Chapter 6: Music Box

Aurora's POV

The day of moving into Mr. Anderson's house came and I just finished getting the last box of my belongings. Oh and also... the way how Mr. Anderson, with the help of my mom, decorated my room looks more upgraded than the one back at home.

It looks more 'mature' and fancy looking. The furniture looks so expensive(cause it is) and the headboard of my bed is made out of leather and it is the right shade of lavender. I even got my own walk-in closet with lots of brand new clothes and shoes.

Even though this whole moving into a new house day feels like leaving my old house that holds so many memories, especially the ones I had with dad, sounds sad to other kids around my age... I only want what's best for the future.

Sometimes in life, you need to keep moving forward and change can be scary but you need a change of scenery for once.

I put my box full of belongings and wipe the sweat off of my forehead with a towel that is draped over my shoulder. I look around my new bedroom before I start opening a box and start unpacking.

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Two hours have passed and I finished unpacking. All of my clothes are hanged into the walk-in closet. Some of my bags are dangled onto the coat rack, my books are placed into the biggest shelf that is connected to the wall and my pillows and covers filled up the once empty looking bed and gives off a comfy vibe. I turn on the switch and instead of a normal light bulb, a crystal chandelier lights up the whole room.

I double check every box in case I forgot something before taking them to the basement. Then I spotted a picture frame inside one of the boxes. I pick it up and I realized it was a picture of my family when dad was still alive. Toby was just a little baby with his adorable pacifier in his mouth and I was around nine years old, wearing a white dress.

I place it onto the side table that is just right next to my bed. Then I stack the boxes into one and head downstairs to the basement.

I reached to where the basement is located and realized that the door is slightly open so I kick it with my foot and I came face to face with a dark room like I'm sinking into a black abyss.

I tried to turn on the switch but just my luck... the light bulb isn't working. I pull out my phone and turn on the flashlight as my light source. I carefully go down the stairs... step by step, trying not to fall or slip. I noticed that there are some cobwebs hanging here and there as if no one doesn't have time to clean this place... ever. It kinda smells bad and it seems dusty and thank god, I'm not allergic or sensitive to dust. I feel bad for those who need to stay away from dust though. And every step I take, the stairs made an uncomfortable creaking sounds like in every horror movie ever.

After taking a few steps and investigating the place, I've reached the floor to the basement. I put down the stack of boxes and saw a string that is somewhat attached to the... ceiling? So I tug and pull it and the room brightens up in a flash. I look around the basement and it's kinda wide and spacious yet there are a lot of things being tucked away here.

There are a lot of boxes being stacked, broken bicycles, toys, and vases laying around, ovens and stoves that don't seem to work anymore and a lot more. There's even a dusty and old wheelchair that is covered in cobwebs. I wonder if they ever used it before...

I put my phone down on to a table nearby and I couldn't care less that there's dust everywhere. Then I grab the boxes once again and stack them aside next to the other boxes. After that, I walk towards the dusty table and retrieve my phone, turning the flashlight off and put it into my pocket. Then I saw an ornate box on the table. I grab it and examine the box.

The design of the box looks so vintage and it has a letter E carved on the center and it seems to lose its paint. Being a curious person that I can be, I decided to open the box and take a look inside.

It appears to be a music jewelry box. And inside was a diamond ring and it looks like it hasn't been worn in years. I found a small metal handle and twist it until the music starts playing.

As the music starts playing as it echoes within the basement, I felt goosebumps all over my skin and chills went down to my spine. Why the hell the music is super creepy?

The music is so eerie and it gives such haunted vibes. The music box looks handmade so this could mean someone customizes it... but who? It couldn't be Mr. Anderson since this music box is a little bit off for his taste. Maybe it's Steven... but can he create stuff like this? As the music stops, I immediately close the box and put it down.

"What are you doing here?" I got startled by the sudden voice from behind. I turn around and I realized it was just Steven. He was just standing there with his hands in his pockets and he's dressed in black and dark grey from head to toe.

