Maddie Ann s Playground

by Mackenzie Drew

  “I want you to eat. You need some fat on those bones; you’re looking rather shabby,” he told her, stirring the skillet of fluffy scrambled eggs and piling them on her plate.

  “Grandpa, I can't eat all this. I think my stomach shrank from not eating for such a long time.”

  “Try, Claire. You need your strength.”

  Claire ate until her stomach resembled a Bangladesh baby's. This was the first time she ever remembered gorging and making herself sick. She pushed her chair back, rubbing her bulging tummy.

  “No more. I can't eat another bite. I don't think I've ever tasted food this delicious.”

  “Nonsense, Peewee, try to belch, and I guarantee more room will become available.”

  He knew how to make her laugh. She took another bite then pushed back her plate, fatigue obvious in her face. He patted her on the shoulder and pointed towards the living room. Satisfied, she followed him into the next room.

  ***

  Jennifer wanted to run away. Her parents' fights intensified, and it was all her fault. They'd quit fighting if she weren't here. The only way to clear all the confusion was to expose the truth. If she could find a way into Claire’s bedroom, there might be clues to finding her friends, but she knew Barbara wouldn’t let her step foot on their property again. Maybe if someone else could search for her, she'd be able to clarify this mess. But who could be trustworthy enough to pull it off? A name sprang to mind, although Jennifer doubted her so-called ability.

  Molly Sanders, one of the biggest nerds in school, had hung around Claire in their younger days. Although years had passed since they’d been close, Barbara wouldn’t think it strange if she came to ask about Claire. Settled with the idea, Jennifer sat on the edge of the bed and decided to give her a call.

  Since yesterday when the suspicions all came out, and only after a raging argument between her parents, the telephones mysteriously reappeared in their house. She swallowed thickly, determined not to give in, no matter how scared she became.

  The phone rang three times before a male voice answered, “Hello?”

  “May I please speak to Molly?”

  Her stomach knotted waiting for Molly to answer. Questioning if this was such a good idea, before she had the chance to end the call, Molly answered.

  “Hey, Molly, I don’t know if you remember me or not. This is Jennifer Cravens, Claire‘s friend,” she said.

  “Sure, I remember you. What's up?”

  “I guess you heard what happened to Claire,” she asked, feeling pangs of regret.

  “No, what? I've been at my grandmother's farm for a while because my parents got a divorce. I got back two days ago.”

  Jennifer couldn’t believe Molly didn’t know about five girls disappearing off the face of the planet. She thought the whole world was talking about it. Maybe this was going to be easier than she first thought. The girls continued their conversation, and to her surprise, Molly agreed to come over. Ending the call, Jennifer pulled out a pad of paper to jot down what Molly needed to say, and what she needed to look for if she made it into Claire's room. She wanted to ready herself instead of sounding rattled. Jennifer calmed her mind and took some deep breaths to keep from embarrassing herself. What she would give to see Claire once again. She missed her like crazy.

  She had Claire's face etched in the back of her mind, and whenever she wanted to see it, she closed her eyes. Jennifer remembered her friends and her surroundings, but why couldn’t she remember anything about that night? The questions kept eating at her. Where had the six of them gone that night? The entire day was a blur in Jennifer's memory.

  Ten minutes later, she heard her mother's voice calling upstairs. Molly was here. A little shorter but bustier than Jennifer, she stood in the entryway, twisting her hands. This funny looking knocked-kneed girl with wild red hair and an overbite was a sight. As Jennifer walked down the steps to greet her, Cindy shot her a weird look.

  “Hi, Molly,” she said.

  “Hi.” Molly ducked her strangely pale eyes.

  After introducing Molly to her mother as a friend from school with lessons for her, they headed upstairs. The paper meant for Molly’s eyes only lay on the end of her bed. Jennifer explained in great detail what she needed to do while keeping her real mission quiet. She mustn't breathe a word of their plans.

  “So, you want me to go over to her house, try to get in Claire's room to go through her belongings, and look for anything that suggests her whereabouts?” Molly asked, looking rather disturbed.

  “Yes, anywhere and everywhere in her bedroom—look in her desk, under her bed, perhaps in her closet. Look between the mattress and box springs,” Jennifer explained. “I want notebooks, drawings, lists, and anything else you can muster. Find me something the cops missed.”

  Molly looked as if she didn’t like the idea at all. Jennifer had thought right about her; dumber than a box of rocks. But, if she wanted to find out anything, she had to pretend to like the twit.

  “Claire liked you, Molly. Do you remember the time she rescued you from the gang of girls about to stuff you in your locker? Don't you want to help find her?”

  “Sure I do, but Jennifer, how do you know her mother will allow me in her room? Don’t you think she might get a little suspicious?” she asked. The girl's eyes blinked so fast, Jennifer thought she’d pass out.

  Jennifer had to draw a map to get her to understand what to say to Clair's mother. The girl had no common sense.

