DEAR DIARY - PAGE 2- THE EMPTY MAN
The invisible man had taken shape but there was nothing inside. He was completely empty.
“At the very least, reopen the case!”
“Miss Saints please calm down.” Head Inspector Till, a middle agaed man with greying hair spoke in a pacifying tone like he was handling a difficult child. “A cold case can only be taken up as priority if it satisfy one of three requirements. New evidence, new witness, or it becomes a link to a different case. ”
“I’ve shown you evidence haven’t I?” Soma ran her hand through her long mass of dark curls. “What more do you need? A dead body? Presumably mine?”
It’d been an hour since the incident at the crossroads. The only way to settle the disturbed crowd was for the patrolling officers to take both her and the young thief in custody where they promised to ‘resolve the conflict amicably’.
Once the boy had calmed down and his fear subsided, all that was left was a vengeance so he didn’t let it go and pressed charges.
She returned the favour.
After a lot of back and forth, the boy was charged with light robbery while she got aggravated assault and disrupting ‘public peace’. Not only did she pay for personal and public damages, she had to spend a night in jail to ‘reflect’. Of course, the theif was stuck in the cells for a full week since he had no bail money or external support.
Once the teen had stormed off to go sleep in his cell, she brought up the letter in her bag to the onsite detectives. Not to justify her extreme actions but in an attempt to reopen the case.
She was stuck there all night, might as well try to have these useless cops do their actual job.
“Your life isn’t in danger, miss. We can assure you of that.”
“Really? How? From the looks of the note, my time is running out!” Her palms slapped the table lightly. She was breathing heavily, sweat staining her brows. The inspector and other two officers looked at her in exasperation.
They weren’t taking her serious. Just like they didn’t when told them she saw her dad in their backyard a year after the incident.
“Let me to list the facts, missy.” One officer leaned over the desk with a sigh. “On the night of ‘79, Joseph Saints’ fled his home after poisoning his entire family. A town wide search was conducted for the next two weeks. But there was no trace of him. Not even a foot trail. He’d only packed a suitcase worth of clothes. Didn’t take his car. Didn’t make any bank withdrawals. Didn’t contact external family members. Didn’t do nothing after the fact. Like he just vanished into thin air. The team on the case back then- after gathering extensive investigation- concluded he hitched a ride and escaped out of town right after leaving the house. There was nothing else to be done. Beyond our jurisdiction you see. You’d have a better chance skipping town and harassing Wisdow Mill’s stations instead.”
“No.” Soma shook her head slowly, jaw set. She knew her father the most. He would not leave here. The land he built his legacy on. She recalled his determined gaze when he spoke of his plans for this town. He had big dreams. He wouldn’t walk away from them. Too attached to this stupid ‘shine of the summer’. That was why he named the first child they had after the longest season in the town wasn’t it? “He never left this Creek. I am sure of it.”
He’d never leave until the job was done.
He’d never leave me.
“Oh really?” Inspector Till shared a knowing look with his colleagues. “And why is that? Why would a man stay in a town he was wanted in for ten years and do nothing at all? How did he survive? His poster was up for a year or two. Everyone knows him. Not a very big place you know. How did he get by? Where did he live? Why would he show up only now?”
She didn’t hold back the anger in her eyes. Nor the spite in her tone. “Isn’t it your job to find out?”
“We’re police officers, not ghost busters, dear”
Her face remained passive, ignoring the laughter around her. “So you’re really not going to look into this?”
The one that laughed the longest- and also seemed the youngest- suddenly pulled out a pen and piece of paper from his pocket. “Mind writing a few lines of words on this?”
“Why?”
The officer- named John- shrugged. “Just want to check something is all.”
Soma’s eyes narrowed. She caught on two seconds later. “Ha.” Her words fell slowly as she looked at each officer in painful realization. “You all think I’m crazy.”
“Miss-”
“You think I wrote this note myself and want to steer you on a wild goose chase for no reason.”
“Listen. We’re not knew to this. Some of us come from the big cities where cold cases are commonplace. The lack of answers has a way of… ” Inspector Till sighed, sending her a look brimming with pity. “You’re very stressed right now. It’s easy for your mind to canjure false narratives as a-”
“Fuck you.” She rose from her sit, a finality in her tone as she grabbed the note back and stuffed it in her pocket. “Forget it. I’ll fix my problems alone. Just let me have my phone call and I’ll be on my way to my cozy little cell. That good? Or would you like to ship me to those foreign mad houses instead?”
