The Fourth Closet Rewritten

Chapter 2

John pulled into Carlton's driveway, hesitating if he was making a mistake or not. He fixed his shirt before opening the door. He slammed the door of his car, with some rage that came out of nowhere. Maybe it is her. He walked up to the door, but before he could knock, the door opened. Charlie was wearing a red sequin dress, with black heals. Her hair was definitely curled, and her makeup was... a bit bright. "John?" He felt like her voice should have made him feel something, but there was nothing there. Her voice was different. She was someone else. Something else. "Hey... Charlotte." Charlie always hated it when he called her Charlotte. He overheard one of the chefs at Freddy's call her that when they were kids. He would always tease her for it. "You haven't called me by that name for a while. You should more often." That is definitely not my Charlie. "Well, I should come inside. I haven't seen Marla and Lamar for a while." John spouted the first excuse that came to mind. He didn't feel comfortable talking to her. "Oh yea." She opened the door wider so John could walk past her, but before he could, she caught him by the shirt. "See ya later John." She winked at him. He tried not to gag until she was out of sight. He felt like he was going to puke, but he kept his mouth closed so he didn't. If she isn't Charlie, then who is she? John kept running the question through his head as he brushed past people. He thought back to his so called theory that he had thought of. Maybe Sammy was alive. Maybe after Charlie's death, Jen had reached out, and got Sammy to "play the roll." Because Sammy could stand for Samantha. That may be why she looks so different. But still. What Afton said still doesn't add up. "I didn't take Sammy. I took you." What could that mean? Is he saying he theoretically took her? Or did he actually take her and she never realized? John pressed he hand to his forehead. "You okay John?" Carlton grabbed his shoulder from behind. "Yea, just a little headache." He muttered. "Well, there's water on the kitchen counter if you need it." He smiled slightly before pulling John in the other direction. "Come on everyone's waiting for you." Carlton kept saying hello to people while they were crossing the ginormous room. John was getting bugged by the 5th pair of people they stopped for.

"It's been too long since we've all been together." Marla smiled. Charlie looked at John, "yea. We should do it more often." She almost looked demeaning. What is she up to? "Well, I should get going-" Charlie cut John off, "why leave so soon? It's been so long. Stay a while." John hesitated, "I've got to go. Sorry." He sped out of the room, leaving everyone behind. "John wait-" Charlie walked quickly after him. She set her hand on his shoulder. He pulled away, anger in his eyes. "What?" John didn't shout as loud as he aimed for, but it still caught Charlie off guard. She shrunk down, almost looking scared. She looked the other way as she spoke, "I wanted to say I'm sorry... the... thing, it changed me a lot. Everyone has been really patient with me, but I feel like you don't believe it's me. How can I prove to you that it's me?" John felt sorry for her. He had been disapproving her as if she was no one. What if she is Charlie? I understand that it would change her.. I just didn't think how much. I shouldn't have judged so quickly. "About earlier, the name Charlotte is like a new beginning for me. I don't know, it just feels like I could start over." A tear welled from her eye. Is it charlie? "I'm sorry too. I didn't trust you when I should've and I wasn't there for you." John gave in. What he said was true. He didn't give her a chance to re-evaluate who she was. "Do you... remember anything from that night?" John asked in hesitation. "No. It was all really just a blur. But I'd be glad to talk about it." John looked the other way. "Well, I really need to go now. I'm glad we could talk." John spoke softly, but he still didn't 100% believe it was her. I love you. She didn't remember. John frowned, wishing he could go back. He started walking away, watching Charlie walk back to the group. As John walked to his car, he saw something move in the bushes surrounding the front yard. It was the girl; the one from the college dorms. "Hey!" John yelled at her. She fully emerged from the bushes. She was about 50 yards away. She was tall. Taller than John. She tilted her head like before. Her whisper traveled through the wind... "John.." John shivered and sprinted to his car in an instant. She disappeared back into the bushes as he drove away.

Charlie watched out the window as John drove away. "He just needs time. He was.." Charlie cut Jessica off and snapped, "traumatized." Jessica sighed slowly. "Sorry. I didn't mean that." Charlie looked at Jessica. "It's okay. I promise he will warm up to you. But like I said. He just needs more time." Charlie snarled, "well I don't know how much more time I can give."