I'm back and I have cooled down. My family has gone grocery shopping so I am alone. I shall continue as promised...

Emery was still perched on the bed, waiting for his lesson when Tabitha suddenly hugged him. He was used to her sudden hugs by now so he raised his arms to return the hug. He was feeling happier and happier. He was so happy that he could barely see or think straight. So happy that he didn't notice the small syringe clattering to the floor. Tabitha's surprise "lesson" was forgotten as was just about everything else. The last thing Emery remembered before falling asleep was a pair of hands, sliding up and down his body, touching places they probably shouldn't have.

When Emery woke up he knew something was wrong but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. He felt wronged but in what way he had not a clue. When he stepped out of his bed his body ached. Assuming it was because he slept wrong, Emery went to take a shower. When removing his day-clothes which he had slept in, he noticed strange marks on his body. There were bruises spotted randomly all over him. He must have fallen out of bed, he thought. He stepped into the shower and washed away what he believed was just fatigue.

Once his shower was finished, Emery dressed himself and headed downstairs. Tabitha was already down there, making breakfast for him.

She noticed his presence while she was turned toward the stove and called out,

"Good morning kiddo, just making some pancakes for you,"

Emery was surprised at how hungry he was and sat down to wait for his food. He finished his plate of pancakes in no time. He was happy again.

Tabitha watched the ten year old with a smile on her face. She watched as his head began to droop and his eyelids fluttering shut. Walking over, she picked him up and carried him to her room.

Last night had been wonderful. The feel of his warmth, the taste of his skin, they were all delightful. She lay the boy down on her bed and reached into the dresser drawer next to it. From it she pulled out a Polaroid camera. After taking her fill of pictures, she scanned them and chose her favorite, labeling it "the morning after". Tabitha gathered the rest of the photos and put them in a box she kept locked up in her closet. They were a nice addition to the other photos she had in there.

She walked back over to her bed and picked Emery up once again.

Now something was wrong with Tabitha. She was crazy. So crazy that she appeared normal. But in reality she was a twisted wicked girl. She held no remorse for anything she did.

She carried Emery to the top of the staircase and tossed him. He tumbled down the stairs, hard.

Emery woke up at the feeling of pain. He slowly pulled himself up from the ground, wincing. He looked around for Tabitha but could not see her so he called out for her,

"Tabitha! Where are you? I need help!"

Tabitha was still waiting upstairs and listened to his calls as if they were music. She finished writing the last sentence in her diary before responding,

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"I'm coming Emery!"she smirked at her acting skills before heading downstairs.

Cooing, she bent down and helped up Emery who was still in a state of confusion. He didn't remember anything besides getting out of bed and now waking up on the floor.

"Oh poor Emery! You have bruises all over you! Be more careful so you don't fall down the stairs next time," Tabitha said, clicking her tongue.

She took him over to the couch and sat him down and brought out the checkerboard they liked to play with.

Emery's face lit up at the sight of the board and he moved forward to set up the pieces. He forgot about his fall and bruises as he immersed himself in the game. Emery always won each game he played with Tabitha and his familiar wins relaxed him.

After playing a few games, Emery went to the study room to complete his Saturday homework that he had received from his tutor previously. He enjoyed his studies just as much as he enjoyed playing checkers.

When Monday came, Emery sat for his lessons with his tutor. He was dressed as he usually was, casually. That day he had opted for a short-sleeved pink polo and some denim shorts. His tutor was not particularly fond of the boy because she was not particularly fond of anyone but today she noticed something peculiar about him. The tutor, Mrs. Tigglework or Mrs. T as Emery called her, noticed the bruises lining his arms and legs and at first regarded them as the result of rough-housing. When she noticed the bruises on the boy's neck, her suspicion rose. She knew the boy had no friends so there was virtually no way the bruises could have come from simple play. Mrs. T knew the boy was not rough as other boys his age so bruises were out of the ordinary.

The door to the study room was closed but there was a large sound proof window in it. Tabitha was peering through the window as she always did and picked up on what Mrs. T was seeing. Tabitha knew that the middle-aged woman was smart, too smart. This made her nervous because if the pieces were to be put together, her doings would be uncovered. She couldn't be discovered. Not yet. Not before the plan was complete.

Tabitha pulled out her cellphone. It was a dull pink flip-phone with a thinning silver ring with a frayed hot pink rabbit's foot attached to it. Opening her phone, she scrolled through her contacts until she found who she was looking for,

"Hello? I need a teensy favor," she was whispering into her phone for the hours leading to the end of Emery's tutoring.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Tigglework decided to take the bait and ask about the bruises,

"So Emery I noticed that you're sporting quite a few bruises," she said bluntly.

Emery had almost forgotten about the bruises and glanced at his arms and legs before replying,

"It's nothing. I was just so tired that I ended up falling down the stairs the other day," he said dismissively.

Now Mrs. Tigglework was really suspicious because Emery was not clumsy. Her mind began to drift to the only person the boy made contact with besides herself; Tabitha. From the moment Mrs. T had met Tabitha until now, she had always been skeptical. The vibe Tabitha gave off was just generally off-putting. When Emery's class ended she ushered him out of the study room for a snack and went over to talk to the nanny.

"Tabitha dear, did Emery really fall down the stairs?"

Tabitha was visibly paler after the question was asked but she did her best to respond calmly.

"Oh yes he fell...he can be so clumsy at times," she said with a smile.

Mrs. T's face hardened around her seemingly everlasting frown and she nodded before turning and saying her goodbyes to Emery and heading out the door. The tutor noticed the paling in Tabitha's face. She knew something deep was going on but she was unsure of what exactly it could be. Once she had gotten outside, Mrs. T sent a text to her husband. The text read: Watch out for Emery. Tabitha is dangerous. Don't let the snake win.

Tabitha watched Mrs. T leave through the window. She wouldn't let anything come between her and Emery. He was hers and she would have him. Forever...

Please tell me that I haven't scared you off with my story. I would hate to put you off. My father has been bothering me about my sense of fashion. He says I should cut my hair because it reaches the middle of back now but I've found comfort in its length.

That aside, I am incredibly irritable at the moment so I will continue tomorrow, ta-ta for now sir.

Your waiting recipient,

Pudding