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9.

I closed the place, locking the back and the front door of the building. After that it was time for me to go back home and see Edson and Clarence; Clarence is the woman who I decided to marry a year after Ashlyn had passed. She was the one who understood what I was going through since she went through the same troubles.

Her husband passed away from lung cancer. She even had a miscarriage.

All she ever wanted was a family, a happy one matter of fact. And I hope that this family she committed to is the family she's looking for. Could say that she was jealous of Ashlyn, I talked about her to Clarence and man she just had this look on her face. Almost as if she looks up to her in a way.

Ashlyn was one of a kind, she was bright, talented; plays the violin. And she was so worth it. But had a fight this one time and while she was walking down the stairs, she tripped on her dress and fell all the way down. She broke her neck, couldn't breathe very well. Had no choice but to call an ambulance but Mary saw it happen; saw her fall. Told her to leave before she freaks out.

But yes I called the ambulance and she was in the process of healing but she wanted to be discharged after a week had passed just to see her kids. But I denied her wishes even the one where she was so desperate to accomplish. She was paralyzed permanently, it was bad. I felt terrible and I just couldn't see her in pain

anymore so I just didn't visit her.

Got a call from the hospital saying that she was found dead on the bed. Her death became a case but was shut away when they couldn't find any evidence. It was a terrible thing, Mary and Edson were still very young when that happened. So since kids tend to forget old memories as they grow I hope that's the same for them especially Mary.

By the time I got home it was already getting dark, so I took some leftovers from last night's dinner; Buffalo chicken wings. The stuff is good but it would've tasted better if it was more fresh and tender.

As soon as I was done eating, I got ready for bed; Brushed my teeth and laid in bed with Clarence who was reading one of the books from the library. She was reading the book '10 ways to not get caught using duct tape just to fix a broken window without using money' and yes I know it's a bit ridiculous but that's all she's been reading for a few days. And the book has more than 200 pages for some reason.

I turned off the light that was on my side of the bed, "Goodnight, Clarence."

"Goodnight, Joseph." She yawned as she flipped the page. Eventually, she closed the book and turned the light that was on her side of the bed.

And goodnight world...

It has been a few days since I have fired him, I don't feel bad or anything especially not when he was only using me. I've been blind and only wished for comfort when I dealt with troubles back then. My eyes have only healed at the best time, but the only thing that isn't so great is to not have any assistance. I could ask Edson to be my assistant but he has school to attend to. I open up the place an hour before he goes to school, the building is around 40 minutes away from home while his school is about 20-30 minutes away.

Edson has been into my work that I kept alive ever since my father passed away. We moved here to get a new start after what happened to Edson's friend but also to open this place up. Ashlyn passed away a few months after we had moved here. Ashlyn and I believed that it was for the best for all of us.

I brushed my teeth and had a cup of coffee; the coffee tasted a bit minty along with the pumpkin spice coffee creamer. I sat at the couch that was in the basement; my so-called man cave. I had a fruit salad along with my coffee. The air was a bit damp, haven't really done anything to the basement since Ashlyn has passed away. Other than that the basement was taken care of but just needed more life to it. What I want the basement to be is almost luxurious, for it to be something that you can't take your eyes off of.

I sat there for what seemed like 10

minutes. I forgot all about the mail; Usually have mail sent to us every monday. I went upstairs onto the first floor, I walked towards the front porch and down towards the road to get the mail. I scavenged through the pile of mail; insurance, bills, coupons, and a strange letter. This letter did not have anything on it like any other letter would have. I went back inside to place the stack of mail on the kitchen counter. I opened the letter, as I unfold it I felt uneasy. I scanned the letter from top to bottom before I read it. It says,

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Francis, You have a wonderful home that is like no other. It may seem big on the outside but is really small on the inside. You have a wonderful son and daughter, your son is who I saw the other day. Have you ever asked him about me? Has he spoken of me while on the phone with you? An incident happened at the house behind yours, did you hear the sirens? Did you hear the cries of the teenagers' parents like I have? Were you there at the funeral that was a few days after? Where were you, Mr. and Mrs. Francis? Too busy living the best life that that you have always wanted? I must say your son may just be another trophy that I will display on my trophy case. And then your daughter, Mary Francis, is it? I have seen you too at the hospital, Mary told you that she needed to be discharged.

Is it because of me perhaps? I have been watching for some time now anyway so it is understandable to get away from the danger. The danger that was set on fire, this danger has awoken and will never go back to being asleep.

Sincerely,

The man with the melted skin

What the hell? This must be some kind of joke; a sick joke. Who in the right mind would write a letter just to give threats? Should I show this to Clarence or keep it to myself and act like this never happened? I'm not sure what to do, but I should probably ask Edson about who he saw. And what incident exactly? Did I miss many details about that day?

I was curious, a bit too curious. I left the house while everyone else was still asleep. I walked around the block half way just to reach the house that was behind ours. The house looked haunted, abandoned even. The parents must've left the house for it to get cleaned up by the crime scene cleaners.

A light turned on from the second floor, there was a shadow of who appeared to be slim; it must've been the mother. I had enough courage to go up to their front door just to ask about their kid who had passed away that day. I knocked on the door a couple of times, but nobody answered. When I was about to leave, someone opened the door. It was the mother of the dead kid.

"May I help you?" She asked, her voice sounded muffled; Her eyes looked dark and emotionless.

"Oh-uhm- Yes, I live behind you and I heard that your kid passed away not that long ago. What happened to them exactly?" I could tell that she was uncomfortable about this subject, "You don't have to tell me, I will just lea-"

She spoke over me, "No, It's alright, I can tell you." She moved aside, "Please. Come in." She cleared her throat, following behind me.

"How much do you want to know? Oh please sit down." She pointed at the couch that was on the other side of an arch. "Lovely home." I gave her a friendly smile

as I sat down on the couch.

"Oh, thanks. Would you like anything to drink?" She fiddled with her fingers, "Oh, sure, a cup of water would be nice. Thank you." So far this conversation was a bit awkward, there was hardly any noise in the house; Hearing only her digging through the cabinets.

"Is anyone home?" I look around, hardly peeking out of the two arches; One leads into the hallway and the other leads into the kitchen.

"No, nobody is home. Just me. My son and my husband went to a birthday party. Ever since my daughter passed- in this house, me and my husband grew distant." I could hear her sigh, her voice echoed through the house. There were hardly any decorations and furniture.

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