Just Checking Up Part Ten: A Bittersweet Midnight

Rip:

A subtle force tugged at my blankets, a clammy sweat drenching my skin. Sitting up with a jerk, the worn camouflage comforter floated to the floor. A twisted version of my mother stabbed Silk’s side of the mattress repeatedly, her wrinkled black dress looking worn. Seconds from having a damn heart attack, a swing out of the bed had her dragging across the floor by her waist. Throwing her into the bathroom, a chair underneath the doorknob locked the beast in her porcelain confines. Every breath shortened, Silks’ name exploding from my lips. My old man skidded in with a note, a mixture of relief and anger flashing in my eyes. Motioning for him to call the cops, the piece of paper fluttered into my palms. Happy to see her out of the house, an earned annoyance at her seeing her father simmered underneath the surface.

“You piece of shit! Let me out of this bathroom this instance. I need to exact my revenge!” She shrieked shrilly through the door, the knife poking through. “Your wife doesn’t deserve to live, damn it!” What a psychopath! A tremor claimed my muscles, the sharp jolt of an anxiety increasing my fucking heart rate. What the hell was her problem!

“Cut the damn shit!” I roared thunderously, my courage slipping away the second. “Stop trying to ruin my damn life! This isn’t right! You did all of this wrong! Shut the fuck up! Stay out of my life, you freaking witch! I am fucking done!” Walking away with my hands in the air, Silks’ phone on her nightstand worsened my mood. Wandering out to the dock, waves of water crashed onto the rough sand of the lake. A loud clap had me spinning on my heel, an angry version of my mother. Slapping my face, the very action snapped me out of my nightmare.

Sitting up with a jerk, the clock on the seashell covered nightstand read ten past midnight. Wiping the sweat off of my face, a tuckered out Silks slumbered away next to me. Sneaking out to the porch, wicker furniture creaked as I sank onto it. Silks had been correct in predicting her insane behavior, silent tears staining my cheeks. Leaning back onto the lounge chair, stars twinkled over my head. Fuck nightmares and trauma! Fresh cinnamon drifted up my nose about fifteen minutes later, Silks coming out in a black silky robe with one of her famous coffees. Hating that I never gave it up, her sympathetic smile warmed up my soul.

“Nightmare?” She queried sweetly, her slender fingers placing the cup in my trembling palms. A cool washcloth hanging off of her wrist. “Time makes them less frequent. Do you mind if I sit on your lap?” Dabbing the sweat off of my face, chilly autumn air nipped at my cheeks. Opening up my arms, the weight of her body slowed my rapid breathing. Resting her ear on my heart, her fingers played with my messy hair. Slow massages dissolved most of the fright, her free hand draping a fluffy gray blanket over us.

“Must you be my hero today.” I whispered between sips, every bit of cinnamon laced caffeine bringing me closer to my usual self. “What did you want to do today? You were the one that used to come here once a year, not me.” Brightening visibly, her palms pressed together. Watching her talk about her favorite spots with a twinkle in her eyes hitched my breath, the moonlight casting shadows across her dainty features. Chatting for hours, pink dusted the ocean waves. Running off to go to the bathroom, my jaw dropped at her coming back in a frilly burnt orange dress with bell sleeves. The tight dress hugged her curves, makeup covering up what my mother had done. Fluttering her eyes, specks of gold shimmered on the deep red wine tone on her eyelids. Scarlet flushed my cheeks, the whole look showing off how lovely she really was.

“Do you like it?” She teased with a wink, her sneaker digging away at the rug underneath her. “I can ch-” Leaping out of the chair before she finished, every footfall towards her boosted her confidence. Spinning her around, a shower of feverish kisses prevented an approaching panic attack. Her laughter twinkled in the air, her palm cupping my cheek. Mentioning something about getting breakfast, my dirty t-shirt and shorts wouldn’t do. Laying her on the bed, her sharp eyes tracked me changing into a nice black sweater and black jeans. Sliding my feet into a pair of dress boots, guilt ate at me at her lack of shoes. Watching her pull a stretchy sock over the cast, a small wave reminded of all the times we hung out with just us.

“What is going through your head today?” She asked serenely, a sing-song tone causing my heart to skip a beat. “This place has the best potatoes and you know how much I love my potatoes.” Mumbling out a quiet right, squeaks accompanied her crawling up to me. Resting on her haunches, her hands folded over each other. Deep sorrow hid underneath her bright smile, harsh emotions clawing to come out.

