NOTHING ELSE COULD explain, what was going on with my room. I'd like to just say it was a Nightmare.

  Then of course, A Nightmare that crept out of my mind into reality, and tried to suffocate me. Ruptured the black spot that was on my ceiling, and made me hallucinate.

  I talked to Albert about the lights and he said we never had any sort of power cuts or any leaking circuit, I couldn't explain what went wrong with my lights. And my closet room opening by itself. I was sure they was absolutely no explanation I could come up with to explain why they were strange voices coming out from my closet.

  I sighed thinking. I remember pacing around my room, walking around helped me think straight; helped me remain calm, it still does. I was flustered, a little still skeptic, but it was hard to deny, I couldn't tell anyone, until I proved my eccentric assumptions were right, I couldn't go around talking about it without any evidence, but mostly because I thought everyone'd think I was insane.

  I was pacing around when I froze, peering at my bookshelf still quite empty. The books, I hadn't yet unpacked my books from my suitcase, well, maybe just the text books but not my comics or my novels and no body else did. Frankly, I was tired of unpacking and packing everytime we moved, I couldn't leave without them, they were essential to me, hence why I troubled myself each time. I took them everywhere we moved I simply just added to the collection. But since we had apparently settled here for sometime, I was to put them. I had exhausted myself of taking them everywhere, I had decided that this would be the last time I would ever carry them. The bookshelf had a few old books, my old story books. I walked over to them, ever since we came back I had barely checked out anything, I was always in my head, like it were my final day of existence- spending it thinking.

  I got close to it and I picked up one book, the Tale of the Evil cheesecake man, this story I remembered, Albert telling me it, more than once, I loved it, the story of a psychotic Chef and his abnormal obsession with cheese and his crazy desire to live in a world of cheese, which included turning everything and everyone into cheese. I smiled, I prefigured Albert must have made them leave it here during there clearing, just so I could see it again. I looked at another the hundred eyed giant, Argus Panopte, my favorite. I picked it up and chuckled as more memories sank in.

  I was about to turn to my sofa to read them when I noticed another book, on the right side, at a dark corner, it looked rather different from any of the story books, it was thick and a thick layer of dust was on it, making it hard to notice. I reached to it, and I blew the dust off it, it formed a dust cloud and I coughed because of it, waving my hand frantically to clear it, when it cleared, I turned to the heavy book, examining it, it wasn't mine, I didn't think I ever saw it, or read it. Nothing Albert ever read me, that I Knew for sure.

  I sat at my desk, I mindlessly dropped the book on my desk, forming another dust cloud. I swore I was going to choke because of all this dust. I cleared it once again, I made an attempt to read the Name of the book but it was in a different language that looked something like, Greek. I peered at it having no idea of what it was. I wondered Better question

  I sat back as I shook my head in disbelief, I merely glanced at my hands, I noticed they seemed to be suspiciously clean though I wasn't from holding some book which contained three hundred old dust, my fingers traced the top, swiping the corner dust off the book, I brought my fingers to my view, they had no dust particles on them, it was odd.

  I peered at the book again, this time wiping my whole hand on it, I brought to my view again still, Nothing. Of course another odd aspect to add its compliments to my odd room. What was even more odd was how light I was taking all of it, I was ashened alright but my curiosity was proving to be more profuse than my fear.

  I flipped open the book curious to see what was in it, having in mind that everything would be in Greek. However, nothing was in greek because they wasn't anything written, I was buggled perhaps it was only the first page, I flipped it again, this time in more shock, nothing was there either, I flipped it again, and again, and again.

  I then just stopped and stared. I took a brief moment to refrain from venting my lungs out in confusion. So then I decided to rephrase my question. '

  I leaned back, frustratedly flipping the book shut. I Thought that's why they left it here because they didn't want it and it was so easy to forget about it's existence because it was sheerly useless. It had been obviously on my shelve for a long period of time for it to have supposive '' dust. Its only vitality was its strange dust. Perhaps, it was some journal. I wondered if it were Albert's maybe he'd tell me why he decided to keep some greek blank book without ever writing in it, on my shelve.

