Chapter Thirty: Telephonic
The next day, Maria woke in a panic. Where was she? Where was Emmy? It was all a trick, she knew. Some sort of evil trick Bella had played. Maria flung herself out of bed and looked around the empty room.
"Emmy," she cried. "Emmy help!"
From the bathroom came the sound of splashing water, and soon Miss Emmy's drenched head poked out of the bathroom door. "What is it?" she asked.
Maria breathed a sigh of relief. "I...I was just worried. You weren't here, and I thought...I thought I'd dreamt it all, or..."
"Oh, Maria," said Emmy. "Hold on, I'll be out in a minute.
When Emmy emerged, dressed and ready for the day, the first thing she did was give Maria a big hug. "It's okay, dear. You've been through a lot. But you're looking so much better today, really," she said. And she meant it. There was a clarity to Maria's eyes that hadn't been present the day before, and the sores on Maria's lips were healing nicely, thanks to Emmy's powerful herbal remedies. "Why don't you go have a bath, dear, and I'll make us something to eat.
While Emmy prepared a pot of chili, Maria cleaned herself up. Dressing in the comfortable t-shirt and jeans Miss Emmy had provided, she began to feel more like herself...something she hadn't felt in a long time. She hummed quietly to herself as she fixed her hair. As the humming drifted out to the kitchen, Emmy smiled.
Maria was still humming when she emerged from the bathroom. She playfully scooped Jupiter up from the floor and buried her nose deep into the cat's soft fur. "How is it that cats smell so good," she said to Emmy, "when all they do is roll around all day in the dirt?"
"I don't know dear," said Emmy, laughing, "but I do know lunch is ready."
Maria was just about to sit down when her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Mariiiiiaaaaa..." came the voice on the other end.
"Who is this?"
"You know who it is, Maria, you little brat. You think I won't find you?"
Maria felt the rage bubble up inside her. "No, Bella, you won't find me. I'm gone from you forever. Your evil can't touch me here. Now leave me alone!"
"No, Maria," came the voice on the phone, "that's where you're wrong. That pathetic old woman can't protect you in her little shack. You escaped me once, Maria. You won't escape again."
"Shows what you know, I'm not even with the fortuneteller. I'm gone for good, Bella." Miss Emmy looked up sharply at these words.
"No, Maria, you musn't lie!"
But it was too late. An evil laugh bubbled through the phone receiver. "Ha! You stupid girl! You are evil, Maria, stop fighting it. I'll come for you soon. Don't underestimate me, Maria. You look so surprised, standing there in the shack. Oh, and tell Emmy to get herself some new clothes. She's had that striped sweater for decades."
A click and the line was dead.
"She saw me," said Maria. "She knew where I was."
Emmy sighed as she got up to wash her dishes. "Maria, you have so much to learn. Much of that is my fault, I know. I should have been here to teach you. But..." Emmy sighed again, long and deep, and continued. "But I wasn't. I am now, though, and your first lesson is never to lie, particularly where evil is involved."
"Now is not really the time for lessons, Miss Emmy," shrieked Maria. "She knows where I am...She's coming for me!"
"Maria, calm down. Lessons are all we have now. You must learn these things, to protect yourself."
"How can I calm down! I finally know the truth. I don't want to be evil, Emmy, I don't want her to find me..."
Maria sobbed huge heaving gasps of air that left her shaking and breathless. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she fell to the floor. "I don't...I can't..." Maria choked on her words as Emmy looked on in agony. Emmy knew this was Maria's battle. She waited, and watched, until Maria's tears had dried.
As Miss Emmy helped Maria up off the floor she stroked the young woman's hair. "You are stronger than you think, Maria."
"I don't feel strong."
"That's because life and Bella's evil have drained you. But you can get it back, I promise."
"You had to come to this point, dear," continued Emmy. "You had to go through this. Now the real healing can begin."
~*~
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