- Silent Agony: Chapter 1
- by
Traci Poole
- June 14, 2000 ©
Tess
looked around the brightly lit hospital waiting area.
Children crying while parents trying to soothe them. She
glanced up at the clock that loudly ticked on the
flowered colored wall paper. "How much longer?"
she sighed. Tess grabbed a tattered magazine from the
table.
The
doctor who was in charge of her sister's release, walked
towards Tess. "Hello doctor. Is my sister ready for
release?" Tess stood up to greet him.
"Before
I release her, there are some questions I need to discuss
with you first. Let's go to the chapel where we can talk
about it." the doctor said. He began walking to the
tiny chapel that was at the end of the hallway. Tess took
a deep breath and followed the tall man. The doctor
opened the doors and sat down at the empty pew. "Did
you know why she did this?" the doctor questioned
her.
"No,
not really. I was at the library when it happened. My
roommate paged me and said that there was an emergency.
Did she mention anything to you?" Tess held her
breath because she had hoped that Taryn didn't tell him
of the dreams and nightmares that had plagued her since
she was a tiny child.
"No.
Taryn didn't tell me a thing. She didn't give any reason
to me nor the nurses." The doctor placed his hand to
his brow. "This is what I am going to do. Taryn is
of sound mind but she needs to be released to her family.
She has asked that you take her home. I will be more than
happy to release her to your care but she must not leave
you. Do you understand Tess? This is imperative that you
listen to what I am telling you." the doctor said.
Tess
hesitated for a few minutes before making her decision.
"Of course, I want to take her. Taryn doesn't do
well caged in. Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to say it like
that." Tess's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Good.
You can follow me and I will escort you to her." The
doctor got up and held the door open for the tall woman.
Tess
finally arrived in Taryn's room. "You're here!"
Taryn raced to Tess and grabbed her. "I didn't think
you would come." Taryn began to cry.
"Oh
honey, you know I wouldn't leave you here in the
hospital. " Tess tried to get her little sister to
laugh. "We need to talk when we get to the car. Why
in the hell did you take all of your medicine in the
first place??" Tess took hold of Taryn's hand. There
was no need for an explanation, Tess already knew.
"Here
you go Miss Styles." The petite nurse handed Tess
the wooden clipboard. "The doctor will be in to
explain things further for the both of you." The
nurse walked out.
"I
am scared Tess. I am really scared. Please do not be mad
at me for trying to overdose. I didn't mean to. I was
just tired of living in hell." Taryn began to cry
again.
Tess
gently held her little sister to her chest. "Taryn,
it will be ok. You must be quiet about trying to OD. We
are still in the hospital and they haven't officially
released you yet. They think you accidentally took too
much of your medicine. So let them think that, ok?"
Tess squeezed her sister's hand tighter.
"Ok,
I will. Just get me out of here." Taryn wiped away
her tears.
The
doctor gently knocked on the door. "Hi Taryn and
Tess. Ready to go now?" he smiled at the women.
"You are all set now. Just be careful next time when
taking your medicine. You were very lucky this
time."
Tess
signed the paperwork and handed it back to the doctor.
"Thank you sir. You have been very helpful to us
this evening. Get you jacket girlfriend. I am
starved." Tess smiled at her fragile sister.
Chapter 2
The two girls
walked out of the busy hospital and headed towards Tess's
car. Just throw your stuff in the backseat. Want to grab
something at Burger Boy?" Tess looked at Taryn with
motherly eyes.
"I am not
that hungry but I could use a Pepsi right now."
Taryn plopped down into the leather seats. "Sis, can
we have a heart to heart talk?" Tess began to
object. "No. Wait before you say a word. I know I
have a lecture coming to me but you need to listen
first." Tess couldn't stand to see Taryn's blue eyes
filled with tears. "I know this is going to sound
awful, but I want to die but yet, I don't want to. It is
so confusing. Almost like a voice within telling me to
kill myself. I cannot explain it." Taryn began to
cry harder.
Tess reached for
the tissues. She handed one to Taryn. "I know
sweetie. I know."
"No, you
don't know. Remember when I ran all the way home from
work? There was something chasing me. I felt it. It was
pure evil and hate. I don't know what it was but I know
it was there. I felt the breath on my neck. I could feel
it trying to tear my soul apart and claim it as its
own." Taryn grabbed the tissues and blew her nose.
That's not all. You know the sugar shanty?"
Tess listen as
her sister spilled her guts. Tess knew that Taryn had
many problems and often came to her for advice. "Go
on Taryn, I am listening."
Taryn threw the
used tissue down. "Well, under the bench near the
pot belly stove is a bench. Under the bench I found some
earth that had been moved. I began to kick the dirt
around and my foot hit something. I bent down and moved
the dirt more. I saw what looked like a metal box. I
removed it and opened it. I found a string of pearls and
an old ring. The inscription had been worn but it had
this insignia on it. I was able to make out where it was
made. It said Visel."
"That's in
Germany." Tess said to Taryn.
