Captive of the Light - Lily Ramsay (ereader iphone txt) 📗

you many many years ago and to help you understand that something must be done about Pembrooke manor, it just cannot go on!
Caro.


3.
Lauren
It was only when the light of morning seeped through the thin curtains I realised that had been awake all night. There were so many thoughts buzzing round in my head sleep was a distant harbour. What had really happened? And why why why would Caro not tell me! I love her but she really is exasperating sometimes. The longer I was awake the need to see my family intensified.
As I sat there pondering my thoughts I heard the sound of Caro’s bare feet coming down the stairs. Finally! I got myself ready to confront t her about everything but as soon as she came around the corner my anger disappeared. How could I be mad at her when I didn’t know how much time we would have together? I was about to greet her brightly but was interrupted mid-thought when from behind her back she pulled out an envelope. This time without hesitation Caro dropped it into the lap of me. It reminded me of the time in the tower when Caro had handed over her past. I looked at her curiously and tore open the letter. Just as I was about to start reading Caro shoved her notebook under my nose.
Going out, be back soon, don’t go anywhere...please...
I nodded obediently as she slammed the behind her announcing her exit. As I set down to read I got a tingling feeling of anticipation, what was it she was going o tell me through her boyish scrawl, what mysteries would be uncovered, and what would she confide in me, the things that have haunted her for many years?


Caro
She couldn’t believe what she had just given Lauren to read. But it was for the better she promised herself. Caro had always had the habit of walking with her head down, ever since she had been captive of the light and she had never run into anyone before. That’s why she was so surprised when she walked straight into Tom. She couldn’t speak to him, that’s too hard, instead she tried for a smile but even that came out lob sided. He didn’t seem to notice, just laughed and smiled and continued on his way.
Now that she was actually in the town, Caro had no idea what she intended to do. Nobody felt comfortable with her roaming the streets and they didn’t try to hide it either. It was odd, hadn't he seen her, everyone tended to steer clear of her, or maybe, just maybe, he wanted to see her. No Caro strictly reminded herself she would not get caught up in that!
What to do? Well the one thing she knew is that she couldn’t go back home while Lauren was reading about what had happened to her. Well there was only one place to go. Turning around and heading right towards Pembrooke. She knew it was not her place to go back but she couldn’t help it.
However she was disappointed to find that the iron gates had been chained shut. She sighed at defeat but did not make any effort to move until a voice startled her.
“And what may I ask are you doing?” the voice was not unkind, merely curious and she recognised it straight away. As she expected she saw Tom standing in front of her. She shrugged. They stared at each other for a moment longer. He looked so much like Lauren, and she wandered whether she should tell him right then and there but eventually she decided against it. It was unfair and plus he would probably result to her being a mentally challenged person.
As they stood standing opposite each other Caro could feel her face getting hot, she never blushed, what was going on. To save herself further embarrassment wrote down that she had to go do other things in town and with that she fled.
****
When she returned home she was shocked to find that she had been gone for five hours and that Lauren was asleep on the couch, the letter she had written slipping through her fingers. Caro sighed, she was tempted to wake Lauren and consult her about what she thought about the letter but the she thought, “Let her sleep”. She would just simply have to wait.
While she was bustling round in the kitchen, trying to keep her mind off tom Lauren came into the room clutching the letter. At first they just stared at each other and the Lauren said almost timidly, “is it true?” Caro nodded, unsure what to say or even write.
“Its just not possible, stuff like that just doesn’t happen” Caro shrugged.
“That’s what I thought too” she whispered.
“we have to tell my family though, you know, like what if it happen again to Grace or something?
Caro had run out of energy and she slumped over the sink.
“ok” she barely whispered, we’ll go tomorrow. Lauren nodded but looked nervous. Although she said nothing about it Caro knew, it was harder for Lauren, Caro didn’t have a family to magically appear to after all these years. It was not going to be easy...at all, what had happened was merely unexplainable. It was a scary thought to how they would react. But really, as Caro thought through the other options she found that there weren’t really any others, at least that Lauren would agree to, she was adamant that her family must know that she was alive. Maybe they would have to lie about her age just say that she didn’t look any older. Yes that would be what they would do it was the only way.

