The Iron Room

by Sarah Himebauch

  Yeah, that was mortifying.

  My dad had filled me in on all the details of the trial today. He didn’t go either but heard everything he needed to know by a court officer who he happened to play little league with.

  They all pled guilty. Sharon’s sentence was apparently the worst since she was the only one with a murder charge tacked on to her already growing list of charges. I heard through Kim that Anna’s parents were there at her trial.

  My heart broke for them. They were the only parents out of the four of us who didn’t get to celebrate in the discovery of us. Their daughter did not survive the horrors we did, simply because of the selfishness, and evil that one person exhibited. Sharon was sentenced to life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole.

  Paul was sentenced to twenty-five years, and George got four years.

  While I knew her only just a short time, I would hold Anna’s memory forever in my heart. I have been talking with Kim and Tara a lot more frequently lately, especially since my dad came home with a new phone for me the other day. I still have no clue what that family did with my damn phone, but Paul admitted at the trial that they had broken my car down into parts and destroyed it.

  Now I needed a new car.

  The phone company was able to attach my old number to this new phone, and I spent my days texting my new friends about all that was going on in our lives since we had been released. It had been less than a week, but life was changing drastically- and in a good way!

  Tara and Johnny had been spending every waking moment together. He had spent all his time at her side throughout her recovery process. Tara’s doctor had actually discovered that she had a broken rib that had tried to heal but had been broken again.

  Probably from all the kicking.

  She was still healing, and would be for another four to five weeks, but was doing exceptionally well. She had been doing a lot of staying in recently, and Johnny had been chauffeuring her homework to and from school. Tara was already extremely bright, and so self-teaching and learning came natural to her. Last I talked to her, they had a “makeshift” date that would be taking place in a few days.

  The plan was to have a picnic in her backyard, since she wasn’t being permitted to actually leave the home. Her mom was much too worried, and I understood it.

  Kim was also doing well. Her injuries were the only ones out of all three of us that allowed her to get right back to school, which was something that she had continuously expressed that she wanted. Kim hated that she had pieces of her life taken away, even for a short time. While school wasn’t anyone’s favorite place to go, she confessed to me that it felt good to settle back into her life with that familiar sense of control.

  Kim was the one I had confided in about my feelings for Mark.

  That didn’t go over so well.

  I knew Kim would be more understanding than Tara, but that was needless to say she wasn’t very understanding to begin with. In her eyes, he had taken her, as well as three other girls. Mark in her eyes was just as complicit as his family members and he didn’t deserve a redemption simply because he undid the damage that he originally caused.

  That was a few days ago, and according to our most recent phone conversation, Kim seemed to be turning around. I called her right after Mark’s trial and filled her in.

  He took accountability for his actions, even against his legal advice.

  Mark was trying to change.

  I wondered if it was for me, because of me, or because Mark wanted to rid himself of all that his family had instilled in him for so long.

  I knew deep down he wasn’t a monster, not like them.

  I didn’t hate Mark. I couldn’t. I will admit that I had grown to have some sort of feelings for him but couldn’t decipher what they meant.

  Mark and I would never be together.

  People didn’t understand, including my dad.

  After the altercation between my grandfather and Mark, I doubt we would be getting gramps’ stamp of approval anytime soon either.

  So that was the realization I had come to. While I admired the man that Mark was stepping up to try and be, and acknowledged the way I felt towards him, there was nothing I could do about it.

  So, I tried to move on.

  I wanted to wear my necklace he gifted me every day as a symbol of what I went through. While Mark and Johnny ultimately led the escape, I had fought tooth and nail mentally and physically in the Iron Room. As much as I hated to admit it, it was now a piece of me and would always be. It was an extremely frightening, and tough time in my life that I couldn’t forget… even if I wanted to more than anything.

  The girls and I had plans to go to Anna’s memorial service today. My dad was against it, but when I reminded him that the family responsible for everything was either locked up or deceased, he obliged.

  Sharon revealed where Anna’s body was buried, and the court ruled custody over her body to Anna’s parents. They were grateful that they could at least bury their daughter in a place that meant so much to them. We had one small little cemetery in town, that was comprised of dozens upon dozens of family crypts. Generations of families had grown up in this town, and when another generation passed, they were buried in their family crypt.

  Anna’s family had a small crypt that started with her grandfather, and I know her parents wanted her to be buried there.

  I hadn’t seen or spoken to them at all. I was cooped up at home, and I didn’t know what to say really. I had to think of something to say, as they asked my father to pass along the message that they wanted Tara, Kim, and I to speak at the memorial.

  And I had zero idea of what to say.

  The only way in which I personally knew Anna felt like a topic that shouldn’t be brought up at her memorial service, but it was inevitable.

  I spent the better half of the morning dutifully writing a speech that I thought would honor her in a beautiful way.

  I squeezed the necklace and finished getting dressed.

  When I was ready, I called for my dad to help me with the stairs. I was good on the crutches, but all it took was one bad swing of the stick and I was coming down those stairs like a sack of shit.

