Marianne's tragedy: A first hand Account

Ch.1: Backwoods

In the backwoods of a small-town hospital, an intense wave of urgency flooded through a packed room as two local officers tried to make scenes of a horrific gruesome crime scene in the middle of the woods.
"So why did a kid like you go to a party like this?" Asked a small round officer who once went to school with the young patient's sister. "Roger wanted me to..." Russell recalled thinking of his best friend with a teary look as he explained how his friends planned the party, practically twisting his arm to get him to go. Russell felt the tears fall down his face as his voice broke. "I never thought anything like this would happen" The nurse gave the officers a stern look. "Officers do get him to work up or you'll have to go" she warned, giving Russell a soft look.
The officer's second officer went off to distract the nurse while the first officer continued questioning Russell.
"And you say you've never met Miss Cook before the events of last night?"
Russell shook his head.
"No I've never seen Marianne before yesterday but I think I'd still go to the party.." The small round police officer's face pulled into a long frown.
"But your friends died!" he exclaimed outraged.
"Trust me, I know, but Marianne and her brothers will be okay now," Russell said, a small tired smile forming as the nurse returned bringing in his lunch and checked the IV bags.
"Why don't you tell us your version of events one more time," The taller officer said, taking out his pad for notes.
"So you say that Roger went into the woods and you heard him scream what happened next?" Russell closed his eyes thinking back as a sneeze took him off guard causing him to cough violently momentarily losing the memory. He held his injured side in response when he managed to breathe a moment later he laid back in bed and began recounting the events that had led him to be In such a dire state.
His recollections began in a dark room he awoke to find his hands bound above his head he pulled against the ropes with all his might, but they wouldn't give up.
"Don't bother," A soft tired voice said through the dark of the room. Russel gazed into the darkness of the room with the little light he managed to see the face of a young girl. She was bound with some rope only her hands were tied in front of her. Her face was scuffed, bruised and a black eye was forming on the left side.
"I already tried," The girl muttered tugging on the ropes that got tighter as the other moved.A panic look overtook Russell's face while he looked around the room frightened. Through the semi- darkness he was able to make out various objects and things strewn around the room.
"What's going on" Whispered Russell in confusion, he really didn't expect an answer but one came. "Let me guess you cross the property line" She said with a groan.
"The what?" Russell asked, struggling against the ropes.
"A big bunch of signs that are posted that say no trespassing" Marianne said in a tired voice. "Yea we passed those, Roger said it will be fine" Russell went silent as he thought back to his friends it had been Roger's call for help that led him deeper into the forest.
"My friends, where are they?" He asked as him and the girl were the only ones in the basement. The young girl went silent. "It's hard to say male or female" She whispered nervously.
"Male, the girls were coming separately..."
The young girl stayed quiet for a long time before she spoke. "It's best we focus on getting out of here before-" as if her words had brought the devil an old creaky door swung open. A man stumbled into view. "Now, Now Mary, Are you ready to act like a good little girl," asked the older man, taunting the girl who was huffing glaring daggers at the dark-haired man in the doorway. The man began to walk down the steps, with each step he took more light made its way into the dark basement. The light stung Russell's eyes as he blinked to get a better look at his kidnapper Who is all too familiar with the young girl.
"Go to hell" spat the young girl spitefully
The man cackled wickedly "Don't challenge me little girl or you'll end up just like Johnny" Tears sprung at the girl's eyes. "You don't get to say his name!" The young girl flung forward trying to charge at the man. Her quick move meant jerking the rope pulling Russell into the wall.
"Careful or you'll kill the cattle '' The man cackled in a thick barrel of a laugh. The young girl supposedly named Mary looked back at Russell with a look of horror. she quickly backed up into the wall and watched the man toss two bowls at their feet, the contents spilling slightly.
"Are you okay?" Mary asked moving as close as she could to him. "Forgive me," Mary sobbed as the boy took a deep breath gasping for air.
"It's not your fault," He said trying to find a comfortable position but between his hands and feet going numb it was nearly impossible. The man had tied the ropes an insane fashion fixed around their arms and necks.
"That man must be crazy!" Russell muttered leaning back into the wall his legs were finally numb to the point they had no feeling. "Oh he's nuts that's for sure" Mutter the girl as she strained against the ropes.
"I thought you said it was no use?" Asked the boy, sounding confused.
