The Woman In The Shadows

Part Seven - Adoption

Jim and Meadow headed out to the porch to find Sheila sitting at the top of the stairs, looking upwards at the night sky.

"Isn't it gorgeous?" she asked without looking at them, the white light of the moon illuminating her face. "You just don't get a view like this in the city." she added, finally looking away from the stars and at Jim. "Sandra not coming?"

"Nah, she's going to hang back and clean up." Jim said, sitting down beside Sheila as Meadow Tweeted something about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with her lovebird parents.

"Clean Up?" she asked, looking confused as she shook her head. "There's two pizza boxes and some paper plates - Jim, she should spend more time with the family."

"I know, believe me - I know. But this was a big move for everyone. If she wants to hang back and read, well - " Jim shrugged, standing, grabbing hold of Sheila's hand to help her up " - well, so be it."

"Such a loser." Meadow muttered under her breath as she scrolled through her timeline.

"Let's walk. Meadow - " Jim scolded, turning to his daughter, her face illuminated by the small device in her hands. " - get off the damn phone please. And don't worry Sheila. Sandra will be fine I mean, what kind of trouble could she get in to while we're walking?" he chuckled, heading down the stairs, his wife's hand held tightly in his.

Sandra broke down the pizza boxes and collected the four paper plates, folding them in half, stacking the half-moon on the folded pizza boxes, Sandra headed out and around to the side of the house where they kept the recycling bins, shivering as she left the warmth of the kitchen, entering the cold rural air.

She hurried to the bins at the side of the house, throwing the paper and cardboard towards the grey bin. All but one of the plates made it in to the receptacle, the renegade plate landing a foot short of its destination.

"Shit" Sandra muttered, cold but unwilling to be a litterbug "of course one missed" she continued, rubbing her arms as she moved towards the plate, now blowing away from the house and towards the tree line.

Sandra jumped forward, attempting to catch the plate beneath her foot as the wind caught it once more, just before she could catch it, moving it further away with each failed attempt.

In the shadows, the woman watched as Sandra unknowingly fell into her trap, moving closer with each gust of wind.

Come see your mother she whispered, the wind blowing with each word as it left her cold, dead mouth That's it.

"Get back here!" Sandra scolded the plate, catching it but a foot from the tree line. "Got you!"

GOT YOU! The woman yelled, throwing herself out of the shadows towards the girl.

Sandra screamed, falling back on her bum as she scurried backwards, terrified at the woman rushing towards her.

"Help!" Sandra yelled - her voice lost in the rushing wind blowing in the trees that surrounded the house. "HELP!"

You belong to me now.

"Not on your life!" Sandra screamed, rushing to her feet as she rushed the house, her legs moving as fast as they possibly could - that sensation of burning filling her lungs, coursing through her muscles as she pushed through the pain.

The woman laughed before screaming so loud it sent Sandra cascading to the cold dirt, sliding like a batter might when rushing the plate. Get back here, girl!

Sandra stumbled forward as she got back to her feet, making it through the door, slamming it behind her as she pressed her weight against it. Turning, Sandra turned the padlock and attached the chain, unaware of the woman already standing behind her, smiling.