“Scarlett! Scarlett, please wait for me. I know you’re upset, but I’m your friend. Come on, talk to me.” I pushed everyone away, even my best friend. Fear took over my mind when my parents were killed. The biggest fear I had was that the killer was someone close to me. I knew Marabella was not the killer, I was with her the whole day when it happened. Nevertheless, with my sister acting like she was my mother now, saying I have to call her mom. Also, with the other kids staring at me like I was the plague, and the pitiful stares from the adults, I felt like I was in hell.
“Scarlett!” I stopped walking. Marabella caught up with me and grabbed my shoulder. She turned me around and I could feel the tears running down my face.
I stood as a 30-year-old woman looking at 15-year-old Marabella. I was reliving a memory in my head, but I was living it in two different versions of me. 30-year-old and 14-year-old me, was looking at Marabella in her prime. This means, on this exact day when I saw her, it was 3 weeks before she was murdered.
“Scarlett, I am not your enemy. I would never hurt you. Have I ever lied to you?”
“No, you haven’t.” I said in both versions.
The vision of Marabella began to shift, my memories started to race, from the 2 months I was in school after my parents died. The scenes of Marabella taking care of me. The Scenes of my sister growing increasingly impatient and agitated with me spending more time with Marabella then her.
The memory halted to the edge of the park where Marabella and I would go to play around.
“No, No. Not this again. I can’t go through this memory again.”
My 14-year-old body still walked closer and closer to the scene that scarred me for life. In the Park on the last couple of streets in Vanderbilt, before you hit the highway. There was a small Marsh that Marabella and I would hang out in. There was high grass that you would have to go through before you got to the little area. There was a grassy plane and a small swampy area. I walked through the marsh, where Marabella was supposed to have been, she said she would be there for a few hours doing homework. I was to meet her around 5 pm. I pushed back the final part of the high grass to get to the tamer part of the marsh. That day I would stumble upon a mangled dead body. Instead, in this memory, Marabella sat where she normally sat, and played with our friendship necklace.
“Hey, Scarlett! It’s been a while, 15 years to be exact. Ha, how’s life been going for you, I mean up to this point?”
What? Marabella died, exactly… 15 years ago.
The 15-year-old Marabella turned around to face me. She looked as pretty as she did before she died. Full head of curls, box dye red hair, but never fried, her hair was always styled and soft. Her dream was to become a hair stylist, for the modern and the overworked.
She smiled at me and I could feel tears in my eyes. I took a step closer, when a white light flashed in front of my face. I closed my eyes because it was so bright.
“What was…that?” All the air left my lungs. There stood Marabella, her face was half bone, her right-hand was also bone, and her left leg as well.
“Your too close, close your eyes and step back again.” I hesitated, my soul has felt like it has been attacked repeatedly, and now this. I closed my eyes and stepped back; I could see the bright light once more. When I opened my eyes, Marabella was herself again, though she now was looking up at the sky.
“Much better. Oh, my dear baby girl, it’s okay. You’re not dead, I promise.” I gave out a painful laugh. I laughed for a good minute because why would I want to be alive.
“Do you know how lonely it is out there. Marabella, I have no one. Everyone thinks I am a defect, a parasite, a leech. I hate it here. I keep the strongest face for those kids, who know how truly cruel this world is. I don’t want them to see my hurt. The hurt that fills my core, the dying remorse for the people who died because of me. The people I loved, the people who tried to help, all the innocent lives taken because my sister is a demon who only wants what she wants and no one could interfere. Marabella, 255 innocent lives in counting. She has been doing this since before I was born, but it got worse when I came into the picture.”
“The grand purpose of not being caught. I’ve watched the outcome, don’t think we are not watching over you. We love you.”
“We?” Marabella looked up at the sky again.
“What are you looking at, Marabella?”
“It is happening, and so soon.” Marabella gave a long sigh.
“We don’t have much time. I just want you to know that we are watching over you. Its not time for you to come see us.” She looked up again.
“Scarlett, she is coming for you! Run away and don’t look back. Run as far as you can. Don’t trust any Blood Servant! Only the Blackwood’s and whoever they have to come to help you. Aubrey Blackwood will keep you safe even when she is not with you. Don’t let Briella win!”
