Chapter 1
The darkness. The darkness can be a sure sign of majestic demonic propensity that exists within a certain plane. Even so, the best signs of darkness only come with their own flourishing propensity. In the Middle of Nowhere, there was a psych ward, there was an existing plane where the most unstable of rapists, serial killers, zombies, with their half-closed eyes, and unconscious death, feeling the ooze as their brain drained out, spent their days. Rapists who could not control their compulsions, or their feelings spent their days, fetishing over the simplest triggers of certain things. Usually, they spent their time 'turbating in their padded cells, or arousing themselves in a number of ways. Criminals with a violent look in their eyes, and anger in their blood, banged their fists against the cells, screaming, and shouting obscenities, as they unhinged the toilet parts, and used them as projectile weapons against the nurses in the psych wards. This usually earned them a stay in the complete padded cells.
There was one patient who had stayed for a long period of time. His hair, scraggly, and blonde on both sides, while the middle was bald, his suit, a brown, olive color, while his tie was purple, he had been in the psych ward for a very long time, yet he just sat in his cell, staring at the wall, sighing, and smiling. He was a barber, Freaky Fred was what they called him now that he was locked up, and he had been in the ward for years. Fred. He was nonviolent, polite, and formal most of the time. This evening, as 3 am hid itself within the obscenities, while a blackened, red sky hung over, sought silence for the ward in itself. The jingling of keys was heard, as the smooshing of boots was heard as well. Someone was coming down the hall…directly to Fred's cell.
A male nurse, with a long, rat-insect like face, smiled a creepy smile, unlocking Fred's cell. "You deserve to be free, my friend". "Godspeed". The nurse said, as he helped Fred out. Fred smiled a creepy smile, walking out with the clicking of his heeled shoes. "Well, I'm elated to hear that". Fred said, in an eerie, tone, with somewhat of a British accent. An unnerving smile crept across Fred's face. "Now, I have the opportunity to see my best friend…my darling girl". Fred said, with the eerie, pedophilic tone behind him, as he carried a picture of a girl he once knew. A young girl with brown, long, stringy hair, brown eyes, and a nightgown. Ana, was her name. Fred smiled at this picture, as he clutched the picture close to him, sighing. "I need her so much, and she needs me". Fred thought, longingly. As Fred walked through the front door, out into the sprinkling rain, he took the bus into town, riding, as only a silhouette could be seen of him as he sat in his seat. Fred, long, skinny, immensely bony, as he sat, waiting for each bus stop. Waiting to come to the center of Nowhere…perchance close to where Muriel and Eustace lived. Moreso, where this young girl lived….and where she thrived.
Ana Lavelle, woke up, as her eyes fluttered back sleep a bit. She seemed to glance around in her tiredness, as she blinked back more sleep. "Oh…no". She mumbled, as she turned over in her bed a bit. She held her teddy bear close to her. At her bedside, a model of the Russian Kremlin sat on her nightstand. Still, she mumbled, capturing more sleep. The wooden, white door pushed open, as a white, English cream made its way inside. Ana glanced at the dog, as he rested his head on her bed. "Co-dy, go aw-ay". Ana said, with a broken speech pattern, and such little diction. Her speech seemed retarded for someone her age….the age of 16. Perchance, it was more along the level of a 6 year old. Following the white, English Cream, came a tall woman with her hair in curls.
"Hi, sweetheart". The woman said, gently. Ana looked upwards, seeing her adoptive mother, Melinda. "Hi, mom-my". Ana said, as she glanced up at her mom. "Are you ready to wake up, darling?". "It's almost time for breakfast". Melinda said, kindly with softness and sweetness behind her voice. "Break-fast". Ana said, as she glanced up at Melinda. "Yes, exactly". "Breakfast". Melinda said, gently. "With eggs, and bacon, and cereal". "I know you love your cereal".
