4 Years Later
Hey Guys! So, so, so, sorry it been such a long time! I have been so swamped with summer classes, and if you have ever taken a college/university summer class you know what I'm talking about. However, I have some time off and will do as much writing as I can. So, probably my favorite dialog between any two character is between Spencer and Melissa (who I totally think is the Severus Snape of PLL). Anyway, I would hate to even try to attempt the brilliance that is there dialog, especially since I have not written in so long. I even thought about postponing this chapter and skipping to another but thought that this chapter needed to be done here, so it's not great but it's a start back in the right direction, which is getting chapters out. So, if yall would like I would love to have your input on which chapter you all would like to see next. 1.) More of Spencer W/ Toby 2.) Aria W/ Ezra 3.) Emily W/yet to be determined 4.) Lucas W/Jenna plus more backstory/prison life 5.)Hanna W/ Caleb 6.) Other character of your choosing. I am doing this because after the next chapter everything is going to be fairly set in stone, but right now there are several story lines that are going on that could be continued or wrapped up. So vote and if you don't ill choose, which is just as well I suppose lol. Hope you enjoy
Spencer: A bird of a feather
Radley Mental Institution was the last place in the world that Spencer wanted to be, the second to last was Ellansburg Prison where the man she once loved resided for killing her brother, and yet she was going to both places in the same week, talk about self-punishment. After having served time at Radley after she found out what Toby did, she learn one thing about the insane. Insanity comes in to forms, the one where the screaming voices are trapped inside your head even if everything around you is completely silent and the only way to drown out the screaming is too be louder than the voices and the one where everything is so unbearably silent and empty that you have to scream just to know that you are still real, that you still exist and that everything you have ever known and loved is not all a figment of your imagination. Many people have often wondered about the screams you could hear while just driving past the institution, but Spencer didn't wonder, Spencer knew, she knew the reason for all the screams because her scream once existed in the large concrete building and now so did her sisters.
She walked into the double doors of the institution, quickly noticing how cold it was and pulling her jacket more tightly around herself with a shiver. She saw the sign-in sheet by the large glass window and wrote her name down on the list. Her first instinct was to look for other names she recognized on the list but thankfully she didn't know any of the other names. The women behind the window was reading a tabloid magazine, she was probably in her late 50's and looked rather disinterested in anything. The women looked up, sighed, and handed Spencer a visitors passed, then she went back to reading her magazine. Spencer walked into the large recreation hall that only a few patients were in, as she looked around trying to locate Melissa, she saw the piano she had spent much of her time playing trying to drown out the bad memories that always screamed at her as if they never wanted her to forget a single moment of what happened. She pushed back those types of thoughts and finally saw her sister who was sitting in the corner of the room staring out a window.
The white night gown Melissa was wearing was similar to the one that Spencer was given when she first entered the institution. She figured that Melissa would have gotten different cloths by now from their mom. As she neared Melissa, Spencer could tell she was singing a tune but it was only when she within arm's length of her that she could make out the words.
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
with my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin.
Who saw him die?
I, said the Fly,
with my little eye,
I saw him die.
Who caught his blood?
I, said the Fish,
with my little dish,
I caught his blood.
Who'll make the shroud?
I, said the Beetle,
with my thread and needle,
I'll make the shroud.
Who'll dig his grave?
I, said the Owl,
with my pick and shovel,
I'll dig his grave.
Who'll be the parson?
I, said the Rook,
with my little book,
I'll be the parson.
Who'll be the clerk?
I, said the clark,
if it's not in the dark,
I'll be the clerk.
Who'll carry the link?
I, said the Linnet,
I'll fetch it in a minute,
I'll carry the link.
Who'll be chief mourner?
I, said the Dove,
I mourn for my love,
I'll be chief mourner.
Who'll carry the coffin?
I, said the Kite,
if it's not through the night,
I'll carry the coffin.
Who'll bear the pall?
We, said the Wren,
both the cock and the hen,
We'll bear the pall.
Who'll sing a psalm?
I, said the Thrush,
as she sat on a bush,
I'll sing a psalm.
Who'll toll the bell?
I said the Bull,
because I can pull,
I'll toll the bell.
