Chapter 16

I slam the phone down forcefully. "Unbelievable!" I growl angrily. Upstairs as I change clothes, anger, grief and shock flow through my body as I try to process everything that has happened the past few hours. I explain to Freddie, and his parents what I found out from my call to the hospital. "I've got to get out of this house. I'm going for a walk" I tell everyone. Freddie offers to go with me but I just want to be alone. 

As I start my walk it seems my whole life comes flooding to my mind and it's all just too much. Walking in the moonlight of the evening I find myself at my favorite spot in the woods. I used to come here so often to read or just admire the beauty of the woods. The weather had been very peculiar lately with not a trace of snow or extreme cold until very late in December. I was just glad some of the flowers were still holding on. It almost seemed magical with the large willow tree nestle in the center of the woods, the lily pond, and the colorful wild flowers surrounding it.

So many sad things have happened but I've always been able to get through it. But losing Bonnie, how could I come to terms with that? Sitting next to the lily pond, I run my fingertips along the surface of the water, and wonder what to do now. I couldn't go back to the house right now, I just didn't want to think about anything. I didn't want to think about the fact that my daughter was gone. I just wanted to sit in the beauty of the evening, where it was quiet, and I could sort my thoughts. 

I hear a twig snap behind me, but in my overwhelmed state I assume it's just Freddie. "Freddie, I appreciate you coming to check on me but I just need to think" I say without bothering to turn around. The sound that follows makes every inch of my skin crawl. I turn to see the silhouette of Margo in the moonlight and hear her snickering as she starts to approach me. 

"MARGO! How dare you come here now!" I shout, jumping to my feet. "I didn't know you owned the woods. The last time I checked I can go where I please" she states flatly. "Why did you release my mother? You know she isn't right, and would try to take Bonnie" I say angrily. Margo and I stand facing each other, rage pulses through my veins but I use everything in my power to control my temper. "Always such a goody two-shoes. Playing the sweet innocent, perfect girl. You knew I've been crazy for Freddie since we were kids, but you stole him from me regardless! I remember it like it was yesterday, that day at school when you made a laughing stock of me right in front of him, spilling your tray on my best outfit. I hated you down to the core, and I swore to myself that I would get you back if it was the last thing I did" she snarls at me.

"B-but Margo, I never meant to-" I stammer. "SHUT UP!" she yells and slaps me across the face. I stand flabbergasted, holding my cheek. "Just shut up! I don't want to hear your lame excuses for destroying my chance at happiness. I figured I could win him back but he was already blinded by you. Haven't you wondered where I've been the past year? I've been away studying, perfecting my gift. A wonderful gift that will finally give me the opportunity for happiness" she continues.

"Your actions killed my baby daughter!! I wasn't trying to steal your happiness" I shout, but Margo waves her hand ignoring me. "I want you to suffer the same lonely, miserable life I've had. That is why I stole Betsie's identification, and gave it to your mother after I released her. She can't just run around freely now can she? I knew she would go after Bonnie. Now, I just take care of you, and swoop in to console a broken-hearted Freddie" she laughs creepily. Concerned for my safety I try to calm her down and reason with her "Margo you have a great life, adored by your friends and members of society. You have many gentlemen interested in making you a bride. Please let's talk this out!"

"Stupid girl! There will be no talking anything out! I told you I have a gift, a powerful gift. Some would call me a witch, but I don't see anything wrong with my powers. Now, to send you far away from here..." she laughs as she takes a few steps away from me. My eyes grow wide in fear, and I shout, "I don't believe you! There are no such things as witches! You'll never get away with this Margo. I will see you locked up until the end of your days." 

Anger fills me, this delusional girl has single-handily turned my life upside down and taken my precious daughter from me. I lung toward Margo with my fist clenched ready to strike, but then something strange happens. Margo ducks then shoves me back, pointing a wand at me. "Oh perfect Nora, it's time to reclaim my happiness and send you far away!" Margo yells. 

Terror washes over me and I take a step back. I put my hands up in a peaceful protest, and glance behind me. Trapped with Margo in front of me, and the lily pond surrounding behind me, I try to reason with Margo. She laughs in that horrible high pitched voice then mutters something I can't understand. "MARGO! Please, I don't know what you are doing but please don't!" I shout hysterically. She takes a few steps closer as a sparkling light emerges from the tip of the wand. 

"I'm sending you somewhere far away Nora! I tried to send you last night but you woke up and of course ruined my plans. But now, I am sending you someplace where you can't steal my life! You're a thief! You've always been a whiny homey girl! You don't deserve Freddie!" she shrieks. Shouting a spell in the air, she slowly twirls the wand around her head and forcefully directs its contents towards me. A prickling feeling sweeps over my entire body. Calling out, I scream as the prickling turns to a stabbing sensation. "No one can hear you! I have enchanted these woods with a sound barrier" Margo snickers.

I can hear thunder rumbling in the distance and Margo waves her arms frantically and hollers out enchanted words as the wind picks up. Swirling her wand around she shouts the incantation wildly. I want to run but the pain in my body is too great and I wail in pain. Suddenly a claw-like device emerges around me springing up from the ground. Four large prongs point upward towards the sky and I am unable to leave the object. A strange blue glowing light bursts from the center of the object. Placing my hands up against some sort of force field I frantically plea with Margo to release me. 

Just outside the device I can see her standing there with a smug look about her. An eerie blue light wraps around my body, pulling me towards the center of this crazy contraption. My heart is pounding fast as I call out for help, though I know it is pointless. A surge of electricity tears through my body and I scream with pain as I feel myself being sucked into the white-blue light. My skin feels freezing cold but my insides are burning up. I can no longer see beyond the bright light of the device. My eyes begin to sting from the intensity of the bright light, closing my eyes I feel the pain in my body ceasing. Now I feel light, as though I am a feather. Then, just as quickly as it all began, everything stops and I am in pure darkness. And fears engulfs me as something comes into focus outside of the strange device. A powerful scent of lavender fills my nostrils, and I look upon the room I saw in what I thought was a dream last night.