A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.
An audible sigh escaped her mother's mouth, as the woman crossed her arms across her chest. The woman's gaze turned onto the monkey in her daughter's arms. She had seen the monkey before in Nathan's collection of antiques, and she always found it to be adorable. Granted, its history was questionable.
Apparently, it was bought at a carnival, but the child who was the original owner died a week or two after receiving the item. All owners that had possessed the toy later had nothing happen to them. She wondered if the original owner of the toy really had died so shortly after purchasing the toy or if the story was just to increase the toy's mystery.
Whatever the case, she did feel like something was off with the stuffed monkey. It seemed almost like it was watching her, and it unnerved her a bit. She repeatedly told herself that it was just the toy's simple back story. Besides, she must have been right. After all the weird atmosphere in the house was now gone, so it really was just a matter of getting accustomed to some of the antiques' histories.
Then again, the marks on her daughter worried her. "(F/n), maybe you would like me to at least stay for the remainder of the day," she mentioned, her concern still very present. The moment that she had seen her daughter she sensed that something was off.
From the fake smile to the story about the temporary tattoo, even climbing the apple tree, seemed too odd. Granted, it was hard to argue such explanations, since they were specific. Still, her daughter mentioned that she had tripped on the ground a lot, which was her daughter's usual excuse if she were hiding something, despite the fact that she knew her daughter not to be clumsy.
"No, mom, that isn't necessary. Really, I'll be fine," her daughter responded with another smile.
She could tell that the smile was forced again. Her eyes shifted downward to the monkey again, and she noted how tightly her daughter was holding the stuffed toy. Was her daughter nervous? That would certainly clarify the false smiles. What was her daughter hiding from her? Could she really just leave her daughter alone when her gut was telling her to stay?
"(F/n), tell me what really happened? You're acting unusual. You can tell me the truth."
"What are you talking about? I already told you everything. Otis wasn't himself, and he just said some crazy things."
Analyzing her daughter's expression, she wondered why her daughter would want to hide Otis hurting her. Maybe, it was because Otis was generally a nice and polite individual. Or perhaps, Otis really hadn't harmed her daughter? What else could have caused the bruises? Her brows furrowed a bit in thought. "Did Otis and you..." She was cut off before she could even finish.
"No! That wasn't it. Like I said, he must have just been having an off day. Those bruises on him must have been from something else."
Seeing her daughter's reaction, she understood that wasn't the correct answer. So, what was, then? Strangely, though, she thought that she had seen the stuffed monkey move a little bit. It must have been a trick of her eyes, but it looked like for a split of a second that the monkey was potentially laughing. "(F/n), I know this is off topic, but why do you have Nathan's antique stuffed animal monkey?"
The second she had asked that question, she observed how her daughter seemed to freeze up. Words appeared to be stuck in her mouth, as her lips parted but nothing came out. Did the monkey have something to do with the bruises on Otis and her daughter? That wouldn't make any sense unless Otis spoke the truth about Nathan's house being haunted, but such an explanation seemed too farfetched. She was just over thinking the monkey's back story again.
"The monkey? Oh, I was dusting around the back of the house. When you rang the doorbell, I happened to be dusting it. So, I thought to just carry it to the door with me."
Well, that reasoning did seem acceptable, but why had her daughter reacted like that, then? She was about to ask something else to get to the bottom of the situation, but she noticed something around her daughter's right upper chest region. Beforehand, she hadn't seen it because her daughter's pullover was covering the area. The shirt had shifted a bit, however, during their exchange.
Without saying anything, she stepped closer to her daughter and reached towards the area. Her daughter moved back and pulled the cloth back up with her left hand, while continuing to hold the monkey with her right arm. "That's just another injury from falling from the apple tree. A branch cut me. Really, mom, you must have work to get to. I appreciate you checking up on me, but I'm fine."
"You're really not going to tell me anymore, then?" she inquired, a saddened look appearing on her countenance. "Well if that's the case, pressing you more won't do me any good. Just this time answer if I'm calling you. Will you at least do that?"
"Yes, of course, I'm sorry that I made you worry, mom."
Forcing a smile herself, the older woman nodded and went to the front door. She opened it and exited the home. As she peered over her left shoulder, she said her goodbyes and closed the door after her.
Slowly, (f/n) locked the front door, but her left hand remained on the lock for a bit. She could have told her mother the truth, and her mother was getting close to it, but Drem would have probably attacked her mother if not killed her. Still, the look on her mother's face made her body tense. It was clear that her mother knew that she was lying. In all honesty it hurt to continue to make up lies when she wanted out of the house so much; she desired to be away from Drem.
Would she ever see her mother again? She didn't know because she couldn't tell if Drem would kill her or not. Was that forced smile the last smile that she would see from her mother? Questions like these assailed her mind, and she could feel herself internally breaking.
Still, she didn't wish for Drem to see her like this. It would display that he was winning, and she couldn't let that happen. At the same time, however, she couldn't fight back the threatening tears.
As her energy seemed to drain from her, her right arm lowered itself and dropped Drem in the process. The plush monkey hit the ground, as she steadily turned on her heel and made her way back to her room. Her feet dragged across the floor, while the monkey remained motionless behind her. She felt so hopeless, and she wanted to just hide from everything. Frankly, she just needed some alone time from the sadistic jerk in the house with her.
When she felt a wall of cold in front of her, she halted her movement and looked down, so she could hide the tears somewhat. Why couldn't he leave her alone at this particular time? "Move Drem, I'm tired of you living off of my misery. Just leave me alone right now," she muttered out, as she tried to find a way around the invisible wall of chilly air.
Instead of the cold vanishing, she felt it under her chin. She desired to keep staring down, but the chill forced her to look up to escape from it. The a**hole was probably just amused by her present condition. So, she scowled straight ahead, while a few more tears cascaded down her face. "What? Do you like seeing me like this? Do you like knowing that you can cause me to cry?" she questioned, with each word drenched in venom.
In response to this, she felt the cold on her chin vanish. Rather, it moved to under her eyes. Her tears were blown gently off of her face. Was he now attempting to comfort her or something? Did he think that she would forgive him because he showed one simple gesture of consideration?
"Get off of me," she growled out, stepping back a little and maintaining her glare. Soon, a small breeze hit the front of her face, while the backdoor opened. Why was Drem indicating for her to go outside? Was he planning another water fountain incident? Then again, her phone was out there.
Steadily, she took steps toward the backdoor. No resistance greeted her along the way. Glancing back, she just saw the monkey starting to come towards her. Thankfully, Drem was back in the stuffed animal, but she still wished to go somewhere where he wouldn't follow. Maybe, outside air would do her good, though.
While she headed towards the backyard, Drem trailed behind her in the monkey form. He didn't sympathize with tears, but he hadn't anticipated that reaction either. Frankly, he didn't like her telling him to leave her alone.
He would leave her alone if he chose to not because of her wishes. Still, the situation between the two of them wasn't getting any better. Personally, he thought that it was, since she was conversing more with him earlier that day. Now, though, she was shutting herself off from him again. When she had asked those questions, he would reply yes to every inquiry. Then again, she had accused him of living off of her misery.
That wasn't right; he grew stronger from her fear, which was completely different. Fear could cause misery, but it wasn't misery. Still, it would seem that he would have to rethink his strategy. Already, he could tell that she was going farther down Nathan's course, which wasn't the path that he desired in the slightest.