The awkwardness in the air hung over the dining table. It was Constance and Clementine's first dinner at the Weiss house. The small family was seated at the table, all of us eating Wanda's food slowly.
Her cooking lacked favor, it tasted like the food I ate at the mental institution. Once her food was delicious, but that was before her children dropped like flies. Wanda appeared forlorn, her face pale and her eyes dim.
Cody picked mindlessly at his food, his smartphone laid next to his plate. He engrossed himself in an online game. Clementine seemed to be in high spirits, unaware of her family's deaths. She clung close to her adoptive "sister." a cool-headed Constance sat on my right and a silent Alyona sat on my left.
Wanda, despite all of her pain and misery, still managed to be compassionate. She forced out a faint smile to all of us.
"Everything is going to be okay," Wanda reassured all of us.
The table is utterly silent.
"One day, Sheila will come back. Don't worry." Wanda put on a content facade. She looked at Constance. "You're going to be really happy here." Wanda encouraged.
Constance smiled happily. "Thank you! I really love this house!" She chirped. Clementine smiled brightly, she eagerly began to sign to Wanda. Wanda's eyes widened with confusion, uneducated on sign language. Constance turned to her sister and promptly translated it. "I really like this house too."
Life grew in Wanda's dim eyes.
Cole smiled warmly at this sight. I felt great pity for my darling. I have put him through so much. Hopefully one day, I will make his life as enjoyable as possible.
After dinner, Cole had to take Cody out for a doctor's appointment, leaving everyone else with Wanda.
I had no interest to be around this wretched woman and I headed to my bedroom. Alyona, Constance, and Clementine followed me to play. Clementine beamed with happiness, grabbed a pillow after my bed, and flung it at me playfully. Clementine burst out giggling sweetly. Her laughter was music to my ears. Before I know, we all engaged in a playful pillow fight. The room immediately filled with boisterous laughter and energy.
For once, I actually felt sheer happiness. This is a small moment, but it is a profound moment of happiness for me.
Then our playtime is cut short upon hearing a deafening glass shatter and the foul mouth of Wanda.
"FUCK!" She hollered at the top of her lungs. Her voice shook the house, brimful of intensity and emotions. Then there are more shatters of glass downstairs.
"What the hell is she doing?" I asked in my head. "Fucking madwoman!"
Constance became curious, she briskly hurried out of my bedroom and vanished into the hallway. I stood there in front of my bedroom door. I was like a statue, I prepared myself for the little ones trying to investigate so I could stop them. Thankfully none were curious enough.
My curiosity began to increase every passing second. Wanda continued to swear up a hurricane downstairs. She yelled her heart out to the heavens, tossing and breaking fragile items in a fury.
Finally, my curiosity overwhelmed my common sense and I hurried out of my bedroom. I went to the staircase and stood on the top step. There, I'm met with the sight of Wanda with a half empty bottle of wine. The woman's movement was erratic and strange. Fragments of glass scattered on the floor, the dining room chairs were on the floor. Papers and other items were splattered onto the living room floor. It looked like a tornado stormed through the place.
As she spoke, her words began to slur and her tone became nearly incoherent.
With a furious scream, she slammed the bottle of wine to the floor as hard as she could. The bottle broke into fragments upon hitting the floor.
Then the drunk woman saw me. "MERCY!" She yelled, staggering to the staircase. I stood there like a statue, unsure on what to do.
"Time for car ride! Wanna go...go...to….park…"
My facial expression was lifeless. I wanted to vomit at this woman. She disgusted me to my core. I shook my head. Wanda didn't care for my approval.
"No! No! Nonsense! It's time for fun, kids!" She shouted as loud as she could.
By then, Morgan emerged out of her bedroom to investigate the commotion. Her eyes widened with shock upon seeing the mess her Mother created.
"MOM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Morgan screamed. Wanda unsteadily looked up at her daughter, then she exploded into senseless laughter.
Morgan appeared flabbergasted. "Mom, stop!" She begged.
Wanda did not stop. She stumbled into the kitchen to grab another wine bottle. Wanda was on cloud nine, drunk as a skunk. She expressed her elated state by giggling and chortling at nothing.
I couldn't help but stare at this wretched woman. She staggered out of the kitchen, swigging the wine in long gulps.
In her free hand, her fingers were glued to jiggling car keys.
"Mom, please! Stop!" Morgan shrieked. "What are you doing?"
Wanda responded by showcasing the car keys. "Time to have fun trip….time for park…" She stuttered.
Morgan was speechless. She had no idea of what to do.
"ALYONA!" Wanda shouted at the top of her lungs. "TIME FOR PARK!" I felt my nerves burning with alarm. No! I can't allow this bitch to drive us anywhere. She's drunk as a skunk.
Before I could do anything, Alyona exited their bedroom. I whirled around to her. "No! Go back to your room!" I ordered.
Alyona appeared perplexed.
"COME ON! IN THE CAR! TIME TO GO!" Wanda screeched. Alyona appeared baffled, she didn't know who to obey. The adult or me.
"TIME TO GO!" Wanda demanded.
