Legacy

Chapter 69

Stacie had been inconsolable all night. She was convinced she had failed everyone, Emily had stayed with her in her room and had managed to convince Stacie to get a little sleep and would wake her up if anyone had come upstairs. No one came, not even their mother. At 5:30 Emily woke up Stacie just as she asked. They moved to sit on the stairs and wait. They were unsure if anyone had come out of the basement as they hadn't when work was being completed, just their mother who dismissed them who also didn't want dinner. They were nervous, Stacie just wanted to see them, to see they were alive. She knew Beca wasn't coming to school but she didn't know about Addy. At 6 am on the dot their mother appeared, the girls were unsure if it was from the basement or her office as they couldn't see. She went into the dining room and waited for 5 minutes and then both Addy and their mother appeared going separate ways.

"She is going to school, she is too dumb to afford to miss anymore," Their mother said calling up to Stacie who she knew was sitting halfway up the stairs. Addy had her bags and books with her and was making her way up the stairs. She was wearing a baggy hoodie and leggings so Stacie was yet to see what the damage was. Like her mother said she was on clean-up duty. Addy passed them on the stairs not saying anything.

"I'll go get breakfast for everyone," Emily said putting her hand on Stacie's shoulder, deciding to give Stacie room to be with Addy without an extra audience. Also would kill two birds with one stone and get food started. Stacie followed Addy to her room and sat back on her bed in the same place as yesterday. She watched Addy mindlessly put her bag and books down and then go to her wardrobe, she grabbed another oversized hoodie, forest green leggings and underwear. Stacie watched her waiting for her to say anything. When it was clear she was just going to lock herself in the shower again, Stacie spoke.

"Take off your hoodie so I can check everything is okay." Stacie stood waiting for Addy to move. Addy walked into her bathroom threw the clothes on the side and then came back into the doorway.

"No, I'm okay," Addy said looking at Stacie, with a straight face.

"This isn't up for discussion, Addy I just to check if you're okay," Stacie said taking a step towards Addy who flinched away.

"I'm okay, there you have checked, I'm going to shower." Addy closed the door before Stacie could enter and locked it. Despite hearing the lock Stacie still tried to open the door, she sighed and decided to sit down leaning against the door in case her sister called out needing her.

Addy immediately turned on the shower to drown out any noise she made, she didn't want her sister to get involved. She made a promise to herself to not drag her sisters into this. This was the way it had been before she didn't see why this needed to be any different. It protected both Addy and Beca from everything inside that room getting out and it saved Emily and Stacie from getting upset about what happened. Addy saw it as a win-win. She also couldn't see herself retelling the story. She couldn't replay it, she tried to black out through most of it. She had also told Beca she wouldn't. She promised that nothing would be said about it ever. Addy groaned while removing her clothes and tried not to cry. She stood in the shower and just stood there. Letting the water run over her body. She couldn't risk closing her eyes as she knew she would be asleep in minutes. She watched as the water mixed with her blood and went down the drain. She sighed and picked up her sponge.

Outside the room, Stacie listened out for cries or screams but heard nothing. Emily walked into the room carrying three plates of toast and then her pockets full of red bulls for all.

"I thought toast was a safe choice. You need to eat too." Emily said and rested her plates on her desk around her books. Stacie got up and sat next to Emily after grabbing her plate of toast and her drink.