Dark Mansion 7

A steely coldness 1

Gripped her heart2

As the fog from her mind3

Lifted4

Anger gripped her soul5

Tears rolled down her face6

Reality checks in with 7

A punch to her gut8

Fact seeps in 9

Tear gas to her logic10

A woman on a mission11

She has just become.12

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Angie felt the need to get away from everything and everyone when she left jacks office those several hours later. Steven she knew would be cared for. She went to her room and suited up for running. Running was something she picked up while she was here, the physical exhaustion it offered her served her well. She started off on the north path her feet hitting the ground at a steady pace. The tears started welling up in her eyes. She could hold them back no longer. The harder she cried the faster she ran, trying to escape the formation of thoughts in her mind.14

Jack hadn’t said it, but she read it in his eyes, in his demeanor. She has wanted to slap him for thinking it, for not saying it, for, not making her hear the truth. The dark cloud that had been haunting her mind for all these years had finally burst, and the storm that raged within her would not be stopped. Mitch had to pay for what he did to her daughter. 15

Angie ran until her legs were weak, and she sat by a log at a stream. Sick from running she vomited. Her insides reflecting the maelstrom of emotions she felt in her mind. Walking over to the water she bent down to take a drink. The reflection on the surface startled her. There were few mirrors at the mansion. And except to fix her hair, Angie had not actually looked at herself for quite some time. 16

She was different now, slimmer, more toned. She had a definite jaw line, and her neck was long again. Her eyes stared back at her, red and puffed from her tears. She saw the steel cold in them, and reveled in that repose.17

Getting up she followed the stream for a bit, and came to a clearing. There the stream turned into a little pond and Angie slipped off her shoes. Wading in she felt the cold water rush in around her. She floated there, the sun upon her face, and let her mind wander away. 18

The picture she saw in her mind was so vivid she wasn’t first aware it was dream. She and Steven were standing on a beach, hand in hand. A ring was in her hand. She gave it to him. Steven threw it into the depths of the sea. They watched as it disappeared. Then turned around to leave. 19

Angie roused to the sound of footsteps. She backed into a group of rocks and waited silently for whatever it was to appear. Jack made the clearing and was calling for her. She called back and soon was out of the water, facing him on the opposite bank.20

“We have been looking for you, you have been gone for hours. Under the current circumstances I’m sure you realize why we were concerned“, Jack said gravely21

“Im sorry I had no idea it had been that long I just ran and ran until my legs wouldn’t move, then ended up here. Looked like a nice place to cool down. Where is this anyway.?”22

“This is almost back at the grounds A few hundred yards that way will take you right to the south lawn. You know we need to talk don’t you?”23

“Yes, yes we do, I know what has to be done, and I will need your help. This won’t end unless I end it.”24

Jack looked at her curiously, not at all sure of what she meant. He saw her demeanor had changed, shoulders straightened, and her eyes were not afraid to meet his anymore. Somehow she had found confidence. He would not wait long to find out what she wanted. Angie started telling him on the way back to the mansion.25

“Jack, I need your help, I mean, more than what some of the women get. I need to know how to defend myself. Obviously just disappearing into the woodwork isn’t going to work for me. I need to know things, and I need you or someone you know to teach me. I don’t want to have to look over my shoulder the rest of my life. And I don’t want to have to worry about Steven the rest of his, not for this.26

What do you have in mind Angie.?27

Well. Lets start with target practice and we will work from there.28

The next day Angie sprang out of bed. A new purpose filled her blood and she was resolved to her quest.29

The cold steel of the Smith and Wesson 357 felt weighted in her hand. Its little two inch barrel was not all that intimidating, but it felt right to her. The first shots were way off, her hand jerking terribly with each firing. Then squaring her shoulders, bracing her elbows and preparing herself, she began to zero in on her target. Rounds and rounds of ammunition went off before she finally laid down the gun. The barrel was hot to the touch, and she was pleased with her first lesson.30

She had a plan forming in her mind, but she would be patient, until either she was forced to take action, or until she was ready, either way she knew it would end. 31