In a small town called Sutoria, with a population of 3,756 stands a residence isolated from the rest. It occupies almost 2000 acres of land. The Calderón mansion, a Victorian House sits to at least a fourth of their property. It has eighteen bedrooms excluding the maid's quarter and a huge living room with a large chandelier fit for royalty hanging proudly from the ceiling.

It has all the basic rooms and function halls that one would only dream of. But what truly makes the mansion magnificent is the huge triangular-shaped garden at the back. It houses the most unique looking flowers and trees, some of which are not even native to the continent, how the Calderons managed to keep them alive remains a mystery to the town's people.

The master of the house, Arthur Calderon and his wife Althea are both warm and gentle people, willing to open their home for anyone in need. They have three children, Marco—the eldest, a small pale-faced boy who always carried a smile on his face. Almira—the second, gifted with curly brown hair with 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.

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*(Sunday, January 15, 1996) *

Inside the car, Arthur cannot help but hold back the tears in his eyes as he steals a heart-wrenching glance towards his wife. The woman whom he met on a rainy afternoon fifteen years ago, the woman whom he thought will never throw a glance at him but did, is now dying. Her once bouncy hair has become dull and almost bald. Her fair skin that glistened under the sun is now saggy and scarce of 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, pretending to have not heard him.

*(Wednesday, January 18 1997)*

The siren from the ambulance rushing towards the Calderon mansion nearly awakened the entire town. Lovely, a kinky-haired girl who goes to the same school as the youngest of the Calderon's, rushed towards her mother, latching on her legs. "Mom what happened?" she asked. Her mother looked at her gravely and said, "The Calderons 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 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 Miluki the town's seamstress, couldn't help but notice the indifferent glare the two oldest were throwing at the young one and when it was all over the now family of three walked back to the Calderon mansion.

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

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

Gen awoke with the rays of the early morning sun, the first thing she sees is the chandelier that her mom insisted on hanging above her bed. It gave a swirling shade of amber and blue, as it meets the sun's glowing rays. She smiled, thinking, "How long has it been 10 years or more?"

The memory of the incident that changed her life forever keeps fading over the years. She got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, but of course, she grabbed her cancer sticks with her, the only solace and companion—Esther their housekeeper—said will kill her someday. Nonetheless, Gen kept her cancer sticks, at least, it will keep her company, even in death.

A loud knock coming 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. "I won't go" Gen answered with an annoying tone.

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 favourite breakfast, bacon and eggs. Although the Calderon masters are gone, their wealth remained. Old money, as people call it. She, the Head of the housemaids had been entrusted by the family's lawyer to keep the young Calderon's share.

Since Gen is only sixteen years old, Esther will have to endure two more years of the girl's willfulness, before finding freedom. But, is that what she truly wants? She has nowhere to go, truth be told. Esther came to the Calderon mansion when she was only fifteen years old. She started as a personal maid for the old Calderon, then became the nanny of young Arthur, until finally, she was made the head of the housekeepers when Arthur got married. Thinking back, what truly transpired on that rainy night? Esther took a deep breath and started reminiscing.

It was a Sunday afternoon. The madam and Arthur came home, both with a sullen expression. Esther felt there was something wrong.

3:34 pm

Esther asked the guard to open the gates for Mr and Mrs Calderon

4:00 pm

The madam asked where her kids are and Esther explained that Almira and Marco are 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, Gen.

Esther knowing all too well the implication of not answering immediately, explained that Gen is inside her room.

The child has always been a loner but recently she has gotten some friends at school and thus kept her on the phone day and night.

7:00 pm

Dinner was served. Everyone is present at the dining table except for one.

The madam threw a glance in Esther's direction, and that look made her 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. Finally, Esther gave up and pushed the door open. "Empty" the room is 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 a few turns before she reached the back door leading to the garden, and as she proceeded to open the closed door, it sprang open revealing Arthur covered in blood, his face is ashen, his eyes dead. Cradled in his arms is 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 shock 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, her heart raced like crazy, blood drained from her face when her eyes befall on

Slowly, Esther approached it, a long strand of intestine and a pool of blood greeted her, and it was then that she truly felt the impact of what happened.

12:23 AM

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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 becomes when she hears loud noises.

Esther opened her eyes. Gen is 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 flat 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 before nudging her head towards the table, commanding the young girl to start eating. Esther watched in awe as she dug into a pile of bacon and eggs." My, you're hungry" she exclaimed in bewilderment. Gen only smiled 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 smiling, unaware of what that day marked.