The Curse Of Eden
Chapter 10- Ghost House

The old hinges wailed a high pitched melody as Adam pushed at the front door.

The humid dust hit the couple's nostrils and they both fell into a coughing fit before quickly regaining their composure. Collette looked into the darkness, her brain sending familiar tingles throughout her body like crazy.

Her knees felt weak and she held onto Adam tighter.

The last time she left thus place was on a stretcher and she vowed she won't be coming back unless a corpse.

She took in another deep breath, regardless of the dusty air around them and then took a step forward. Adam lit on his torch, in hopes of illuminating a path for them.

The parquet floor creaked under them, threatening to break any minute. Wood lice have already colonised in them while the rest of the place housed an array of spiders, roaches, centipedes and any other thing that can occupy a ten year old house.

Collette let out a startled gasp as she tripped over the front rug, completely forgetting it was there. The whole neighborhood was nothing but a lost memory at the very back of her head, hidden in the archives that she never wanted to go back to.

"Careful Collette." Adam said as he steadied his wife, preventing her fall to the ground.

"Thanks." She murmured, her voice quivery.

"Do you remember where your parent's room was?" Adam asked as he moved the torch light from one side of the room to the other.

"It's upstairs. But you won't replace anything there. My father spent his time mainly in the basement. It was his sacred sanctuary."

"I hate basements." Adam mumbled under his breath and Collette couldn't help but agree.

Cold, moist, dark and it didn't sit well with her.

They made their way carefully towards the stairs leading the basement and maybe it was just their imagination but the basement was brighter than the rest of the house, like someone had lit a soft spark of white light down there. Collette and Adam shared wary looks of confusion. But as soon as it came, it left and the basement fell into darkness once again.

The two found themselves looking back at each other in confirmation that none of them was crazy. Both dying to make a run for it yet none of them could move their legs.

Adam worried about his wife finally made up his mind. "I say we leave now and come back some other time. During daylight maybe." He placed on her shoulder, ready to turn around the way they came.

"No." Collette replied with renewed determination. "We've already come here, might as well just get what we came for."

She left Adam's hold and slowly started making her way down the wooden stairs. Adam was immediately hot on her heels, lighting the steps under them until they reached the floor.

The basement was furnished with nothing but a single leather sofa chair with a small circular rug in front if it and a small wooden desk against one wall.

A box laid on top of the desk, dust covering it in layers. He walked towards it and breathed through to try and blow out the dust. It causes him to fall into a coughing episode but he was quick to regain his breath. With his free hand, he fetched for his keys and started cutting through the tape that sealed the box.

All of a sudden, the room lit up brightly in an orange hue from a bulb that hung from the ceiling. He turned around quickly in a startle.

"This one works." Collette shrugged her shoulders and approached her husband who switched off the light and opened up the box widely.

"What's all this?" Collette asked, poking her head from over his shoulder.

"They appear to be your father's belongings, returned back from the police when the case closed." Adam rummaged through the contents of the box, pulling out a black, leather notebook and a couple of papers. "Aren't they supposed to keep the evidence they replace?"

"Unless they found nothing, or someone stopped them from digging any deeper." He shared a silent look with Collette before both of their gazes turned back to the papers.

Adam opened the notebook and flipped through its papers. "There are a lot of names listed here." He showed an open page to his wife. "Do you recognize any of them?" Collette took the notebook from him and read through the names, flipping a page after the other.

"Kingsley..." She whispered with furrowed eyebrows as her eyes landed on a familiar name. "Does it ring a bell?"

Collette didn't reply as she tried to concentrate and remember who Bill Kingsly was.

Kingsly....Kingsly..

"Yes!" She suddenly jumped. "I guess he was dad's closest...what can I say....cult-mate. They don't believe in having friends and such but he and my father met a lot. Mainly here in the house." "Would be stupid to ask if you know where we could replace him?" Adam asked, looking suggestively at Collette.

Collette let out a small laugh. "I was a ten year old Adam who tried to live day by day. I wanted nothing to do with my father's affairs, he would've killed me if I even thought about snooping around." She laughed out as she looked back at the journal.

Adam wrapped his arms around her from behind her and pulled her tightly towards his chest.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that." He kissed her shoulder, nuzzling his face into the junction between her neck and shoulder.

Collette placed her empty hand on her husband's, not really knowing what to say.

She can't lie and tell him that it's okay because she knew deep down that it was not and that she can't just bury the wounds open.

"Anyways.." She broke off from his hold. "Maybe we can run some names through the system and try to replace them. I'm sure that'll help. Interrogate them or something."

Adam smiled down gently at her. "It will. Now let's go. I'm starving."

Adam carried the box with him as they left the basement. Darkness took over once again as they walked through the house.

The sound of scratching along the parquet as mice ran from one corner to the other sent shivers down their spine and the shadows at the corner of their eyes only made it worse.

The couple silently quickened their pace towards the front door, wanting to leave this eerie place. But just as they opened the door, they both screamed in sudden fear.

An old woman with a humped form and white hair cascading down her face like a veil stood staring back at them.

"Uhmm....c-can we help you?" Adam asked, regaining his nerves despite his racing heart, while Collette hung to his arm in a matter of life and death, her knees threatening to buckle under her.

"It's me who should ask you young man. What are doing breaking into this house?" The old woman asked in a croaked voice as she eyed them.

"It's my house. We came back for old belongings we left here." Collette piped in.

"You liar!" The elderly yelled in anger, her tone of voice surprising Collette and Adam.