Not waiting for an answer, she limped away to the hanging telephone by the other end of the room, leaning on the wall for support. The tackle from above had her ankle bruised and the wound from yesterday reopened. Well not that the burn was anywhere near healing in the first place.
She ignored the dull pain, focusing on the hum from the wall phone that filed the awkwardly silent police station.
It ran for 2 minutes then stopped.
A bead of sweat slid down her creased brows.
She dialed again.
No answer.
Mary wasn’t answering.
Perhaps it was because she already acted out a few hours ago. Her rationale stayed in place despite the creeping trepidation. A new number was dialed.
CLICK!
“Hello. This is Shin’e Maternity Clinic.” A perfunctory voice sounded from the other side. “How may we assist?”
“Maryanne Saints’ ’” Her hand tightened over the twisted wire. “Where is- was there anyone of that name admitted today for delivery?”
“Ah…let me check.” The flipping of pages could be heard. “Well yes!” The voice sounded much more lively. “Are you by chance her wife, Mrs Saints?”
Soma released a heavy breath, shoulders relaxing. “Yes yes yes yes. I am. That’s me.”
“Your wife went into labour a few hours ago. There were a few complications- but!” The receptionist continued quickly before Soma could lose whatever sanity she was holding onto. “Everything’s fine now. The transition phase was stabilized. We’re moving into the pushing phase now.”
Soma’s heart thumped painfully in her chest. Too much information at once. Their baby was coming. She was going to miss it. Just like she missed knowing about a risk until it was already over.
Still, she was going to be a mother.
A mother.
Her new family was on the way.
“Okay.” She recollected herself after a minute, pushing away the self reproach from already being a shitty mother. “Okay. That’s great. That’s really great. Um. Since I wasn’t…available is her mother there? She’s not alone, is she?” Mary’s parents were out of the town for a work trip but they said they’d return today or tomorrow. She could only hope it was the former.
“Mother? Hmm no. It’s actually a family member from your side. A sister is what is here. What was the name?. Yes a sister. Thea.” The mid-wife chirped. “The patient asked for her since you couldn’t be reached during the complication. Your sister said she was out of town but promised to be here before morning. She’s an outsider ain’t she? How nice of her to come from so far!”
“What?” An strange emotion coursed through her being. It made her head suddenly begin to ache. Whatever little smile that was on her face completely disppeared. “Thea’s coming to Sunshines’? Can you tell her to not worry? Everything’s fine, I have it under con-”
CLICK.
The line was cut off.
“Times up, sweeheart!” Officer John called out to her, pointing to another inmate waiting for the booth to be free. “Next person!”
Soma stumbled out of the booth. Out of the holding space. Into the jail area. Into her cell. Not a seep of strength was left in her bones by the time her body dropped heavily on the unkempt hard bed.
Her little sister was coming back.
Back to this cursed town.
She had brought a loved one back to a hell whose devil had just returned.
Was this her father’s plan? To have her old and new family together so he could kill them all off in one go?
Why was he doing this to her?
Why couldn’t he let her be happy for once?
Were the nightmares not enough?
Her teeth pressed down on her tongue till she tasted iron. For this night, she won’t think about anything. Of her past or present or future. The bars before her didn’t make her feel caged but protected.
For the first time in years, Soma slept without night terrors, the dirty cell more home than any house she’d ever lived.
“Congratulations. Your daughter is very beautiful.”
Soma got to the clinic by noon and practically shook the receptionist for answers before the midwife that attended to Mary finally came to attend to her.
As she followed behind the midwife to the patient hall, Soma’s heart warmed.
It’s a girl.
“Do call if you need anything.” Stopping before room 12A, the midwife gave her last congratulations before she went back to her work.
Soma stood in front of the door, hand molded to the handle. The wound on her tongue from yesterday’s biting dully ached. Letting out a shudder, she pushed the door opened.
The lights flickered.
Off.
26 year old Soma.
On.
16 year old Summer.
The taste of vomit was still on her tongue. Summer wiped the water on her face with the back of her pyjamas sleeve. It was quiet. Too quiet. Everyone had stayed back at the dining table, chattering and guessing what present was wrapped in what box under the tree. It was so noisy when she left. But now. Now it was as quiet as the still lake.
“Manuel? Ma? Tess?”
No answer.
“Al? Chrissy?”
Her steps were light but hesitant. The view of the dining area slowly came into vision.
Her mother, Christina, Alma, Emmanuel, Theresa. Their heads were to the table. Silent but open eyed. They still had that Christmas shine of excitement to their faces.