Constance emerged out of the bedroom. "What's going on?" She inquired to me. Clementine poked her little head out of the bedroom curious.
I was determined to not allow Wanda to endanger my little ones. "Go back to the bedroom!" I commanded.
No one listened to me.
Wanda trudged up the stairs, despite her drunkenness, she managed to keep up a brisk pace. "TIME TO GO!" She yelled as she made it up the stairs. When she came close to me, I contemplated shoving her down the stairs.
"Time for park!" She shouted with a stupid grin.
Alyona appeared concerned. "Are you okay?" She asked.
Wanda gesture wildly. "YEAH!" She cried. "CAR!"
Alyona exchanged a look together. I could tell Alyona didn't want to go with Wanda, but she didn't know what else to do.
Then I felt a strong grip on my arm. Wanda's hold was like an iron vice. "Let's go!" She croaked. Alyona's eyes widened with alarm. She began to tremble.
I knew whatever Wanda wanted to do would end terribly. I began to struggle against Wanda like a fish on a hook. "LET ME GO!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Wanda gave me one forceful yank down the stairs. She was utterly stronger than me and overwhelmed me.
The madwoman dragged me downstairs as if I was a sack of potatoes. "TO THE CAR, KIDS!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.
I desired the presence of Cole. He would not allow this madness to occur. I was helpless at this moment. I had no weapon or any kind of defense. I released a shrill scream of protest that fell on deaf ears.
The other children were all silent, I caught a glimpse of Constance standing stiffly at the top of the stairs. Clementine running passes her gave her energy. "NO! CLEM! NO!" She screamed. Clementine, of course, could not hear her. She seemed to be intrigued.
Wanda was adamant to her drunk idea. The woman proceeded to drag me outside in the snowy weather, I shivered violently from the ruthless winter cold.
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" I screeched hysterically.
Wanda ignored my cries and proceeded to tug me to the SUV. She unlocked it with the car keys and jerked the door open with her free hand.
"INTO THE CAR, MERCY!" Wanda commanded.
I had no intentions of getting into the car. But I had no choice, Wanda wrapped both of her arms around me and hauled me up into the air.
I released out a small shriek when I was tossed into the backseat of the SUV. I landed facefirst into the cushion of the seat.
"MOM!" Morgan bolted out of the house, horror reflected in her glassy eyes. "STOP!" My heart jerked with apprehension.
I picked myself when Wanda slammed the car door behind me. "CRAZY BITCH!" I roared as my rage emerged. I whirled around to the car door to see the other children coming out of the house. All dressed in their coats and boots. Constance exited the house in her coat with alarm framed in her eyes. I attempted to open the door, only for me to be locked inside with the child lock. My lungs tightened with terror. I felt claustrophobic. Wanda briskly hurried to the other children and snatched up Constance.
Constance struggled against Wanda with all ferocity and determination she could muster. "LET ME GO! YOU CRAZY BITCH! GET AWAY FROM ME!" She hollered intensely. Wanda was too strong for Constance, she pulled her to the car with no trouble. She opened the backseat door, chilly winds impacted my face when she does. Similar to me, Wanda tossed a squirming Constance into the backseat with me. Constance landed in the backseat kicking and screaming. "THAT DUMB CUNT IS GONNA DIE!" She ranted. Her face was beet red with rage. When Wanda approached Clementine, Constance flew into a rage. "YOU BITCH!" Constance instantly proceeded to slam her fists on the car window. "STAY AWAY FROM HER!"
Constance's cried fell onto deaf ears. Clementine didn't struggle, Wanda easily placed her into the car, strapping her into the babyseat.
I watched in helpless terror as Alyona crawled into the car under Wanda's incessant commands. Alyona sat in the very back. Alyona trembled like a leaf in a hurricane.
The only child not to be in the car was Morgan. She sprinted into the house in mad haste. By then, Wanda jumped into the driver seat and activated the car. I grew stiff as a statue, not knowing what to do. All I wanted to be with Cole at this moment.
When the car came alive, Wanda immediately began to drive as unsteady and fast as she could. The SUV filled with shrieks and cries as Wanda violently zigzagged through the open road. I feared us going on the highway with Wanda driving intoxicated.
Wanda began to speed up when we ended up at the long bridge. Her drunkenness led her to abruptly slam on the brakes, making everyone jerk violently. Out of terror, I belted myself with the seatbelt. I felt my head spinning, my heart thundered in my chest. My fingers clung to the carhandle, vigorously tugging at it with all of my might.
"WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOOOOO MUCH FUN! SEATBELTS!" Wanda shouted joyfully. Then she sped up upon entering a icy road. I looked out the window with quickening heartbeats. I saw nothing but trees and frozen lakes and ponds. The house was out of sight.
"STOP THIS CAR! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL US!" Constance screeched. Wanda burst out laughing. "Stop being so dramatic….drama queen!" Wanda slurred.
