by Willow Rose
"I look kind of pale."
"That's because you are pale," Christina said. "But that's part of your beauty. Like a fragile flower."
Maya chuckled. She had never seen herself as being fragile or even flowerlike.
"I have some earrings you can borrow," Christina said. "And some heels."
"I don't want to be too dressed up," Maya said. "What if the others come wearing jeans?"
"Then you'll be the prettiest of them all, won't you?" Christina said.
Maya smiled nervously. She never really liked going to parties and was only doing this to be with Alex. She hadn't been able to think about anything else since that kiss they had almost shared in her kitchen. It was driving her crazy. She had never felt this way about anyone before.
"Come on; let's put some make-up on that face, shall we?" Christina said.
Maya sighed and did as she told her to, then closed her eyes. While Christina painted her eyes and made her look everything but herself, she wondered what she expected to get out of this night. She didn't have to think about it hard or long. She knew exactly what she dreamt and hoped for.
A kiss. A real kiss this time. Not a forced one or one that only almost happened. A real one.
Chapter Forty-Seven
I had just sent Maya off to a party with her new boyfriend. Alex picked her up at our house, while her friend Christina took off, riding her bike through the snow back to her own house. Right after they had all left, Morten came over, a tired look on his face.
I kissed him and closed the door behind him. "I have chicken in the oven."
I wondered for a second if I should tell him what had happened today, that I believed Daniel knew Skye and that she somehow was connected to Fishy Pines, but then decided against it. I didn't want to get into an argument. Morten would only try and persuade me to go to the authorities with the girl as he had tried so many times before. For once, we had a night ahead of us, just us, and I wanted it to be about that and nothing else.
"That's the most romantic thing anyone has said to me all day," he chuckled and took off his thick coat.
I grimaced and ran into the kitchen to check on the chicken. It smelled heavenly but wasn't quite done yet. Morten came out, and I poured him a glass of wine. He took it, then put it down. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me into a long, deep kiss. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it, tasting him.
"Wow. What was that for?" I asked when his lips left mine.
He looked into my eyes. "Not for anything. I just wanted to kiss you; that's all."
He let go of me and grabbed his glass of wine. He took a big sip. I could hear him swallow.
"Well, it was nice," I said and grabbed my own glass and clinked it against his.
"So, are your parents eating with us tonight?" he asked.
I shook my head and sipped my wine. "Nope. Just gonna be the two of us. And Vic and Skye, of course."
"That's nice," he said.
"So, how was your day?" I asked and began making the sauce. "Any more deaths among workers from Omicon?"
"Very funny," he said.
"You still think it's a coincidence?"
He shrugged. "Not really my job to figure out, is it? I'll let the detectives from the mainland do that part."
"So, what have they found out so far?" I asked.
"You know I can't tell you that. Besides, if I know you right, you’ve already read the latest report, haven't you? Actually, don't tell me. I don't want to know. If you break the law, keep it to yourself, please."
I smiled while stirring the sauce. "What do they do at Omicon anyway?" I asked.
Morten shrugged. "Something with diabetes, I heard. Finding new ways to treat it, or…I don't know."
"I can't seem to find out much on the Internet. They keep it very quiet," I said.
"Well, I guess that kind of research can be worth a lot of money. You know how the medical industry is. They can't risk someone else stealing their research."
I nodded as the oven dinged. I opened it and took out the chicken. Morten's face lit up when he saw it. Chicken was one of his favorite dishes.
"Looks really good, Emma," he said as I placed it on the table. He glanced briefly at his watch.
"You in a hurry?" I asked.
He shook his head. "No. No. It's just…"
He paused, and I felt my heart drop. I had a feeling I knew what would come next.
"Just what, Morten?"
He sighed. "Well…I kind of…I promised Jytte I'd watch a movie with her tonight.”
I dropped the spoon in my hand. "You did what?"
Morten sighed and put his glass down. "I knew you'd be mad. Emma…Don't be angry, please…she needs me."
"She needs you? Again? What, she needs you every night now? I thought you were spending the night here? I thought we would spend the morning in bed together tomorrow?"
"And I really want that, Emma. I really do…but it's just she…"
"She comes first. I get it," I said and took off my apron. "And I am always second. Always. It's never going to change, is it?"
"Emma…she needs me."
"She's nineteen, Morten. I don't think sleeping alone in the house for one night is going to kill her."
"I'm worried about her, Emma. I don't think she's well."
I shook my head with a scoff. "She's totally playing us out against one another. Don't you see it? She keeps doing this because she knows you can't say no to her. She knows she can manipulate you into choosing her. She never wanted us to be together. Don't you think I know that by now? She never accepted me in your life, and she will do anything to destroy what we have. And, worst of all, you're letting her; you're allowing her to come between us."
"Emma, that's not fair. She's not well…I’m telling you, she’s been…"
"You know what? Just go. Go home and be with her. But I can't keep doing this, Morten. If I can't be your number one at least every now and then, then…then I’m done."
"Don't say that, Emma. I can't…I won't…I love you, dammit."
