Regina

by Mary Ann Moody

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  I walked back to grandpa’s house in the darkness. I can’t explain why I ran away, Sarah was going to protect me from my ‘death’ tonight. I tried to call Bill, but he didn’t answer. I knew the risk I was taking because deep down I knew Sarah was right. Maybe I don’t remember who I am, but I knew I was once Anna Anderson. I felt tremendous rage against my parents and grandfather. I walked into my house, knowing they were planning to kill me. I wouldn’t be blind to anything.

  The moment I saw the house I felt stupid. If I believed Sarah, why was I running away from her?

  My mind didn’t want to believe everyone in my life was plotting to murder me. Besides, I had to get some of my things before I left forever. I knew I created a stupid idea and this would end badly, but every person in my life can’t be part of a spell or some sort of plot to kill me. I formed a plan to get into my room, grab my stuff, and flee to Bill’s. I knew he wasn’t part of this, I knew it deep down inside me. I had a stash of money in my desk and my bag was packed for my trip to New York.

  I smirked. Guess they were lying about going home.

  Mom and dad probably said that to keep my here longer. The notion of getting even with them flurried through my head, but I disregarded it. I was going to be in and out, on the road and safe in less than five minutes. Looking back on it I realize the excuses I made for returning home were all part of the spell I was under. I could never leave under my own free will.

  The house was dark, indicating no one was home. I crept inside quickly. My truck was still at Shirley’s and that would be a problem, but the keys were in my pocket. My solution was to walk to my truck. I’m sure the dance was over and I could’ve called Katie, but according to Sarah, she was in on it.

  I looked at my watch as I went inside, it was almost ten o’clock. I had to hurry, but the time made me feel less rushed. After all, I had only two hours left in this day. I started up the stairs lazily, taking the time to feel the wood of the banister. Had it always been this smooth?

  I snapped out of it. Sarah told me this town is enchanted to keep me here. I shook the fuzziness from my head, and walked into my room. I kept the spell in mind as I grabbed my money and suitcase. Thank goodness I packed everything! I was about to leave my room when I passed a picture of my parents and I at dinner last year for their 20 year wedding anniversary. I picked up the picture and looked at it intensely. So many memories with them…….

  Thinking about it now, we were never a real family. Since I was four, I’ve lived abroad and attending Will Lawson’s private school. They never attended any of my school functions or parent’s night. Last fall, when I won the Carrie Dollworth Award for my poetry, I was alone at the ceremony. My parents never came to see my dorm, meet my friends, take me out, or just visit. Only the summertime, for three months, would I get my parents all to myself. Dad would go totally crazy and try to give us the best summer possible. I could see us in the hotel pool, dad would do a cannon ball into the pool, making mom and I laugh.

  Mom tried so hard to get me alone so we could have some girl time. She would take me shopping, get our hair and nails done, eat dinner at our favorite restaurants, and go to my favorite touristy places. Her job kept her pretty busy and she had to fight to get time off in the summer. A month in Mr. Becker’s Hampton home, couple of weeks in Paris (my fave!), hiking the mountains in Colorado or taking a cruise from Miami to the Caribbean. We lived for those summers.

  Laughter escaped from my lips when I thought about that summer we spent on the Jersey Shore. Dad was so crazy! He dived head first into this small wave and hit his head on the ocean floor. I don’t think he realized how shallow the water was. Mom totally panicked and called 911. We spent the rest of that vacation in our cabin with a large bandage wrapped around dad’s head. Our little cabin was awesome. It was only one bedroom, but that was okay. I took the living room because it was the only room with a TV. The kitchen was small but had all the appliances to make us happy. Besides, we fished during the day and cooked it up on the beach at night. If I remember correctly, we camped outside many times. The stars were amazing at night without the bright city lights to hide them away.

  I placed the picture back on the desk and started for the door. As I opened the door I couldn’t help but look back at the picture. I couldn’t leave it behind because I couldn’t leave us behind. They were still my parents, they must love me! Maybe this is one big crazy mistake! Or the spell was still working. I had to get out of this house, and this town, before it swallowed me whole. I quickly shoved the picture in my bag and headed out my bedroom. Sweat poured out of my scalp with each step I took. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, the front door swung open.

