The Slash Of Truth: The Whispers From Under The Bed

132#

5:49am.

Fruit Family Household.

Dear Diary.

This is Helly, I know I’m not supposed to be in his diary but, I need someone to rant to, and besides, I can’t sleep, not after I saw my husband fighting for his life. I remember the moment as if it was a few seconds ago.

It was when I was seeing if Arctic was in the kitchen is when I heard that gut-wrenching scream that haunts me, I remember my heart skipping a beat from the muffled scream. I remember running with the folded note in my hand, the only time of slowing was when I had to turn to the next hallway. I remember the sick look on Clutch’s face, I remember Shepard on his phone to someone, I remember Dime and Sweetpea running in a hurry towards me with panicky looks but most of all, I remember freezing, my heart shutting down, my world crumble as I saw Arctic being carried on Sweetpea’s back, a knife sticking up his chin and sticking out his mouth, blood trickling down as everything under him was stained red. I remember just standing there even when they passed me, all I could remember was being so alone and afraid, I thought I was going to be left alone again. I didn’t know how long I stood there, it felt like forever until Clutch came over, wrapping me in a hug without a word. That little contact broke the dam for me, I was truly alone at that moment as my daughter was gone and my husband on the brink of death, useless to prevent it.

I owe Dime everything, thanks to her and basic skills of first aid, she had done enough to keep him alive long enough for the paramedics to come nurse him back to a stable state. When I was allowed to see him, all I could really do is fall to my knee and cry in relief to see the small rise and fall of his chest, seeing the knife gone and the wound stitched up, void of blood, sleeping soundly under the sheets on the bed. The doctors said he was lucky to live; if the knife was a few millimetres to the right, it would have cut an artery, and he would have died in seconds if that was the case. The rest of the night, I wouldn’t leave his side, I was happy to just listen to his heartbeat, happy that he was still alive.

After some time of being alone with him, Dime came to see if I was okay. Of course, I wasn’t okay but, I wasn’t going to tell her that. I don’t know how long we sat there, just talking to keep our minds off these past few days of stress and pain, it helped a little but, it never stopped the questions of how it came to this. The questions never lasted long as Detective Sweetpea and Detective Shepard came in. Sweetpea told me everything from the moment Arctic brought her along and the moment she found her way out of the library with Arctic.

I was worried about this man that attacked both Arctic and Sweetpea. Sweetpea said that he was strong, mysterious and devious, taking pleasure in watching Arctic hang by the the hilt. Not only that, but he also had the ability to faze through walls and floors like it was air, disappearing just like that. It makes me look over my shoulder in the dark at the thought of him appearing out of nowhere to finish him off. The thought terrifies me even now, that’s probably why I haven’t slept last night.

Sweetpea did mention a few odd things before the attack, like how Arctic was speaking towards someone she couldn’t see, passing through a door only he could see. What does this mean for Arctic? His family did make this mansion after all, are there things that only Arctic could see? If so, does there more secret passageways in this mansion that we can’t see? Maybe but, only Arctic could tell us that but, he needs his rest.

As much as I am worried for Arcty, my mind keeps wandering over to my daughter. I hope she is okay; I hope nothing bad has happened to her, I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything bad had happened to her. I feel responsible in a way a mother could only feel, I feel like it's my fault that she was taken from me, I feel like I should have known what would have happened considering what happened to Dime’s youngest son, I should have known something bad would have happened but, because everyone was having a good time last night, I didn’t say anything, I thought I was just me being an overprotective mother but clearly, I was right to be.

I feel useless. All I’ve done this whole time was relieve Arctic of stress and solve some riddles, is that all I have to contribute to finding my little girl? I feel so out of place, I feel like the dumbest person in this mansion which wouldn’t affect me normally but, now that my daughter is gone, I don’t know what to do, I don’t know where to start, all I know is that there is someone hiding in the walls, and he has our daughter. The detectives are going down each hallway, each room, especially the room that both Feather and Cherry went missing in for any magical passageways but, they still found nothing. Call me crazy but, I think Arctic is the key to finding Cherry. With him seeing things that we can’t and his intelligent mind, it’s only a matter of time till we find Cherry. For now, I can only wait until Arctic is ready.

For now, I’ll try and make myself useful in my own way.