  I got up to go ask him. I would have asked him some other time but he was knocking off early today. I got out of my room to down stairs heading to the security room he had told me that, was were he was mostly found. When I got to it, I quickly knocked and got in, I passed the mini lounge into the CCTV camera room but they was no one in there. I took a look at the cameras, they were scattered around the whole house but of course except for all the private rooms, i.e the bedrooms, rest rooms. My eyes scanned for one room in particular. But no sight of it, Mom's painting room had no cameras in it, though but the hallway to it did.

  I got out of that room and looked around alittle, but no Albert, I looked out the window, you could see the back of the house from here. I shifted out of there, Immediately I got out, I bumped into the girl I found in my room yesterday.

  "Sorry. ." We both said. I glanced at her as she looked to the floor.

  "Hey, have you seen Albert?" I asked.

  She quietly shook her head. ''Okay. I'll just ask Rebecca then.'' I said.

  "Ms. Brown hasn't come today either, Um. . and Mr Rodriguez. . . has left as well. He had an urgent family matter to attend to. . ." she said, calmer than yesterday.

  I sighed. With Albert gone how would I know whom this book belonged to.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "Thanks- Um. . . Your name?" I asked.

  "Rose ~Anne. Sir. ." she said still averting her gaze on the oyster bay marble floors.

  "Rose~ Anne. . just like Evelyn Quinn's Daughter. . ." I smiled, her cheeks turned this lighter hue as she held her hands together coyly. My stupid reference on conversing, Evelyn Quinn our first female president's daughter, that was all I got.

  "Do you mind if I call you Rosie?" I rose my brows justly, quirking a half smile.

  Her cheeks practically stained red, She nodded.

  "How long have you been working here?" I asked.

  "Six months. Sir." She replied.

  "Then you must know the people who helped to clear out my bedroom bookshelf. Correct? "

  She slightly bit her lower lip. "No sir. Ms. Brown and Mr. Rodriguez have always been in charge of your room, I'm not sure who helped clear out your bookshelf, but I do know where your books were put." She said.

  "I prefigured the basement." I shrugged tauntingly. "Or donated?"

  She smiled. "No. Their in-"

  "Rose~Anne! Rose~Anne!" A lady called her. A very chubby round brunette.

  "Madam Lily." Rose~Anne responded. The lady approached us.

  "Afternoon Mr. Westlake. " She said to me in her Scottish accent. "Forgive. Rose~ Anne. "

  She therefore turned to Rose~Anne with a scrowl on her face.

  "Back to the laundry room!" She practically yelled that out.

  I would say Rose~Anne had a terrified look, by now, afraid of that lady but she always had that very look on, like for some reason everything terrified her. As Rose~Anne said nothing and hurried off. The lady grimaced at her as she hurried passed her. She turned to me and I looked elsewhere, I was sure she was going to give me the same look, for reasons I had no idea, she looked like a crazed glacial lady.

  "Um. . . Sir?" She called, I made an attempt to look at her face. Disbeliefly, her hostile expression had molded into a warm one, with the sweetest smile stretched up to her raven dark eyes.

  "I hope she didn't bother you. She can tend to wander off. And be a Real Chatter box." She said squinting, while forging a deep frown of utter disgust.

  "Rosie? " I uttered misgivingly, not hiding my doubt.

  "Rose~ Anne. Yes." She continued to make that face, turning sour as if she had eaten something that caused her this much displeasure.

  "She hasn't been bothering you, has she?" She asked.

  "No she hasn't." I said.

  "Well, if there's anything. I mean Anything you need help with. I am at your service." she said practically yelling again.

  "Nothing. All I needed to know was where Albert or Rebecca were." I said.

  "Oh. Mr. Rodriguez left early and Rebecca. . . Oh she. . . Was. . . Fired. . . I'm in charge of her duties now. Me and that. . girl. ." She said showing her teeth. Was it a smile or a cringe, I didn't know.

  "Rebecca was fired? Why?" I asked.

  "Well, Sir. Mr. Westlake Senior. . Doesn't like anyone going in that room by the corner and he expected everyone to respect and follow his orders but she didn't, so she . ." her eyes rolled to her left side then back at me. "He found out, he fired her himself.''

  That was tough. Firing someone for breaking a mere rule- Mere, nope one of he's sort of '' it seemed to be. Dad had resumed his firing episodes. I shrugged, thinking typical Dad.

