Trust A Stranger

by Baxter, Cole

  Mary remained quiet. There was nothing she wished to say, not to him at any rate. She continued to say nothing when he dumped her on the bed, looking at her and the nightgown that rose above her waist, exposing her underwear.

  "Preferred it when you were feisty. You were more fun that way. Now you're just a thing, broken." He genuinely looked disappointed, exiting the room and locking the door.

  Mary pulled the blanket over her and closed her eyes. She slept through the entire day, only waking up when Ruby came in to check up on her. She brought her some soup.

  Mary started to worry that Ruby would start berating her for sleeping that long. She didn't. "How are you feeling, honey?" she asked.

  "Good, now. Thank you for asking," Mary replied politely.

  "Here, I brought you some soup. Your favorite," Ruby said.

  Mary accepted what was offered. "You take such good care of me," Mary replied, appearing touched. "I can never fully repay you for all your kindness. You are a godsend."

  Ruby smiled, bathing in all the compliments and trying not to show it. She waved with her hand. "What are friends for?"

  "So true," Mary replied with a smile.

  "Eat up," Ruby said.

  Mary complied. The soup was just the right temperature, not too hot and not too cold, and to Mary, it felt like nectar as it hit her empty stomach.

  "How is it?" Ruby inquired.

  "Divine."

  "Just you let me take care of you," Ruby advised in all seriousness. "And you'll recover in no time."

  "Yes, Ruby."

  For the next couple of days, a certain kind of peace fell over the house, as though things were finally as they should be. Mary hid her thoughts and feelings behind a mask, aware that she had to play the part exactly right. There were no more second chances.

  So she laughed at Ruby's funny stories, they cried watching together old movies, and they spent every waking hour together, enjoying each other's company. Just like they had when they first met. It was the only way Mary knew to get through this.

  "Honey? Could you please get me my photo album?" Ruby asked while under the spell of one of her melancholic moments.

  "Of course." Mary instantly fetched Ruby's most beloved object and brought it to her. She was doing everything she could to please the woman and not end up as one of the corpses in the basement. "Here you go, Ruby."

  "Thank you."

  Mary lingered as Ruby started to go over the pages. "You were drop-dead gorgeous in that play," Mary said, filling her voice with adoration, commenting on a specific photograph, too late realizing her mistake. "Not that you're not still a very beautiful woman," Mary was quick to reassure her, and to her relief, Ruby chuckled.

  "I agree with you. I was a looker," she said with a wink.

  "Oh, yes. I bet all the actors were completely in love with you."

  Ruby smiled. "I don't know about all, but some. Robert Strike was certainly the loudest and the most persistent one in his admiration."

  Mary listened with feigned fascination. "And what about your husband? How did he win you over?" she asked, even knowing she'd never married.

  "I honestly don't know. He wasn't in showbusiness, just a boy from the school." Ruby got that dreamy look on her face which meant she was reminiscing about something. "Josef didn't have a single artistic bone in his body. He was a doctor, you see."

  "Really?" Mary exclaimed, recalling that was the name of one of Ruby's doctors at the mental institution. She smiled, encouraging her to talk more.

  "Yes. He worked too hard, but he loved me with all his heart."

  "And you clearly loved him back since you never remarried."

  "I just couldn't after everything we'd been through."

  Mary listened for hours as Ruby spoke about her lavish life, describing all the famous people she had an opportunity to work with, parties she attended. Although Mary knew most of these stories, it was as though she was hearing them for the first time. She even showed her anger at the industry that treated Ruby so poorly just because she entered a certain age. It was disgraceful.

  She said, "It’s simply awful how they treated such a wonderful actress as you, Ruby."

  Ruby sighed in return. "I guess that was just my fate. It's all water under the bridge now, anyway."

  Mary acted in awe of how her 'friend' bravely looked at things.

  "Besides, I can't say my life was over when my acting career ended. I believe I lead a very fulfilling life. I have my hobbies and I have you, my friend."

  Mary smiled. "Yes, you do have me."