  “Molly, you have to do this for me. Use all your powers. I’m counting on you,” she said. “I'd do it myself, but I’m not allowed over there. They think I had something to do with those girls disappearing. I didn't. I swear to you.”

  Molly tilted her head like a confused puppy. “Okay, I’ll do it,” she replied. “I'm so glad we're friends again.”

  Jennifer handed her the instructions, and walked her downstairs.

  ***

  Claire and her grandpa relaxed and began talking about the old times. Grandpa so loved his life on the farm. Planting, tilling, and harvesting his wheat and corn crops took top priority. The summer before junior high when she was 12, Claire spent July and August at the farm. She remembered Grandpa letting her drive the tractor as her grandmother yelled at him to watch her.

  Grandma always assumed the worst whether anything went wrong. Claire laughed; everyone had so loved to tease her uptight grandmother. If only she could relive those wonderful days once again with the three of them. Laughter rang out as they reminisced.

  “Grandpa, I think the best days that summer were when we went fishing. Do you remember what you did to Grandma at the lake?” she asked, dissolving into giggles.

  “Oh, yeah, are you talking about when I told her that shiny stuff was gold and she bent over to grab for it and I pushed her headfirst in the water? Yeah, I remember, and you know, she wouldn’t talk to me for three straight days over that little stunt.”

  Claire laughed with tears streaming down her face. She knew good memories made her stronger willed. But as laughter soothed the pit of her stomach, sadness fell in behind it, causing her to mull over this fix she'd gotten herself into.

  They sat in silence for a bit, each wrapped in their own memories. Everything in her life had a purpose, and she had to complete what she started.

  Finally, Claire spoke. “Grandpa, I know you’ve already told me I can’t ever leave this place, but I have to try to find a way out. I want to go home. I miss my family and I know Jennifer must be frantic searching for me.”

  “Now Claire, we have already been over this. I know what you think you want, but you don’t understand this is where you have to spend the rest of your life.”

  She shook her head, and refused to accept it. Her young life short-circuited at the hands of Maddie Ann, outraged her. She punished herself by taking the blame.

  “No. You don't understand. I'd rather be dead than live here alone. This is all my fault and I have to fix it. Besides, Maddie Ann will find me if I stay here.
”

  “Claire, listen to me. Don’t you think if there were ever a chance to escape, I would have been the first? God only knows the days I prayed to find a way out of here. I went in search of answers, and got nothing in return. I lost what little dignity I had left, Claire, while trying to get out,” he said. “And as far as Maddie Ann finding you, she already knows you’re here, but she’s waiting for you to wilt away, before she does anything.”

  “God doesn't live in this devilish world, Grandpa. He can't help me. I have to do it myself. If I die, then we'll be together here for eternity. As long as I'm alive, I have to try to defeat this world and Maddie Ann.”

  Grandpa’s eyes watered. He looked as if his sadness overwhelmed his soul. Having no control over his own spiritual future, his only granddaughter had to live eternity in a place with such evil. Claire didn't want to distress him further, so she dropped the subject. She suddenly wasn't feeling too well, anyway. Her stomach roiled from the heavy meal she'd eaten after starving for so long. Her head ached, and this constant exhaustion dogged her.

  The sickness won. She vomited all over the floor, splashing chunks of her half-digested breakfast everywhere. Ashy pallor shaded her cheeks; cold sweat beaded her forehead. In fear for her life, her grandpa fetched a wet cloth. Icy chills washed her entire body. Claire positioned herself in a fetal position, shaking, wondering if Maddie Ann was responsible for this, too. She had to get out of here or she'd die.

  With a touch of strength left in her arms, she managed to get herself upright. Claire knew her death was unavoidable, but she had no way of knowing when. She sat in the beautiful room her grandpa provided her, put her head in her hands, and sobbed.

  ***

  While waiting impatiently for Molly to return, Jennifer sprawled across her bed. Over and again, she fought with her mind, trying to focus her thoughts. If only she could think without this haze floating around in her mind. There had to be something she could do. Maybe there were notes or perhaps a diary of some sort that would reveal the truth she sought. She sprang from her bed, slamming the closet door back against the wall, and started to search for clues.

  A box fell off the top-shelf as she tried reaching for a notebook. Notes and cards from her friends blew all over the room. Packrat that she was, she hadn't thrown a single one away, all the way back to kindergarten. Determined to read the entire stack of papers, she searched for something Claire may have given her. She rummaged through the mess, and spotted a Halloween card lying in the pile, shining like the morning sun.

  Jennifer grabbed it like a valued possession. Was this of any importance? Yes, it was what Claire had planned for them to do on Halloween night. She vaguely remembered it, but couldn't nail down any details. As she opened it, looking at the writing, the letters scrambled around like magic. “What the… No, this can’t be happening,” she bellowed.

