Love in Death

Winters and Waiting

            Over the next few days I sit and wait, trying to be patient. It was difficult though, to be patient when I was so anxious to be out of this place already. To be free once more, just the thought made my heart beat faster in anticipation.

Finally, she was coming back today, to tell me her progress. I had been waiting, hardly able to think of anything else since she had told me her plans to get me out of here.

"You think she's really going to get you out of here?" Kit asks nervously, rubbing his hands together and looking at me with uncertainty.

"I mean, I think so. She seemed genuine in wanting to help me." I reply, running my hands along my stomach, creating patterns with my fingertips in an attempt to distract myself.

"But her sister was Allison, who was psycho." Grace grimaces, "Are you sure you can trust her?"

"Yes." I say, exasperated, "Yes, I'm sure. And besides, what other choices do I have? Nobody else is exactly lining up to help me, they all think I'm guilty." My voice raises slightly as I continue to talk, anger seeping in. "We've been over this what feels like a million times, yes I'm sure."

They both look down and I realize I had said all of that out loud. In addition to that I had been raising my voice louder than I had thought. Feeling ashamed I look back down to where my hands have stilled on my stomach.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." I apologize in a whisper, I hate being upset with them. They both believe me and want the best for me, they're not trying to hurt me. They don't deserve my anger.

"It's alright Sammie." Kit looks at me, his eyes soft as he squeezes my shoulder gently.

"He's right, it's just the hormones." Grace jumps in, "And we were being a bit pushy I guess." She shrugs, and rolls her eyes.

"Hello." A girl's voice cuts into our conversation and we all look to see a girl of medium height with shoulder length brown hair. She seems nervous, and doesn't give me the vibe that says she belongs here. "May I sit." She gestures to the open spot next to me.

"Oh, of course. Sammie, Grace, this is Lana Winters." Kit introduces, "She was a reporter that Sister Jude got locked up in here for asking too many questions, that was it right?" He looks back at her for confirmation.

"That's right." She sighs, taking the seat.

"None of us belong here." I sigh, and Grace snorts, "You got that right. 'Aint nothing wrong with us."

"Do you have an idea of how to get out?" Lana whispers softly to us, "confusion in her light eyes.

"I have someone working to get me out, but we don't know how to get anyone else out yet." I sigh, "Denise is looking into helping me, and she's supposed to come get me. She said she thought she could do it in under a week." I tell her softly, "It's only been three days but I'm a bit antsy."

"Denise?" She scrunches up her face, "Bradley? Denise Bradley? Isn't her sister locked up in here?"

"Well..." I bite my lip and Grace answers for me

"Ding dong the witch is dead. The mean old witch, the wicked witch. Ding dong the wicked witch is dead." She sings tauntingly, grinning at us crazily.

"She's..." Lana pauses, "dead?" She seems shocked, and I don't blame her. Allison was in perfect health, except for her mental illness.

"She attacked Samantha, and something saved her." Kit explains and I jump in, "One moment she was on top of me, pushing a knife to my throat, and the next she was squirming and screaming, fighting against nothing while on the ground. It was like a shadow was descending on her, drowning her or something, and I felt so cold, like death. And a strange feeling of calm and serenity. The next thing I knew she was staring up at the ceiling, unmoving, unblinking. Dead." I talk fast, my words tumbling out and mashing together.

"Oh wow." Lana breathes. "That is quite the story." A hush falls over the four of us, I would count five but Pepper wasn't paying any attention to us.

"Samantha Hodge." My name rings through the room, suddenly it all feels so silent apart from that song. That happy, upbeat song that forever seems to play on a loop. Slowly I look up and my eyes find the source, Sister Jude, staring me down with her hawk like eyes.

I push myself to my feet and keep eye contact, "Yes Sister Jude?"

"Come with me." She almost growls the words out and I force myself forward, following her through the hallways and up to her office where I hoped Denise Bradley would be waiting for me.

w9|