Ana nodded, as she began clapping in a succinct, somewhat retarded manner. "Break-fast!". "Break-fast!". "Break-fast!". Ana said, as she began giggling. "Yes, indeed". "Let's wake up, now". Melinda said, gently with softness as she helped draw back the sheets to Ana's bed. Ana got out of bed, walking downstairs, as her eyes seemed to glance upwards in an Autistic gaze. Ana gazed up at the ceiling almost all of the time. Melinda sighed, as she remained kind, and gentle. One could see she had an endearing apathy of sadness in her eyes. Ana hurried down the stairs to the breakfast table, as she sat, eating her cereal, giggling, propensely. Melinda's eyes remained sad, as she poured a glass of almond milk for Ana. "let's settle down, honey". Melinda said, gently with softness. "That's very good, thank you".
Ana settled down, eating each bite of cereal with a big rapport in a finite amount. In such, she took big bites. "Please take smaller bites". Melinda reminded, kindly with softness. Ana took smaller bites, only after a heated comment directed towards her caretaker. "Anastasia". A stern voice said from the other side of the entrance. Ana immediately turned her head upon hearing this voice. A man in a suit, and tie, picked up his briefcase, in the reminder to be quieter. It was Ana's father, Wendell. "Please eat breakfast properly without any other word…understand?". Wendell said, firmly. "Ok". Ana said, in a small voice, as she ate the rest of her cereal, in peace. Melinda sniffled a bit, as she took a sip of her coffee, watching Anastasia eat. Ana took smaller bites, yet giggled to herself in between bites. When the cereal was finished, Ana took it to the sink to be rinsed out.
When the time came, she readied for school, putting on her calico dress, brushing her hair, while also putting a bow in it. She gathered her backpack, got on the bus, and waited for the school day to begin. Outside, the world seemed gray, desolate, and sullen in its nature. A rat chewed its way through the bus seat, burrowing its head deep underneath. While the 60's were optimistic, in their own way, they were somewhat of a scary time. Up to, and especially 1968.
Turbulence, unrest, civil rights issues, and change. The world was at its peak for demonstration. There was no greater tipping point than then.
In school, everyone seemed to meet up. The girls talked to the girls, the boys talked to one another, even sometimes, the girls met up with the guys, yet Ana was left alone. When someone walked past her, they spat on her, while shouting the word, "Retard!". That day, Ana was approached by another girl, wearing somewhat of curls in her red hair. "Don't bother trying to get something smart out of the pupil that licked the table one year". "People such as you shouldn't even exist!". "Why don't you go be stupid somewhere else?". The girl said, mockingly as she shoved Ana into the side of a locker, grabbing her by the hair while the shoving occurred. Ana felt a large bump on her head, as she felt the force of the throw. "Ok". Ana said, quietly, as she kept walking to the next class.
The day trudged on for Ana, inch by inch, step by step, it seemed to grow slower, and slower, and everywhere she went, she was ignored, in a massive amount. Ana grew impatient, and by the end of the day, when rain fell as thick as black oil, and the sky was a gray canvas, Ana glanced upwards, waiting for the bus to come. There was a back alleyway near the side of the school, no one dared to go in. No one ever even attempted to go in. This made Ana all the more curious.
"What-is-back-there?". She mumbled to herself, even then, struggling to make her speech clearer, even to herself when she spoke. As of now, there was no one in the bus loop, and the blacktop seemed deserted. The kids were gone, the teachers were still inside, it truly did feel deserted. While Ana explored the alleyway, a small rat, (well, it wasn't exactly small), crawled out of the darkness, hissing, with its red, beady eyes.
Nothing really, except for a dumpster, with an old mattress, a hissing rat, and a weasel. "O-k, bor-ing". Ana muttered, as she began to walk away, but as she did, something unusual happened at the moment. A man's voice, eerie, and somber began calling to her. "Ana". "Ana, darling". The voice said, gently, with softness. The voice was kind, somber, soft, and altruistic in nature. Ana ignored the voice the first time. "Ana darling". "I miss you". The voice said again, with soft gentleness, and an eerie tone, with politeness to it. The voice was somewhat louder this time, yet still gentle. Ana couldn't ignore it at this point. "Who's there?". She asked.