Cherry sat back at the far end of the cell, her legs tucked into her chest and her head down, trying to keep the warmth in her core contained. She couldn’t feel her feet or hands as they were numb. Cherry couldn’t remember a time in her life been this thirsty for water, she was so thirsty that the blood on the floor was looking tempting as sickening as that may sound. She wanted out, she wanted to eat normal food with water with her mum and dad, that’s all she wanted ever since she woke up with the lashes. She could leave her cell but, she knew if she was caught, she would receive 10 lashes as punishment, she knew this because of the scratched writings on the wall and floor by previous people that were taken by the man. She now knew the rules, all of them being chalked in faintly. Don’t talk, don’t disobey him, don’t escape, don’t fight back, don’t try and escape punishment. Those were the five rules Cherry knows so far, she couldn’t find any other rules written across the room so, she guessed that were all the rules she was given.

She didn’t see that little boy again; he was just gone without a word. As odd as it may sound, she wished he came back to keep her company, to keep her mind of what comes next, but he never came back. She was thankful for the warning he gave about the man waiting for Cherry to try and leave but, surely now he’s gone… right? There is no way he is still on the other side of the door, right? Right?

“Go~…” A pale voice said beside her, making her jump and kick away at the sudden voice. Looking over, she saw a unicorn girl the same size as her sitting there next to where she was sitting.Cherry’s mouth hung wide at the sight of the other ghostly figure, looking to be more broken than the last. She looked to be the same age as Cherry with dirty short hair and yellow skin, her autumn eyes looking over at Cherry with pity. She would have looked like every other girl she had seen if it wasn’t for the fact that her arms were severed from the shoulders, blood covering the side of her tank shirt and pants.

“W-who are you?” Cherry asked, passing the ghost’s question for her own.

“I-I don’t know who I am… everything went hazy after I died~…” The ghost grimaced, tucking her knees closer to her chest. Cherry was starting to see a pattern with the ghosts. “But… There is no time… If you want to escape… The time is now~…” She spoke, her voice said hurriedly.

“What do you mean? What’s going on?” Cherry said with alarm, standing up quickly.

“He is hurt… He is vulnerable… This is your chance to escape~…” She the ghostly figure pressed, making Cherry’s heart stagger from the sudden hope and yet dread of the thought of being caught regardless.

“How do you know? What happened?”

“Hurry up~!” A boy’s voice shouted beyond her cell, the aggressive tone making her head swirl towards the echoing voice. Just as quickly as she glanced away, she looked back to the ghostly girl just to find that she was no longer there, not even the blood that dripped. “Come on… We haven’t got all day~!” The impatient boy shouted again, making Cherry huff with a chill. Cherry took her time walking towards her cell door, unnerved greatly by the idea of leaving. What is she so worried about? She should be running at this point but, what he did to her, what he’s going to do to her when he catches her out of her prison terrifies her to her core.

Opening the door to her cell, she glanced down the bottom of the row of other cells, seeing another boy leaning his back against the wall, his arms crossed as he looked back with a scowl. When she built up enough courage, she stepped out of her cell. When she got closer, Cherry noticed that he was wearing a black leather jacket and gloves, a scar running down his right eye, the slash slicing his eyeball in two. Looking down at his white shirt under his jacket, she saw multiple stab wounds in his gut, the shirt stained in blood.

“Can you take any longer? Fucking get a move on~!” The teen barked, the biker's frown turning into a scowl that make Cherry walk a little faster towards him. Usually, Cherry wouldn’t have taken any of his attitude but, considering he is a ghost and the situation she was in, she couldn’t afford to get him more pissed off than he already is.

“R-right.” Cherry said, not looking him in the eye. The boy just sneered, looking Cherry up and down judgingly.

“Fucking pathetic… I’m surprised you have made it this far… If I didn’t make it… What chance do you have~…” He scoffed, uncrossing his arms and pushing himself off the wall, opening the door forcefully, not caring if the man was behind the door. “Come on… This is your lucky fucking day~!” He muttered, disappearing as he turned the corner. Reluctantly, she followed, looking every which way for any sign of her tormentor. The moment she walked into the room, the moment the atmosphere changed from a dungeon to a mortuary graveyard as rows of metal coffin doors lined both sides of the walls, barely showing any of the white, crusted concrete, one of the doors opened wide. The squared slabs on the floor had seen war as scars and blood riddled the ground, never to be erased. Further down the hallway, the ghostly figure of the moody thug waited, a light raying down on him as it made him see through. He looked down at the chair in the middle of the flickering light, his fist clenched in fury. When he heard Cherry walk towards him, he didn’t look back as he turned right into another passageway, a much darker passageway. When she got closer towards the wooden chair, she noticed a folded-up article, the title reading ‘Fruit’s Family Son Found Alive But Scarred!’ in bold writing. Fruit Family’s son? Does it mean Arctic? No, this date on this new paper was centuries ago but… Why is it here of all places, it looks like it belongs to a museum.

