Chapter 19: Night of the Scythe
Mary cried to herself as she scrubbed the floor of the library. Her mom was being so mean to her. All she was trying to do was be a good person by staying with Carter. She wasn't doing anything wrong. Why did she have to work like this. It pained her to see such happy people like Popuri and Kai. When they met again after Kai's long absence, the danced down the street. Her life was so miserable. She dipped her sponge back in the bucket and squeezed the extra water out of it. Mary felt just like that sponge. Like she was having the life twisted out of her...
Jack sat in his house carving his mask. It was going to look awesome. With his knife he cut a twisted smile out of the wood. He'd need to buy a new knife after he was done, this knife was ruined. That was that. With one last twist of the knife, the mask was finished. Jack stood up and pulled his cloak around him tight. He affixed the mask to his face and looked at himself in the mirror. A horrible skull grinned back at him. It was beautiful. He gripped the scythe in hand and marched out his door...
Anna walked over to the library. She needed to teach her daughter a lesson that would keep her doing what she said once and for all. That little girl had gotten way out of line lately, and she would guarantee that this time she would behave. She slammed open. Mary flinched and cowered slightly. Very nice. "Mary! Why haven't you finished scrubbing all the floors yet? You are being lazy aren't you?"
"No mom not at all. I'm very sorry. I'll try harder to do it faster."
"You won't try harder, you will do it faster. And for back talking me, I want you to dust all the shelves too. That will teach you to behave more like a proper lady. How can you ever expect to succeed in life if you are lazy all the time. I want you to stop shirking your duties."
"Yes ma'am. I will ma'am. I'm very sorry for talking inappropriately ma'am." Mary fought back the tears. That would only make it worse.
Anna smiled, "You better be. Now get back to work, I want you finished soon, and the job better be to my satisfaction." She slammed the door to the library back open. She would leave Mary to her work. It was fun torturing her like this...
Jack watched her from behind the corner of the house. Anna was now leaving the library to go back to her adjoining home. The late night light inside the library spilled out onto the street, but no light fell upon Anna's face. The depths of her cruelties made light itself forsake her. Jack would stifle her evil, one way or another. For Mary, he would give Anna one chance, and one alone. One single solitary chance to live. It was something Anna didn't deserve.