CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I woke up in my bed feeling exhausted. Did last night really happen? Perhaps it had all been a nightmare or a sick joke. Maybe I ate something wrong. What did I even eat last night? Had I eaten anything?

Shaking my head of all the sporadic thoughts, I tried to recall the horrors. Curiosity was plaguing me, but I was unwilling to go down to the basement to appease it. Nothing was worth going back there.

If it really happened, though, who brought me back here?

I stared blankly at my own ceiling. I couldn't stay in Violet's room. It was too dark, messy, and unfamiliar for me. I just needed…. I just needed…

Something hit me in the face. I groped at the offending object in panic and realised that it was the teddy bear. Could it be…?

I bolted up and looked frantically around me. No, he wasn't there. I shouldn't even still be thinking of him. I Shouldn't still want him as I do now. No matter ho much I reprimanded myself, however, I couldn't get him out of my head.

I brought the teddy to my face and breathed in. His scent was all over it. It only made me miss him more. As much as I hated what he had done to me, I couldn't help the longing that tugged at my heart. I loved him. I wasn't afraid to admit it to anyone. I loved him even after he had betrayed me. Even after everything that he had done, I wanted him to hold me close and press my ears against his chest. It didn't matter that I wouldn't be able to hear a heartbeat. It didn't matter that we would probably never be able to have a proper family together. It… it didn't even matter to me that he had killed so many people.

It just hurt so much knowing that those nights with the rubber man had been filled with fear and guilt. I was afraid of the stranger, so menacingly appearing out of thin air. I felt guilty for allowing another man to touch me and even though a part of me had always known that it was him all along, it still hurt. Why couldn't he have just told me? I had handed him all of me on a silver platter already.

Perhaps it was my own selfishness that took me so long to accept what everyone had been trying to tell me. Ben had tried to keep me from him. Violet tried to tell me what a psychopath he was, but through it all, he hadn't done me any wrong. I didn't care, then. I didn't care until all his lies and misdemeanors hurt me. I had been such a selfish prat…

Lost in my own reverie, I nearly didn't hear the doorbell. "Violet?" I shouted down the hall.

No reply. She was probably at school, again. It was a lightening thought. I smiled at the fact that she seemed to have turned over a new leaf. At least one of us would end up making something of herself.

"Mom?" I peeked into her room. "Mom?" She didn't stir, so I assumed that she must've still been asleep. The baby was giving her troubles and I could hear her wandering at night, sometimes.

I didn't like greeting people at the door because of my eyes, but…

"Hello?" I smiled weakly at the person in front of me. He was definitely a man.

"Hello, Madi," a familiar voice greeted me. "May I come in? I have something important to tell you. Where are your parents?"

I hesitated, but stepped aside to let him in. "Ben's… away and mom's asleep. What did you have to say? You could've called. It's a pretty far drive from Boston."

He shook his head. "My phones are being tapped. I'm on the run, right now."

My eyes widened at the announcement. Did I just let in a convict?

"No, listen, Madi." He put both hands on my shoulders as if afraid that I was going to run, which I very well might. "Those pills that we have been giving you? It's all a sham. They don't make your eyes better. They mutate a part of your brain. It was all a large human experiment and you… You are the closest thing that we have to success." He let me go and I contemplated running to the phone to call the police, but I also wanted to know what was going on. I had been in the dark for so long, quite literally.

"Those pills were designed to mutate your occipital lobe and the r – "

The doorbell rang, again.

Why were there always so many unwanted people here?

"Madi, stop taking them. I was fine with it until we started noticing people dying. It only shows in long term uses, but you're in that group, now. Don't trust anyone from the Institution." That was a contradictory notion in itself. He was from the Institution. And what did he mean that people were dying?! Was that why I was suddenly feeling so sick?

There were rapid successions of knocking, now.

"Don't answer the door, Madison. Please. It's them. They've found me."

I didn't know what to do. He had just sprouted so much nonsense and mixed in with what happened last night, I couldn't seem to comprehend anything. I just wanted it to all go away!

The knocking became more persistent.