  "Madam Lily." I said. Her smile was so wide, I was sure it was going to cut out of her face.

  "Call me Lily. Sir or Lillette." Her tone was soft and lengthy endearing, would I call it somewhat seductive not in the slightest, but she nailed the pony twirl, I think. . . She minutely twirled a strand of her ponytail, blinking several times, flaunting her thick long eyelashes on hooded eyes at me like darts on a board.

  I was baffled and I didn't hide any of it, I didn't know what to do but slightly nodded, flustered.

  "Um . . Right.'' I cleared my thoart alittle, reverting, overcoming that awkward moment. '' Look here." I displayed the book in front of her, she looked at it then back at me. ''Do you know who it belongs to? Albert at any chance?'' I asked.

  ''I'm afraid not sir, I've Never seen that book before.'' She answered. ''Why do you ask? Want it thrown?'' She asked.

  I merely shook my head. ''Thanks. That will be all.'' I brushed off, walking away.

  ''If you Need Anything, I am at your service.'' I heard her say behind me.

  When I turned to nodd at her emphasis, she appeared to be doing something that looked like a squat? Or a crunch lunge? I assumed she was trying to do some ' ' she wouldn't have started working out right there.

  I recalled Rose Anne's words she said Rebecca had called in sick.

  I got up the stairs, pondering. When Dad said something once, he hated to repeat himself. And disobeying him would only trigger his worst side. The side that would get you frightened in an instant, the side that with one sentence uttered would leave you speechless.

  Candid and stern were his prominent characteristics, he liked what he said to be followed, sometimes without ever questioning him. Dad's worst side I had observed had three layers. The surface to all of it: was when he was being lightly rude sniggering whilst, you'd suppose you were on the clear for moments. He'd let you go with a simple warning. The deeper the layer, would have him quietly studying your face with no emotion on his, but you'd often see an impatient urge in this one, aligned with irritation. And the deepest layer would be your final. He's voice and expression would be rather cold. The look he'd give you was enough for you to know just when to stop. It was at this stage he was passed the whole pardoning, he was relentless.

  I knew when I had crossed the line and I also knew when I had to stop. I recalled a few times I'd catch myself on the last layer I'd immediately stop mid sentence and become as quiet as the wind. From time to time, I'd look right through his worst side and what was passed that thick boulder, was a Man with great affection for what he loved most, a trying Man; he was trying to put on a tough face and be the Man everyone wanted him to be. Trying to stay optimistic and strong. A Man who was careful never to show his vulnerable side.

  I got to my hallway thinking about just that, I lifted my eyes alittle ahead as I noticed someone down the hallway, in the shadow right at the turn. They appeared to be standing and looking down this way. That didn't make much sense to me

  'Why would anyone go down there after what happened to Rebecca?'

  When I thought about Rebecca I began to think if she was the person in Mom's painting room the first time I went there, was she the person Albert was covering for did; Did Albert find her in there then try to make sure No one knew she was in there to avoid her being caught but in a long channel of whispers it still managed to get to Dad; or was Albert the very person who told Dad when he found her in there.

  That one I thought of crossing it out, I hardly thought that Albert had a heartless bone in his Entire body. The Man gave all the staff members knitted Christmas hats with little snowmen on at the sides, at a time. I was skeptical if it was him. Although, the kind ones Are the ones you watch out for.

  I glanced at the person, I thought of doing them a favor by warning them about the room.

  ''Hey. . Excuse me!" I tried to catch their attention first, but they didn't hear, apparently.

  They didn't even flinch, I was sure I was audible, enough to be even heard downstairs, they obviously ignored me, still standing, they seemed to continue watching me. I walked up to them.

  ''Hey, didn't you hear me?'' I asked.

  Stepping into the dark shadow, to look right at- No one.

  They was no one standing or watching. And for A reason I thought they was. That reason was quite simple, I saw whoever that was, they was someone there. I didn't look away at any moment for them to have walked off elsewhere. I rubbed the developing creases on my forehead with my forefinger and thumb, soaking in a breath of fluster, with riots of thoughts swirling around, more illusions?

  My eyes searched the hallway, as I turned back on my way. Something felt creepy about that hallway side. Every time I walked it felt like something was right behind me, following close behind me. Right at my Neck. I felt like I was being followed.