Chapter 21

By

Brynn Morgan

Copyright © 2023 by – Brynn Morgan – All Rights Reserved.

It is not legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited.

Chapter 21

"Do you know anything about Hillary?" Emily asked.

Cynity chuckled. "Well, I should say so. Hillary lived with Parker and me from when she was 13 until she went to college."

Emily found that extremely interesting. "Why. With a grand house like Hastings, why would she want to leave?"

Cynity sighed and stacked the plates, and gathered the empty glasses. "Hillary hated Hastings." She said plainly.

"Why?"

"Hillary was going through a tough time, and Marjorie asked Parker if Hillary could come and stay with us for a while, just for a change of scenery." She laughed.

"That short time stretched out to six years." Cynity informed them.

Emily remembered the abrupt way Hillary had hung up on her that day on the phone. It was so rude, when she did tell her about Amori dying? To hang up? She would have strangled her if she could have gotten her hands around her neck at that moment. "Did she ever say anything?"

Cynity shook her head. "Sadly, Hillary did not open up to me as much as she did her uncle. She and Parker had a special bond since she was born, but I know that she never wished to return to Hastings, and she would fight against him whenever he brought it up. I will say this, though. She never went upstairs again. Hillary went to parties and gatherings at the mansion, but as far as any relationship with Majorie and William, they had to come to her."

Lainie's eyes narrowed with speculation."I wonder if she encountered the girl at some point. It seems strange that she would stay away from there for years." She said.

"I always suspected something had happened there, as it happened to me all those years ago, but Hillary was so quiet and withdrawn. She would not talk about it." Cynity stopped for a moment and then said. "You see. Parker and I could not have children, so I had been so excited for Hillary to come and stay with us. She was always so withdrawn and would barely speak. We never formed that bond that I so desperately craved."

Emily remembered Hillary being like that in school. She was so quiet and withdrawn. Hillary wore glasses, and her hair hung down on her face. She was brilliant and always on the A honor roll list but associated with no one.

"Now, when she went away for college, she changed." Cynity said. "She developed from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. She went to medical school at Duke University and met Hans Gant. He attended medical school there as well. Parker and I were sad when they moved to New Zealand, but we felt it was best for her. She has only returned for the passing of her parents, and she stayed with us only during that time, never at Hastings House."

Emily sighed. "We need to get in that room at the end of the hall. I do not know how to do that. Claude and Maureen are the caretakers there now, and she kicked us out when we went there to pick up the rest of my things."

Lainie looked at Cynity.

"Guard dogs of Hastings." The old woman  commented. Cynity looked at the women.

"I will call Hillary. It's time that I find out what happened to her and has haunted her all these years."

"Do you think that she will open up about it?" Emily asked.

"She has no choice at this point." Cynity stated.

"We will only get in through her." Lainie commented.

***

5:18 AM

Hillary Gant

New Zealand

***

Hillary heard the call come through as she rose early for her Pilates session. She let it go to voicemail. Hillary finished her session about thirty minutes later and then checked her phone. Her dark eyes widened. Cynity? Why would she be calling? That was very strange. At this time in the morning?

She did not have time now. Hans was out of the country for work, and she was taking care of the twins on her own and working at the hospital. She did not have time to call her.

After she woke up Spencer and Anastasia, she fixed breakfast, dressed them, and then dropped them off at school and drove to the hospital.

She took her bag out of the car and slung it on her shoulder. The phone rang. She looked down. It was Cynity again. Ok. She had rung twice now. Once again, she let it go to voicemail.

Cynity left another message. This time, Hillary listened to it.

"Hillary. I need you to call me as soon as you get this message, please. It is imperative. I need help explaining things here, though. Please call me today. I will be waiting for your call."

What had happened at Hastings's house this time? God, she wished she could sell it and finish it. But she could not do that because of that damn promise to her mother.

Hillary entered the hospital, opened the door to her office, and entered the room, shutting the door behind her. She sat down with a sigh in her white leather swivel chair and called Cynity. She answered at once.

"Hillary! Thank you for calling me back." She said with urgency in her tone, which Hillary at once detected in her southern accent.

There was no time for pleasantries.

"Cut to the chase, Cynity. I really don't have a lot of time to spare." She sounded so curt, but that was Hillary's makeup. She did not like anything or anyone that brought back memories of her childhood and teenage years in Summerhill.

Cynity blew out her breath. "I need your assistance, Hillary. Do you remember talking to a young lady called Emily?" she asked.

