Chapter 3

Present day

Everyone was sat staring at me. Jasper wasn't even blinking. Bella's cheery tone had changed and was now sad and gloomy. Everyone was.

"Al, Oh my, that's awful." Rosalie was the first to speak.

"Was it the same man the made you become a vampire?" Emmett added.

"No." That's much later in the story.

"Well, why have we stopped then?!" Rosalie asked?

"Because you were all sat staring at me like this," I opened my mouth and widened my eyes, barley blinking. When I stopped pulling the face the others' smiled a small smile and I carried on.

Chapter 4

1919

I lay mum down carefully, lowering her head the slowest. I leant over her and took off her bag and put it over my shoulder. I sat back and held my head in my hands as I cried my eyes dry. A moment later, I felt cold hands on my shoulders. I whipped myself round to see if the man had come back for me. "It's okay, dear. Here let me help you up. Come inside to mine dear." It was a woman. She was wearing a floral dress that just covered her knees and a knitted cardigan. I allowed her to help me up and pull me away towards her home.

"Go and sit down dear. Living room's just through that door. Now, what is your name?"

"Mary Alice Brandon."

"What a lovely name." She smiled at me kindly and wandered into another room. I looked around the room and found that the window over looked the road. This must've been where the woman saw me from, I thought. I was so much in shock of what happened. But I knew that all I wanted was my mum. As the woman wandered back into the room I burst into tears. She set the tea she made down on the table and swiftly crossed the room to me. I began to confess everything to this stranger. Oddly, she didn't call me odd or mad like everyone else, she just listened and comforted me. She was growing on me.

Her living room was filled with patterns. The curtains were beige with a floral pattern that matched her dress. It was something a gardener might design. Clearly, however, she was not. The street lights were lighting up her garden which was past the point of being overgrown and weeds were all over the paths.

"It's okay, darling." Her sweet voice was just enough to pull me from looking around the room, and focus my watery eyes on her. "I'm Janet." She spoke gently. "What's your father's name?

"John Brandon."

"Thank you. I'll just give him a call if that's okay, Mary?"

"Um yes. But, if it's no trouble, I'd prefer Alice."

"Of course… Alice." She smiled.

Within half an hour, my father had pulled up outside of the house in his silver Ghost car. I truly believed he loved his Rolls Royce more than me and Cynthia and even mum. Someone else, however, stepped out of the passenger's seat. And it most definitely wasn't Cynthia. Who was it? She had long, blond, wavy hair. She stepped under the street lamp and I saw it was one of my father's customers, or rather, one of my father's customers' daughter's. She was five years younger than mum.

I was worried mum was being replaced already. Father wouldn't do that would he? Surely, he loved mum? But, why was she in his car? I couldn't understand. As questions struck through my head, father was pacing to the door.

Bang! Janet shot me a quick glance – presumably checking I was okay – and walked peacefully towards the door. I heard a woman's voice. But not Janet's.

"John…" She sounded out of breath. "What are we doing here?"

"Sorry darling…" Darling? I thought. "My stupid daughter is being really annoying." Janet was still standing with a small smile on her face.

"Hello, you must be John Brandon?"

"Yes, yes. Where is Alice?"

"She's here. She's okay. Must be a shock to hear about your wi…" Did father just interrupt her?

"Right, you old hag!" Yes, and she looked like she was 60. Not what I would call an old hag. I would never tell that to father though.

"Give me my daughter so I can take her home and carry on with my… er… work."

"Work? At this time of night."

"Listen to him would you! I'd like to get back to… work too!" The woman interrupted. Ruth. I remembered. That was her name. Ruth.

"Right. Alice, dear. Your father." As I walked towards her, I gave her a large hug. "I'm sorry about them." I told her. And, I really was. My father had no respect for women at all. She was only being nice and this is how he treats her.

"I'm sorry again for your loss." She said as we left for the car, I smiled back at her and mouthed thank you so that father couldn't hear me.

"What were you thinking!" He yelled. Here he goes with the speech again. "You are beyond irresponsible! Did you ever think of how inconvenient this would be for me! To have to leave work to go and get you from that woman's house! I told you earlier to find your place and yet you still ask for more attention! Why you're just a little brat Mary Alice!"

