Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I walked up to my rooms I truly hoped that my little revelation would dissuade Corrine from continuing this stupid plan of hers. Maybe, just maybe, the truth would shatter whatever tiny grasp she had on reality. Surely discovering how tainted her children and would be grandchild are should shock her out of this wild path she was on. At least it would distract her for a while, long enough for her to realize that perpetuating the failing line of Foxworths was utterly pointless.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten how stubborn Corrine could be.
The next morning I woke up early as usual and put together their breakfast. When Corrine originally started poisoning the children's food I had objected, for the sake of the youngest ones. Who had not yet been corrupted.
Not surprisingly, Corrine had not listened and added the poison to their food anyways. It was funny that now that I knew the extent of her children's immorality, I started to wish that Corrine would go back to poisoning them. Then I would be through with them at least.
As I pondered this while putting together their sandwiches I saw Corrine enter the kitchen out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to her, expecting to see her either sobbing hysterically or devoid of all emotion. In the past, Corrine always reverted to either of these two methods when something upset her. And I had no doubt that what she had discovered the day before had upset her.
That was why I was so surprised to see her smiling. She strode into the kitchen confidently.
I eyed her cautiously.
"Corrine, what brings you here so early? Decided to continue poisoning them?" I asked a bit hopefully.
Corrine only grinned.
"Not exactly, mo-Olivia."
She sighed contentedly and continued.
"You know it all makes sense now. How you acted towards me. Can't say I blame you really. I probably would have done the same thing. But that's all past now. I came here to introduce you to someone."
A sturdy looking old woman stepped into the kitchen beside Corrine. She was wearing a dark blue woolen skirt and a starched white blouse. I recognized her immediately.
"Hello, Gertrude." I said crisply as I nodded towards her. She had been Malcolm's nurse for many years. I disliked her very much, if only for the fact that she kept Malcolm alive much longer than he would have lived otherwise.
Gertrude only nodded back and looked to Corrine to continue.
"You see, Olivia. After you gave me that album, I was quite shocked. Knowing that the children I bore were actually fathered by my half-brother can do that to someone, you know. As I am sure you planned. Unfortunately, for you, I have not changed my mind. I am still just as determined to get that child. And that little album you supplied me gave me a wonderful idea."
"Oh, and what's that?" I asked snidely. I hated it when she gloated about her plans, especially when half the time they reeked in ineptitude.
Corrine only continued to smile.
"Well, Gertrude of course. I saw her picture next to one of my father's that was taken while I was away. Of course, I remember how much Malcolm trusted her. And I knew that she would be perfect."
"Perfect for what?"
"For getting my child. I'm done waiting. Gertrude, show dear Olivia what will be put in their food this day."
Martha stepped forward and handed me vial of white powder.
"It's not arsenic, if you were wondering." Corrine answered as I stared at the vial, wondering what she was up to this time.
"What is it then?"
"Flunitrazepam, although it also goes by many other different names. But what it's called isn't important. What is important is what it will do. Pour the contents into their thermos and hopefully they'll both be unconscious within the hour."
"What do you plan on doing then?" I asked.
"Martha will induce labor and you will get Chris out of the way."
I stared at her incredulously. I had never approved of this plan and had never really volunteered to have an active role in it. And I was surely not going to start now.
"And I will get Chris out of the way? I am sure you are mistaken. I have tolerated this stupid idea of yours long enough. Kill the children and get it over with.-"
"Oh, You can kill Chris if you want to immediately after he passes out as long as he is out of the way I don't care. I just need Cathy until the baby is born."
"You're going to induce labor now and just leave her up in the attic afterwards?"
"I don't really see why you would care, Olivia. You've been begging me to start poisoning them for months now."
"Yes, but this is different-"
Corrine started to get impatient.
"It doesn't matter, I just need to you get rid of Chris until the baby is born. And you Will help me."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because, Olivia, this is the only way you'll get rid of them. If you refuse to help me, those two will just rot up there, a constant strain on you. If you help me, both of them will be gone and I will leave you here in your precious Foxworth hall."
I thought for a moment. I couldn't really care less if Corrine decided to leave them both up there. I could always just stop feeding them and be done with it. But what interested me was that second part of her offer. That if I helped her, she would leave for good.
"Fine, Corrine, I will help you this last time. When we're through, I never want to see you set foot inside this place ever again."
"Of course, Olivia." Corrine smiled again.
I handed her the vial.
"Here, do what you will. Call me when you need my assistance." I turned and walked out, happy for once that this whole affair was nearing its end.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris and I had retreated to the roof once again. The tiny room where we had spent the last years had become infinitely more oppressive since momma had removed the door knob. It's funny that such a tiny thing as a door knob would make so much difference. In the past, no matter what momma did or said, there still was a chance she was telling the truth. A slim chance, but a chance nonetheless. But now, with the doorknob gone we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that momma was truly lost to us.
What made matters worse though, was not knowing why. Had the grandfather died and momma was just greedy, or did he find out about us and order her to do these things? But above all, Chris and I wanted to know what happened to our twins.
My heart ached whenever I thought about them. I told myself that momma had given mercy at least to them and that they were safe somewhere. I kept these thoughts to myself though as Chris and I sat on the roof next to one another. I knew that saying anything now would only upset him more. I contented myself with removing the many splinters that were lodged firmly in his hands and wrists.
