Fear of the Unknown

Chapter 3 Who Does That?

"Hello?" A man with a gruffly voice says knocking on our door.

I look at mom and Cora in suprise. Were we expecting more unwanted company? John is enough to deal with and now there's another man? I give mom a raised eyebrow. 

"Are you gonna get the door?" John yells.

"Yeah, yeah.." I answer angrily.

Stomping my way towards the door I unlock it hastily. I say hello but realize no one is there. Walking out on the porch, I look to the left. Then I look to the right. Not a soul is out tonight. A nearby lamp post flickers wildly with a group of moths fluttering around it.

I rub my eyes, and shook my head. This is just strange. I go back in and tell them that no one's there. Mom just shrugs and Cora gives me a look that says this is fishy. I nod my head acknowledging her point of view.

I look around first at mom and John. They were watching T.V unaware of anything.

A chill snakes in to my body giving me goose bumps. Cora is standing at the top of the stairs beckoning me to come up. I ask mom if she needed any help but she just shook her head no. Since I did not want to be in the same room as John, I decide to follow.

When I get to the top of the stairs Cora is pointing at the attic door. What's going on here? Cora's eyes are wide and her face pale.

"There's a man up there." Cora says.

"Who is it?" I ask going along with her 'game'.

I roll my eyes, there is no one up there. How can there be anyone that can possibly be in the attic? The lock is still there untouched. The look in Cora's eyes is so serious I almost believe her. I sigh picking her up and putting her in my arms. Guiding her towards her bedroom, I tuck her in gently and place a kiss on her forehead.

"Time to sleep little angel." I whisper.

"Can you sing me a lullaby?" Cora asks giving me puppy dog eyes.

I groan, of course she would use her puppy dog eyes. They always seem to soften me up and make me a one hell of a pushover.

"Okay, what song would you like?" I ask.

"Make one up!" Cora exclaims.

"Alright."

Darkness
Comes to haunt us at night
Devils
Creep into the nightly ghostly towns
Things that seem eerie
Comes running back to you
Its the time of the deadly hour
When the clock strikes three
And the ghost will be singing
Come forth to me
Come and join me in the darkness

Cora smiles and I widen my eyes in shock. How did I even make this song up? I didn't even mean to sing a scary song.

"Karl sings that song." Cora states.

"Who's Karl?" I ask.

"The man in the attic." She answers.

Oh dear, the man in the attic story again. Why can't she give it up? There is no man in the attic.  Mom knocks on the door making me jump. She mouths a sorry to me. Mom walks over and kisses Cora on the head stroking her hair.

"Everything good with you guys?" Mom asks.

Cora just nods while I look away. Nothing will be good with me because John is here. I don't like him, he's snobby, rude, and doesn't deserve to be with my mom. 

"Mom can we talk in my room alone?" I ask.

"Sure honey."

Mom closes Cora's bedroom door and walks in after me in my room. My room is quite small but I made it presentable. You can say I'm a pretty good interior decorator because my room is awesome.

"Mom, I don't want to hurt your feelings. But I have to tell you the truth."

"What is it? Just tell me."

"I don't like John and I think you should reconsider marrying him."

That makes mom pause with a very shocked, taken aback look. I sigh knowing this is probably hard for my mom to hear. But what am I supposed to do? Lie to her? I will not. I feel like I did the right thing by telling her, but the look on her face makes me feel guilty. I want mom to be happy, really I do. She deserves to find a guy that makes her feel like she's on cloud nine.

"I'm in love with him Beth." Mom says.

I stare hard into my mother's eyes. Maybe my mom is really in love with this guy. But it seems she is rushing into this relationship and going in blind.

"I understand mom, know that I'm just trying to look out for you. I don't want you to get hurt again."

A painful memory pops into my mind. The night of my thirteenth birthday which was two years ago. Mom was dating this guy named Mark.

He was the sweetest guy, quite a gentlemen. But it was all an act. If mom did something he didn't like, he would physically abuse her in places we couldn't see. Sad part, he even did it when she wore something he didn't like. He was very clear that he wanted my mom to look like a slut. But after a while bruises appear quite vividly on her body and that's when I put my foot down.

I was in my room when I heard them arguing. Mark was complaining about how much mom spent for my birthday. It hurts to hear that he never cared about me. I thought our bond was real. When my mom started screaming that's when I heard her get hit.

I cried and cried not knowing what to do at the time, Cora was four and she was petrified. Cora and I talked every night trying to soothe each other. But a monster of hate continued to hurt our mom.

But then a miracle. Mom finally came to her senses and left Mark without saying goodbye while he was at work. Cora and I felt like a huge weight has been lifted from our chests.

It was the most amazing feeling. But now mom has John. I just don't know if we can trust him or if he's a good guy. His first impression is definitely horrid. For crying out loud he basically threatened me. Who does that?

"Please make sure you'll think about it." I say.

"I will, promise." Mom replies.

I smile and give my mom a hug. At least she no longer seems distant. This is the most affection Cora and I ever gotten from her since dad died. So for that I am grateful and I'm willing to try for mom. But not for him.

My mind travels elsewhere thinking about what Cora said. A man in the attic. All I know is my curiousity is getting the better of my omnicompetence. Usually I'm a well reserved person. But there's something about this house that is making me want to go up to the attic. How bad can it be? Maybe some mice, spiderwebs and dust bunnies. There isn't anything that might actually hurt me. Is there?

I have to get up to the attic. Maybe I can try to get on John's good side. I laugh at the thought, yeah right. Cora can, he doesn't have anything against her so she might be able to get him to fess up about the attic.

Mom leaves shutting my bedroom door. I lay on my bed taking off my t-shirt leaving on a tank top. My mind won't rest so I grab a book called Paper Towns by John Green. Slowly my mind shuts down. A cold wind sweeps in from the vent giving me chills. Somewhere far I hear a hoot of an owl and a cry of a wolf before I drift into abyss.