Morten grabbed my arm and pulled me close. He looked into my eyes, and I felt like crying. I loved him so much too, but I just couldn't keep doing this. I couldn't keep hoping for things to get better.
"Don't leave me, Emma. I wouldn't be able to bear it." He spoke with deep desperation in his voice.
I sighed, then stroked his cheek gently with my hand. "Then don't leave tonight. Stay here with me."
Morten exhaled. He thought it over for a few seconds, then nodded. "All right. I'll stay. "
I smiled and leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips while whispering:
"Someone's about to get very lucky tonight. It'll be worth it; don't you worry."
Chapter Forty-Eight
Maria couldn't find rest in her own house. Seeing Hanne on the floor of that restroom two days earlier had stirred something up in her. Of course, it had. She had heard about Ann and Sven being found dead in their own homes but hadn't seen a connection between their deaths and chalked it up to mere coincidence. Strange, yes, but nothing but two freak deaths that happened to be two of her former co-workers.
But as she stared at Hanne on the floor and saw the puddle next to her, she knew this was no accident; this was no coincidence. This was her past coming back to haunt her.
Maria looked at her hands, holding them above the sink. The toilet was still buzzing from her flushing just a minute ago. Maria's hands were shaking as she turned on the faucet. She washed her hands so fast she barely touched the water before she turned it off again. She had placed a chair on top of the toilet to keep the lid closed when she wasn't using it and after the water had run down the drain in the sink, she closed it up, so nothing could come up through the sink.
Maria looked at her face in the mirror. She hadn't been sleeping much since they had found Hanne. She would lie awake at night, listening to the faucet dripping in the bathroom or the pipes banging, wondering if the monster would come for her next. But so far, she
had managed to keep it out by plugging every drain and closing the lid on every toilet in the house. Her children believed she had lost her mind, but so be it. At least John wasn't home to see her like this. He had left on a business trip to California and wouldn't be home till next week. Hopefully, it would all be over by then. Hopefully.
Maria walked out of the bathroom, walking backward, keeping a close eye on all drains and faucets. Once outside, she closed the door quickly and rushed into her kitchen where she had stoppered all the drains as well.
"What's for dinner?" her son asked when she got out there. He was sitting by the table, drawing.
She stared at the boy, then forced a smile. "Spaghetti. Your favorite."
The boy didn't even look up or smile when she told him. He continued drawing. She wondered if she should ask him to sleep in her bedroom tonight. Just in case. The monster wouldn't touch her if he was there, would it?
But she knew he wouldn't do it. He was too old to be sleeping in her bed. Not that he ever did it before either. Not like his older brother, whom they could barely get out of their bedroom.
"You hungry now?" Maria asked.
The boy nodded, still without looking up.
"All right. I'll start."
Maria grabbed a pan and walked to the faucet and put her hand on the handle, then hesitated. She stood for a few seconds staring at it before she finally turned it on and filled the pot. Hurriedly, she closed it again, rushed to the stove, and started to boil the water. She stared for a long time at the water in the pot, waiting for it to boil, praying it wouldn't attack her. As the bubbles emerged from the bottom, she finally breathed normally once again. This was just normal water. Had it been the monster, it would have shown its face by now. It only survived in cold or lukewarm water. Burning hot water would have made it jump out. Maria knew that much about it. She knew a lot about it, as a matter of fact.
Too much.
Maria walked to the fridge and pulled out some ground beef to make the sauce. As she turned her head back, she spotted her son standing by the sink, turning on the faucet. Water splashed down on top of his hands and ran into the drain. Maria's eyes grew big and fearful. She dropped the meat and ran toward him and turned the faucet off, pushing him aside in the process.
"Are you insane?" she panted.
"My fingers were dirty," he said. "From the marker."
Maria stared at him, then down at the water in the sink. She stuck her hand inside and unclogged it, so the water could disappear down the drain. Heart in her throat, she waited for it to disappear, constantly imagining a claw-like hand coming up from beneath it, grabbing her.
Once the water was finally out, she hurried and plugged the drain once again, finally able to breathe normally.
Chapter Forty-Nine
The atmosphere at dinner was a little tense. I don't think Victor and Skye even noticed since they pretty much stayed in their own little world and didn't communicate with the rest of us at all, but it was tense between Morten and me. He had called Jytte and told her he was staying, stating something came up. But Jytte wasn't stupid. She knew he was with me, she said, and then she had yelled at him angrily, to the point where I could hear her even if I stood at the other end of the kitchen.
It tortured Morten, and he wasn't really present as we ate the chicken and potatoes in cream sauce. He hardly said a word, and his mind seemed to drift off again and again. I wondered how that girl had gotten such a hold on her father at this age and when he would stand up to her and tell her it was time she let him live his life. He was allowed to date; he was allowed to have a girlfriend and have some fun in his life. She was old enough to take care of herself.
But it was easy enough for me to see through the situation and her; I knew it was a lot harder when you were actually in it and when it was your own child.
"You want some more potatoes?" I asked, then looked at his plate. He had barely touched them.
Morten smiled. "I'm good, but thanks."
