the window and sigh at the refreshing cold air that sneaked in, brushing against my clean body. I take a deep breath and turn towards the table where I had placed the box containing Veronica's letters.

Heading over, I carefully pull out the later bunch and untie them, spending them over the table. In order to figure out what happened to Veronica, I had to know what happened the days following her arrival here in Westhill. For that, I had to read all of her letters and maybe they will shed a light. I pull the chair and sit down, opening the next letter.

Dear Nicholas,

I am now in Westhill, but my heart is with you, aching because I cannot understand what has caused this drift between us. I waited for you at the station, hoping so much that you'd come to see me and bit farewell, even if not for reconciliation.

I had no energy to do anything. I couldn't eat anymore, not without thinking about the several meals we had together. I realised that nobody could help me because I couldn't help myself. There was a certain pain all over, and I still don't know why. My mind felt like it was dying day by day. It felt like I was stuck in a mess I had created but didn't know how to come out of it. And this feeling refused to go away Until I stepped foot in Westhill.

There is something about this place, something beautiful and warm. It's not a big city like Sendai, but it sure is a place where you'd absolutely fall in love. I met a man called Mr Brighton today. He owns most of the town, including the school in which I've been enrolled as a teacher - Brighton school for boys. He's so very kind and generous to these children, and, the people of the town seem to worship him. He also owns the house which I have taken aboard and, Oh, Nick, this is exactly like the house we spoke about buying once we got married. You would have loved it, if only….I will always be waiting, even if it takes a million years for you to respond

With all my love,

Veronica Grimm

Whatever guilt I had in my heart only doubled after reading the letter. The thing is, I hadn't read any one of her letters, but when I got words from the boys on the street that she was leaving, I stood behind a pillar, clothed in a costume that she wouldn't identify me in and watched her. I watched her check her pocket watch and briefly pace the area. I watched her fake a smile to her father, occasionally looking around her for any signs of me. And yet, I hit in the shadows, not wanting her to spot me. Mentally saying goodbye to the only woman I have ever loved. Had I known that her life would be in danger, I would have run out of the shadows that day and embraced her; begged her to take me back.

With these heavy thoughts of guilt, regret and worry, I put the letter back in its place and head over to my bed. I had just laid down and begun drifting into a light sleep when a loud bang outside jolted me awake. I jumped out of bed and took a moment to gather my wits. From my experience, it was no doubt that the sound was unmistakably a piano's fallboard slamming shut over the keys. I got out of bed and opened the door of my room, loud music streamed from Graham's room. Just as I closed the door, assuming it must have come from Graham's radio, I heard the sound again. This time, I raced to the sitting room, where I assumed the piano was placed, in an effort to satisfy my curiosity and put my mind at ease. What I found did neither.

The piano's fallboard was up. Not only had it not shut over the keys, but it was inexplicably open. Confusion swam through my brain, but I soon submitted to the clutches of late-night weariness. In an effort to make sense of things, I shut the fallboard. My hands lingered on the beautiful concoction of wood and ivory that formed the piano. It had such a striking, black colour, giving it an illustrious and bold finish. I made my way out of the sitting room and back into my room when I heard the sound again. Grabbing my gun, which was on the dresser, I rush outside again to the sitting room.

When I looked at the piano again, The fallboard was up. That couldn't be. Had I not closed it moments ago? Like a madman, I sped around the house, a gun in my hand, ready to attack any intruder. Only, to my surprise, there seemed to be no one. Graham almost fell out of his chair when I rushed to his room with a gun.

"Jesus Christ, Nicholas!" He said, regaining his balance "What the fuck?"

"There's someone in the house," I said, turning off the radio that he was listening to.

"Whatever do you mean, man? We are the only two people here." Graham had a confused look on his face.

"I don't think so," I said, checking his room and looking outside the window.

"I was in my room when I heard the Fallboard of the piano shut close, loudly. Didn't you hear that?"

"I was listening to the radio, Nick." Graham sighed "Besides, it makes sense. Sometimes, fallboards fall shut. It's perfectly normal."

"No, listen." I say, turning to face Graham "When I checked the piano, the fallboard was open. There were no signs of it having fall shut. I thought I imagined things, and I closed it only to hear the sound again. This time, the fallboard that I had closed with these very hands was open."

"Nicholas…" Graham stood up "Today was a very taxing day. I understand it may be difficult for you to wrap your mind around everything that's going on-"

"I am not making this up, Graham!" I clenched my jaw "Why would I? I'm telling you there is someone in this house!" Sighing, slightly irritated, Graham reached for his own gun from under the table and nodded towards the door.

