CHAPTER TWELVE

VENGEANCE

Grace get down here!

She was roughly awakened by his screams. She jumped off the bed realizing the doll was no longer with her. She ran out of the room panicked and ran down the stairs. She found Harry pacing angrily in the living room and it was only when he turned to her that she noticed his face was covered in blood. Her eyes widened at the sight and she approached him.

What happened? She asked him,

You know exactly what happened! He yelled at her making her take a step back. He pointed at the wall above the fireplace and she turned to look in horror at the scene. The wall was covered in blood but what caught her attention was the words written obviously with blood.

LEAVE OR DIE

She starred at the bloodied wall in shock wondering where all this blood had come from until she noticed the dead rats on the floor.

Do you think this is funny? Harry grabbed her arm roughly, she could see he was enraged. His eyes were full of hatred for her.

I didn't do it, I swear, she tried to explain but he wouldn't listen.

Who did it then? It's just you and me in this god damn house, he yelled again, his hold on her arm tightened and she was sure it would be bruised after. Her eyes traveled to the large armchair by the window where the doll was sitting innocently.

Brahms… she whispered. He must be angry. Somehow she managed to pull her arm free and ran over to the the doll, she picked him up in her arms and held him tightly.

You mean to tell me the doll did this? He said gesturing around the bloodied scene.

Harry, you don't understand. He's more than just a doll, she tried to explain and she watched him coming towards her. She was truly scared in that moment, she knew that look in his eyes. He would hurt her.

Give me the doll, he said reaching out his hand expectantly and she pulled away.

No, she said stepping back, he followed after her like a predator.

Give me that damn thing, he said through gritted teeth and tried to grab her but she moved away quickly. He ran after her and grabbed her hair causing her to yell in pain.

Let go of me! She screamed trying to get his hand off her hair.

I do not tolerate disobedience Gracie, he whispered in her ear and he grabbed the doll taking it from her arms.

No! She screamed clawing at him. She was too upset to notice Alex running into the living room.

Hey! Get off her! He yelled running towards them and he pushed Harry. He let her go in surprise and looked at Alex in disdain.

The savior is back, he said in a mocking tone swinging the doll around.

Harry please give him to me! She said desperately trying to reach for the doll.

Don't do anything stupid, Alex warned stepping closer to Harry.

What's so special about that doll that you're both so worried about? He mocked again swinging dangerously the doll from its porcelain leg.

That's enough now, give me the doll, Alex said walking over to Harry only to be pushed back roughly and almost losing his balance.

Harry please! She begged him and he just laughed at her face.

If you want that doll so bad then you can have it, he said with a sinister smile. She knew in that moment that something terrible was about to happen but she did not expected what he did next. He swinged the doll with all his strength and threw it at her. The force of the hit took her down and she fell on the floor, she barely heard Alex screaming. She slowly opened her eyes, she was too numb to register the pain. She looked at the broken pieces of porcelain on the floor and the horrible realization of what he had done dawned on her.

No… she whispered looking at the now headless doll laying on the floor. She felt something trickling down her face and she touched her right side, she had hundreds of small cuts on her skin and her fingers touched something hard. A small sharp piece of porcelain had pierced her skin, she slowly pulled it out and flinched dropping it on the floor. Suddenly Alex's panicked face came into view and he searched her head for injuries.

What the fuck is wrong with you! He yelled to Harry. He touched her face and his fingers were covered in blood.

Jesus Christ… are you alright Grace? He said looking at her with worry in his eyes. She wasn't okay, she was in pain. She wanted to speak but she could not make a sound.

Suddenly the lights flickered and it felt as if the entire house was shaking. Loud bangs came from the walls all around the room. Alex stood up looking around as if trying to find the source of the noise while Harry stood there confused.

What the hell is happening? He said and for the first time she saw fear on his face. The noises suddenly stopped and the room was eerily quiet, the only thing Grace could hear was her own heavy breathing. Harry walked towards the large victorian mirror that was embed on the wall.

Do you hear that? He asked quietly looking at them.

Where is it coming from? Alex asked following after him.

The mirror, Harry said placing his head on the mirror trying to find the source of the sound. It was loud enough for her to hear it now and she saw Alex taking a step back.

I think we should leave, he said quietly.

It's right here behind the mirror. I can hear it. There's something in the walls… was all he said before the mirror exploded sending him flying to other side of the room. His face was covered in blood and full of cuts from the mirror, matching her own bloodied face.

Grace.

All three of them turned towards the wall where the mirror exploded noticing for the first time the huge hole in the wall. Grace instantly recognized his voice. It was Brahms and he was angry. She saw the white shape she had seen once in her room that night, it was coming towards the light. She held her breath without realizing it as she starred in horror the shape moving into the light.

Like a nightmare, he clawed at the wall emerging from the darkness taking slow steps and looking into her eyes. He was focused on her and her only.

That was not a spirit, no, it was was not the soul of the dead child she believed she was caring for. That was a large, fully grown male and very much alive. She starred back at him frozen like a deer in headlights. The 'white shape' she had seen in the darkness was the porcelain cracked mask he wore on his face. She blinked and as if she had just released him he turned his eyes elsewhere, towards Harry.