“Tell me if I am coming on too strong today. Places like this small town make me feel safe. No one looks at me oddly. No one judges me. It really is a break from everywhere else.” She continued earnestly, her smile fading to expose the truth. “I wouldn’t give up my life on the lake. Everyone in my life has become too important for me to run away, especially you.” Offering me her hands, no hesitation lay in our hearts the moment our fingers intertwined. Flipping her onto my back, her arms draping around my neck was all I needed to keep my mind sane. Carrying her out to the hearse, the door groaned open. Setting her down, something told me to kiss her. Lifting up her chin, her body arched towards mine. Blushing a deep ruby, love shimmered in her eyes. Pressing my lips against hers tenderly, waves became background noise. Releasing her from my spell, a goofy grin lingered on my lips. Finding her in the driver’s seat, her hand patted the passenger’s seat. Ready to go, adventure brought life back to her eyes. Black hoops with black crosses swung from her ears, a small smirk remaining on my lips. Leaning on the top, the fact that she kept her first birthday present surprised me. Tucking her hair behind her ear, her hand patted the seat once more.

“Even if I wasn’t wearing them, I would carry them everywhere. Sounds stupid, right? After losing my apartment, nothing can describe the comfort of having them.” She admitted sheepishly, her fingers playing with them. “Let’s go eat or your father will think that I am starving you.” Fighting back a wave of tears, a big old beam planted itself onto my exhausted features. Sinking onto the seat, a click had her backing onto cracked pavement. Driving in the opposite direction, her humming followed the funky notes of the alternative rock music. Such music meant that good moods were being had, no thousand mile long stare to be seen. Driving for a solid thirty minutes, a stunning view of a lighthouse on its own island of rocks. Not one car was around, the engine dying down.

“Tourists mob this place.” She pointed out simply, her fingers drumming on the wheel. “Not that we aren’t tourists. Are you going to be okay? Your mother stabbing my side of the mattress proves her hatred for me. Sorry to come in between you two.” Taking in the white paint and red metal roof, the bright light spun around in the pregnant pause in the air. Bowing her head in shame, her hands slid slowly down to her lap. Playing with her wedding band, dark stains dotted her dress. Letting herself out to get some air, the keys slid across the bench. Struggling with my seat belt, now wasn’t the time. Limping towards a bench, the damn thing relented. Snatching them off the seat, a slam and click had it locked securely. Rushing up to her, my arms on her arms gave her pause.

“Please stop thinking that.” I pleaded desperately, her eyes refusing to meet mine. “That witch has had impossible expectations for me. Hell, I would have never reached them. Leaving her behind has made my life better.” Shaking her head, any amount of words wouldn’t have reached her ears.

“You don’t get it!’ She shouted while slapping my hands away, a little hurt dimming both of our eyes. “My father told her to do it!” Mulling it over, hatred did seem to discover misery. Burying her into a bear hug, every negative emotion soaked my shoulder. Rubbing her back, the weight of that secret had to have been drowning her alive.

“Maybe they can marry each other.” I joked lightly, her wet eyes meeting mine. “Nice to see the bastard finding ways to torture you. Sorry, I didn’t tell you about him but I was under strict orders.” Waving away my concerns, she began to limp back to the hearse. Snatching her wrist, a spin had her back in my arms.

“Look, I don’t give a fucking shit about their collaboration. I hope its their last fucking hit. All I want is for this baby to be born safely and to end this whole investigation within that time period.” She ranted hotly, panic weaving itself through every word. “Tell me how I can get that done! Even with this crazy genius mind, it won’t work. Not to mention, your mother hasn’t committed a bad enough crime to be in jail for the rest of her life. No matter what, she will try to find a way to kill me.” Snapping my fingers, her words had me grinning ear to ear.

“Where did he say all that?” I questioned with a bit of excitement, bewilderment contorting her features. “If he told you in the visiting center, the conversation was recorded. Did you say anything that would make it problematic?” Silence stole the smile from my face, a car peeling up to us had me hiding her behind my back. Squealing to a rough stop, my mother stumbled out of the car with her engraved pink pistol. Blood stained her black dress, guitar notes in my hearse told me that my father was calling. Happy to know that he was alive, another question of who bailed her out coursed through my mind.

“Mom, put the gun down.” I ordered steadily, a brisk no slipping off of her tongue as her attention shifted to the shivering Silks. Shortening breaths and clinging fingertips spoke of an honest anxiety attack, violent sobs shattering my soul into pieces. Dialing the police behind me, a bullet caused her to drop the phone. Understanding the situation, the anxiety attack was an act. Speaking with her eyes for a moment, the call was merely going on to get the police there before anything bad happened.

“Mark Hunts wants her dead! As his follower, I must end her! She did a horrid thing to her mother, my dear. You must see that.” She bragged gleefully, her grin growing sicker by the second. “Move out of the way, so I can do my job. Be a good son. Be a good son, damn it!” Refusing to move, frustration brewed in her eyes. Furrowing her brows, a familiar coldness haunted her features.

