Lay thee down now to rest,
I didn't dare ask Brahms about the spiders he had ripped apart. I didn't know whether to make a big deal of it or not. They were just spiders right? But at the same time, Brahms had killed people before. Maybe he shouldn't be allowed to hurt any living thing. Did be simply not like spiders? Or did he enjoy ripping them apart? I shivered when I questioned if he got a thrill out of killing. Even if Brahms didn't kill the spiders for fun, It was still disturbing to think that he picked up each individual spider and plucked all their legs out one by one.
I sat at the dinner table with my sister, contemplating what to do. Jen ended up going with my parents to the store and picked out nail polishes so that she could give me a manicure. I guess it was her way of supporting me through this tough time, and I really appreciated the gesture. Mom and dad were in the kitchen, busily making our dinner. The delicious smell of cheesy potatoes wafted into the dining room.
Jen shook the nail polish to mix the lacquer around and sighed. "I really hope that these colors aren't crappy. The crazy lady at the store told me that they were the best quality around but I think they look like crap." I lifted an eyebrow at my sister's statement. "Really Jen? A crazy lady?" I asked her with narrowed eyes. "Mmmmmhmm." She said, twisting the cap on one of the bottles. "But Jen, you call everyone crazy." I said rolling my eyes. My sister's gem green eyes shot up at me. "No dude! I'm not kidding! That store was really weird!" I bit my cheek, curious to see which store they went to. Maybe I had been going there all along and never picked up on its weirdness. "Where did you go?" I asked picking up one of the bottles of nail polish and inspecting it. Jen pursed her lips. She often did that when she was thinking. "It was like some family grocer place. I think it was called Broadhurst or something."
Broadhurst? Never heard of it. Jen combed some hair out of her face and continued, "Yeah all the workers were just kind of weird..." She trailed off as if she was trying to remember something, "Oh yeah! And mom was talking to one of the employees about how we were staying at the old Heelshire house", She said. I cringed. Of course mom would blab to every stranger about what was going on with my life. Jen went on, "And the lady perked up about the house saying that the old owner use to make deliveries to the family here. Ewww and it was so gross! She said that he could read peoples gum! Like a psychic! Isn't that disgusting? He would go around and ask people to spit their gum in his hand! Who does that?"
My sister was obviously mortified by the gum thing, but I couldn't care less. The old owner of Broadhurst use to make deliveries to the Heelshires? Instantly I wanted to meet this man and ask him about what he knew about the house and the family. How many years did he bring them their food? Were they friends. I needed to find out who this guy was. Maybe he had all the answers regarding the old family. Answers that I couldn't get from Brahms.
"Where did the old owner go? Did she say?" Jen looked at me with a pinched nose. "Eww no! why would I even want to find him? I don't want him to touch my gum!" I rolled my eyes. Obviously Jen didn't know anything. It looked like I would have to investigate this further by my self.
Mom and dad came out of the kitchen a few minutes later and placed a giant roast turkey on the table along with some cheesy potato's and fried asparagus. My stomach growled, anxious for me to devour it all. As soon as mom and dad took their places at the table, and we picked up our forks, the doorbell ring. What the heck? Who could possibly be at the door? I didn't have any friends going to stop by at this hour. Or any friends at all.... Sad.
My mom got a cheery look on her face and excused herself from the table. Was mom expecting someone? I turned to Jen who had an excited gleam in her eye. What was going on? "Mom?" I asked as she walked pass me. "Who is at the door?" I asked almost nervously. "You will see!" She sung, followed by a little chuckle. I gritted my teeth. I didn't like the way that sounded.
My ears were hyper aware as I listened to the front door creak open. "Hello! Welcome! Please come in!" I could hear my mother say. Who the heck was she inviting in MY house? Footsteps lightly padded down the hall until mom entered the dining room again. "Everyone, please welcome detective inspector Marchant. He will be joining us for dinner!" She said with a cheerful smile. The detective followed her into the room. He was dressed very nice yet casual. Like he spruced up for this dinner. He looked very handsome.