“Stop dilly-dallying… We’ve got places to be~…” The boy said from the murky, dark hallway, seeing outlines of different shaped forms that stood still. She gulped before stepping forward, her teeth jittering as her coldness took over her body and fog left her mouth, just as see-through as the boy she followed. Cherry couldn’t tell if she was halfway through the hallway by now as she shuffled, her bare feet kicking something fleshy she wished she didn’t touch. When the lights suddenly turned on, only then did she see that her foot was in the ripped-open chest cavity of a long-deceased girl, the arms completely gone… Just like the girl she saw sitting next to her. Her heart raced as she hyperventilated, her eyes stuck on the corpse's lifeless eyes. She wanted to scream, cry and run away but, she was frozen on the spot as if he was behind her, waiting for her to talk, to run away. Was he behind her? She turned just to see blood stains, a wheelchair, a hospital bed and many more bodies that she had passed, all of them being young, all of them being mangled to the point of scars being used as art. How sick must this bastard be to do all this?

“Girl… Don’t make me tell you again… I will leave you to die~…” The boy growled, Cherry snapping her head to see him at a double door. That was the signal for Cherry to move on, she didn’t want to be left alone in this demented place, not while she had no idea where she is. Cherry caught up to the teen, his presence alone radiating chilliness that a ghost could only give.

“So, eh—where are we?” Cherry said just when he fazed through the doors, making Cherry blink for a second. She knew he was a ghost but, it was so weird seeing someone faze through a solid object, she shouldn’t be surprised but, it was the first time seeing any ghost do that. Opening one of the doors, she poked her head in with slight nervousness. Yet again, the atmosphere changed into an underground bunker, pipes riding the roof toward the end of another hallway, machinery lining both sides of the room, safety railing in front of them, grids on the floor and the smell of gas filled the room, she quickly covered her nose just in case. As she walked, she noticed that rust dominated every metal object in the room like a rash, a bad one. At the end of the hallway, she stood by the boy as now there was three options.

Left, right and centre.

“This is where we part ways… I can’t go any further~…” The boy said, looking down the left passageway, more machinery and lights above but, down that lane was another body, a body with a leather jacket and gloves.

“I-Is that you?” Cherry asked, regret saying it as he huffed in anger.

“Yeah… So what~!” He muttered, crossing his arms as he snarled. “Listen… You’re on your own on this… I can’t go any further since I have no memory anywhere else in this place~…” He said, looking down at Cherry with a frown.

“What, no—no you can’t leave me here, I don’t know where I’m going. What if he comes, what if—”

“Look… If he finds you… You fight… If you don’t… You will only die either way… There is no time to be afraid… There is no time to be pathetic… to be a coward… to be a pushover… This is your last chance… Don’t fuck it up or you will end up like us~…” He ordered, looking down at Cherry with that familiar glare but, this time it was a slightly softened glare. Cherry nodded but, there was nothing he could say to calm Cherry down. He was right though, she couldn’t be pathetic now, not now. Taking a deep breath, she looked down the corridor, her heart racing but, she knew she had no choice. So… she took the first step.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

That’s all Helly could hear as she sat next to Arctic, the heart monitor calming letting her know that Arctic was in a stable condition. She was glad to hear it but yet, annoyed as it played on repeat, it was enough for her to think about crushing the unbearable machine and with the lack of sleep she has, she just might. She rubbed her face, her eyes as heavy as ever. She hadn’t left the room ever since he was treated, Dime had been bringing up a few snacks and drinks of champagne, she has been helpful in her own way, keeping an eye on Helly with each hour that passed. She was grateful for that.

Helly hasn’t seen anyone else other than Dime, she guessed the detectives were busy with finding Cherry and Clutch is… doing whatever he does. As for Fenton, she guessed that he was probably in his room doing whatever kids do. He did say he had schoolwork to practice before the exams apparently. Would make sense, Cherry did say she had her exams coming up in her former school. Even so, she has barely seen him. Typical teenager, could she blame him? Absolutely not. After everything that has happened to his little brother and a mysterious figure hiding in this mansion, he would stay with himself. Maybe she should check up on him in a bit.

The person that attacked Arctic… When she has his hands on him, she doesn’t know what she would do to him. Kick him in the balls for taking Cherry and hurting Arctic… No, that would be just a slap on the wrist for him. Put him in an armbar? Nah, she would let Sweetpea do that to him. Break his spine… Sounds fitting. Still, Sweetpea said he has this power to faze through walls and floors at will, even though he has no horn and yet has the strength of an earthling, it’s baffling and deeply concerning. What madman is hiding in these walls and why?

