Chapter 3
By the time they reached Philipa's house, it was very late, and Emily could hardly keep her eyes open. Philipa gently wheeled her to her new room.
The house was large and beautiful. The Chandeliers glittered above her head, casting a soft glow onto the polished floors.
Everything was spick and span. No ghosts, no monsters, nothing out of the ordinary.
Emily's room was like something out of a dream. It was filled with flowers and warm, cozy family colours. There were many dolls arranged neatly on her bed and shelves. The bed was made with pink sheets and fluffy pillows. Everything was perfect.
" How do you find your new room " Miss Quain asked.
" it's lovely" Emily said mesmerised.
" I'm glad you like it. If there's anything you need, just call me. But for now, you should get some rest. Tomorrow we can chat and have lots of fun." she said sweetly.
She tucked Emily into bed and then left the room quietly.
Emily said a quick prayer then drifted of to sleep.
The following day, when Emily woke up, Philipa was already sitting beside her.
" Good morning." Philipa said kindly.
She helped Emily into the bath tub and helped her take her bath though she was a bit reluctant about it.
After freshening up, they had breakfast together at the dinning table.
" Miss Quain, do you live alone." Emily asked.
" You can call me Philipa. Quain was my grandfather's name. It's too formal and makes me feel quite old." she said softly sending a bite of food to her mouth.
Emily smiled. Philipa was indeed very kind.
During the night, she couldn't help but wonder if she had been hasty to accept the adoption. Afterall, she didn't know Philipa very well and had heard a lot of stories, terrible ones about couples mistreating their adopted children. Some even returned them back to the orphanage with complains.
" why do you ask."
" I was just wondering." Emily said quickly.
" Yes, I live alone. My parents died when I was about your age."
" oh, am so sorry."
" Don't worry. It happened a long time ago."
" Don't you have any other family."
" Yes, I did. I had a younger brother. But he has gone missing for the past few years. The police say he might be dead due to the recent happenings."
" I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be inquisitive." she said.
" Oh no, it's totally fine. I was going to tell you eventually." said Philipa
" what recent happenings, if I may ask."
" Well, for sometime now, people have been vanishing mysteriously. And when their bodies are found, there are no wounds. They just look blue and pale, like their very soul had been sucked out of them. It's happening all around the world. People say it's the end of the world."
Philipa increased the volume of the television and listened to the news.
"..... there is still no explanation for the earthquake that shook the south district. We are here with Dr Micah Kamara. A renowned seismolologist Who's been tracking the strange seismic activity that doesn't follow natural pattern. Now, Dr Kamara, would you care to explain what might have caused last night's tremors."
The journalist said shoving the microphone towards his face.
" The readings are very strange indeed. we suspect that the earthquake was not caused by tectonic shifts...there is something beneath the earth that we are still trying to understand..."
Philipa switched off the television.
The end of the world indeed.