Tuesday, January 27, 2015


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                              http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/
 
 

 
 




 
 
~ Chapter Forty ~
 
Arianna opened her eyes. The small movement sent shards of pain racing through her brain, but she fought it. Was that Justin’s voice?
She let her head fall to the right, unable to hold it in place. He stood watching her, disbelief filling his features as he realized she was awake.
He was at her side. “Arianna.”
“Yes, thirsty.”
He laughed, looked at the nurse.
She shrugged. “I’ll get you some water.”
After the nurse left, Arianna grabbed Justin’s arm.
“Is he…”
Justin winced. “He’s in jail. They’re going to plead insanity.”
She nodded. “Yes. He… they, are quite mad.”
Justin shook his head. “No he’s not. He’s possessed.”
“Justin!”
He shrugged one sweater-clad shoulder. “It’s true. Those eyes, that voice. That’s not some dissociative disorder, Arianna.”
A tear slid down her nose, and he wiped it away. “Is it over?”
Adam cleared his throat, wishing his news was better. “I hope so. They’re keeping him medicated.”
“I don’t know if I can take much more.” She swiped at more tears.
“I know. I wish I could say I would protect you and it happen. But I tried that and failed. He’s cunning and maniacal. I don’t know how to fight that.”
“We can’t. Only God can. How are Mary and the baby?”
“They’re fine. And you need to worry about getting better yourself before adding anything else to your plate.”
She nodded. “I know, but thinking about others will help me do that.”
He nodded, understood. Having a purpose in life made one feel stronger.
He cleared his throat. “Your parents are on their way, you know.”
Shaking her head caused pain to radiate inside her skull, so she stopped the movement and held her breath until it subsided. “Does it make me a monster not to want to see them?”
He caressed her cheek with one finger and caught her gaze. “No. It makes you human. I’m just as convinced as you are they somehow have a part in this.”
“I don’t understand how they could—But,” She paused, hoping he’d understand and she wouldn’t have to finish her sentence.
“I don’t think it was a ‘they’ so much as a ‘he,’ Ari. I’m not saying your mom is innocent, but can’t see her going to those lengths on her own.”
The nurse returned with a pitcher of ice water and a cup. She sat the cup on the wheeled table and filled it with water. “Take small sips, Arianna. We don’t want you throwing up with all the stitches you have.”
“Stitches?”
The nurse said, “You didn’t know?”
Arianna shook her head. “No.”
The nurse gestured toward Arianna’s arm.
As soon as her eyes lit on the bandaged spot, pain prickled from beneath the white square bandage. Scrunching her nose she said, “I do now.”
They all shared a laugh. “Is there anything else I can get you, Arianna?”
Arianna smiled, suddenly feeling an overwhelming tiredness. “No, but I heard my parents were coming. Would it be possible to get a warning before they come in?”
“Certainly, but is something wrong?”
Not wanting to cause a big stink, Arianna said, “No, I’m just really tired and don’t feel like visitors right now.”
The nurse gave a pointed stare at Justin, but to her credit didn’t comment other than to say, “Will do.”
 
Alone again, Justin took Arianna’s hands in his. “We need to talk before they get here, Ari. I know you’re tired and hurting, but we have to have a plan of action.”
She grinned, feeling her smile stretch across her face. “Whatever you come up with is fine, Justin. Let’s just be done with this, okay?”
Justin watched his wife’s eyelashes flutter against pale cheeks. She was too tired to fight with him right now. Pulling his shoulders back, he made a decision; He would fight for them both. That’s what husbands did, anyway, wasn’t it?
A rustling noise at the doorway caught his attention and he looked up. Her parents stood in the doorway, one with an extreme look of relief, the other with malevolent anger. There was no doubt in his mind now.  Her father had involvement in her ordeal. But how could a parent do such a thing?
He didn’t have a clue. The one thing he did know was it stopped here and now.
He moved forward, hands up. “I’m sorry. You weren’t supposed to be allowed in right now. Arianna is resting.”
Her father’s face clouded up even more. “Now look here boy…”
Justin laughed. “I’m not a boy, sir. I’m a man. And not only that, I’m your daughter’s husband. And as such, I’m telling you she doesn’t want visitors right now.”