"Don't you recognize me, darling?". "We've known one another for years". The voice said, kindly, as a pair of green, somewhat bloodshot eyes came to call. Ana still didn't recognize who it was, until the man stepped out of the shadows, his olive colored suit, with a purple tie, the click of his shoes. His scraggly blonde hair. It was Freaky Fred.
Fred smiled an unnerving smile as he glanced at Ana, with a gentle look. "Perhaps maybe now, might make it more recognizable, darling". Fred said, gently. "I…I don't know". Ana said, as she glanced up at Fred. "Hello, old friend, my name is Fred, I'd thought you'd remember me, instead, It remains true, I remember you". Fred said, gently with kindness, as he spoke in rhyme. "Fred!". Ana said, as she smiled. "Hello, my darling Ana". "it is so good to see you, finally, after all this time". Fred said, gently, as he hugged Ana, gently. He could feel the fetish crawling up to meet him, as his organ began to harden when he made contact with Ana. "my, you look so beautiful, and reverent". "I'm so happy to finally meet you, my love". Fred said, gently. "Fred-you-look-the-same". Ana said, as she struggled with her retarded speech. "I do…which perhaps means I still have some youth". "Well then". Fred said, kindly with gentleness. He and Ana laughed, as he kissed Ana's cheek, gently.
"I see you attend this high school". "It is a finite institution". "Perchance you're learning some sagacious concepts". Fred said, gently. "How was school today, darling?". Fred asked, kindly as he opened his suit coat, searching his inside pockets for cigarettes. "o-k,-I-guess". Ana said, struggling to get her words out. "Why just ok, darling?". Fred asked, gently as he took out one of his cigarettes. While the sky was dark, Fred lit a cigarette, as the lighter flame illuminated his face.
"Be-cause ev-ery-one make fun of me". Ev-ery-one mean to me". Ana said, as she smelled the cigarette. "oh…I'm sorry, darling". "I know school has been hard for you". Fred said, gently with softness as he smoked. "School usually is hard for someone with your gifts, and talent". "But I know how rigorous it can be, socially". "School is something that's never easy for anyone". "I know your pain, love". Fred's voice softened a bit. "When did it become harder for you?".
"when-I-go-to-High-school". Ana said. "Ev-ery-one mean to me".
"Yes, high school can be brutal for anyone who has a hard time". "I remember my days at the monastery training to become part of the clergy". "While religion was something I always felt fascinated by, and was raised to feel fascinated by, I always harbored an interest in cutting hair". "Hair was more fascinating than anything else". "but….I've always had an interest in children…..just like you…..I've seen how nice you are". Fred said, in a dreamy manner. "You are the epitome of my dreams". "And my aspirations….I've always loved seeing you, my Ana". Fred's voice became dreamy as he glanced at Ana. "I love you, dearly". He blew out some cigarette smoke, stroking Ana's face with a wrinkly, bony hand. "It's been years since I've seen you". "I remember seeing you as an infant, all the way up to when you were 7 years old, in church every Sunday". "My, you were as radiant, as a rose, and your face was as laden as lace". Fred said, kindly with softness. "We've had some memories in those days, I recall".
Ana nodded. "I 'member when you take me ap-ple pic-king". Ana said. "I remember that as well". "I also remember seeing your face, and seeing you play with your toys". "You always loved your toys". "Your rocking horse, and your dolls, your baby toys". "You were so wonderful with that". Fred said, gently with soft kindness. He sighed, dreamily. "You were such a wonderful darling when I sung you songs, and rocked you on the rocking chair, I would hum you to sleep when you were fussy". "You loved visiting me at just a year old". "I remember comforting you in such a loving way". "You needed the love in many aspects". Fred smiled a kind smile, kissing Ana's cheek again. "I love you, too". Ana said.
