Chapter93 The Cabin in the Woods

They emerged from a boarded up, old, condemned mine shaft about four miles away from Anna's house; and, Jean-Louise immediately knew where they were. From there, she directed Anna to a dilapidated cabin located in a deep brush of woods near Miller's Lake. This was the cabin where Chelsea met her untimely demise at the hands of her psychotic younger brother. Anna's curled up on the hard wooden floor, wrapped in some torn, mildew smelling blankets and sheets she found left there; trying to keep warm on this cool New England September night. She's firmly holding onto Jean-Louise Wadell, keeping the doll pressed to her chest close to her heart. Her stomach's rumbling from hunger, as she once again cries herself to sleep. Jean-Louise keeps watch throughout the night. The next morning, Anna's awakened by the rays of sunlight piercing through gaps in the weather-beaten, termite-infested, wooden boards; which precariously make up the outer shell of the time ravaged cabin. Her eyes still aren't accustomed to the daylight; so, she squints to make out her surroundings. Anna's still holding onto Jean-Louise; who begins ‘talking' to her. "Where is it?" Jean-Louise answers Anna. "Where outside; Jean-Louise?" Jean- Louise answers. "Where out back should I start digging for it?" Jean-Louise answers Anna. "Do you know where I can find a shovel?" Jean-Louise answers Anna. "Where's the shed at?" Jean-Louise answers Anna. "Alright." Anna takes Jean-Louise with her out back. After Anna gets the shovel out of the collapsing shed; she walks over to a dogwood tree about sixty feet behind the cabin, and starts digging. Within half an hour, a weary Anna has dug down about three and a half feet. After the spade hits a metallic object; Anna kneels down and uses her hands to remove the dirt from around the object. It's a small, rusted metal lock box. "It's locked. How do I open it; Jean-Louise?" Jean-Louise instructs Anna to place her hand over the lock and keep it there until she tells her to take it away. Once Anna removes Jean-Louise's hand from the lock, she tells Anna to try and open the box again. It opens. Anna reaches in, pulls out a bloodstained hammer, and holds it in her hand out in front of her; staring at it. Baffled; she turns looks down at Jean-Louise and asks, "Why do we need this?" Jean-Louise doesn't answer Anna; so, she asks again. Again, no answer. Then, Anna asks, "Should I take it with us?" Jean-Louise answers yes; but, to make sure she keeps it hidden until it's time. "Time for what?" Anna asks. Jean-Louise doesn't answer. After emerging from the woods…weakened from starvation and exhaustion...Anna, whose small, frail frame is now hunched over, lethargically lumbers across the backyard. When she reaches the back porch, Anna drops to her knees, slowly climbs the few steps, and collapses. Her listless body's sprawled out; with Jean-Louise pinned underneath her. Mary's been watching her from the barn's loft door; wearing that little sinister smirk of hers. And, although Anna's in a helpless state; Mary's keeping her distance. Two hours have past now, and, the group's starting to return from exhaustively searching the tunnels for Anna; planning on having dinner before resuming their frustrating…seemingly hopeless…search for the previously missing child. While waiting for her turn to wash up at the kitchen sink, Cindy goes to look at the barn; which is becoming an almost ritualistic behavior of hers now. When she steps out onto the porch, something catches her attention in the corner of her eye. She excitedly screams out as she rushes over to a motionless Anna. "Beth…out here…on the porch…it's Anna! Anna's out on the porch everyone!" Beth, who's washing her hands at the sink, spins around and charges for the back door; nearly knocking over Martin and Professor Rhyies. She thrusts open the screen door; breaking the lock clasp and top hinge off the door as it's forcefully pushed open. She stops and looks down at her unconscious daughter; then, quickly brings both her hands up in front of her mouth. Tears burst out her eyes as she starts hyperventilating. Beth trembles as she slowly shuffles her way to where Anna's laying. She drops to her knees, taking her daughter in her arms, and tightly hugs Anna's limp body; rocking her back and forth while gasping as she loudly cries. When the others come out, Martin immediately joins Beth by their daughter; while Sheriff Faulkner, Deputy Hopkins and Professor Rhyies stand back by the door, so not to intrude on the family's reunion. Cindy, who also wants to give Beth and Martin time with their daughter, walks over to the others. Elated with joy and relief knowing that Anna's back and safe…at least for now…their eyes tear up, as they look at each other and smile. About five minutes pass, and Professor Rhyies suggests that Anna…who's still unconscious…be brought inside; so, he could give her a quick examination to make sure there's nothing seriously wrong with her. As they're bringing Anna inside, Cindy feels as if they're being watched; and, she turns around and looks over towards the barn. She quickly picks Jean-Louise Wadell up off the porch, and places the doll on Anna's chest as Sheriff Faulkner and Deputy Hopkins carry her in. Cindy turns to Beth and tells her, "Make sure you keep the doll with Anna, Beth; okay?" Beth nods and holds Jean-Louise to Anna's chest as they move her inside. Cindy walks down to the end of the porch and stares at the barn. After getting Anna situated on the couch, Deputy Hopkins goes back out and joins his niece