  I looked up and heard Mom come into the house. Since the front door swung towards me, I managed to slide behind it and shield myself just in time. My suitcase sat at the end of the stairs and I hoped she wouldn’t notice it. Mom walked towards the kitchen, whistling as she walked. The thought of her happiness about killing me pissed me off. Dad had to be with her. After the crazy things that happened in the house, there was no way she was here alone. I backed away from the door when I heard dad’s voice outside. I slipped into Grandpa’s room and collapsed onto his bed. No one thought I was home because my truck was not out front. All I have to do is wait a few seconds and I can take mom’s car. No matter if she has the keys, I can hotwire it. Jeff and his friends taught me how before I moved to Lee. The thought brought a wide smile to my face, but it was short lived.

  Mom was coming for Grandpa’s room!

  I tried to catch my breath and collect myself. I had to get out of here now before anyone saw me. My eyes ran over grandpa’s closet. It was very large with lots of space so I slid inside it and closed the doors behind me. I backed into the farthest corner I could find.

  She came inside the room to put some laundry in his dresser and his favorite snacks on the nightstand. A cute little melody came out of her mouth while she did this. It made me sick. The events of today made my body ache like never before. As I stretched, my mother left the room. I waited a few seconds make sure the coast was clear before I opened the closet doors. Guess this brings a new meaning to coming out the closet! I laughed at the thought. My giggles escaped a little too loudly, reminding me of the spell. I cupped my hand over my mouth and got control over myself. I had to keep calm and focused if I wanted to get out of here. The spell was going to prevent me from leaving at all costs.

  A little ball of light came from the wall to my right. I peeked closer and saw a crack in the wall. I ran fingers over the crack, I pushed it in. A door swung out at me. I stood in grandpa’s closet, staring at the door in silent shock.

  Where did this lead to? And why did Grandpa build a secret room?

  My mind flashed to tunnels and dark narrow passageways from Nancy Drew novels. I felt excited to be discovering this secret, and leaving this town escaped my agenda. I peered inside the room to see a narrow set of stairs to the left, leading up, into the attic. The room itself was very tiny without furniture or light. I reached for my cell phone for some light, but I saw light coming from the landing above so I put it back into my pocket. I felt as if dread sat on my shoulders, refusing to let me ignore it, as I climbed the stairs.

  At the top, I met my nightmare come to life. It was a large, rectangular room with a wall of windows on the right side. Two black leather sofas and sitting chairs was positioned to my immediate right. A large bear rug was visible in front of the dark wood coffee table. Faux wood paneling covered the walls, accentuating the white ceiling. The room looked like something out of a popular nineteen seventies décor magazine. A bar and small kitchenette was tucked into the far right corner, behind the large living room. Hidden to the left of the kitchen was a large dining room complete with dark orange wall paper and brown shaggy carpet. Though it was empty of a dining room set, a tall buffet was against the far wall. I stepped inside the room, gazing around in awe.

 
I was living in the house of my nightmares! All this time, I thought the other house with the magnificent library was the one from my nightmares, never this one! Shivers ran down my back as I felt the creepiness sneak up on me. I had to hold my vomit when I saw a little trap door to the far left side of the room. I had a sinking feeling that if I opened that trap door, I would see my bathroom below.

  I hid in here that night! I screamed inside my brain. I hid in here! All I had to do was look once more or bring a light with me, and I would’ve known. Everything clicked in my brain now, making me sick with the realizations. I was so busy looking at the details of the room, I did not hear the footsteps come up the stairs behind me. I spun around to see my father’s shocked face. He didn’t expect me up here.

  “Regina? What are you doing up here?” He asked innocently.

  I’m a great liar, especially when it comes to my parents. I answered him just as innocently. “I found the door by accident. Dad? What is this room?”

  “Oh, your mother and Rachel used to play up here when they were little girls. No one uses it now.” He replied. He looked around the room as he said this. It did make sense.

  “Why didn’t anyone show it to me? It’s a nice room. A little outdated, but nice.” I said with a giggle. I desperately tried to hide my fear.

  “Yes. I think Lydia closed off this room when the girls moved out.” He seemed to be looking around the room as if searching for something. He wasn’t going through the couch cushions, but his eyes scanned the room frantically for something. Or someone?

  My lie emerged so easily. I turned from him to leave. “Dad, I gotta go. The truck is stuck in town and Officer Ramirez threatened to tow me if I didn’t come right back.”

  “I didn’t expect you to find this room, Regina,” He said. From out of nowhere, he stepped right in front of me, “But now that you have, I guess now is as good of time as any.”

  I think my heart literally stopped when he said this. My emotions didn’t have time to explode because my dad reached out and hit me across the face with a closed fist.

  Pain exploded in my face and mouth as I fell onto the floor with a hard thump. Before I could look up or react, I was hit again on the back of my head.

  Everything went black.