Dancing in the Oaks

Broken, Bad, Bothered

That was a long run upstairs despite it being closer than what I was over exaggerating it to be. I was greeted with a figure at the top of the stairs. It was not like the one before. The house was nearly pitch black. The figure turned and I realized who it was. "Mom? What are you doing here?" A brunette woman stood right in front of the door. She turned and looked at me. The small amounts of light confirmed who I was talking to. That made me so sick. I was happy that she was truly alive, but at the same time...

Her face was emotionless. "Norah! We thought you were dead!" It was indeed my mother talking to me. "It's been quite a few months since we've seen you."

I couldn't believe it at all. "Mom! That's not what we... yes I know. Listen, Berry is trying to kill us for real. She hurt Nick. We have to help him please! How did you come back?"

"Let's help him!" She said as he ran back downstairs. The initial response was caring, but soon after it began to get more aggressive and less kind. Doesn't that just hurt so bad? I guess I can say that my emotions are like a rollercoaster.

I called the police and the medics. They said that it would be about ten minutes until they would arrive. At that time I was sitting next to Nick's near lifeless body on the cement. Once they arrived it felt like a burden was lifted. They got Nick to the hospital while my mother and I talked in the waiting room. "How did you survive?" I asked. I figured that it would help get my mind straightened out and some questions answered.

"Oh it wasn't just me that survived, your father, and brothers all survived. We all did." She replied with confidence that just seemed off. She was never like that. It was as if there was something deeper. Question is: what is that?

"I'm so in shock! I'm so happy to see y'all back! I have your ashes on the mantle. That's not possible." I said I was confused.

She became saddened and worried in some way. "Yes it is, when Jake Dale faked autopsy reports. Completely changed and swapped bodies. It seems not even logical, but it is. He did it. There are things he did that are unfathomable. His daughter, Berry, is in on it too. That's the only reason why she came back to life. Her dad was supposedly pronounced dead, but he is not dead. He's the forensic pathologist that you talked to. Those aren't real human ashes, Norah. He probably took them from his cattle ranch. People powder the bones to make bone meal. They are all in it together. The journals were bait to destroy this town." My mother explained.

"So... Berry and her father are both silent killers? What about Dareck? Where were y'all this whole time!" I asked her bluntly.

She cried. "Yes. You still love Nick don't you? Dareck was set up. It was Jake that did this whole thing, but he was friends with Dareck. They became double trouble. So essentially they are both in on it. We were being held hostage for two months. When we all escaped we ran and hid for a couple more. We're alright. We're not dead. Norah, it's alright."

The doctor had walked out and told us that Nick was okay. I felt pressure drop off my shoulders. I could finally breathe again and not be suffocating. It was nice to know that I could spend another day with him and not lose him. I cannot lose him. He is truly the only person that cares for me. "Yes, yeah. Actually we are dating. I um... yeah. I do love Nick. They both faked it? They were just out to hurt people."

"Dating! Norah! That's so good... I guess. I'm glad that you love him. Anyways, we were in the morgue and everything when Berry woke up. We think her father tried to kill her. It sounds all too complicated." She said, "How did you afford the house? You cannot manage finances well. I have seen you with money."

Of course she would put me down like that. I knew she was just coming off as nice, but in the end she was just trying to get my trust back. It will not work. "I didn't afford the house. I couldn't. The town rallied together to help pay off the debts. Nick saved me in every way possible and I really appreciate him." I said quietly.

The doctor finally let me come and see Nick. His goopy eyes stared back at my face. He looked tired and sad. However, he looked a lot better than what he looked like an hour ago. "Nick!" I cried. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." He said quietly as he lifted his arm up.

"Norah you've got bruises all over your face." My mother pointed out. "That looks painful."

I could not help but remember the whole shindig that happened. "Berry kicked me. She hit me and she screamed at me. I know it's probably bad and my jaw hurts." My mother finally left so I could talk to Nick. I felt better again with her gone.

"Thanks." His voice said softly.

"Oh you don't have to thank me, I have to thank you." I sat on the edge of the hospital bed. "I am so happy you are back."

"Yes, yes I do. I am so glad to be back too." He said.

"How are you feeling? Still bad?" I asked.

He smiled. "In some pain, but just enough to be alright."

"Sounds good. I just wanna make sure that you're comfortable and everything. I found out that my parents and brothers are all still alive. They were being held hostage for two years." I rested my hand on his hand.

It appeared as if he was getting restless. "That's not... possible. How did you find out? Did you possibly find out where they were?"

My mind had to think about what exactly to say. "No, I only got to talk to my mother for about an hour. Not even close to enough time to give details. I'd hate to even think about what they had to go through."