But their heads were so still on the table.
So still in the puddle of blood and vomit beneath.
“...Ether?” Every step she took was heavier than the last. She stopped at the wooden cradle that rocked leisurely. Her 2 year old sister’s face was blue and rigid, a trace of vomit tinged with red still seeping out of the corner of her mouth. “Ether?”
Summer’s eyes slowly raised back to the dining table. Her own seat was empty. And so was her father’s.
Then there was a cough. Quiet. Weak. Frail.
It came from Theresa’s chair.
She looked back at the unmoving baby.
The light flickered once more.
Off.
Dead black eyes.
On.
Bright brown ones.
A tiny face with a cute button nose and pursed lips gazed up at her in innocent awe. Low gurgling sounds spilled from the drooling mouth. Little hands stretched upwards as if trying to wave at her.
“Hiiii my love.” Soma forced a smile, fighting the tremors in her hands. In her heart. In her head. Fighting the memories. “Look who finally popped out. My perfect pretty princess.”
The baby giggled at the coos from her doting mother, more saliva bubbling out of her tiny lips.
Soma leaned against the iron cradle and traced a bandaged knuckle along the sheet wrapping the child. “Mommy’s here. She’s so so sorry she couldn’t make it in time. But I’m here okay? I’ll never leave again. Ever.” She turned around to take in the patient room. Her eyes landed on the center bed. Mary was asleep, a drip in her arm. She looked haggard but peaceful. Her free hand was interlocked with another.
With Thea’s.
Her sister sat in a wooden chair. Head on her wife’s bed, sound asleep. So still she was.
For split second, the bed was a dining table.
Shaking her head, she bit into the wound on her tongue to stay grounded. Her eyes flickered between the bed and the cradle. Two women and a baby. Old and new family.
Her family.
She wasn’t going to let anyone take them from her again.
Dead. Her father needed to to be dead. That was the only way to keep them safe forever.
This invisible man had to bleed so no one else would ever again.
Taking a free stool, she sat and laid her head on the soft bed that smelt of medicine and disinfectant, staring at her sister. Thick brows, deep brown curls that stopped a bit shy of her ears, a snub nose. She looked nothing like her. So much more innocent. Much more younger.
Much more at peace.
She had to keep it that way. Even if it meant getting her hands dirty. She would do anything to maintain status quo.
Anything at all.
I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him.
Thea’s eyes fluttered open.
Those soft brown eyes shifted from light daze to an intensified fear.
Something painfully twisted in Soma’s stomach. Too fast. Too fast to register. “What- what’s wrong?”
“Your eyes.” Thea’s voice was a low whisper, like the tone a little girl used when telling her big sister a secret. “They looked so much like Pa’s just now.”
“No.” Soma straightened rigidly, frowning down at her little sister. “No they don’t. Why would you say that?”
Thea watched her carefully before looking away. “Right. You’re right. I shouldn’t have said that. Sorry. I just… haven’t seen you in a while is all. You’ve grown up.”
Guilt came right after the relief. This was their reunion after 3 years. After she sent her off to another town for university. Paid for her classes, living expenses, food and all but never traveled out to actually see her. Never let her visit too. ‘Focus on your rehabilitation, who knows what can happen on the road?’, ‘We’re out of town this weekend’, ‘The roads aren’t safe’, ‘Just spend the holidays with your friends, no need to waste time traveling’ ‘The house is under construction’ ‘Maybe another holiday’
The excuses were endless.
She really didn’t want her here. What if she relapsed from the affinity? She didn’t want her to know the state she was in either. She wouldn’t get it. It was the only grudge she held against her sister. This trait of having too much love in her heart. She wasn’t sure Thea even hated her father. Like at all. A lot of sadness yes but never enough resentment.
I don’t want to let it go. Everyone seems to have moved on. Am I really the problem here? I don’t want to feel like something is wrong with me so I have no choice but to push you away. Why are you making me push you away? No. Why am I like this? Why can’t I just be normal?
“Have I?” Soma smiled away her depressing thoughts. “It’s been a minute I guess. But look at you. So mature. You cut your hair? It suits you.” Soma studied the vibrance in her eyes, the shine on her skin. “You look…healthy. No more episodes since the remission right?”
“No.” Absentmindedly, she rubbed a hand along the side of her neck before dropping it. “Not at all.” The hand raised again to be bitten. “You don’t have to worry anymore. I’m fine now- what happened to your hand?”
