Gloomville Diaries - Gen 1 - Ch 15: The attic (again)

Chad and the girls were out fishing, and Ochana had visited Niels Grossing. Then she heard the noise upstairs again, and decided to find out what caused it!

Ochana grabbed a knife in the kitchen, then she walked upstairs. She tried to be very quiet, this time she really wanted to find out what was going on. And yes, the sounds repeated, and there was no doubt there was someone in the attic!

She opened the door silently, then walked those old stairs. She heard nothing. Unfortunately it was impossible to walk up there without making some sounds from the wooden stairs. Maybe a slim person could have made it, but Ochana was both big and pregnant, moving like a sack of potato.

Once she reached the attic, she stood still for a few seconds. Did she hear some sound again? No, probably not. She looked around.

There was nobody up there. In a way she was disappointed, but she also was relieved. It would have been wiser to go up there to check when Chad was back home. Nobody would hear her now if she was screaming.

But she found no reason to scream. Instead she started to inspect some more of the books up there. She had planned to check them anyway. Still, she found nothing of interest. It struck her that those books probably belonged to Aileen Gleeson, from the time she lived in the house.

- Hm, how strange that this attic was shut off during the Sims by Numbers Show, Ochana said quietly to herself. - They must have removed the door to those stairs because they didn't want us to go up here! But why bother?

She looked at some more books...

... and suddenly when she was pulling one of the books, she realized it was a secret handle to open a door!
- Oh!
The entire bookcase swung wide open, and a hidden room appeared!

Ochana carefully looked inside. With a good grip on the kitchen knife, she slowly moved into the room.

- Oh, it's the secret office! she whispered. - It's gotta be! I found the secret office!

The room was not very spacious, but the old desk with the old lamp, some books and a huge cork board.

But no desk chair? And empty shelves?

Ah, the Rules & Directions!
- How on Earth did they move all the way from the kitchen to this room?

Ochana felt tired, and sank into the big green armchair.
- Oh, it's the Super Sim chair! she said, or thought, she was no longer sure. - I'm Super Sim again! Is this like a final arrival or something?

She did not know how long she sat there. She couldn't help thinking that those books had been moved up here by someone, and that someone had to be Aileen Gleeson! Or more correct, her ghost! Aileen died about 5 years ago. Did she still frequent this secret office? Was it Aileen who dragged something across the attic floor?
- Maybe this chair is usually placed at the desk? Ochana wondered. - Maybe Aileen just left?

She woke up by the noise of Chad and the girls returning back home. She decided to keep the office a secret, until one of the kids was old enough to be involved at Ochana's main heir.

- Mom! We fished for the sea monster!
Edith and Miranda were enthusiastic about the trip. - But we caught nothing! The monster was smarter than us!

- I'm so glad the monster wasn't too hungry today, Ochana said and hugged them both.

- Mom, that day when you and dad married! You know what, I made a present, but I forgot to give it to you. Now I'm not sure if it's too late. Because maybe a wedding rainbow painting is not so cool on the wrong day? Wanna see it?

They walked over to the girls' room.

- That's lovely, Edith! Ochana said. - Thank you! It's never a wrong day for a wedding rainbow painting! I'll hang it somewhere that dad and I can watch it every day!

Chad appeared, a little bit dirty from the excursion, but looking happy and fresh.
- I caught a couple small fish, dear, he said and embraced Ochana. - Maybe they can be introduced to our frying pan?