After Effects

Chapter 30 • After Effects

"Ms. Harrington, ten seconds."

"Shemel corlien ahsmankle dub-"

"Excuse me?"

I stopped my grumbling and looked at Mr. Remora.

"Sir?"

"Did you say something?" he asked as if challenging me to say yes. Ha! I wasn't that stupid! Though telling me that I had ten seconds to pack my bags and make my way to the elevator was enough reason to say something to him. Something that was not very pretty.

"What? No. Of course not," I pressed my hand to my chest offended. He looked at me suspiciously before rolling his eyes and heading to his elevator. I hissed my teeth after him whilst grabbing my bag and then following his long strides.

Before you get all crappy and ask what happened to, 'I would not have done that if it were you' Mr. Remora, let me just say that he disappeared the week immediately after the party and grumpy old troll returned. It was kinda my fault to tell you the truth, but I didn't tell the man to be afraid of cockroaches and then get angry because I told him I'd save him from the monstrous beast! And yeah, that's what's got him all cemented over for the last few weeks. You'd think he'd be able to handle one joke.

"Where are we going anyway?" I asked as he handed me his briefcase. I was relieved that it wasn't very heavy.

"You will see once we get there," was his curt reply as he stepped into his elevator and, surprisingly, did not stop me from joining him in there. I sighed at the fact that he was keeping things to himself when it obviously concerned us both. He glanced over at me and rose an eyebrow.

"What?" I asked, looking at him strangely. He deadpanned before looking down through the transparent elevator walls and overseeing the floors as we passed them. I shrugged off his weird behaviour and did the same. The view would be a real scare for anyone with the fear of heights but intriguing to anyone else.

I followed quickly after Mr. Remora when the elevator stopped on the first floor and opened. We quickly made our way to the car waiting outside and Mr. Jones wasted no time hurrying off.

"Sir are you sure I should not know where we are going?" I asked once more as we turned off the road which had led us from a main gate and onto a large property I was not familiar with. I silently chuckled to myself. What was I even saying? I didn't know many large properties now did I?

My breath hitched when I saw the name "Remora Home" on a sign just outside the... second gates we had approached. They opened as soon as the car reached it and Mr. Jones went right in.

Wait, this isn't his home is it? Nah. It couldn't be. I mean wealthy people weren't that cocky they had a sign before their home telling everyone it was their home now... Did they?

"Ah sir? Where are we?"

No response. Of course. Because why would he deem it necessary to answer that question... or any question of mine? Though after a few seconds I needed not to be upset about that as I was duely distracted by what lied after the gates. It was a very grandiose and colossal structure of a mansion, built from white and brown stones with a series of steps leading up to the front door. Large windows and glass doors made openings in the walls and faces could be seen peaking out from either.

This main building wasn't the only one on the property however as there were other houses off to the sides of the mansion. People of all ages were out and about these place as well and now I was very confused.

Were there so many people in Mr. Remora's family?

"Ms. Harrington," Mr. Remora himself called back at me urging me from the car, which I had been too distracted to even notice had stopped. I quickly responded by stepping out after him and then getting a full view of my surroundings. "This way."