  He ran upstairs obviously thinking that I had fallen. When he saw I was fine, and just waiting for an escort down the stairs, he visibly relaxed.

  “You look beautiful darling.” He smiled as he admired my silky floor length blue dress.

  “You know mom got this for me…”

  “I remember. She also thought you looked beautiful. I know that she is looking down on you, and she is so proud. You have turned out to be quite the strong woman.”

  “Alright, don’t make me cry. I am actually wearing makeup.” I laughed.

  My dad laughed with me and helped me to the couch so I could wait for my friends. Kim, Tara and I were all hitching a ride together. I was riding in the passenger of course, as my ankle was still not up to par.

  Thanks again for that one, Sharon.

  I heard a now familiar beep-beep, and I rushed out to the car, nearly knocking over a sprinkler head with my crutch. My dad bolted to the open door and called after me.

  “I would have helped you… you know!”

  “No need! See you later!” I waved my crutch around in the air. He hated it when I did that.

  “Be careful. I love you.”

  “Love you.” I smiled at my dad and allowed Tara to help me slip into the passenger seat. She saved me from the shame of having someone buckle me, and simply closed the door and climbed into the back seat behind me.

  Kim looked at me.

  “Ready?”

  “No, but let’s go.”

  This day was hard for all of us, but Tara to no surprise was taking it the hardest. Like I had mentioned earlier, none of us were close friends before all of this happened. But this room had a way of making you feel connected, and no one spent more time together in there than Tara and Anna. They were the first ones.

  I did my best to comf
ort her in the only way I knew how- making people laugh.

  I don’t even know if I could count how many “Yo mama” jokes I had cracked in the last ten minutes alone.

  Tara was getting annoyed, but that was a better emotion than grief.

  We pulled up to the service, and people were already there surrounding the podium and the crypt.

  Anna had already been buried, and this was simply her parent’s way of sending her off.

  When Anna’s mom’s eyes locked on ours, she motioned for us to hurry over.

  “Hi honey. Thank you all for coming.” One by one, she encased in a grizzly bear like hug. It felt good to be comforted by a maternal touch. That was something I really missed about my mother.

  “Hi everyone, we are going to start with a few words by Anna’s friends.” She stepped aside and allowed me to go first.

  Don’t blow this, kid.

  “Hi guys. I wanted to start by saying that while I didn’t know Anna long, she left a mark on me that will remain there forever. She was a kind soul who deserved a lot more years than she was granted. To know her was to love her, and she was the absolute life of the party- without a doubt. She was the kind of person that people gravitated towards because she encompasses this beautiful, light, and euphoric energy. Anna and I are similar in the situation we found ourselves in. Anna brought me comfort just in her presence alone, and for that… I will forever be grateful.”

  I left the podium and allowed Tara and Kim to speak as well.

  Kim’s was short because she didn’t know Anna at all… but she provided a very sweet and generalized sendoff that made her mother cry.

  Tara’s brought the entire crowd to tears. She didn’t hold anything back and elaborated on how much comfort Anna brought to her while they were trapped in the Iron Room. She said that Anna always told her to never lose hope, and that she started to falter that when Anna died. She added that the spark, or burning desire in her to want to fight, didn’t come out again until I pushed her to it. Tara said that she sees a lot of Anna in me, and that it makes her feel forever connected to her.

  I found myself wiping the tears away with my dress. The speech was beautiful, and the sentiment behind it was even more wonderful.

  The service continued on with amazing speeches and tributes to Anna for the next two hours, and then the ceremony wrapped up, turning into a banquet.

  The banquet was moved from the cemetery to city hall, and the mood had drastically shifted. Tears were gone, and people were finding themselves in an upbeat and positive mood as they enjoyed good food while their hips swayed to the “Ladies of the 80’s” station.

  Anna would have really loved this.

  I wondered why even at a time like now, where we were honoring the memory of a young girl who lost her life too soon… I found my mind drifting back to Mark.

  He had probably already been checked in at the psychiatric facility and was beginning the first day to what would be a two-year sentence.

  I found myself curious if he could have visitors but reminded myself once again that Mark was a thing of the past.

  It couldn’t and it wouldn’t happen.

  Ever.

  My ankle started to throb from all the activity I had gotten today, and I asked Kim to give me a ride back home. Tara wanted to stay, and I saw her having a heart to heart with Anna’s mom.

  I made sure to say my goodbyes to everyone before I made Kim get me the hell out of there.

  My mind found itself in the now all too familiar fog that it had been in since we were saved.

  Amy was dead. Her parents were in prison. Mark was spending time at a psychiatric facility.

  Now I was desperately trying to find my footing in a world without four of the people I used to consider family, and I was so lost that I was clinging on to every single good memory I held of them. I was struggling beyond belief, and no one understood.

  For my dad, it was simple. They took and hurt girls, including his daughter. The years of friendship and comradery went right out the window when he discovered that. My dad always sees the world in black and white, while I lived in glorious shades of grey which can sometimes blur the lines beyond repair.