"Irresponsible!?" I was so angry I lost all of my temper. "I warned you weeks ago that this would happen to mum and you just brushed it off and told me that I fell asleep or I'd be wrong! I'm sorry that this was inconvenient for you and your secret girlfriend you think I didn't notice you had! That woman helped me because you wouldn't and you wouldn't even help mum! And why?! Because she wasn't 5 years younger! She wasn't called Ruth! She wasn't blond! What was it?! This is not me being a brat or seeking attention believe me! I never wanted this to happen! I would do whatever you wanted for the rest of my life if it meant that you cared about mum and Cynthia. You could have saved mum! Or was this what you wanted! So, you could finally get with your secret lover!?" The tears were back and pouring heavier than ever. Even as I sat and listened to my father's continued preach, I never once regretted any of what I said. And I knew mum would be proud.

That year I didn't get any recognition on my birthday or on Christmas. My sister was being made into a pet by my father and Ruth and I was just there as a maid. I had to take on all of mum's jobs too. Cynthia wouldn't even help me. I was helping mum at her age but I wouldn't dare say anything. I need to get along with her because I have no one else. I was eighteen years old now. Ruth and my father got married within this time. And things got worse with the both of them.

One night, it was stormy and it was making horribly loud noises and I couldn't sleep. However, somehow, over all the noise I could hear father and Ruth talking. It was about me.

"Look, John. I know she is your daughter but she is so odd. I mean does it not worry you that she is going to curse you or… me like she did Grace, or her cousin? I mean that was a week ago. She told us he'd fall off his horse and what do we know, he did. I'm sorry sweetie but I just don't want to live in fear anymore."

"I understand. I'll call Roger. He can get a place at the Asylum on the outskirts of Biloxi and then she is out of harm's way. You'll be safe my dear."

Had I heard that right? An Asylum? I don't need to go to an asylum?! But, no, I heard him right. I can't believe him. I snuck out of my room, down the stairs and out into the streets. I need to get to safety. Janet moved out a couple of months ago so I can't go to her. I'd have to hope my aunt and uncle weren't in the same mindset as my dad. After all, it was their son that fell of a horse and died. I was beginning to think I shouldn't mention any visions I have no matter what. I mean they seem to happen anyway. So, it's not like I can prevent it.

I rapped on the door until finally my aunt answered the door. "What do you want?" She asked Snidely.

"Father is sending me to the Asylum tomorrow. Please. I can't go there. You mustn't let him!" I pleaded.

"Oh, for goodness' sake Alice. Get a grip. It's a good idea, I think. It's where you belong." As auntie was speaking father once again pulled up outside of her house. More casually than outside of Janet's a year ago. "Change of plans Alice."

"Yes! I know! You're taking me to an asylum tomorrow!"

"No, actually."

"What?" I asked.

"No, it's actually now." He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the car. "Roger will meet us at the gates."

My aunt was laughing behind me. I heard her wish my father good luck and told me "So long Mary, Alice, Brandon, you, crazy bean!" I was so annoyed. My whole family thinks I'm crazy. Well, except for Cynthia. But of course – she'll be brainwashed into thinking it too.

I was pushed into the car and driven for forty-eight minutes to get to the asylum. No surprise but Roger was standing waiting for me. My father grabbed me and pulled me out of the car, handed my arm to Roger who held me even tighter. Even though I had clearly given up on trying to escape. I was at the State hospital in Whitfield. I heard of this place at school. It was just as I expected it. It had four main tours with blocked buildings connecting them, fences circled the perimeters, with lots of grass space. Not like anyone was using it or anything. He handed me a hospital gown and dragged me (or rather wanted to cause a scene and drag me but I couldn't be bothered to fight back and I just let him take me) to the changing rooms just to the left of the main entrance. Everything inside was grey, concrete, and dark. The next thing I saw was my ward. About four walls separating beds and people. I could just about see the large dark body of Roger pulling me to the end, corner square.

It was dimly lit and cold. It was familiar, yet I had no idea where from. An empty bed sat in the corner. Crumpled and sad. The lighting was barley revealing the square to me. Although, I could just about make out a sign on the end of the bed. "Mary Alice Brandon."

"This is your bed. Dorothy this is Mary Alice Brandon. You two are now roommates so I would get acquainted if I were you." He let go of my arm and I just let it hang, as Roger turned, he said "Treatment tomorrow, girls." That's when I realized that my life was going to be even harder than before.

That night I kept thinking of his words and reciting them in my head. "Treatment tomorrow, girls." It was as if my brain had it on loop.