The Girl From Under The Water

by Jake Uniacke

  “Come on, darling,” whispered Dorothy. “It’s going to be okay.”

  The receptionist came round from behind the desk and tried to offer her condolences, but Dorothy shut her down.

  “You should have been more careful about what you said!” hissed Dorothy. “Surely you would have seen this little girl coming over to the desk!”

  “I’m very sorry, madam,” said the receptionist.

  “It’s too late for apologies. The damage is done.”

  Alex refused to get up from the floor. Her screaming and her crying startled Connie, who roused from her sleep and instantly burst into a hysteric crying fit. Dorothy struggled to keep the situation under control, her emotions all over the place. She had lost her granddaughter, daughter-in-law, and her son all in the space of three months. And now it was down to her to fix it. She needed to look after her grandchildren.

  She made that a promise.

  Chapter 19

  Two days had passed since Alex and Connie had lost both their parents. Living with their grandmother was tough, but they were getting through it. As the investigations continued at home, Alex prayed that her mother and father would be looked after by the angels. Each night, she knelt at the side of her bed, pressed her hands together, and said a little prayer.

  “Dear God,” she would whisper. “Please take care of my parents. I miss them so much, and they didn’t deserve to die. Make sure the angels look after them. Amen.”

  Grandma Dorothy placed a patterned bowl in front of Alex that morning, half full of porridge. Alex grimaced. Porridge was her least favourite breakfast item, but she ate it out of respect for her grandmother, trying not to gag with each mouthful she took. Alex knew that her grandmother was going to struggle to look after both her and Connie. This was the worst situation to be in. Not only was her grandmother too old to look after them, but she was also incapable of being a full-time carer for them. A lot of the time, Alex would probably be looking after her.

  “Grandma,” said Alex. “What’s going to happen now?”

  Dorothy sighed and sat down at the table next to Alex. “I’m not sure. I’m letting things calm down a bit first. You’re still grieving for your parents and I want you to have some time here with me, around the people you love.”

  “Will me and Connie be taken away?”

  Dorothy froze. She hadn’t expected Alex to ask this question so soon, and she didn’t know the answer. She desperately wanted to be able to look after her grandchildren, but deep down, she knew she just could not do it.

  “Let’s not worry about that at the moment,” said Dorothy. “Eat your breakfast.”

  “We’re going to be taken away, aren’t we?”

  Alex wasn’t going to give up with the questions. She needed to know what was going to happen to her and her baby sister. Dorothy sat back down and held Alex’s hand.

  “There is a chance, yes,” she said. “I’m going to have to phone social services and let them know what has happened. Don’t worry, I won’t call them yet. I’ll give it a few days.”

  Alex frowned and stared into her bowl of porridge. She didn’t feel like eating anymore of it as a nauseating feeling took over her stomach. A single teardrop fell into the bowl, sinking deep into the sludge that was presented in it. Dorothy rubbed Alex’s shoulder comfortingly, before moving her hand to her head and stroking her hair.

  “Everything will be okay. Don’t worry too much yet.”

  Alex nodded at her grandmother’s words and pushed her chair back. She stood up and trudged to the stairs where she disappeared to her room. Dorothy didn’t know how to handle the situation. Alex and Connie needed to be protected. She knew social services would look after them well. But she didn’t want social services to look after them. She wanted to be the one who looked after them. Dorothy picked up the bowl and emptied the contents into the bin. The bowl slipped from her hands, shattering across the lino floor.

  Dorothy held onto the kitchen counter, trying to catch her breath as her heart pounded against her chest. Moments later, she fell to the floor. Tears leaked from her eyes in large streams, followed by her wails. She looked at the broken pieces scattered all over the floor. It was almost as if her heart had dropped out of her chest and smashed on the floor. Nothing could fix this feeling. Her son’s death had destroyed her. And now, she would have to say goodbye to her grandchildren too.

  ***

  “Come on, Alex,” called Dorothy. “We’re going to be late otherwise.”

  Alex charged down the stairs and grabbed her coat. She couldn’t contain her excitement. This was the first time she had felt happy in days. Grandma Dorothy was taking her and Connie to the fair to cheer them all up. It would be a fun family activity. Probably the last one they would be able to do together. Dorothy grabbed Connie’s pushchair and carried it out to the car, followed by Alex, who was carrying Connie. Alex strapped Connie into her car seat before strapping her own seatbelt on.

