Friend

V

Once they entered the house Teresa took a long look around as memories of their childhood flashed into her mind, she remembered how her and Nico would sit at the top of the stairs and watch their mother walk around talking to the spirits that came to her. Teresa ran her hand over the stair railing stopping when she felt the small craving, a sad smile formed onto her face as she looks at it, it was a strange looking symbol if anyone was to notice it they wouldn't think anything of it, but she knew all to well what it meant and why it was there. Nico watched her as she leaned on the wall arms crossed over her chest, Nico wore the same sad smile "do you remember the day mom craved that into the railing?" Nico asked Teresa. Teresa hesitated for a moment "not really, I remember running downstairs and feeling it as my hand pasted it" Teresa pulled her hand back and turned towards Nico "do you remember?" she asked Nico. Nico unfolded her arms and pushed off the wall, Teresa watch as Nico started to walk to the dining room, without being told anything Teresa followed her. Nico walked to the table that sat in the3 middle of the room and pulled out one of the chairs, Nico gestured with her hand for Teresa to take a seat still not saying a word. "you know you could just say take a seat" Teresa says with a sigh as she pulls the other chair out and sits down. Nico placed her arms on the table resting her chin on her hands she gave Teresa a serious look, this wasn't  something Teresa was use to seeing on her sister's face, Nico was always so care free and never serious before she could ask Nico about it Nico asked something first "have you seen Friend yet?".  Teresa gave her a strange look "at least twice why?" she asked.  "what did he look like?" Nico asked not answering Teresa's question, she still had that serious look on her face. Teresa sat back in the chair and closed her eyes trying to recall how he looked "hmmm tall skinny long black hair, long sharp claw like nails and solid black eyes and sharp teeth" she replied as she opens her eyes to look back at Nico, Nico gave her a sad look before lifting her head off her hands, Nico rubbed the back of her neck as she let out a frustrated sigh "well guess we should start from the beginning" Nico says. Teresa sat up straight at hearing this finally Nico was going to tell her everything she knew about Friend and maybe even help her get rid of him, or at least she hoped Nico would help if not for her then at least for Mimi's sake. "well first thing is his name it's Fredric Day, he was a murder in the late 50's early 60's" Nico began. Teresa eyes went wide in shock and fear her sweet baby Mimi was playing with a killer, "he was caught and hanged for his crimes" Nico continued before Teresa cut her off "who did he kill and how many?" she asked her shaking as she did. Nico gave her a look "Teresa does that really matt-" she began but was cut off again "yes! it does!" Teresa tells her strongly. Nico gave her another look "fine but remember you asked I was just going to skip it" Nico tells her, Teresa only nodded "Fred was a very smart and  twisted man all his victims were families, he would befriend the children of the family that had the misfortune of being his target" Teresa sat there in shock so many thoughts running though her mind she shook her head to try and clear it before she brought her attention back to Nico. Nico watched Teresa reaction and waited a moment before she continued  "he told the children he was their friend and that they should call him Friend, he told them not to tell their parents because he wanted it to be a surprises when they met him" Teresa gave Nico an odd look as if Nico could read her mind she answered her unasked question "he used the children to bring their parents to him, once they did he would torture the parents for days to a week before killing them, as he did all this he would make the children watch telling them that they were the cause of their parents death, once he seen that the child was broken completely he then killed them as well" Teresa let out a shocked gasp as she covered her mouth with her hand, that was just horrible making a child watch something like that would obviously break their psyche, then he took their life as well. Nico gave Teresa a sad look "the number of deaths that were found out about was  100 to 200, no one is sure if there is more or not, they could only get a ruff number from him before he was hanged" Nico finished hoping this was enough for Teresa,  Nico knew more details about the murders but she didn't think Teresa could handle all off it. "h-how did he get caught?" she heard Teresa ask in a small shaky voice, Nico rubbed the back of her neck again "he thought he was unstoppable but his last target was his downfall, he befriended the child but unlike the others this child told his parents about Friend and everything he said and where his playhouse was" Nico told her with a small triumphant smile "and of course they called the police, there was no trial or investigation once the police found him and the his playhouse that was all they needed, they kept him alive for a week trying to get all they could out of him, once they figured out he wasn't going to tell them anymore they killed him and that was the end of him." Nico finished telling her. Teresa still had so many question so she figured she just ask, "where was he killed?" Nico stares at her for a moment "umm he was hanged on the nice big tree in your backyard" Nico answered hesitantly. Teresa stands up fast eyes wide in shock "is that why his around Mimi? because she plays around that tree?" she asked she ran her hand though her hair as she starts to freak out. Nico shakes her head "no, just being around the tree wouldn't be enough to do it" Nico tells her, but the way she said it told Teresa Nico either had an idea how it happend or she already knew how, Teresa crossed her arms over her chest and gave Nico a stern look "you know how this happend don't you Nico?" she asked strongly. "yes, and no" Nico replies Teresa stern look turned into a glare "meaning?" was all she said. Nico let out a long frustrated sign before she glared back at Teresa "meaning Mimi probably found something that he's connected too" Nico says before she stands turning her back to Teresa and walking towards a bookshelf pulling a book out "plus your past with Friend probably didn't help" Teresa heard Nico say before she turned facing Teresa again and walked back to the table placing the book down. Teresa gave her a strange look "what do you mean my past with him?!" Teresa demanded, Nico raised an eyebrow at her "why do you think mom craved that symbol on the stairs Teresa?" Nico asked. when all Teresa did was shrug her shoulders Nico finally realize what happened all those years ago and why Teresa's personality had changed so drastically when they were kids their mother did something to her, Nico just hoped this wouldn't break Teresa psyche "Teresa you use to be able to see Friend" Nico says slowly. Teresa stood there frozen in shock only one thing going though her mind why couldn't she remember any of this?