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Broken Dreams Chapter Thirty-Nine

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                        Though stark and cold, they do hold a beauty of their own. :)





 
 

 
 

 
~ Chapter Thirty-Nine ~


Arianna’s fear disappeared in an instant. She snapped, “I can.”

More laughter. The figure standing over her spit out, “You people kill me with your religious bull-crap.”

Arianna struggled to sit up, but the figure pushed her back to the dirty mattress with the toe of one cruddy work boot.

“You won’t be getting up right now, or ever, come to think of it.”  The figure raised an arm and Arianna shrunk back.

“Please, no.”

More of the insane laughter. “I knew you’d see it my way.”

“I don’t see it your way; I just don’t want to die.” Arianna was finally able to scoot until her back touched the cold, concrete wall.

“Where’s Adam?” It was a desperate attempt to distract, but she had to try something.

The voice sneered, “Adam’s gone forever.”

Arianna screeched, “You killed him?”

The figure laughed once more. “He isn’t dead, just disabled.”

Arianna raised her chin in a false-sense of bravery. “I want to talk to him.”

The figure lowered down beside her, resting long arms on elbows. Cold, lifeless eyes stared into her own, the deep evil trying to suck her in.

“I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re never talking to him again. It’s over. No more moony-eyed faces. No more puppy dog stares. It’s time you got what you deserved.

A hard slap connected with her jaw, slamming her head against the cold concrete wall. Waves of pain filled her mind and she tried to concentrate on seeing the person crouching over her so she wouldn’t pass out.

“Why— are you,” Her voice cracked and waves of nausea overcame her. She vomited, the stream spewing all over the person before sliding down the side of the mattress and into the floor.

She tried to move, to get away. The look on his face was so terrifying…but she was immobile. She moaned, began whimpering.

“You…stupid…hag!” He screamed.

Arianna shook her head. Confusion swarmed around her brain. It was a man standing above her, but the voice was that of a woman. The movement of her head sent shards of pain radiating throughout her body. Dear God. It’s the only thing she could think to think. She thought it again. Dear God. Terror was so thick and real at that moment she couldn’t form anything else. She repeated it again. Dear God. Those two simple words seemed to calm her so she continued repeating them.

She was suddenly aware of a calm blanketing her mind. It was so peaceful she smiled.

This infuriated the ‘thing’ standing over top her, fists raised.

“Why are you smiling, you idiot?” It screeched.

The words popped out without her being aware she’d even thought them. “God loves me.”

“Psssht. That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Let me take that false sense of calm away from you, you little twit. You’re going to die here today.”

Arianna shrugged. “If its God’s will.”

The person standing above her looked down, curiosity masking the hatred. It tilted its head, the empty blackness of its eyes staring, trying to invade Arianna’s very soul. The voice changed from feminine to deep male. “You will shut up.”

Fear zinged across Arianna’s nerve endings. She’d never seen such evil, or heard its voice.

She shook her head, despite the fear. “No. I know God is with me.”

A hand came out and slammed into her so hard she was lifted from her spot on the floor.

Arianna watched what was happening, as if it were someone else. She felt the immense pain as she hit the wall and slid down to lay on the floor. Warm blood flowed into her eyes and she wanted to rub it away, but couldn’t move her arm.

It was over her. She screamed in her mind, but no sound came out except, “God is the Lord.”

“No! Shut your mouth!” She was flying through the air again, this time hitting the door. Wood dug into her back as she slid down its rough surface.

In her mind, she kept thinking, Dear God, help me. If I’m to die, please make it quick.

She lost count of how many times she was picked up and thrown around the room like a ragdoll. That didn’t terrify her as much as the eyes on the monster who tormented her. It was liking looking into the eyes of hell, and she needed to avoid it.