“What!”
“Remember…” Marabella walked to me, partially skeleton. “You are nothing like your sister.”
She pushed my chest and I started to fall backwards. I tried to grab Marabella, but I was falling faster. Unfortunately, I could feel it in my bones I was going to stop falling soon. I braced myself for impact.
* * * * *
My eyes flew open; I was back in the sick room. I noticed there was a blaring sound that I could not make out. I rubbed my eyes, then I tried to unclog my ears. When I noticed people rushing outside of the room, ushering others in one direction. I rubbed my ear again because the sounds were still muffled. When I released my ear, I could hear the loud noise. It was an air siren. Air sirens are usually only sounded off when war is upon us, but we haven’t had war in our country in almost 60 years.
“We must get the patients into a safe room. Here, Terri, come with me to get Scarlett.” Mildred and her right-hand woman Terri came running in. Both are pretty fast for women in their late 50’s early 60’s.
“Scarlett, your awake? Hell of a time to wake up, little girl. You’ve missed a bunch.” Terri looked at Mildred, with the face of “how can you joke like that?”
“What’s going on? What’s with the air sirens? Are we being attack?” Mildred gestured to the wheelchair.
“There will be a broadcast in 30 minutes. We are all gathering in the ballroom to watch. Other news, few things, Lady Blackwood found you by the library with a horrible gash on the side of your head. Your head was bleeding pretty badly as well, one of the servants ratted out Zarah-Rose and her blood servant. Now they both reside in the dungeon, but not before my lady violently smacked Zarah-Rose. Yelling at her, “How dare you strike my child”. So, the assault on you and the assault on Avalynn ended her in the dungeon. Then, to everyone’s shock, Eli ran away. Before The Blackwood’s could send out a search party. Direwood patrol man went door to door to tell everyone to stay inside. Not even 45 minutes later the Air sirens went off. It’s been going off for the last 10 hours; the announcement for the broadcast time happened about 2 hours ago. However, no one saw it because they were scrambling, worrying about where Eli went. An announcement came over the airhorn 20 minutes ago, for everyone to tune into the broadcast. Which is why we were rushing. ... Terri, you know what to do.”
Terri walked over to me. She looked at me for a few seconds. I wasn’t too sure why. Then she bent over and scooped her hand under my leg. She lifted both my legs into the air making my upper body fall backwards. Suddenly, I felt a hand go around my torso, then not completely understanding the situation, Terri lifted me off the bed. I held my breath not knowing if she was going to drop me. Then she gently put me in the wheelchair. I was positioned perfectly, though they didn’t give me a second for my brain to get a grip, before they started wheeling me out of the room.
They wheeled me all the way to the Ballroom, which was crowded with everyone who worked in the castle.
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“Terri, you know where to take her. I have to go check on the rest of the staff and patients.” Mildred said.
“Of course. Are you doing alright, Scarlett? You haven’t talked in a bit.” I felt like my chest was caving in. So many questions, so much has happened. And where was I? knocked out again.
One, I need people to stop knocking me out like I am a rag doll that can’t feel. Two, why would Eli run, Eli has no reason to run? Three, is Zarah-Rose back up from the dungeon to see what the announcement is about? Is this the issues Zarah-Rose was going on about? Four, most important, where is this woman taking me?
“I’m just very overwhelmed right now.”
“Oh, well, that’s about to get worse. I’m taking you up to where Lady Blackwood and her family are. Zarah-Rose is up there and she is fuming. If she was a dragon fire would just be pooling in her mouth. Sorry.”
Oh, That’s not good.
Marabella, why didn’t you take me with you?
Panic ensued my soul, I’m not even able to tell them to reconsider. Terri rounded up the ramp that led to the balcony of the ballroom where the immediate family was. Even if they liked all their servants, it wasn’t wise for the employer to stand with the employed. As I came in sight of the family, Avalynn ran to me.