  “Mummy and Daddy will be happy to see us happy, won’t they?” Alex asked.

  “Of course, they will!” Dorothy said. “All they’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy. They’ll be looking down on you tonight and watching you have fun!”

  Alex frowned. “It won’t be the same without them, though. Or Emma.”

  “I know. But we will make the most of it and have the best time.”

  Alex nodded, and Dorothy started the engine and drove off. Alex stared out the window, watching the world go by. Families were out and about; young children were with their parents, teenagers were with theirs, grandparents were with their grandchildren. It made Alex feel alone. She had no parents now, and it wouldn’t be the same with her grandmother looking after her. She needed her mum and dad back.

  Dorothy parked the car in the car park and hopped out, followed by Alex. Dorothy unfolded the pushchair and placed Connie in it. She was still fast asleep, so she knew Alex would be going on all the rides by herself.

  The fair was bustling with people. Music blared from the speakers placed all around the field, men shouted through megaphones encouraging people to play the games and ride the bumper cars, children ran around holding sticks of candy floss bigger than their heads. Alex gleamed at everything around her. The sun was setting, and the fairground lights were beginning to glow. She was mesmerised by the sight. Usually when she went with her parents, they would go during the day. But Grandma Dorothy wanted to treat them. She had never seen the fair at night before, and she was so glad she had finally got the opportunity. Voices hummed all around Alex and for that moment, she forgot everything bad that had happened.

  “Can I play hook a duck?” Alex asked.

  “Of course, you can!” Dorothy cheered. “Here’s a pound.”

  Dorothy handed Alex a one-pound coin and watched as her granddaughter raced off to the hook a duck tent just a short distance from where they were standing. Dorothy giggled and caught up with Alex, watching her hook a large yellow duck. The number seven was written on the bottom of it, allowing Alex to win a small prize. She chose the cuddly pig. It wasn’t going to be for her – she was going to place it on Emma’s grave since pigs were Emma’s favourite animal. Alex knew deep down that Emma still loved her and she deserved to rest in peace.

  The rides were full of people, their screams spreading across the entire fairground. Alex smiled at everyone who walked past her. All the bad memories had been wiped from her memory for this one evening, and she was grateful for it. Just one night without anything bad happening was all she wanted. Dorothy pointed at the bumper cars and insisted that Alex goes on them. But Alex didn’t want to go alone, and she knew Dorothy wouldn’t be able to go on them. Not just because of her age, but also because of Connie. So, she declined her grandmother’s offer.

  “Oh my God!” Alex screamed. “Mirror maze!”

  Alex jumped up and down with excitement and begged her grandmother to let her go inside. Dorothy wasn’t so sure. She didn’t want Alex to go in alone where she couldn’t keep
an eye on her, and she was worried Alex would get lost. But Alex begged and begged, desperate to go in.

  “Okay,” Dorothy finally said. “But you only go in once and make sure you remember your way. I don’t want you getting lost.”

  “I’ll be fine!” Alex cheered. “Thank you, Grandma!”

  Alex took the two-pound coin from Dorothy and ran to the woman at the kiosk. She handed her the money and then entered the mirror maze through the wooden door on the side. Dorothy waved as she watched Alex disappear inside. She found a bench and sat down, waiting for Alex to come out.

  Inside, the mirror maze was dark, except for the LED lights stuck to the edges of the mirrors. Alex used her hands to fondle the mirrors, so she didn’t lose her balance. She walked up each aisle and stared into the mirrors. The reflections looked strange, and it made her go cross-eyed for a few moments. She smiled; glee was written all over her face.

  “I love you Mum and Dad,” said Alex, looking at the ceiling. “I know you’re looking down on me, happy that I’m happy.”

  No, they’re not.

  Alex gasped and swung around, looking through the maze. It seemed bigger than she remembered. She walked back towards the entrance of the mirror maze.

  You’re not going anywhere.

  A booming click echoed around the maze, startling Alex. “What was that?”

  Like I said, you’re not going anywhere.

  Alex let out a scream. A hand grabbed her face and covered her mouth.

  Shut up.