  They fell asleep that night in the living room because Mary had exclaimed that she wanted to hear more. The next day, Mary didn't have time for stories. She was busy helping Ruby out around the house.

  "Honey, could you mop all the floors? They've started to look really dusty and dull. It's not healthy for me to inhale such filth."

  "I'll do it right away." Mary nodded.

  "Use the wax afterward, but not too much," Ruby advised.

  "Of course."

  "Mary, could you be a dear and make those delicious chocolate chip cookies of yours for dessert? I have a raging craving for them."

  Mary smiled, acting pleased that Ruby liked them so much. "You read my mind, Ruby. I was just about to say the same thing."

  "Great minds do think alike."

  "I will make a double batch just for you."

  "You are my hero, and could you please make me those noodles of yours for lunch first?" Ruby asked as her eyes sparkled in anticipation.

  "Are you already hungry?" They'd just had some snacks.

  "Starving," Ruby replied theatrically.

  Mary laughed. "I'm on it."

  "Treating her like a slave, I see," Norman commented, walking inside the living room.

  Mary jumped a little. She hadn't even heard him come in and her heart raced a little, but she took a calming breath and then she frowned, looking at him. "Ruby is my friend, and she doesn't treat me like a slave. I gladly help her around here," Mary pointed out, showing how much she didn't appreciate his joke.

  "Whatever, slave," he muttered in return.

  With that, she turned away and went to the kitchen to heat some water for the noodles, leaving the pair to speak in private.

  Mary could still hear them, though.

  "What do you want?" Ruby snapped at Norman.

  Mary whistled as she worked. They'd watched some movie noir a couple of nights ago and the main tune wouldn't get out of her head. Luckily, it was a pleasant one.

  "Just came to give you a heads up. They're looking for you."

  "So?" Ruby replied, clearly not understanding the fuss.

  "What do you mean, so?" Norman said, instantly getting annoyed.

  "Is that why you came?" she countered. "To speak about such nonsense with me?" Ruby asked incredulously.

  "I came because that's important to know."

  "The only thing that's important to me, the only thing I care about, is Shannon. Where is she?" Ruby demanded, raising her voice even further.

  "You really are insane."

  "Don't you dare talk to me like that. I pay you handsomely for your services, so earn your keep," Ruby snapped.

  Mary was glad she wasn't the one at the receiving end of that look. Ruby could be pretty scary when she wanted to be. A trait of a true actress.

  "Look," Norman started in a marginally calmer way. "I am sick and tired of all this drama that could only get both of us in jail. It’s game over time."

  The argument was getting pretty heated, and Mary started to debate whether this was it and if she should intervene as the water for noodles started to boil.

  "Don't be ridiculous. Nobody is going to jail," Ruby insisted.

  Yes, I believe I will interrupt them now, Mary decided, still whistling. Grabbing the pot of boiling water, she entered the living room and approached the arguing pair. They didn't spare her a glance, too immersed in their fight.

  Without hesitation, Mary spl
ashed the boiling water over her captors.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Ruby and Norman screamed as Mary doused them with a steaming pot of water. Without losing her stride, she used the pan as a weapon and hit Norman then Ruby, knocking them to the ground. Mary knew they wouldn't stay down for long, so she quickly crouched next to Ruby and managed to grab hold of the chain around her neck. Despite Ruby's feeble protests, Mary tugged hard, snapping the chain to the key that unlocked the front door.

  Yes, she cheered. Not allowing herself to get caught up in the moment or celebrate this small victory, Mary jumped back up on her feet and rushed to the door. As it turned out, Norman had left it unlocked.

  They really had started to be really comfortable and careless around her. I should have been an actress, Mary thought, running into the night. She’d played the part of a poor, traumatized girl to the letter.

  The fresh air hit her nostrils hard and she inhaled deeply. She could still feel the stench of that basement inside her. There was a chance that she would never fully get rid of it.

  It was snowing and Mary was barefoot, but she didn't care. She started running with all her might away from the house. That was her primary goal, to put as much distance between her and that damn place as was possible.

