Arsonist's Lullabye

Chapter Three: The Letter

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The Letter

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I could feel the warm sunlight on my face as I opened my eyes. I looked around the room and I felt somewhat disorientated. The light blue curtains that draped lifelessly on the window now had a bluish-green color due to the sunlight shining transparently through them. I slowly pulled my body up from the stiff mattress and sat at the edge of it. I released a sigh that I was reluctantly holding in. I held my head for a moment as the throbbing started and seemed to pound harder and harder. What happened last night?, I thought to myself. I finally managed to get dressed and headed down the narrow staircase once more. I sensed Tabby wasn't here, Yet I called out Tabby's name still. There was no reply and I couldn't help but wonder where she had gone.

I checked the downstairs and headed up to the master bedroom on the second floor and noticed her door was open. I called out "Tabitha" Into the empty bedroom. There was no reply back as I assumed there wouldn't be. I made my way back to the guest bedroom and sat down on the unmade bed. My mind kept thinking about everything, Was she out getting breakfast? Did she leave me here to go make the funeral arrangments alone? I got up from the bed and started to fix the bedding so it didn't look so messy. As I was placing the pillow back into its normal place a small folded piece of paper fell out from under the pillow. I picked the paper up and hesitated before opening it. The writing was nicely written in cursive and at the top of the note, it said: Dear Darling. My eyes scanned down the paper quickly, This was a note to me!

Dear Darling,

I know you have a lot of questions about your past. I can not stand to see you suffer anymore. I was going to give this letter to you sooner but never found the right time. In fact, This may never reach you, I rewrite this note over and over and destroy it. I know you have memories of that night. I have kept this secret all these years to protect you and the memory of my son-in-law and his beautiful wife, Your mother. The truth is your father should have never kept a gun in the home. I begged your mother to persuade him to get rid of it. Your father kept a gun for protection and I never dreamed you would find it and use it. That night you came running to my house crying and screaming "Grandma!, Grandma! You told me your father and mother were arguing and fighting in the kitchen and you were scared and thought you could just fire the gun off and scare daddy away.

I could see a tear-stain on the bottom of the torn note. The rest of the letter was ripped off and missing. I stood there in amazement and tried hard to remember what my Grandmother's handwriting looked like. Was this really a letter from my Grandmother? How did it end up here at Tabby's house? Did I shoot my parent's or just my father? I couldn't believe what I was reading. My hands shook as I frantically looked around the room for the missing piece of paper. I looked everywhere. The only thing I thought to do was sit there and cry into my hands and pray this would go away. Did Tabby read this letter? Did she rip it up? Does she think I'm a murderer? Her behavior towards me has changed, What am I going to do with this letter? Do I confront Tabby or keep it to myself?

The downstairs front door opened and I could hear Tabby entering downstairs. I quickly gathered my thoughts and without thinking flung myself towards the bedroom door and headed down the narrow stairs once again. I abruptly stopped at the foot of the stairs and flashed a stern glare at Tabitha. Tabby turned from the living room area and said: "Hello sleepy head". "Hello to yourself", I said quickly back with my morning voice, scratchy and dry. "Where have you been?", I blurted out without hesitation. Tabby straightened her posture and took a few mischievous steps closer towards me and the creepy narrow staircase. Tabby spoke in her monotone voice once more, "I was out getting groceries". I didn't care where she was and what her intentions were for breakfast, I had other thoughts occupying my mind. Tabby quickly noticed the small paper clenched in my hand, The same paper that I was still in debate over whether or not I was going to show her. "What's that", Tabby demanded to know with her firm voice.

I clenched my hand tighter around the paper, I wasn't sure how to approach this I thought as I blurted out "It's nothing", I found this upstairs this morning, I spoke gently and as normal as possible. I didn't want her to suspect I was hiding something from her. Tabby didn't even blink and I could tell she was holding her breath. Tabby released her breath and said: "Well, Did you read it?". I nodded and Tabby's body language expressed she was irritated, She stepped closer towards me and then jolted at me. I felt threatened by her quick movement and overall aggressive behavior. I clenched my body tight and brought my hands in towards my chest as Tabby snatched the paper from my hand I felt violated and treated like a criminal. Like I had stolen something from her. Tabby stepped back far enough to still be close to me and I felt trapped. I didn't know what to expect from this, I didn't even know how to explain this note and the incriminating words that were written on it.

