by Jessica Loft
Instead, she placed her hand on the back of the pillow, and slowly, patiently, began cutting through the thick, long strands of Larkin’s beautiful hair. It took over an hour to be so quiet and precise, but when she was done she felt very pleased with herself. Once done, she pulled open the drawer on the nightstand and took out the pair of metal scissors she knew Larkin kept there for her sewing. Melody placed the sheers gently in Larkin’s limp hand, giving the other woman all the evidence she would need to think that she had done the damage herself.
“Sleep well Mistress,” Melody whispered, closing the bedroom door.
The next morning Melody and Gregory awoke to the sound of Larkin’s scream. Immediately he was awake and taking the stairs two at a time, fearing that something had happened with the baby. The sight he walked into was not at all what he expected, and he stared, wide-eyed at the woman he thought to be going insane. Larkin was awake and sitting up in bed, holding hunks of her beautiful golden hair in her hands. Her cheeks were stained with tears, and the sobs coming from her chest were those of pure helplessness.
“What did you do?” Gregory asked, slowly approaching the bed. The closer he got, the more he could see. It was not proper for women of their compound to cut their hair, no matter what. Losing it from natural causes was one thing, but to take the shears to it was quite another. There wasn’t much length left to Larkin’s hair at all, only reaching just below her ears. The only part that remained untouched was the few strands that she had been sleeping on top of.
“It wasn’t me,” she sobbed, near hysteria.
“Don’t be daft,” Gregory shot back, anger and shame rising in him. He picked up the metal scissors that were lying on the bed, bringing them close to Larkin’s face.
“Why would you do this Larkin? What’s happening to you?”
At that moment, Melody appeared in the doorway, properly dressed, with her long red hair tied in a braid over her left shoulder. Her face was one of perfect surprise as she took in the scene.
“Mistress!” She gasped, her eyes going wide.
“What in heaven’s name”-
“You did this!” Larkin cried, pointing her finger towards the evil woman.
“You did this to me, I know you did!”
“I don’t understand,” Melody replied innocently, her large eyes pretending to look hurt.
“How or even why would I do this? I love you Larkin. Like a sister.” Melody walked over to the bed, gently reaching out to touch the strand that hadn’t been cut.
“It’s not all bad,” Melody assured her, her eyes not on Larkin, but Gregory.
“With my help we can make it look pretty again.”
Enraged, Larkin shoved Melody’s hand away, knowing that the act had been completed not by her own hand.
“You’re insane,” Larkin spat, trembling.
“Larkin that’s enough,” Gregory barked.
“You’re stupid if you believe her!” She cried, not wanting to believe that he would take Melody’s word over hers.
“I said that’s enough!” Gregory billowed, pulling a weeping Melody into his arms.
“Gregory,” Larkin sobbed, lowering her voice. “Please my love. See me. Look at me. This is not me.”
His eyes, full of hurt and confusion darted from Larkin to the sobbing Melody in his arms. He wasn’t sure who to believe. Cursing, he pulled Melody out of the room and took her into the hallway.
“Melody,” he began, his voice stern.
“Tell me right now. Did you cut Larkin’s hair? I know you two don’t always get along, but that’s a mean trick.”
“No,” Melody whispered, her hands flying to her chest as her wide eyes begged him to believe her.
“I wouldn’t do that. She’s going to be my sister! I know she doesn’t like me very much, but I love her Gregory, I swear to you!”
“All right, all right,” Gregory soothed, his voice losing his edge. Taking a step away, he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and pointer finger and shut his eyes tightly. He counted to ten, then took in a deep inhale, held it, then exhaled. When he opened his eyes he felt tears prick at them.
“I don’t know what to do,” he whispered.
“She’s been making up stories since you came here, but this- this is so much. It’s different. I’m afraid she’s losing her mind. If she-if she hurts the baby, I won’t ever forgive myself.”
Carefully, Melody took a step forward, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I have an idea,” she offered, her voice low and soothing.
“She might not like it, but it will keep her and the baby safe.”
Gregory looked down at her, at this point willing to try anything.
“What do you think we should do?”
CHAPTER 6
“Something isn’t right,” Maryann insisted, staring at the nurse at the window.
“She’s missed her last two appointments, she should be here.”
The nurse shook her head, still not allowing Maryann to look at her computer screen.
“I’m sorry ma’am, but there’s nothing I can do. They’ve left no contact number behind, and even if she did I couldn’t give it to you, it’s against policy. Although we encourage our patients to come to every appointment, we can’t force them to.”
It had been months since Maryann had seen Larkin at the doctor’s office. She’d purposely moved her appointments to the same dates as the younger woman’s so she could talk to her some more. There had been a hunger, a slight desperation in her eyes that had hit a little too close to home for Maryann. She had been trying to get the girl’s contact information, but it was no use. The nurse refused to budge on the rules.
At home, William urged her to remain calm. Now at nearly seven months, too much stress could send her into premature labor. He tried to be as helpful as he could, but juggling his new shop and the new baby had him falling short in a couple places. Maryann tried her best to assure him that she was doing fine, just worried about Larkin.
