Welcome to BlackHill Manor

I am sending you here for your own good. I think this will be a good place for you considering everything going on with Darla. I want to be there for both of you and I can't do that if Darla doesn't get better and I know she will, she just needs time and the right care. Cass, I know you don't really know Marcus but he is our father after all and mom would want you to have a relationship with him. This boarding school he owns will be a great place I can just feel it. I wish I could have called you to hear your voice but I know reception is bad in those parts of the woods. Darla will be fine and you'll be back home in no time for her sixth birthday. I love you.

                                                   -birdy

...

It was nearing the end of October and raindrops fell heavily on the taxi window. The roads were slicked black from the rain, as if they had just been painted and even though the trees were completely naked, green grass could be seen everywhere. Every so often the sky would open up and a lightning bolt would come out along with the most ominous thunder Cass has ever heard. Even with the heater on the cold still seeped into the car making her shiver in her huge black coat.

"Do you get rain like this back in America? I'm telling you only Wales has rain like this." The man's northern england accent was thick, almost hard to understand and his loud voice filled the car. Cass shook her head forgetting that he couldn't see her, "no. I lived in a desert town back in America so we hardly ever got rain." "Then you are going to love it out here." Cass smiled, even though she wasn't too sure about that but she had to like it for her sister's sake.

"So it looks like you are heading to BlackHill Manor?" "Yes." The man chuckles, "not the talkative type are you? That's ok. When I was a kid I didn't talk much either but now it's all I do." He lets a booming laugh.

"I'm not going to pressure you to talk but I would like to know why you are heading to the manor especially during this time? Sorry if I'm prying." "No, it's fine. I have family there and what do you mean? Is this not a good time to come?" "Oh no, of course it is. The boarding school closes up for the winter so everyone can be home for the holidays. I just thought it was a little odd to be heading to  a place that would be closed up."

"I'm meeting someone but do I need to head back home?" The man could sense a panic in her voice and gave another soft chuckle, "no mean to worry you dear, you'll be fine."

...

Cass takes in another shaky breath trying to get the courage to walk to the front door steps of the huge manor. From where she was standing it looked intimidating. The manor resembled a gothic Victorian house. It had huge windows that overlooked the landscape. The heavy walls were made out stone and every inch was painted black. Green thick vines and moss sprouted from the ground up and clung to the walls for dear life.

The taxi driver had been long gone and Cass couldn't remember how long she had been standing outside. She was completely soaked from the rain that was still pouring and she just knew she looked like a complete mess.

Is this how you want to look when to greet your father for the first time in sixteen years? You look dumb standing out here Cass. Just knock on the door, what's the worst that could happen? It's not like he could cast you out because he already did that for sixteen years of your life.

"Shut up," Cass yells out loud, her bottom teeth clattering against her top ones from the cold.

"Sorry, I didn't know I said something." A heavy monotone english accent flows into her ears and she lets out a startled scream. "Who are you?"

A boy who looked about her age stood still with his hands in his pockets. He had on a black suit jacket with matching black slacks. His black shoes looked a little worn out; he looked dressed for a funeral. Cass couldn't help but be in awe by his clothing choice and it completely matched the environment around him including his gloomy expression and demeanor.

"You're american aren't you," he says in more of a statement than a question. His monotone voice made her skin crawl. "You didn't answer my question. Who are you?" "You don't look like you belong here. I haven't seen you on the grounds before." "This is my first time visiting and you still haven't answered my question." He gives a sad look and points the ground beside her feet, "may I." She follows his finger to her medium sized duffle bag, "oh no I got it-"

They both reach for the bag at the same time.

Their hands wrap around each other and she lets out a gasp at how icy cold he was. It reminded her of the cold-blooded animals she learned about in sixth grade. Cold-blooded animals' body temperature change depending on their surrounding environment and that's what this was. He was cold and distant just like the air around them.

"Oh you're warm," he says, trying to fight the sad smile coming onto his face. He finally succeeds and the almost grin that appeared on his face is now gone, just like before. "Oh?" "I'm sorry, so sorry." He drops her hand and takes off in a run not even slipping on the slick mud underneath him.

"Wait!" Before she could call out to him he had already disappeared around the other side of the manor.

...

The sound of Cass knocking on the door seemed to amplify into the space around her. She was nervous and shaken up by the experience she just had. Every few seconds she would turn around in hopes of seeing the boy return but no such luck. Just as she was about to knock again the heavy stone door swung open. 

The warm from inside wrapped around her like a warm blanket, she couldn't help but smile.

"You must be Cass." A tall man and skinny man stood in the doorway with a smile on his face. His glasses hung on the very edge of his nose whatever hair he had left was now gray. He smiled and it was just now she saw the resemblance. Even though Cass has never seen pictures of him, the resemblance was uncanny. They had the same round face, the same dark brown eyes, and were both around the same height.

"Come in, we have been waiting for you."

...

Darla is getting better. Doctors still don't know what it was that caused her to be that sick but at least she is getting there. Now that she's getting better, I enrolled her in school last year and she has never been happier, she already has three friends to bring home to her tenth birthday party.

What happened to you Cass? It's been four years and not a single word from you. Marcus stops by every year to check on us. He's hurting, he thinks it's his fault for whatever happened to you. I don't know if I can trust him but I will find you Cass.

                                                   -birdy