Falling || Scarecrow

Ch.13

When Maria awoke, her mouth was dry and her head spun. She dizzily sat up then bolted to the bathroom. Puking the poison that she had willingly drank. It burned as much as it did coming up, when she downed it, and she firmly decided never again would drink.

She coughed and flushed, feeling better. Standing up, she was surprised to see her expression. Eyes puffy, red, haunted, and sunk into her skull. Skin pale, and her cheeks sticky with dried tears.

Turning the sink on she washed her face, trying to erase everything. Once done she let her hair out, that went to her shoulders, and then she left the room to find Jonathan. He was on the couch waiting for her.

Feeling embarrassed, she smoothed out her white T-shirt from yesterday. "Hey." She whispered. Fiddling with her hands.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I got run over a car mentally and physically."

He smiled slightly. "Drinking can do that. And I heard that you apparently drank one glass of wine, and four glasses of scotch."

Maria groaned as she sat next to him. "Once I would've never have gotten drunk."

"Care to tell?"

She gave him a sideways glance.
"Truth?"

"Yes."

She sighed. "The Batman confronted me at the hospital to give up my life with you and start fresh. I-i refused... And threatened to kill him."

"Bravo, Maria. You're now an official criminal on the run."

She threw a pillow at him. "Really? That's your words of comfort for me?"

A nod with a smirk.

"I hate you."

"Do you mean that?"

"Yes."

"Ok. I'll be leaving now then."

Maria lunged and held onto his arm. "Don't you dare leave! It's your fault I'm a mess, and that I didn't know Thomas was Hush, and its your fault that I'm in love with you!"

Eyes wide, she let go of him. "Did I say that aloud?"

"Yes. But for your information, I have already dealt with the shock and acceptance of hearing it when Hush told me you said it."

"Of course he did." She muttered. "That disrespectful, stiff bastard. Why is he my supervisor!?"

"If it makes you feel better," Jonathan said as he sat back down. "You're going to have to quit your job so you don't get arrested."

"Joy." She stated. "My job is gone. Dignity out the window. And my pride is bruised. Am I missing anything else?"

"I like it when your hair is down."

"Flattery will get you no where." But she smiled and leaned on his shoulder. Hearing him mumble something softly to himself, she smiled again. Work or her?

She definitely won though as she fell asleep, making him unable to move without waking her.

...

It was later around five in the evening, when Jonathan left to take care of some dangerous business. Leaving her alone, with the journals she still hadn't read yet.

Opening the cubby hole, she pulled them out and sat cross legged on the couch. Picking the oldest looking one she flipped if open, and was greeted by words.

The crows perch on the brown beams above. Ruffling their greasy feathers and opening their sharp beaks. They know I'm here.

Like a cloud they rise, and descend like a smog of death. They surround me, suffocating me. Picking away at my skin, clawing with their claws. I'm covered with cuts. The blood flows heavy.

It goes on for hours till they are satisfied with their meal of flesh and blood, and they perch again on the beams.

Grandmother won't release me from this hell, so I huddle in a corner. Staying still and silent. And trying to pray to a God that won't listen. Or just doesn't care.

I can't keep doing this.

...

Maria watched curiously as one of their new patients remained unaffected. The lady was in her twenties and seemed afraid. Yet the new toxin didn't seem to affect her.

"How about upping it?" She asked.

"Maybe." Jonathan replied as he ran a hand through his hair in thought. He wasn't wearing his mask this time.

Maria walked over to the woman huddled in the corner. The nameless woman stared at her pleadingly, yet she just sat in front of her with a blank face.

"You're afraid. Ain't you?" She asked quietly.

The woman looked at her puzzled.

"Maria-"

"Wait." Maria said turning her head to Jonathan for a second. "Let me try something."

He nodded at her to continue.

"What's your name?" She asked nameless.

"Lily." She choked out.

Recognition flitted across Maria's face

"Lily, are you afraid of fire?" Maria said slowly, calmly. "Water, the dark, spiders? The feeling of being high up, or being trapped in a closet. Does something haunt you. The monster under the bed, no? How about the fear of tables turning to make you the victim instead of the bully?"

As she said the last word, Lily started to cover her ears while tears streamed down her pale cheeks. But Maria slowly moved her hands down.

"Lily. You deserve worse."

Lily started to hyperventilate as Maria released her and stood up. "May your days be full of darkness."

Then Lily started to shriek and Maria watched coldly as the woman in front of her finally became the victim. Then she turned and walked out, past Jonathan, and to her room.

Where she sat on the couch, staring at the dull wall. Jonathan came in after a minute and sat next to her. Waiting for her to talk first.

She gave an annoyed sigh. "She was a bully at my school, and especially cruel to me."

He nodded understandingly. "We can kill her if you want."

"Not yet. It's just... I've always been the victim instead of the bully. So I might as well make the best of it."

"Just don't change to much." Jonathan said as he got up. Making her smile as he left the room.