“Well, what is it about her that has you so worried?” He asked one night as they lied down in bed together.
“She just- she seems so much like me. Or like I was. At the hospital she talked about how much she loved her husband, but there was a sadness in her eyes. Like she was losing him.”
“Do you think she came from the compound?” William asked, kissing his wife’s forehead.
The idea had popped into her head on more than one occasion. They had legally been able to reopen their gates and there was no reason for the police to sniff around anymore after they put Raymond and a couple others in jail. The memories of the place often haunted her. It had started out so beautiful and serene, but had ended in rape, horror, and nearly murder. She didn’t want anyone to have to go through that.
“Maybe I should go see. You know, just drive down there and take a look around. I know how to get past the gate. She might not even be there.”
William shook his head.
“No way. I’m not letting you go back there. That’s a big hell no.”
I doubt they’ll even recognize me,” Maryann argued.
“I don’t care, Maryann! It’s dangerous. You pissed off a lot of people there by running away, and on the likely chance you get recognized you could be in real danger.”
Maryann grew silent, not sure what to say. Though it had been two years since she escaped the clutches of Raymond and the compound, she still had wounds that weren’t quite yet healed. Though it rarely ever happened, anytime William raised his voice it instantly triggered memories of her abuse, and she would draw in on herself.
“Hey,” William whispered, pulling her into his arms.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. I just, I panicked, thinking about you going back there. Sometimes I have nightmares too, you know.”
Maryann pulled away, looking at William in surprise.
“Really? You have nightmares?”
William laughed, and pulled himself
up into a sitting position.
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, what are they about?” Maryann asked.
For a moment her dark bearded, green-eyed lover didn’t answer her. His eyes focused on nothing in particular, and she could tell he was thinking intently.
“Sometimes I dream that I get to the compound in time, but Todd wasn’t fast enough to stop Raymond. I’m running towards you, but no matter how hard I try, I move like I’m in quicksand. I see Raymond hitting you over and over again. I try to call out to you but my voice isn’t there. It’s just whispered air that’s escaping from my throat.”
William paused, and put Maryann’s hand between the both of his, squeezing gently.
“I know that I will never feel what you have. And every day I am insanely proud of you for not only surviving it, but being brave enough to try to find love again with me. But it was scary for me too. The moment I saw you, married or not, I knew I was meant to be yours.”
Maryann sniffed as she felt the large ball of emotion get wedged in her throat. Two hot tears splashed down her cheeks. In her chest, she felt her heart swell with the absolute love she had for her man.
“William,” she choked, her chin quivering.
“I love you so much,” he whispered.
“Please, promise me you wont go back there.”
As she nodded her head, she felt the soft kick of their little girl against her stomach. It had only started a few weeks ago, but she loved the feel of her baby moving healthily around in her belly. Lying back down, they both put their hands on Maryann’s stomach, counting the tiny kicks from their child until they both fell asleep.
CHAPTER 7
“Oh God,” Larkin whispered, staring down at her growing belly.
“Why is this happening?”
It had been a torturous time since she woke up with all of her hair cut off. Since then, Gregory had brought in the old Dr. Richards, and Thelma came to visit again. Each time she tried to tell them what was going on, but all they did was ignore her, and tell her that it wasn’t good for the baby to be in so much stress. After giving her a lookover and hearing her ranting, Dr. Richards agreed with Melody’s idea to restrain Larkin to the bed so she could not damage herself or the child.
With her ankles and wrists tied to the bed, Larkin was forced to accept the care from Melody. Although it was warm and polite whenever Gregory or a visitor was in the room, it quickly grew cold and maniacal once they were alone. Larkin’s entire body was uncomfortable and warm constantly, and though she begged to be bathed, Gregory would only allow a short sponge bath from Melody twice a week. She was trapped with a woman she hated the most, and a man that was too weak to see the destruction going on around him.
From outside, she could hear the music from the ceremony drifting up to her window. It was a warm day for autumn. Summer had stayed around longer than it usually did, and now it was mid October. This time last year she’d been just married to Gregory for only a month, and had helped him put the plastic wrap around their windows and doors to keep the heat in for the oncoming window. The four-hour job took them nearly two days because they couldn’t keep their hands off of one another.
Now, on the late summer breeze, she heard the soft sound of applause as Gregory officially took Melody as his second wife. He had promised her originally that he would wait until a few months after the baby was born. But after the hair cutting incident, he threw all respect, and maybe even love for her out of the window. Feeling more tears well up in her eyes, she turned her head into the pillow. She cried often now, though she felt soon she’d be numb to everything; that one day her tears would simply dry up, and there’d be none left.
Opening her eyes, she sought out and looked at the small oval red stain on the side of her pillow. It looked like blood, though she wasn’t sure where it had come from. Her hands were not cut, nor was any other part of her for that matter. She often watched Melody’s quick hands as they bathed her or helped her relieve herself, looking for any cuts.
