Red Maranna

Chapter 5

**Mary**

Two weeks had passed since Mom let the cat out of the bag. I haven't uttered a word to her, what could I possibly say? Every time I closed my eyes I envision horrible things that could happen, things I can't begin to explain. I could tell my Mom anything, but not anymore she doesn't have to know,

It was a hot Sunday afternoon, lying on my bed and journaling my thoughts. "Bang!" a bird flies right into my window and the blood splashes everywhere. Standing up in shock and terror, I walk to my window. It was so beautifully adorned with a crown of blue feathers, but its life ended just like that! It really is tragic that the beautiful ones die in such an ugly way.

Placing my hands on the glass of the window, the bird's blood slowly flowed back to it, and the bird begins to shake a little as it absorbs its blood.
'What the... how is this even possible' I ponder. Suddenly the bird flies away as though nothing ever happened. I stare at my reflection in the window, my movement is delayed but the scariest part of all is that my eyes are black. My head hurts intensely and my stomach churns, my room gets dimmer as I fall to the ground.

"Ring!" my phone rings. I stumble in an attempt to get up from the floor. "Argh!" I groan, my headache is even worse and I feel extremely exhausted. I try to get up once again with the help of my umbrella.

"Rosemary! Get down here now!" Mom yells from downstairs. Oh shit! Whenever she calls me by my full name, that means I'm in trouble. What have I done now? Walking down the stairs, I sight Jake and I feel nauseous. Ugh, why does he have to come over all the time?

"Why didn't you come down to say hi to Jake? What were you doing up there anyway?" Mom inquires. What is her business anyway, with a fake smile I say, "Hi"

He just nods as he opens a can of beer, how rude. He then approaches me and gives me a side hug, his fingers crawling down my waste. His hands were a little too low which makes me uncomfortable. I step aside, freeing myself of his grasp.

"So, Jake would be staying over for the night and it's a great chance for you two to bond, am I right?" Mom squeals in excitement. I know she has been behind this for a while now and I hated every part of it but since it made her happy, why not.
Jake goes back to sit and beckons me to come over. I sit beside him but keep a reasonable distance.

"How has school been for you?" he asks. What a cliché question right?
"You really don't have to talk to me. We only do that when Mom is here" I reply, I sounded a bit rude but it's just facts.

"I genuinely want to know more about. Your mother tells me you are artistically inclined. I just..." he spoke for so long that my mind drifted off for a while.
"Yes, I make sketches, would you like to see them?" I asked.
"I would be delighted to see what your little hands could make. What's the most they can do right?" his eyes surveying my body from top to bottom.
"Follow me," I say, leading him to my room.

I show him my sketchpad, "You are talented!" he says. He draws me closer, tight and I struggle to free myself but he is strong. He places his hand on my waist and the other on my chest. "Excuse me? Please let me go!" I demand but my voice is shaky making me look weak. He pushes me away and eyes me with disgust. "Don't you dare tell your mother anything, I'm the only thing that makes her happy, you want her happy, don't you?" he whispers in my ear. He grabs my sketchpad and throws it to the floor. He storms out of the room and I stare in shock.

My mind is blank yet racing, what could I possibly do, he was right, he did make Mom happy and I don't want her on antidepressants anymore. Once she overdosed on Prozac. I can't look Jake in the eyes, he defiled me. Mom and I are in the kitchen, alone, just like I wanted but I can't get myself to tell her. "Mom, I think Jake is um..." I get interrupted.
"I think Jake wants to..." she pauses and turns off the stove. "My goodness, I'm sorry, please continue what you were saying."

My throat tightens and so many voices screaming in my head, not sure which to listen to. "Oh never mind! It was something silly I've forgotten anyway".
"I feel Jake is serious about us becoming a family, you know? I want him to propose but I need to know it's fine with you." her cheeks flush and she's smiling so hard. It was the first time in a while she smiled, how could I take that away? Plastering a fake smile on my face I hug her and say "I'm so happy for you!" My throat hurts as the words come out, could I do anything now?

The three of us sat at the dinner table and I couldn't get myself to eat anything. The tension between us erodes my appetite. The room was cool yet beads of sweat dripped from my forehead.
"Are you okay? Is there anything you need?" Jake asks, his eyes staring right into my soul. I grip the table cloth and I stutter. I am drowned in my thoughts.
"It makes me happy that you care about Mary and treat her like your own" Mom pats his back and he begins to smile again. How cringe could adults get?
"Celina, whatever you love I love as well. I hope I could join this family one day" he replies. I know he loved my Mom, he was good to her but not for her.

**Seriah**

"Thank you for the paper!" I say as I run out of the store. I always imagined this happening after I saw the movie John Wick but I didn't feel important enough. I had a bounty on my head, a million-dollar bounty for that matter. I get my things and head to the train station trying to keep a low profile.

"Hey, do I know you? I can bet I've seen you before" someone on the train said. I hate manipulating people with my voice but I had to this time.
" You don't know me, now turn around and leave me alone," I say. My throat hurts every time I manipulate people but I can't risk getting caught. Reaching into my pockets I realize I have nothing on me.