“Must you be as stupid as your father?” She uttered stiffly, dirt crunching with each step towards me. “Move! Now!” Standing firm, time stood still the second her gun pressed into my chest. The color drained from my cheeks, a clammy sweat beading up on my brow. Ending her act, shock allowed me to knock the gun out of my mother’s hand. Kicking it into the grass, her hand going behind her back. Preparing myself for the strike, nothing would ever bring me to hit my mother. Call it my own stupidity.

“Don’t think so.” Silks warned her icily, her knee jamming into her stomach. Delivering a right hook into her diaphragm, a thud announced my mother hitting the slick grass. Plopping down across from her, sirens wailed in the distance. Donning a sarcastic smirk, a raised finger shut me down.

“Don’t you ever point a gun in my husband’s direction!” She roared thunderously through a wall of tears, her fingers tapping the grass in her puzzle solving rhythm. “How long have you been working for the cult? How long have you been murdering people to summon demons? How long?” Rolling onto her back, a malicious Cheshire Cat grin on my mother’s lips undid all I ever knew about her.

“About thirty years. I used my high society status to cover them all. When did you catch on?” She admitted with a fit of maniacal laughter, my fist clenching repeatedly. “Wait a minute, did you pick up on something?” Folding her hands across her lap, red and blue lights bathed the roads a few miles back.

“Writing tells loads about a person, the neatness speaking of a need for OCD tendencies." Silks thought out loud, her eyes never leaving my mother’s death glare. “Something clicked when I saw the ledger, your writing matches some of the paperwork at the dress shop. Kids disappeared all the time during my damn childhood. The funny thing is, insomnia allowed me to connect all the cases to the found bodies with one matching characteristic. What was that?” Still unable to move from the hit, the rest of my life was about to fall apart.

“They would be found tucked into a bed of sticks.” She confessed with pride, her grin growing wider. “Nothing like your mark. Demons never came. What a shame.” Puffing her lips into a pout, a fleet of cop cars surrounded us. Whistling sharply, officers thanked her for the recorded confession. Thanking them with a polite smile, every cell in me wanted to run. Paralyzed in my spot, a tremble overcame my muscles. An officer aided her to her feet, her sneaker squeaking on the way over to the closest bench. Dragging a nonchalant version of my mother into the closet squad car, her sick grin refused to leave her lips. Evil, she was the mistress of evil. Answering questions numbly, her steadiness of her words matched brilliantly with her personality. Approaching me after signing her report, time had betrayed us. Lunchtime has approached us, an apology seconds from slipping from lips. Kissing her sweetly to ground myself, our cheeks met. Fright and sorrow mixed, our emotions breaking free from their prison. Breaking down for the first time since the incident, forensics took over the scene. Asking if we could leave shakily, they granted us permission. Sweeping her away into the hearse, everything blurred into nothing until we pulled up to a silver diner. Shutting off the engine, her puffy face met mine.

“Sorry about that. I had to get a confession to make sure of my suspicions. Part of me didn’t want to destroy what I had with you.” She blurted out between sniffles, my body moving with lightning speed to embrace her like my life depended on it. “Things started to add up after seeing my father, the ledger proving to be an arrow to my heart. Sorry for destroying what you thought was your life.” Averting her gaze to the front door of the restaurant, her hand reached for her neck. Catching her hand, she had nothing to worry about.

“Truth had to come out. Worry not, my queen. Your knight is here to protect you.” I teased brightly, hoping my wife would lighten up. “None of that blasphemy was your fault. Intuition has proven correct for me once more. Let me be the light to guide you from your storm.” Snorting in my embrace, her real smile stole my breath away. Praying to see that more, another plea to the one in charge was sent upstairs. When would he freaking listen, every other turn of our lives becoming a damn soap opera. Hating that she had to hurt my mother, the failure to protect her slapped me across the face. Grimacing out of habit, her hands guided mine to her small bump.

“Rip, getting married to you is the best thing to happen to me. Having this child is going to be the most wonderful gift in my life. Family is all that matters to me. Meaning you and your father. Not to mention anyone else.” She gushed beautifully, her cheeks flushing a deep ruby. “Look, I need everyone in my life. For the first time, loneliness doesn’t trap me in its ugly cage. Being alone felt like a personal hell. Hell would have to freeze over before I let that happen again.” Pecking her forehead, mixed emotions splashed onto our laps.

“God, I love you.” I sighed huskily, the flames of hope igniting in our hearts. “Marrying the warrior princess has proven to be lovely for my heart.” Bursting into laughter with her, serenity returned to her features. Skipping a few beats, nothing could describe how my heart felt. Lord, don’t you ever take her away from me.