Chapter36 Beth Confronts Mary

"Come in, Beth. Let's have a chat; shall we?" "Okay, Mary; let's chat." Beth enters the room and asks, "We're staying in our old room now; are we?" "I come here from time to time." "And, what about Tommy? Does he come here with you…from time to time…or does he just stay in the barn?" "Tommy goes wherever he wants to go, Beth." Mary gets a grin on her face. "Tommy's a free-spirit, Beth…pardon the pun." "Pun pardoned, Mary. So, does that include the woods? Does Tommy ever go into the woods? Or how about you, Mary; do you go into the woods?" Mary gets up, walks over to the bedroom window and, while standing there with her arms behind her back, stares out into the dark night sky. "No, Beth; I don't go into the woods…not with him out there." "Him?" "You know who I'm talking about, Beth." "Not really. Why don't you tell me, Mary?" "The killer; the one who killed all those families…my family…me, Beth." "Who is he, Mary…do you know his name?" Mary turns her head and looks at Beth without saying anything; then, turns her head back around and answers, "Charles. His name is Charles." "Charles who?" Beth moves in closer to Mary. "I don't know; just Charles." "He has to have a last name, Mary." Mary senses Beth getting impatient with her and grins. "I'm sure he does have a last name, Beth…I just don't know it." "What about Tommy, Mary?" "Tommy…yeah, he has a last name…it's Steinman…but, you knew that Beth; right?" "Does Tommy know about Charles…does he go into the woods, Mary?" "I suppose he knows about Charles being out in the woods. And yes, Tommy goes into the woods; when he's sure Chelsea isn't around that is." Beth walks over to Mary's bed and sits at the foot of it. "So, where's Tommy now; out in the barn?" "Maybe." Mary goes back to the vanity table and resumes brushing her hair. "Maybe? I see…and, that maybe…would that be a ‘Gee, I really don't know where he is'; or is it more like an ‘I know where he is; but, I'll be damned if I tell you' kind of maybe?" "That would be maybe, Beth." "Just tell me where he is, Mary." "I don't know where he is, Beth. You see, unlike Chelsea, I'm not obsessed with knowing Tommy's whereabouts. Oh, speaking about Chelsea; we had a little talk ourselves a couple of hours ago." "You talked with Chelsea?" "Yes, Beth; we talked…if you want to call it that. She's not much of a conversationalist; as I'm sure you've noticed." "Unlike yourself, Mary." Beth goes on, "I'll tell you what else I've noticed, Mary; you seem to have a pretty sophisticated vocabulary…for a young girl that is." Mary turns and gives Beth a wickedly arrogant smile. "I may be young, Beth…but, I'm not stupid." "Of course you're not, Mary. So, this little discussion the two of you had; was it at least a productive one?" "Not really." "No? Why not?" "Well, Beth, let's just say it kind of gave me a headache; and, leave it at that." "Sorry to hear that." "I did find out one thing though that may interest you, Beth." "And, what's that, Mary?" Mary turns around and begins brushing her hair again. "You never did find Delilah's body; did you?" "No, we didn't." "You know why you didn't find it, Beth?" "No, Mary; why don't you tell me." "You didn't find her body, Beth, because your pal Chelsea moved it." "What do you mean she moved it? Why would Chelsea move her body?" "By moved…Beth…I mean she took Delilah's body from where they buried it and placed it somewhere else. And, as far as why she would move it; Chelsea wanted me to look like a liar so you would believe her and not me." "Oh really? So, where did she put the body?" "That I don't know. But, I'll tell you what I do know, Beth; what happened to Anna the other day…that was Chelsea." Beth jumps up and runs over to Mary, snatches the brush from her hand, and slams it down on the vanity. "What do you mean Chelsea did that…why? What are you two doing to my daughter?" "Not two, Beth…Chelsea. And, it's not doing…yet…but, going to be doing. Chelsea's going to hurt Anna, Beth." "Why would she do that, Mary?" "Because she's a twisted, sadistic bitch not getting what she wants! She wants you to find Tommy for her; and, you're not. So, as punishment, she'll hurt Anna instead." "No; you're wrong. You're lying again, Mary. Chelsea wouldn't do that to Anna." "Oh, but I would?" Mary turns red in the face. "Yes; I believe you would, Mary." The mirror shatters, as the brush flies across the room and out the door. A startled Beth jumps back from Mary, and watches as she slowly gets up and steps towards her. Mary scowls at Beth saying, "Well, I guess we'll find out tomorrow who the real liar is, and who's telling the truth; won't we, Beth?" "And, how's that; Mary?" "Madame Chybovsky. You still have Madame Chybovsky coming here tomorrow; don't you, Beth?" "How did you know that, Mary?" "I told you, Beth, I'm not stupid; I know what's going on. I've been trying to let you know; but, you won't listen." "Okay; I'm listening now, Mary." That arrogant, wicked smile returns to Mary's face. "Sure you are, Beth. Too bad I'm not talking now." "Mary, what's going on?" Mary returns to the vanity table and sits with her back to Beth. "Goodnight, Beth." "No!" Beth walks over towards Mary, "I want to know what's going on, Mary!" Beth reaches out and grabs Mary by the collar on her nightgown; so, Mary momentarily distracts Beth. "Hello, Chelsea. Come on in and join us." Beth turns to look; but, no one's there. When she turns around, Beth's standing there with her clenched hands holding onto nothing but air. Mary's disappeared once again.