章 2: Chapter Two

The Scolfields came back to work on the house themselves. They did so under the curious but scary gaze of their neighbors; the Thompsons, who lived just opposite them - an old couple with no kids.

All suited up for the work at hand, each performed according to their calibre. Alex painted, starting from the inside, Beatrice took care of the weeds - covering the garden and lawn, while little Anna tried gathering the weed. Later feeling stressed out, she resorted to chasing butterflies.

"One, two, three... " Anna counted the harmless insects as she got closer to the hedge.

"Five, six, seven... "

But then a movement in the bushes halted her. She stood and observed, it moved again - more violently this time. She watched as the butterflies scurried away at their own pace, leaving the hedge void of its once colourful scenery.

"Hello?" She called, getting yet closer.

"Anyone there?"

No response met her.

Raising part of the bushes with the little arm she had, Anna took a peek, but there was nothing to see.

"Hmm." She grunted and turned to leave.

But she fell, bruising her toe against the stony ground. She shrieked loudly in pain, loud enough for her mother to hear - the call which Beatrice was quick to hear and answer.

After hearing her story and tending to the minor wound, Beatrice turned towards the hedge.

It didn't move.

She shrugged and went back to work.

The next day was spent cleaning and washing. Her speculation had been right. The house had three bedrooms, a sitting room, a kitchen and a dinning. The front door opened to a passage to which the sitting room was connected by the left. Two rooms were close on the further right while the master's room was situated at the western part of the house, joined to the sitting room. This room had a bathroom with the other at the end of the passage. The dinning stood behind the sitting room with the kitchen on its right.

For the refurbishing exercise, the assistance of two individuals - both, friends of Alex were requested.

And this is where things got interesting.