HELP ME

IT'S A PATTERN

It was dark and raining heavily outside the house. Magnificent lightning flashed across the dark sky. The thunder was so great that the ground shook. It was like an earthquake destroying an island. The air blew calmly as it shook the trees back and fourth. Tiny droplets spattered on the living room window.

Charlotte and George were in the living room. Mrs. Robinson was in her bedroom. Kimberley was also in her room. Charlotte looked at the clock on the wall, it was about to struck nine o'clock. She got worried about Kimberley because of what happened earlier. She feared that Kimberley would sleep with her worries in her mind. Earlier she promised herself that she would apologize to Kimberley when she had a chance. It seemed as if a chance presented itself.

George looked Charlotte. He knew that she was thinking about Kimberley. She kept looking at the clock and at the stairs. She hopped that, perhaps Kimberley would come down. Kimberley did not have her supper. This made Charlotte more uncomfortable.

He asked Charlotte, “Should I go check on her?”

Charlotte wanting to go to Kimberley herself, she replied, “No. I will go.” She walked to the kitchen and put food on a plate and carried it up to Kimberley.

Charlotte thought that the door was still locked. She quietly turned the door handle, to her surprise, the door was not locked. She entered the room slowly and scanned the room with her eyes; looking for Kimberley.

Kimberley was sitting in front of the window and staring outside, watching the droplets that spattered on the window. The droplets produced a patterning rhythm. She loved the rhythm of the droplets that she was moving her body back and forth, slowly, while sited comfortably on the rocking chair.

When she heard footsteps behind her; She knew that it was Charlotte walking in her slowish way. She had her own way of walking if she was sneaking up on someone . She would take one step in front of her, wait, and take another step, wait and so on.

Kimberley said aloud without looking at Charlotte, “Raymond once told me, ‘You don't have to be scared of the rain, lighting or thunder. Because once they go away; out comes a beautiful day. Flowers will bloom, trees will appreciate, the rivers will be full, animals will have water to drink.’ He was right. That day when I walked outside with him; I was amazed by the rainbow I saw in the blue sky and animals were drinking water. From that day, whenever it is raining outside; I sit and watch the rain. I'm no longer scared of the rain, Charlotte. All because of Raymond.” Her voice was sweet and calm.

Charlotte stopped walking when heard her speak, she had a smile on her face. She commented, “I remember you used to hide under the blankets until the rains pass.” She chuckled.

She walked closer to Kimberley and apologised, “I'm truly sorry for what transpired earlier today,” she continued. “Mrs. Robinson is only going through a tough time right now. Let us only understand her and do what she says.”

Kimberley turned to Charlotte, “She told me that I wouldn't understand. And you are telling me to understand.”

Charlotte pulled out a chair from her bedside and sat next to Kimberley.

She handed Kimberley the food, “Here is some food. You haven't eaten your supper.” Kimberley got the food. It was noodles with beef and her favourite spices.

“She has a big responsibility. She looks after us. Right now she's weak. She probably needs time to heal,” Charlotte paused. She looked around the room as if she was looking for something.

She moved closer to Kimberley and questioned, “Are you aware that Raymond is not the only person to pass away in this house?” Kimberley stopped eating when she heard what Charlotte said. She was confused. She put aside the plate of food onto a table.

“What are you talking about?” Kimberley curiously asked. She was now paying much attention, wanting to know more. Her eyes popped out in eagerness. She looked straight in Charlotte's blue eyes.

“Before you were brought here; we were the three of us, me, George and Martin,” Charlotte began.

“Who's Martin?” Kimberley interrupted.

“Martin,” Charlotte continued her story, “was the second to be brought to this house. He was just like you. Once you got to know him, you would quickly like him. He loved adventures. He loved reading plenty of books, we decided to call him, book worm.

“One day, he went missing, just like the way Raymond went missing. It was a difficult time. No one ate and no one slept. Mrs. Robinson called the officers and detectives so that they could help us find him. The officers and the detectives looked for him for two days. The officers and detectives did not rest either. Night and day, they searched for him.

“On the third day, he was found lifeless near a lake. They had found five large scars on his stomach. The kind of scars that an animal can make. Not just any animal.”

“A beast perhaps?” Kimberley suggested

“Yes. Perhaps a beast,” she agreed.