"Yes, the
birth place of our ancestry." Taryn continued.
As the sisters
drove onto the dirt road of their home, they knew that
they had to find out where it all came from.
Chapter 3
It
was nearing dark as Tess and Taryn finally reached the
old farmhouse. "I am tired." Taryn yawned.
"Mind if I turn in?"
"No,
go ahead and turn in. Want me to fix something for you? I
have left over soup I can warm up and I can fix you a
sandwich to go with it?" Tess looked deep into
Taryn's eyes. They were full of fright.
"I
will pass on the dinner. I just want some peace
tonight." Taryn hugged her sister goodnight and
trudged up the stairs to her room. Taryn knew that she
wasn't alone. She could feel the evil eyes following her
as she undressed. Taryn went into the bathroom and washed
her face. Taryn went back into her bedroom and turned
down the sheets. She climbed into her bed and closed her
eyes. Sleep came quickly for the fragile woman. Visions
of an old castle always seem to loom in Taryn's
nightmares. The nightmare began for Taryn. The coldness
of the nightmare made it seem all to real for her.
Taryn's pulse quickened as she neared the same street
that appears in her nightmares. Taryn paused to catch her
breath. Suddenly, Taryn could feel the evil try to
envelop her mind and her soul. Taryn steps up her pace
even quicker. Taryn looked behind her but couldn't see
anyone. Filled with fright, Taryn runs faster and faster.
She could feel the evil closing in on her. As she
stumbles to the ground, Taryn screams. She wakes up from
the horrid nightmare that repeats itself on a nightly
basis.
"Are
you ok?" Tess runs to Taryn.
"No!!
It was here! I felt it!" Taryn screamed.
"What??
What did you feel Taryn??" Tess tried to console the
visibly shaken woman.
"It
was chasing me! I ran and ran but I couldn't run any
faster! I could feel it gaining ground!" Taryn was
completely hysterical.
"Come
on girl. We will sleep in the spare bedroom. " Tess
got up from the bed. "But first let's get some
tea."
Taryn
was still visibly shaken from the images that came to her
in the nightmare. She followed Tess to the kitchen.
"I am so scared of these nightmares." she said.
"Want
to tell me about them?" Tess reached for the kettle
and put it onto the stove.
Taryn
sat down at the table. "Promise you won't
laugh?" Taryn searched for an approval from her
older sister.
"No,
I am not going to laugh." Tess reassured her.
Taryn
took a deep breath. "I am always being chased by
something. I don't know what. I can feel it gain on me
and just as it reaches for me, I fall. I don't know what
it is but I know it is evil. It wants to take the very
breath that I breathe. I can feel something choking me
Tessie. I am so scared. I want to show you what I found.
You know, that strange box?"
Tess
filled Taryn's cup up and sat down beside her. "I am
sorry about those dreams. We will check out that box. I
want to know what it is too."
"Do
you think the family rumors have anything to do with
it?" Taryn slowly sipped the tea.
"I
don't know kiddo. I don't know but I can promise I will
get to the bottom of it. I love you little sister and I
want to put an end to this." Tess looked at her
sister. She could only think how vulnerable Taryn really
is. Tess knew that she had to protect Taryn, even if it
meant her very own life.
Chapter 4
Coffee filled
the tiny kitchen as Taryn made her way downstairs.
"Did you
sleep better this time?" Tess poured Taryn a cup of
coffee.
"I guess. I
don't remember too much about last night after we went to
bed." Taryn rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Tess sat down
beside her sister. "I want to go up to the shanty. I
want to get to the bottom of this."
"I know, I
do too." Taryn finished her coffee. She reached for
her shoes.
Tess and Taryn
started to the tiny shanty. "Do you remember when we
were kids, we used to sled ride down this hill?"
Taryn smiled for the first time in a long time.
Tess laughed.
"You bet I do. I couldn't stand it when you made me
haul your sled up this hill."
The two girls
stood in front of the shanty. "Ready?" Tess
looked at her little sister. Taryn nodded in agreement.
Tess slowly opened the door. She stepped inside and
looked around. "Nothing has changed in here."
Taryn went to
the bench that hid the tiny, mysterious box. She bent
down to unearth it once again. The air in the shanty
began to get cold. Taryn slowly opened the box.
Taryn's mood
began to change. "I want justice." Taryn
growled.
"What?"
Tess looked puzzled.
"You did
this to me and now you must pay." The voice came
deep within Taryn. The voice made an unholy sound.
Taryn's eyes were filled with hate and rage. She began
pulling at her hair and screaming. "Tess, please
help. Please." It was Taryn's voice. Taryn dropped
the box and dashed out of the shanty.
Tess ran after
her sister. She could feel the rage that came from Taryn.
It was unlike Taryn to be like this. "Taryn! Stop!
