C2 Mum This House Is Haunted

" Hey miss " A man called my attention. I turned around to see who it is.

" Mr. Z by name, I am to pick you up from the airport, order from superior " He introduced himself and stretch out his hands to collect my luggage

"No thank you" I declined his offer. I quickly brought out my phone and called my mother. When she picked, her voice sounded faintly.

"Mum I am at JFK's airport, a man in an all black dress code with a frizzy..." I paused and glanced at him. "A frizzy icy blue hair. He also goes by the name Z. He is also claiming to be the one to take me home" I poured out to her and she told me, the so called Mr Z is Dad's driver and I will be fine.

"Why isn't Dad here to pick me up himself?" I asked her and boom my phone went dead.

"Minster can I borrow your phone?" I requested.

Instead of a response, the clown looking man blew a big fat no at me, he grabbed my bags and walked back to the Uber, I couldn't ask my mother why she sounded weak.

"Well, I'm going home after all" I shrugged. I had no choice than to follow the giant ugly faced man.

The car stopped in front of an old house, Mr Z came down from the car and ran to the other side and held the car door wide open bowing his head.

I glared at the creepy ghost ridden house through the rear window glass and back at him. "Is this some kind of prank or what?" I asked feeling a little panicked.

"No ma'am. This is your home" He replied still bowing like I am some disney princess.

"Ciara darling!" I heard my Mum calling. I jumped down from the car and ran into her arms.

"My Ceece, I missed you a lot" Mum cried and hugged me tightly to her chest.

"I missed you too Mum" I whimpered and we hugged like couples who just got together after being away from each other for years, until Mr Z interrupted us by clearing his throat.

"Oh Mum do you have any dollars with you 'cause I don't have a single changed currency with me" I requested as I disentangled myself from her clutch.

"Why do you need some dollars?" She asked.

"To pay this kind young man for getting out of his way to do Dad's job by picking me up from the damn airport?!" I replied and fold my arms across my chest. "isn't that what you are supposed to do?"

"Thank you Miss but superior will settle me later" He commented and bowed before Mum. "Do you need anything or help ma'am?"

"No Zenzo. My daughter is back now, she will help me out" Mum declined his offer and he walked back to his Uber and drove away.

"Zen...zo" I stressed the name and jumped immediately causing Mum to grab my shoulders.

I burst out laughing. "Mum I just remembered something, that why I jumped" I giggled and she hugged me.

"I can't afford to lose you Ceece" She remarked and I pat her back.

"I'm fine Mum, I just remembered a dog story that Dad once told me when I was ten. The dog's name was Zenzo" I explained and we burst into laughter as we walk into the house.

I woke up by two am to do my routines, I got down from my bed and sneaked into the kitchen to grab some snacks and water. As I opened the door, the lights went off and I saw a creature standing beside the kitchen slab with a knife!. Fear gripped me, I held the door tightly but slowly lost hope as the creature came closer.

"Ahhhhhhh!" I screamed and blacked out.

"Ceece... Ciara"

I slowly began to hear a faint voice call my name, I opened my eyes and met the worrying face of my mother hovering over me. I tried to speak but couldn't as my eyes drifted to her right palm which is dripping with blood!. I became more frightened and slowly point to her hand.

"A knife cut me" Mum explained as she raised my head a little bit higher from the roman brick floor.

A knife?, Did that creature try to kill me and Mum saved me?.

"Darling..."

"Mum, this house is haunted, an old witch must have lived here and died in here as well, everywhere is so creepy" I finally spoke in a shaky voice.

Mum chuckled and rubbed my head. "This house belongs to your father, your great grand parents built this place and they were not witches nor wizards"

"But I saw something... Someone" I tried to explain to her.

"That was me, I went into the kitchen to have some apricots" Mum paused to see my reactions but instead I was staring at the apricots scattered all over the floor of the kitchen. So she continued. "You switched off the lights yourself, what do you expect to see in the dark" She added and I sighed feeling relieved.

She placed her right palm on my face, her right palm and she isn't bleeding!. Infact her hands were clean, no sign of blood !.

Halloween is till next three weeks Saturday, why are my eyes deceiving me.

I grab the courage to ask her about her hand.

She smiled and pecked me on my forehead.