"You like it? It's a new recipe," I said and took a second round, enjoying the fact that my mother wasn't around to give me one of her looks. Morten could from time to time give me a hard time too, but not tonight. Tonight, he was too preoccupied with his own problems to worry about my weight and health issues.
"What's that?" he said and looked at me. "Oh, this. Yes, it's really good, Emma. Really."
He shoveled a forkful into his mouth, then chewed, smiling. I could tell he was putting up a show for me, but I wasn't sure I appreciated it. Victor and Skye finished eating, then rushed out of the kitchen and into the living room without a word. I missed hearing my son's voice and actually communicating with him, but since Skye came along, it was like he didn't need me at all, nor did he need to speak. It was better than him screaming at night like he used to, and I sensed that he wasn't having as many nightmares as before he met her, but still. He couldn't stop speaking altogether.
"You don't have to pretend, you know?" I said and ate a bite from the chicken thigh.
Morten rubbed his forehead. "I'm not. I'm sorry. It's just…she sounded so upset."
I sighed. "Listen. I don't want to keep you here against your will. You're free to go if you need to get home to her."
He shook his head and placed his hand on top of mine. "No. Emma. No. I’m here now. I’m here with you. Jytte has to wait. You're the love of my life, and you're perfectly right; it's time I show it."
I exhaled, relieved. I was happy that he prioritized me, really thrilled, but it also filled me with a huge load of guilt.
Morten looked into my eyes. "I want to be here. I really, truly do."
He lifted his glass, and we clinked them. "To us," he said.
"To us," I said.
We drank and put the glasses down.
"I have an idea," he said.
"Uh-huh?" I said chewing.
He leaned forward and looked deep into my eyes. "What do you say we move in together?"
I choked and began to cough. I grabbed my glass of water and drank from it, while a gazillion thoughts rushed through my mind. Yes, this was what I wanted, but like this? I wasn't sure. It seemed to be coming more out of guilt than out of what he really wanted.
"What about Jytte?" I asked, still coughing.
"I'll help her find a place of her own. A condo downtown or something like that. I can help her financially at first just till she gets things up and running."
"I thought she was going away to college?" I asked.
He shook his head. "I don't think it will happen. Every time I mention it, she gets angry with me. I think she needs time. Maybe a year or so off to figure out what she really wants. I did the same."
I stared at Morten, not exactly knowing what to say to him. This is what I wanted; oh, boy, how it was. But was he doing it because he wanted to? Or because I had persuaded him to and he wanted to make me happy? Was this what he wanted?
"What do you say?" he asked. "I could sell my house and move in here. There's room enough for both me and the cats."
"That's right," I said. "I forgot you had cats."
Because you never invite me over to your place.
"I’m sure they'll do fine with Kenneth and Brutus," he said chuckling.
"Kenneth will skin them alive," I said with a light gasp.
He sipped his wine, still smiling. "Oh, what the heck. Maybe Jytte can take them, huh? We'll figure it out, right? This is what you wanted, right?"
"It is…"
"But…why do I sense there's a but coming?" he asked, concerned.
I shook my head. "No. No. No buts…only…I want to make sure this is what you want too."
"YES! It is what I want. Heck, Emma, I’ve wanted this since we met one another. I could think of nothing better than to be living here…with you and those…odd kids and weird dogs."
I took in a deep breath. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"So, what do you say?" he asked.
"I…I…"
He made a face.
"Please?"
I exhaled happily. "All right. I guess we're moving in together."
Morten made a happy sound, then leaned over and kissed me again, just as there was a rapid and quite violent knock on my door.
Chapter Fifty
All eyes were on them when Maya and Alex arrived at the party. The music was loud, but all the chatter stopped, and everyone turned their heads to look at them. All eyes followed their every move, observing and judging them, sizing them up.
Maya blushed and kept close to Alex as she walked inside Thomas K's house, staggering along on her high heels. She looked around at the staring faces and realized, to her horror, that everyone else was wearing jeans, and here she was in her little black cocktail dress.
Alex had thought she looked beautiful. He had told her when he picked her up in the Uber that took them there. He had smiled boyishly and held her hand in his and told her he was looking forward to showing her off to the others. They were going to be so jealous, he had said.
Now, he was no longer holding her hand as they walked into the living room and Thomas K came over to greet them.
"Alex!"
Thomas didn't greet Maya. He gave her a look, then returned his focus to Alex.
"Let's have a beer, man."
Not knowing what else to do, Maya followed them out into the kitchen when Thomas K turned and looked at her. The look in his eyes made Maya's skin crawl.
"Not you," he said.
"Sorry," Alex told her. "The guys want to chat. No girls. You know how it is. I'll be back in a second, okay?"
Maya swallowed, not knowing what to say. She nodded nervously.
"Okay."
He sent her another of his endearing smiles before disappearing with his friends, laughing. Meanwhile, Maya went back into the living room. She looked around her and realized she knew no one there. Well…she knew them because they were all from her school, but there was no one there whom she ever talked to. These were all popular kids. The ones who went to parties like this. The ones who hung with guys like Alex.