Chapter Two: Weird Woman

From the gravel stone I was sitting on, it was growing dark as the sun went down. The colors attract me in; their brightness makes me feel better. I was always amazed by how bright and clear they were. I always seem to find my way back here. From the hill, I could see the entire scene. There was a big gap in the trees, and there was a lot of grass and flowers growing on and around it. It was the type of slope that kids would slide down, giggle, and play on while their parents set up a picnic in the daisies. My parents used to bring me here every Saturday night, so I was the only one who knew about it. We'd have a great time together putting up a picnic, singing, and laughing all night. I grin when I think of how great that was. I come here alone every Saturday to watch the sunset. Even if they were gone, I would still come here. When I was 12, my mom died. She worked as a nurse, and one night on her way home, a drunk truck driver hit her automobile. Dad was heartbroken because he knew he would never see her again. He turned to booze for consolation, believing it would help him forget about the anguish he was in. I sobbed for my mom every night and didn't eat or sleep. It started to get in the way of my schoolwork. I couldn't focus in school because I was afraid of losing Dad too. He saw these things and realized he had to be strong for me.

A year later, Dad met Helena and her twins. He married her three months later. She said that her husband perished in an aircraft accident when she was pregnant with the kids. I didn't like her since I could see she was being false and weird. One night, as she was brushing my hair, she pulled on it too hard, and I yelled out in agony. She said she was sorry and that she didn't intend to do it, and then she stroked my head. I informed Dad that I was starting to doubt her. He approached her right away, and I was shocked by how she reacted.

She gasped and put her palm on her chest, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Oh sweetheart, I can't believe Amelia is saying such things about me; I would never do that. She's like a daughter to me. Why would you do that to me, Amelia? I adore you like you're my own.

I didn't know that tears were starting to fall from my eyes since I was too surprised to understand what was going on. Dad came to me and told me I was wrong for lying about my stepmother. That night, I fled to my bed crying because I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't know why she attempted to turn Dad against me at the time, but as I became older, I understood that she simply hated me so much that she would do anything to harm and spite me.

When I returned home from school one day, I found Pretty, my large teddy bear with a Hello Kitty on the front, ripped up and ruined with the head chopped off. Mom got me my favorite doll as a birthday present when I turned 10. I yelled because I was so mad. That night, I recall sobbing as she laughed at me and her two girls laughed with her. I was really excited for Dad to arrive home from work that night. When he came, I went to him weeping, but Helena was already there next to him. She grinned down at me as I swallowed hard. I told Dad what happened, thinking he would believe me this time, but Helena began yelling that I was lying too much. She said she witnessed me ripping the teddy bear apart. She even asked her two daughters to come. They also said they witnessed me do it myself. That night, Dad was very angry and stated I was already acting like a brat for attempting to set up my stepmother multiple times. For three days, I was instructed to stay in my room and not come out until I was told to. He stated I was losing everything since Mom died and that I couldn't bear to watch him marry someone else.

Since then, I haven't spoken to anybody and have kept to myself. At night, I would weep to myself when anything horrible happened to me.

When I was 15, he snuck into my room that night and tried to speak to me. I didn't answer and simply acted like I was asleep.

"Amelia, you know I want what's best for you, but you're making it hard for me." I heard him say it gently as he was sitting on my bed, but thank goodness I was facing the wall of my bed.

"I married a second wife who has two daughters so that you can have a mother. To help you feel less alone and give you two sisters to play with, but I don't understand why you don't like them. You should let Helena be your mother since she is a good lady. I know she can't replace your mom's place in your heart, but at least let her show you that she can take care of you." He sighed gently and silently left my room when he saw that I wasn't answering. I cried myself to sleep again that night.

A year later, Dad felt very unwell and was told he had stage three cardiovascular disease. The doctor explained that consuming too much alcohol had damaged his heart. Dad said that he had a few drinks a few days a week, but not as many as he used to. Just a couple to prevent him from thinking. I was unhappy and wounded, and for some reason, I started to blame myself.

He wouldn't have started drinking again if I hadn't been bothering him so much. One day I went to him and sobbed that I was sorry. He wiped my tears and assured me it wasn't my fault. Since then, I've seldom left his side. I went directly to his room when I came home from school since he was in the hospital at home. I was afraid he would go soon, just as Mom did.

I shook my mind to get rid of those recollections and glanced at my watch, which stated it was almost eight-thirty. I stood up and looked around as I stretched my legs. It felt good to get rid of the pain. I had been seated for over an hour.

I cover my face with my hands to warm my cheeks with my breath as I make my way through the coldest night ever. I heard that the streets weren't very safe to stroll alone these days, and it was becoming too late. I didn't want to hear any more about an animal murdering humans or whatever. I don't see how animals might murder people on the street and not terrible humans like kidnappers or robbers who are in a hurry. There are homes all around this metropolis, not a forest! Where would the creatures come from?

A zoo? I snort.

I could have taken a bus home just in case the reports were true, but I was only six blocks away from my destination, so I continued walking. At this point, the streets were still full with people going to and from their destinations. There were still side stores open, so I don't think I have anything to be afraid of.

A lady suddenly walks by me and shoves me hard. She tripped a little and nearly fell.

Without thinking, I whirled around and grabbed her hands to save her from falling.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" I asked, wondering whether she was okay. I asked.

She glanced up at me, and I saw that all of her clothing was black. There was a black scarf over her head, so I could hardly see her face.

In the dark, I could feel her eyes on me. She smiled widely, and right away, I felt a shudder go down my spine. I wasn't sure whether it was because of the chilly wind, but then my heart began to race.

Without thinking, I threw my arms about myself and nodded at her. Then I turned to run away, but she grabbed my right arm and stopped me, and I froze in panic.

I became a bit courageous and hit my arm away from hers, which made hers drop, and then I swiftly stepped back.

I carefully look her over again, hoping she's not a crazy lady or an assassin hired to murder me. She appears fine.

I think so.

I hear her say, "Catherine," but her voice is so quiet that I can scarcely hear it.

I frown because I'm not sure what to do.

"Sorry?" I asked, letting out a trembling breath.

As I looked around, I saw that the area was becoming darker and there were fewer people on the street. I anxiously swallowed. I couldn't see the time on my watch, and my phone was in my backpack, which made me want to run away.

She says, "Catherine, my dear," again, this time out loud, as she moves closer.

She took off her scarf, and I could see her face well with the help of the street light above us. Even though I had heard her voice before, she appeared quite elderly. Her long, black hair fell over her shoulders, and her dark eyes penetrated mine as she looked at me.

I swallowed and forced my eyes away. "I'm s-sorry, ma'am; I'm not the person you're looking for." I say, looking around with my emerald eyes again.

"Certainly it is." She laughed and opened her lips.

That was strange, but I didn't want to wait to ask her what she meant since I was already scared.

So I excused myself and turned around to go away quickly. I hurriedly looked back over my shoulder to check whether she was still behind me, but I was astonished to see that she wasn't there anymore.

Like she just vanished or something.

That was rather strange!

As I gazed about, something within me stirred, and I trembled at the feeling and began to run home faster.