CH 4: Blood and Tears

He felt like hell…probably looked it, too.

Wincing with each agonizing step, Willie clung to the balustrade as he made his descent toward the foyer. Why was it that pain always seemed to intensify after an injury? Wasn't he supposed to be healing by now?

Wiping at his freshly shaven jaw, Willie grunted the moment he felt an angry sting along the side of his cheek. With tentative fingers, he inspected the area, only to withdraw his appendages and discover a substance all too familiar to him…

Blood.

Limbs trembling, Willie gave an agonized wail at the sight of that foul, scarlet bloom, his hand shaking as he wiped the plasma onto the side of his black trousers as if it were poison. As he collapsed at the foot of the stairs, Willie placed his head in his hands and tried to block out the pain, the agony…the sorrow.

Marilyn was dead now because of him, and with Barnabas around, there would be far more deaths to come…

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"So what do you think of this one?"

"It's……cute."

Sighing, Carolyn placed the bikini back on the rack before complaining, "God, Vicki, you're such a prude! How am I ever going to pick out a bathing suit if you keep poo-pooing everything I choose?"

"Well I still don't see why my opinion even matters – this is your outing, not mine" Victoria sourly pointed out. "I may be somewhat more reserved than you with my body, but that doesn't mean I'm against all bathing suits."

Carolyn snorted. "Yeah, only the cute ones… How 'bout this?"

Smothering her disgust, Victoria gave her a small smile before mumbling, "It's alright, I suppose."

"Oh, for goodness sake!" Irritably folding her arms, Carolyn reminded her, "I'm going to the swimming hole tomorrow with my new friend and her boy toy, and if I'm not cute enough to snag another guy by then, I'll end up the third wheel!"

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "And who are these people? Anyone I know?"

"Some girl named Marilyn and Willie Loomis – apparently he has a secret love life no one knew about."

"Willie Loomis?"

"Mm-hmm, surprising, isn't it? Wouldn't have pegged him as the relationship type, let alone the kind of guy to have one, but Marilyn's a really swell person, so I guess I'll just have to deal with him."

"Carolyn, are you sure this is such a good idea? You don't really seem to…"

"You're right" the heiress cheerily interrupted. "We should all go skinny-dipping, instead – that way I'll save some money!"

Victoria sighed. She knew deep-down that Carolyn was as wholesome and sweet as a preacher's daughter, yet she was insistent upon letting the guise of a rebel shine through. Managing to give her a wry smile, the governess took Carolyn by the arm before urging, "Here…let me show you what I normally buy."

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Turning her tear-stained face toward the cold, brick wall, Maggie closed her eyes and willed her wretched life to end. She hadn't eaten for the past few days now, but surely there was an easier way out…the gnawing agony of her gurgling stomach kept her awake most of the night, and the lethargy that fasting induced left her light-headed and miserable.

Touching her greasy, tangled curls, Maggie couldn't help but wince as she wondered when Barnabas would finally allow her the luxury of bathing. Surely his precious Josette had good hygiene, so why wasn't she, the unfortunate surrogate, granted this necessity?

"Maggie?"

Cringing, Maggie pulled the scratchy sheets over her head and squeezed her eyes tightly shut, all the while praying that her unforeseen guest would disappear. When the voice timidly beckoned to her yet again, she slowly lowered her cloth aegis and beheld the haggard visage of Barnabas Collins' servant.

"Willie" she fearfully whispered, "have you come to kill me?"

Appearing to be taken aback, Willie demanded, "Now why wouldja ever think such a thing, uh? Ya know I could never hurtcha."

"No, I don't" Maggie stubbornly argued. "I heard screams last night, Willie…terrible, terrible screams, and then I heard Barnabas tell you to bury that poor girl in the woods. Now that that's taken care of, it's my turn, isn't it?"

Willie swallowed, a wall of tears blurring his vision as he slowly shook his head. "N-n-no, Maggie, you're not next, 'c-cause Barnabas still wants ta try again with gettin' ya ta be his bride. It's jus' that Marilyn…well, she…" He couldn't finish.

Unsteadily rising to her feet, Maggie crossed the room and turned Willie around so that she could look into his eyes. They were like blue bruises, each withholding the pain and inner scarring that would surely stay with him for all eternity. Shuddering at this thought, Maggie allowed her hand to fall from his arm as she asked, "Did you know her?"

