In a small town called Sutoria, with a population of 6,756 lay a residence isolated from the rest. It occupied almost 2000 acres of land. The Calderon mansion, a Victorian House sat on at least a fourth of their property. It has eighteen bedrooms excluding the maid's quarter. Housed within was a huge living room with a large chandelier fit for royalty hanging proudly from the ceiling. It had all the basic rooms and function halls that one would only dream of. But what truly made the mansion magnificent was the huge triangular-shaped garden at the back. It housed the most unique-looking flowers and trees, some of which were not even native to the continent. How the Calderon managed to keep them alive was a mystery to the town's people.

The master of the house, Arthur Calderon and his wife Althea were both warm and gentle people, willing to open their home to anyone in need. They had three children, Marco-the eldest, was a small pale-faced boy who always carried a smile on his face. Almira-the second, gifted with curly brown hair and a deep set of eyes, then finally, the youngest- Genelyn Calderon, luckily born with the film-star good looks of her mother. A deep pool of emerald globes fanned with thick dark lashes adorned her face, while soft pink lips and midnight tresses completed her uncontested beauty.

***

(Sunday, January 15, 1996)

Inside the car, Arthur desperately held back the tears in his eyes as he stole a heart-wrenching glancetowards his wife. The woman whom he met on a rainy afternoon fifteen years ago, the woman whom he thought would never throw a glance at him but did, is dying. Her once bouncy hair has become dull and almost bald. Her fair skin that glistened under the sun had sagged and had lost its vitality.

"Arthur keep your eyes on the road, I'm not dead yet," his wife whispered between breaths. Arthur finally allowed his tears to roll down his cheeks. "Althea, how could you leave me? You promised we will be together forever," he murmured between sobs.

His wife did not respond. She kept her eyes closed, and pretended not to have heard him.

***

(Wednesday, January 18 1997)

The siren from the ambulance that rushed towards the Calderon mansion nearly awakened the entire town. Lovely, a kinky-haired girl who went to the same school as the youngest of the Calderon's, rushed towards her mother and latched on to her legs. "Mom what happened?" she asked. Her mother looked at her gravely and said, "The Calderon's are dead."

"What do you mean dead?" she questioned, innocent eyes probing her mother to answer. Her mom took a step back and ended the hug between them, she knelt in front of her and said, "It's best if you keep company with the young Calderon for the next few days, ok?" Lovely, confused as she was, nodded her head. Her mother stood and took her by the arm, then whispered, "Let's go back to sleep."

The double funeral of Arthur and Althea Calderon was held on a Sunday morning. The sky was ashen and solemn. The winds blew a colder breeze than normal. The two young Calderon stood on the right of the caskets, hands locked with each other, while the youngest stood on the left clinging to the skirt of the housekeeper. Anita Milluki, the town's seamstress, couldn't help but notice the indifferent glare the two oldest threw at the young one, and when the funeral was all over, the family of three walked back to the Calderon mansion.

The following day, both Marco and Almira were taken by a distant relative leaving the youngest child Genelyn Calderon under the housekeeper's watch.

***

(November, Monday 2006) (9 A.M)

Gen awoke with the rays of an early morning sun, the first thing that greeted her was the chandelier that her mom previously insisted to hang above her bed. It gave a swirling shade of amber and blue, as it met the sun's glowing rays. She smiled and thought, how long has it been, ten years or more? The memory of the incident that changed her life faded over the years. However, the grief in her heart remained. Slowly, she got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, but of course, she grabbed her cancer sticks, the only solace and companion, a thing that Esther-their housekeeper said-would kill her someday. Nonetheless, Gen kept her cancer sticks, at least, it would keep her company, even in death.

A loud knock that came from her bedroom door made Gen rush out of the bathroom. "Gen, it's past nine, aren't you going to school?" It was Esther, her husky voice hasn't changed over the years. Annoyed, "I won't go," she answered.

She waited for retaliation, but none came. It appears Esther had finally given up on her too. Just like my siblings, Gen thought to herself.