"Welcome!" My father said, standing from his seat. The detective kindly nodded. "Thank you so much for having me!" He said politely. "Please, have a seat!" My father said gesturing to the chair right between me and Jen. My face turned pale. I hope Brahms wasn't watching this. "Thank you." The detective said again, pulling out his chair. He sat down and nodded to me and Jen. "Good evening ladies!" He said smiling. "Good evening!" Jen said in a strange tone of voice. I looked over and saw that she was batting her eyelashes and seductively chewing on the thumb. Oh my gosh! You have got to be kidding me! Jen liked detective Marchant! Was this her idea?
The detective turned to me and stared at me with his sapphire eyes. My heart fluttered a bit. "Good evening Danny." He said, singling me out. "Are you feeling a bit better?" I couldn't help but stare at his eyes. He was just so kind, and I could see it reflecting in his eyes. I did a curt nod. For a second I though him and I were the only people in the room until my mom spoke. "I am so glad you could join us! We would love to repay you for staying the night with our daughter. Now, lets eat!"
~*~
Even though dinner was delicious, It was excruciating to sit through. I couldn't help but get the feeling that my mom was trying to set me up with the detective. All the while Jen was trying to set herself up with him. She was flirting with him so much It was not subtle at all. I think that he began to become uncomfortable with her relentless seductiveness, but he was too kind to turn her away. Or maybe he liked her. I couldn't tell. He was just so nice. I sat quietly in my chair, trying more and more to make myself invisible from everyone.
Finally dinner was over and we said goodbye to the detective inspector. Finally Jen's Flirting would stop! As soon as he left, I could see the twitterpation take over my sister. "Isn't he just so sexy?" She asked me with sparking eyes. I blushed at her statement. Yeah he was a very attractive man, but my sister was going crazy for him.
After what felt like hours, I was finally able to escape up to my room. I just wanted to be alone for a little while to think about everything. My head felt like it was spinning. Ready to just be in my pajama's finally, I pulled some out of the drawer and began to get undressed till I was in my underwear. A small creak behind me made me jump.
I spun around to find Brahms standing right behind me. His hazel eyes were drawn to my body. I couldn't help it, but I was immediately reminded that Andy had done the same thing to me. "Brahms!" I shouted, quickly covering myself with a shirt. "Please don't sneak up on me!" I said crossing my arms. Brahms said nothing, never taking his eyes off of me. We were both very quiet for a second, and I was beginning to grow uncomfortable with everything. "Brahms." I said with a shaky voice. His eyes finally met mine with a flick. They looked wide and bright like they were filled with desire. He took a few steps forward, and I noticed that he was walking funny. What was he doing? What has gotten into him? Flashbacks of Andy from the previous night began to play in my frightened head.
Brahms came right up to me and stood still. His eyes going over every inch of me. By body burned at his gaze and I shivered. He had the same look on his face as Andy right before his attack. My pulse spiked and I began to shiver. I was afraid of what Brahms was doing. "Brahms please! I need privacy!" I said a little too frantically. Brahms did not listen or respond, instead he just leered over me. He slowly lifted his hand and took the shirt that I was using to cover my myself. The virgin in me screamed. I helplessly gulped back a squeal, afraid that he would hurt me if I did actually scream.
His eyes suddenly widened with embarrassment and he hunched over awkwardly as if he needed to hide something. The second I realized what had just happened to him I had a break down. Tears suddenly burst out of my eyes and I breathed in and out so fast that it felt like I couldn't breathe at all. Images of Andy attacking me poured into my mind and I couldn't flush them out. Sounds of his screams echoed in my mind and my ears pounded in tune to my heart.
I quickly sprung into a run, grabbing my pajamas and rushing to the door. "Danny!" I could hear Brahms faintly call to me but I ignored him. I just ran and ran until I ran out of the house and into the backyard. I ran until my lungs felt like they were going to sizzle up. I crashed onto the stone floor by the maze. The contact was very icy to my skin, so I quickly pulled on my pajamas. I just laid on the floor, shaking and crying, as my world spiraled into hysteria. Why was this happening to me so much? Is that the only thing men want? Was the only reason that detective Marchant was nice to me is because he wanted that too? I just laid there and cried as the memories of Andy kept replaying in my mind.