The Sister {violate}

c4: the red box

"The little red box, the little red box." I watched Caroline skip around the back yard singing. The box in the hidden crawl space crossed mind. I wondered if Taylor or Caroline knew about it. Maybe they could help my Violet.

"Hey Taylor, can you come here?" I hollered down the hall. I heard a lighter flick. Next to me Violet appeared smoking a cigarette.

"Be right there." Taylor came around the corner, holding a plate consisting of peanut butter and jelly sandwitches. "I wasn't really sure if you guys ate or anything..."

"We don't need to, But thank you Taylor." Violet grabbed one. Leaving three left.

"What's she singing about?" Tate pointed out the window.

"The red box?" Taylor smiled fondly. "There was a sweet lady who ran a hair salon in New Orleans. She sold me herbs. After a few visits she invited me and Caroline to come stay with her because we were in a tight spot with Carolines father. She used to tell Caroline bedtime stories. Her favorite was about the little red box. Cursed by voodoo magic, the box has been around for about as long as time itself, it captured the saddest of souls. Created by papa legba himself."

Violet and I shared a look.

"But it only absorbs the purest of sadness. An honest deep true sadness." Taylor continued. "If your sadness was inflicted by others, it doesn't take them, but if it's pure inner sadness it will."

"Could this said box, trap us here?" Violet asked. "Could it have taken my family."

Taylor's face twisted into a frown. "It shouldn't. Unless it's grown attached to the house."

"Well that explains why we can't move it." I said. "Its here in a hidden crawl space. We think it took Violets parents. And Hayden."

"Why would it take,Hayden though. All her pain was brought on by Ben." Vi looked like she was about to cry.

"They lost there babies Violet. All three of them." I clutched her hand, watching the tears well up in her eyes. "Isn't that story a bit dark for a three year old?"

"Oh she didn't tell it to Caroline that way. She made it a happy story." Taylor smiled and walked out to the gazebo to eat her peanut better and jelly sandwich with Caroline.

"There gone huh. The only reason it didn't take us is because your mom made you this way, and I my dad made,me this way..." Violet whispered.

"I'm so sorry Violet." I stared at the ground. She wrapped her arms around me and cried.

"You know, Charles bought me that box. A week before our son was murdered." Nora came up from the basement. "I hid it because it made me uncomfortable. Charles used that pit to dispose of his failed... experiments."

"Go away Nora." I said, watching her vanish.

"Tate, this isn't the right family for a second chance." Violet looked up into my eyes. "Lets go play with Beau."

She vanished, but,I didn't follow. I went to my box of belongings in the crawl space under the house. Violets decomposing body was still down here, and for some odd reason, I felt comfort in being near it.

I pulled out the book I had found Violet reading, after she found out I shot up that high school. She wasn't to happy with me, but that's when she found out I was dead.

"Why didn't you tell me." She asked. We were sitting,on the floor of her room.

"That wouldn't have been the greatest pick up line." I smiled and said "hi, I'm Tate, I'm dead. Wanna hook up."

It felt like so long ago. Seeing her so happy. Happy with me. I'd kill to have it back, have her back.