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Thanks for coming Joe and jenny. Please stay for a week'

' oh we wish we could. But we have to go within two days.You know our boss will not spare us " Joe said
Scarlett was unhappy after listening this. After shenelle's death , Lonesomeness clutched Scarlett. She wanted Joe to stay with her. She is the only person whom Scarlett can share her deepest secrets. Joe was helpless . She couldn't help her best friend. She couldn't resist and dialled her boss number.
"Hello Mrs Joe" Mrs Emma exclaimed
" Good morning Mrs Emma, actually I wanna tell you about my leave extention"
"What! No Mrs Joe. We need you. " Emma said.
" I'm sorry Mrs Emma but it's an emergency.. "
"Oh! It's okay Mrs Joe. You are a great employee and a hard worker. I will send you the leave extention mail"

"Sure. Thanks Mrs Emma for understanding" Mrs joe disconnected the call and winked at Scarlett.
" So tomorrow I will go without you Joe " Jenny exclaimed

"You have to" Joe said

Ashley and Serah overheard their conversation.
" That sounds great Ash"
" Yeah, we have more time to discover what happened to Shenelle"
" Yeah. We should start it today itself. We have a week only " Serah exclaimed.
" Okay first we have to search what exactly happened that night "
" Yeah.. It was around 10 pm when we both chatted with each other. I said good bye around 10:37. At half past eleven, I heard the dripping sound from the loo. If I am right that might be the time when shenelle might died. "
Ashley paced towards shenelle's room and brought that diary. Serah and Ashley settled in the bed and Ashley showed the name of that box.
" What is dybuk box"
" I don't know "
" Perhaps a secret metal box "
" It might be"
" Ash. Shenelle was not well. She started feeling all kind of activities long ago. She was in depression. Well when that abnormal activities started to happen with you "
" From that night. November 15"
" It's connected. You both are connected. But how "
" I don't have a idea. We are connected.but how "

The following day Jenny packed her bag and left for the station early in the morning. Ashley woke up and saw serah was still sleeping. She washed her face and brushed her teeth. She wore a crop top with shorts. It was her comfy clothes that she like. All of a sudden she heard some mumbles from Shenelle's room. She headed towards her room. She opened the door but there was no trace of someone. She then stood jm front of the dressing table and watched herself in the mirror. That was when her pupil widened when she saw a girl of her age standing behind her and smiling at her. At first Ashley thought that it was shenelle but no it was not shenelle. She looked pale as if someone sucked her blood and she is suffering from anaemia. Her blonde hair fell over shoulder. She was wearing a school uniform. Ashley remembered something. But she couldn't remember exactly. The girl was holding a friendship band in her hand.And slowly her dry chapped lips turned black. Dark pigmentation encircled her eyes. She was turning more pale. Her eyes turned into bloody red color. She frowned at Ashley. The band in her hand turned into a rope. Before Ashley could react , the girl clamped her neck with the rope. She couldn't breathe. She fell down. She suffocated. She wanted to shout but all her energy sucked up. She fainted. The next moment when she opened her eyes. She saw herself in the bed.
" Don't you have a place to sleep. Why were you sleeping on the floor " Serah asked
" No! That was her. I saw her. She was trying to kill me. Ashley exclaimed
" What? " Serah asked surprisingly
" Yeah. I'm bet sure it was her who killed shenelle. But WHY"

Ashley and Serah were immersed in thoughts. The whole day passed like clouds. Ashley threw herself in the bed and saw her phone was buzzing. She saw the screen. Jasper was calling. She picked up the call.
" Hey"
" Hey ash. How have you been "
" Pretty good and you? "
" Yeah doing well. So when you are coming back. "
" Soon. Within a week. "
" Sounds good. Hope you come soon"
" Definitely she will prince charm " Serah shouted from behind.
" Shut up idiot " Serah giggled.
Ashley hung up the call.

Mrs Joe and Scarlett came inside their room and began by saying
" Honeys. We wanna tell you something. Actually today evening we're going to rendezvous with one of our nostalgic friends. We are having a party. So we might be late to come back "
Scarlett intrupted " So we will arrange the dinner. If you want we can arrange babysitter also "
" No Mrs Scarlett. We are not babies anymore. We will be fine " Ashley smiled.

As soon they heard the engine sound. Ashley locked the door and they both paced towards Scarlett room. They looked around for something helpful. Serah was rummaging the shelf. Ashley searched in the cupboard. They couldn't not find anything interesting or helpful.
They both sat down. They were so exhausted. All of a sudden Ashley said "We can check in the basement. I'm sure will find something. "
' that's good. Let's go'
'They both climbed downstairs and headed towards the basement. They carefully steped inside. Ashley opened the door. With the creaking sound the door opened . Ashley and serah looked around here and there trying to find something interesting. The room was so untidy and dusty. Serah searched the light switch. She turned on the switch. The lights flickered for a moment and then turned on. There were so many stuffs including old furnitures and books and some metal boxes. Ashley looked around the room .
"It's seems like that the room was closed for years"
" Yeah you are right " Serah replied

Serah found a silver metal box. It was very simple.
" Not a treasure box. Let's check this out dude " Serah exclaimed.
" Okay. Let's open it "
They both opened it and they found some of the old pictures of Mrs Scarlett. There were heaps of photo albums, old bands, lockets and momentos.
" Well Mrs Scarlett has good collection of memories but why did she kept this in a basement. I mean she should've keep this stuffs with her. "

" Hmm.. Strange. Let's check the photos "
Said Ashley

They rummaged the photos. They found old school pictures. " Hey ash. Look it's your mum"
" Wow. She looks pretty. Prettier than me." Serah launghed after hearing this.