“His face was disfigured. Nothing much was left of him and so he was taken to the mortuary. Few days later, he was buried.”

Charlotte paused for a while and continued, “Before Martin passed away, just like Raymond, he was calling me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do anything. I only heard loud growls that were very terrifying. I woke up from my dream. Later that morning, just like today, I received the news about his...death.”

“What!” Kimberley was shocked. She inquired, “So you had visions?”

“I don't know what to call them,” responded Charlotte, “So you see. I actually think it will be best that we do as she says.”

A knock was heard at their bedroom door.

“Come in," Charlotte answered.

George walked in with two mug cups in his hands and asked, “Do any of you ladies want a cup of coffee?”

“Yes. I do. After that story, I don't think I'll be able to sleep,” replied Kimberley.

George walked over to Kimberley and handed her the coffee. He turned to Charlotte and asked , “What about you, madam?”

“Where is Mrs. Robinson?” Charlotte asked while getting the cup of coffee from him.

“She is sleeping. She told me earlier that she was tired,” responded George. He also pulled out a chair and sat.

They all had a cup of coffee in their hand, sipping from it and telling each other jokes. They were having a great time that they forgot that it was raining outside. George made them laugh with his crazy jokes.

It was getting late. The rain had stopped pouring and the wind calmed down. It was a cool a night.

Charlotte was still up while Kimberley slept on her shoulder. George had gone to his room. He began packing, ready for their trip. They still didn't know where they were going or who they will meet.

Charlotte stood up slowly, supporting Kimberley’s head, she then placed a pillow on the arm of the chair and made Kimberley sleep on it.

She removed two suit cases from the walk-in-closet. One was hers and the other one was for Kimberley. She got the clothes and folded them before packing them in the suitcases.

After she finished packing the clothes, she changed into her night dress and walked downstairs to the kitchen to get a glass of water and to clean the plate Kimberley was earing from. As she was walking back to her bedroom, she heard Mrs. Robinson crying quietly in her bedroom.

Charlotte was puzzled, “Isn't she suppose to be sleeping?” she thought to herself.

She walked closer and opened the door quietly. She asked, “Are you alright?”

“What are you doing here?” she asked Charlotte while wiping her tears.

“I heard you crying.”

“Have you finished packing?” Mrs. Robinson inquired.

“If we go. Who will look after you?” Charlotte insisted.

“I should have sent you to my friend from the beginning. There, you would have been safe. This is a dangerous place now. You have seen how your friends have gone to the other side of the world. I wish that none of you go there.”

Mrs. Robinson stood up and walked to her closet. Charlotte watched Mrs. Robinson walk like a tired woman forcing herself to get something important. From a peculiar drawer, Mrs. Robinson pulled out a wooden box. The box was 5 cm high and 7 cm long. It was made of pure wood. It had a bright white colour in it's four corners. On the middle of the box was a small silver lock.

Mrs. Robinson walked with it in her hands to a sofa, holding it like a tray. She motioned for Charlotte to walk closer. She hesitated for a while and then moved willingly across the room to were Mrs. Robinson was sitting while holding the wooden box.

Charlotte sat down next to her and asked curiously, “What is that?”

Mrs. Robinson smiled and replied, “Your freedom. My freedom. Our freedom. Everyone’s freedom.”

“I beg your pardon,” insisted Mrs. Charlotte.

“Do you like stories?” Mrs. Robinson strangely asked Charlotte.

“Yes I do,” she replied quickly.

“Once upon a time,” Mrs. Robinson began, looking in Charlotte’s sparkling blue eyes, “There were two friends. Those friends were very strong together. No one could separate them. But fate had something installed for them.

“One day, the other friend took something valuable from the other friend which made them separate. But, that friend that was hurt said to the other, ‘I will take away everything valuable from you until you become dust.'

“It happened that the hurt friend took everything valuable from the other friend, one after the other.

“I know you won't understand now but, you will be able to understand when the time is right.”

Mrs. Robinson continued slowly, “I'm giving this wooden box to you because of your character. Only open it when you need it the most.” Mrs. Robinson smiled slowly.

“And the key?” Charlotte asked curiously.

“You have the key,” Mrs. Robinson said gladly.

Charlotte was confused. She had no key that could open anything. She quickly got the box and walked out.