Secrets of the Weeping Willow

by Kathleen Anastasia

  Then just as quickly he threw her away from him. Her sudden release made her off balanced, her hands reached back in an attempt to break the fall, but her right arm gave out with the impact, her elbow striking the floor forcefully as she bit back her outcry of pain, instinctively cradling the arm to her body, as she sat up, her legs pushing her back against the wall. She blew out a shaky breath as she looked up, the position making her feel small and fragile.

  Hating the feeling, she pulled herself up, brushing off her slacks casually. In an attempt to hide her shaking hands with the motion, her eyes downcast, not wanting him to see how truly afraid she really was. Her words casual, “Oh that.” Swallowing as she tried to figure out what she should tell him and knowing he would kill her once he had what he needed.

  Her mind ran in multiple directions of panic as she pictured the car keys on the hutch, wondering how she was going to get herself out of this predicament, ‘Now…if I can get the keys without him seeing me and then distract him to find something to hit him over the head with.’ That may work she thought, ‘Crazier things have worked.’

  She couldn’t make it obvious, or he would be suspicious of her sudden cooperation, she knew, the floor cool against the soles of her feet as she stepped away from him. She paused at the dresser, her fingers ran along the top as she looked back over to him, his face now in shadows, unreadable as she cleared the frog from her throat just before she spoke attempting to sound matter of fact and confident. “My mother buried it.”

  “Where did she bury it?” His voice laced with boredom.

  “Before I tell you, what guarantee do I have that you wouldn’t harm the people I love?” She asked as she turned to lean her back against the dresser.

  Elizabeth heard a soft chuckle from the shadows, “You have no guarantee.”

  “So why should I tell you where it is buried then?”

  Roger stepped out of the shadows, his steps slow and determined. “Because, I have confidence that I can show you reason enough to show me.” His smile cold and calculating.

  Laughing nervously, Elizabeth stepped sidestepped away from the dresser in an attempt to keep distance between them, “I’m sure you can.” She said disgusted with herself when she heard the tremor in her voice. Her eyes casually looked around taking in how many it steps it would take to get to the door, “I’ve already unburied the box.”

  “I know.” He answered in a matter of fact manner.

  Shocked at his reply, wondering what he knew, she cleared her throat. Feeling slightly panicked as she thought of the various flaws in her plan. “Well then you probably know that it’s downstairs and not up here.” Surprised at how calm her voice sounded.

  Roger stepped forward narrowing the distance between them, his hand laced out to grab Elizabeth’s already bruised arm. His words calm as he pulled her towards the door, shoving her in front of him, “Now aren’t we just a clever girl. Let’s get moving.”

  Fighting his restraint, she pulled her arm free, her arm throbbing as she stepped outside the door. Talking over her shoulder, “You don’t have to manhandle me.” His chuckles behind her made her blood run cold, knowing he would do more, if she didn’t play this just right.

  She swallowed her fear and walked down the stairs, her feet hesitant as she stepped onto the landing. A cool breeze brushed past her from the partially opened front door left slightly ajar. Hope filled her as she saw an opportunity for escape.

  In an attempt to catch him off guard, she jerked forward her body tripping on the last step. Her momentum brought up short with his fingers taking a hold of her already bruised upper arm; a combination of fear and pain ran through her like a cold stream as she cried out. His body unforgiving against hers, he pulled her hard against his chest, his hands like steel, his arousal obvious, his lips offensive as they brushed her neck. As his breath sent chills down her spine, he warned softly in her ear, “Don’t even think of it.”

  A quiver in her voice gave away her fear, “Think of what?”

  “Don’t play coy with me.”

  “I’m not. It’s dark and I tripped,” Elizabeth said, in a hope to get his mind off of what he was obviously feeling, her arms tight to her sides as he held her. “The box is just down this hall a little ways. I’ll show you.”