on the porch; placing his arm around her shoulder. "What's wrong, Kiddo?" Cindy's silent for a moment before telling him, "Uncle Mike, could you do me a favor and go back inside with the others while I do something." Both curious and concerned, the deputy replies, "What's the matter?" She doesn't look at her uncle; she just keeps looking at the barn as she answers, "I have to go out to the barn, now." "Go to the barn…are you out of your mind? Why the hell do you have to go to the barn?" "He's watching." "Who? Tommy?" "Yeah…he's been watching us all this time." "How do you know, Kiddo?" "Because, he's still up there," Cindy points as she continues, "in the loft. You see him?" The deputy looks up towards the open loft door. "No; I don't see anything up there, Kiddo. Are you sure?" Cindy's watching Mary stand there waving at her; smirking as usual. Cindy waves back; returning a smirk of her own back at Mary. "He's up there alright, Uncle Mike. Go inside now please; while I go see what he wants." The deputy hesitantly agrees, "Okay…but, you be careful though." Cindy turns to her uncle and smiles. "I wish people would stop telling me to be careful before I go to that barn. It's like certain doom." The deputy nervously smiles as he looks down and shakes his head from side to side. "Alright; well, just watch…never mind…I'll be inside if you need me." He starts to go back inside, glancing back at his niece as he walks away. She smiles at him, trying to assure him that she'll be fine. When he enters the house, Cindy takes one more look at the loft door before heading over to the barn. She doesn't see Mary up there this time. As she approaches the barn, the left-side barn door opens, and Mary steps out. "Hello, Cindy." "Hello…Mary." Mary smiles. "Glad to see you recognize me this time, Cindy. I guess you're feeling better." "I guess. So; what do you want, Mary?" "I see you found Anna." She pauses briefly, then, sarcastically remarks, "Or should I say, she found you. Regardless; she's back with Beth now." "And, your point is?" "Come on, Cindy; I'm just trying to show you how much of a good sport and gracious loser I can be." "Sorry, Mary; but, ‘good sport' and ‘gracious loser' are two terms I have a hard time associating you with…go figure." Mary scowls. "Fuck you, bitch!" Cindy returns Mary's previous sarcasm, "You see; now, that's more like the Mary we've all come to know and love." Mary stands there looking at Cindy with piercing eyes. Cindy asks, "So; what is it you want, Mary?" "I want for you to give me the respect I deserve, Cindy." "But, I am giving you the respect you deserve; Mary." "You're not giving me any respect, Cindy." "And, that's exactly what you deserve; Mary." Mary slaps Cindy in her face; and, Cindy responds with a slap of her own. Mary reaches out to grab Cindy, but, Cindy's able to make first contact and push Mary back; causing her to become off balance and fall back to the ground on her buttocks. A flustered Mary crosses her arms in front of her chest, huffs, and starts pouting. Cindy walks over beside Mary, bends over and smiles…as she rubs into Mary's already wounded pride…"Well, well, well…you know something, Mary; this is probably the first time I've seen you behave like a spoiled-rotten brat of a child. I usually don't like that type of behavior…but, it works for you; so, I'll overlook it. Now…I'll ask you again…what do you want, Mary?" Mary starts laughing. Cindy asks, "You find something funny, Mary? Tell me what it is; I could use a good laugh myself." "You, Cindy; you're the good laugh. You really are amusing, you know that; don't you?" "How's that, Mary?" "Look at you, Cindy; getting all bold and cocky with me…as if you think you've beaten me…or, that there's been a change to what's going to happen. Do you honestly think anything's changed, Cindy? I hate to burst your bubble; but, it hasn't." "What hasn't changed, Mary?" "September 18th, Cindy. Come on, don't play dumb with me; you know what was going to happen on the eighteenth. It's still going to happen. And, they're going to die…all of them…Beth; Martin…Anna." "And; Chelsea?" "Chelsea's already dead, Cindy." "And, so are you; but, there you are." "Chelsea's gone…you know that." "No…Chelsea's back…and, you know that; Mary. That's how Anna got away from you to begin with. That's why you couldn't go after her yourself. And; that's why you kept your distance from her when she was on the porch. Face it; as long as she has Jean-Louise with her, you can't touch her." "That rag doll? Please." Mary laughs. "Wait, don't tell me…Chelsea's spirit is in there; right?" Cindy becomes alarmed as Mary continues, "Let me guess…Anna's been communicating with Chelsea through the doll; is that it? Here's a newsflash for you …Kiddo…" Mary smirks, "that was me; I've been talking with Anna all this time. I'm Jean-Louise Wadell, Cindy; not Chelsea. Chelsea's gone. Accept it; and, get over it. I let Anna go. I even told her the way out. If you don't believe me…when she comes to… ask Anna about her little meeting in the tunnels with good old Jebediah. I do have to admit it though; Jeb should have given her directions back here…it took a little longer than I expected for her to get here; but, we've still got some time before the eighteenth. Cindy, you still don't get it…for a smart girl, you're pretty stupid. This is our show, Cindy; not yours…not Chelsea's…ours! We're controlling everything here! You'll realize that one of these days…though knowing you now; it'll probably be on the nineteenth…when you're burying their dead bodies!" Mary disappears.