  I'm free. I'm finally free!

  She heard Ruby screeching, which only made her run faster. It was important that she manage to get to the trees. Mary hoped she could simply disappear into the woods since it was night. Ruby wouldn't be able to find her, or so Mary hoped.

  Elated that she got away, Mary didn't feel all the small rocks and twigs that were cutting the soles of her feet. As she neared the edge of the forest, she could have sworn she saw something in the distance. There was a strong possibility that Mary was imagining things after being locked up for so long—I can't even say how many days have passed since Norman grabbed me—but she was seeing a light in the distance, far beyond the trees. Maybe it's a house, she thought with hope. Adjusting her course ever so slightly, she made that source of light her goal.

  Glancing over her shoulder, she turned just in time to see Norman and Ruby outside the house. He has a gun, she thought, panicked. She barely had time for that thought when she heard a gunshot and the bullet hit the ground near her, making her jump. She reached the trees. Fear made her hide behind a trunk to look back.

  Mary's heart was racing like crazy. She couldn't believe she just did that! She'd fought back and run away. Ruby's and Norman's faces were priceless when she doused them with boiling water. That was a small price they had to pay for everything they'd done to her.

  Even from the distance, Mary could see that a part of Ruby's face was bright red. Ruby will be so angry when she catches me. No, she denied instantly. There will be no more punishments. Mary was free and she would do everything in her might to remain that way.

  Ruby stood by the front door screaming at Norman, who was shooting at Mary. There was another shot that hit the tree next to her. That was close. Too close for comfort. Mary crouched to the ground, crawling away, getting deeper into the woods, yet she could still see them.

  "Go after her," Ruby screamed from the top of her lungs at Norman.

  Much to Mary's surprise and Ruby's alike, Norman threw the rifle to the ground. "If you want her, you go after her," he said. "I'm done. Game over."

  "Game over?" Ruby shouted, clearly getting hysterical.

  Mary didn't allow herself to hope, but she did feel relief that Norman refused to come after her.

  Norman started walking toward the house, and Mary watched without taking a breath as Ruby picked up the gun that was left in the snow and pointed it at Norman.

  She's gonna shoot him. Mary couldn't believe what she was seeing. Norman smiled. It was obvious he didn't believe Ruby would actually shoot him. He was wrong.

  "I said, go after her," she ordered.

  "Goodbye, Ruby," Norman replied, turning away from her.

  In the next instant, Ruby fired and Norman fell to the ground. Dead. Mary gasped. Ruby shot him right in the head and he was gone, just like that.

  She shot him. Mary panicked because then Ruby turned toward her, and Mary was dead sure the same fate would fall on her. That was a poor choice of words, but Mary was right. Ruby fired a couple of times until she ran out of bullets. Her aim was off and Mary remained unscathed.

  "Mary, come back to me," Ruby shouted as she reloaded the gun. And then it dawned on Mary that the gun was just a scare tactic. Ruby didn't actually want to kill Mary. That was why her aim was off despite her being an excellent shooter. Ruby had bragged about that numerous times.

  She missed on purpose. She can't keep me, control me if I'm dead, Mary realized, and that gave her the strength to turn around and start running toward the light.

  "Mary, come back to me," she heard Ruby calling out to her, yet her voice was getting fainter with every step Mary made. I will never go back there. No matter what, never.

  Clearly realizing Mary wasn't about to obey, Ruby screamed, and it was such a piercing, earth-shattering sound like a wounded animal was calling for help. Or a very deranged person. Mary was certain her screams could be heard miles away. Every hair on her body stood up, listening to Ruby wail. Just keep moving, Mary told herself as though she needed a reminder. After everything she'd been through, after everything she had to endure, what she had to become so she could escape, there was no way in Hell she was calling quits now just because her jailer had a fit.

  No matter what Ruby said or did, for that matter, it was important for Mary to just keep moving. That was the only way she could truly get rid of Ruby and survive.

