~ Dark Room ~

by

Sue Thornton

Running through the trees and brush she tripped over a root, twisting and tumbling, landing hard on her back. She gasped for air. Her lungs burned. A pain pinched her side. Her foot was caught. She couldn’t pull free. She had to run. IT was coming. IT was talking. Twigs snapped beneath ITS feet. Stop the screaming. Make them stop. She wanted to yell. ITS leering face loomed over her. ITS gray eyes were demented and full of torturous glee. ITS face oozed, dripping like melted wax. Pressure built in her chest but her screams stuck in her throat.

Screaming, she awoke. Sweat mingled with her tears. She was so cold. Her foot was tangled, she couldn’t get free. Mesmerized she stared at all the red around her. So much blood. Where did it all come from?

~*~

“Marni?” Running into the room he searched the area quickly. Concerned about startling her with his touch, Roy stood next to the bed. His own memories left him breathless just like so many years before.

“All the blood.”

Roy looked around, then back at her. She appeared to be awake, but he’d seen sleepwalkers act the same way. Squinting his eyes, he studied her carefully, trying to determine the situation.

“There isn’t any blood.” His voice was calm and quiet.

Roy eased around the bed to untangle the quilt from arount her foot, being careful to avoid physical contact with her. Why don’t you admit you’d like to hold and comfort her? There won’t be any emotions involved here. She’s just a job. A job you aren’t being paid to do. What do you think she’d say if she knew? Her glazed eyes stared at the covering.

“All the blood? Where did it come from?” Marni whimpered, shivering. She tried to pull her legs closer to her chest, but cried out grabbing her ribs.

“There isn’t any blood. It’s a quilt, a red and white quilt. You just got your foot tangled. You were having a bad dream.” Something is wrong here. Her facial expressions and voice were childlike. Where is she?

Marni whispered. “Can’t you see it?”

Roy looked into eyes filled with terror, huge tears flowed down her face. 

“What do you see?” Roy’s soft, mesmerizing voice continued. He knelt beside the bed.

“Blood, lots of blood. Tree. My foot’s caught. I can’t move. IT is coming. Don’t let IT find me. Please, don’t let IT find me,” Marni begged, her sobs becoming hysterical. She stared through the room, into some other place.

“Who is bleeding?” Be careful, Roy. You don’t know much about her. She could be unbalanced. You know she’s not. Don’t push her. I know her like I know the back of my own hand. But you don’t want her to snap. No casualties this time.

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. Think, Marni. Whose blood?” He pushed her to remember.

Marni shook her head violently. She cried out like a wounded rabbit, sending a shiver up Roy’s spine.

“I don’t know. I don’t know!”

“Marni. THINK. Tell me whose blood it is!” He gripped the quilt tightly in his hands. What is she seeing? She sounds like a scared little kid.

“I can’t tell you! IT will come after me. I’m not supposed to tell!” She screamed at him. The bruises were vibrant against her stark white face. Roy wondered if he’d gone too far already. No.

She flew off the bed. Roy grabbed her shoulders and held her still then pulled her back against him. Leaning down, he placed his face against the side of her head. The smell of her shampoo was fresh, clean, flowery. Lavender.

He whispered in her ear, “IT can’t get you, Marni. IT doesn’t know where you are. Tell me whose blood you see. Nothing can get you here.” He squeezed her shoulders gently cautious of the bruises that covered her upper torso. Anger surged through him at the one who had marred her body. Quickly he tamed the fire and turned his attention to the adult child he held against him.

“Mommy’s. Mommy’s blood.” Sobs tore through her making any further conversation impossible. Enough, Roy. She’s had enough.  

Marni collapsed into the secure embrace he offered her. Tortured sobs racked her body. Roy eased her around to rest her head on his chest. He rubbed her back, consoling her the only way he thought she needed. Words wouldn’t convince her the dream wasn’t real. Besides, he knew the dream was very real. Poor kid, she never understood what was going on. What side effects did this trauma leave her with? She’s a time bomb waiting to explode, Roy. No. Holding her and touching her in comfort was reality. It will have to suffice for now. He stared into the room, waiting until she calmed, her tears subsiding to hiccups.

He eased her from him, then led her to the chairs by the window. High-pitched screaming filtered through the open window. Marni shuddered at the hideous sound and closed her eyes.

“Peacock.”

“What?” Marni asked, her eyes popping open. 

Her green eyes were vibrant with unshed tears. Large and round, her damp eyelashes framed them sensuously. A tiny frown appeared between her brows. He wanted to smooth it away. 

“The neighbor raises peacocks. The bird screams.”

She nodded, but he could tell Marni really didn’t comprehend his words. Understandably, her mind and thoughts would be on the dream.

He leaned back against the cushions and crossed his legs. A warm breeze blew in the window accompanied by scents from the garden, caused the lace curtain to billow out. Maybe this will help her relax. His own muscles were tight, burning beyond endurance. 

“Tell me about the dream.” Roy spoke quietly in a hypnotic voice.

“The dream is the same each time.” Marni stopped, staring into space. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak.

She’s forgotten I’m here. Good.

“Someone’s screaming for me to run. She keeps screaming. I’m running. I’m in the woods. I’m alone.” Marni shook her head. “No, there’s someone...no, something is there. IT...IT is coming after me. Chasing me. I keep running. I’m not going anywhere. I hear IT coming. Talking. Laughing. I fall. My foot is stuck in a tree root. Blood, I see blood.” She stared at the twisted knotted piece of skirt in her hand. “That’s where I wake up.” She glanced up at him, the frown still in place.

Roy leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.“Do you still hear the screaming?”

 Marni closed her eyes and listened. He studied her closely. I must know every inch of her face by now. Of course I do, I stood over her enough while she slept.

She opened her eyes. “No, the screams have stopped.” Marni studied her hands while turbulent thoughts filled her head. “I always thought I heard a woman screaming, but it can’t be. It’s the same sound as the bird.

Marni dug at her cuticles with her thumbnail. “How could it be my mother’s blood when LulaBell is still alive?

“I thought your parents were dead.” Roy waited, and watched.

His eyes were always studying her, like a slide under a microscope. How did I become his project?

Marni bit her lip at being caught in a lie. “They are to me. Lily helped me run away the night before my sixteenth birthday. She gave me what little money she had hidden. With the small amount I had saved, I was able to survive for awhile. Until I got a job.”

Roy frowned. “Did you hitchhike?” The idea of her wandering the highways looking for a ride rankled his protective male sense of duty. Marni shook her head, a smile tugged at her mouth. “No. A lady trucker gave me a ride as far as she could. She had another friend take me even further.” Marni rubbed her eyes.

“We’d study the map and talk about the cities and towns along the route. They told me about good place to stop or where I could live and survive without being suspected of being a runaway.”

Marni sighed, her shoulders slumped forward.

Roy leaned back against the cushion. “Why did you run?”

Roy’s quiet voice, so calm, so prying, grated on her nerves.

Marni shrugged her shoulders. “Seemed like the thing to do at the time. No big deal. What difference does it make? This was a long time ago. Why do you keep asking me questions? Why are you here?”