“From what I could make out, the police didn’t find anything. I’m confused – it said on the news they searched the well for signs of Rachel. If they went down there, why didn’t they find, Maisie?”
“They would never find anything, Sandra. You continue to underestimate Maisie. I don’t even know what her true capabilities are.”
Sandra changed the subject back to her former boss. “Then where is Rachel’s body? Maisie wouldn’t have had time to get rid of it in that short space of time?”
“She doesn’t eat in front of me. I was curious, so last night I followed Maisie deep into the cavern, and for the first time I watched as she fed. As I suspected, it doesn’t take long for her to devour the parts she wants to eat. She dragged Rachel’s body to the river that flows underground and tore her apart, hungrily feeding on her flesh. She seemed to take pleasure in eating the heart and liver. There was blood and bits of flesh all down the front of her dress and her face was covered.”
Sandra shuddered violently at the thought. “Poor Rachel. She didn’t deserve to die in that way.”
“You can’t take the blame for her death. You tried to warn her.”
“Is she down there now?” She was nervous after the events of the last few days.
“Yes. Maisie is always down there during daylight.”
“I didn’t mean Maisie – I meant my boss.”
“There is nothing left of Rachel to find. It was the strangest thing. I’ve never witnessed Maisie behave in such a way, but after she’d finished eating, she dragged the remains into the water then began to wash herself. It looked like she couldn’t stand the blood, or flesh of her victim anywhere near her.”
“Oh, God. I think I’m going to throw up.” Sandra could feel her stomach churning and put her hand to her mouth as she gagged.
“There was blood at the bottom of the well, near to where Maisie sleeps but I took care of that. I didn’t want the police to find any evidence of Rachel down there.”
Sandra put her hands to her mouth, aware of what Maisie would do with the remains of her former boss and gagged.
“Why didn’t you help her?”
“I had to choose, and I chose you.” She knew David would make the same decision time and again.
“She knows what she’s doing and clearly feels nothing,” Sandra said.
“Maisie’s very clever and knows my feelings for you, but gave me the choice anyway. She knew I’d choose you.” David looked worried.
“Then why did she ask?” Sandra couldn’t fathom why Maisie would offer the choice.
“It keeps her in control.”
“David, I have to see her for myself.”
“She won’t wake until the sun goes down. There’s nothing to see.”
“I just want to be able to look at her without being afraid.”
“I can’t take you down there.” David seemed scared at the thought of Sandra coming face to face with Maisie.
“Please, David, I have to do this and if you won’t help me I’ll go on my own,” Sandra said defiantly. She wanted David to understand she wouldn’t change her mind.
“Very well,” he said sadly. “But if you must do this, it has to be now.”
“Now?” Sandra spluttered, caught by surprise.
“Now, or never.” David was adamant.
“How will I get down there?” she asked.
“I’ll lower you down.”
“But how will you get down there?”
“Don’t worry about me, I have my own ways.”
He took Sandra by the arm and led her towards the well. The sun was shining brightly in the sky and the cats were lounging along the walls around the garden.
Sandra stood and stared down the seemingly bottomless well. She was more scared than she’d ever been in her entire life, but knew David wouldn’t allow her to go down if she was in the slightest of danger.
Despite this, the courage she felt minutes earlier began to wane.
“Are you ready?”
“I’d be lying if I said I was, but I’ve got to do this.” Sandra knew David was hoping she would be too be scared to go down.
“OK,” he said lifting her in his arms and resting her bottom on the wall of the well. “I’m going to lower you down.”
“Lower me down with what? There’s nothing there.” Sandra was petrified.
He laughed softly at her and touched the side of her face. “Not right now, but you’ve no need to worry,” he said walking away.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to get some rope to lower you down with. Did you really think I was just going to throw you into the darkness?”
“I was beginning to wonder.”
David chuckled and disappeared behind the trees then reappeared seconds later with a long rope and what looked like a torch.
“Phew. I was starting to worry.” Sandra was shaking sitting on the wall of the well. Being this close to Maisie was terrifying.
“You’re safe with me, my darling.” David looked at her lovingly.
Sandra knew he was telling the truth – she always felt secure in his presence. “I know, but I have to admit I’m terrified of what I’ll find down there. Will she definitely be asleep?”
“Yes, but she will know you’re there.”
“Oh, God.” Sandra prepared herself mentally. “I’m ready,” she said as David tied the rope securely under her armpits.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“No,” she said with a nervous laugh.
“If you’re ready, turn around to face me and let your legs hang over the inside of the well, then find something for your feet to grip onto.”
“Please don’t let me go.” Sandra wasn’t keen on heights, but was even less keen on dropping into the dark unknown.
“I promise I won’t let you go.”
“I’m scared, David.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do.” Sandra was determined.
“Then we have to hurry. She will wake once the sun goes down.”
Sandra did as he instructed and jammed her left foot into a hole in the wall of the well. Her right foot was placed on what she assumed was a displaced brick.
