The Sadian Chronicles: Book 2: From Mercury To Venus

Message on Vengeance: Part 1

Chapter 9: Message of Vengeance

In the afternoon, Marianna took Reese on a stroll by the lake telling him of his family heritage. She would not be so blind as her parents and hoped for normalcy. Any child of hers would be special indeed.

Ty would playfully mock her for the way she spoke to her son, treating him like an intelligent human being and not a mere infant. Baby talk disgusted her, and she would not allow her son to be spoken to in this manner. Ty respected her wishes even though he didn't understand her reasons.

She rarely let the child out of her sight even during his nap time. This worried Carla, because her normal ways would be to disappear without a word, and no one knowing upon which hour she would return. Since Reese's birth she stayed close to home, and it seemed like Marianna was desperate for something. Love had always been so unreachable for her and finding acceptance was even harder. Perhaps she was trying too hard.

The change in her came almost immediately after Reese's arrival, one too quick and precise to be called normal behavior. Carla never voiced a word, although Marianna commented on it frequently.

One morning Carla knocked on Marianna's door. "Mary, are you awake?"

"Come in," she said and looked over at the door. Carla walked in and found her writing in her new journal. Writing was something she did more often since Reese's birth.

"Put that down and come outside," Carla said like she was barking an order. "You can't stay shut up in here all day."

"Yes, I can and I will," she said in a quiet voice. "I'm happy here and don't speak so loud. The baby's sleeping."

"Mary, why don't you take an outing into own and we can have some fun?" Carla suggestion did make sense since she had barely left the cabin since he was born, but she had no desire to leave. "I'll babysit."

"Not today, Carla," she said and put her journal down on the nightstand. "Besides I don't know how Reese will react if he wakes up, and I'm not here."

"Mary, he will be fine," Carla said trying to reassure her. "I know how to take care of a baby."

"I can't, Carla, and that's final," she said and shook her head. "Look. I'm tired. Reese was up half the night, an you know he's still getting over his colic."

"He's better now," Carla said and Marianna that she was right. "If you're too tired then let me take the baby. That way you can stay here and rest. I have to go into town for a few supplies, and I could take the baby with me. Please, Mary, don't say no. You need a break."

"Oh, alright," she said finally giving in. "Just don't be too long."

"Rest and don't worry," Carla said with a smile. "He's in good hands."

Even though Marianna gave into Carla's whim, she still couldn't stop worrying about Reese. In a short time he had become her whole life, every moment...every thought was for him. Even in her sleep her thoughts turned to her son.

She woke later that morning to find the house deserted. Not even Ty who rarely left was anywhere to be found. She walked to the kitchen, hunger guiding her way. She realized now why Carla insisted on shopping. All she found in the icebox was a few raw carrots, bread, and some lunch meat. She passed up the cold cuts instead looking towards the two remaining eggs and half a loaf of wheat bread. She washed out an old skillet and prepared the two small eggs. She took out two slices of bread and toasted them.

"Egg sandwich supreme with carrots on the side," she said as she took her plate into the living room. She turned on the television in the hopes of catching the midday news.

As she sat down on the sofa to eat her sandwich, a news bulletin came up on the screen. She listened closely to the newscaster.

This just in, fugitive Marcus E. Hunter has just been spotted in Doama, South Dakota. The nineteen-year-old murderer had jumped bail last Friday after his arrest in the Dare murder case. The assailant is considered armed and dangerous. If you happen to come across Hunter do not approach him. As I said before Hunter is armed and dangerous.

Marianna remained frozen in her seat. After all this time wondering but never knowing, Marcus Hunter was closer than she suspected.

She got up from the sofa. She paid no attention to the television. She jumped when she heard the phone ring. She rushed to it but couldn't build up the courage to answer it.

One ring, then two, three, four, until she couldn't tolerate it any longer. She picked it up. She heard the shallow raspy voice of a woman.

"Hello," the woman said. "Is this Marianna Faigon?"

She wondered who would be referring to her by that name. As far as the world was concerned Marianna Faigon was dead. "Depends," Marianna said not wanting to divulge too much information. "Who's this?"

"My name is Karen. I believe I know a friend of yours. Marcus Hunter?" Marianna was speechless. "Look, Miss Faigon. Marcus is crazy. He keeps ranting about how you were the one who killed that woman. When I found out he was the one who killed her I called the cops, but then he escaped."

"Where is he now?" Marianna managed to choke out.

"I don't know," the woman said sounding upset. "He's somewhere in South Dakota, but he's coming for you. He told me so."

"Not if I come after him first," Marianna said with a sudden anger in her voice.

"What are you planning on doing?" Karen desperate voice called out.

"It's better that you don't know," Marianna said. "Look, Karen, you better find a safe place to hide, because if he knew you warned me he just might kill you too."

Marianna said a polite goodbye and hung up the phone. It was obvious what she had to do, although she was reluctant about doing it. She went into her bedroom and packed an overnight bag. She took some ready cash out of the hidden compartment of her music box. She stashed a wad of fifties and hundreds just in case the time came for her to make a fast getaway. There was no better time for it than now.

She quickly gathered her things, put on a warm jacket and black boot shoes and took a quick look around. That's when it hit her. She looked at the empty crib and realized what she was doing.

"I'm sorry, Reese. I hope you'll understand why I'm doing this."

She quickly exited the room, fearing she would lose her nerve if she stayed a second longer. She left the cabin through the back door and headed for the long path through the hills.

She put guilt behind her and concentrated on tracking down Marcus. The pain and suffering he inflicted on her, and her need for revenge was more powerful than her love for her son. She tried convincing herself that she was doing this for Reese, but she knew in her heart it was for her own selfish need to make him pay for what he did to her.