Here is the next scene in Maxine's Story. Thought it had been awhile since I'd posted a scene. Hope you enjoy it!
April, 1917
Maxine cringed as it began raining. She was twelve. Her mother was gone once more helping those
in town. Emily had married Lowell O’Kelly and they had moved several hours away
in Peoria, Illinois. At least she knew
now her sister was safe. Maxine stood a
little taller, and as she had at her sister’s wedding, decided she would be the
one to keep herself safe. Quickly she
locked her door so the beast would not get in.
Could it come through a locked door?
Closing her eyes she reminded herself of the truth.
“Please God protect
me.” She prayed silently.
“Emily is safe now. Help me find safety too.” She slipped the chain that held the key to
her door over her head and hid it under the dress she wore.
Suddenly the handle was
jiggled. She jumped away, ready to
hide.
“Maxine, my little
Maxine.” His voice cooed, and fear
tripled her heart beat.
“It’s a storm
outside. I’ll make it all better.” She swallowed.
“No.” She wasn’t going to lie anymore. At the bible study at church where they
studied scripture she learned truth.
Lying was a sin. It would
separate her from God, and she wanted desperately to be with God.
“I will not let you hurt
me.” Martin Westing rattled the door
violently.
“If you dare to even
threaten me I will tell.” Who would she
tell? Would anyone believe her? Still, if she was quiet how would she be safe?
“I will tell
everyone. I will tell Pastor Fleming,
and Mrs. Sheldon and Mr. Sheldon. I will
talk to Victor. You know he is my class. I will tell Miss Jenkins, and of course Mama.
I will tell…” She named off everyone she
could think of. She wasn’t sure she
would talk to all of them, but then she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t either. One way or another she would not let him hurt
her anymore.
“You wouldn’t tell on your
Papa…” She groaned.
“Oh Yes I will! Hurting me is a sin. What if I told doc you cause me to
bleed? Pastor Fleming says we are
suppose to do right and tell others when they are wrong! So I am telling you, hurting me is wrong, and
I will tell everyone unless you never come in my room, and stay far away from
me.”
“But you are my daughter…” He cried.
“No I am not! I am my father’s daughter. He will haunt you if you hurt me again!” She quickly prayed.
God
please rouse my first father and shake Papa senseless if he ever tries to hurt
me. Make it be just like the ghosts in A
Christmas Carol that I read last Christmas. Out loud she said—
“You have to stay away
from me!”
“Will you not tell anyone
if I stay away from you?”
“I will not talk about it,
but if you even touch me, I will tell every person I know and I won’t ever be
quiet.”
“I will kill you Maxine you
won’t be able to speak.” He spoke in a
beastly voice. Fear shot through her as
he yanked the door. She had hidden all
the keys as soon as her sister moved away.
Then she remembered what they had been studying in school.
“If you murder me, they
will examine my body and they will see what you have done. We studied how the police can examine bodies
to see why they died. They will see the
places I bled, and they will know what you’ve done.” He stopped rattling the door.
“Your teacher lied to
you. No one will know.” His voice trembled, and she knew her books
didn’t lie. Her teacher told the truth.
“Then why do you sound
frightened? You know the truth too. Maybe tomorrow I will go jump off the bluff
and kill myself so everyone will know what you have done!”
“N-No Maxine. I will not harm you. I will not touch you. No one shall cause you
to die.” She smiled slightly.
“Alright, I will not jump
off the bluff.”
“You can unlock your door
then.” She shook her head.
“My door stays locked.” And she did not back down.
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