Consciousness started to slip, and she prayed for it; Please protect me, Dear Lord.

Sometime later, she came to enough to hear voices, but couldn’t get to the edge of wakefulness. Her eyes slid shut. Nothingness was bliss.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Broken Dreams ~ Chapter Thirty-Eight

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http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/2014/12/welcome-angela-strong-to-mine.html?spref=fb








 
 
~ Chapter Thirty-Eight ~


Fear for his wife filled him. The madman had her again. Dear Lord, please help me get her away from him, and for good.

He was being wheeled down a long, white hallway now. He asked several different policemen about Arianna’s whereabouts, but none responded.

Everything was passing by in a blur and his frustration built. Where was she?

A flurry of nurses surrounded him as he was wheeled into the exam room, and before he could protest, he had an IV with a morphine drip.

 

Adam sat on the overturned crate, arms wrapped around his waist. He rocked back and forth, the furious motion causing his head to spin.

She didn’t look good. Her skin was white as paper, and blood seeped from the corners of her mouth and one nostril.

“Take her to the hospital, idiot.”

Adam sat straight up, looking in every direction. No one was there. His heart thundered against sore ribs.

“Who said that?”

Laughter.

“You know, Adam.”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t. Where are you?”

He got up and checked every nook and cranny of the bare room. It was only he and Arianna.

He flopped back to the crate and resumed rocking, this time grabbing both sides of his head by the hair. “Can’t think. Can’t think.”

Feminine laughter.

He raised his head to see if Arianna had awakened, but she was still out, lying crumpled on the edge of the filthy mattress.

He was aware of a loud wailing noise, but didn’t know where it was coming from until that feminine voice said, “Stop whining like a sissy, Adam. You’re supposed to be the strong one.”

His mouth clamped shut, and sure enough, the noise stopped.

“Who’s there?” He jumped up, overturning the crate, which he kicked so hard the plastic cracked as it smacked the wall.

“You know me, Adam. I’m the one.”

He shook his head in denial. No! It couldn’t be her. He wouldn’t allow it. No one ruled over him. Why, he’d…

“Adam.”

“No.”

“Oh yes, my boy.”

“No. I refuse. You can’t make me hurt her.”

Her words became angry now. “That’s the reason you took over, remember? You’re the heartless one.”

He shook his head again, sliding to the floor beside the very pale Arianna. He whispered, “Not when it comes to her.”

She snorted, “Hmmph.”

Something was happening inside him, and he was helpless to stop it. His fingers came up and stroked the bloody hair at Arianna’s temple. He tsked, rubbed it away from her face.

“I won’t hurt her and you can’t make me.”

Suddenly, he was pushed away from the unconscious young woman. “Then I’ll do it myself. I don’t know what your problem is, she’s just a girl. You’ve done away with countless others.”

Adam’s head snapped back from the force of the slap dealt him.

He dropped his arm between his legs and stared at his hand.

“I’m really messed up.”

There was wetness on his face and he brought that same hand up to wipe at it. He was crying. Anger seared through him.

“What have you done to me you callous hag?” He screamed.

At his words, Arianna groaned and began moving around.

He dropped to his knees beside her. “Ari?”

But nothing. She was still unconscious.

She was moving toward him again, her intent to slap him once more.

He reached up with one arm, grabbing the other. “No! You will not hit me again.”

A shouting match ensued.

 

Arianna groaned, opened her eyes.

The horror show she saw playing out before her was enough to make her eyelids drop once more, then pop back open.

She was there. Just like last time.

White hot terror immobilized her as those cold, dead eyes latched onto her own.

The figure stood over her, pure hatred emanating from every pore of the body. “Time to die, Missy.”

“No!” She held her hands above her head and began praying out loud.

“Dear Father, save me if it be Your will. If it’s not, give those who love me peace.”

Maniacal laughter filled the room.

“You little idiot. Who could love a God like that?”