A.N thanks to everyone for all those lovely reviews, I was very … er, well I don't know how to put it, but it felt really nice to have one's work appreciated.
Raicheal: Scarlett is basically eight years of age (also to those who were wondering) and the strange idea of having this dead tree twisting itself into something else and talking to her when she was alone and lost, was basically too much for her to bear, which is why she fainted.
However it was late at night when she was finally found, and by then she was chilled and wet because it had been raining, so she fell ill because of the shock and exposure to cold and wet weather.
Thanks must also go to those who advised me on paragraph structure and wording, I found it helpful (and I was very glad it was constructive criticism instead of a flame thrower!)
Now on with the story, enjoy.
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Chapter 4THE PROBLEM OF THE EMPTY HOUSE
A canopy of filmy white cloth was the first thing that greeted her when Scarlett groggily opened her eyes.Though still not as strong as she should be, she managed through sheer effort to raise up on her elbows and gaze around the deserted nursery.She remembered very little about the past few days; vague images of being cold and frightened and of tasting an awful liquid idly floated in her confused mind.Her limbs felt like they were being dragged through molasses, they were so slow and heavy.
Sunlight filtered in through the curtains on the left side of her bed, filling the room with warmth and light.She was strangely grateful it was day and not some misty cold night where she couldn't see anything and she was alone with –
With a startled gasp, she sat up quickly and the rooms started spinning idly in slow motion, till her head dropped softly back on the cushions supporting her.
Where was that thing?
How did she get home?
Did someone go out looking for her and dragged her back inside? Why couldn't she remember anything about the past few days?
Was it 'past few days'? How long ago had she found herself lost in the woods, with that –
Scarlett halted her line of thought, just thinking back to that event filled her with a cold dread that iced its way to her chest from her arms.She began whimpering, just as she did that afternoon, lost and frightened, but this time someone came very quickly.Whilst she'd been busy trying to both remember and forget what had happened, she'd not seen Mammy sitting in a chair by the fireplace.
However, she did look up in fright when she felt a hand on her forehead and relaxed when she saw it was her Mammy."What's the matter honey? Is you feeling poorly, Miz Scarlett?"
"Oh Mammy," Scarlett choked out, before racking sobs shook her frame as she clung to Mammy's thick, comforting waist."It was so horrible, and I was so cold, I couldn't see anything, why, oh why didn't anyone find me sooner?"
Mammy patter shoulders comfortingly as her heart twisted to hear such a fearless little girl sound so frightened."Don't you be getting upset now lamb', ain't no good having you sleeping all day again."
Mammy drew away from Scarlett's tight embrace, and smoothed the messy hair out of the pale face staring pleadingly up at her."Why don't you let yo' ole' Mammy feed you something, honey; you just sets there in this here bed, and I feeds you some of Cookie's chicken soup."
Scarlett shook her head then lay back down on the bed, drawing the covers up to her chest, then stared out the window in silence.
Mammy looked at her worriedly, because, especially when she'd been ill, Scarlett had never managed to keep quiet for long.Now she just looked lost and fearful of everything, but wouldn't tell anyone what had caused her such distress.Mammy figured as she walked to the door that if Scarlett didn't eat something, she'd be as poorly tonight as to need the doctor's visit again; she turned round to look at her young mistress, who was still sitting quietly, staring out the window.
"How would my honey chile' like to have some tea instead of Cookie's soup for her lunch?"
Scarlett slowly raised her gaze upon Mammy, standing in front of her, with that wise old smile on her gentle face.Her voice trembled a bit before she managed to speak."Will there be cakes and jam?"
A slow pause before Mammy's comforting reply reached her ears."There sure will."
And Scarlett managed a weak smile before reaching for Sophia at the foot of her bed and hugging her to her chest.
Mammy smirked a bit as she left the room.No matter how sad and ill Scarlett was, she never refused the chance to eat her favourite foods.Her tactic had worked.With a satisfied smile, she searched for Pork to get him to order Cookie to make some tea and cakes, then headed for the office on the opposite side of the landing.Miss Ellen needed to be notified.
Gerald was sitting out on the porch, drinking his tea quietly as he kept watch over the front lawns.He'd been very quiet and drawn these past few days. He'd gone as far as not attending his weekly regular at the saloon with a couple of other gentlemen, preferring instead to stay home.He sipped his tea slowly, then set the cup down on the floor, and sighed, his lined face furrowed into a deep frown.
It couldn't be what he thought it was, that was just unthinkable.Just thinking about it left him feeling uneasy and cold.That was long ago, when he was a lad, young and gullible.Something like that could never find its way across the Atlantic, there was no mistake about it.
And yet –
No, I won't think about that, it hurts too much.
It doesn't make no sense; aye, to be sure it were terrifying to see his beloved Katie Scarlett lying on the forest floor so pale and still, but he was letting imagination run away with him.Not so, because that symbol etched on the dead tree a few feet away from his child had been exactly the same as –
Stop it!
No more thinking nonsense today.Perhaps he should have joined the gentlemen after all.Some spirits in him might have done him good.
But how could he go when his child had just been through such a nasty experience?He should be there right now, even. Ellen had been keeping him informed of their daughter's improving health, but Mammy was telling him different stories all the time. Scarlett was getting physically better, but the ordeal seemed to have belittled her enthusiasm for life.
