CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The body was lifted off me and warm arms cradled my trembling form. "Tate…" I sobbed, pressing my face against his shirt.
"Madi… Madi…" He pulled me away and began to check me over. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? I should've –"
I cut off his words with my lips. He seemed surprised, but I let out all of my fear, worry, and desire into it. He wasn't adverse to reciprocate. The feel of his soft lips made me melt. I'd missed the way he felt against me. His body that was not quite body temperature, but not cold, either. Touching him was like touching my pillow – comforting, familiar, somewhere I'd go to over and over again.
"Madi?!" I heard mom frantically call out to me. "Madi, are you okay?! I heard gun shots!" She waddled down the stairs in a rush and spotted Tate with me. When her eyes passed over the two dead bodies, she screamed, "What happened? Are you okay? Are you okay?!"
I broke away from Tate and hugged her from the side. "I'm okay, now. Tate saved me. I… I'm not even sure what happened…"
None of us had called the police, but one of the neighbours must have because sirens were rapidly approaching.
Tate scurried off when the two cops arrived. Luke, the man who seemed sweet on mom, was one of them. He checked on her first before addressing me.
Because of our situation – pregnant woman and a blind girl, they were very gentle with us. Who would believe that either of us could win against two strong men?
I told them the best I could about what happened, but I was probably as confused as they were when I finished. They told me that I'd have to follow them to the police station. Mom, as well.
As I sat in an office with the police. It felt as if I was a school girl at the principal's office for the first time. I was nervous, anxious, and scared. Although my mom's presence was encouraging, even I found it difficult to believe my own story. I had told them how Dr. White had come in to warn me about the institution I was enrolled in and how Dr. Henderson stopped him with a gun before killing himself.
I had no doubt that I had several incredulous looks thrown in my direction, but the detective promised to look into the situation. As he reassured us that there were going to be patrol cars around the neighbourhood, Ben came in.
He sounded like the concern husband he should've been, but I couldn't find it in myself to forgive him. Not only had he been a negligent father and husband, he had also been the one to enroll me into the institution. I knew that he probably didn't know the ulterior motive behind the program, but it had gotten me into this mess, nonetheless.
As usual, mom spoke to him as if their relationship hadn't changed, at all. It irked me to no end that it sounded as if she would take him back at any moment.
"Come on, Madi. Let's go home, now," Mom said, kissing the top of my head.
I nodded and followed her into the cruiser. Luke was going to drive us home because mom was too pregnant to drive, now. Ben, well… I'm pretty sure he went on his own way to wherever he was residing.
When I finally dragged my tired feet up to my room, I immediately collapsed on to the bed. We had been at the police station for hours. It was already late into the evening.
The bed dipped to my right and I instinctively curled up against the body.
"I was so scared," I whispered. "He was crazy and I don't know what he wanted from me."
"Don't take the medicine, anymore. You don't know what it does. You can't be stuck here like me, Madi. You can't. You can't." His voice cracked. Tears ran down his face.
I pressed my cheek against his neck. "You know, I don't think I'd mind. I just want to stay with you forever. I love you so, so much. I won't be able to function without you. If it means dying and being stuck here forever just to spend that eternity with you, I would."
He fervently shook his head. "No… No…"
"I love you, Tate," I whispered. It didn't matter what he had done in the past, I realised. I couldn't stop myself from loving him. He had been the one light in my life, as ironic as that may seem.
With his arms around me and his comforting whispers, I was lulled into a restless slumber.
The Cheshire grin exposed a mouth full of sharp teeth. His discordant voice was scratchy and irritated my ears. Shadowed hands pressed against me from everywhere.
All of my senses seemed overwhelmed.
"Madi!" I jolted up with sweat dripping down the side of my face. It was so dark here. It was so dark! "Madi, I'm here!" I jumped at the feel of hands on my cheeks. "You're okay. You're okay."
Groping blindly to my side, I tried to find the lamp switch. I couldn't seem to calm my racing heart. The darkness… It was just all around me.
The room was finally illuminated with a soft glow and I went limp on the bed. Tate's worried expression flooded my vision.
My lips trembled and he enveloped me into his arms. "I think something's wrong," I whispered. "Something's wrong with me." I slipped away and rummaged around for the bottles of pill. "I think it's these. They're doing something to me and this house… I just…"
Tate took the bottles from my hand and disappeared out my bedroom door. When he came back, the bottles were empty. "They're gone, okay? They're never going to hurt you, again. No one will ever hurt you. I won't let them."
I nodded, but something was nagging at me. It wasn't going to end so easily. Nothing ever did in this house.
…
Tate was laying down beside Madi, as he usually enjoyed doing, but after such a long time of abstinence, he was finally able to be near her again. This was what he had dreamed of after being casted off. He wasn't angry at her for doing it. No, he was angry at himself for letting it happen – for letting it come to this.
Similar to the many nights he'd spent watching her, she had had a nightmare. This time, however, she continued to fuss even after he had his arms around her. Her fingers clawed at his shirt and arms as if she was trying to defend herself from an attacker. The puffs of frantic breath felt uncomfortably hot against his cold skin. She felt uncomfortable hot against him. Was she running a fever?
He pushed away the covers and tried to shake her awake. Eventually, she bolted up and out of his arms. Her eyes were wide with fear and she seemed completely disoriented as if she didn't know where she was.
