Part 2
When Lucy finally stepped through the door, the first thing she was met with was the sound of arguing. She looked up and saw Jeff the Killer and his wife, Marissa, talking to each other in a heated conversation. The kids had been given snacks and were playing in the living room while the adults spoke in private. She jumped a little and quickly sped to the stairs. She held on to the railing and hid herself behind it, trying to listen to them without attracting attention. Deep down inside her, she hoped it would be a couple's spat about something insignificant. She hoped it would be about how their children had acted. She hoped it would be about the west side interfering. She hoped it would be about anything, anything other than herself, but as usual, her hopes were shot down.
"She's always getting into trouble! That's so like her to raise a kid like that!" Jeff growled under his breath.
"What are you saying?! Don't you realize SHE is me?" Marissa hissed back, annoyance filling her voice.
"SHE is a part of you, but not you! She holds all the id's desires! She is the uncontrollable part of you and it's rubbing off on her kid." He growled through grit teeth.
"How could you even say that…?" She muttered in disbelief. "She has good qualities to her! YOU just refuse to see them in HER!"
Jeff growled and leaned down towards his wife. "Then you tell HER to teach that kid how to behave before I'm forced to beat it into her myself."
Marissa gasped in horror. "How dare you even say that… I can't believe what I'm hearing! Since when have you taken up abuse? Have you been abusing our children? You'd better not be or I'm gonna-"
"Why the hell would I abuse my children?! I love them too much to hurt them or let them get hurt! I just want some kind of sense beaten into that brat because I'm getting sick of having to deal with someone else's kid that gets me into a spat with my wife every time she gets into trouble!" Jeff hissed, grabbing her arms tightly and pulling her close so he could look into her eyes. "I'm damn sick of it!"
Marissa gasped before feeling tears form in her eyes. She looked away and began to sniffle, trying her best to hold back. Jeff let out a sigh and shook his head. "You know that you feel the same way that I do…" He trailed off before pulling her chin up to look into her watery, blue eyes. "No one likes her… She was never meant to be born in the first place-"
Lucy gasped when a loud crack shut him up. Jeff's cheek was starting to turn pink from the slap Marissa gave him. She quickly stood up, darting up the steps.
"I can put up with your unnecessary hatred towards that poor girl, but I will refuse to tolerate that." Marissa muttered darkly.
Jeff's eyes widened. He slowly turned his head back to face his wife. He was met with a stern glare, but before either of them could argue, Lucy skipped a step and fell with a thud. They looked over and saw her before she ran up the stairs quicker than before.
Marissa's eyes widened before she turned and glared at Jeff. "Look what you did! You scared the poor girl! How could you?"
"Me?! Maybe I scared some sense into her and she'll behave!" He hissed back before leaning back when Marissa held up her hand.
"We'll talk about this later. Right now Lucy needs her mom." Marissa said seriously before closing her eyes silently.
"Great. Now I'm going to lose my wife again for some damn kid. I wish our life could go back to the way it was before that brat came along." He muttered under his breath as he watched his wife transform.
Her brown hair grew darker until it was pitch black while her bright blue eyes turned to blood red and her teeth sharpened. The newly changed woman glanced over at Jeff before darting her attention to the stairs. She growled before heading towards them quickly.
Lucy's feet ran as fast as they could. They carried her to her small room at the end of the hall. She reached up for the door knob and pulled the door shut after her, locking it shut, locking all the fighting and yelling out of her small sanctuary. She swallowed heavily and pressed her back against the door before sliding down it. The dead silence was welcoming to the flustered girl and she took in all she could before-
"Lucy! Lucy open up this damn door!" She heard a voice hiss and pound on her door from the other side.
She gasped and jumped back, feeling her heart race at the oh-so-familiar vicious voice she grew up with her whole life.
"M-Mother?" She croaked out. Her body shook. How she wished her body would paralyze in fear, but she knew the consequences of her actions if she made her mother wait too long.
She forced her feet forward, towards the pounding and reached her shaky hand to the knob. She felt her body want to leave. Grab her few belongings and just run for the hills, but she knew she wouldn't last long on her own. She was too frail and young. So here she was, trapped again between a rock and a hard place, wishing she could crawl up into a ball and cry.
'But Mother gets furious if I start crying.' She thought shivering as she slowly felt the cool brass on her palm. 'I wish she could just punish me through the door so I don't have to see her.'
Her mother's anger had scary effects like that. She didn't fear the monsters under her bed, or the boogey man in her closet, but her mother's short-witted temper. She had grown up with her mother always like that. Yes she hated the pain from her mother's slaps or spanks, but how she shuddered in fear at the look of fury her mother glared at her. It was like looking into the devil's eyes. She felt so weak and helpless under those glares. The sense of dread from all the past times filled her as she grabbed the knob and slowly turned it.
When she heard the click of the door opening, she sprung to the bed and quickly hid under the sheets, hoping her blanket would shield her this time from her mother's wrath. She heard the door practically slam open, wondering if it would ever come off its hinges from all the constant force. Then the sound of stomping footsteps as that got louder the closer they got to her.