"I…"

Suddenly, the lock turned and we both froze. It must be Ben. Violet was probably still at school. Ben was the only other person with the key. Relief immediately filled me as the door flung open. He'd know what to do.

"Madison! I know this is sudden, but – " My face dropped. This was not the man that I wanted to be here at this moment. The man seemed shocked to see the other person with me. "Jensen, what are you doing here?"

Henderson pushed me to the side and fully stepped in without my invitation. How did he even get a key into the house?

"I can ask you the same thing, Greg." Venom dripped from Dr. White's voice. There was a small tremour to it. If everything that he said was true, then Henderson was exactly one of those people he'd be running away from.

Henderson scoffed. "Aren't you a wanted man?"

I took several steps back from the two men. It was clear that neither liked the other and all I wanted to do was be away from this scenario. I had to get mom or maybe call the police.

I should probably call the police. They'd know what to do. Luke would come instantly, especially if I just gave a little white lie and said mom was in trouble. It wasn't exactly a big lie. With these two here, mom wasn't safe.

"Madi, come with me. We'll go to the authorities and send his man to prison," Henderson offered with his hand extended towards me. "Come on."

White stepped forward as well. "Don't listen to him. Remember what I said."

I looked at them in confusion. It seemed to be all I've done lately. "I – I'll just go upstairs to tell my mom that you're both here." I needed an opportunity to just get to a phone. Any phone! Or maybe if I shouted loud enough, the neighbours would hear? Constance was probably lurking around somewhere, but would she even help us even if she did?

Someone like her would most likely be delighted if we all just dropped dead. She was always pilfering things from the house, as if no one noticed. Mom was just too much of a softy to say anything about it and Violet didn't care. What should I do? What should I do?

I continued to step away, hoping to find an opening to at least warn mom.

Unfortunately, I had to inch pass White to do so. As I did, he grabbed my arm. "Madi, the pills, you ca – "

Bang!

I screamed as a splatter of warm fluid and solids hit my face. Frantically, I tried to rid myself of the filth, but the body toppled over, bringing me down with it. I continued to scream until my voice was hoarse and I had no breath left. Then, I was suffocating. The larger body was crushing my ribs. It pressed heavily against my lungs.

Henderson loomed over me with his gun will pointed at White's still form. I knew he must've had a crazed look on his face. "Madi, why didn't you just listen to me? I didn't want to shoot him. We were just going to bring him to the police, but you made me. You're the reason he's dead."

My eyes widened in horror. There were so many thoughts in my head, but I couldn't make any sense of it. This couldn't be happening to me. Weren't ghosts in the house enough?

He crouched by my head and brushed my hair back. The barrel of the gun, which was still warm was pressed again my cheek. "This house has a great history of murder – suicides," he mumbled. "Deranged doctor goes after his former patient…" He cocked the gun.

At that moment, I wasn't sure if he was referring to himself or White. I only had one single thought left. "TATE‼!" I screamed with the last of my breath.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a dark figure appear. He rushed over to Henderson, pushing the mad man away.

Instead of cringing in fear, the doctor let out a burst of maniacal laughter. "You're the psychopath who went on the school shooting! I can see you! The pills are really working!" He grunted as his assailant punched him in the face.

"I know about this house!" he gleefully continued. "I kno – " He was interrupted as he was flung towards the wall. "I KNOW!" He pointed his gun at me, a Cheshire grin growing on his face. The gun changed directions and he pulled the trigger.

...

Tate was watching. He was always watching. Madi looked just as he remembered. He smiled and brushed loose strands of hair away from her face. She sighed and shifted to her side, causing Tate to cringe away in fear of her waking up.

When he realised that she was still asleep, he relaxed. It had taken him quite a while to gather enough courage to really spend time with her – even if she was only asleep.

He knew he was being a creep. He knew it the very first day that she arrived at the house, but she was his addiction. It was too late for him to give up on her, now. He'd lurk around like he once did if he had to.

When she woke up, he retreated into a corner. He couldn't help the stirring inside him as she undressed and changed out of her pyjamas. What he wouldn't give to feel her soft body pressed against him, again. He'd worship her the way she deserved to be treated.

