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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