Tabby paced around for a moment as I stood there in complete shock. "It's nothing", Tabby shouted to the cold room as she came closer towards me, This time close enough for me to see her black pupils grow larger from the shadowy dim staircase. I could feel her anger through her voice as she seemed to be changing into a more serious personality. Tabby charged at me and shoved my shoulders back causing me to lose my footing. My body went flailing helplessly down and I could feel the room shifting from beneath me. My lower body landed on the cold wooden floor and my upper torso seemed to devour the last step of the staircase. I quickly realized this was not normal behavior from my cousin and scooted myself back onto the stairs and tried to pull my body up as fast as I could, Before she could harm me again.

I managed to climb to my feet and I could feel my balance was still wobbly from the fall. Tabby paced around for a second before our eyes made direct contact and in that split second, I didn't recognize her at all. I sensed all of Tabby's intentions and quickly darted my attention to the recently bought grocery bag that was once sitting upright on the living room floor. Tabby must have kicked it over during her psychopathic plunge towards me. 

The Brown paper bag was large and laid still on the cold floor. What caught my eye was the belongings that once were held inside. Plastic rolled up tarp supplies, Scissors and Grey masking tape laid conspicuously out beside the bag. Tabby noticed me noticing the odd items that laid before us and let out a grunt of anger. I knew this was bad, but why? Why was my cousin acting like this? Was she trying to kill me? I had no time to decide the answer to that question and decided to make a run for it up the staircase as It seemed to be the only logical thing to do considering the current event.

My heart is pounding and I could somewhat hear Tabitha arguing to herself before she started chasing me. I could feel the pressure of not knowing how close she was to me as I swooshed around the corner of the upstairs hallway and made my way to the only room that I knew, The guest bedroom.

The door pounded and I could feel her body pressure trying to budge the old wooden door in front of me. I held the doorknob tightly, Even though I had locked the door I was still terrified she was going to burst through at any minute. I stood there with all of my weight pushed up against the door, Uncontrollably I began to shake, My body was beginning to pound in pain from the fall. "What's going on?', Tabitha! I screamed through the wooden door. The door stopped moving and I could hear her breathing fast. "You killed him!" Tabby screamed as loud as she could through the door in a psychopathic manner. Him? Was she talking about my father? Terrified, I could feel Tabby kick the door as she screamed, "Open the damn door!". Everything was moving fast, I felt as If I was losing control over my environment. I could hear Tabby crying softly through the door as I spoke loudly towards it: "I really don't understand what's going on!" Please, Tabby stop trying to hurt me! Tabby sniffled and replied in her monotone serious voice: "I'm not trying to hurt you, Darling, I'm going to kill you!

The door raged and pounded harder than before, Was she going to kill me and no one would ever find me? I mean, I really didn't tell anyone I was coming here. My brain scolds itself for not leaving that goodbye message on Cates voicemail. I was in survival mode and felt my body and mind panicking all at the same time. The door grew bolder and felt alive as it pounded against my face, I forced my body vigorously against it. I knew I had seconds before she was going to force her way in. I quickly look around the small bedroom and notice nothing I could use to protect myself with. Tabby seemed to grow more powerful as she continued to pound and beat on the door. My body gave up and I could feel my knees trying to buckle underneath me. I shoved my weight away from the door and prepared myself for whatever was going to happen to me. The door flew open as if it was never locked or guarded. Tabby walked into the room slowly, I could see her shadow move closer towards the small closet that lay still with terrifying eyes peering out from it. I held my breath and waited. Tabby slowly moved closer towards the closet and I could sense that she knew exactly where I was. The closet door flew open as if the closet never had doors.