Someone Else’s Life(69)
Quiet weeping filled the Ohana, and Annie didn’t know if it was her or Serena.
“Danny left me after that. He said I killed our son and he couldn’t live with me anymore. Even though everyone said it was SIDS and I was never charged. He didn’t understand how much I loved our son. I was so in love with him, and I was a great mother. Most of the time. But when that other me appears . . . I can’t control it. I can’t control her.”
Annie knew with a certainty down to her very marrow that this woman was dangerous. She was like two different people, and right now a monster was here in the Ohana before Annie. She couldn’t let this terrifying creature get to her son. She had to protect him.
In the dark, lit only by her cell phone, she gauged the distance from where she stood to the front door. She grabbed Marley by the collar and, with one big exhale, ran as if her life depended on it. Fumbling with the doorknob, she yanked it open, instantly confronted by the dreadful storm and the flooding, which was now at least a few inches deep in the backyard.
“Stay with me,” she yelled to the dog. And with that, she plunged out into the torrential downpour, her progress slowed as she sloshed ankle-deep in the murky water. It should have taken mere seconds to run across the yard to her father’s lanai but seemed to take forever. Marley splashed at her side as rain stung her face and water ran into her eyes, making it almost impossible to see. But she knew the way and trudged on through the water, until she was on her father’s covered lanai, shielded a little from the rain. She sprinted up the few steps to the door and, finding it locked, pounded at it, even as she saw Serena coming out of the Ohana toward her.
“Open the door,” Annie screamed.
The door burst open a moment later, her father standing there.
“Let me in.” Annie was about to step through the door when Serena came up the steps behind her. Annie had time to wonder how she had crossed the lawn so fast before Serena rammed into her with an elbow to Annie’s side. Annie stumbled backward, falling down the steps. She lay crumpled at the bottom, wheezing. Marley nudged her with his nose.
“Finn! Where are you?” Serena yelled. Annie watched her reach out and slap her father’s arm aside when he tried to stop her from entering. She shoved him and he went down hard.
Annie scrambled to sit up. Her heart dropped when she saw Finn coming into the kitchen.
“No, Finn. Go, run!” She pushed to her feet just as Serena ran in and hugged Finn to her.
“My son. Mommy’s here.” Serena clasped Finn to her wet body.
Annie crawled up the stairs toward Finn, never taking her eyes off him. Her father was on the floor, groaning as he held his arm. “Sam!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs. “Help us!”
Finn was frozen in Serena’s embrace as she held him by his arms, her eyes devouring him. Finn’s eyes found Annie’s. In the flicker from all the candles her father had placed around his kitchen, Annie could clearly see the fear in her son’s eyes.
Serena’s face was streaked with blood, her hair plastered to her face by the storm. Neither moved, as if locked in a universe all their own. Then Finn opened his mouth and began screaming at the top of his lungs. Annie heard Sam shout her name as she and Cam came thundering down the inside stairs toward them.
43
Finn fought to get out of Serena’s grasp. He lashed out like an animal possessed and screamed, one endless, long sound that reached into the depths of Annie’s heart and ripped it to shreds.
“Get your hands off my son!” she yelled. Anger swept through her body, propelling her off the ground. Within seconds, she was on top of Serena. Serena swung out an arm, connecting with Annie’s cheek with a loud thwack. Annie reeled back, clutching her face.
“Don’t be afraid, Finn, I’m here. It’s me, your mommy.” Serena was trying to console Finn, but he was fighting with all his might.
Sam finally reached the door to help Annie, yelling to Cam, “Stay back.”
But Serena was like a woman possessed. She backhanded Sam across the face, sending her stumbling to the ground next to their father. Annie sprang forward to rip Serena’s hands off Finn as Marley clamped his teeth around one of the woman’s ankles. Serena never flinched.
“Stop screaming. It’s me, Mommy.” Serena shook Finn with each word.
Annie grabbed at Serena, pulling her hair, her arms, punching whatever she could reach and kicking whatever she could get. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sam coming at them. Marley, teeth still clamped on Serena’s ankle, shook his head as if killing his prey.
Sam grabbed Finn and pulled, while Annie dug a finger into one of Serena’s eyes from behind. Serena screamed and let go of Finn. Sam clasped him to her, and the momentum threw them backward in a heap to the ground.
“Get her out. Get her out!” Finn screamed. He was freaking out, big-time. “Get her away!” Sam gathered him in her arms, rocking him.
“Don’t let her get him,” Annie shouted to Sam, as Serena lunged for Finn.
Annie grabbed Serena’s hair and pulled. Serena’s head snapped back, and Annie felt a moment of satisfaction. She wanted to inflict pain on the woman who had stalked them through the years, who had made Annie feel like she was losing her mind and doing things she didn’t remember. Who was now trying to steal her son. Baring her teeth, she lashed out.