Lauren

I was just about to drift off to sleep when Caro came barging through the door. She shook me on the shoulders and I opened m eyes to meet her sparkling green ones. “What?” I mumbled grumpily. She grinned at my irritability and held out her notebook;
“I have the perfect plan...”
“Yeah, what?” I snapped;
“We tell your parents that I found you, so they no longer hate me and pretend that you truly are twenty but it just doesn’t look like that”
“mmm, ok whatever you say” I responded absently minded. Caro rolled her emerald eyes in frustration. “you don’t understand!” she finally exploded.
This got my attention; my eyes flew open in surprise, mirrored by her stunned expression. I think she shocked herself as much as she did me. On the rare occasions she had spoken it had barely been a whisper. “sorry” she murmured and then coughed. I shrugged. I wanted to feel mad at her but I couldn’t, she was trying so hard for me and I had nothing in return.
“its a good idea” I relented and it made her smile. “we’ll go tomorrow, huh”? I asked. She nodded eagerly but I think I saw a flicker of regret pass through her eyes, who knows maybe I was imagining it. “I think I’m going to go to sleep” I announced, curling up on the lounge. Caro nodded and leant over me just looking. Then she lowered her lips to my forehead and gave me the softest gentlest kiss.
“That’s what mothers do isn’t it” she murmured.

****

Caro

The next morning tensions were running high between Caro and Lauren. They were both nervous about their visit to Pembrooke manor. There were so many what ifs. What if they kicked Caro out before they got to tell them? What if they didn’t believe them and then told them to go away. What if Lauren was never allowed to see Caro again? Oh the possibilities were endless, Caro hadn't slept a wink all night.
In the end there was no putting it off. Together they must do this and together and they shall. As they set off, walking through the dirty back streets of the town they said nothing, not even Lauren, no contact was made apart from her soundlessly slipping her hand into Caro’s just as they approached Pembrooke. Caro squeezed it back and slipped through the gates with Lauren in tow.
When they reached the ominous entryway the reality of their situation began to sink in. They were about to march inside and tell the Middleton's that they had a cursed how and they’re daughter had been “captive of the light” for six years. Ah well this was going to be fun.
After standing outside the door for about ten minutes, wondering if she was crazy enough to knock, Lauren made up her mind for her. She popped out from around the corner and hammered on the door before disappearing again, leaving Caro to face her family. As footsteps approached the door, Caro sucked in her breath and came face to face with a little girl, Grace Middleton.


4.
Caro
The little girls intent blue eyes studied Caro with great interest. “Who is it sweetie?” came the unmistakable voice of Mrs. Middleton. “some girl, with green eyes” oh god Grace! That is the worst thing to say to her. Nevertheless Mrs. Middleton came to the door looking unimpressed. Caro could tell that she was about to close the door when she said hoarsely;
“ please Mrs. Middleton, I have something I think you’d like to see”
She looked at me with such immense curiosity that I thought I just might have a chance.
“Well?” she countered, with a wry smile I gestured to Lauren from around the corner. She came, as calm as ever and stood in front of her mother...

Lauren
My mother had aged. She had more creases in her forehead and larger frown lines. But she was still my mother. A million emotions fluttered over her features; relief, regret, sadness, belief, confuse, longing, happiness.
I tried for a smile but I didn’t quite make it and my knees buckled instead. I didn’t realise how much I had missed until this moment. Mum walked towards me with her arms outstretched and I met her half way. Her hands flittered as if to check that I am real. She pulled me in a huge bear hug and held so tight I thought I was going to crack my bones. After she had finally let go she held me at arm’s length and hollered, “Tom!! Thomas! William! Gracie!!” I braced myself for the onslaught of mixed emotions and tears. It was Tom who arrived at the door first. He took only look and me and burst into tears, my brother, crying. He engulfed me into another bear hug. How old must he be now? Eighteen almost. He was strong and musclier, he felt so different from the rare occasions that I used to hug him when we were young.
Next out the door was my dad. He looked so much older. There was no hugging, just a sharp clip on the back, but I had come to expect that.
Next from him came Graces peeking face from behind Toms leg.
“Lauren” her little voice chimed and I held out my arms. She came running at me full speed and I caught her just in time. Sisterly instinct. All the time during the reunion I had noticed my mum looking at Caro but I didn’t think twice of it until she sneered;
“you, you were the one keeping my Lauren, you!”
“NO mum!” I yelled in Caro’s defence, “she wasn’t”.
That was when my quiet father finally stepped in. With one arm around my mother he suggested very calmly that we all go inside and discuss the