  The words became a jumbled mess. Nothing made any sense. A voice inside her head kept saying, you can try but never succeed, for nothing will ever be clear again. Where did that come from, and why would she think such defeatist thoughts? Another barrier, a shield of confusion, kept her from the truth. That voice, the same one she heard in the dream from the wicked child, would not leave her alone. No way could it be real, for dreams are merely fairy tales from one's fantasies.

  ***

  Grandpa sat beside Claire in hopes she’d soon recover. With his hand placed on her feverish head, he knew how sick she was. He'd experienced it himself many times in this evil place. Not being able to give her the care she needed, he feared for her life. He wished he could do more for her, and he finally decided to confess something he never thought he would tell her. It meant grave danger to her soul.

  Kneeling down beside her, he said, “Claire, sweetheart, we’ve discussed you trying to get home, and each time I've told you there is no possible way. The truth is—and I’m sorry for lying to you—there is one way. Please understand it's a temporary fix from this world, and it could kill you. It's nothing more than a cruel trick Maddie Ann plays to torture you. You'd be alone and I can’t protect you there.”

  He hung his head, knowing the danger her soul faced unprotected without her body in the 'real' world. He kept that tidbit from her all this time because he was afraid the disappointment and heartache she’d endure. Leaving or staying was a choice she’d have to make, and he was afraid she’d make the one he didn’t like.

  Confused, she asked, “If there is a way home, then why didn’t you leave when you could?”

  He answered simply, “I did, but in the end, I didn't go into the farmhouse. I didn't think I could take the devastation on my wife's face. I ran back here, but I was already dead, my body torn to shreds in my absence. The evil trapped me here since.”

  Claire struggled to stand but flopped back on the sofa. She fought her sick, exhausted body, angered at not having as much strength as she always counted on. She spoke softly; he could barely hear what she said.

  “Grandpa, please tell me how to go home. I want to see my parents one last time. Please, I'm begging you.”

  This is exactly what he dreaded to hear. He didn’t think she could handle the solitude, and he knew she wasn’t ready to go through the ordeal of witnessing her parents' grief. He sighed. “Remember, no matter what you see or hear this is going to be torture, both mental and physical. You have to prepare yourself to face the worst. Maddie Ann put a curse on you, so when you enter the real world, no one will be able to see or hear you until your dying breath. In which case, if Maddie Ann catches you, she will either kill you or send one of her black souls to do the job. And I can’t go with you, so please be careful, and watch your back.”

  Bending down, he lifted her from the couch and carried her to the door hidden under the stairs. He gently placed her on her feet in front of it.

  “What's this,” she asked, intrigued.

  “Go through that door. It leads to Twilight. That's all I can tell you now. The outside world awaits but if you're not back in twenty-four hours, you'll die. You'll lose your soul, Claire. That’s the stipulation and Maddie Ann will win.”

  “Thank you Grandpa, but I have to do this. I'll be dead soon, anyway, and I need go. Anything is better than this. Please don’t worry about me. I love you,” she said and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Twenty-four hours, Claire.” Turning aside so she couldn’t see the worry in his eyes, he walked away with tears running down his face.

  Claire pushed on the small door carved in the wall. A rush of air and light erupted. Bending down, she was able to squeeze through it, like an Alice grown too large. A ripping and tearing sensation as her spirit broke free tortured her with agonizing yet exquisite fire. As if traveling through dark matter, she rushed with great force through a tunnel.

  A bright light at the end called to her. Before she knew it, she stood on a grassy hill. She heard the familiar sounds of life—birds chirping, the wind singing through the trees, the laughter of children playing. She’d finally made it back to the real world. Or so she believed.

  Chapter Eleven

  The doorbell rang and Jennifer sprang from the floor. She hoped it was Molly returning from Claire’s house. Racing down the stairs, she opened the door and there she stood with a triumphant look on her face.

  “Did you get into Claire's room?” she whispered. Molly nodded, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

  Jennifer couldn’t wait to hear. She grabbed Molly by the arm, leading her to the room. “What happened?” she asked, shutting the door for privacy. “And please tell me you’ve brought good news.”

  The expression on Molly’s face suggested she’d struck a gold mine. Reaching in her back pocket, she pulled out a folded paper and started to read. “Note to self: Don't forget flashlights. My plan is working. We are going into Old Creek Cemetery on Halloween night, where Jennifer and I will take Kari, Lisa, Tina, and Liz, to scare the pants off them.”

  The moment Molly finished reading the note; Jennifer’s room disappeared into
darkness, shutting off any light shining through the windows. Dried cracked earth spread rapidly beneath her feet. Thick snarls of dark trees cast deep shadows from the orange moon, as silhouettes danced on the horizon. The eerie feeling of the unholy world enveloped her, as the presence of evil came near. Trapped within this other realm, sickness emerged from deep inside, causing cold chills to wash her entire body.

  Molly walked in front of her trying to get her attention. “Jennifer, what is going on with you? Stop it, you’re scaring me,” she said.

  “Lisa, I’m trying to run but my legs won’t move anymore. Please let me rest! I have to rest; I think I’m dying,” Jennifer sniveled.