Tales of the Parodyverse

Post By

Ruth T. Covert
Thu Feb 12, 2004 at 07:36:56 am EST
Subject
The Bath
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20 of January


Here I am…The proud new owner of Remembrance ..lying awake on my new bed in one of my new impressive bedrooms in the ground floor.

And feeling like a complete outsider

I haven’t checked the rest of house yet. I have an uneasy feeling. Like the house is watching me…

Well, I’m always thinking that my nosy neighbours are watching me too. Nothing new here. I guess I am not terribly valiant.

Yes, here I am. Alone, in Remembrance.

Enjoying the solitude.

Where is the TV?

**** ** ****


A couple of hours ago, I was on my way to County Wicklow, to the meeting with the lawyer. And of course, being this Ireland, it was pouring rain.

I love a good storm – if I’m inside a lovely room, with a good fire blazing in it, sipping a good red wine and hopefully (but not an essential requisite) between the arms of a gorgeous man-.

A different thing is to drive alone into the mountains when the elements are against you.

Any guide will tell you that County Wicklow is the land of majestic mountains and spectacular valleys. Especially stunning is Glendalough, the valley of the two lakes, still exuding a sense of peace and tranquillity. In the middle of it, there is a monastic settlement built in the 6th century. Close by, is the touristy village of Roundwood.

I have been told-with unnecessary dramatizing- that on the top of Child’s Peak, Remembrance stands defiantly lording the village.

Where is the house? For how long can a single road climb?

The lightning answers me. I can’t contain a big gasp when I see the house- the mansion- illuminated just some meters ahead.

I hit the brakes stronger than intended and before I can gasp some more at the magnificence of Remembrance, the main door opens.

Dr Covert, I presume

I don’t know why I bothered in dressing at all. Well, I know why, it is freezing cold. I mean dressing nicely. Beside this woman I look like a tramp. Lisa is stunning.

And she couldn’t look any more different than my mental picture of a lawyer..Where is the grey suit?

Really sorry to drag you from home in an appalling night like this. I got canapés and a great red wine in my way here.This place is so remote… join me in the library where a big fire is already warming the room.

But She knows the little pleasures of life.

I mentally gasp again at the priceless antiques in the Hall. The floor is marble, sober faces look at me from the family portraits, Victorians antiques crowding the rooms.

I head for the library on the right wing

She notices I seem to know my way.

Have you been here before?

No, I haven’t

Lisa dosen’t seem a woman that wastes her times. Without any more delay she checks my family card and reads the will.

Okay, I don’t understand legal terminology. Sue me. In any case she sums it up…

I expect everything is clear. Ms Drusilla has left you this house and its contents. The only requisite is that you must live here for at least one month. After that, you are free to sell or rent the property

Okay, I am not a heartless bitch, even if I would like to be one when I am older. I open my heart and confess to her that I am not Ms. Lemas’ niece, that it’s all a big mistake and the poor old woman perhaps having Alzheimer and getting names mixed up in her poor old mind.

I only had the pleasure to see your aunt once. But her friend Ms Darkness assured me she had one of the brightest minds of her time. Relax and enjoy. This house is incredible…

Yes, it is

I guess my family papers are enough for her to believe that I am the Ruth Thune Covert mentioned in the will. Crazily enough, my family failed to notice that we had a millionaire aunt somewhere…

On my own now, the library has a feeling of emptiness that I’m finding very upsetting. It makes me think of my mum.

She should be here with me. But she never is

Where did *That* soppy thought come from?. I know my parents are always there for me…mostly, anyway.

How many dusty books there must be? Thousands, millions? And not even one glossy paperback.

I shouldn’t be here. The library is prohibited territory

Again the strange voice in my head. Scared and urgent.

I have always wanted to go to a shrink. You know, feel free to talk for hours about myself…a dream come true. But Alex existence has made that superfluous…Till now.

Spooky.



**** ** ****


What time is it? For how long have I been laying on the bed?

I think I am too chilly and jittery to think of going to sleep in this chilly room. What I need is a steaming bath. And the huge old-fashioned bathtub is delightful. All metal, wooden and pottery.

Once inside the scorching soppy water, my aching back beings to relax. The wine that I keep sipping makes me feel all fuzzy and sleepy.

I close my eyes and enjoy.

The room smells subtly of talcum. It makes me think of baby’s baths times and little rubber ducks.

I should buy some little ducks.

With a start I sit up. Did I hear sound of footsteps?. I forgot to ask the lawyer about alarms.. Any psycho-villager could enter inside the house and…Oh, my…all naked here..what would he think?

Ruth, You are not a child anymore... There is a storm out there making a pandemonium. Plenty of noises.

The silence is intense in the bathroom, as though someone is holding his breath...

Splash

The bottle of shampoo has decided to fall inside the water at this moment. I am not proud of myself as I scream and try to get out of the bath, spilling water in the process.

Now I have to clean this mess.

Again I can feel the eerie stillness. I stare round nervously.

Who is there?

My hands are shaking uncontrollably

No matter what, I decide to relax again. In any case I am 25…Okay, 28. Old enough to behave like an adult.

Close your eyes and breath. Deep inspiration, deep expiration.

Whatever Yoga bullshit I am doing, it is not working.

Willpower keeps my body inside the water. And I am dying to open my eyes and scan the room.

I don’t have the chance.

My head is suddenly forced under water.

My lungs feel like burning. A knot of fear is tightening in my chest

And I put a fight

My strength is none existent against this more physically powerful being.

I can hear my fits hitting against the metal walls of the bathtub

Or are these my heart beats reverberating inside the water?

And I pray like I never did before.

And I am terrified of dying

And I am terrified of facing whoever- whatever?- is trying to drawn me

And I open my mouth.

are you coming to live with me?

And I die.










The Letter: http://www.mangacool.com/php/show.php?board=parodyverse&msg=20040116131003

The Call: http://www.mangacool.com/php/show.php?board=parodyverse&msg=20040121190759



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