CHAPTER NINE
Violet say sulking on her bed, going through the day's events in her head. Everyone had been behaving so oddly, today. The stupid fluffers had decorated the lawn as if it was their own house. She hadn't been thrilled with the idea of having someone knock on the door every few minutes.
In fact, although she was concerned for her mother, she was glad that the festivities in the house had come to a halt. She was able to relax at home, listening to music without anyone telling her to turn it down.
Eventually, she had gotten bored and decided to all Leah. The other girl had been her confidante since the incident. She'd tell her about the strange things that'd occur in the house. To be completely honest with herself, Leah had possibly become her best friend in this stupid place.
She had told her all about her worries of Tate Langdon and his relationship with her sister. There was just something not right about him. He was always in the house. Didn't his mother ever wonder where he was?
Suddenly, she could hear murmuring from just under her window. She looked out and saw a group of teenagers dressed like the dead Breakfast Club.
She briefly thought of Tate's warning, but quickly dismissed it. She could take care of herself.
Armed with a pair of sharp scissors, she quietly made her way to the back door.
They looked at her when she stepped out. "I don't know who you are, but you're going to leave."
"We're not going anywhere until he comes out," the prep shot back at her.
Violet frowned. "What do you want with him? He's just some loser who dropped out of school."
They shared a look before the jock spoke up. "He didn't "drop out". Don't you know anything about the school or maybe read the newspaper every once in a while?"
She didn't like the way they were speaking to her. "What about the school?" What were these freak talking about?
"Go to the library tomorrow and look at the plaque. Look up the name "Tate Langdon" and see what you find out, sweetheart," the prep sneered. "You'll be smart to stay far away from him."
"Warn your sister, too," the punk added.
The blonde goth girl stepped up with the nerd by her side. "Look what he did to Amir."
Amir was tall with glasses and a mouth that looked like something from a zombie movie. "What? Did he play a prank on him? Paint his face while he's asleep?"
They all looked offended except for the jock who had a very serious look on his face. "Just remember what we said. Look him up and what happened at Westfield high."
Without another word, they all walked away.
Violet watched in confusion. What had just happened?
...
I groaned and rolled over. My head was hurting and it felt as if I hadn't slept at all. If I had ever been drunk, this was probably what a hangover would feel like.
"Madi?" Tate's voice sounded different – bleak, even. His eyes were rimmed with red. "Madi?" He pulled me over and buried his face into the crook of my neck. His shoulders were shaking.
"What's wrong?" The grogginess had quickly dissipated upon his apparent distress. He even looked as if he had been crying.
He shuddered and covered my face with wet kisses. His eyes were shining with tears. "Nothing… You – You were just having a nightmare and it scared me. You don't… remember what happened last night?"
I frowned. No, I didn't recall anything at all, but that wasn't rare. Sometimes, I'd forget dreams by the time that I wake up. But what he said about nightmares might explain why I was feeling so sluggish. "No, what happened?" It must've been something serious if it brought him to tears. I mused over the image from a demon possession movie scene.
He laid his cheek on my chest. "Nothing," he mumbled, but I knew it was otherwise. He was worried.
"I have a session with Henderson, today," I told him. "I'll ask him if there are any side effects with the new pills, okay?" I pulled his face forward for a kiss. "I'm alright. I'm always alright."
As promised, I was laying in the doctor's couch, telling him everything that had happened. He listened patiently to my story and wrote down little notes every once in a while.
"Do you feel like your vision has been improving?"
I nodded. "I can see more people, now," I replied. "But… Why is it only these certain people? I can't see my family or the majority of the people on the streets."
"You shouldn't worry too much about that," he said. "The medication is not perfect. It'll stablise soon."
"And… I seem to be having nightmares at night," I confessed. "They're not like the ones I've ever had before. I couldn't remember anything from it, but my… my boyfriend was genuinely frightened for me."
He shuffled through his papers. "Just a small side effect from the pills. It will disappear soon enough. Alright, I think that will be all for today."
I was quickly ushered out. Since mom had the scare yesterday, Ben was the one to drive me to and fro the office. Talking to Henderson, however, had curbed some of my contempt for my biological father, but the transportation was still awkward. He tried to strike up a conversation, but I replied with curt words. There just wasn't much I wanted to say to him after mom finally kicked him out.
"Miss, I've made you chocolate chip cookies," Moira said as I walked by.
I stopped. Chocolate chip… My favourite. I took the entire plate with a smile on my face. "Thanks, Moira."
When I had first arrived, I thought that the housemaid was an elderly woman, but when I was able to see her, it was obvious that she was actually a very attractive young woman. How did she end up with this job? Surely someone at her age would like to do something else with her life.
"Would you like something to drink, too?" She returned the smile with one of her own.
"Yes, please."
She quickly fixed up two glasses of water and two glasses of juice. I gave her a questioning look and she only smirked in response. With a round, metal tray, she carried the glasses up the stairs and into my room where I knew Tate was waiting.