Who the hell are you? He asked wiping blood from his lips and starring at the masked man. Then it all happened in seconds. He launched himself at Harry bringing him down to the floor next to her, he straddled him trapping him under his body delivering punch after punch. She heard cracking noises, which probably came from broken bones but she didn't even bother to look at her uncle. Her eyes were glued on him, still in shock.

Brahms no! She heard Alex's voice and saw him coming behind the masked man trying to get him off Harry. It only took one swing of his hand to push Alex off him. He didn't stop his assault until Harry was unconscious, then he turned to her. Still frozen from shock and fear she starred at him as he moved close to her slowly as if not to startle her.

Grace? The voice came muffled from the mask but what made her shudder was the sweet, childlike voice she had become so familiar with. His hand reached out and she felt his fingers brushing face but before she could react he was dragged back and she saw him falling unconscious to the floor. Looking behind him she saw Harry standing above the masked man holding the fire pit shovel in his hands.

You did this, you think you can get rid of me? He accused pointing the shovel at her.

I made the mistake to let you live back then but I won't repeat the same mistake, you should have died with them! He said ready to swing the shovel at her. She looked up at him, his once handsome face full of cuts and covered in blood, the hatred in his eyes. He was a monster. She felt herself being dragged away from his attack and she barely had time to realize Alex had grabbed her arm trying to get her up.

They run towards the front door but he was quick getting in their way before they could reach the entrance of the house. She looked to the other side only to see the masked man standing in the hallway. Having no other choice they ran up the stairs, the logic part of her knew it was a stupid move because they would trap themselves in the house but she was too scared to think rationally.

They hid into the first room they could reach which unfortunately she realized was his room. Alex locked the door and not a second later she heard someone banging on the door. She didn't know which one of them was outside the room but it didn't matter in that moment. She looked around the room for anything they could use to defend themselves when she noticed the closet was open, a faint light coming from somewhere in there. She walked over to the closet pushing the clothes aside and found a small passage.

Alex! Over here! She yelled and he came after her.

Get it there, Alex told her looking at the door anxiously. Without a second thought she entered the passage climbing down the small ladder with Alex following right after.

Which way? She asked him looking around the passageways. They didn't had much time to think as they heard the door breaking off its hinges and they ran straight ahead. The passageways seemed to be endless and it was impossible to find a way out from there. They stopped when they reached a dead end.

Damn it! Alex cursed under his breath looking around frantically. It was only then that she realized that they were inside the walls of the manor. This is where he had come from. She noticed the openings on the wall and tried to see where they were through them.

We're in the foyer, she whispered. Just as soon as she spoke a shadow passed by right in front of her on the other side of the wall and she gasped. Then the shovel pierced the wood right on her face making her scream and Alex pushed her away just in time. They ran back where they had come from hearing footsteps running after them. They took a different turn this time only for Grace to come face to face with the masked man. Alex was quick to react grabbing her and taking another direction. They were both inside the walls chasing them now.

They reached another opening this time, another ladder descending lower into the passageways. Grace climbed down first looking around her. They were not in the passageway anymore, it was some kind of a room. The room was equipped with oil lamps in every corner, there were stacks of books and piles of clothes on the floor. She noticed a small table with a microwave on it and a small freezer next to it. A makeshift bed was in the corner of the room and the wall next to the bed was covered by paintings. She walked closer looking at the familiar paintings and she realized that her face was in every single one of them. It looked like a shrine dedicated to her, the thought terrified her.

I can see the forest from here! Alex's voice caught her attention and she run over to him. He had found a small door hidden behind some large rusted pipes. From the small opening on the door she could see the iron gates and the forest beyond.

Is it locked? She asked him,

There's no lock, I think it's stuck, he said pushing against the door. They heard footsteps right above them and Alex run over to the ladder looking up at the opening.

Push the door Grace, I'll keep him here, he said and she watched as someone climbed down the ladder. She didn't wait to see who it was running for the small door and pushing with all her strength. Alex kicked the ladder again and again until it gave out collapsing down. She looked back then when she heard a body hit the floor and saw the masked man already getting up from his fall. She watched in horror as he attacked Alex punching him once and then again and again until he was almost unconscious.

Stop!she screamed. She would never forgive herself if anything happened to Alex only because he was trying to help her. The masked man's attention turned to her. He approached her slowly and she began pounding on the door panicked.

Grace, please don't go. You promised you wouldn't leave me, he said in the child's voice. She was too scared to look behind her, she didn't want to look at him. She refused to acknowledge him as Brahms. No, her Brahms was a child. Her Brahms was an innocent, tortured soul.

Grace please, don't be afraid of me. Don't leave me, he begged. His voice was closer now but she still refused to look at him.

Grace, this time she turned to look at him. His voice had changed and she realized that she had heard that voice before. It was the voice from her dreams, the voice that would comfort her in her nightmares. It was engraved in her mind and she realized that he had always been there, comforting her to escape her horrible nightmares.

