Ep.2: This Place is Haunted
The Truth About Sadie Wilkins: Welcome to St. Marguerite's
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This Place is Haunted
A girl my age with black hair and golden brown eyes was sittin’ next to me when I woke up. She scared the livin’ daylights outta me, and when I tried to sit up, I couldn’t. I squirmed around and figured out my hands and feet were tied down.
My first thought was to start screamin’ but it didn’t seem like she was gonna hurt me. Anyway, I figured, maybe she could tell me what the heck was happenin’.
The room was bright white and sleek—memories started floodin’ in, along with a tremor workin’ its way through my body—I couldn’t quit shakin’.
The girl touched my arm, which settled me down for some reason.
“Who are you and what are you lookin’ at?” Hmm. I sounded like Tommy. Dang, I miss that little brat.
“My name is Lily. I’m the one who found you. You sounded like someone was killing you. Almost gave me a heart attack. I swear!”
I’m pretty sure they were tryin’ to kill me, but I didn’t say that out loud. I wanted out of the dang bed.
“I heard a rumor about you, and I wondered if we could talk about it.”
"I didn't kill my parents," slipped out before I had time to think about it.
"Oh, no! NO! I'm really sorry about your Mom. That's not what I'm asking. I never thought anything like that. No one does. Uhm. I’m talking about your, uhm. Psychic ability. Like. I heard you could talk to ghosts."
She raised one eyebrow and lowered her chin. It made me want to giggle, but I couldn’t. No one ever called my problem a psychic ability before. I felt embarrassed. My face was on fire.
"Sadie. I'm sorry. Is it okay? Can we talk about it?"
Lily just kept on pushin’ it.
“I know for a fact that Dr. Lee plans to make us roommates as soon as you get out of,” she waved her hand around at the room, “all this.”
"What do you wanna know?"
"Well, to be blunt. I want to know if you can contact the dead. Like. On purpose."
Daddy would have told me to stop starin’ at her like some kind of moron.
"Sadie?"
"I never thought about doin' it on purpose. Gettin' harrassed by dead people ain't exactly my idea of a good time."
"Well, this isn't really for fun. I think this place is haunted."
Right when I was about to find out what she was talkin’ about, Dr. Lee walked in.
“Lily. It’s time to set up for lunch. Go get ready while I visit with Sadie for a few minutes.”
Lily squeezed my arm. "See you soon, roomy."
I managed a smile. She felt like someone I could trust.
“It’s good to see you awake and calm." Dr. Lee paused while she let me loose.
"What happened, Sadie?”
I sat up, makin’ a big deal out of rubbin’ my wrists and ankles.
“I. I’m not sure, “ I lied. “One minute I was washin’ my hands and the next thing I know, I’m here.”
“You don’t remember screaming for help?”
“No mam.” That part was true. The last thing I remember is the night of the feast, but I’m not sure it really happened.
“Why did y’all tie me down?”
“We were afraid you were going to hurt yourself again, Sadie.”
“Again?”
“What can you tell me about the last night you saw your Father.”
“He wasn’t my Father, Dr. Lee. He was my Daddy. My Father is in heaven. That’s what Daddy always told me. I got beat hard once for callin’ him Father, and I never did it again.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you, Sadie. Do you know where your Mama and Daddy are now?”
“I know they’re dead, but I wouldn’t bet Daddy is in heaven.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Why are you askin’ me all these questions? Don’t you know the answer?”
“I want to know what you remember, Sadie.”
“I remember findin’ mama in a shallow grave with another woman and her children. I remember Tommy tellin’ me Daddy killed Mama.”
“I see,” said Dr. Lee.
There was somethin’ she wasn’t tellin’ me and it was makin’ me feel sick to my stomach.
“That is what happened, isn’t it, Dr. Lee?”
“Yes, Sadie. Your Daddy did kill your Mama and buried her in a grave that had been there for many, many years. We don’t know how he knew about it.”
I knew. But I wasn’t fixin’ to tell her. She would keep me locked up in here for the rest of my life.
“What about Daddy? He is dead, isn’t he?”
“No, Sadie. He is in prison.”
The world turned black. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t breathe. It felt like someone was suckin’ all the oxygen out of my lungs.
“His story doesn’t make sense. That’s why we need to know what you remember.”
I couldn’t talk. No matter how hard I tried, the words just wouldn’t form in my mouth.
“Don’t worry, Sadie. He can’t hurt you or your brothers. He won’t be getting out of jail anytime soon.”
She didn’t know my Daddy. He could do pretty much anything he wanted—especially if that demon was still inside of him. I thought me and Rhonda got rid of it, but now I wasn’t so sure. After that vision, I wasn’t sure about nothin’.
“I’m going to prescribe some medication that will help you stay calm so we can explore what you remember. You’re safe here, Sadie. Please trust me. I want to help you and your brothers.”
"Yes Mam. Can I go to lunch now?"
I wasn’t hungry but it was all I could think of to say to get out of there.