Shortly after she awoke from her haircut, she noticed that Melody had worn a soft wrapping around her left palm. When she’d asked what happened, Melody simply told her to be still. She was sure that it was the proof that would out Melody as the culprit. Gregory of course, didn’t listen to her. He rarely visited her now, and never slept in the bed with her anymore. Melody had convinced him it was unsafe, and now he slept in her room, even before their wedding day.
Hearing footsteps, Larkin looked up and over at the door. A moment later the white door creaked open, and Melody stepped in. She wore her simple white wedding dress with a crown of white daisies in her red curls. Her wicked smile went from ear to ear, and in her hands she carried a plate with a piece of white cake on it.
“How are you feeling, sister?” Melody asked, taking a seat on the bed.
“We so missed you at the ceremony. Everyone did. As a matter of fact, it was a little disappointing. Everyone was supposed to love and adore me, to talk about me. Instead all they want to do is talk about you.”
“I’m sorry,” Larkin rasped, fear pooling into her gut like hot oil.
“I can’t wait for you to have that baby,” Melody sniffed, sinking the silver fork into the cake.
“Maybe then people will stop talking about poor Larkin and all of her problems.” Cutting off a piece of cake, Melody held the fork out in front of Larkin’s mouth.
“I don’t want any, thank you,” Larkin whispered. She watched as Melody’s dark insanity shown out of her eyes, and she instantly regretted her answer.
“This cake is a symbol of Gregory and I’s union.” Melody’s voice was laced with bitter hatred, and before Larkin could apologize, she viciously shoved the fork and the cake into her mouth. The prongs of the fork grated angrily against Larkin’s sensitive lips and gums, and when Melody pulled the empty fork out of her mouth, it dripped with blood.
“Oops,” Melody said innocently, watching the small droplets of blood dangle from the fork’s small prongs.
“Sorry about that.”
Larkin groaned in agony as she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. She could taste the iron of her blood swirling around with the sugary sweet icing of the cake, and it made her want to vomit.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Larkin asked, struggling uselessly against her restraints.
Melody raised her eyebrow in confusion, as if she herself didn’t have answer. After a minute of silence, she shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
“Because it’s fun,” she answered, smiling. Putting the plate and the fork on the bedside table, Melody stood up and smoothed her hands down her pristine white dress.
“I should probably get back downstairs. Husband and I are about to start the dancing. I remember how he danced with you, at your wedding sister. It was so lovely. I’m sure he won’t disappoint me.” Taking a look in the mirror, Melody fussed with her crown of flowers for a moment until she was satisfied.
“Have fun up here!” She called cheerfully as she shut the door behind her.
Larkin waited until she heard the footsteps disappear before she reached for the fork on the table. Her restraints were short, but after ignoring the pain in her wrists, she was able to brush the silver utensil with her fingertips. It took her a half hour, but after excruciating moments of brushing the fork, she was able to grasp it in her hand and slip the metal between the leather of the cuff and her skin. At first there was no sound, but after a while, she heard the gentle scraping of the leather as the sharp prongs scratched through it bit by little bit.
“We’re getting out of here,” she whispered, looking down at her baby belly. As if to answer her, she felt the child inside stir. Whether she took vows to be with Gregory or not, she did not take vows to endure this. She’d had enough, and even if it would be the death of her, she would leave this place and Melody’s insane torture methods.
~
Maryann looked down at William. He’d been so exhausted over the past couple weeks. Ever
since she’d suggested going to the compound to look for Larkin, he’d been worried that she would be gone to go looking for her. If it weren’t for the sleeping pill she’d put in his tea, he wouldn’t even be getting the sleep he was right then.
“I love you so much William,” Maryann whispered, leaning down to give him a kiss.
“I promise you I’ll be back.”
Slipping quietly out of bed, Maryann put on her black sweater, pants, and soft shoes. Out of her bedside table she pulled out the thing that William hated her having; her nine millimeter handgun. She also grabbed her pocketknife from her purse and tucked it into the waistband of her pants. Silently Maryann left their house and tiptoed to the gravel driveway. Putting the car in neutral, she let it coast backwards until she was on the main road. Only then did she switch it on and begin driving towards the compound.
Since meeting the young girl, Larkin hadn’t left Maryann’s thoughts for a second. Though they’d only met once, they’d instantly had a connection. She knew that no matter how much William loved her, he would never understand what it was that she had went through. And if there was even the smallest of chances that Larkin was going through the same thing, then there was no way in hell that she could let that happen.
The compound was a good hour and forty-five minutes away, but with the empty roads and the risky speeding, she got there in little over an hour. Fear crept through her as she reached the gates. From there she’d have to go in on foot, and somehow figure out which house Larkin lived in. Carefully she climbed over gate, careful not to put any pressure on her belly.
“This is so stupid,” she told herself as she creeped down the road.
The closer she got to the houses; the more doubt filled her mind. The chances of her finding Larkin in any danger were slim. What if she knocked on the door, and sleepy, happy Larkin opened and asked what the crazy lady she only met once was doing there? Still, she’d come this far.