For a moment, he thought she was still dreaming as she groped around, but when the lights flickered on, he realised that something in the darkness had frightened her. He wasn't surprised. This house had more secrets than even he knew. He only wished that they could've done more to help her.
…
The next few days went by in a mellow rhythm. Ben was adamant that he wasn't going to leave, especially after everything that happened. He was really trying, but I couldn't rid myself of the hate for everything that he had done to us. Mom, as usual, was far too lenient with him, and Violet? She had met a boy at school – Jesse.
He seemed to be good for her. She went to school every day and came back happy. Hopefully, she really was at school. At least the principal stopped calling and threatening to inform social service.
As a week came and went, however, I began to feel sick – even more than before. I'd lose my meals minutes after eating and sometimes, I'd find myself completely blanked out or unconscious on the cold, washroom tiles.
Tate had been continuously expressing his concerns. The nightmares had also increased. They frightened me to the point that I was afraid of sleeping. Tate would stay with me throughout the night. Sometimes, he'd even read to me. It was endearing, especially since I knew how much he hated books. Other times, he'd give a clumsy rendition of songs that he likes. It was silly.
Lately, I hadn't even had the energy to study. It must've been a few days since I had any sleep. I knew how worried my parents were, but I refused to see another therapist. The last one was enough. No more doctors.
I coughed into the sink and rinsed off the warm substance that had lingered on my lips. The metallic scent was telling. Something was wrong and I wasn't sure if anyone could help me. I thought that everything would get better once I stopped using the pills, but that hadn't happened.
It felt as if something cold was twisting around inside me. It hurt. Everything hurt. Make it stop. Please… Tate, help me…
"Madi! Madi!" Tate was suddenly above me, tears streaming down his face. It was like a sad rainfall trickling down on me. "You're awake!" He gathered me into his arms, rocking back and forth. "Don't do this to me."
"'M sorry…" I mumbled. The pain had disappeared. I was feeling like me again. His red-rimmed chocolate brown eyes were glazed with tears. "I didn't mean to worry you."
He held me close and said nothing more.
In the following days, I noticed that my vision was getting better. I was able to see Violet and mom and Ben. It was all very confusing, but I was glad. I felt like a newborn seeing everyone for the first time. Everything was so beautiful.
I touched the counter and tied to memorise every imperfection. It was so fascinating and complex. Just feeling its texture had done it no justice. Sight was beautiful.
…
"Tate, mom thinks I'm pregnant," I blurted out. They had been having a lot of unprotected sex, but since he wasn't exactly alive, I hadn't thought anything of it, but now… it just seemed more like a possibility.
He looked at me with wide eyes of horror. "W-what? You can't be." As he spoke, however, something in his voice told me that he knew more than what he was saying.
"That's what I thought, too, but I've been feeling so sick recently."
"Aren't you feeling better, now?"
"I guess… Maybe you're right," I conceded. Things had been better and I didn't want to ruin it with my negative attitude. Besides, Tate was a ghost. It's physically impossible for him to get me pregnant. But then again, I never thought ghosts exist until this house. "It's gone, now. Sorry, I've been so silly."
He smiled. "I don't mind a silly Madi."
I giggled and tumbled into bed with him, my worries forgotten.
Later that day, however, mom told me to go to the drug store for a pregnant test, just in case. I didn't want to go. It was embarrassing and I could just imagine what the other people would be thinking.
The highlight was that mom trusted me enough to go out by myself. With my new eyesight, I was going to explore. Nowhere was safe from Madison Harmon!
I took in the fresh air as if for the first time.
"Wait!" I heard Tate suddenly call out. He looked anxious. "Don't leave me, Madi," he pleaded. "Don't go."
I smiled at him. "I'll be back in half an hour. You wouldn't even notice that I was gone."
"I'll always notice."
I walked over and took his hands into mine. "I promise, I'll be quick. I really want to see what's beyond these gates. It's like a dream come true."
He shook his head. His grip was becoming painfully tight. "Don't go. You're not pregnant. I swear. You know I wouldn't lie to you."
"Tate, it's not about that. I don't even want to get the test. I'm just really, really, really excited to see everything."
"Madi…" His voice cracked. "Madi…"
"I love you, Tate." I pecked his lips. "Wait for me."
Reluctantly, he let go. My heart grew heavy seeing him so distressed, but I didn't understand why he was so persistent. It wasn't the first time that I've left the house. He must've been in a bad mood. I'd just have to make it up to him later.
With a wide smile, I stepped out.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Oh, Madi… What's wrong with you?
I did end up changing the style just a tiny bit. I wanted the separate the last part after Tate's side, but it wasn't where I wanted to end this chapter, so I kept the second half here.
And I'm sorry how long it took for me to complete this! I've been a little more exhausted with work than I thought, especially with trying to coordinate two friends' birthday gifts that have not been going smoothly, at all! Not only that, I'm in charge of everyone else's money – the people who've chipped in, which is exactly everyone! None of my gifts have actually arrived, yet, so it's been a bit of a nightmare.
Thank you guests (AFAN and anonymouscsifan) for reviewing!
AFAN: You're right! The doctor did shoot himself. What a lunatic… I couldn't help but keep Tate lurking about! It just seemed like something he'd do.
Anonymouscsifan: He did, indeed, kill himself! I wonder if Nora couldn't had a hand in what's happening with Madi…
Thank you as well to everyone who has favourited and followed this story!
This story is coming to an end and I'm really hoping to hear from all of you!