Behind The Church

LXI

Kate

She's not answering her phone. But I can see where she is. She's in the cellar behind the church. I call Esther, and she answers immediately.

"Hey, I was wondering when I'd hear from you. You're back right? Shall I come visit?"

This alarmed me for two reasons, one, she didn't know about Adrianna, and two, she can't see her present yet.

"No! I need you to get Tina." I tell her quickly.

"Church?" she asked.

"Yup."

"On way." she stated, and I heard Marley's quiet and gentle voice in the background.

"And take her back to your house. I'll be there soon." I order. I need to call Khrystyna or Audrey.

"Will do. See you soon."

"Bye."

I sent Khrsytyn a text and she responded immediately. Her and Adrianna were on their way.

And they were here in five minutes. They questioned the dog, but I explained hastily and told them to keep it a secret. They agreed, I got some ingredients for some of Christina's comfort food and I hurried out of the door.

Esther

I opened the cellar door. I could already hear her screaming but it's worse now. I take a breath before I shout down.

"Christina?"

She didn't respond, she just kept screaming and I could hear thuds so she was probably hitting and kicking.

"Christina, can I come down?"

"No!" she screamed. I looked back at Marley. She stepped forward and tried to talk to her too.

"Christina, come on. Everyone is worried."

"No!" she sobbed this time.

"I'm coming down." Marley said, and started descending the ladder. I tried to stop it because it wouldn't end well if she didn't obey 'the rules'. Christina didn't invite her down, so she's violating the direct address rule.

"No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!" she screamed and begged as soon as Marley hit the floor.

"Come on, we need to get you home."

"No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!"

"Yes. Come on. You can't be down here. It's dirty. You hate dirt."

"I don't care." she shouted. Then I heard a smack. Skin on skin. Either Christina smacked herself or she smacked Marley for being to close.

"Don't hit yourself." Marley said gently. Then more smacks, "Christina, no."

"Do you need help down there?" I call down.

"Uh, yes please."

"No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!"

I hop down the ladder and see Christina in her usual spot, sat down. Some of her clothes are ripped and her nose is bleeding. There's bruises all over her face. I then notice the cut lip, head laceration and busted knuckles.

"What happened?" I ask her as I take her hands.

"I did it." she sobbed. I pulled her into me and squeezed her body tight to mine, "I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't be sorry. Don't be sorry. I'm here for you. And we're gonna take you back to our place, get you some water, clean you up and take care of you, okay?" I say as I stroke her hair.