"Let's see if you're right then." He headed towards the door "Let's see if we can put your imagination to rest."

I didn't bother correcting him. I figured he'd see for himself. Together, we began our search inside the Manor. After checking every inch of the Manor, We eventually found ourselves in the Sitting area, in front of the piano. The fallboard was now down. Was I going mad? Had I imagined it being open like Graham had suggested?

"I thought you told me it was open?" Graham asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It was!" I say, slightly stunned.

"Nicholas, it has been a long day. You have been under a lot of stress." Graham looked at me, not bothering to hide the irritation and worry he had in his eyes. "You may have imagined it. Come. Let us rest for the night."

How could I possibly prove that I was not hallucinating? This was getting excruciatingly annoying. However, I didn't argue with Graham because a part of me was now confused. Had I really seen it open? Had I really heard the sound? Sighing, I watched Graham disappear to his room, following which I headed back to the comfort of my room and slipped under the sheets. My body sank into the bed, and an ocean of warm blankets and pillows enveloped me, burying me in their comfort and lulling me gently. Soon, sleep eluded me.

When I opened my eyes a few hours later, there was a voice beckoning me to lose myself in the trance the beautiful voice echoed. Scurrying from my bed, I go over to the desk and flip the lights on. Nothing. I was still bathed in darkness. Fiddling around in the draws, I pull out a matchbox and light a match. It took me a second to find a candle and light it with the match I had just struck. Now bathed in the golden hue of the candlelight, I follow the siren of the voice.

The voice is sharp, and its melody is haunting, with stories untold. I could feel my hands get colder, and my anxiety was starting to mount again. Accompanying the voice were the sharp notes of a piano, and the harmony was almost magical. I reached the sitting room and, to my horror, saw a woman dressed in a black dress, her face covered by a black shroud playing the piano as she hummed the melody that echoed from the empty white halls. I felt my throat go dry momentarily. Even through her shroud, I could see that she smiled when she saw me. The voice suddenly seemed to be accompanied by many as they harmonised with the woman.

"Who are you?" I asked. The woman looked at me, stopping her singing. Her hands still continued to play on the piano gracefully. It was only after a few seconds I realised the song she was playing. It was the very song Veronica had written for me; for us, as a way of celebrating our one-year anniversary.

The woman stopped playing and picked up the candle that was placed on the piano. She stood up from the piano and walked towards me. Everything about her spoke nothing but Grace. Somehow, the temperature in the room went down with every step she took towards me. The scent of Roses hung in the air, growing stronger by the second. I held my breath as she stood before me, holding my chin up high and eyes meeting her dark brown ones under her veil.

"It couldn't be…." I found myself muttering. I knew those eyes all too well. Those were the very eyes that I fell in love with "Wha…How…I heard you were missing.."

Veronica said nothing as she stared back at me. Slowly, I reached out to lift her veil, and she stood there, never flinching. Her skin was just as radiant as the last day I saw her; her eyes were lit with an emotion I couldn't put a finger on. Her face felt cold to the touch. "What happened to you?"

"Look no more", she says, "The danger's in your eyes."

What had she meant by that, I didn't know. The grand clock chimed three times, indicating that it was three in the morning. Just as I was about to say something, she looked at the clock and pulled her veil down. Her eyes turned emotionless as she strode ahead and past me.

"Veronica, wait!" I called for her, but she wouldn't stop. And then she began to hum a melody again. I followed her up the staircase, calling after her as she ascended, her black dress sweeping her footsteps away. One of the glades near the stairs started to crack with snow. Surprised momentarily, I look out the window and spot the shards of grass had turned into Ice, making it seem like they were glass, and it was then, I noticed that Veronica had no reflection in the mirror. "What the…" I mumbled softly before following her again. She walked into her room and pushed the balcony door open, and stood there as if she was waiting for me to catch up.

"The danger is", She whispered, "in your eyes." She blew out the candle and spread her arms wide.

"No!" Before I could reach out, I saw Veronica lean back against the bannister and fall down, her hands reached towards me as she looked at me with desperation. My heart dropped, and the pit of my stomach seemed shaken. I was nauseated by the sheer thought of something happening to her."Veronica!" I yelled, looking down from the spot she had fallen and saw nothing but a black cat looking right up at me. The snow that had overtaken the grounds had vanished, and the phantom rose smell had now disappeared too. Had I imagined the whole ordeal? Was guilt getting the best of me? I didn't know then. All I knew was that I needed to find Veronica as soon as possible and hold her in my arms again. I slumped down to the floor, covered in cold sweat.