"It is no use but if I just sit here I'll go crazy" she snapped flaring and squirming at the ropes. While she was squirming Russell's stomach made a loud rumble and he eyed the bowl of food in front of him suspiciously. With his foot, he tried to inch the bowl closer with each swipe he shook the contents jarring around the redish liquid inside. "You don't want to eat that," She said disgustedly, eyeing the contents.
"Why?"
"He's a cannibal," The girl explained, kicking the bowls away. Russel involuntarily threw up as he realized what that meant.
"We have to get out of here!" Russell cried and panicked. He tried to think of ways out.
"I know I've been trying to," She huffed, feeling defeated. "My name's Marianne," She whispered softly.
"I'm Russell" He replied, feeling defeated.
"Well Russell we have two options"
"Okay, I'm listening?"
"Either we stay here and become soup chow or we find a way out" Russell just laughed dryly. "Mary you make it sound easy"
"Please don't call me Mary" Russell muttered a quick sorry and the two set an awkward silence as the time passed slowly. When Russell was almost asleep the distinctive sound of I-Phones default ringtone chirped on low inside of his jacket pocket. Marianne sat up instantly. "What was that?"
"My phone I think" Russell yawned half awake as Maranne kicked him.
"You have your phone?" She questioned trying to get to it..
"Yea there should also be a knife and a lighter in one of my pockets, " Russell tried to scoot closer but he's constraints weren't budging. Marianne did the same with the combined efforts, Marianne was able to retrieve the light from Russell's pocket with some weird contortion moves. "I got the lighter" She exclaimed excitedly as she tried to free her hands but was unable to get a light on it.
"You go this Marianne, we're getting out of here I promise" He vowed as Marianne struck the lighter again. This time she moved to free him first.
"Russell, hold perfectly still" He gulped, closing his eyes as Marianne let the flame in instant his hands were free, his rope fell to the ground. He quickly jumped in the action trying to untie Marianna who was bound in a very different manner than him.
"Come on," He said helping Marianne up but before she could speak Russell was making his way up the creaky steps to the top of the door. Russell gently pushed it open holding the handle as he walked it open to minimize the sound. Russell's eyes went wide at the scene in front of him. He had come upon the kitchen; a mangled supply of bloody meat and limbs piled the countertops. A pot of stew in the stove broke up the bloody room. His feet inched forward as if propelled by their own force his hand picked up a bloody watch from the counter. The shiny gold Rolex watch had been Roger, his best friend's pride and joy. "No," He clenched the watch tight
As Marianne grabbed his hand and dashed for the front door which was locked. She cursed. "Stay here" Marianne ran from the room returning with a key. Russell who was still in shock was not able to say anything. Marianne returns like lightning;she unlocked the door and pulled Russell out into the woods and tall grass surrounding the large two story cabin.
"Can you make a phone call?" Marianne asked once they were a safe distance from the house.
Russell just stared back broken as Marianne grabbed his shoulders and shook him gently. "Russell get you shit together, I need you" Marianne pleaded semi bringing Russell back to reality. He fumbled through his pocket and wiped out his phone trying to make a call to 911 but there was no signal.
"Come one Marianne we have to go," Russell said as he forced himself to his feet only to be yanked back to the ground forcefully by Marianne.
"I'm staying" She whispered, giving him a nervous look..
"Why would we stay here!" russell yelled loudly earning a firm slap to the shoulder from Mariane
who narrowed her eyes and clenched her fist "I didn't say we,I want my brothers" she snapped fiercely.
"Your brothers?" Russell repeated the words confused.
"Yes," Marianne said, raising her right hand as she pointed to several windows.
"Ray sleeps in that room and Kenny sleeps upstairs an-"
"These people are your family!" Russell cried shocked. Marianne sheepishly rubbed her arm. "I know pa's crazy but my baby brothers are little angels" She pleaded. "You saw what he's like they can't stay here!" Russell was torn between getting help and staying there but then Marianne said. "He already took my favorite brother away," Russell reached into his pocket and handed her a tiny pocket knife. "Here you'll need this" Russell said, holding the phone up to the sky but it was no help, there was no signal. "We're going to need a plan," Russell murmured, taking a breath.

"So you will help me?" Marianne asked hopefully. Russell half-smile taking another sobering deep breath. "I'll help but first answer one question for me"
"Anything," She said patiently, her blue eyes glistening under the moonlight .
