Chapter 4: A watery surprise
For the next few months Anna's mind was fixated on the hideous image she visualized in the oval mirror; the stretched mouth, gaping and yawning as though it would swallow her whole, the face oozing streams of water, the eyes blank and staring wide. She shuddered with the thought as it hung in her mind like a poisonous cloud. Samara meanwhile was sitting at the table, her dark brown unwavering eyes fixed upon Anna. Anna swallowed then spoke softly, not wanting Richard, who was in his study to overhear on the conversation. 'Samara, did you see anything in front of the mirror three months ago?'. Samara blinked and looked at her with misperception.
'No, but I am confused Mommy, why did you scream so loudly?' she responded.
Anna moved towards Samara and placed a hand upon her shoulder with strong maternal compassion 'Mommy saw a face in the reflection that made her scared'.
'A face that made you scared' Samara frowned, 'all I saw was you Mommy. I wasn't scared'.
Anna's eyes swept her face and very gently tucked a strand of her dark raven hair behind her left ear. 'You are a very sweet girl Samara' she stated, lightly planting a kiss upon her brow. She stood up straight admiring her with the white dress and little black shoes. 'You look very pretty with the dress, shoes and long hair sweetheart' she continued with a smile. 'You are going to grow up into an exceptionally beautiful woman one day and when you are old enough; you can start running the ranch with me and Daddy'. Anna stared longingly at the little girl before her and as she did so, the horrific image of the face faded away leaving only the image of her little eight year old daughter. She bent down again and bestowed another light kiss. 'Mommy has to go and have a shower now' she added, taking the wooden steps to the bathroom. She glanced back while ascending the stairs as Samara sat passively at the table. Walking down the dark corridor, Anna quickly glanced at her husband. Richard was still in his office and chatting on the phone, deep in conversation with a veteran Jockey named Micheal Rameriz. Anna sighed and opened the door to the bathroom.
The bathroom was fashioned with a series of dirty white and black tiles, covering the floor. Each tile was small and shaped like that of a hexagon. The black tiles were at the entrance to the door, running along in a long straight line while the rest of the floor was a dusty white. The tiles along the walls however were larger and more rectangular. Sighing, she stepped into the bathroom, closed the door and turned on the water, watching it flow rhythmically from the shower head. She closed her eyes and slowly let her consciousness slip into the sensation of the water as it flowed down her body. She breathed a great sigh of relief, 'the image was gone'.
Anna swayed gently as the water continued to cascade out of the shower head. It was then that she felt something. Something unlike the water dripping over her back. Anna felt a bizarre tickling sensation on the back of her nape. She opened her eyes. A long, thin strand of black hair was slivering like a snake down her shoulder. She thought it was her own hair and tried to remove it with a flick of her hand but it would not move. Then suddenly another strand appeared, this time on the other side of her neck, coiling itself around her throat like a constricting python. Anna tried to jerk her head but as she did this more strands began to appear and wrap themselves around her neck. She then realized with utter horror that they were coming from within the shower head. She attempted to yank at the strands snaking out of it but they wouldn't budge. More and more strands crawled forth from the shower head until they prevented the water from flowing. They crept down her body like black wriggling worms, tightening around her waist and pinning her arms and legs together like a trussed up chicken. Very soon Anna was completely covered from head to foot in a mass of squirming raven hair and she was unable to scream. She glanced down at the drain and her eyes began to widen in fear. Instead of emptying down the drain, the water was rising steadily; filling the bath tub in the opposite direction. It flowed over and around her feet and began slinking up her legs. Anna was writhing and twisting as the hair strands yanked her angrily, preventing her from struggling as the water continued to rise up her body. Eventually it reached her mouth and the hair covering it parted like a curtain being drawn and Anna was assaulted head on by a torrential flood of water spilling into her mouth. She began to cough and gag violently as the water continued its journey down her throat. Her eyes rolled up into her head and was just about to pass out from the deadly affront when suddenly, the strands slackened their savage grip and retreated hastily back into the shower head, allowing the water to pour out once more. The water rising up her body crashed down into the bath tub with a booming splash. Anna was gasping for air, she fell down into the tub, her entire body contracting into a series of shaking spasms. Mustering all the air in her lungs, Anna released a scream so load, that the tiles in the bathroom rang out in a echoing chorus.
The door outside the bathroom emitted a load bang as Richard's voice thundered from the other side. 'ANNA!' he roared slamming his fist against the door. Shaking with fear, Anna quickly turned off the tap.'RICHARD!' she shrieked at the top voice, climbing out, grabbing a towl and unlocking the door with fumbling fingers. Richard stormed into the Bathroom and Anna flung herself into his arms sobbing uncontrollably.
'What is going on?' Richard growled holding Anna tightly as she continued to sob. Anna locked eyes with him and spoke in a quivering voice. 'Something attacked me Richard. Something with long black hair. It grabbed me by the neck and then tried to suffocate and drown me'. Richard glanced up at the bathroom just as the hall behind him darkened. His eyes falling upon the shape of Samara standing in the hallway looking up at him. He glared at her then thrust a out finger and pointed it in a threatening manner. 'Go to your room now!' he snarled. Samara blinked once and very slowly without looking away, shuffled off towards her room. Anna looked onward as Samara walked away then quickly rounded upon Richard.
'What has our daughter done to deserve going to her room?' She snapped.
Richards eyes blazed angrily 'She is not my daughter, she is causing all this.' he rasped, releasing her quickly.
Anna's eyes widened in shock 'She has done nothing wrong and she is our daughter Richard, why can't you just love her like a father'.
Richard slammed his fist furiously against the wall that it made Anna cringe in fright 'I AM NOT HER FATHER!' he raged and without another word he stormed into his and slammed the door.
Anna just stood in the dark hall, trembling then quickly walked towards Samara's room and opened the door. Samara was sitting on the side of the bed, her face completely shadowed by her long dark hair. Locking the door quietly Anna came over towards the little girl and held her tightly. Samara looked up into her eyes and spoke softly. 'Why was Daddy angry?'
Anna thought for a long time before answering 'Mommy was just having a talk and Daddy wasn't happy, so he went to his office for a while'.
Samara said nothing as she looked down at the floor then replied, 'Daddy doesn't love me, does he Mommy?'
Anna looked shocked before hugging her tightly. 'Of course Daddy loves you, sometimes he just gets angry. All adults get angry'.
She held her in a loving motherly fashion and kissed her gently on the cheek.
'We are your parents Samara and until our last breath we will always love you' Anna continued.
For the rest of the afternoon she held the girl in her arms, watching the red face of the sun sink below the trees.
Author's note: Finally another chapter! I enjoyed writing this one, I really wanted to portray this scene as really creepy and show Richard's hatred towards Samara. The next chapter I hope to post soon. Until next time. :)