Having never been confronted with such a situation before, Gerald found himself at a loss as to what would be the best course of action. His mind wondered unwillingly back to that night, when Big Sam had suddenly begun shouting excitedly that they'd found her.The relief that had swept his insides into jelly then, provoked goose – bumps running up his arms.
The sheer frustration that engulfed him as they went back to the house was something he'd seldom felt up to that point in his life. His daughter was wrapped in his coat as they rode swiftly back home, but she was unresponsive to all he'd tried, which included the tiniest of sips from his liqueur bottle.And she was so cold, too. She must have been exposed for so long, she could be in danger of losing the use of an arm, or a leg, or even die. The rest of the search party at that precise moment were spattered with dust as Gerald kicked his horse into a speedy gallop.
His need to get her home where she'd be safe overrode every other rational thought from his worried mind.He didn't even bother going as far as the barn, where the horses were kept.He stopped right in front of the steps that lead to the front door, as he hollered for Mrs. O'Hara to come quickly.
The door was thrown open from the inside by Pork, who was babbling something about how worried they'd all been, but Ellen's gasp of dismay shut them all up.
Gerald thundered up the steps, limply carrying his pale girl in his arms, cradling her limbs protectively against his chest, though her head lolled backwards.Her right arm swung weakly as she swayed, and this was such a sombre sight that it took Gerald's thundering voice to push everyone to act instantaneously.
Gerald was brought back to the present as he felt a chill making his way up his spine and settle on his shoulders for a moment, before it burrowed its way into his chest.His breath came out in a strangled gasp, and the cup of tea he was holding in his trembling hand went crashing to the floor.There was no point in trying to deny what had happened didn't really mean anything.
His Katie Scarlett might well have inherited the O'Hara legacy, something that was too horrifying to think about.
The cailleach had assured him there would be nothing passed down when she'd driven it away, and naturally he believed her, though that was to be attributed to his reluctance to argue with the old woman, out of fear of her skills.And look where that got him; it landed him here in Georgia, with three dead sons, and his precious Katie Scarlett haunted by shadows.
He jumped to his feet and made his way into the house, shutting the door softly behind him. He stared up at the staircase to his right, towards where his daughter's room was, on the upper floor.
Gerald could hear the sounds made by Suellen as she played contentedly in her nursery, but the room next to hers was strangely quiet.It seemed as though the entire house was empty of all servants, and Mrs. O'Hara too had disappeared.Probably on one of her errands to Jonesboro before she made her rounds to the Fontaines' plantation and came back in time for supper.
Gerald's gaze was inexplicably drawn to a solitary door at the end of the corridor, on the left. It was keeping its secrets shut inside, where a frightened and confused little girl was trying to recover.And she would try to both remember and forget the event, as he himself had done the very first time. She hadn't spoken of what had happened out in the woods by the river to anyone, including Mammy and especially her mother; Gerald silently approved of this decision of hers. However much he may love his wife, he knew that should Scarlett say anything about – it – she would never believe her and would probably get suspicious and worry for her daughter's sanity. Gerald knew very well that Scarlett was completely sane, because it had happened to him too, when he was younger. It was one of the unspoken reasons why he'd fled Ireland so quick, and without looking back.
His steps were speedy and silent on the wooden staircase, eyes fixed on that lone door, heart inexplicably beating fast in his chest.
Gerald stopped just in front of the door and he hesitated, as though questioning his actions, then turned the knob and pushed the door ajar.
She was under the covers, Sofia clutched tightly to her small chest, eyes resting on some unknown spot outside. She flinched when she heard the door creak slightly and her eyes grew round with fright, hands automatically clasping Sofia to her face. "'Tis only your Pa, Katie Scarlett. May I sit with you?"
Scarlett didn't reply at first, but Gerald shut the door softly when she automatically shifted to the left to give him the usual spot on the bed when her read her bedtime stories.He sat next to her as he usually did, but the child would not draw nearer in eager anticipation of hearing the wonderful tales, she sat where she was, eyes cast down, silent. "What be the matter with my Puss, darlin'? You can tell your Pa, child, anything you want."Scarlett shakily exhaled, then clasped her hands tightly on Sofia's white chiffon dress.
"The house is empty, Pa."
Gerald's heart twisted at the words, for he knew exactly what she meant, and at the inescapable knowledge that his worst fears had come true. Of course the house was empty, for after an encounter with the – thing – no matter how many loving people surrounded you, you always felt alone and lost in a huge house.
She had seen it, it had come specifically to her when she lost and on her own. He drew closer to her and slowly put his arm around her small shoulders, which, he noticed with pity, were slightly quivering.Scarlett stayed rigidly in his embrace, but after what seemed hours and hours of her hair being stroked lovingly by her father, she sighed deeply, and clutched him tightly, burying her small face in his chest.Gerald embraced her fully, and rocked her , and stroked her back consolingly, and wept with her as their hearts beat as one.
And he understood, that, as they shared this moment of comfort, things would never be the same again.
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A.N>sorry about this update taking longer than the others, but I have been practically swamped with work this past week, and was uncertain as to where I was going to lead this story to, but now here it is.
Hope you enjoyed.