The Slash Of Truth: The Whispers From Under The Bed

125#

8:16am.

Coalstone Village.

Dear Dairy.

It’s time to move on from my time at Coalstone Village, it feels like the right time at the right place. The area is nice, and the people are lovely but, my desire belongs to my family’s history and mystery as there are things I wish to know about the Fruit Family. My wife is supportive of my idea to move away but, my daughter is not happy which I understand very clearly. My daughter and her friends are irreplaceable, in all her time at the village, there wasn’t a day you could see one without the other. The first day when they first entered the village, I knew my daughter would get along with the folk and their children. Does that make me a bad dad? I feel guilty for making her leave for my own selfishness but, I hope she can forgive me one day.

She’s mad at me, Cherry was caught trying to sneak out this morning by my wife. She made it very clear that she wanted to stay but, there are things she doesn’t understand, things that are my fault in the first place. I’ve been a bad father as we’ve been on the move from place to place, keeping little Cherry in the dark about everything.

Where we are going is a historic home that my ancestors had built up with their own hands called The Fruit Family Household, famous for its everlasting age and its youth look, it’s kind of out of the ordinary now that I think about it. I’ve seen pictures of the location, isolated in the woods but, not too far from civilisation. The grass from what he saw was neatly trimmed and healthy, the trees that surrounded the mansion was elegant and graceful, a perfect distance away from the building, the gravelly path that led to the rich home. Wildlife is not an issue with its peaceful nature and void of carnivorous predators. It’s a perfect home if you wanted quiet life for a big family. By the pictures I saw, the manor was almost as big as the pine, tall trees, looking rich and wise in design, standing strong and carrying four floors including the at attic and the basement in brick, holding 15 rooms and 51 windows in its glorious state, it’s a spectacle to behold and I plan to discover its secrets.

The moment I read about The Fruit Family Household in the stories of old, I knew it was something I had to check out myself and read into its history. True or false, the stories I heard are something of fiction and yet, understandable with all the new magic that started that era. Ghosts, spirits, rituals, I’ve heard it all but, one stood out to me as it was reported several times in articles about multiple murders in The Fruit Family Household and I want to know more, after all, I am an archaeologist, it’s in my nature.

Something does concern me however, almost all the families that have moved in have been mysteriously missing, went crazy or murdered. They were rumours of course but, I take rumours seriously, so, I went out of my way to top the house with more security, make it more secure with motion detectors and cameras, I’ve got it already in the trunk of my car. I even have a gun on me just in case. It may be wasted money in the end, the murder reports were years ago when technology wasn’t the greatest so maybe, it won’t be the same, maybe I’m overreacting. Like they say though, you can’t be too careful.

Anyways, it’s time to go, my wife is restless.

It was an uneventful drive on the highway, a small smile on his face as his finger tapped on the wheel, listening to a jazz tune on the radio. Arctic Fruit was bored out of his mind as it was quite a long trip, his red eyes on the road. 4 hours on the road and 2 more hours to go, it was an exhausting drive but, he felt it was going to be worth it. He will uncover his ancestor’s history, Cherry Fruit will find more friends and his wife, Helly would find a job as a bartender.

Cherry Fruit, a pink teenage earthling who has blond hair and green eyes was glaring at the back of his head, wondering if she stared long enough that she could burn right threw the headrest and threw the back of his head. She hated him at the moment, plotting how she could make his life a living hell.

Helly was unusually quiet the entire trip, she usually never shuts up, the child of the three and always have some gossip to tell. Arctic wondered why…

“What’s up, hunny? You awfully seem quiet.” Arctic murmured, glancing over from time to time as he noticed a small frown. She didn’t respond, so lost in her thoughts she was. “Hun…”

“Hmm?” She replied, her eyes looking forward.

“Are you alright? You seem… quiet for my liking. I haven’t accidentally hit the mute button, have I?” Arctic said, trying to add a bit of humour but he failed miserably. Arctic was baffled.

“I’m alright, just a bit… tired I guess.” Helly sighed, the unicorn feeling her sand yellow body sag in her seat, playing with her brown, long, ponytail hair as her amber eyes looked distant. Arctic has only seen Helly like this a few times, this must be bad.