“Scarlett, are you okay?” Avalynn gave me a gentle hug, then turned and glared at Zarah-Rose. Who of course was glaring at me. Avalynn walked behind me,
“I got it from here, Terri. Go and help Mildred.” I heard Terri comply. I felt the wheelchair move; I was wheeled over to Lady Blackwood who sat disoriented in a chair next to Harrison. Harrison looked defeated as he sat next to Lady Blackwood rubbing her back.
“I’m sorry for …everything. If I could do it over I would… please forgive me for making such a mess of things, my lady.” I looked down, trying not to get any type of glimpse of Blackwood’s face.
“No one is at fault but me. You would have known if you were guilty for anything that has happened. Please don’t feel guilty for my fuck ups.” I looked up at lady blackwood, her eyes were red and her voice shook as she spoke.
“Just sit and try to not get too stressed out. I will keep you over here next to Avalynn and Micheal. Collette will keep the others on the other side of the room. Don’t worry.”
I looked over at Collette; she looked like she was forced into being a mediator of a divorce. I nodded my head; Avalynn moved me over to where Micheal sat also conflicted. She rolled the wheelchair in between Micheal’s chair and the chair I’m assuming is the one she was sitting in.
I looked at Michael who anxiously rubbed his hands together. He kept his gaze on the floor. I can tell his mind was going a mile a second.
“I’m sorry things have gotten so out of hand. Can…” I look over to Lady Blackwood, who was suppressing her tears, her adopted siblings that wore rage on their faces, the defeated Mr. Blackwood.
“Can you forgive me, both of you?” Micheal looked up and turned his head to me.
“You have been the least problematic person in this house. You make sure you own up to the mistakes you have made, if any. You take whatever the consequences that come with those mistakes. You treat us like siblings instead of your employer’s kids. Mother is right, this was never your fault. The ones who know you personally know that. Or you wouldn’t be up here, safe with us.” Micheal said.
Avalynn patted my back. I nodded at both of them.
“Look at the screen!” Someone from downstairs yelled.
The ballroom was made into a large entertainment room not just for dancing. Large slumber parties where they can watch movies here, game nights, occasions like this. Today, that 70ft high to 100 ft wide tv, will now show us the broadcast that will hit every tv and mass screen in all of Direwood.
A screech from the tv came as the broadcast tuned in from the diplomatic state. Advisor Castermire, General Micheal Palmer, Speaker of the House Adriana Cramer and of course Vice President Kimberly Henderson, all stood on stage. The Advisor and general stood on the left side of the stage and the Vice president and Speaker of the house on the right. They all had the look of fear written on their faces.
The Speaker of the house moved to the middle of the stage and was given a Microphone.
“Good evening to the people of Direwood. I am Speaker of the house, Adriana Cramer; I have worked for you all for the last 20 years. I know that our government needed work when I came into office, while I and the others appointed in the last 20 to 30 years have done wonders, we have had many over sites. I would like you to brace yourselves for the information that you will hear tonight. I also need you to prepare for the inevitable that may come as a result of this news.”
I see the speaker of the house taking a deep breath. The ballroom is absolutely silent.
“I would like to now give the stage to our honorable Sovereign and head of Direwood government, Araxie Eddie Seven. Please bow your heads.”
Anyone over the age of 30, a blood servant, or a market slave, will all bow their head, I included. There is a fear of being watched. This has been a factor in our society for many years. After the fall of the old vice president, it has lessened but it has always been in the back of people’s minds.
Araxie Seven has ruled for over 50 years, one of our youngest monarchs. She will bring pain to anyone who undermines her authority and judgement, that goes for family or subjects. Our old vice President married her daughter. Those two people did malicious and cruel things under Araxie’s nose. However, because people saw that Araxie was doing everything in her power to give a fair verdict. They kept her in power. Araxie did execute the rest of her family for this betrayal. Everyone must uphold the laws.
Our woman monarch walks in with her gray dreads that came down to her waist. When she killed her daughter she shaved her head, that was 35 years ago. They have grown a lot since the last time we were acquainted. When we met, she had her hair to her neck, every blood servant meets the monarch. I will tell you that meeting her and what she does to you, is scarier than death.