  Kim helped me inside my house, and my dad helped me up the stairs into my room. I needed a nap, as the outing had completely worn me out. He helped me up the door, and then let me go in by myself.

  “Need anything hon… just shout.”

  “Thanks dad.” I closed the door and turned to my bed.

  Imagine my surprise to find another jewelry box sitting there.

  38

  Mark

  Sneaking into Katie’s house was beyond risky… I knew that. I also knew that I needed to show her that I cared for her, more than anything.

  I was willing to go to lengths I’ve never dreamed of, just to make her happy.

  I knew she would love the bracelet, as it perfectly matched the necklace that I bought for her. Not only was it a sweet gift that was a symbol of my affection, but it was a demonstration of my wellbeing.

  I knew soon enough word of my escape would reach her father’s ears. It wasn’t easy, believe me. I wanted to pay for my crimes, but not in a psychiatric facility. I wasn’t crazy, but rather someone who had done some cruel and unfair things.

  I refused to spend my time in a place like that. They were transferring me from the courthouse to a van, when a fight broke out inside with other “criminally insane” prisoners. Not only did it freak me out, but it provided a great escape window to get away before the officers knew I was gone.

  I made it all the way to Katie’s house without a single sighting of an officer. I knew I had a limited window to drop the bracelet, which I had hidden on the side of her house.

  I had bought Katie three pieces of jewelry, which I had originally planned to give her slowly but surely as we were building out relationship. A woman as beautiful as Katie deserved beautiful things to match.

  I didn’t want any of my nosy family members to find them and thought the best place would be Katie’s house. At the time it did seem weird, but now it seemed to work to my advantage. I waited for the Sheriff to leave, which took all of about five minutes.

  I climbed up the trellis, which was extremely hard in cuffs, and laid it carefully on her bed along with a well written note.

  I had barely rounded the house when I spotted a police cruiser driving by. I needed to get away from here.

  They were looking for me.

  The first place they would look for me would be my house, so I couldn’t go there. I knew I would need to keep a low profile for a little while. I knew my dad had a garage full of tools and I could someone maneuver these damn cuffs off me.

  I decided that traveling through all the forestry in Prairie was a good idea. I couldn’t risk being spotted on the road. I desperately wanted a change of clothes and out of these handcuffs. They weren’t very comfortable, go figure.

  They’re not supposed to be.

  I hightailed it away from Katie’s house, knowing that Sheriff Johnson would be there any minute. I cut through the back patch of trees and found my way to the usual forestry that covered the grounds of this town. I stayed far enough away from the road to where I wasn’t easily spotted, but also close enough that I could readily see what was going on with the main roads.

  I walked as far as my feet would take me, and stupidly enough found my way back to the patch of greenery directly behind my house.

  I did a quick survey of the area and didn’t see any officers in sight. I knew better than to walk out and expose myself, so I waited.

  If there was an officer or detective there, they would show themselves sooner or later. I had no recollection of the time, but I waited for close to twenty minutes before I took the first step towards my home.

  This is a bad idea.

  Pushing the concerns aside, I continued on.

  The house came into perfect view, and I was hit with a wave of emotions ranging from nostalgia, to fear, to hostili
ty, then to rage. This was the home I grew up in and carried so many beautiful memories for such a long time, and it was a sad day now that they were replaced by nothing but horror stories.

  I mentally shook my head at myself for ever being a part of this operation. I was going through a rough patch desperately trying to find my “sense of self”, and I mistakenly took my family’s agendas and mindsets on as my own- warping me into a person I didn’t recognize.

  I never wanted to hurt those girls, but day after day of my sister and my mother in my ears telling me how much they deserved it, and that we were helping our family in the process really got to me and wore me down tremendously over time.

  I screwed up so badly. I’m so sorry Anna.

  One of them died here, and I could never forget that. I could sit there and name a million reasons why it wasn’t my fault… my mom pulled the trigger, Anna tried to escape again… but the truth is I knew that I was the factor that ultimately created these awful dynamics.

  I placed all my bets on the home being locked up but was surprised when I checked the back handle and it was open.

  I was on a time crunch, so I sprinted up the stairs to my room. I pushed down on the handle and leaned against the door, opening it.

  My room looked like a hurricane hit it. I guess that was the way they left scenes once they checked every square inch for evidence. I suppose in a way, it made it easier to pack a bag when everything was on the floor in front of you and you were handcuffed.

  I bent down on my floor and easily found the duffle bag I used for everything. I grabbed pants, shirts, sweaters, socks, underwear, and a few pairs of shoes to which I haphazardly threw into the duffle bag.

  I stood up and went rifling around my bathroom to find the essentials: a toothbrush, toothpaste, my hairbrush, face wash, deodorant, and lotion. I didn’t ever plan to step foot in this house again.

  There were too many bad memories attached to this place.

  I threw those into my bag as well and did a once over of the room to make sure I had everything I needed. I would be destined to live a life on the run, or on the run until I found a town far enough away from here where nobody knew my name or all the messed-up things I did.