"I remember when you were such a small girl, you would run around the house, you would drink from your sippy cup, and eat cheerios, you were so young then". "I would just smile, and play with you, try to match your energy, because you had so much of it, my Ana". "I loved seeing you". Fred said, gently with kindness. "Me too". Ana said, as they both shared a laugh. "My favorite thing to do was hold you in my arms, and sing to you, make sure you were alright". "Because you just deserved such love, and grace". Fred said, kindly. "O-k". Ana said.
Ana glanced up at Fred in the darkness. "Do-you-still-cut-the-hair?". Ana asked. "I have retired from that position, but I am still out, and about". "I do certain things, here and there". Fred said, gently. "I am very much in love with wine, and Merlough". "I've grown an affinity for it, yet I haven't tried it, unfortunately". "It is a delicacy".
"what-is-Mer-lough?". Ana asked, innocently. "It is a special kind of wine I love to drink". "It's the wine of gentlemen". "Now that I'm retired from the clergy, I have space and time to drink willingly as I prefer". Fred said, gently. "It is a lovely, masterful drink". "Wine".
"O-k". Ana said. Fred smiled a gentle smile, as his cigarette dwindled down. "Do you still attend therapy, and sessions with doctor Seymour?". Fred asked, gently. "No". Ana said. "Sometimes, you attend to speech therapy, and occupational therapy?". Fred asked, kindly, in a gentle, eerie whisper. "Yes". Ana said. "Mmm, well, I remember you attending speech therapy in order to help you learn to eat, swallow, listen, and follow directions". "When you were an infant that had just come from Russia, you had a hard time listening, and following instructions". "You were so deprived, when I spoke to you, or gave you a small instruction, it was arduous enough for you to recognize my voice, and listen to the instruction that was given". Fred said, gently. "You were so malnourished, you couldn't even lift your head, but with a little love, and a little sprig of nurturing, you came to recognize my voice just fine, and crawl to me when I would play with you, or call your name". "I remember one day, my late wife, Barbara, fed you, meatballs, meatballs were your favorite meal, and while you dribbled some food on your chin, you ate your meatball very well, and learned to eat solid foods after that". "Meatballs were your favorite, then". Fred smiled a kind, gentle smile, as he kissed Ana's cheeks.
"They were". Ana said. "What-happ-ened to Bar-ba-ra?".
"She died in 61". Fred said, gently with softness behind his voice. "We were separated then, with nothing else to do". "She was a beautiful woman…did she have kindness…?". "Not exactly, but I was patient with her…as all lovers are to their spouses". "I may have become….naughty with her". Fred chuckled a bit at that, as a creepy smile spread across his face. "I loved you the most when you came into my hearth of life". "You have given me so much, and have inspired me in so many ways, my Anastasia". "I've always needed you….because you are someone with so much talent, and so many gifts to offer the world". "You light up my life". "Just as you have when I first heard you were coming to America". Fred said, gently. "You are someone lovely".
"Now, I see we're reunited". "I couldn't feel happier than I do now". "We will continue to make our own memories….my darling". Fred said, kindly as the creepy, unnerving smile spread across his face. Ana nodded. "Reunited, because we under-stood". "Reunited, and it feels so good". "The lord made me for you, and you for me". Fred hummed, gently. Ana nodded along, as she and
Fred smiled. A late bus pulled up to the school, as Ana was set to get on. "This is me". Ana said, as she glanced back at Fred. "wonderful". "Well, it was lovely seeing you, my darling". "Take care now". Fred said, gently. "Maybe I'll see you tomorrow at the same time". "'I'll be here, waiting".
"Ok". Ana said. "Take care now, my love". Fred said, gently. "Bye". Ana said, as she got on the bus, watching Fred back into the shadows, as the bus pulled away.