Moira shot him a look, but said nothing in regards to my secret guest. I wondered when she had found out about him. At least it didn't seem like she had told anyone, yet.
She left after setting down the refreshments and closed the door behind her.
"Hope this won't get us into trouble," I mumbled.
Tate grinned. "She's seen me come in and out of the house a while ago. Talked my ears off about propriety."
I laughed. It was difficult to imagine her saying things like that, now. "She's nice and she makes really good cookies," I said before taking a bite of the warm, soft, gooey piece of heaven. "Want one?"
"Just one?" he teased.
I held the plate away from him once he snatched a cookie away. "Mine."
He growled and pulled me down on to the bed, nearly causing me to spill the deliciousness. "Mine," he purred. "You're mine, Madi." The brush of his lips on my ear made me shiver. "Therefore…" He plucked another cookie from the plate. "This is also mine."
I whacked him in the chest with my free hand. "Not fair! And I am not a possession, Tate," I weakly replied as he abandoned the cookies and began to trail kisses down the side of my neck. "Tate…"
He took the plate and set it on the night table.
The cookies were promptly forgotten.
"MADI!" I heard mom scream my name.
There was something wrong. She had never sounded like this, except for when she had first caught Ben with his student in their bed.
"Quickly pack a bag, we're leaving." Her voice was slightly muffled by the wooden door.
My eyes widened in shock and I turned to Tate who mirrored my expression. I knew that what happened with the crazy bitch had really frightened her, but as long as we kept everything locked, no one should be able to get in.
"I don't want to leave, Tate," I whispered to him. "I can't leave. I can't imagine living without you. I'd die."
Tate fervently shook his head. "Don't say that, Madi. You have to live on no matter what and… And…" He hesitated and a sad look overtook his face. "And I think it's safer if you lived somewhere else. There's something unlucky about this house. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"No. No… I can't. I need you, Tate," I sobbed. "I wasn't truly living until I found you. I love you. I love you."
He pulled me into his arms. "I love you, too, Madi, but right now, go pack your bag. I'll find you."
Feeling completely helpless, I reluctantly stuffed a duffel bag full of clothes, money, and the laptop.
"I love you so much." He kissed the tears away from my face. "Live for me, Madi."
Hesitantly, I made my way out of my room with my white cane in hand. This was it. Our family had fallen apart and I was going to have to leave the only man I could ever love behind.
"Come on." Mom opened the door and marched us into the car. As I got in, I looked back towards the only clear spot in the abandoned house.
He was staring back at me with his hand on the window. His other was lifted up in a wave.
Life was so cruel. It would always give me things and then take them away. Just when I thought I was finally going to be happy…
"Boo!" I jumped and turned to look at the seats beside me. No one else was supposed to be inside the car other than mom and Violet, but there were. Three squished forms had identical maniacal grins on their faces and what looked to be blood splattered all over their bodies. Were they the intruders from several nights ago?
Before I could ponder the notion any longer, mom and Violet were both streaming. The car door beside me was flung open and I was quickly pulled out.
Confused, I was dragged back into the house. Mom told us to check the locks on every door and window. She had a phone in hand and quickly called the police.
When I ran upstairs, Tate was immediately by my side with worry marring his pale face. He asked me what was wrong, but I was too bewildered to reply. I merely did as I was ordered to do by mom.
He watched in frustration as she walked away from him. He had been so close to having her forever. He had been so close…
Clenching his hands, he managed to rein in his desire to make it happen. He wouldn't be able to bear it if she died here and ignored him for the rest of their existence in this damned house.
Alone… No, not alone, but empty. He was nothing without her. Nothing.
He gave her a final, sorrowful wave. When she turned away, he made to leave to save himself from watching her leave him.
"It will be alright, my poor boy." Nora gathered him into her arms and gave him the comfort that his mother never did. "She will not leave you. Never. You'll see."
Seconds later, there was a chorus of screams piercing the night. His dead heart clenched. What was happening?
"Madi? Madi!" He pulled away from Nora and rushed out into the hall. The three Harmons had rushed back in. Fear was clearly on their faces. Vivien had a phone on her hand, quickly talking to the cops while Madi and her sister were running around, frantically checking the doors and windows.
As his Madi ran up, he took the opportunity to question her, but she remained silent with a dazed look on her face. What had happened in the car?
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Sorry for the late update and it's also a relatively short chapter. I've been busy trying to find a job. I actually planned to update tomorrow, but because it's my birthday party (does that sound ridiculously childish?), I will most likely be too tired after to do any editing or writing.
Thank you Yutakis and meangirl8 for reviewing!
Yutakis: I'm glad that you like Madi and Tate so much! I hope to see his beautiful curls again, soon!
meangirl8:
Thank you as well to everyone who has favourited and followed this story.
I hope to read your review for this chapter! It'd be a wonderful birthday surprise to find your comments.