Chris only stared off into the mountains. Half an hour later I had finished my small task. All the splinters were removed but I could see deep bruises already forming across his hands. I traced my fingers over them lightly.
"Cathy?" Chris asked, his voice sounded strained from screaming so much from before.
"Yes, Chris?" I responded tentatively, afraid that he would shut down again if I forced him to talk.
When he didn't answer I looked up at him. He just took a deep breath.
"What were you going to say Chris?"
He looked down at our intertwined fingers.
"I was going to apologize for everything but I realized that that would have been pointless. I don't deserve your forgiveness."
I sighed
"You may not, Chris. But you have it nevertheless."
He closed his eyes momentarily. I could tell he was trying to blink back tears. When he opened his eyes again he looked over to the edge of the roof once more. I recognized that look immediately, that longing and I immediately tightened my grip on his hands.
"Chris, don't you dare think about jumping. I need you here!" I reached up and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at me.
"I don't care how guilty you feel, you will Not jump just because you think everyone would be better off. I need you here."
He nodded numbly
"It was a passing thought, I could never leave you, Cathy. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to."
"Sure you would, one day you will have to you know. One day when we're out of here and we have our twins back, you'll remember what it's like to be without me."
I thought that my words would were being supportive but Chris only looked sharply up at me,
"No Cathy, We've gone through too much together for things to go back to the way they were."
I sighed, it was no use convincing Chris when he was in one of these moods. It seemed that every time momma betrayed him he only clung to me more.
Before I had a chance to say anything though, Chris stood and reached down and helped me up.
"I didn't mean to snap at you, Cathy. I just...I don't know what to do. There's so much neither once of us knows but we have no way of finding out."
He looked so lost and there was nothing I could do.
"Come on Chris, lets go inside. I'm sure we'll think of something."
I slowly walked to a chair he had placed in front of one the attic windows. Chris sat down next the chair. Without a thought I reached down to stroke his hair. I don't know how long we sat like that, only looking out the window.
We had taken to verbally speaking less and less each day. Really there was no point, we both knew exactly how the other was feeling and neither of us had anything new to tell the other.
I heard a noise and looked around only to realized that it was my stomach growling. Chris stood up,
"I'll go see if they've put food out yet."
I nodded and heard his quick footsteps disappear as he walked down to our room below. He returned soon after, the familiar basket in his hand. I walked over to the large table in one the attic corners. Chris poured us both glasses of orange juice and handed me an egg sandwich as he sat down to his own breakfast.
Although I was hungry I really didn't feel like eating. I drank a couple of sips of my juice and half of the sandwich. When I looked up, Chris was already done. He looked over at me worriedly, silently asking why I didn't eat more. I just shrugged, indicating I just didn't feel like eating. He nodded understandingly and silently put away the dishes and stowed away the rest of the food for later.
I went back over to my chair and began reading. Chris began looking around the attic for another way to get out. It was how he spent most of his days, now that we couldn't leave through the main door.
For some reason he was convinced that there must be another way into the attic, for how else could the presence of so many large pieces of furniture be explained?
A while later, I heard a strange noise and looked up for Chris. He was no where in my sight. I walked towards the direction of the noise, once again angry with my slow pace.
I gasped as I realized what had caused the noise. Chris had collapsed in heap before one of trunks, his head narrowly missing the sharp corner. As I started towards him my vision blurred. Yet I continued to stagger towards him. I wondered vaguely what was happening to me but was too concerned about Chris to really think. Finally I arrived by his side and turned him over. His eyes were closed but I was very happy to see that he was breathing. All of a sudden I lost my balance and slumped over Chris's body. I quickly sat up again, now really worried about what was happening. My vision started to blur again and I realized that blinking didn't help this time. I started to panic and began shaking Chris.
"Chris, wake up!" I cried but still elicited no response. I turned then, thinking about getting some water to throw on him when I looked up.
Although my vision was blurred, I couldn't mistake that profile anywhere.
"momma?" I asked as I slumped back down to the ground, unable to keep my balance any longer.
I tried to push myself away from her but my body wouldn't obey me. She started looking at me greedily and I realized that she looking at my now protruding stomach. I looked back up to her, hoping against hope that she was here to help. It was then that I noticed two dark figures behind her, I couldn't make them out but I knew one of them was the grandmother.
The figure came towards us, but instead of reaching for me, she grabbed Chris's ankle and started to drag him away.
"No!" I shrieked, but was helpless. My hands wouldn't move, they felt so heavy. My eye lids started to droop as I saw momma come towards me again. I flinched away from her but she kneeled down beside me and brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. The rest of the world had grown dark, I could only barely make out her bright blue eyes as the looked down at me. She bent her head towards me and whispered,
"Shh, mommy's here now. I'll make it all better."
I grimaced and tried one last time to move away before a blanket of shadow fell over my mind and blocked out any conscious thought.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O.k. Sorry for the cliff hanger but it seemed like a good place to start. There's only a couple chapters left but I plan on writing a sequel so if you have any ideas for the second book let me know so I can see if I can incorporate it in before I have a concrete plan of what to write. So thanks for reading, reviews are always appreciated.