  The direction of his intentions obvious, she felt his hand inch slowly up her ribs. Her heart raced when it came to rest just between her breasts, unable to suppress a cry of fear when she felt and heard the fabric of her shirt rip easily in his hand, the cool night spilling over her exposed flesh. Tears stung her eyes as she felt his palm cup her lace-covered breast; a slight whimper escaped her lips. She bowed away from his offensive hold, his laughter cold and sadist as his other hand reached boldly into the hem of her jeans. His hands cold against her warm skin his fingers brushing her intimately. Laughter filled his words, “I believe I’ve changed my mind.” The years melted away, as unwanted memories filled her with dread. His words soft and perverted, “Don’t fight me, Julia, you know you want it as much as me.”

  His fingers dug into her flesh as he pulled her hips tighter to his, grinding himself against her, words frozen in her throat, only a whimper of protest escaped, her eyes darted around frantically. As she reached deep within herself, to find the strength she didn’t know she had as she fought against his hold, and her mind wanting to slip away from the moment.

  His grip loosening long enough for her to get an arm free, using it to pull at his arms, her body twisted. A startled scream escaped her lips as she felt her sudden release.

  Shocked when she landed forward onto her hands and knees, the hardwood cool against her hands as she fought to catch her breath. Her body shaken from the struggle, she felt her heart beating violently against her rib cage. Her gasping breaths the only sounds she heard in the too quiet house. Afraid to look up, she slowly turned her body ass though she was about to face a rabid dog and any sudden movements would startle it.; afraid he could sense her fear and feed upon it.; afraid to look up; afraid of what she would see.

  The sound of paper made her look up anyway, to see Roger holding her letter. Her hands went instinctively to her waist where she had tucked the precious papers. Anger replaced her fear as she saw him casually holding this link to her past. His smile widened at her panic, as he looked down at her. Slowly rising to her feet, Elizabeth watched the papers closely, “Give it back, you fucking sadist pig.” A slight quiver filled her voice.

  Roger laughed, “I do believe you have been holding out on me.” He said as he tapped the envelope against his other hand.

  Elizabeth looked up into his eyes; panic filled her when all she saw was emptiness, a chill running down her spine. Her emotions from the last few days began to rise to the surface, as all rational thoughts left her. Acting on instinct, she jerked forward for the letter, her fingers catching only air as he quickly moved it out of her reach. Crying in frustration, she reached again for the letter, his cold laughter filling the hall.

  Elizabeth took in several deep breaths to calm her racing heart and to gather her thoughts. Her eyes never left him as she watched him sit on the stoop of the landing, his movements slow as he pulled the papers from the envelope, to shine a flashlight on them. “Let me just see what my little whore has been hiding from me.” Winking at her as he smiled, the motion never reaching his dark eyes, “Don’t worry. After I see what we have here, we can still have our little fun.” His eyes skimmed her gaping shirt, as she attempted to hold it close. Elizabeth felt her face heat up as her heart dropped, realizing her earlier plan to trick him into the dining room and closer to her keys had more than one flaw. Her eyes scanned the darkened hall, inching slowly back. Her heart raced in fear as she watched him, her movements painfully slow.

  Suppressing her excitement when she felt the doorknob against her lower back, she slowly reached behind to grasp the cold metal. Never taking her eyes off of him, sliding sideways al
ong the door until her body is posed just in front of the gap. Taking in a deep breath, she jerked the door back. Turning away as she sprinted out of the house. Her heart raced in fear when she heard him curse behind her, her feet barely felt the steps as she ran down them.

  The gravel at the bottom unnoticeable as she ran across the rocks, her heart dropping when she felt a force against her back sending her flying into the night, the grass wet and cold as she fell across it, her hands reaching out to catch herself.