Ashley saw a photo of her mum with Mrs Scarlett. They look like soulfriends. She then found another photo also. Some of her mum' s school mates.
" Hey check this out " Serah handed over a photo to Ashley. Ashley couldn't believe her eyes. She saw five people in the photo. Mrs Joe, Mrs Scarlett, Edward( Ashley's father), another boy and lastly a girl. Every thing was normal. Well Edward and Joe married each other as they fell in love with each other. But the last girl was similar to someone whom Ashley already met. Those same eyes, smile and hair. It was the same girl who clamped Ashley's neck with a rope.
" Se..rah.. "
" What? "
" See this.. The last girl. She was the one who tried to kill me "
"What the hell"

" Yeah. Trust me. She is the one "
They saw a line written below the photo.
Friends forever. We five are the best
As they read this line , they came to know that these five were the best friends.
" Hey ash if these people were best friends. Why would that girl tried to kill you. Or maybe she killed shenelle but why "
' I don't know serah Iam bemused. I'm perplexed. "

They both were shocked and petrified. They didn't know what to do next.
Half an hour later. Ashley was sitting on the bed . They both had their dinner and got ready for the bed. Ashley was still can't believe what she saw. She was still thinking about it .
" Its better if we talk to your mum" Serah's voice brought her back to the senses.
" Not now serah. First we have to find out the exact reason " Ashley replied
" Hmm. Let's see. Well sleep now. Don't worry everything will be fine "
Serah turned off the light and they both slept. One cannot imagine how the life can be topsy turvy in just a moment.
It was half past eleven. Serah heard something hitting hard on the window as if someone trying to get in. She heard the loud knocking. She ignored it. She wanted to ignore it. And then suddenly the loud cacophony stopped. Serah was relieved but then suddenly she heard someone throwing stones on the window. She was frightened . She couldn't do anything but ignore. She closed her eyes and tightly held her pillow. The loud knocking began to increase. But serah was a calm girl she ignored it. And all of a sudden both the girls woke up and sat. They heard some sounds coming from the kitchen. They shot down stairs and saw all the utensils scattered in the kitchen. They could see the skimmers, tongs, pincer, woks and griddles on the floor. They exchanged a strange look to each other. That's when serah saw a girl's shadow in the corner and within a moment it was disappeared.

They both ran upstairs . Serah closed the door behind her and Ashley dialled her mum's number. They thought its not safe anymore.
" Mom.. "
" Honey what happened! Hey is everything alright. "
" Mom. Please come back soon. " Mrs Joe was worried after hearing Ashley's tensed voice.
" Mom. Something is here. We saw a girl in the house. She is haunting us. "
"Which girl. What are you talking about?"
" That girl in the photo. Friends forever, we five are best"
There was a complete silence. Mrs Joe was in shock. She replied with a heavy voice.
" Honey, we are coming. Lock yourself inside the room. We'll be there soon. Don't panic. Take care of serah also. "
" Come soon mom"

Mrs Joe grabbed Scarlett's hand and headed towards the car. Scarlett asked her question but she was muted.
She explained everything in the car. Mrs Joe accelerated the car.
Ashley and serah held each other's hand and sat quietly in the bed.
" No. She is coming "
There was loud knock in the door. Someone wanted to break in but couldn't . There was a force which stopped it.
" Ash. I'm scared. I don't want to be here anymore "
" Calm down serah. We'll be fine. "
Serah was relieved when she heard the engine sound. Ashely slowly stepped towards the door. She opened the door slowly. Serah was behind her holding her shoulder. Ashley immediately went downstairs and tried to open the door. The door didn't opened. Serah also tried but they failed. They heard the door bell ringing.
" Honey please open the door "
" Yes mom trying. It's not opening."
Suddenly Ashley felt someone ' s hand who tried to open the door.
Mrs Joe embraced Ashley and serah once the door was opened.
Thet packed all their stuffs. Serah didn't have the courage to go upstairs. Ashley packed everything.
" Mom. What's happening here "
" Honey I'll explain later. Let' go from here now "
Mrs Joe turned towards Scarlett and said
" Scarlett . Come with us now. It's not safe here anymore "
" Joe I can't. This is my house. This is where my memories dwell my shenelle's memories live. "
" Please Scarlett. You can come here after everything will be fine " Mrs Joe insisted her and finally Scarlett also agreed to go with them. They drove from there. Ashley saw the huge house from the window. Mrs Joe Booked the online tickets. As soon as they reached the train station. They boarded the train and settled.
" Mom split it out now. What's happening"
Mrs Joe calmed down and promised them that she will explain everything once they reach the home. Every one were in silence. No one talked with each other throughout the journey.

It was around 11:35am. They reached the town. They immediately booked a cab and headed towards the home.
As they entered their street, Ashley felt relieved. They unpacked their stuffs and went inside the home silently.

As soon as they all relaxed. Ashley asked again.
" Honey please sit down. "
Serah and Ashley sat together in the sofa and listened Mrs Joe carefully.
" You know honey. You are the most beautiful gift for us. Your dad and I loved each other very much. Our hschool love grew up as we both grew up. The love between us also became deeper and deeper. And we got married. Everything was going like heaven. You were born and we lived the life peacefully. You know your father sacrificed his life to save us. "

" Save us from whom "

" Listen to me carefully. It was the time when we were in high school. We five were the best friends forever.
Scarlett, your father, Tyson , cathy and me. We five always hang out together. Among them I was so close to cathy. "

And suddenly they heard the door bell. It was Darcy standing in the door and smiling.

To be continued...