“Are you sure your just tired, you don’t seem yourself at all.” Arctic said, sounding worried.

“Well… you wouldn’t understand.” Helly muttered, her hand in her chin.

“What are you talking about? I would understand—sometimes.” Arctic said with offence… and apprehension at her unpredictable nature.

“You said it yourself; you wouldn’t understand what I’m going through,” Helly said, getting a bit emotional as her eyes watered a bit.

“What are you talking about?”

“She is talking about her favourite boy band that is breaking up, duh.” Cheery said with an attitude, her arms crossed and with a face on. That was the last straw for Helly as she breaks into tears, hearing the news again about the band that was popular with the ladies was too much for her.

“I can’t believe they are going to break up on tour, I just can’t believe it!” Helly cried out, making Arctic deadpan. We are on the run, and she is worried about a sleazy boy band…

She’s right… I wouldn’t understand…

“Now, now there, hun. I’m sure everything will work out in the end, maybe it’s a marketing tactic to gain more popularity. Many others have done it before.” Arctic suggested, trying to comfort his wife in this terrible, tragic, grieving, dreadful, ominous, heartbreaking news that will deeply scar her for the rest of her life.

“Oh, it’s confirmed that the Sizzling Gents have broken up minutes ago,” Cherry murmured plainly, as she looked through her phone. That caused another wave of tears to fall and for Arctic to sigh as the rest of the trip consisted of babbling cries, angry remarks and a bunch of head-butting the wheel, Arctic had to turn up the radio just to blur it all out.

The stuff I put up with…

After an agonisingly slow drive, the small family finally arrived at the private path of their new, potential home. The oak wood tree, the flowers and the bristle grass had a friendly atmosphere as the run ray shined down through the gaps of leaves. It made Helly look around in awe at nature’s majestic gift.

They stopped at a gate that Arctic nearly crashed into as he made the turn. Arctic started to question whether he took the right turn, he wasn’t informed about owning a gate. It was electric – remote control accessed as there was a buzzer beside the house number and gate.

140, Fruit Family Household… We are on the right track at least.

“What the hell.” Arctic muttered, exiting the vehicle and walking over as the soul of his shoes crunched the gravel under his foot. Arctic pressed the red button that buzzed, letting him know that it reached the other end. No one answered at first but, there was a crackle that showed that someone was on the other side. Arctic spoke.

“Hello—this is Arctic Fruit… Is anyone there?” Arctic asked through the netted speak. No one answered. Arctic’s mind started to race. What the hell is going on? He looked back to the car with a confused stare as Helly was oblivious, darting around the woods with an amazed look while Cherry was on her phone. He sighed.

Doubt they know anything about this...

Suddenly, a man’s voice came through the speaker, making Arctic immediately turn.

“Hello, Arctic? Is that you?” This voice sounded familiar… Clutch Flit?

“Clutch Flit, what are you still doing here?” Arctic asked with suspicion. “You said that you had left yesterday.”

“I know what I said but, something has come up and I kinda—need your help.” Clutch replied, an undertone to his voice.

“Help? What help?” Arctic said, feeling a bit infuriated by this setback.

“I know this must irritate you but, I’ll let you in and we’ll take about this more in person.” Clutch said and like that, the gate started to open slowly, revealing more of the path, trees and a part of the left side of the mansion. Happy to be one step closer to his new home but, slightly annoyed by the former owner’s appearance, he got into his car and continued to drive. He hoped that this wouldn’t be a problem.

The first thing he saw when he turned was the black-suited unicorn with brown skin and pale white, freshly cut, gelled hair, wearing a frown as he had his hands in his pockets. Clutch Flit is a multi-millionaire as he has ownership over a new, up-and-running car company, selling sports cars that are worth millions.

Arctic parked next to Clutch and scrolled down his window. “What’s the problem, Clutch?” Arctic asked, sounding too earnest for he wished to care. Clutch didn’t have his smirk that Arctic was used to seeing, this must be bad. Clutch deeply huffed.

“My son… He’s gone missing.”