  A cry escaped her when her head was jerked back by her hair, a knee painful in her lower back. Roger’s voice no longer filled with laughter but with anger, “You little bitch. You will pay for that little stunt.” His hands cruel as they pulled her up to turn her around, panic filled her once more when she saw his jaw clench, his dark eyes glaring down at her and the back of his hand hitting her hard against her cheek, sending shock waves of pain through her already bruised jaw. Elizabeth swallowed her outcry of pain, as she stood defiantly against his brutality, her head lifted, as she had seen her mother do those many years ago; her shoulders back, to show him he could not break her. Waiting for the next blow that she knew would come.

  Chapter 37

  Surprise filled her when, instead, Roger lifted an arm across his face, a bright light highlighting him from behind her. Confused, she turned to find the source, the brightness blinding her as she squinted against the glare to watch the light grow closer, the significance of it lost on her numb mind.

  Elizabeth instead found herself frozen in place, as everything seemed to move in slow motion, she felt separated from that which was happening around her as she turned back to Roger; baffled by something she felt she should know, shocked when she saw him stumble back from the light, as if it was holy and it would burn him, showing the world who he really was.

  A snarl curled his lips, when he stepped towards her, instinctively she moved away from his grasp, her emotions no longer driving her, only survival. Numbness consumed her as she felt the blackness start to settle around her. She shook her head negatively, fighting her mind’s wish to forget.

  Watching instead, removed mentally from this place, as Roger’s eyes filled with a rage, his lips curled back as he hissed, “This... bitch, is far from over.” Turning, he ran from her and the light, toward the field she had ran through so many years ago. The significance was not lost on her as she felt laughter bubble up inside, not able to control the curling laughter as it filled the night. She fell down hard on her knees, when her legs lost what little strength they had left. Holding her painful ribs, she laughed uncontrollably, the laughter blending with her sobs until they became one and the same. She wasn’t sure how long she knelt in the tall grass, laughing and sobbing. It felt like forever, and no time at all, her emotional pain-raw.

  Elizabeth’s laughter stopped just as abruptly as it had started when a hand touched her arm, making her aware of her physical pain as she flinched away from the hand. Relief then filled her when she heard Leo’s voice, hesitant and unsure, say her name. The sound started her laughter once more as she wondered how she could have been so stupid to not realize he would find her. Her heart leapt in her throat as joy filled her, replacing her sorrow.

  A pain shot down her arm when she felt him grasp it to help her up. Her laughter gone as she bit back a cry of pain, putting up her hand to stop him from helping her bruised body up from the ground. Turning slowly, she kept her eyes averted from him as she watched the light from the truck shine on the moist grass. The silence between them large and looming, his hand gentle and hesitant when he lifted her chin, the tender action making it impossible for her to suppress the tears that pooled from her. Her chin quivered, fearful of facing him with all she had said and done. Then slowly, she moved her eyes to his, her heart caught at the expression she saw. His hand was gentle on her, belying what his eyes showed. Inadvertently, she stepped back from the fury she saw reflected in the depth of them, terrified for a moment. His jaw clenched as he turned back to his truck, his movement violent and sure. “I’ll kill that bastard for what he has done to you.”

  Terrified by the implication of that, she ran after him. Pulling hard on his arm to stop his movement. Desperation laced her words, “Leo. Don’t.” Her pleading words filled with tears, “Just let him go, for now. I need to get away from this place. Take me away.” His face turned away from her and Elizabeth watched a muscle jump in his jaw. Her hand was firm when she pulled his face around to face her. “Please, darling. I need to go, there are too many memories here... don’t leave me alone…to go after that.” The last word came out in a violent hiss; before fear filled her at the thought of being left alone, here in the dark, with all her memories.

  The fury in his eyes slowly dissolved with her pleas as they looked into her eyes, tenderness softening the lines in his face as he now looked with concern. His hand gently turned her face in the headlights before he bent down to kiss her bruises. The action filled her heart more than anything else could. His voice full of anxiety, “Elizabeth, I was so scared. When Aurora called me and said that you had gone missing, I thought I would go mad with worry.”

