DO NOT Speak of the Dead Solo

Percival blinked his eyes open staring up at the ceiling of his room. The room was dark only lit by the moonlight that filtered in through his window. Streaks of moonlight lit up patterns on the wooden flooring of his room. Crickets chirped loudly as if they were right outside his window. Distantly, he could hear the howl of a wolf from the wooded area behind his Grandfather's home. Though, Percival doubted that is what woke him up so abruptly. The boy sat up slowly his covers falling off of his shoulder and onto his lap.

Something felt. . .wrong. Percival could not place the reasoning behind it, but he felt more than a little nervous. The boy rubbed at the sleep in his eyes as he glanced towards the door of his room. Percival had no real reason to look over there right away. It was mostly instinct that told him to look. His eyes widened in alarm as he realized it was open. The boy threw off his blankets before moving so that his legs dangled over the edge of the bed. Percival's heart felt like it was about to jump out of his chest. The door to his room was slightly ajar as if someone had opened it slightly to peek in. Percival quietly stood up out of bed. His breath thumped in his throat invading his ears with its sound. Was there someone still out there? The boy felt like he was frozen with indecision. Afraid to alert whoever had decided to open his door. Whoever had opened it had tried their hardest to be quiet. That much was clear. Was it possible the person had left it cracked in fear of waking him?

Suddenly, a distant crash sounded from further down the hall bringing Percival out of his indecision. The boy's brows knit together as he slowly made his way to his bedroom door. Ignoring the snake that raised its head as he moved by its tank. Percival's hand reached out away from his body, gripping the handle of the doorknob. The metal was icy cold in his hand matching the sharp cold of the floor that gnashed at his toes. Slowly but surely, Percival pulled the door open. His heart beating harder with every movement that opened his door.

Stepping out into the hallway gave the boy no clues on what could have caused the crash. The hall was empty of any living thing. Everything was in its place. The grandfather clock stood proudly against the far wall in the middle of the hall. Its soft ticking echoed through the quiet counting down the minutes to 12 am. The suit of armor that stood proudly at the end of the hall. Even though it was as ominous as ever, it had not moved from its designated spot. Percival turned to the left making his way towards the riser that overlooked the entryway. A large gong sounded echoing through the hall. Percival visibly jumped, his breath catching in his throat. Whirling back suddenly to stare at the large clock in disbelief. The loud gonging sound continued until all twelve strikes were completed. Percival's heart calmed along with the clock as the familiar ticking once again filled the hall. He could not believe that he had gotten scared over a clock no less.

Another crash brought Percival back into what he was doing up so late. This one was much louder than the previous one that he had heard in the safety of his bedroom. Now that he was closer to the staircase, he was able to tell that the noise was coming from downstairs. Percival felt vulnerable out in the open away from the safety of his bed. The boy moved slowly down the stairs wincing at every squeak produced when he miscalculated a step. Times like these, Percival wished he had decided to go home to his parents rather than his grandfather. The manor was very old, and the stairs only accentuated this point.

Percival finished walking down the stairs glancing into the family room. His eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight of the fireplace. While nothing was wrong with it, the fire was burnt out. Nothing was left of the roaring fire except for a few glowing coals. Normally this wouldn't be strange, except for the fact that it was a rather cold night. He wondered why the butler hadn't tended to the fire to keep it from burning out. It struck an odd chord with the boy, and he slowly drew himself away from the entrance of the room. Percival heard a strange thumping sound down the first-story hall.

Slowly but surely the boy made his way closer and closer to the source of the sound. It was like a siren calling to a sailor, hoping to drag her unsuspecting victim down into the dark depths. As he approached, Percival swore he could hear yelling between two sources. This brought his walking to a halt as confusion and surprise roared against one another within him. It didn't make any sense. The majority of his family had left after the ball. Not many would stay at the family home at one time. The only ones left in this house were him, his Great Aunt, and his grandfather. Yet, the two voices were distinctly male. The boy grasped at the pants of his pajamas as if they were a lifeline. He didn't understand why the two voices were yelling. The argument was so loud he could make out some words from his position at the end of the hall. 'You always hated-' and I did nothing wro- were some of the words picked up.

Percival wanted it to stop, the yelling, even though he couldn't understand the reasoning for the fight. A crash and a thump sounded down the hall. Then suddenly, it all went quiet. The boy held his breath frozen with indecision. His breath came out every so often in sharp pants that he tried to control to remain quiet. Creaking alerted the boy to the opening door even though he had trouble seeing it from so far away into the dark. Percival quickly jumped to the left, hiding behind a white pillar that held a bust on top of it. The boy slid down, his back resting against the wall, as he cupped his hands over his mouth as he heard footsteps. His heart jolted against his ribs as he realized the steps were making their way towards him.

The boy's heartbeat against his chest harder and harder with every step. As the footsteps drew closer, Percival squeezed his eyes shut. He did not dare move as the steps got close, but opened his eyes as the steps moved past him. Percival's eyes widened to saucers as he took in dark long shoulder-length hair and a very familiar leather coat. 'Uncle Terrence?' the boy thought confusion replacing the majority of his fear. He wondered why his uncle was here. The man had left to go back home after taking Percival to pick out a pet. Why was he here especially at such an ungodly time? Percival's nervousness about the entire situation kept him from calling out to his father-figure. No matter how much he wished to be comforted after this whole ordeal.

Percival wouldn't realize just yet how smart that move would be. The boy shakily stood up and away from the pillar. His gaze looking towards the room that his Uncle Terrence had come out of. It was his grandfather's study, specifically, the one no one was ever allowed to go in without express permission. Everything felt off as if something bad would happen if he continued on this little mission of his. The boy swallowed even though it felt difficult to do. He made his way to the office door noting that it was closed. Carefully the boy raised his hand up to the wooden door.

Rap

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"Grandfather?" he would call softly as if afraid someone else would hear him. No answer would come from behind the large door. It made little sense for his Grandfather to not answer. He hadn't heard or seen the man leave the room either. Percival lost his nerve running away from the door and back to his room. Like a small child who thought they saw the boogie man in their closet. His bravery and curiosity had been thoroughly snuffed for the moment. The boy dashed up the staircase ignoring the loud squeaking that came from the old steps. He didn't stop running till he got to his room. Even then, the boy closed his door loudly before hiding under his covers. Sleep would not come to the boy, as he stared at his bedroom door with wide eyes in the darkness.

Morning light filtered in through the window. The room slowly lightening till it was fully bright. Everything felt wrongfully calm as if the entire house was holding its breath. Until a female's scream sounded loud from downstairs. The rest of the morning was a blur. His parents told him that his grandfather had died of natural causes. It was as if a verdict had been passed with no room for argument. So, Percival kept his mouth shut about what he had witnessed. There was little point bringing up a fight between his uncle and grandfather. Especially, when there seemingly was no foul play. Though apart of him knew it was a little strange for his parents to request he come home with them for the rest of the summer. It eluded to the boy that something could actually be wrong. Percival packed his bags in a daze wondering if he should tell someone. Though he didn't want his Uncle Terrence to be found suspicious for nothing. His parents already disliked them seeing each other. How would they react if they knew about the odd behavior of his Uncle the night of his grandfather's death? Petting the fuzzy spider on his shoulder he decided not to bring up what happened last night ever again.