“It’s nothing. A little burn.” Soma put her bandaged hand away from her sister’s concerned gaze. “You should really stop that habit.”
“...I don’t do it so much again.”
“Liar. I can see the peeled skin at your fingertips.”
Thea’s eyes rolled, obviously exasperated. “I see you never grew out of your nagging phase. Good to know somethings will remain the same”
“It’s not ‘nagging’. I’m just telling you. It’s unsanitary. Not safe. You can get an infection. A lot of things get under the fingernails. Dirt, food, blood-”
“As much as I love the family reunion,” Mary, eyes closed, spoke with a tired smile on her face. “Could you two banter with a bit quieter of a tone?”
“Mary!” Her disapproval was instantly swapped for giddiness. Soma scrambled to the bed- as carefully as possible- to give her wife a kiss on her frowning mouth. “How do you feel?”
“Sore.” Tired but loving eyes drew open. “Better than the contractions atleast.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here.” She leaned down to kissed her again. “I should’ve been here. With you. I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up. And will explain everything once we’re home. …I really should’ve been here.”
“Mmm. You should’ve. What are you going to do to make it up?”
“Anything.”
“Really?” There was a calculative, playful glint in those grey eyes. “Anything at all?”
“Your wish is my command. I’ve already proven that to you a thousand nights haven’t I-”
“Okay!” Thea clapped, rising from her stool quickly. “I’ll give you guys the room.”
Mary’s cheeks warmed. “Sorry. We got carried away.”
“No no it’s fine.” Shaking her head with a laugh, she gestured to the rocking cradle. “You three deserve your alone time anyways. We can catch up later. I’ll just setp out for a bit. Need some air.” Another brief brush of her hand against her throat. “It wasn’t exactly a smooth journey.”
This time, Soma was the one to apologize. “I’m sorry.”
“That rude rider should be apologizing not you.” She rolled her eyes again, circling her scarf on her shoulders before pressing her flat cap on her mass of curls. “I’ll be sitting by the garden if you need me before I return. Congratulations again. Both of you. You’re going to be great parents.”
“You’ll be a great aunt too.”
“I’ll try my best.”
When the door shut, Soma sighed, taking Mary’s hand in hers. “I shouldn’t have brought her back here.“
“First of all, I’m the one that did. Second, she seemed fine.“ Mary squeezed the hand in hers. “Stayed up all night with me so she must be tired.“
“But-“
“Yes I noticed the ticks too but those are normal. Her body hasn’t grown used to being at peace. Let her work through it, okay? She’s a strong girl. You don’t have to worry.“
Not as strong as my father though.
Soma nodded, not meeting her eyes. “Yeah. You’re right.”
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The old clock by the hospital wall had its second hand stuck at the 12th number. Summer knelt by the patient bed. Her mouth was just an inch from Theresa’s ear. It was moving. Quickly. She was saying something. Again again and again, black eyes wide as the full moon. Whispers filled the room. Whispers full of venom. Full of spite. Full of malice. Whispers from Summer’s mouth. The pale, unconscious Theresa remained unmoving.
After an unknown amount of time, Summer rose in a confused daze, pressed a light peck on Theresa’s forehead and left the room with a faraway smile.
A rogue tear slide from Theresa’s shut eyes.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick!
Soma jolted up from her position beside Mary in a loud gasp. There was a panic in her chest that only resulted from escaping a night terror. Sweat stuck to her clothes and hair. She couldn’t stop the tremors in her hands.
It had been such a terrifying nightmare.
But she couldn’t recall a thing about it.
Wiping the drool from her mouth, she looked between Mary and Noel. They remained sound asleep. Thank God. While chatting and making plans for the future, they all fell asleep at some point. The combined exhaustion and all. Soma placed her feet on the ground and stared at the empty chair still holding Thea’s bag.
She wasn’t back.
Ignoring the sudden unease, she kissed her wife and her baby on the cheek before trudging out of the patient room. The garden. The clinic garden. That’s where she said she would be.
She wasn’t there.
The clinic wasn’t big. Just about a quarter acre of land. She scouted the entire maternity clinic perimeter under 10 minutes. The corridors, waiting areas, smoking exists.
Her sister was nowhere to be found.
Pressing a hand to her chest, she staggered back to the garden. To the wooden bench at the very edge.
A brown envelop sat atop.
Something screamed at the back of her mind.
Go back!
She took a step forward.
This is your last chance.
Another step.
Run away while you still can.
Another.
You don’t need answers.
And another.
Run away!
