Chapter Text
The next day I sit up, and realize I’m still in Mother’s house. Fuck. I step out of bed and check my clock. Bekki said breakfast is at nine, and it's 8:50, so I head out to the table, where everyone is sitting except for Marlo.
“Good morning children,”
“Good morning Mother,” we all say in sync.
“Today Marlo is sick. Please do not disturb him,” Mother says. We all nod.
We all start eating, including Mother. Father sits at the end of the table, unmoving. Father has never once spoken to the kids. Not even Marlo, and he’s been here for 11 years. Father usually sits in front of the TV, doing nothing while we do whatever.
The only time Father has interacted with one of us was after Mother hit Marlo for the first time. He patted Marlo’s shoulder, and then went back to the TV room.
Once we finish breakfast, we thank Mother, and go back to my room.
“So, what’s wrong with Marlo?” Bek asks. Me and Daisy shrug.
“Well, I guess he’s sick. But, didn’t the rules say something about this..?” I say.
“Oh! Yeah it did.. I’ll go check!” Daisy says. They go out into the hallway and look at the poster. Daisy signals for us to come to them. Me and Bek walk over and they are pointing to a spot on the poster that reads,
IF A SIBLING IS “SICK” THAT MEANS MOTHER IS PUNISHING THEM. GO INTO THEIR ROOM WHEN MOTHER GOES TO GET “GROCERIES” AND GIVE THE SICK SIBLING YOUR CONDOLENCES. IF MOTHER CATCHES YOU, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND GO TO YOUR ROOM. DO NOT OPEN YOUR EYES UNTIL THE DOOR TO YOUR ROOM IS SHUT.
We all head back to my room, and sit on my bed. I close the door behind me, and sit down next to them.
“Ok, so we have to wait for her to leave, and then go in there. Do you guys know what to do if she catches us?” I ask. They both nod.
“Ok,” I say.
Later, Mother knocks on the door three times. I answer.
“Hello children. I’m off to get groceries, behave while I'm gone.” Mother says.
“Yes, Mother,” We all reply. Mother closes the door, and once she is gone from the house we step out into the hallway.
I open the door to Marlo’s room, and he’s sitting on his bed.
“Taylor? Why are you here?” He asks. I walk in and close the door.
“Well, I don’t know. The rules said to check on you,” I reply. He nods.
“So… What did you do?” I ask.
“Listen… I’ll tell you tomorrow. She’ll be back soon so you should go,” I nod and wave as I exit the room. Daisy and Bek are waiting outside.
“So, How did it go?” Daisy asks.
“Fine but-” I’m cut off by Mother entering the house. We all run to our rooms with our eyes closed. I quietly close my door, and fall back on my bed. Holy shit. Someone knocks on my door once. Twice, Three times. I’m about to open my door when I'm met with a fourth knock. My hand falls from the doorknob. That’s not Mother. I sit back down on my bed and bring my covers up over my head. Breathe. Just breathe. I can’t. I can’t breathe. A fifth knock.
“It’s just me, Taylor,” Daisy’s voice says. I sigh, and walk over to the door. When I open it, I’m met with something horrific. It’s… Not Daisy. It looks like a girl, but with one eye as a head. I turn off my light and run to my bed. Ok. I have to wait five minutes. I begin counting. One, two, three… Wait! I’m not allowed to count! Shit! I stop counting and just fall asleep.
I wake up much later and turn on my light. Someone knocks on my door three times. That’s Mother. I open the door, and Mother lets herself in. We sit side by side on my bed.
“You did good today, Sweetie. You followed all the rules and I’m very proud of you,” I can’t help but smile at her encouragement.
“Thanks, Mother,” I reply.
“Now Taylor, I’m not evil. I love you a lot, and I’m glad you joined our family. You can always talk to me about anything you want. I promise I won’t get mad,” She smiles. I smile too, but something pokes me in the back of my mind.
“Thanks, Mother. It’s good to have someone to talk with,” I reply. She smiles, and leaves my room, closing the door behind her.
I remember the rule on the poster that sits parallel to my door.
NEVER TELL MOTHER YOU WANT TO LEAVE.
That’s what it was. So I can talk to Mother about anything I want. Besides leaving. I wonder if we can go outside. I walk out of my room and into the kitchen, where mother is making breakfast. The clock reads 8:12.
“Hey, Mother?”
“Yes, Dear?”
“Are we allowed to go outside? Just to play. I would never want to leave here. I love it here,” Not entirely a lie. It’s better than being with my real mom, that bitch.
“Of course, honey! Just be back in time for breakfast!” She answers.
“Thanks, Mother!” I exclaim.
I walk over to Bek’s room where everyone else is sitting on her bed talking.
“Hey guys! Wanna go outside?” I ask. Marlo stands up and walks over to the window.
“We can’t, look at the sky,” I walk over to the window, and look at the sky. It’s green. Fuck. I turn so that I’m facing Marlo.
“Dang it,”
“It’s fine, you can hang out with us,” he says. He grabs my hand and brings me over to sit with the others.
Once breakfast is ready, we all walk out to the kitchen. I sit down, and Marlo sits next to me. Mother sits down across from me, and we all start to eat.
“I have an announcement for you guys,” Mother says. We all look at her expectantly.
“Me and Father have decided that you guys can talk more freely. At the table, I mean, you guys deserve it since you all behave so well. Make sure to follow the rules, but you can still talk,” she says. We all smile.
“Thank you so much mother!” Daisy exclaims. Mother smiles at her.
“So, how did you guys sleep?” Bek asks.
There are mixed responses from everyone.
After breakfast we’re all hanging out in Marlo’s room.
“So, what happened yesterday? Like, what did you do?” Bek asks Marlo. He shrugs.
“Ok, so I kinda… Told her I want to leave,” He replies. I think back to the rules.
NEVER TELL MOTHER YOU WANT TO LEAVE
Right. I sigh.
“Why does she even get so mad if we break the rules?” I ask. They all look at me.
“Well… It’s hard to explain. She kinda… Get’s like, possessed or something. There's something living inside her. It takes over if we break the rules, and she always says that she doesn’t want to hurt us but… I dunno,” Marlo explains.
“Well, are you, like, okay…?” I ask. He nods. I lay back so we are laying next to each other.
“Yeah… Mother’s kinda…” Daisy says. We all look at each other.
“Wait, didn’t you say not to-” Marlo cuts me off by putting his hand over my mouth.
There’s four knocks at the door.
“Do you children need something?”
“No, thank you Mother,” Marlo says. Mother walks away. Marlo moves his hand away.
“She always hears us,” Daisy says. “Sorry,”
“If that was… You-Know-Who…then why did she knock four times?” I ask. They all shrug. Huh.
“Well me and Bek are gonna go hang out in my room,” Daisy says. “You kids have fun,” They both giggle and walk away.
“Shut up Daisy!” Marlo says.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing, they’re just… Nothing,”
“Oh. Well… I’m gonna head back to my room so…” I say.
“Wait, I have to uh… Tell you something. Uhm,” I turn to face him. “Nevermind, it’s nothing,” He says. I shrug.
“Ok, bye!” I wave at him.
“Bye,”