Lucy gasped as she felt her blanket being tugged off her forcibly. She quickly scooted back into the corner of her bed and shook in fear. "I-"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She panicked out.
Her mother glared down at her with her fiery red eyes. She rested her hands on her hips and hissed. I heard you misbehaved again. What did you do this time you trouble child?"
Lucy swallowed heavily and mumbled out. "I was walking towards the woods…"
"Look at me and speak up when you're talking to me!" Her mother scolded stepping closer.
Lucy flinched and gasped, forcing herself to look up. "Okay! Okay! I will! Just don't hit me please Mother! I-I'll take the punishment, but please… don't hit me…" She begged looking up at her with wide teary eyes.
Her mother looked down at her, surprised by her sudden outburst. She saw Lucy shake in fear as she stared up at her. "Tell me exactly what happened." She demanded sternly.
Lucy nodded quickly and started explaining when she didn't get hit. "Yes! I was drawing pretty pictures in my notebook under a tree-" She gasped and looked around for the sketchbook. "Where did I put that? It has to be around here somewhere?" She looked around frantically before hearing her mother scold her.
"Focus! Forget about your scribbles and tell me what happened!"
Lucy nodded and quickly continued. "And then I heard a funny sound. I saw a person standing by the woods. They were crying out for help and I wanted to help-"
"You expect me to believe that crap?" Her mother growled out, pressing her fists to her hips.
Lucy nodded quickly, "Yes!" then looked away when she saw her mother's expression. "I mean… Well. I must have been the only one that could see the person…"
"Another imaginary person?"
Lucy frowned and shook her head. "I don't think this person was imaginary… I heard and saw the person. I promise! I-" She immediately stopped when her mom glared down at her.
"What have I told you about the voices and people?"
Lucy frowned and lowered her head. "That they aren't real and to never talk to them…" She murmured sadly.
Her mother nodded and frowned down at her. She stared at Lucy as she lowered her head and mumbled quietly about seeing someone. She sighed deeply and rolled her eyes, kneeling down.
"How many times must I tell you? Ignore them! They aren't real! They'll go away eventually." She grumbled, before rubbing her temples. "Look, it's late. I'm tired and want to sleep and I'm sure you want to also. Forget about this and DON'T go to the woods next time. IGNORE the voices." She said seriously, scolding Lucy.
Lucy looked up at her and nodded. "Yes. I will remember next time Mother. I swear!"
Her mother nodded and stood up, groaning. "Good. Now sleep." She mumbled turning around to leave.
Lucy's eyes widened as she watched her mom. 'She-she didn't hit me this time!' She thought before smiling at her. She looked down at her hands before mentally reassuring herself. Reaching out a hand, she whispered out to her mom. "Mother?"
Lucy's mom stopped and looked back. "What is it now?" She grumbled.
Lucy blushed shyly and looked away. "Can-can we um…" She stammered out, fiddling with her hands nervously.
"What? I haven't got all night." Her mom growled annoyed, crossing her arms.
Lucy watched her hand moved intently, like a dog to its favorite chew toy. "Can-can we hold hands?" She asked smiling sweetly at her mother.
Her mother looked down at her, staring into her dark blue eyes. She flinched before frowning and looking away, rolling her eyes. "Doubt it. Why would you ask something so foolish?"
Lucy's smile faded and she slowly lowered her head. "Oh…" She mumbled upset before perking up again. "Then can you tell me a story?"
"Don't know any good stories."
"Oh… Can you tuck me in?"
"You're old enough to yourself."
"Oh… Can-"
"Why are you so needy tonight?" Her mother growled annoyed.
Lucy looked away frowning and shrugged silently, feeling ashamed for asking. Her mother stared at her for a while before letting out a long groan. "What will it take to shut you up and go to bed?"
Lucy shrugged before smiling at her mom shyly. "I dunno… Maybe a kiss goodnight?" She asked. When her mother stared at her exasperated, she quickly spoke up. "You know… To kiss away all the voices in my head…" She added.
Her mother cocked a brow before walking over. "Fine. A kiss to keep the voices away. Get ready."
Lucy gasped, excited as she saw her mother walk over. She quickly shuffled around, changing to her pajamas and crawling under the blanket. She smiled up and giggled when she felt the small peck on her forehead. Even though it was light, it was enough to make her heart flutter in happiness.
"There? Are you good now?"
Lucy nodded and smiled happily as she snuggled up under the covers. "Really good!"
Her mother nodded and walked over to the door. She held her hand to the light switch and sighed. "Great... Now sleep." She said and saw Lucy nod.
Before she could turn off the light, she heard Lucy speak up one last time.
"Goodnight Momma. I love you." She smiled sweetly.
Her mother stared at her silently, a little taken back by her words. She only grunted in response and flicked off the light. "Yeah… Night." She mumbled before closing the door.
Lucy stared up at the ceiling as she thought back to Jeff's words. 'No one likes her…' She smiled and shook her head as she closed her eyes and rolled over in bed. "You're wrong. My momma likes me." She whispered out to the darkness before falling asleep.