"N-nothing. I just finished unpacking and decided to put away my boxes here." I answered, trying not to stutter.

He nodded and walked closer to me while looking around the basement as if he hasn't been down here in ages.

"I came down here as soon as I heard some music playing and I assumed you played the music jewelry box." He said, grabbing the music jewelry box and wipe out the dust covering it.

"My father told me that this music jewelry box belonged to my mother. And right after she died, my dad takes away her engagement ring from her dead finger and kept it in here." The way he explains a small backstory of his past life gives me chills due to the fact his dad took the ring from her finger and she's dead at that time but at the same time I feel a little bit bad for him.

"How did your mom died?" I asked nervously while fidgeting with my fingers.

"She died after giving me birth to me." He answered, putting the box down. "It makes me think that it's my fault that she died but enough about that... Mom told me that she has something to talk about."

"Okay," I said and then we head back upstairs. He closes the door and motioned me to follow him so I did. He leads me to the dining room and I saw mom and dad stopped discussing something once we came in.

"Steven, Aurora. We have something that we would like to discuss." Mom said and motioned us to sit down.

"What's this about?" I asked. "We're not in trouble, are we?"

"No, no, you're not." Mr. Anderson, or should I say... Dad chuckled. "Listen, we are thinking about our honeymoon preparations and we decided that we have to leave you two here in the house because you still need to finish school."

"Oh but what about Toby?" I asked.

"We're taking him with us and don't worry, he'll be accompanied with a caretaker. " Mom said and I let out a sigh of relief even though I'm not sure if Toby can handle it without me by his side to help him when he is in need. I mean, that's my job as his big sister.

"And how long are you gonna be away for?" Steven asked, crossing his arms yet he is still calm even though his voice is a little bit blunt and he kept an emotionless, straight face.

"Two weeks." My mom answered. "We believe that you guys are old enough to watch out for yourselves in this house and this is the time for you guys to spend time and get to know more about each other better. And besides, we're a family. So... are you guys okay with it?"

Steven and I look at each other before nodding our heads, saying yes.

"Alright. We trust you guys," Dad said and he told us that we can go back to our rooms.

We head upstairs and proceed to our rooms. I enter my room and decided to video chat Heather and Edward. I grab my laptop, sit down on my bed as my back is against the soft pillows. I turn my laptop on, go on Skype and click on Heather's and Edward's names and wait for them to answer.

Steven's POV

Instead of going back into my room, I decided to go up to the attic.

Once I made sure that no one is in sight, I pull the string and the pull-down stairs slowly fell down and I climb up to the attic. I pull the staircase back to its proper place and close the door.

The reason why I forbid Aurora or anyone to go up here is that I've been keeping some secrets. The natural light of the sun brightens up the room through the window and the sheer white curtains that mom added tried its hardest to lighten up the mood but failed because of what I've kept here.

I turn on my computer monitors and watch Aurora chatting with her pesky friends through the CCTV camera that I've hidden in her room before she moves in.

"My parents are gonna be gone for two weeks and I don't have any plans during the semester break," said Aurora and hearing her voice pleased me.

"Let's do something fun! And let's not invite Eddie since he's "busy". And we all know what that means." Her red-haired friend said.

"Hey! That's mean and I don't have anything to do during the semester break." Her brown-haired friend, whose name is Eddie, said and pouts. I need to keep an eye on him since he seems to be really close with my Aurora.

"How about I'll hook you up with our lovely Princess Aurora here?" Hearing that... makes my blood boiling.

"Stop calling me that. Just because I'm named after a princess from a fairytale story, doesn't make me as a princess in real life." Aurora whined and it seems to me that her friends are bothering her and hurt her feelings. I turn off my monitor and tried to cool myself down.

And I remember what he told me two years ago...

"Once you found the girl of your dreams, make sure to never... ever lose her to someone else. Otherwise, no one will love you and you'll be all alone."

"Oh, I'll be damn sure to never lose her. Even if it means to stain my hands with someone else's blood until the end."