Threadbare Memories (Part 3)

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Threadbare Memories Part 1 and Part 2

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Three months before

“I promise Mom, I’ll be fine.”

“You sure? I don’t see any reason why you can’t just do it here Olive.”

“You only turn eighteen once Mom. I’ve got to have it at the beach house.”

“And you’re sure you’ll be safe?” My dad quipped, displeasure evident on his face.

“Daddy I’m a big girl. And yes I know to carry my pepper spray.” I said when I saw him opening his mouth to counter.

“Be safe baby.”

The music was loud and blaring. When my friends said they’d help throw this party for me, I specifically told them the kind of songs I wanted. But of course, the birthday girl’s wishes were disregarded. I paused my reluctant dance when I felt the prickling on my neck. It was the same sensation I’d felt for a while now. Like someone was watching me. But each time I turned, I saw no one.

I felt that sensation now. But like always, I ignored it and kept dancing. When I’d danced enough, I scooped a cup of “punch” from the bowl and darted outside to the beach. I looked at the crowd of friends that came to celebrate as they swayed frantically to the music. They wouldn't miss me.

I walked to the edge of the beach and sat down, feeling a bit woozy from the “punch.” I let my feet dance with the little frothy waves and giggled to myself. This was going well. Suddenly I felt the prickly sensation at the back of my neck. Stronger and more insistent than ever. It felt like someone was just there. Just….

I whipped my head like I’d been stung and before me was a woman. Her hair was all over the place and even with the not-so-bright moonlight and my slight tipsiness, I could see the manic look in her eyes. I felt my pockets.

Shit. I forgot to carry my pepper spray.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“You look just like him.”

“Huh? What do you want from me, ma’am?”

“My daughter. My baby.” She moved to touch my face and I slapped it away.

“Don’t you dare touch me.”

Like a dream, the soft look on her face hardened. The maniacal light in her eyes shone brighter.

“I’m your mother. Don’t treat me that way.”

“Quit saying that. You’re not my mom.”

Like lightning, she grabbed my arm. “Let’s go home.”

I struggled frantically but apparently, the woman didn’t just have maniacal eyes but had its strength too. She fastened her hands and kept dragging me. Impulsively, I bit her hand savagely and sprinted away as she screamed.

I was in a daze as I kept running. Not sure where I was going. I looked back to see the woman standing still.

Why didn't she chase me?

I kept running. And then, turned again. The woman wasn’t there anymore.

What?

I met blinding lights as I turned back, followed by the screech of tires. The impact of the car threw me and I felt the darkness sweep over me as my head made contact with something hard.

Present Day

The ringing was loud. The pain, furious. I clutched my head and screamed as the flush of memories heated and chilled my blood at the same time. I looked at the woman again. Recognition finally dawning.

“It was you!” I spat. “You kidnapped me from the beach house. Why did you do this to my face? What do you want with me?!” I screeched.

“You know,” Mother started, reaching deep into her grocery bag to retrieve a syringe “I just hate it when things don’t go the way they should.”

“But I shouldn’t be surprised.” She continued. “You took that annoying attribute from your mom.”

“You knew my mom?” I squeaked

“Knew your mom?? She was my freaking best friend. That’s till she decided to be a backstabber and take the man she knew I loved.

“Daddy?”

“Daddy?” she mimicked, mockingly. “Yes, your precious daddy. He was supposed to be mine. I saw him first. He was everything to me.”

She started sobbing a bit, then her face straightened like a robot. “Then he saw your mom. And just like that, he left me. They both left me with nothing.”

She walked to a wall and pulled on something. A board appeared. A board containing pictures from when my real mom was pregnant to pictures of my growth at different stages. The last one was of me as I drove into the gas station to fill up my car.

“You see, I’d been watching my little traitors for long. On the night I came to end them, you let out a cry from your crib. I looked at you and you were the spitting image of your dad. I changed my mind then. I would have you. And watch them suffer from the loss.”

She paused then, chuckling softly to herself. “But you had to get your face bashed up when you hit that rock. I should have left you then because you no longer looked like Dean. But I knew it would be a bigger revenge on your parents if I changed you completely. And so I planned with my brother who's a plastic surgeon. It would have been perfect. But now your nosiness has led you to discover everything......”

“Why do all of you do that?” I asked, suddenly, trying to hide my terror.

She paused momentarily. “Do what?”

“The whole villain speech. It’s beyond cliché at this point. Cut to the chase already.”

“Be quiet. That’s no way to talk to your mom.”

My laughter bordered on hysterical. “That’s where you’re wrong. You’re not my mom. You would never have been. Because Daddy would have never settled for a psychopath like you!” I shrieked the last part in her face.

The slap was loud and resounding. I reeled backwards hitting my back at the edge of the counter.

“Your life is in my hand, Maddie. I just want you to accept your new life but if you keep proving stubborn, I don’t mind leaving some more….embellishments on you.”

She walked steadily to me, syringe up in the air.

“Wait,” I called out. “I’ll go with you. You don’t need that” I pointed at the syringe.

She came closer. “No, you won’t.”

“You’re right. I won’t.” in a flash, I lunged and scratched her face with the jagged piece of glass that had been in my pockets and began to run. I felt a sharp pull at my hair and I fell in a thud.

“Such a backstabber. Just like your mom!” She yelled while scratching my face bloody with her nails.

I screamed as she sank the syringe into my neck. I bit her hand and took the syringe out. There were yells everywhere as I took the steps out of the basement. Hands clutched at my leg and twisted. I screamed in agony and searching frantically, carried the heavy vase at the foot of the door and smashed it resoundingly on her head.

I heard her deadening grunt and ran out of the room and then the house. Tears mingled with blood streamed down my face as I clutched my ripped clothes and ran into the road.

I didn’t stop for anything or anyone. I ran and I cried and I prayed that I’ll be able to reach the house in my mind’s eye before the darkness swept me. The darkness did sweep me, however, but it was warm, soft arms that caught me. And I smiled in my subconscious. I knew I was safe.

The End.

Jhymi.🖤

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