  Aurora’s name provoked a vision of Roger doing harm to her as a way to get to her. “Leo. We have to go to Aurora. Roger was the man she was seeing. And I just know he will hurt her to get to me.”

  “Don’t worry. She is safe.”

  “But how?”

  “I’ll explain later.”

  Puzzled, she remembered that she hadn’t told anyone about what she had remembered about her mother and this house. Now mystified that Leo stood in front of her, she wasn’t disappointed by any means, but it didn’t make sense when she had only recently remembered where she had lived in New Orleans, how could he know where to find her? She stepped back to look up at him, anxious once more, “How did you find this place?”

  “I followed your trail. It was what I was hired for, wasn’t it?” a forced laugh filled his words.

  “But?”

  Leo stopped her question as he kissed her lips softly. “No buts. I’ll explain later. Let’s first get you out of here.”

  Elizabeth nodded her head in agreement, choosing to just trust him in this moment. She would analyze it more later, the passenger seat cool as she settled into it. She looked back over to the old rundown Victorian house, the windows once more blackened by the night.

  Her recently recovered memories fresh, her eyes then swept over to the Weeping Willow tree, the lights of the truck highlighting it in its artificial light. The old branches brushed the ground around it secretively, reminding her of the safe deposit box she had found buried beneath it, a breeze caught the hanging swing as it moved slightly on its rotting rope.

  She reached over to stop Leo from going further, letting the sight fill her mind, accepting all the secrets the tree had kept and not running as she had in her dreams. Instead, she embraced what her mother had done to bring them both out of a desperate situation. Her throat caught at the clear vision of her mother’s face, as if she stood in front of her. Elizabeth caressed the key and charm, both warm from her skin.

  She then nodded towards the house, “I have to go back in.” she said softly. “My mother had buried a safe deposit box, that I had unburied…I need to get it before we leave.” She said with fear, wondering if Roger had rounded back towards the house.

  Leo nodded, “I can go get it for you.” He said.

  She smiled over at him, “No, we can do it together, I know where I left it.” She said, her thoughts going to the letter which Roger had taken from her, hoping it was still within the house.

  Elizabeth’s heart sank when the box and letter were no longer there, knowing that Roger must have taken the box before he had confronted her. Her heart was leaden within her chest, knowing it was far from over. Now that Roger had the letter her mother had left her, she was afraid that he could use what was written to somehow retrieve what he needed before she
was able to get to it. Thus, taking away the little advantage her mother had given her.

  But, what saddened her more was that he had the link to her past, that which she had been striving for most of her life. It not only gave her information on where she came from but where her mother had ultimately come from, a gift immeasurable.

  She smiled sadly at Leo when she found him watching her closely, attempting to decipher what she should tell him at this moment. Her decision was made when she slid over on the bucket seat to rest her head on his shoulder, nodding for him to continue away from the house, choosing to believe Leo’s promise that Aurora was safe. Hoping that it would give her some much needed time, although, she knew she had very little but every moment should help. Right now, she just needed some of Leo’s strength to seep into her so she could finish what her mother had started.

  She could figure out the rest, when she safely had the information her mother had left her in New York City.

  Chapter 38

  Elizabeth sat on the bed, listening to the water run in the bath in the other room. Too tired to move or speak, she sat silently listening to Leo move around, attempting to focus on the noise to stop the screams in her mind. Unable to prevent it any longer, she felt her thoughts magnify and grow within her head until she could once more feel… his hands, everywhere, groping her like octopus tentacles strangling her; her breath, harsh, painful within her lungs...’I can’t scream if I can’t breath.’ The thought filled her, unable to stop the sensation of his hands on her body from filling her mind. His cold breath harsh against her fragile skin, piercing it like a thousand needles as his unforgiving hands, dig into her delicate hips, pulling them against him…his laugher pierced her with the unwanted promise of what it implied. She knew she needed to stop the screaming of her thoughts, and the memory of his laughter before they drove her mad.