Araxie wore a fitted pantsuit with an old-fashioned blazer; the whole outfit was black and white. She walked up to the speaker of the house and tapped their shoulder. The speaker of the house bowed her head for about 4 seconds. Looked back up and gave Araxie the microphone. Araxie patted the woman again and the speaker of the house made their way back to the right side of the stage.
“On this evening, my people of Direwood.” Araxie began speaking.
“My administration has come into some dangerous and catastrophic news. Before my current Vice President, Kimberely Henderson. I had another Vice President, Hector Mayner, who was punished for doing some unthinkable things. This was Almost 45 years ago, In the year 2521, Hector Maynor asked me if we could do experimental rehabilitation for criminals. What I was not aware of was which criminals he was asking about. He asked for funding to build on the outskirts of Direwood, where the radiation was not life threatening. He wanted 4 centers, for each different type of criminal. He wanted to see if he could turn their life around. These rehabilitation centers cost 4 billion for each place. I didn’t question it, because we had the money to spare.” Araxie cleared her throat.
“What I had thought when Hector was executed, was that all things he oversaw were all shut down. I was not in the right mindset to check everyone. That was my mistake and my mistake alone. I should have watched them more closely. I have found out that … that one of the buildings, that was built in a place that the old America use to call Texas held criminals that...”
It was like she was about to throw up. She took a few deep breaths looking away from the camera. She looked back and started again.
“This building held Serial killer inmates. These are the death row killers that we had executed their family members, or the members were turned into Blood Servants. 600 serial killers remain; they were never killed like we explained to you and the families who lost their loved ones. Their kin died before them. I am so sorry.” Araxie sniffled as she spoke. Ashamed of what she let take place.
“What? Which ones didn’t die!” People in the room screamed.
“The worst of the news is that four of them have escaped. They are headed to Direwood. We have been told that Jonathon Diaz, known to have murdered 1400 women in a span of 8 years. Olivia Dimond, known for her cannibalism. Meeria Taylor Lynch, known for 645 killings in the name of her sister. As well as Briella Kimberly Thana, with 255 killings in the name of her sister. Has also escaped from the center. We know two of them are going to try to find their siblings. While the others have no family left and when they find this out, we don’t know what the outcome will be. We advise the public to keep the door closed, work from home, and keep your children close to you. We have police patrolling all areas. Please everyone be safe, we are doing all we can. Thank you.”
The screen went black.
I couldn’t stop staring at the Black screen. I want her to come back on and say that it was a joke. I need her to say that this is not real. I need her to tell me that Briella is dead, and she got the names wrong.
“What are you doing up here!” Harrison yelled.
“It’s her they want throw her outside for the police.” Someone came up to the balcony screaming to kick me out.
“Get back to your area!” I heard more shouts, calling for me for the Blackwood’s to turn me in.
“Micheal grab Scarlett and head to the panic room now! Avalynn Follow them immediately.” Collette yelled. I looked over and Lady blackwood had fainted because of the news. Harrison picked her up and ran out. Micheal wheeled me right behind them, running as the ballroom erupted into chaos. Micheal pushed the wheelchair as fast as he could. Avalynn ran in front of us, I heard people running behind us screaming to give me to them. That no one was going to hurt the kids. The panic room was close, but something hit the wheel on the wheelchair, and it flipped with me in it. Micheal flew over me and the wheelchair, landing on his back a couple steps away. The wheelchair rolled on me as I crashed into the floor.
“Get her!” I looked up.
Two people who work in the kitchen tossed the wheelchair off of me, then started grabbing and pulling me back towards the ballroom.
“Let’s go!” A loud bang came and echoed through the hall. They stopped pulling me and someone dropped next to me. I looked over at them and there was a gun shot in their head.
“No!” The man who was pulling me screamed.
“Get away from her, now!” Emily Heiden stood a few feet away from Michael with a pistol in her hand.
“Bastian, go get Scarlett. Ava and Collette go get Michael. Are you all going to back up or do I have to shoot all of you?” Bastian came to me and picked me up in the same way that Terri did. He carried me while Avalynn and Collette helped Micheal. Emily kept behind all of us until we got into the panic room.
Bastian placed me down on the couch, Michael laid down next to me.
“What the hell is going on?” Collette yelled as the panic room sealed itself.