“Will I be able to grip with my feet all the way down?”
“Yes, of course. How do you think she climbs out?”
The thought of Maisie climbing out of the well unnerved her. She had never given it any thought until now.
“Pardon me for not thinking everything through fully. It’s not often I’m confronted by a demonic child.”
He sighed at her comments. “She isn’t demonic.”
“We’ll agree to disagree on that one until I’ve been down there and escaped with my life.”
“Very well.”
“I’m going to lower you down now.”
“OK, but not too fast please,” Sandra said quickly.
“For somebody so brave, you’re quite the baby.”
She glared at him as he began to lower her down.
Her feet scrambled to find the grips as she descended the well. “These fucking heels aren’t made for abseiling,” she whispered to herself. Sandra cringed in the hope David hadn’t heard her use foul language
Chapter 34
The walls looked slimy upon her descent, but it was the damp smell of the well which made her want to cover her nose. She didn’t remove her hands from the rope, even though she knew David would never let go.
“Are you ok?” he shouted as his voice echoed.
“Quiet, you’ll wake her,” Sandra whispered back.
“Sandra, how many times must I tell you she sleeps during the day.”
“I’m sorry. I’m scared, David.” She stressed.
“You’re quite safe. Not much farther to go and then I’ll join you.”
David lowered her down a few more metres and without warning she felt the hard, uneven surface underneath her feet. Sandra couldn’t see anything at all,
but her senses told her that somebody was close and she began to shiver.
“Sandra, I’m coming down behind you. Don’t move.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t intend to,” she whispered, scared to raise her voice should she woke Maisie.
David was by her side in what seemed like seconds and the familiar feel of his touch settled her instantly.
She took the torch gladly, and didn’t hesitate in switching it on. She was astounded by the size of the cavern connected to the well.
“It’s bigger down here than I thought,” Sandra said.
“The well dried up long ago, but there’s a river that runs down here. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear it.”
“I really didn’t expect this at all. It’s quite beautiful, and somewhat peaceful.”
“Yes, it is beautiful, but evil lives here, and you should never forget that. Maisie may rest here, but so do a lot of other innocent people.”
Sandra imagined her beautiful sister being dragged down here kicking and screaming. Tears filled her eyes as she said a silent prayer.
“Is this really the place where Sarah died?”
“Yes, I’m afraid it is.”
“Where is she?”
“Sandra, you know the answer to that question. There is nothing that remains of your sister.”
“I know what you told me, but I hoped there’d be something left of Sarah here.”
“I understand that, but there is never anything left behind.”
“How did she die?”
“Telling you would do more harm than good. All you need to know is Sarah’s soul rose out of her body and she’s now at peace.”
Sandra muttered another silent prayer for her sister and hoped she would know how much she had been, and still was, loved.
Pulling herself together, she said, “OK, let’s go. I need to see where she sleeps.”
“You don’t have far to go,” David said as he gestured behind himself.
Sandra turned, shining the torch in David’s direction. She screamed at the sight before her, dropped the torch and slammed both hands over her mouth. She watched in horror as her only source of light rolled away settling too close to where Maisie lay with her back to them. Sandra could see Maisie’s tiny shoulders rise and fall with every shallow breath she took.
David retrieved the torch and passed it to Sandra. It seemed he didn’t struggle to see in the dark.
Her hands shook as she took the torch from him. “Thank you,” she said, quickly pointing the torch in Maisie’s direction. Sandra gasped. “She looks so small lying there.”
The once white dress was now filthy, and the hair matted and dirty. Her little socks and shoes would look cute on any other child, but the one in front of her. The torchlight began to dance around the cavern. David gently grabbed Sandra’s hand to help her hold the light still.
“Sandra, she will not wake.”
“Are you sure?”
“I have watched over her for more than a hundred years and have never witnessed her wake during daylight.”
“Can I go closer to her?”
“If you must, but you won’t like what you see.” Sandra wondered how bad the little girl could possibly look. She knew the eyes were missing, but prepared herself for that.
“I have to see her.” Sandra felt as though she was trapped in a nightmare. She wasn’t usually a nervous person, but feared the unknown.
“Then do as you must, but please don’t touch her.”
“Will you come with me?”
David took the torch off Sandra, but kept hold of her trembling hand. He smiled at her. “You’re safe with me,” he told her.
Sandra bravely took the lead and stepped closer to Maisie before kneeling beside her. The tangled mess of blonde hair looked worse under torchlight and she could see patches of hair missing from the little girl’s head.
She reached out to stroke Maisie’s head before David pulled her hand back. “Why is her hair missing in patches?”
“You’ve seen the doll, why do you think?”
She thought about the doll’s hair and shivered. It all made sense now. The eyes and the hair both came from Maisie. “Oh, my God, she must have suffered terribly.”
