A Night in Murder House//discontinued

Constance

After a few hours, Tate and Violet fell asleep. I was restless though. The news about Halloween kept me awake. I quickly got bored and decided to go upstairs. I quietly climbed the steps and walked around the the base floor of the house. In a sitting room I found Vivien cradling a baby.

She smiled at me when I walked in and beckoned for me to sit down. I walked over to a padded wooden chair and sat on the arm. "I'm really sorry about what happened. Do you remember your death?" Vivien asked. "I remember being pushed off the roof. Then seeing my body beneath me," I said.

"Hayden is a bitch. I'm sorry about what she did," Vivien said. "She had no right to harm anyone. Especially not you. I can tell that you were different from most of the people that you came with. You didn't come here to prove your bravery."

I smiled at her. I didn't exactly know how to respond. "I'm sorry you died too. I know a lot about the house. And what happened to your family." I guessed that me telling her that Tate was my informant wouldn't be good, so I added: "Violet told me about what happened to you."

Vivien looked down to the baby and avoided eye contact. "I know Tate tried to help you and that he has probably told you everything about what he did. I can't say that I don't hate him, but I don't think he is truly terrible. I forgive him to a degree. But I want you to do me a favor." She finally looked up at me as she said the last sentence, she stared at me intensely.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked. Vivien looked back at the baby again. "Make sure that he feels remorse. If he doesn't regret his actions, stay away from him. Get Violet away from him as well."

I smiled slightly. "Mrs. Harmon, I already know that he does." I stood up. "And if he didn't feel any remorse, I wouldn't talk to him." Vivien looked up at me again. She gave me a small smile. "I would expect nothing less," she said. Then I walked out o the room.

I ended up going outside sitting as far away from the house as I could be without getting sent back inside. I sat and thought. When the sun came up, I made myself invisible to everyone else. I watched the cars go past the house. A small part of me was waiting for police cars to come. When will I be reported missing? I thought.

When I got bored, I went back inside and down to the basement. I made myself visible again and when I did, Violet appeared in front of me and grabbed my wrist. "Come with me Cassie". She then led me upstairs to a room. "This is, or was, my room," she said. She sat on the mattress, and I stood leaning against a wall.

"I'm surprised that hasn't been an investigation yet," she said. "My mom is probably to drunk to notice I'm missing. She has been drinking practically a bottle of wine a day since my dad left. I'd give it another day or two before my friend reports my absence," I said.

"That sucks." Violet said. I nodded. "My dad left two years ago. My family was really great before then. My parents were supportive of me. Then my dad just left. No explanation. I don't even remember my parents ever fighting. Then my mom started drinking. I'm almost surprised that she hasn't died from alcohol poisoning. I hate her now. When she's drunk she enjoys locking me in a small, dark closet."

"She sounds worse than Constance." Violet said. I shrugged. Violet pulled out a chess set from behind her mattress. "Do you know how to play?" She asked. I nodded and sat down across from her as she set up the board.

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After a few chess games, Violet and I stopped playing mid-game and talked for a while. Eventually the conversation topic was her cutting. "I tried it a few times after my parents died. Just to see if I could feel any of it. I can't. What about you?"

The question was strange. I had never been this open about weaknesses with anyone. This closeness was foreign to me. "Once. But I'll admit to self induced vomiting. I'm not bulimic, it just was a way that I felt like I was hurting myself more." I felt like some weight was lifted off of my shoulders by telling someone this. I have never been very open with anyone about anything remotely personal. I have always had trouble being social.

Eventually we finished our game and went to find Tate. We found him outside glaring at Constance's house. When I followed his line of vision, I saw that he was glaring at Constance, who through a window could be seen drinking a seemingly alcoholic beverage while staring back at Tate. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me.

She went out of view and we all watched as she exited her house and walked over. She stopped five feet away. "Did you kill another goddamn person Tate?!" She crossed the remaining distance between us and her. Tate was standing now. His eyes were filled with pure hatred. Constance backhanded him.

"Stop!" Violet yelled. "He didn't harm Cassie in any way, you old senile bitch!" Constance rose her hand to strike again, but this time I stepped in front of her and put my hands out in front of my face. Her hand collided with my forearm.

The maid, Moira walked over and said " Leave now Constance." Suprisingly enough, she obeyed, but not without glaring at all of us. When she was back in her own house, Violet thanked Moira  then turned and hugged Tate.  The expression on his face transformed immediately, going from hurt and angry to surprised and filled with joy.

Moira smiled at me before turning around and going back inside the house. Violet had finally let go of Tate. I realized exactly what had pushed Tate over the edge to make him kill people. Seeing the abuse he went through in person was shocking. I can't imagine living through that for 16 years.

Tate looked drunk on happiness when he thanked Violet and I for defending him. We all went up to the attic and tossed a red ball back and forth to Beau. When the sun set, we all went back to Violet's room. When I finally fell asleep, Violet and Tate were on the mattress together and his arm was draped over her body.