Downstairs, Esther prepared Gen's favorite breakfast, bacon n' eggs. Although the Calderon masters were gone, their wealth remained. Old money, as people called it. She, the Head of the housemaids was entrusted by the family's lawyer to keep the young Calderon's share. Since Gen was only sixteen years old, Esther would have to endure two more years of the girl's willfulness, before freedom. But, was that what she truly wanted? Truth be told, she has nowhere to go. Esther arrived at the Calderon mansion when she was merely fifteen of age, started as a personal maid for the old Calderon before becoming a nanny for young Arthur. When Arthur married and became the head of the family, Esther was promoted to head of the housekeepers. Thinking back, what truly transpired on that rainy night? Esther took a deep breath and reminisced.

***

It was a Sunday afternoon. The madam and Arthur came home, both with sullen expressions. Esther felt there was something wrong.
The madam who once was the envy of every woman in town with her fair complexion, rosy cheeks, bouncy black hair and flowy dresses has become unrecognizable in a matter of months. Esther was curious but dared not ask.

3:34 pm

Esther told the guard to open the gates for Mr. and Mrs. Calderon.

4:00 pm

The madam asked where her kids were, and Esther explained that Almira and Marco were both in the library upstairs. The madam did not seem to care because the look in her eyes, to which Esther has grown accustomed off, wanted nothing more but to see her most beloved child, Genelyn. Esther knew all too well the implication of not answering immediately. So, she explained that Gen was inside her room. The child has always been a loner but recently she has gotten friends at school and thus kept her on the phone day and night.

7:00 pm

Dinner was served. Everyone was present at the dining table except for one. The madam threw a glance in Esther's direction, and that look forced the housekeeper to scram towards the dining room door, past the great hall, up the winding staircase and in front of Gen's door. "The child does this all the time," Esther murmured. "Gen open up, your mom wants you downstairs" she called out, but there was no answer.

"Gen it's dinner time," she repeated, but there was silence still. Frustrated, Esther gave up knocking and pushed the door open. "Empty," the room was empty.

12:00 am

A mind-blowing scream echoed at the back of the Calderon mansion. Esther who was a light sleeper stumbled out of her bed. It took her a few turns before she reached the back door that led to the garden, and as she proceeded to open the closed door, it sprang open revealing Arthur covered in blood, his face was ashen with eyes that seemed dead. Cradled in his arms was his wife Althea with blood dripping from her stomach from a gaping wound.

12:10 AM

Esther stood frozen as Arthur walked past her. Tears streamed down his hock-filled face. The Housekeeper stood motionless, waiting for his command, but none came. Arthur went past her as if the man didn't see her at all. It was when she heard a tiny voice coming from the garden that Esther managed to move her seemingly frozen feet. She slowly crossed the small garden gate, and there, on a branch of a maple tree, sat a fear-stricken Gen, her small hands wrapped around a white linen. It was by accident that Esther's eyes lingered below the tree. In an instant, her heart raced like crazy, and blood drained from her face, when her eyes befall on one of the white wooden fences which surrounded the garden. The fence was covered with a red liquid. Slowly, Esther approached it. A long strand of intestine and a pool of blood greeted her. It was then that she truly felt the impact of what happened.

12:23 AM

The sound of a deafening gunshot echoed throughout the Calderon mansion.

***

Esther?

Esther?

The voice felt so close. "Esther, wake the hell up, you're burning my bacon," Gen yelled teasingly, knowing all too well how jittery the old woman became when met with loud noises. Opening her eyes, Esther noticed Gen standing beside her. "Esther you're getting old. If you want, you can leave and go to a retirement home. I will pay for it," Gen said with a grin.

Esther loosened the spatula on her hand and laid it on the tiled counter. "No use for the past, better leave it buried," she murmured, putting an end to her reminiscing.

"What, do you agree?" Gen asked.

Esther patted the girl on the head. "You can get rid of me once you turn eighteen" she answered sweetly then nudged her head towards the table and commanded the young girl to eat. Esther watched in awe as she dug into a pile of bacon and eggs." My, you're hungry," she exclaimed in bewilderment. Gen answered with a smile between bites, and once she was done, she got up and ran towards the back door.

"You and Mike stay safe now," Esther yelled behind the girl's disappearing form.

The old housekeeper stood with a smile, unaware of what that day marked.