Chapter 9~ Bad Water The next morning, Michael woke early and began breakfast. After placing the food on a tray, he brought it upstairs to the bedroom where Melissa was sleeping. Michael was surprised that she was already awake and dressed. "I thought you were still asleep."

"No. I heard you downstairs so I got up." She said.

"I brought breakfast."

"I see that."

"Would you like to eat?"

"In bed?"

"Of course. Climb back in."

"Alright."

Melissa climbed back under the covers and took the tray. Michael sat next to her and watched her every move. "You going to watch me eat?" Melissa wondered.

"Oh no.I...I'll just go."

Michael stood to leave, but Melissa stopped him. "I didn't mean you had to leave. But you could eat some of this food."

Retaking his seat on the bed, Michael agreed. "Okay."

"What should we do today??" Melissa asked between bites.

"I don't want you being over active." Michael warned. "Why don't we just do nothing? Tomorrow is going to be a busy day."

"I still have to tell you about my life."

"You sure you still want to."

"Michael you are the only person who has ever truly loved me. I want to share everything with you.the good and the bad."

"In that case, I'm here to listen whenever you are ready."

Melissa set aside the tray of food. "I'm ready now."

Michael took her hand and squeezed it tightly. "You were just about to tell me about your next foster home. You said your life started going down hill."

"Yes it did."

The city streets were lined with strangers. Except for Jessie, Melissa knew no one. "You sure we should be out here?" Melissa asked her friend.

"Of course." Jessie replied. "I come down here all the time."

"It's so crowded."

"It is a city Melissa. What did you expect?"

"I don't know. I guess I've just always liked quiet.I want to live out in the country where it's peaceful and there's no body else living for miles."

"Except for me of course." Jessie said.

"Of course.except for you. You're my best friend. How could I live without you?"

"You finally had a best friend." Michael interrupted. "Sounds as if things were getting better."

"I thought they were." Melissa said. "Jessie was like the sister I never had. I loved her so much."

"Jess it's really creepy out here."

"Don't think about it. Think about.the show."

The two best friends had just come from a production of Shakespeare's "A Mid Summer Nights Dream" shown outside, as it should be. As they made their way to the bus station, they found themselves lost in a patch of trees. "Maybe we shouldn't have come this way." Melissa worried.

"We'll be fine." Jessie insisted. "The bus station is just around this bend. I'm sure of it."

The girls were only twelve, hardly old enough to be wandering around alone. But they always snuck out for plays and adventures in the city. How could they not? They were in love with the stage.

Melissa tried to conceal her fear over the dark, quiet surroundings. "Don't you just love Puck?"

"He's my favorite!" Jessie exclaimed. "He's so funny."

"I love how he messed up the love potion. That was great."

"Yea. It was." Jess agreed. "And what about Lysander.What a hunk!"

"He's gorgeous.But I'll never find a man like him."

"Of course you will.we both will."

"You of course.you're smart and talented.I'm not."

"Melissa, we're only twelve. I don't think we should think about getting married yet."

"I guess your right. But don't you dream of your wedding day?"

"Of course. But unlike you, I believe it will happen."

"I just don't see myself ever meeting someone here."

"Maybe you'll go off and travel the country." Jessie dreamed. "And meet some handsome explorer."

"Will a handsome historian work?" Michael asked.

Melissa was startled out of her memory. She smiled slightly and looked up at her fiancée. "A handsome historian is all I ever wanted."

"Sounds like Jessie was right.You did find someone."

"I did.and I thank god every day I did."

"So why didn't you invite her to the wedding?"

"I couldn't."

"An explorer?" Melissa asked. "Most of the United States has already been explored."

"Yea well there are still thinks we don't know.maybe he'll be an archeologist like Indiana Jones. He's hot."

"He's just a character.like Lysander."

"But there are real men out there just like him.there has to be."

"Look Jessie! The bus station!"

"I told you it was over here."

Just then a hand reached around a tree and covered Jessie's mouth. She tried to scream but the sound was muffled. "Jessie!" Melissa yelled when she saw her friend being led away, kicking and screaming. Melissa took off running, trying to rescue her friend. But it was too late. She wasn't fast enough. Jessie was gone.

Racing to the bus station, Melissa tried to remain calm. "Please!" she shouted. "You've got to help me!"

A man heard her cries and come out of the station. "What is it girl?"

"My friend.someone took her! You've got to help!"

"Ok, Ok.just calm down." The man said. "Let's go inside and call the police."

"They found her body a few weeks later. Drowned in the river."

"Oh Melissa.that's so terrible."

"She was the only friend I had ever had. She knew what I was going to say before I even said it. She was so young."

"There are some horrible people in this world." Michael remarked.

"The family I had been staying with.they sent me away after that. Even though they told me it was because they felt they couldn't make me happy again, I knew the real reason. They were mad that I had snuck out. They found out I left home every night and they were making me pay for it."

"That can't be true."

"It is. I know it is."

"Why don't we stop there for today? You can tell me the rest after the wedding."

"No Michael I want to go on. The sooner I'm finished, the quicker I can put all this behind me."

"I think it'd be better if we take a break. Remembering all this, and so quickly.it might be too much."

But Melissa would not agree. "Will you let me decide what I can and cannot handle? I have to finish. So I can move on."

"If you insist."

"I do." Melissa replied. "The next home I went to.they weren't as nice as the last two."

Darkness filled the small room Melissa had been given. She quietly slipped back into bed, hoping no one had heard her get up. Not hearing a single footstep outside of her door, she sighed with relief. They hadn't heard her.

Just as she was about to drift back to sleep, the door slammed open. The walls shook and a picture frame came crashing to the ground. Melissa bolted from the bed and cowered in a corner. "What are you doin up?!" a man shouted.

"I.I just needed a glass of water." Melissa replied in a shaky voice."

"Water? You wanted water?"

"Yes sir."

"Why didn't you just ask then girl?"

"I didn't want to wake you.

"Well ya did."

"I'm sorry."

"Get back in bed." The man instructed. "You're gonna pay."

Melissa timidly climbed back into the bed. "Please.what are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna show you what it's like to want water."

"No.please.I'm sorry."

"It's too late for sorry. You stay right there." The man instructed. "I'll be back."

When the man returned, he had a large bag of highly salted pretzels. He threw them on the bed. "Now eat!"

"I.I'm not hungry."

"I didn't ask if you w ere hungry. I told you to eat."

Taking a pretzel out of the bag, Melissa nervously placed it in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed quickly.

"Another one." The man ordered.

Melissa complied, afraid of what he would do if she didn't. She kept eating until her tiny stomach couldn't take it any more. A few tears slipped down her creeks. "Please." She begged. "No more."

"Oh so now our food ain't good enough for ya." The man accused. "Well fine then you can go without tomorrow." As soon as the door shut, Melissa ran to the window. She threw up all of the food she had been forced to eat. But that didn't reverse the effect the salt had on her body. Her entire mouth felt like sawdust. Her whole body ached for a drink of water. Just one sip, she would pray. Any little bit of liquid would help.

But there would be no relief that night. Melissa crawled back into bed and cried herself to sleep.