"Ceece darling, you must be very tired after the exhausting trip you had yesterday, go to bed and wake up refreshed and stop sneaking into the kitchen to steal snacks" She poked my nose and led me to my room.

"Goodnight darling, feel free to wake up by twelve noon, I won't bother you" Mum muttered and peck me on my forehead.

"What about one pm?" I asked and she stood hands akimbo.

"Twelve noon and that's final, a minute later will reduce some cash from your allowance " She warned and walk away.

"Mum..." I sobbed but she already left the room. I sighed, sat up and went into a deep thoughts.

Was I hallucinating?, I swear I saw the blood but how did.... I need to have my beauty sleep, maybe my brain will reset by morning.

I fell on my pillow and few seconds later,I drove into a deep sleep.

"Wakie wakie... Rise and shine Barbie love"

I felt a slight tap on my shoulders, I sat up and yawned.

"Don't be silly, I know you've been awake, so go clean up we have some shopping to do" Mum announced and placed my breakfast on my dressing table.

"I don't want new cinderella or Sophia dresses, I am not a disney princess" I grumbled and covered myself in my duvet.

"I just want us to visit the grocery store nearby and fill the house with goodies" She assured me and I sluggishly slide down my bed and walked into the bathroom.

An hour later, we left the house in Mr Z's Uber. We got to a nice looking grocery store and walked into it.

I couldn't help but tug her arm and exclaim in awe. "Mum this place is fantacious, even though the word doesn't exist. When I came home last summer, this store wasn't here"

"Yes darling. Gina did a very good job, she moved on quite quickly" Mum nod her head as she spoke. We began to stroll round the store.

"Is she a divorcee?" I asked and Mum jerked in shock.

"I'm fifteen Mum, don't expect me to still be dumb"

Mum lowered gently touch my cheek and said. "It's my fault, I always see you as my little Ceece and.. you are still fourteen young lady !"

"Mum!" I exclaimed and slightly slap her on her hand. "It's just four months away, I am not a kid"

" So what makes you think age fifteen captures ' oh I am not a kid' uh? " Mum asked and I stared at her with a puppy face.

"I know that look... I'm not falling for... arrrgh.." She sighed and asked. "fine!. What do you want?"

I pointed at the shelf filled with makeup accessories. "Momma can I upgrade my makeup style?" I blinked and sucked my mouth but her reply shocked me and I expected it as well..

"No" She blurted out and picked up a music box beneath a shelf. "It looks familiar " She mumoured.

"That's mine!"

We turned to see the owner of the voice and there stood a tall beautiful girl with her hair combed side ways. She walked up to us and dragged the box out of Mum's hands.

Rude!

"Sorry for your time wasted, I accidentally dropped it" The girl apologized and I looked at her in amusement.

"You don't have to apologize dear, we should be the one apologizing instead" Mum used her nice smile and place her hands on the girl's head. " You are bless dear"

The girl turned around and ran away, Mum and I looked surprised at her behavior. Another girl walk up to us and hugged Mum.

"What's up Mrs Patrick?. My Mum went to court today to settle some clients issues, so how can I help you ?" The girl volunteered and placed her hands on our troller.

Mum pecked her on her forehead and said. "Thanks London, my daughter has already picked all the needed items"

Arrrgh!, Like seriously?. This girl's makeup is so heavy and Mum is... I am her daughter after all.

All I could do is roll my eyes and show how white my teeth is in the name of smiling.

"Hello girl. My name is London Noah, what's yours?"

The girl asked and stretch her hands towards me for a handshake.

"Ciara, Ciara Patrick" I replied and extended my hands as well and we shaked hands.

"I met Gina and her beautiful daughter last year" Mum began. "October to be precise, after the Halloween party" Mum paused and chuckled. "They have been the ones keeping me happy since then"

"Great Mum, can we go now?" I grumbled beneath my breath. she waved goodbye at the girl and we roll our troller to the check out.

While Mum is busy settling our bills, I turned around to take more views of the luxurious supermarket.

"Is that a shop lifter?" I whispered to myself almost inaudibly. I took a step forward and Mum grab my arms.

"Ciara your Dad just way billed your new phone and guess what, it's an iphone!" Mum exclaimed as she scroll down her phone.

I quickly took my eyes away from the scene and jogged out of the store happily.