Unfortunately, he didn't have long to fantasise when the doorbell rang and she scurried about looking for her sister who had already left the house an hour ago. He was quite surprised that little Violet was actually going to school. Who knew a lost cause like her was actually making something of herself now? If he tried a little harder, could it have been him, too?

He tugged at his hair. No, he didn't want that. It would mean never meeting Madi.

He made his way outside and saw an unfamiliar man. Should he get rid of him? He quickly reprimanded himself. She wouldn't want him killing anyone and besides, the house was crowded enough without another person joining in, especially one who could mean his Madi harm.

And so, he opted to continue watching. He leaned against the wall at the entrance. As the man grabbed Madi, he had to fold his arms to keep himself from interfering. She wouldn't like it if he did anything. She didn't want to see him. He couldn't show himself to her. He couldn't. He couldn't. He physically couldn't. This stupid house and its stupid rule. Of all things…

The doorbell rang, again, shortly after. It was Madi's current therapist. There was something obviously wrong with him. He looked as if he hadn't had any sleep. There were dark bags beneath his eyes and his cheeks were gaunt. He did not look well.

Tate continued to silently observe the altercation, wishing that he could have done anything to help Madi. She looked so small and confused. All he wanted to do was gather her in his arms and take her away from everything. Why couldn't she understand that he would never intentionally hurt her? He just couldn't help himself, sometimes! This house… This house just messed with his head all the time. No. No, he was in denial. He knew he was in denial. His entire family was fucked up. Addy was physically fucked up. He was mentally fucked up. Beau was fucked up all around.

A loud bang that echoed in the old house pulled him from his thoughts. The first man's head was half blown off. The contents coated Madi's horrified form before it tumbled over, taking her with it.

Tate felt as if he was in an invisible cage, trying desperately to get to her, but it was impossible. He had to watch as she slowly began to panic and suffocate beneath the body. He was helpless. He needed her permission. He needed her to want him, again.

He watched in horror as the doctor pressed the gun against her head. He was screaming at them, now – screaming and screaming and screaming. The fucking bastard! He was going to kill him! He was going to rip his head off the fucker's shoulders and… and he couldn't… The crazy asshole would be trapped in this house with his Madi. He was going to –

"TATE‼!"

His necessary sharp intake of breath was caught in his chest when he heard her call for him. In seconds, he had the doctor away from her, but the therapist surprised him. The man wasn't afraid or shocked. In fact, the crazy fucker was laughing!

With a scoff, he punched him in the face. He'd teach the asshole to be afraid of him.

Suddenly, the bastard had the gun pointed at Madi who was still trapped under the corpse. The mad doctor, however, had other plans. The gun shifted directions before the trigger was pulled.

Tate's eyes widened – more from shock than anything else.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Cliffhanger‼ Who did Henderson kill?! I hope you guys don't hate me for leaving you hanging!

Good thing is, Tate can finally properly interact with Madi, again! Imagine having the love of your life (unlife?) in the same room, yet unable to properly interact with her!

It's also taken me this long to realise that the three symbols I use for line breaks to separate between scenes and Tate's point of view have not been showing up, so I'm currently going through my older chapters again to try to fix that.

I am ecstatic to see all the reviews for the last chapter!

Thank you Emmettluver2010, in-that-reason, ludivine77, and guests (AFAN, Guest, Laurel, and Anonymouscsifan) for reviewing!

Emmettluver2010: Nope, Nora didn't kill Madi, but she's really messed up. Both Nora and Madi, at this point.

in-that-reason: I completely agree! She really wants to have her baby, but we all know that that is never going to make her happy.

AFAN: I completely agree! Vivien had been far too lenient with Constance! Honestly, do the Harmons even lock their house?!

Ludivine77: Tate is probably dying (again) of waiting to be with her again!

Laurel: Meep!

Anonymouscsifan: Thank you for the long review! I'm glad you like how I changed Violet a little. Nora is just a really complicated character. She seems like an airhead a lot of the time, but she's a very calculating and manipulative woman when she wants something.

Thank you as well to everyone who has favourited and followed this story.

As promised, the new chapter is here so quick thanks to your reviews!

I will make the same promise: The more reviews I receive, the quicker I will update this story!