  Alex whimpered, fear taking over her body. She wanted to get out. She needed to get out. But all she did was freeze. Her legs stuck to the floor; she couldn’t move. Her heart pounded against her chest and her breathing sped up.

  “Please leave me alone,” she cried. “Let me out.”

  No.

  “Please, Emma!”

  You killed me. You’re finally going to pay.

  Alex gulped, and a tear fell down her face. Suddenly, the lights started flickering and went out. Moments later, they came back on. Emma was standing nose-to-nose with Alex. Alex stumbled backwards and crashed into a mirror before dropping to the floor. She crawled away, but Emma followed. The lights continued to flicker, causing Alex to become confused and lost. She couldn’t find her way back. Every time she tried to go down one pathway, Emma would be blocking it.

  “Please, just let me go,” pleaded Alex. “I’m so sorry for what I did to you. It was a complete accident!”

  You must pay.

  “I’ve been living with guilt. That’s enough payment!” Alex cried.

  No, it’s not! You must feel the pain I felt.

  Alex whimpered and backed away from Emma. Emma dragged her feet across the floor, moving closer towards Alex. The lights flickered again. Alex stood up and ran past Emma. Anger boiling within her, Emma charged towards Alex and shattered the mirrors in Alex’s path, the shards of glass spreading all over the floor. Alex screamed as she slipped and fell on top of a large, sharp shard of glass. It penetrated her leg, blood oozing from her veins.

  “Ouch!” screamed Alex. “Please stop this!”

  I’m going to kill you.

  “No! Please!”

  Emma trudged further towards Alex; her arms were stretched out in front of her. Alex tried to crawl away, but the pain caused by the glass in her leg made movement impossible. She was trapped. The floor was decorated with glass; it glimmered in the lights. Alex couldn’t slide across the floor either, the glass digging into her flesh. Emma crouched down to Alex’s level and stared at her dead in the eyes.

  “Please,” Alex begged

  Emma froze on the spot, not moving a muscle. Alex furrowed her brow. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. What’s happening?

  “Emma,” said Alex. “Are you okay?”

  The distant sound of music was the only sound that could be heard through the maze. The almost-complete silence was deafening to Alex. It was scary, too. Without warning, Emma’s hands dived towards Alex’s neck, and Alex let out a scream which was interrupted moments later. She gagged, she coughed, she spluttered as her life started slipping away.

  Stop breathing.

  Alex tried to fight with her sister, but it was no good. Emma was winning the battle and Alex was losing.

  “Please,” Alex gagged.

  Her skin started to turn bright red as her windpipes were crushed. Emma slowly removed her hands from Alex’s neck as she watched her sister’s life slip away. Alex’s head flopped to the left, and she took her last breath. Emma stood up and towered over Alex’s body.

  The surrounding glass shattered, the mirrors collapsing to the floor. The lights blew, the maze turning pitch black. Moments later, a giant fireball ripped through the maze and blew the entire thing up. Visitors at the fair screamed and ran toward the gates, escaping the chaos. Dorothy’s blood-curdling screams could be heard for miles. Emma emerged from the fire and glared at Dorothy. Dorothy’s mouth dropped, oblivious to the desperate cries of Connie. Emma darted towards Dorothy and suddenly disappeared. Dorothy stared at the mirror maze in shock.

  “Alex!” screamed Dorothy. “No, Alex!”

  Emma smirked as she watched all the chaos unfold at the fair. She didn’t care for anyone else. All she cared about was that she had finally got her revenge. Her parents were dead, her sister was dead.

  Now, she could rest in peace.

  I hope you enjoyed reading this novella.

  Please leave a review on Amazon if you have time to!

  About the Author

  Jake Uniacke is a young adult/new adult self-published author from Hampshire. In his spare time, he goes out and does photography, and is most interested in nature and wildlife photography. Jake spent three years studying creative media at college.

  As well as writing, Jake also enjoys watching films, photography, reading, and seeing friends. He has always wanted to be a published author ever since he was young, and he began writing for publication in 2015. However, since then, only his most recent books are available for purchase, and the books published from 2015 to 2018 are no longer available for purchase.

  Find Me:

  @author_jakeu@authorjakeu

  www.authorjakeu.wordpress.com