Dark Mansion 4

Hope springs eternal1

from the heart of her2

Refusing to listen3

to what brays from 4

From the mouth of another5

***************************************************************6

Weeks had passed since her fainting incident. A routine had been established and things were moving along. Steven was adjusting nicely. The other children had accepted him into their group with no problems. Before he left them every day he gave each and everyone of them a hug. His light would brighten a city, and in a city such as this it was sorely needed.7

The first couple of weeks Angie resisted the idea of group therapy. She felt that her problems didn’t begin to add up to what some of the other women had been through. Sharing was a chore, and so exhausting. She sat there, detached, her mouth moving but not hearing what she said. Then she realized, they may not be as bad as someone else’s but they were real, the damage done is real and she is justified in how she feels.8

If she had ever had an epiphany this was it. Suddenly everything looked different. The smile on her face gradually became genuine. Fifty days had passed since she had left. Fifty days of not returning. Angie realized how big of a deal this was.9

Everyone in the mansion at some point was given something to do. Angie was assigned to the library. She was to keep the books in their correct places. This was no small feat since Jack had designed the filing system himself. Mostly by subject, sometimes by author and always by importance. Angie caught on quickly, which worried her, was she twisted. Her mouth curled when she though of it, maybe, just a little.10

She busied most of her days while Steven was in the school with dusting the books here. Some had obviously not been touched in years. The most leafed through was the self-help types. Some needed replacing and she brought this to Jacks attention. She was curious when he said no as to why. He gently opened to a page, and pointed out the underlines, highlights, marginal notes. 11

“There is much more to be learned by what is in the margin, than the words actually in the book.” , he said gently. Angie nodded in agreement. She soon started noticing the marginal notes and underscores more than the words on the page. The things she learned there was worth far more than what the author had to say. She was not alone.12

One morning Angie woke up to a knock on her door. Steven ran over and opened it, and there was a package. She walked over slowly, picking it up and taking it to the table. There was no return address, the postmark was a local one. She opened it with caution. There was a box, wrapped in very pretty paper, and a card on top. Angie asked Steven to sit on the bed.13

The outside of the card said “Thinking Of You”, turning to the inside her hands started shaking. “I know where you are, and I’m coming for you” was written. She was afraid to open the package and started calling for Jack and Beth. They hurried to her room. Angie was not one to complain and they knew it must be serious.14

Beth took Angie to the bed, while Jack read the card. His face usually white turned a deep shade of red. He turned slowly, gathering his thoughts then reassured Angie.15

“I will find out how this happened, and it will not happen again, you have been and are safe here.” He told Beth to take care of her, and get Steven to school.16

Jack took the package to his office and asked his secretary to call the police. He despised the police, there was little they would do, when much was needed. His call was more of precaution than necessity. Should the time come, he would need to take action, he wanted this recorded.17

They arrived a while later, and were present when Jack opened the package. Inside there was what looked to be a stuffed animal, covered in blood. Jack picked it up, it was a cat. On the collar was a note. 18

“You’re next” 19