Chapter11 Outside the Room

After several minutes; Beth composes herself and continues. She works her way down the hallway, surveying one room at a time. Then she comes to it. As she reaches for one of the doors, Beth feels something foreboding waiting on the other side. She touches the door knob, then quickly draws back, wrapping her arms around herself; shivering uncontrollably. A fierce coldness enters Beth's body…feeling as if an Arctic blast had hit her…causing chills felt to her bones, as her teeth chatter. That feeling of anxiety's starting to arise within her. Beth becomes paralyzed with fear…other than the involuntary shaking of her body brought on from the anxiety attack…she can't move at all. Beth stares at the knob hyperventilating; gasping for breath. She tries to talk herself into stop panicking. "Relax. Calm down, Beth." She repeats those two phrases over and over in her mind. Beth feels her heartbeat start to slow down; and, her breathing…although still irregular…becomes less labored. She's still paralyzed though. Suddenly, Beth hears footsteps again coming up from behind her. Still unable to move, she can't turn around to look; but, she knows they're getting closer…and closer… and closer…and, they've stopped…right behind her. There's total silence. Finally, Beth speaks; with fear being evident in her voice. "Mary?" Nothing. "Mary…is that you?" Still nothing. Beth's becoming frustrated. "God damn it, Mary, is that you?!" Beth now hears a little girl whispering in her ear. "You shouldn't swear. It's not right to swear. Bad things happen to people who swear." Beth starts trembling. "That's what she says; isn't it, Beth? Chelsea that is; she likes telling people that." Mary asks, "What else did she tell you, Beth?" Beth's still trembling; unable to answer. "Cat got your tongue; Beth? Alright; let me take a guess at what she told you. Let's see…I know…I bet she told you I'm a liar; and, not to be trusted. Didn't she; Beth?" Beth forces out a very low, soft pitched, "Yes." "And, of course, you believe poor, little Chelsea…who's desperately looking for little Tommy…Is that it; Beth?" Beth doesn't reply. "Let me fill you in on a little secret; Beth. You're looking for answers to secrets; aren't you?" There's a short pause before Mary tells Beth, "Obviously Tommy's dead, like Chelsea…and me…you know that. But, here's what you don't know….Chelsea killed Tommy." The shock from Mary's last statement enables Beth to speak; though she still can't move. "What do you mean she killed her brother? She didn't kill him. She's worried about him for Christ's sake. She's looking for him, Mary." Mary goes on to explain, "No…she killed him; Beth. She killed Tommy; and then, out of guilt…she killed herself." Still not believing Mary. "Killed herself? How?" "She dove off a hill head first onto some rocks by a lake. You could go look it up in old newspaper articles at the library. Of course, they didn't mention the part about her killing her brother; they just reported her suicide. Go ahead, look it up Beth. You like doing that, don't you? Looking things up at the library. That's how you found out about the killings here….Wasn't it?" Beth's stunned. "How do you know that?" "I know…I've been talking with Anna." Infuriated, Beth demands to know, "What have you been telling my baby?!" "The truth, Beth. Which is more than I can say you've been getting…or will ever get…from Chelsea, or any of the town locals." "How do I know that? How do I know you're not the one lying to me?" Beth remains silent wondering now. Mary senses this, and continues. "Then there's Delilah." "What about Delilah?" "She didn't leave town to go to Portland. They got angry with her for telling you about the town's real name." "Who got angry?" "Some of the locals." "What happened?" "I'd rather not say." "Mary; what happened? Where's Delilah?" "She's dead and buried…out at the old Johnston farm." "What? No!" "Yes. Sorry. She shouldn't have told you anything." "I can't believe it. They killed her because of something she told me?" "Yes, Beth. But, it's not your fault; so, don't blame yourself. Delilah knew what the consequences could have been if she told you anything. They all do." "How do you know?" Mary obliquely responds, "How do I know what?" "How do you know?!" "About Delilah? For now…you'll just have to take my word on it." Mary tries to convince Beth she's telling her the truth, "This one's easy to find out, too. Just have Sheriff Faulkner go search Johnston farm." Beth's totally confused at this point. It all feels like some sort of surreal nightmare that she can't wake up from. Mary warns Beth, "I know you think you want to go in there; but, you mustn't… you have to trust me, Beth. Please, I'm begging you, don't go in there; you'll only make him mad. If you do, I won't be able to help you; or, Anna. Anna's my friend; and, I don't want what happened to me happening to her. Don't go in there, Beth." Beth hears Mary's footsteps move down the hallway. When they stop, Beth's able to move. She quickly turns around; only to find Mary's disappeared. She turns back and stares at the Howell's bedroom doors; then, slowly walks away, and goes downstairs.