“Hey, Helly.” Dime said from the doorway, a bottle of wine and a plate with a sandwich on top. Helly smiled at her new friend.

“Hey, Dime. What’s up?” Helly replied, getting up from sitting on the side of the bed and walking over to Dime, taking the sandwich as her stomach growled. She was starving, when was the last time she had eaten? Breakfast?

“Nothing really, darling. Just trying to do everything but think about my son and what previously happened. It’s shocking what happened to Arctic.” Dime said, looking over at the unconscious Arctic with pity. She instinctively touched her chin at the thought of feeling his pain. Helly did the same, frowning as she looked over to Arctic.

“I know what you mean…” Helly said blandly, Dime noticing the mood in the room. “Anyway, how is everyone? Surely they are doing better than you and I.” Helly said with a brighter mood, smiling as she gesture to sit next to her on the bed. Dime gladly did just that.

“They are okay, I guess… Clutch is a bit off however, he’s complaining about his shoulder for some reason. The detectives are about in that library, looking for that bastard that hurt Arctic and Fenton… Well, he’s just in his room as always.” She sighed, taking a quick sip out of the bottle. “Listen, I’ve got work soon… I won’t be around for a while so; will you be okay without me.” Dime said, placing her hand on Helly’s shoulder. Helly huffed before taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Yeah, I should be okay. I’ll just be here until Arctic wakes up anyway.” Helly murmured, taking the bottle of wine from Dime, taking a swig of her own, her lips slapping in satisfaction. “Me and this bottle of wine will look after him.”

“Right, that’s all I wanted to say before I go. I’ll see you around. Take care.” Dime said as she stood up, walking towards the exit but was quickly stopped.

“Hey, I never did thank you properly for helping him. Thank you.” Helly said, getting up and surprising Dime with the strength of her hug. When Helly let go, only then could Dime breathe. “Anyways, take care of yourself too.” Helly said, smiling happily as Dime left. Helly finished off her sandwich, she went straight to her desk where she has been sitting this whole time, waiting for Arctic to wake. On the desk was that damned note with the riddles that has been playing with her mind ever since she got the answers. What do these riddles base around? Why these riddles in particular? Why is this referred to as a test? Who the hell is Shasha and why did Arctic want her to solve them? Does all this lead to something? Sweetpea and Shepard both said that they have theorised that Cherry had never really left but, how is that possible? Them secret passageways? Maybe but, if so, does that mean that the man has got her daughter then? After what happened to Arctic, she didn’t want to think about what he could possible be doing to Cherry.

Helly took a swig of her bottle, all this thinking is making her head pulse. She wished Arctic was awake, so she didn’t have to think this hard. She looked over to the answers again.

Bookkeeper…

Silence…

O…

Education…

Clock…

$9.54…

6…

Helly has all the answers… Now what? The test is done, what’s supposed to happen now? Does money fall from the sky? is she granted immortality? does she have one wish? Helly doubts that. Besides, in the note it says that this will lead her to his dark secrets. What dark secrets? Tangerine’s secrets? This is all types of confusing, it made Helly rub her eyes furiously and sigh deeply.

Wake up soon, Arcty…

It was an intense moment for Sweetpea as she walked the lanes of bookshelves and dust, Shepard not too far behind her with his pistol out and wings slightly raised in alert. They had went the place where the man with the top hat got shot but, the decaying wooden planks had absorbed the blood before they could take a sample but, no matter… they hadn’t lost hope just yet. They have an ace up there sleeves.

“Hey, Sweetpea. What was the man’s description again?” Shepard murmured when they arrived at the place where Arctic was stabbed, the same place where the remains of the table and newspaper were laying in a pile of debry.

“5’11, top hat—well, no longer wearing a top hat, black trench coat and red scarf, you can’t miss him.” Sweetpea replied, looking around at the now-cleared room for any sign of the man.

“I think we have a copycat on our hands.” Shepard said, looking down at the newspaper in his hands and showing Sweetpea the picture in the article. Sweetpea got a closer look and her eyes widened.

“Holy shit, that’s him but… Bigger? You might be right on this.” She said, taking the newspaper off him and getting a closer look. “He looks the exact same as the man in this picture.”

“That begs the question, who on earth would take up the appearance of—”

A buzzing sound in his pocket went off, cutting him off from his train of thought. He pulled out his phone and seen the message that popped up. His eyes widened and Sweetpea noticed that small detail.

“What’s up?” She asked, looking over her shoulder.

“I know who took Helly’s and Arctic’s daughter.”