There was silence. "I do." Hillary said in a guarded tone.

Cynity continued. "She came to see me this afternoon and her friend Lainie."

Hillary felt her blood pressure rising. "For what!" she demanded to know.

Cynity remained calm. "They read Elizabeth's journals and wanted to know more."

Hillary let out some choice words and then blew into the phone receiver. "Did you let these strange women in your house? What were you thinking? That Emily was in Hastings for only a couple of days and did so much damage that I am having to pay to fix it!"

Cynity did not believe that at all. "Not Emily. She is a very gracious and kind young lady, and I can't see her being destructive like that." She defended Emily.

Hillary huffed. "My kitchen was destroyed, and Maureen told me the back bedroom was too. It did not happen until she came." She argued.

Cynity did not back down. "That woman had nothing to do with it, and you know it." She paused. "Have you ever read Elizabeth's journals?"

Hillary remained quiet. "No. I have not. And why should I?

Cynity sounded exasperated when she spoke again "It's time for you to stop hiding what you know and tell me why you insisted on leaving Hastings all those years ago." Cynity confronted her.

Hillary's voice was cold as ice. "I do not know what you are talking about."

"Yes, you do, Hillary. You have seen the girl, and she is killing and terrorizing still after all this time, and she simply will not stop! Tell me what happened all those years ago. Please." Cynity begged.

Hillary was so quiet, but Cynity saw she was still on the line.

"The last victim was Amori Black ,Hillary. You hired her to find a housekeeper for Hastings. She was thrown down the steps a few days later. They found her with her neck broken!" she exclaimed.

"Maybe it was just a natural fall, Cynity," Hillary said in disbelief.

Cynity cursed softly under her breath. "There is nothing natural about Hastings Hillary, and you know it. Whatever resides there is pure evil and hellbent on destroying lives."

Hillary sighed, sounding so tired.

"I want you to tell me what happened to you when you were thirteen, and then I want you to let Emily and Lainie in the house to see what they can find."

Hillary sighed, feeling overwhelmed. "Why Cynity?" she questioned softly.

"Because I need to hear what happened to you, and I think you need to share it for your peace."

Hillary sighed deeply. "I cannot do that, Cynity. I am sorry and do not want them back in Hasting's." She hung up the phone abruptly.

***

Hillary put the kids to bed that night , did a quick video call with Hans, and then she took a shower and went to bed.

She was exhausted from performing two surgeries and could not erase the conversation with Cynity earlier that morning.

Curling up into a fetal position in her bed, Hillary placed a pillow in between her legs to help the pain in her back that she suffered from. She had been plagued with it since having twins four years ago.

The room was dark but for a sliver of moonlight that was casting a stream of pale light across the gray carpet.

Hillary felt the temperature shift in the room suddenly, and she became cold. She pulled the thick-down comforter up to her chin to ward off the chill. Watching the stream of light fade slowly, she saw the hills of home. Hastings House came into view, looming in the distance. She was transported to the dark second-floor landing, and then she heard.

"Hill-a- ry." It was a sing-song voice coming from the dark hallway.

Hillary froze in terror. Her whole body shook violently. "No!" "Oh God, no!" she moaned.

The voice became louder. Closer. "Hill-a-ry." This time, it was a whisper in her ear.

Hillary slowly turned. She knew that the girl was behind her. Hillary could feel her. She could feel her cold and clammy hands itching to push her to death. And then it changed from her standing there to Anastasia, her daughter. She panicked. Hillary watched helplessly as the pale, dead hands touched her daughters' small shoulders.

"Get away from her!" She screamed.

The girl turned then and looked at Hillary with hellish black eyes. Her mouth gaped open in the most terrifying and chilling smile, and she pushed Anastasia down the stairs. Hillary ran down the stairs after her, but she could not catch her. It was too late.

She screamed.

"Mummy! Wake up!" Her son Spencer was shaking her to wake her up.

Hillary fought against him. Then she heard her daughter's voice.

"Mummy, please wake up." she pleaded in her tiny voice.

Hillary woke up from the horrid nightmare, grabbed Anastacia, and pulled her close. She pressed her nose against her sweet-smelling hair, and tears streamed down her face. "It was not real. Oh, thank God it was not real." She sobbed.

***

Hillary let the kids sleep with her that night, and she watched the window until she finally drifted off to sleep.

When she woke up the following day, she sent Cynity a text message saying.

"I'm ready to tell you what happened. Let's talk after I drop the kids off at school. It's time."

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