The envelop was in her hands.
Very slowly, very carefully, she peeled it open. Inside was a piece of paper.
And a severed finger.
The packet fell to the floor.
Followed by Soma.
No no no no no.
The tremors had multiplied now. Her hands, arms, feet, temples they all vibrated with a painful ache. Like tiny pounding hammers coursing through her veins. With the shakes and all, she peeled open the envelop again to retrieve the note, pushing the stiff body part aside.
The Old Church, North Street by the Cross Mill.
Alone.
Tell a soul and then there’ll be one.
“Ma’am? Are you alright?”
Soma raised her head to find the midwife from earlier staring down at her in caution. Frantic, she grabbed her by the edge of her skirt, screaming in desperation.
“Where is she?!”
The midwife was beyond scared. “M-ma’am?! Please calm down. Who are you looking for? Your wife is safe in the room. I just checked on her and your baby.”
“No. Not her.” She struggled back to a standing position, hands tight over the envelop, over the finger. “Where is Theresa?!”
“Theresa?”
“Tess- Thea. Her name is Thea. I mean. Where- there was a young woman by this garden. Probably sitting by this bench earlier today. Where did she go??”
Soma’s anxiety was contagious. The midwife broke into a sweat, trying her best to recall. “Black cap? Blue scarf?”
“Yes!”
“I think she was here for a while. Yes I saw them when I came out for a smoke break.”
“...Them?”
“Mmm. She was with a man. Older? I thought he was quite handsome so I asked my colleague at the reception desk. She said he came to see his family.”
It was as if someone dipped her head under cold water. Her senses dulled and all she could manage was a backward stagger to hold onto the handle of the bench.
Nausea.
She was nauseous. Just like that night. Just like the night she barely escaped death.
Run!
“Where did they go?”
The midwife shook her head. “I wasn’t here for long. And by the time I came out for an errand, the bench was empty.”
“Empty.” Soma exhaled heavily, chest stuffy. “It was empty.”
She stared upwards. At the setting sun. At the clear sky. At the light clouds.
She thought of her new family in the patient room while tracing a part of her old family in the envelop.
A full minute of staring upwards. The midwife was just about to rush away to call for help when Soma brought her head down to smile at her.
It was a faraway smile.
“May I get a pen and a notepad, please?”
The old church- abandoned mid reconstruction years ago- was the town’s only church years ago. Summer recalled looking up at the altar in awe every Sunday, excited to partake in communion when she finally finished her catechism. The entire place looked so grand back then. The cloaks, the gold chalices, the choir. Her father always indulged her with weekly Saturday evening visits so she could gaze up at the stained glass. Just the two of them.
Soma looked up now. The glass didn’t look so magnificent. Neither were the halls which were now filled with broken chairs, dust and cobwebs. As she sat by the altar, facing the entrance, she wondered if it was ever all that glorious. Or it was just the act of spending time with her father despite his busy schedule that she fancied. The act of being his favourite.
The sunset gave the interior a beautiful orange glow. It had taken half an hour to get here. It was already so late.
Back against the pulpit, she did another 360 glance. She was alone. Atleast for now. There was nowhere to run now. Nowhere to hide.
Time to confess your sins, father.
CRASH!
A giant rock shattered the left choir window. Soma shot to her feet, skirting close to the rock while keeping her back to the wall and surveying the area. Every few seconds, her hand tightened over the tiny blade she hid in her pocket before she entered the church.
Once she was only a few feet away, her eyes fell on the rock- no no that wasn’t a rock. A can? A can of what? And what was that tsss sound? Like a running tap.
She froze.
Shit.
By the time the realization hit, her legs had turned to jelly.
She’d inhaled too much already.
“No… no I need to-” Her knees hit the tiles, head dipping down as a wave of dizziness and exhaustion soaked into her bones. Even with the diluted senses, she could sense a figure from the corner approach. There was a confidence in the stride. One only someone in complete control of the situation could have.
One she had watched countless times growing up.
Countless times on Sunday and Saturday church visits.
All she needed to do was raise her head. No. Just look to the side and lift her eyes. That was enough. That’s all she needed to do to look her father in the eye- no. That wasn’t needed. She just needed to stab his foot the moment he was close enough. That was enough.
Her fingers weakly squeezed the blade handle.
No. Please. Not now. Come on. The grip was too loose. Just one last fight please. Her vision darkened. I need…I need…
I need you to die.
Lights out.
Omgggg, what happens next?!!!
Where’s Thea?😕