Taryn!" Tess called after her sister. She went back
inside to retrieve the box and the contents that tumbled
out of it. Tess picks up the envelop. The words Nadia
Krause written in small letters. She places it back into
the box. Tess examines the pearls that still have their
luster and shine. As she picked up the baby's ring, a
tiny cry echoed in the shanty. Tess pushed the box under
her arms and went in search of her sister. Tess runs up
the hill, still screaming for Taryn. "Taryn! Where
are you?" From the distance, a figure is laying down
on the ground. "Taryn!" Tess rushes to Taryn.
"Help me
Tessie. Please help me." Taryn says as she is laying
in a fetal position.
"Can you
stand up?" Tess tugs on her sister's arm. Taryn
slowly stands up and leans on Tess for support. The two
women make their way back down the hill to their house.
"You are going to take a hot bath while I am
examining this stuff."
"I don't
want to be there when you open the box Tessie. I am too
frightened. I don't know what came over me but it tore at
my soul, just as it did in my nightmare." Taryn's
voice was filled with fear.
"Go up
there and get that bath." Tess tried to add cheer to
her voice.
Taryn followed
her sister's advice.
Tess opened the
box again. This time there was no coldness nor evil
present. She took out the tiny ring and examined it. The
diamond still sparkled. She placed it on her pinky
finger. The string of pearls were unlike anything she had
seen before. Tess definitely wanted to have them looked
at by the antique dealer in town. She took the yellowed
envelope out of the box. Tess looked closely at the
handwritten words. "Nadia Krause. That name doesn't
ring a bell." Tess said to herself.
"Tessie! I
need your help!" Taryn hollered from upstairs.
"I am
coming!" Tess hollered back. She gently replaced the
ring, pearls, and envelope. The boxed would be closed.
For now.
Chapter 5
Tess went
upstairs to see what Taryn needed. "What's up?"
"I need
some sedatives tonight." Taryn looked up at Tess
with her soft blue eyes.
"I don't
blame you. We have had a rough day." Tess sighed.
"I will get them honey."
Taryn got out of
the tub and went into her bedroom. She sat on the bed and
dried her long blonde hair. Tess entered the room,
holding the sedatives in her hand.
"Here. Take
this." Tess handed Taryn the medicine.
"Three of
them?" Taryn questioned Tess.
"Two are
your regulars and the third is Tylenol." Tess
reassured Taryn.
Taryn took the
medicine and climbed into her bed. "Leave the light
on? Please?"
"Sure.
Whatever will help you get a good night's rest."
Tess smiled and kissed her little sister. "see you
in the morning."
Tess went
downstairs and sat back down on the couch. She pulled the
box out from under the couch. She carefully opened the
box and looked at the stuff in the box again. Tess picked
up the envelope and opened it. The envelope was empty.
Tess placed the stuff back into the box. "Hmm....I
wonder who this Nadia woman is?" she whispered. Tess
went to the china cabinet and began rummaging through the
drawers. "Where is that photo album at?" Tess
said as she moved the table cloths aside. Suddenly, Tess
felt the familiar leather cover of the photograph album.
Tess carefully looked at names and female faces but there
wasn't anyone out of the ordinary. She searched the
drawer for more pictures. Tess replaced the albums and
stood up. She placed her hands on her hips. "There
has to be more." Tess looked around the room. She
slowly climbed the stairs to the attic. Tess peeked in on
Taryn. "She is such an angel." Tess went to the
attic door. She pulled the string down from the ceiling.
The attic door slowly descended towards Tess. She climbed
up the rickety stairs and looked around. Finding the pull
string for the light, Tess turned it on. Resting in the
back corner of the attic, is the family trunk that has
been around for ages. "Maybe there will be something
in there." she says to herself. Tess slowly made her
way to the trunk and knelt down in front of it. Tess
lifted the heavy trunk lid. "Wow! I thought this
trunk was empty!" Tess said outloud. She reached in
and began moving its contents out of the way. Tess pulled
out more photographs of her family but all were familiar
to her. Tess pulled out dishes and goblets from the old
dusty traveling trunk. Hidden deep within the trunk, Tess
feels a bottle. "What is this? Wine? " Tess
closely examined the bottle. "I can't read
this." Tess took the bottle to the light. A date,
1832, was neatly etched into the glass of the bottle.
"Visel, Germany? Interesting." Tess looked
closer at the bottle. Her family name,Styles, was neatly
etched in the glass bottle. She shook her head and
wondered. Tess placed the bottle next to the stairs of
the attic. She continued to search through her newly
found treasures. A torn piece of paper suddenly falls
from her grasp. Tess picked it up and read it, "My
dearest Nadia, Time is short. I must....."
"This is Great-great grandfather Henry's
handwriting!" Tess shouted. She began her search
even harder. She desperately began tossing items out of
the trunk. Tess shook all of the garments that were in
the trunk. She looked in the dishes and the goblets. Her
search was fruitless. The other piece of the note wasn't
found. Tess piled the stuff back into the trunk and
closed the lid. As she fastened back the leather ties
that bound the trunk, she thought she heard a baby cry.
Tess stood up and picked up her things. She quietly
tip-toed to the stairs and shut the light off. As the
glow from the bulb disappears, the smell of lavender
fills the attic.
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