MAD MARY

💀 CHAPTER TWENTY | IN THE DARK

In the dark, Mary lay on her bed at the wooden mansion. She'd lived there for three years, but her time of rest was restricted to the basement, for reasons she could not concur.

Mentally deranged and unkempt she had lived with rodents and insects of varied kinds, while wrapped in torn curtains as she lay on the cold wooden floor.

Now, she had her head on a soft pillow and the stress in her limbs was drained away by quiet strings of sweat, on a comfortable bed, made with clean sheets. Instead of old curtains, the warmth of a large duvet fed her skin against the chills of that summer night.

Mary Angela had heard Richard’s voice a while ago and due to caution that rode within the red streams in her veins, she decided to keep still on her bed until no voice was heard in the house. Curiosity ate her up but she stayed on her bed.

The voices had begun to fade. She was sure a few hours had gone by and certainly everyone in the house must have fallen asleep.

In that moment of assurance, Mary sat up on her bed and peered into the darkness out the window. The curtains which covered the only window in the pretty room were parted and the silvery rays of a confident crescent moon gave a dim array of light in the bedroom.

Shadows of trees by their branches and moving shades of bats gliding through the night air, rode on the walls of the bedroom. Mary was used to the darkness. There was a time she enjoyed it, but it felt wrong. This time, it was different. The darkness did not carry the burden of loneliness as it used to. Perhaps that was due to the presence of a six year old roommate. Whatever it was, Mary was truly joyed by the existence of the Beckhams in her life.

While in admiration of a wonderful night, Mary heard muttering nearby.

As swift as a cat on a rat hunt, she sat straight and though the darkness toyed with her sight, she had her hearing at optimum. After full concentration, Mary discovered the source of the low gabbling.

She knew that voice too well. It was Melody’s.

Mary stood up and began to walk towards little Melody’s bed.

There was a time when one would have to tip-toe in the room, to avoid the creaks of the wooden floor. However, in respect for Melody’s interest, Richard covered the floor of the bedroom in an appealing fuchsia rug. It gave the pink wallpapers in the room a finishing touch. At that minute of cautious steps, Mary was grateful for the fancy rug.

Mary was just a step away from Melody, when she heard the child’s mumble clearly. The words brought tears to her eyes and pain to her heart.

“Poodles…she killed Poodles…why is she here…she’ll kill us too…I’m scared…she killed Poodles…Poodles.” Melody chanted as she turned and kicked on her bed.

Her voice got louder.

Mary had to stop her or the child’s voice would invite the family to the room.

Mary had to read through the contents of the red book. She had to look at it quickly. With every minute she wasted, Richard gained extra time to plot more lies and cover ups. She had to digest those brown pages. She had to know the truth of her past and she had to do it at that minute.

The only words that roamed her mind at that moment were the words “Right now!”

Mary took another step towards Melody’s bed until she was close enough to feel the child’s breath on her knees.

She placed her hands on Melody’s hands and squeezed as lightly as she could. Little Melody squeezed back and after a smile, she let go and went back to sleep.