In Your Last Hour

The room was a typical 18th century Italian servants room. There was a single cot at the center of the room and at the south – east side of the bed, there was a large standard European wooden window. There, on the window sill, there were few hanging and potted plants kept. The soil was slightly dry.

The window had 2 white floral prints on pink thick curtains and 4 thin white curtains. The wallpaper was apple white in colour, making the room more bright and lively with the morning light. At the north of the bed, there was an electric fireplace and a bookshelf. Towards the east, there was a study table and there was a cupboard . At the west, the entrance to the room was. Every furniture was wooden, giving it a light antique feel.

When we entered the room, it felt very suffocating. The window was bolted. It had light dust particles on the frames unlike the usual spotless clean windows. It looked like she didn open the windows from last night or she didn wipe her windows for a long time.

The cupboard was neatly arranged but the freshly cleaned dresses were kept in a haphazard manner. Not like the usual colour coded order. Plus, she didn press them.

Being an OCD patient, it didn make any sense that she didn notice this unless she wasn here for a long time or she didn keep the clothes.

The bed was straight. It looked like the bed was not even used for a long time too.

Looking at the open cupboard, I asked with curiosity, ”Have you checked the CCTV camera footage of last evening, around the time day shift ends? ”.

”No. I checked the footage of even early morning too but not yesterday. Why did you ask? ” Aunt, also my adoptive mother asked.

”She didn wipe the dust on the frame of the window. Nor did she on her study table. She didn water her plants yet . Her bed is too clean and cold for a person to go out in morning. The freshly cleaned dresses were not placed in the usual place and were not pressed. I remember Nina always wearing a neat and straight dress even though they were bound to get wrinkled with two sided braided hair. Anastasia even made fun of her once : The too goody – goody girl. There are so many flaws in this room that I can spot. ” I explained.

”Hmm. I will check with Orian and let you know. ” Aunt said.

”If you guys are done, then can we play a game of chess? I am done with riding Blanc and I finally found you, Lucas, not busy with that pile of papers. ” A voice from back said.

I turned back and said, ”That pile of paper should be originally dealt by your ladyship. Not me. ”

Anastasia retorted, ”However, you have always been taken care of it. If you suddenly give me that task, I will faint due to overwork, Koala. ”

I knew she would add the Koala in the end, so I didn mind, nor did I try to even go in an argument. An Antisocial personality disorder patient can be argued with.

”Why are you here? ” I asked.

”I told you. I was finding you cause I was bored. Anything else? ” Anna replied, entering the room.

”I am going to file an official missing report on Nina Roberto. So, uncle will go to the town and I will finish the remaining of the paperwork. ” I said.

”So? ” Anna asked.

”Find someone else. ” I replied curtly and left the room as quick as possible.

”Yah, yah, yah! Lucas Ricci. Come back. Come back. I said come back. Come back! Why aren you coming back? Yah. Yah. Lucas. ” Anna screamed at the top of her voice.

The workers of night shift looked at her saying, ”Again! ”.

When I reached, I saw uncle was done with 1/4th of the paperwork I had left.

I said, ”Uncle, I will do the remaining. Instead, could you go to the town and file a missing diary of Nina Roberto? ”

Uncle aka my adoptive father was so happy that he couldn hide his happiness for he was finally free from the strenuous task.

He asked, ”From when is she missing? ”

”Ask aunt. She should be able to tell when was Nina last spotted in the mansion. ” I replied while stretching my back.

”Ok. Bye. All the best! ” He said and walked exactly the same way I did, a few minutes prior.

The annoyance I felt was… Not much actually. Rather, I felt it was childish for him to do so.

And, I was back to signing papers for the big day.

After 20 mins, Anna walked into the room hauntily, making her every step audible.

”Aah, she is angry. ” I thought while signing the papers.

I took out my reading glasses and kept the unfinished paperwork and the pen at its designated place.

I asked in a soothing voice, ”What happened? ”

”I have nothing to do because someone rejected my proposal. ” Anastasia said.

I, immediately, closed her mouth by stuffing a candy from the stock of candies kept on my desk drawer in her mouth and asked, ”What is the actual reason to come here? ”

Anna replied, ”Tata told me to tell you that, that Nina girl did leave the Servants Quarters during the the time day shift ends. She said that she left with extreme hurry. As if she was terribly late to meet someone. ”

”To meet someone? ” I asked.

”Yes. She was wearing a pink with white stripes shirt on a plain white shirt and a light blue denim jeans. Her auburn, frizzy hair was tied with a yellow ribbon. She was not seen coming back. ” She said.

”Did uncle report yet? ” I asked.

”Gustav is a competent butler. He already took the description and is on the way to the police station. ” Anna sat on the desk and said.

”Ok. ” I wore my spectacles and continued, ”I saw your schedule for the next three days and I see you haven packed your bags yet. Go, and pack them. Thats your task. ”

”Why? Why packing bags? ” Anna complained

”You always end up packing till the last moment and often forget your important necessities. Packing early would reduce the anxiety of late packing. Now go. ” I said and pushed out of the desk.