"Why were you down there?"
"I had a brother named Johnny, he disobeyed pa and pa went a little too far like always and I tried to intervene.." She explained her voice cracking as she tried to keep her voice down.
"So, you see I have to go back in but you have a choice, " Marianne said hoarsely as a far off look overtook her eyes. "I can't go back to my old life but you can," Marianne said with teary eyes as she pulled her hair back into a bun and wiped her eyes. Standing from their hideout Marianne got a look of determination on her pale face.
"Well it's been a pleasure to know you," Marianne said patting Russell's head as she steadied her nerves to go back through her father's house of horror.
"I'm not letting you do this alone! Russell cried looking at Marianne with determined blue eyes.
"I said I would get you out," Russell repeated in a firm voice.
"And the only way you'll leave with me is if we get your brothers then we better move fast," Russell said, determined to save Marianne's brothers from the same fate as his friends.
The two young adults made their way back into the house where Marianne motioned for him to follow. "Go to the end of the hall and get the boy pa will have him drugged up real good" Russell just nodded his head as she whispered orders. Meanwhile, Marianne quickly carried one of her sleeping baby brothers down the stairs and out of the house placing him in the bushes. She knew he wouldn't wake Pa always drugged them. Marianne ran back into the house where she found Russell coming down the hall her youngest brother in his arms. "Go quickly," Marianne said, ducking back into an open room. Russell held the small body of Marianne's brother for dear life. He was trying so hard to be silent that he forgot to look where he was going and came face-to-face with the monster Mary called a father.
Without saying a word the large man charged at Russell who turned to shield the toddler as a loud deafening crack rang out across the room. At first, Russell thought it was his bones but there was no pain. Upon opening his eyes he discovered Marianne wielding a shotgun and her father lying in a pool of his own blood.
"Marianne you saved me!" Russel exclaimed relieved as an excruciating pain filled his side. To his horror, another older boy stood holding a knife which he removed and plunged in again. With a hard shove the boy through Russel and his drugged baby brother to the ground.
"How could you help him!" Screamed the boy as he violently kicked Russell.
"He's a nobody!" The boy screamed violently kicking Russell again.
"Shut up Seth, " Marianne cried shakily pointing the gun at her second eldest brother.
"Get away from him," Marianne said, pulling back the barrel to load the chamber.
"Mary you don't have to do this, Pa will wake up," The boy said with crazed eyes as he moved for the loaded shotgun.
"Well clean up the house and bandage him up then he'll be proud," Seth said laughing hysterically tears wailing up in his eyes. His face that held her family's signature blue eyes made her curse the horrors they had seen. Tears began to sting at Marianne's own face as she resolved herself to her decision.
"I wish all that we're true" Without a second thought she shot her brother and ended her father's reign of terror. Russell was a little iffy on the events that followed after the shooting. Apparently, Seth had broken one of his ribs which left Marianne alone with Five bodies, four of which she hailed all the way through the forest on a tiny sled. An elderly woman had found them after and they were taken to a hospital and separated from the point on. Marianne and the boys were taken to different locations at the hospital. Russell was admitted to the emergency department along with Seth who was in a coma. Which brought Russell to the end of his recollections that led him to be in such a state of pain and disarray. He could understand how someone could be confused by the horrors that hide inside Marianne's childhood home. For he himself had only just scratched the surface.
Russell finished his recollections allowing the officers to process what he had just said before he spoke again.
"Will Marianne be released soon?" The officers seemed to regain some of their composure as the shorter officer spoke.
"If everything you say cheeks out as soon as the doctor signs off" Russell nodded his head and closed his eyes.
"That should be all we need Mr.Burke we'll let you rest," The first officer said, holding back teary eyes. "You'll let Marianne know I'm here right," Russell said with a yawn the two officers nodded. "Your family is on their way," The second officer said as they were leaving. Once the door slid shut Russell found himself alone in the crisp white hospital room. In twenty four hours so much had happened. He adjusted himself laying back in the bed, crying not from sadness but from relief. Marianne was safe, her brothers would grow up taken care off. The only thing eating at Russell was Rogers' mother he felt it was his duty to return the once bloody watch to the women. He had cleaned the watch and it lay next to him on the counter as he closed his eyes thinking how crazy it was that so much could change in a day.