Sandra reached across and put her hand on Maisie’s leg before David had chance to stop her but pulled back immediately.
“She’s so cold. Why don’t you cover her up?”
“You forget she’s no longer human and doesn’t feel hot or cold.” David stared tenderly at the child before him.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I’d never have believed any of this possible.”
“There’s more to life than what you see in front of your eyes.”
“I know what she’s capable of, but my heart breaks for her. She never had the chance to live her life.” Before Sarah disappeared, Sandra had an amazing childhood, and she felt sad this little girl was denied the chance of growing up in a happy family.
“And that is what separates the two of you. You feel empathy for, Maisie, whilst she feels nothing.”
The tears began to fall down Sandra’s face and the hate she felt towards Maisie for murdering her sister, trickled away.
“I can’t blame Maisie for what she has become.”
David put the torch down before kneeling. He stroked Sandra’s face gently. She closed her eyes and allowed him to engulf her in his arms. A noise came from behind them and Sandra, alarmed, pushed away from David and quickly opened her eyes to see the expression on his face.
David pulled Sandra back towards him, but she used her strength to escape his grip and forced herself to turn around.
She couldn’t believe her eyes, and felt as though her heart would burst through her chest.
Maisie was sitting upright, facing them and sniffing the air.
Sandra flew back and shrieked in terror. Momentarily forgetting David was there, she shrieked again as he put his hand on her shoulder.
Sandra’s stomach began to churn as her vision was drawn to the eyeless sockets. Even though she knew what to expect she was still shocked.
“I know you’re there,” Maisie said in her childlike voice. “And if you stay a while, I can play with you, just like I did with your friend.”
Sandra was too scared to speak and held her breath, worried Maisie would hear her. She could feel the adrenaline rush through her body.
“I can smell you.” Maisie giggled and sniffed again. “You smell nice. Just like your sister. Mmmmm.”
Sandra was convinced her time was up and closed her eyes, waiting for Maisie to strike. A tear ran down her cheek.
“You were foolish to bring her down here, David.”
David ignored Maisie and reached out for Sandra, keeping tight hold of her shoulders.
“Get me out of here please, David.” Sandra was terrified and instantly regretted her decision to climb down the well.
“Yes, David, take her away because if she remains past sundown she will suffer as her sister did.” Maisie giggled once again.
“Sandra, it’s ok. I think she’s still sleeping, don’t be frightened.”
“I want to go now.”
Maisie began to crawl in their direction and sniffed the air. Sandra clenched her eyes tightly shut and began to hyperventilate, aware that Maisie was getting closer.
“Stay calm, my darling. She can’t hurt you.”
“David, please. Get me out of here,” Sandra begged.
David let go of Sandra’s shoulders and picked up the torch, shining it directly at Maisie, causing her to back away, as though the light had burned her skin. Sandra flinched as Maisie screamed and retreated to her original position.
She sat quietly as a smile spread across her dirty face – a beetle crawled out of the right eye socket, and without warning, Maisie grabbed it with her little fingers and shoved it greedily into her mouth, chomping loudly as her jagged teeth cracked its hard shell.
Chapter 35
David passed Sandra the
torch. “Sandra, I’m going to leave you for a moment.”
Her eyes flew open. “You can’t.”
“I need to get you out of here and you won’t have the strength to pull yourself up.”
“Don’t leave me alone down here,” Sandra begged him. “Please. I’m so scared.”
“Very well, but we must leave now. You’ll have to pull yourself up whilst I climb behind you.”
Sandra rushed towards the rope and with David’s assistance, pulled herself up towards the light teeming down the well.
Her hand breached the well and with one last push from David, she was over the wall, lying on the ground with tears running down her face. Her breathing was erratic. She struggled to calm herself down.
Seconds later, David had climbed out of the well and was now by Sandra’s side. “I’m so sorry, I should never have allowed you to go down there.” He did his best to comfort her.
“You said she wouldn’t wake. I’ve never been so frightened in my life.”
“She wasn’t awake. You’d never have made it out of there if she had been.”
“Then what just happened?” Sandra snapped.
“I’ve told you before. Maisie speaks as she sleeps.”
‘Yes you did, but never once did you tell me that she moved too.” Sandra lay on the ground as her heart rate and breathing slowly returned to normal.
“I’ve never seen her do that, but she’s always aware if somebody’s in the garden, especially if they’ve looked in the doll’s eyes.”
“Why don’t you destroy the doll?”
“Many people have come and tried to destroy it, but somehow, and I don’t understand why, it’s protected.”
“But why haven’t you tried to destroy it?”
“I’ve told you before. I was sent to protect those she would harm, not destroy her.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I get that part, but why did she crawl towards me?”
“Maisie knew you were there, but she can’t harm anyone during daylight. She would still have spoken in her sleep regardless of your presence there, but she felt how close you were and her body reacted. It’s as simple as that.”
“I’m glad you think it’s so simple. I nearly shit myself.”
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