I would never hurt you Grace, he continued in that voice. He was much closer now, kneeling down to get through the pipes. Her hands were still on the door shaking.

You know I would never hurt you, I did this for you, he said with what she could imagine was desperation in his voice. He was right in front of her now. Pale blue eyes starred at her through the cracked porcelain mask.

I did this to protect you, he would take you away. He would hurt you, he said softly. His hand reached out towards her but he didn't touch her. He was inches away from her but he didn't move any closer, aware of the frightened state she was in.

It was you all along… it was your voice in my dreams… she said when she finally gained control of her voice. She felt lost and betrayed. He had been there all along, watching and playing with her emotions and her sanity.

I wanted to keep you safe, I knew I would scare you. Please don't leave me, he whispered. He moved his hand closer and she realized he wanted her to take his hand, possibly as a gesture of acceptance. It was difficult for her brain to comprehend that this man was behind what she believed to be a spirit. Moving the doll around the house, watching her from the walls. But he never hurt her. He even comforted her when she had nightmares. Could she really trust him? Would he keep his promise to protect her?

She hesitantly put her hand in his and watched as his eyes lit up with hope. His hold on her hand tightened but not in a harmful way, it was more like reassurance.

I'll be good, I promise, he promised pulling her gently away from the door. The short moment of peace was ruined when he was dragged back roughly. She watched in shock Harry jumping on his back and wrapping a chain around his neck. He struggled choking but he managed to pull the chain from his neck hitting Harry in the face. She ran back to the door pushing with all her strength again and again until the door gave in and she crawled out. She ran as fast as she could not looking behind her until she reached the iron gates.

She remembered that only she and Alex had keys for the gates which made her wonder how Harry had managed to get into the property. Perhaps he climbed up, she thought as she was about to do the same thing. Something held her back from leaving this place. Alex was still there probably unconscious and so was Brahms. And then there was Harry… his words echoing in her head…

I made the mistake to let you live back then but I won't repeat the same mistake, you should have died with them…

The horrible realization of what he had admitted in a fit of rage made her skin crawl. Her father had many enemies but his greatest enemy was inside his family. His own brother. He had killed them…he was the monster behind the fire that had taken their lives. He would have killed her too if the firefighters were not there in time. He never mourned, he never shed a tear for his dead family. It all made sense now.

He had killed them and he would get away. Again.

She felt a kind of rage she had never felt before. She would not let him get away this time. She turned around and walked back to the mansion. The back door was wide open which made it easier for her to enter the house without making noise. She walked into the kitchen, the room was dark with the only source of light coming from the window. She slowly opened one of the drawers and instantly found what she was looking for.

A noise from somewhere in the house caught her attention. She headed out into the hallway looking around carefully. She felt eyes on her back and she turned to see Brahms standing at the end of the hallway. They starred at each other for a long time but no one moved. He had survived Harry's attack and a part of her felt relieved to see he was alive. And then she heard his voice…

She walked towards the living room, he was there. The man that was once her uncle. Cursing and kicking things around the room.

Why? She asked him. He didn't noticed her standing at the doorway and her voice surprised him. He took slow steps towards her until he was right in front of her.

Because everything your father has left you belongs to me. You didn't think I would let you get away with all my money, did you? He said mocking her. Again.

Is that why you killed them? She blatantly asked him. He narrowed his eyes and grabbed her hair painfully but she didn't feel any pain.

He ruined my life, always the favorite child of my parents. He turned them against me making them hate me. The day he died was the happiest day of my life until they told me you survived. Just like him, you ruined everything, he said looking at her in disgust. His eyes held so much hatred for her. It was all she needed to hear to remove any doubts for what she was about to do.

Her hand reached for the sharp knife she had taken from the kitchen and without a second thought she plunged it into his abdomen. His eyes widened in shock and he looked down at the sharp object that penetrated his body in disbelief.

You didn't think you would kill my family and I would let you get away with it, did you? The words came out of her mouth but it didn't feel like she was the one speaking. She was numb, there was no guilt, no remorse. She felt empty. He stepped back unsteady from the blood loss and opened his mouth but no sound came except his labored breathing. She watched him falling to his knees holding his abdomen, the knife still deeply into his body.

She looked around the room and she found the blanket she had given him that night. She picked it up and walked to the fireplace. She would not let him have an easy death. No. He would suffer like they suffered. He would suffer for killing two innocent children, for making her mother watch her children die. For killing his own brother. She held the blanket above the fire until the flames touched it. And then she pulled it back and walked over to him. She didn't say a word as she dropped the burning blanket on him. His screams ringed in her ears but it felt as if she wasn't really there. It all felt like a dream.

He rolled on the carpet trying to escape the flames but it only made it worse. The flames touched the carpet, and then the curtains and soon the entire room was on fire. The flames surrounded her but she didn't care, she couldn't feel anything anymore. She didn't even realized that someone grabbed her dragging her forcefully out of the burning room.

When she finally tore her gaze from the fire she was met with pale blue eyes. Eyes full of concern. She knew she was safe then and she closed her eyes allowing herself to fall into blissful unconsciousness.