The Taking of Eleanor Ainsworth

Chapter 10

Silence lingered in the air, thick and heavy like a blanket of snow, the only noise that could be heard was the steady drip of water leaking from the silver faucet.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The sound seemed to get louder with each fall of a single drop of water, the sound lingering in the air for a moment too long. The silence was terrifying, stretching thinner and thinner like a blown up balloon, ready to pop at any moment.

Her skin appeared pale and almost translucent under the low glow of the hanging light bulb. Her veins were clearly visible beneath her ghostly skin, the blue and green lines being the only discernible colour. He trailed a finger along her cold skin, his eyes following the invisible line he was drawing on her arm, he stopped at the tips of her fingers and looked back up.

On the outside he appeared calm, but internally, he was fuming and he wanted nothing more than to punish her, teach her a lesson. Make her wish that she had drowned in that tub.
But he was reluctant to touch her.

Witnessing Eleanor in this state, made his heart hurt, he pitied her and almost felt sorry for her. He hated the array of feelings Eleanor made him feel, she made him vulnerable and being vulnerable meant being weak. He couldn't be seen as weak, father would beat him if he ever found out a girl was making him vulnerable.

Father is dead, remember that.

Movement caught Theo's eye and he snapped his head up scowling at the girl cowering away in the corner. He dropped Eleanor's hand and walked towards the shivering girl. He bent down so he was at her level and grinned.

"Look at what we have here." He cooed, his eyes wide in excitement. "I almost forgot about this one." He said to no one in particular. The girl shuffled back until her back hit the cold wall.

"I'm s-sorry please d-don't hurt -"

"Did anyone tell you to speak ?" He said, raising his voice an octave, he looked around the room and threw his hands up in disbelief. "Did you tell her to speak ?" He said pointing at the wall.

"Well, I definitely did not and Eleanor sure as hell did not. So tell me my dearest India Summers," he bent down so he was at her level, "Who told you, you can speak ?"

The girl shook her head violently and remained silent, this irritated Theo, he began to rub his hands up and down his face forcefully. He sighed and dropped his hands, looking to the left of him. "What should I do with her ?" He sighed, talking to the empty space near him, insanity slowly creeping in.

He nodded his head. "Aah, thats a splendid idea, but I think I have just the thing." He laughed, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows and flexing his fingers. "I think a serious slap around is required," he turned around, "do you all agree ?" He asked his invisible audience. He turned back round to face the crying girl, yanking her up and raising his arm back.

He was about to swing when a crash resounded from behind him, he turned around and instantly dropped the girl, running over to Eleanor who had fallen off of the trolley and onto the floor. She coughed violently, water spraying from her throat and nose. Theo towered above her, the low hanging light bulb swinging to-and-fro, the light bouncing off everything in the room.

"Look who finally decided to join us." He tutted, folding his arms. "How was your little meeting with death ?" He asked titling his head to the side. Eleanor remained on the floor, staring at Theo's shoes.