Despite the howling winds and the strong winter flurries she felt no cold, even in her blue and white dress which was thin cotton and left her arms, neck and calves exposed to the harsh elements.
She turned on the light and led him to the back of the shed and pointed at the vast array of tools.
"Back again?" Lorna appeared behind them, stepping out from beside the snow cat.
"Yes." Sherry turned to look at her, as did Jack who was surprised to find that Lorna no longer looked like Sherry anymore.
She was older, with a fuller figure, brown hair, and a heart shaped face.
"Hello Mr. Torrance." Lorna smiled a waved before turning in a circle. "What do you think?"
"Very nice" Jack mused and turned back to the wall of tools, taking down a small mallet and swinging it a bit to see how it felt.
"Your mother is sleeping in her room." Lorna informed Sherry who nodded. "She has Tony with her."
"You mean Danny."
"No." Lorna shook her head, "I'm afraid Tony has taken over for now, which is a very unfortunate situation."
Sherry shrugged. "He's a weird kid, he'll snap out of it."
"I'm not so sure." Lorna hummed and took a few steps forward. "You see I'm starting to think that Tony doesn't intend on leaving this time; that you'll have to help Danny get free."
Jack turned to face her, now armed with a sickle. "What does that mean?"
"I means that since Tony has taken over, Danny is trapped inside and you'll have to get him out…by whatever means necessary." She eyed them both carefully and stressed the added bit to ensure they caught her meaning.
Sherry nodded slowly. "What about my Mom?"
"Wendy is difficult" Lorna sighed. "You'll have to show her the way yourselves. If she will not see it alone."
Jack nodded and smiled. "Don't you worry; we can handle this."
"I sincerely hope so Mr. Torrance." Lorna added. "I'm afraid a few of us have come to think that you might not be up to the task. Since your wife was so quick to stop you the first time."
Jack's face sharpened and he growled. "That won't happen again."
"Good. Good luck you two." Lorna turned without hesitation and walked right into the growing snow storm, disappearing into the blurry darkness.
"New plan sweetheart." Jack looked to his daughter. "You just leave this to Daddy. I've got it handled."
He took up a long handled Axe and judged the weight of it in his hand before nodding, satisfied.
"But, there is something I need you to do."
"Yes Daddy?" she questioned, gazing longingly at the tools she now would not need to use.
"I want you to go to Daddy's desk, and read what he wrote for you." He placed a heavy hand on her shoulder and rubbed it. "I want your opinion on it."
He looked where she was looking and chuckled a bit, reaching up and pulling the item off the hook.
"Oh, I never could deny you anything, button." He sighed and handed her the planter, a gardening tool used to make holes in the ground for small bulbs.
It was about three feet long with a small metal cone on top that came to a deadly point. It was also heavy and could be swung like a club.
She smiled and took the tool. "Thank you daddy."
Jack smiled and kissed her gently on the brow. "Anything for you princess, now let me go deal with mom. Right?"
"Right."
They departed then parted ways when they reached the hotel room.
"Damn," Sherry sworn, patting her dress as they stood in front of the room door. "I think I forgot the key to the room."
"Not to worry, sweet heart. I've got it." Jack flashed the metal head of the axe with a grin and patted her head. "I won't be long."
She left him there and made for the front hall where the type writer was, but along the way she met a familiar face.
"Someone's coming." Lorna warned her fiercely and Sherry looked up from her father's work.
"What? In this storm?"
"It's the cook." Lorna hissed as the sound of the approaching vehicle got clearer and clearer, a dull hum of machinery that harkened an unwelcome visitor.
"I'll handle this." Sherry growled and made for the main entry hall where he was sure to be entering. Lorna followed closely.
"Hello?" Halloran's voice echoed through the silent hotel. "Is anyone here? Hello?"
"Mr. Halloran." Sherry called and entered, finding him wrapped up in winter wear and covered in snow. "What brings you here? Is it spring already?"
Halloran looked around oddly. "No, Miss Torrance, It's just on account of this storm I thought I ought to check on you. I tried calling the rangers but they said they couldn't reach you."
"Oh, our radio's been out I'm afraid." Sherry smiled "I'm sorry you had to come all the way up here for nothing."
Mr. Halloran's eyes wandered to her dress, and to the tool in her hand.
"Winter Gardening?"
"Oh" She looked down at the seeder. "Uh, I found this down, uh, down in the boiler room, I thought I ought to bring it up" she excused.
Halloran frowned and looked slightly to the side of her, just over her shoulder.
"Hello Lorna." He spoke directly and Sherry turned to find Lorna glowering at the man with dark, unholy eyes.
"Now."
Thwack
The blow hit the man in the shoulder, making him cry out but also able to take the tool and grapple with the young girl, who grunted and twisted; trying to get at him any way she could.
Eventually she released the tool, making him stumble back and land on the floor. The seeder then clattered across the tile and the two went scrambling for it.
Sherry reached it first, stepping on it with her foot just as the man's fingers brushed the handle.
With a wild grin she picked it up and stood over him menacingly.
"Why couldn't you just leave well enough alone?" Lorna hissed, once again in total control, "Huh?! Why?!"
"Sheryl, Sheryl…" Halloran pled, trying to reach through to the lost girl desperately. "I know you're still in there."
"Shut up!" Lorna brought the tool down and struck him across the ribs with it. "She's mine now. She'll do whatever I say."
"Sheryl, you have to fight it, she's not your friend! She's not…"
The next blow came down hard to the shoulder and he rolled and hissed in agony.
Lorna smirked and watch him recover.
"Sheryl, I know you can hear me." He yelled as the girl knelt down and straddled his torso, gripping the weapon. "You have to fight it. You have to get away!"
A sparkle of reality shimmered in her blue eyes and for a moment Halloran thought he had broken through.
"Sorry. Mr. Halloran." Sherry hissed. "But I'm not going anywhere."
She drove the spear point down into his chest and watched him thrash and choke beneath her until he finally expired and she forcibly removed the tool from his chest.
What blood that was pressurized in the wound spurted out once the spear was removed and splattered her face, neck, and collarbone with a tidy shower of crimson gore.
A piercing scream echoed through the hall and Sherry, still with a leg on each side of the bloody corpse, turned her head and found her mother in the entry way, knife in hand, and pale as death with an expression of fear etched on her face.
Wendy let out a shaky breath as she watched her eldest child, very calmly, stand up, gaze at the dead body for a moment or two, as if to admire her work, and then turn to her mother with a face completely devoid of any emotion.
Wendy trembled and backed away slowly at first, before turning and spiriting away.
"She's getting away" Lorna noted plainly and Sherry, not bothering to wipe the blood from her flesh, quirked her lips up in a condemning smirk.
"I've got it."