"The owners of this house are long dead. Put what you took back before I call the police."

"Ma'am, I am the police." Adam got out his ID to show her.

The old lady looked briefly at his card but her expression remained passive.

"I don't care. You place that box back and leave this instant."

"Mrs. Jilles?" Collette whispered in uncertainty.

It seemed that the old woman heard her clearly as her attention was turned to the brunette.

"You are Mrs. Jilles aren't you?" Collette repeated, more sure than a second ago.

"How do you know me young girl?" The woman asked her with a scrunched up face. Her wrinkles deepening and her eyes narrowed.

"Mrs. Jilles, it's me, Collette."

The elder woman, know known as Mrs. Jilles took a staggered step backwards that Adam had to take an initiative step forward fearing she might fall onto the ground. Thankfully, she remained on her own two feet.

Her face paled down more than it should and she found trouble swallowing.

"Collette-" She gaped out. "What are you doing back here?"

Collette smiled at the woman, despite the reaction she just had. "Like I said, we came back for some old belongings. And this here," she gestured towards Adam, "is my husband, detective Adam Woods. And Adam, this is Mrs. Jilles, she was our neighbor when we used to live here."

Adam balanced the box in one hand, extending the other for Mrs. Jilles to shake.

"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Jilles."

She took his calloused hand in her fragile, wrinkly one. "Ah....yes." She was at a loss of words for a minute before regaining her composure.

"I would really love it if the two of you joined me for some cookies and tea. I'd love to hear about everything from you Collette."

"Uhmm....we're actually running a little late. Maybe some other time." Adam rejected politely.

"I don't take no for an answer young man. Believe me, it would be better for you if you came inside."

Collette and Adam shared a confused look before following the old woman who didn't wait for a reply as she started heading towards her house.

Her house was in no way better than Collette's childhood home. Only difference from the similar eerie environment were the working light bulbs and the absence of rats and spiders.

The furniture was as old as can be and the flooring cried under their feet. The semi broken chandelier threatened to fall on top of their heads any second and the cushions' insides popped from every corner.

Mrs. Jilles lead them to a small sofa where they both sat next to each other while the box laid on the ground beside their feet.

Mrs. Jilles left them to disappear inside the kitchen. It didn't take her long before emerging back with a tray of tea cups, a tea pot and a plate of cookies.

She placed the tray on the worn out coffee table in front of them as she took a seat on one of the sofa chairs.

"I sincerely apologise for scaring you back there, but I was asked by your mom to look after the house from any burglars while she's gone. And after it was broken into a couple of months back, I became more on guard." She spoke away as she poured the steaming tea into the cups.

"Wait-" Adam interrupted. "Someone tried to break into the house?" He shared a look with Collette.

Mrs. Jilles placed the tea pot on its feet as she nodded at him "Yes it was about three months ago or so, if my memory didn't fail me. There's no denying how old I am." She shrugged.

"Wasn't three months ago the beginning of E's killings?" Collette asked Adam in a hushed tone, whom then replied by a silent nod of his head.

Collette felt a piercing gaze stare at her side, making her turn her head to look back at Mrs. Jilles. Her sharp gaze put Collette in unease.

"Tell me dear, what exactly happened to you and your mother?" The older woman asked as she laid back comfortably against the chair's back yet her face was analysing.

"Uhmm..." Collette stuttered under the tension. "My mom was admitted to a health care institution for psychological illnesses while I jumped from one foster family to another till I was able to go to college and live on my own."

Mrs. Jilles had an incomprehensible frown on her face, shown when someone's in deep concentration.

"You must've had it tough all those years." She replied, her voice surprisingly sincere, in contrast to the heavy Aura she's omitting.

"We've passed by well." Collette shrugged. "I got married and I still see my mother. We never lost contact."

"Oh, how wonderful!" Mrs. Jilles suddenly exclaimed, her face flushing red. Her reaction took Adam and Collette by surprise and they suspected the intact of her sanity.

"Can you give me her exact place, I'd like to give my old friend a visit."

Collette hesitated, keeping silent for a brief moment, not knowing whether she should give her the exact address or not.

It was true that Mrs. Jilles have been their neighbour back during the old times and she used to be close friends with her mother before Collette's father signed his name in that cult, but Mrs. Jilles didn't actually seem very trustful seventeen years later. Something was off about her.

"You know what, I'll just replace her on my own. You two must be really busy." She said, breaking Collette's train of thought. "And I'm an old lady who needs her early night's rest." She got up from her place, and Adam pulled Collette up almost instantly, picking up the box with him. He understood that it was their cue to leave before she mouthed the words for them to get out.

He was at a loss of thought and words, taken aback fully by the old woman's weird behavior.

"It was so nice meeting you my dear Collette, after all those years. I'm really happy you're well and thriving now." Mrs. Jilles suddenly turned serious and genuine as she held Collette's hand in hers. "Make sure you come visit your old aunty some time again okay."

Collette had nothing to answer but a smile and a nod of her head, soon leaving the elderly's house with Adam.

They found themselves sharing understanding looks for the zillionth time tonight.

"What in God's name?" Adam gaped out in utter confusion while Collette let out a light chuckle at his reaction.

"I'll ask someone to look into her." He mumbled as they started heading towards the car.

"Do you really think that E was the one who broke into the house three months ago?" Collette asked as they mounted the car.

Adam sighed. "I'm not sure baby girl, but that was the truth then hopefully a finger print swap of the whole house will get us somewhere."