All the birds of the air
fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
when they heard the bell toll
for poor Cock Robin.
Spencer had not heard this nursery rhyme since she was a child. It was about the death of the legendary Robin Hood, but she had no idea if it had significance or if Melissa was just drugged out of her mind. Melissa never once looked away from the window at Spencer but still seemed to know she was there. After Melissa finished the rhyme, silence filled the air between the two sisters. Spencer caught a glimpse of Melissa's face through the reflection of the window; she had large bags under her eye which indicated that she hadn't been sleeping. Spencer didn't know if it was the way Melissa's image was reflecting of the mirror but she could have sworn she saw a tear fall down Melissa's cheek. Spencer never thought she had much sympathy for her sister but somewhat unconsciously and instinctually she found herself whipping the tear from Melissa's cheek. As soon as Spencer's hand touched Melissa's cold, pale skin, she turned around furiously with intensity in her eyes.
Frightened Spencer quickly pulled her arm away from Melissa, but not quick enough. Melissa caught Spencer by the wrist grasping it tightly. Spencer tried to pull away but she couldn't break Melissa's hold on her.
Murder has worn a bangle
Murder has worn a brace
Murder has worn a collar and tie
And a smile upon its face
Murder has blossomed in petticoats
Murder has come out in lace
Murder has togged up in rags and filth
From the midden to the market place
Murder has cavorted with idiots
Murder has flourished among fools
Murder has cultivated genius
Murder makes and breaks all the rules
Murder has blasted from a cannon
Murder has fired from a gun
Murder has been delivered with rapier and sword
With a nod or a wink or a pun
Melissa spat this poem by John Garth Raubenheimer quickly, in a less sing-song manner than before. Her eyes were intensely staring at Spencer as if through the poem word she was trying to give away all the answers. It was Spencer's nature to analyze everything that Melissa was saying and try to understand what it meant, if it meant anything at all but she was tired and done playing games.
"Melissa I understand that you are trying to help but I don't understand, I know there's been murders but I don't get what you are trying to tell me, if you would just say what you really mean." Spencer said feeling annoyed by the obscure poetry.
Melissa sighed and shook her head with annoyance. Then through the annoyance and anger Spencer saw on her sister face, she saw something that till now Spencer thought Melissa was incapable of feeling, fear. Melissa always seemed to be immune from fear, like even when horrible things happened to her or were done to her, she would put on some makeup and everything would be okay. Even now Spencer half expected Melissa to be wearing a nice dress with her hair in a tight bun and her makeup done perfectly. However, Spencer was seeing the opposite of her sister and it was very unsettling. Melissa set back against the window resting her head against the glass moving back and forth ever so slightly.
"Please, Melissa. I need your help, I don't care what you did, mom has taken care of all your legal troubles, please just help me find out who is behind all this. I know it's not you, you wouldn't be like this if you-." Spencer said before being interrupted by Melissa.
I talk with the moon, said the owl
While she lingers over my tree
I talk with the moon, said the owl
And the night belongs to me.
I talk with the sun, said the wren
As soon as he starts to shine
I talk with the sun, said the wren
And the day is mine.
This time the poem came in the form of a whisper, Spencer was siting just feet away from Melissa and could still just barley hear her. Spencer was only confused for seconds before hearing the familiar name.
"Wren?! Dr. Wren Kingston is behind this? Wren is "A"?" Spencer asked her sister who has yet to look away from the window. There was no answer, no nod, no look of indication, just yet another poem.
The wise old owl
Sat in an oak.
The more he saw,
The less he spoke.
The less he spoke,
The more he heard.
Why can't we be like
That wise old bird?
Spencer looked at her sister who was never much of an owl, always more of an eagle; beautiful, fierce, smart and always ready to take down its pray. She saw this beautiful eagle sitting across from her, broken, lost, and afraid and it made Spencer even angrier at "A." And if Wren was "A" he had destroyed the lives of everyone she ever loved. She sat there thinking once she can get her hands on him, she will destroy him like he did her sister…..they will destroy him. Emily, Spencer, Hanna, Aria; they were once unorganized, scared, and weak but now they were strong, intelligent, and wise. Now they were a murder of crows. And where crows are, death is sure to follow.