by stillcrazy

Created on: November 10, 2008

Matilda took one look at the small gingerbread boxed on all sides by the strapping forest and cried. It was a dream come true. A house of her own thanks to her Aunt Alice, an aunt she'd never knew existed. Her heart swelled with gratitude.

"Thank you Aunt Alice," Matilda whispered inside a deep breath.

The storm fused wind snatched her words and scattered them into the rafters of tall pines, scraping brutal needles against the violent sky. A chill crawled under her skin. Any other time, she might have considered that a sign of something bad to come, but not today. Wonderment at the generous gift bestowed on her by a distant aunt overshadowed any negative vibes. Besides, she was just tired from the long trip. After a restful sleep in her new bed, she'd forget all about the goose bumps. They were just a product of fatigue and unfamiliarity.

Matilda's lungs expanded with the fragrance of fresh lemons and old wood when she stepped over the threshold of her new home. The house had come furnished, and Matilda could tell right away everything had been polished to a flawless shine. Neither crevice nor contour had been overlooked. The Victorian dcor boggled Matilda momentarily. It wasn't her favorite. She felt as if she'd been yanked back a few centuries, but it didn't give her a sense of dread as the wind had. In fact, as she roamed from room to room, she felt right at home. Even with the storm promising a wild night, Matilda relaxed. Per the lawyer's instructions, Matilda found all her luggage in the master suite.

The envelop caught her eye immediately. It leaned against a bank of frilly pillows on the four poster bed. Matilda wasted no time opening it. Her bones chilled as she read its contents and the signature. The lawyer had prepared her for a letter explaining the conditions of the will, but Matilda had no idea it would be handwritten by her aunt. Reading her aunt's final request made the woman seem more real even if the request was strange. Matilda was to take care of her aunt's precious collection. She'd find them in the corner armoire. "Don't upset them, dear." Matilda thought that an odd way of telling her not to break them.
"I can do this Aunt Alice."

She refolded the letter with care and placed it in the night table just as the storm broke. Lightning snapped outside her window like a witchs finger. Matilda trembled. She waited for the thunder which shook the entire house then hurried downstairs to fix a quick bite so she could settle in early.

The pantry and fridge

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