Then Wanda turned a sudden left turn, the turn swerved the car off the road with frightening speed. Adrenaline coursed through my system. The seatbelt tugged on my skin with every jerk. The extreme motion made my head swim. My eyes stared down at the car floor as I struggled to remain in one piece. Wanda released out a ear-splitting scream as the SUV dashed down the ditch. I braced myself for the SUV to collide with a tree, my life flashed before my eyes. I did not want to die! I released out a primal scream of terror. "NOOOOOO!"
Then Wanda attempted to turn the SUV around by lurching the steering wheel, but it was too late. I was unable to see where we were exactly. The little children's terrified screams echoed throughout the SUV as Wanda made the SUV swerve violently.
"NO! NO! NO!" Wanda screamed I could hear the awareness in her voice. I mustered all of my willpower to look up, all I see is trees in the front. I whirled around to see Wanda reversing into a frozen pond.
A shrill scream escaped my throat when we impacted the pond, instantly breaking the ice. "FUCK!" I shrieked as the SUV jerked upright. I felt like I was a rocket ship as gravity altered at this moment. The SUV broke through the ice, the back of the SUV sank into the icy waters. "SHIT!" I screamed as the water pressure began to crack the backseat windows.
Hysteria exploded in the car. Alyona sobbed her heart out, clinging to a trembling Clementine. Clementine screamed at the top of her lungs, her eyes pouring with tears of terror. Her face red and tearful. Constance struggled to keep her composure, shaking like a leaf.
"NO! IT CAN'T END LIKE THIS!" I screeched. I tugged at my hair, yanking as violently as I could. Trapped in my seatbelt, I squirmed and twisted vigorously. In my state of panic, I have forgotten how to release myself from the seatbelt.
Then the deafening shattering of the glass made my heart skip a beat.
"MERCY!" Alyona screeched out my name as icy water flooded the very back of the SUV. Clementine and Alyona were trapped in their seatbelts, the rapid waters submerged the helpless children. Constance released herself and jolted into the backseat to Clementine. "CLEM!" But the water appeared to be too much for her bear as the water completely swallowed the backseat.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" I found the knowledge of how to release myself from the seatbelt. The second I am free, the water rushed into my carseat row. The water swiftly overwhelmed the car, flooding the insides with freezing water. I made sure I stood up to avoid submerging into the water. I did not know how to swim.
Quick thinking, I jumped into the front seat, I was met with the sight of Wanda limp in the driver seat, appearing to be in a self-induced trance. I pretended this woman didn't exist and I jolted onto her lap. I grabbed the steering wheel, I had no idea on how to drive. I never learned how to drive.
"GODDAMMIT!" Every second counted. I jammed my foot onto Wanda's foot to slam on the gas. The SUV roared with life, but it was not enough to the SUV to escape the waters.
"KEEP GOING!" Constance screamed urgently. I kept putting pressure on the gas, every single inch mattered. I was terrified for my little ones. How long does it take to die from drowning? Horrified thoughts flooded my mind.
"COME ON! COME ON!"
Then with a stroke of luck, the SUV jerked to the snowy surface, when the car flopped upright, the brutal force shoved my body into the steering wheel. Sharp pain shot through my chest.
"YES!" I rejoiced upon the SUV escaping the pond's mouth. The icy waters poured out of the broken windows, emptying the backseat.
When I whirled around to the backseat, I released out a terrified scream when I am met with the sight of Alyona, and Clementine all unconscious and drenched. Their once youthful skin was cursed with haunting paleness. My mind raced wildly, I grew rigid with terror. "SHIT!" Constance shrieked in horror. "Get help!"
Constance doesn't wait, she launched herself to the passenger seat. "WE NEED HELP!" Constance swiftly snatched Wanda's cell phone from her pant pocket.
"SHIT! SHIT!" She yelled as she frantically dialed 911.
"HELLO! HELLO! MY GUARDIAN CRASHED HER CAR INTO A POND! HELP! MY LITTLE SISTER IS UNCONSCIOUS! HELP! HELP!"
Constance proceeded to frantically talk to the operator. "YES! YES! PLEASE! COME QUICK!"
I felt helpless at this moment. I had no idea how to deal with this.
Constance shouted to me. "THEY'RE COMING! THEY'RE COMING!"
Then I heard Alyona hacking out her lungs. I turned my head to them with a thundering heart. "ARE YOU OKAY?" I screamed.
Alyona was unable to answer me. All she could do was cough her lungs out to expel the invasive liquid.
Clementine was still unconscious and motionless.
I had no inkling of time when I heard the deafening sirens of the authorities coming towards us.
"THEY'RE COMING!" I announced. With that, an ambulance and police cars drove down to us. This is the first time, I felt relief from seeing the authorities. I wanted this madwoman to rot in her cell. "FUCK YOU, BITCH!" I roared in the drunk woman's face.
The police officers sprinted to the SUV, jerking the doors open. One officer carried me out of the SUV and into the snowy environment. When I saw a burly cop carrying my little Alyona. I broke down into hysterical tears.
"CLEMENTINE! CLEMENTINE!" Constance shrieked. She was carried by an officer, all of us were promptly escorted to the ambulance.
Next chapter will come soon. Working on other stories.