Willie nodded. "Yeah…a-a long time ago." Far too hurt to talk about it, he suddenly looked up before inquiring, "You okay, Maggie? I-I-I don't want nothin' ta happen to ya, so you'd lemme know if I could do anything ta make ya more comfortable, right?"

Maggie smiled, but it was a ghostly smile of the girl she once was. "Yes, Willie…I'm as fine as anyone in my position can be." Now appearing to be hopeful, she removed her necklace before taking Willie's hand and placing it within his palm. "Give this to Pop" she urged. "Tell him that I'm alive and that he needs to stop worrying…that he needs to stop drinking, because I know he is!"

Flinching, Willie backed away from her as if he'd been burned. "I-I-I can't do that, Maggie…Barnabas would find out, 'c-cause he always does."

"But it won't matter once he's destroyed!" she argued. "Don't you see, Willie? Pop can come rescue me during the day, and then we'll all go downstairs and kill that monster!"

Willie bowed his head. "I-I can't letcha do that."

"But why not?"

"You know why, Maggie! I gotta protect him!" Running a hand through his hair, Willie felt a tear trickle down his cheek before he turned and hid his face. He couldn't let her see how weak and cowardly he truly was…

"Willie?"

He sniffled. "Yeah, what is it?"

"Do you think you could do at least one thing for me?" When he didn't answer, Maggie bowed her head before whispering, "Please tell Pop that I love him, and that no matter what happens, I'll always be with him. Remind him of what Mama said…that we'd never, ever be truly separated…"

Shoulders quivering, Willie sorrowfully returned, "Ya know I can't do that, Maggie."

"Please, Willie, please!"

"I can't!" Overturning the crate by Maggie's cot, Willie slammed his fist against the wall before finally allowing the tears to come. He no longer minded if Maggie saw his weakness, for the past day's events had finally caught up with him, and he was well beyond caring.

"Willie?"

Purposely ignoring her, the servant couldn't help but stiffen the moment he felt Maggie's arms wrap about his waist, his eyes squeezing shut as the sound of their sobs intermingled and became one.

Burying her face in between Willie's shoulder blades, Maggie clutched at the fabric of his turtleneck before weeping yet again, her voice soft and barely audible as she whispered an apology into the cold air.

Her words made Willie's heart ache, for she shouldn't feel responsible for their plight. It was his fault, and because of this, he felt obligated to continue bearing his cross alone.

Slowly turning to face the sobbing captive, Willie's eyes softened as he took her by the shoulders and forced her to return his gaze. "I won't letcha die" he promised. "Even if it kills me, I won't let 'im getcha – he'll hafta get through me, first."

"Strong words for a man as simple-minded as yourself" a deep baritone cruelly remarked.

Panicking, Willie pushed Maggie behind him as Barnabas entered the cell, perspiration forming along his brow as he squeaked, "Sh-sh-she's real scared, that's all, Barnabas, a-an' I was just-"

"Leave us."

"Huh? B-but I can't do that, 'cause-"

"Do it now!"

Swallowing, Willie shook his head before arguing, "I-I'm sorry, but I can't letcha hurt 'er, Barnabas – she don't deserve this an' ya know it!"

"Willie, you are you trying my patience" Barnabas warned. "All I wish to do is speak with Josette…I have a surprise for her."

"A-a surprise?"

"Quit reiterating my words like a fool and get out!"

Before Willie could even move, Maggie grabbed onto his arm before begging, "Please don't leave me alone with him, Willie, please! He'll kill me, I know he will!"

"Josette, my darling, I would never…"

"That is not my name!" Shocking the two men, Maggie defiantly stood in front of Barnabas before shouting, "My name is Maggie Evans, and I would rather die than become your bride!"

Slowly closing in on her shaking form, Barnabas coldly revealed, "That, my dear, can most assuredly be arranged…"

A/N: Phew, good thing I've got Carolyn for comic relief, eh? I should've warned everyone that they'd be hopping on the angst train for this fic…ALL ABOARD!!! hehe Anywhos, I've actually already started planning the sequel for this, so hopefully you'll all be interested in that, as well. My intention was never to do that, but I got an idea, and yeah…yay. :)