Chapter Thirteen
I don’t know what to do. Luke has already been gone for a few hours and without a working phone, I have no way to ease my worry.
I love how selfless he is, but at times like this I wish he would put himself first. I don’t wish harm to anyone, but what about me?
What happens if a serial killer comes to kill me, or a fire breaks out and I become even more stranded?
Or whatever is lurking around this place gets inside and tries to harm me?
He is putting us both at risk to help someone we don’t even know.
I know it’s a horrible and a selfish attitude, but I’m scared.
I need to do something to take my mind off all the things I can’t control. I consider attempting to read a few chapters of my book which ends up reminding me of the notes hiding under my pillow. I had completely forgotten about them with everything else that’s been going on.
I run upstairs to the bedroom, but when I look toward the bed, anxiety starts settling into my stomach.
I wish Luke was here. The sun is already getting low and I hate the idea of being here alone at night.
I start lifting my fingers to my mouth but catch myself and stop.
If I keep this up, I won’t have any fingers left. I need to focus.
I walk over to my side of the bed and pull the sheets off the frame before sitting down.
I want to be able to see everything going on around me.
When I lift my pillow, the notes are right where I left them.
I don’t know why, but I was worried they might have disappeared.
Nothing feels real anymore. I lay the notes back in order again and am able to start right where I left off.
9/20
A noise woke me up in the middle of the night.
It was dad. He was walking in and out of all the rooms over and over again.
I watched him but he didn’t seem to see me.
After a while he went downstairs, so I followed him.
He walked all the way down to the basement, but I got scared, so I went back to bed.
When I woke up in the morning, he was sitting at the end of my bed staring at me but when I said his name he couldn’t hear me.
He was holding one of the stick dolls again and when he handed it to me, it was like he woke up and had no memory of it at all.
9/22
Dad got much worse. He has scratches on his body, and he can’t walk anymore. Not even at night. All he does is stare and shake. Mom decided to go get help, so I guess I have to be in charge now. I’ve never been in charge before. I don’t know what to do. I’m scared.
9/25
Don’t listen to them. They are tricky. Don’t accept ANYTHING from them and don’t let them inside.
I’ve learned this much. They keep leaving gifts around the house for me, but something inside tells me not to touch them.
Dad disappeared yesterday and mom hasn’t come back yet.
Something that is pretending to be dad has been coming to the door and keeps asking to come inside.
But it isn’t dad. He isn’t right. It’s confusing to Maya; she wants to let him in.
9/26
The dreams are worse now. Filled with screams and cries for help, including mom and dad.
We are almost out of food and it’s like they know.
This morning some berries were left on the porch.
Maya is so hungry that I almost gave in and opened the door to get them.
They are getting desperate. I can see them all the time now.
9/28
Maya let one in, and it took her. I tried to save her but I couldn’t, so I followed them. It took her into a hollow tree. I know how it sounds… but I think it’s where they live. There is nothing for me to protect now. I don’t care if I live. If anyone is reading this. I tried.
I love you, Mom, and Dad. I love you, little Maya. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.
Maya? My mind flashes to the locket I found in the grass--the one I thought had a small M etched onto its surface.
I hop up and run down the stairs and back to the kitchen where I left my jacket.
I set the notes on the counter before digging in my pockets, pulling out the dainty gold necklace. I can’t believe I forgot about this.
Now with the light from the cabin I’m able to see it's definitely an M on this locket. I clumsily try to open the heart, the wear on it making it difficult. I don’t want to break it, so I take a moment to slow down. I take a deep breath before gently pulling it open.
I can barely see the pictures that have been placed on each half of the heart.
I bring the locket closer to a light, holding it directly underneath.
The pictures are water damaged and faded.
One so badly damaged I can’t see anything at all but the second picture is of two girls.
It’s hard to tell much about them but could this necklace have belonged to little Maya?
I shudder at the idea, knowing how her story ends.
If it is, this other girl must be the author of the notes.
Putting faces with those entries makes them even more terrifying.
What do I do with the information, with this story?
How did these pages get tucked away into a Bible?
Was she the one who put them there? I want to believe that it’s a horrible prank, that it can’t be real but if it’s true, it reads like a warning.
I don’t know what to do. I can’t just stand around, obsessing over this.
I grab the notes along with the necklace and take them over to the bookshelf. I pull out the Bible, shoving the notes back inside before taking it all to my suitcase and placing the book inside. Lastly, I lay the locket inside the Bible’s cover before gently closing it.
I feel momentarily guilty at the idea that I’m stealing these things but I have to. When we get out of here, I’m going to do something. I’m going to find some kind of information about this family. I don’t know how but I’ll figure it out.
A clap of thunder startles me from my thoughts, bringing on a new worry.
I hope Luke isn’t going to get caught out in a storm.
Maybe I should go after him? He should be back by now.
Will that make things worse? The last thing I want to do is get lost in the woods by myself, especially with these cryptic notes floating around in my mind.
I walk back over to the small window in the door, hoping I will see him walking up but the yard is empty, not even any little animals scurrying around.
I sigh and walk back to the kitchen, grabbing a slice of leftover pizza.
Having something in my stomach feels like it will help.
Hopefully make my mind feel less frazzled.
At the bare minimum it might give me more energy.
Although, I don’t think anything is going to cure this horrible feeling of waiting and not knowing.
I pace around the kitchen, cleaning everything in sight, just to keep my hands busy.
My mind is going through every worst-case scenario.
I create a cycle of sitting, pacing and looking out different windows as the minutes turn into hours.
Eventually, when exhaustion starts to slow me down, I decide to try and rest. I don’t want to be all the way upstairs though, so I can keep listening for Luke.
I sink onto the couch and let all the emotions I have been holding back finally come out.
I knew once I opened myself up to those feelings, there might not be any stopping them.
I don’t have the willpower to care anymore.
I’m alone, scared, cold, and unsure if Luke will come back.
I let myself feel as deeply as I need until I get so tired that my eyes won’t stay open.
I don’t know how long it takes, but eventually sleep takes hold of me.