  Getting to a small clearing, Mary was relieved that she was actually right. The light in the distance was becoming much brighter now. She had about three or four more miles to go to reach it. I can do it, she thought to herself. She had to. Failure was not an option.

  "Mary? Where are you?" She could hear Ruby calling out to her, which meant she was actually looking for her, going through the woods.

  Damn it, she cursed. Mary truly hoped Ruby would abandon the search, considering the weather and the fact that it was dark, the only light provided by the moon, and that wasn't much in the forest.

  Nevertheless, Mary started running again after catching her breath. Her goal was to reach that light in the distance, no matter what. And what if that's just a streetlight? She had a moment of doubt. Streetlight in the middle of nowhere? the other part argued. It's a house. She simply knew it.

  Mary was never what someone would call a runner. Actually, she'd never run a day in her entire life. Now she really wished she'd learned how to properly do something like that. Thinking about that, she didn't mind her steps, although that was a highly difficult thing to do in the dark, and she stumbled and fell. She hit the ground hard, the frozen earth burning and soothing her exposed skin at the same time. She bruised her ankle. It hurt like hell, but Mary managed to get back on her feet, wincing and cursing.

  Walk it off, she advised herself. It was more like run it off since she continued to do just that despite the pain. When all of this was over, she was seriously considering running as a new hobby. I will prepare myself for a marathon, she thought with determination.

  "Mary! Mary!" Ruby wailed like a siren.

  Halfway there, Mary became certain she was seeing another house in the distance. She thanked the heavens for that. Since it was lit, she hoped that meant whoever owned it was inside and would help her. The big bonus, the cherry on top, would be if that person didn't like Ruby very much.

  "Mary, come back to me." Ruby was relentless.

  Not on your life, Mary thought, biting her lower lip and forcing her legs to move forward. Her lungs burned, the icy air cutting her like knives. Her muscles burned, yet she refused to give up. She was really close to reaching her goal. Just a little bit longer.

  She felt enormous joy, elation, upon reaching the property. Mary thanked God that even at this remote place, Ruby had a neighbor.
Reaching the front door of a big cottage-looking house, Mary started banging with all the strength she could muster at the moment.

  "Hello? Please help me! Is anybody in there? Help!" Mary pleaded.

  Having that feeling at the back of her neck that she was being followed, Mary turned to look behind herself.

  Mary could barely see a figure in the distance running toward the house. That meant nothing to Mary. She knew Ruby would find her, eventually. Obviously, she knew the terrain much better than Mary.

  She still has a gun, Mary realized and turned to continue with her endeavor. "Please, open up, I need your help!"

  Although Mary decided Ruby wouldn't kill her, that didn't mean she wouldn't wound her. I am so glad I didn't have that thought earlier. It would seriously mess with her head. Mary found that thought almost comical. After everything she had been through, the notion almost made her laugh.

  The door finally opened, stopping her crazy thoughts in their tracks. Mary stumbled forward. A serious-looking man wearing a plaid shirt opened the door. He was holding a shotgun in his hands.

  "Oh, no," Mary exclaimed, wavering on her bruised legs. He's going to kill me. She started to panic. He's Ruby's ally. Mary should have known Ruby would have some kind of security measure installed. She wouldn't want one of her precious friends to escape.

  Speaking of the devil, Ruby appeared, chasing after her, screeching, "Get away from her, she's mine!"

  Was that intended for the man? That made Mary react. "Please, sir, help me. She's going to kill me, she's crazy," she said all in one breath.

  Still saying nothing, the man looked at her, the state of her nightdress, and her bleeding feet, and then at Ruby, who was fast approaching, screaming while holding a rifle.

  In the next instant, the man grabbed hold of Mary, dragging her inside but not in a rough way, as he slammed the door shut just in time since Ruby was prepared to shoot.

  I'm finally safe, Mary thought, taking a deep breath.

  Or am I?

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Knowing Ruby would be upon them in no time, Mary felt the need to explain everything to this man about what was going on before he decided he didn't want to get involved and kicked her out. However, she started from the beginning since her grandmother had taught her well.