Chapter Eighty-Four

Delanie

“What’s wrong?” Ajax burst through the door.

I had Annika in my arms trying to calm her down. Ajax followed my gaze.

“Was that there when you put her down?” I asked.

“Of course not!”

A deep green vine stuck to the wall, extending its veins that sunk into the wood. It was covered in tiny leaves. It was massive and thick. It grew from the floor to the ceiling and took up the entire corner of the room. It even pushed the rocking chair forward.

Ajax led us out of the room.

“What the fuck is that?” Ajax spat.

“It’s not normal something like that doesn’t just grow,” I said.

Annika calmed down. She settled back to sleep in my arms. Ajax placed his hand on my back and pushed her hair out of her face.

“She’s fine. I’m going to get an axe.”

“What for?” I asked.

“To chop it down.”

“Wait! We don’t know what that is. It could be dangerous. What if it grabs you or something?”

“You think it’s alive?” Ajax smirked.

“I don’t know it’s just weird.”

“Don’t go in there. I’ll be right back.”

I nodded. Ajax walked out of the house. I settled with Annika in the living room. The thought of walking through the hall to our room made my skin crawl because I would have to look at that thing. It reminded me of the flowers Harvey found in Annika’s room the other day. Were the flowers a product of that thing?

It crept me out but I needed a better look at it. Something didn’t add about.

“Is everything okay?” Alexandra’s sleepy voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Yes… no… something weird is going on.”

Her eyes widened in alert. “What’s going on?”

“No, nothing to be worried about. There’s just a… plant growing in Annika’s room and Ajax has to get rid of it. Do you mind sitting with her while I check it out? She’s asleep.”

Alexandra’s shoulders relaxed and she smiled. “I’d love to sit with her.”

She sat on the couch and stared at the baby lovingly.

“She’s so precious. You were the last baby I held,” she said softly.

I smiled. She’s been locked up for years with only the memories of her trauma to keep her company. It broke my heart but I put the pain aside so I could check out the thing in Annika’s room. Ajax was still looking for an axe.

I stood in front of it and grimaced. It was as thick as an oak tree but as green as paint. It was covered in a thousand tiny veins. I was scared to put my hands on it but from where I stood I could feel its heat.

“Strange,” I said.

I took a tiny step forward. I swear it was humming. Plants don’t hum.

This wasn’t an ordinary plant that’s for sure.

“Delanie,” Ajax breathed out as he marched inside. “Get away from that.”

“This thing didn’t burst through the wall, Ajax,” I said.

“What?” He lifted the axe and stared at me.

“The wall is fine. It’s like someone stuck it on here.”

“Step back.” Ajax lifted the axe over his head and slammed it into the centre of the plant.

A high-pitched ringing sound pierced my ears. I clutched my head and winced.

The axe penetrated the plant again.

The sound got higher and I screamed.

“Stop!”

“What’s wrong, Delanie? Talk to me.”

“Don’t you hear it?”

“Hear what?”

He dropped the axe and lifted me off the ground. He carried me out the back door and set me down on the garden chair. Ajax ran his hand through my hair and kissed my forehead repeatedly.

“What did you hear?” He asked urgently.

I leaned into him and panted. I could still hear the ringing but it was faint now. I stared at Annika’s bedroom window. I couldn’t see the plant but I could hear it humming. Ajax pulled me closer and rubbed my back.

“I-I don’t know. Didn’t you hear anything?”

“No, babe, I didn’t hear anything.”

The sound stopped but I was still shaken.

“I’ll call Harvey. We’ll figure this out. If I could burn this damn house I would.”

I giggled. “We haven’t lived here a year yet you can’t do that.”

“I’ll burn it and buy another one. Nothing threatens my wife and daughter.”

***

I watched as Alexandra gave Annika her bottle. Annika had taken to her grandparents brilliantly. Alexandra was a natural with her. It put me at ease.

“So, Harvey’s coming over?” Alexandra looked up.

I nodded. “That thing hasn’t disappeared yet and the axe didn’t do much.”

“I-I’m not ready to meet him yet.”

My heart sank. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

“I thought he was dead. I have questions but I don’t know how to. Seeing him will just be strange.”

I offered her a small smile. “I’m sure he’ll understand. Take your time. None of you are going anywhere.”

She sighed. “Yes, since Maximus has been taken care of. We have nothing to worry about.”

The front door opened and Ajax walked in with two brown bags in his hands.

I got up to meet him.

“Ross gave Rebecca’s autopsy report.” He pulled out a folder from the brown bag and handed it to me. “She wasn’t pregnant.”

“Betty told me herself. Betty is a professional she wouldn’t make a mistake like that.”

“Shaina did everything herself and Rebecca was not pregnant. Harvey’s on his way. If we can’t get it out then we’re burning it.”

“You want to burn our daughter’s room?”

He smirked and kissed me. “It’ll be as good as new in no time.”

“Since Alexandra’s not ready to see Harvey yet I’ll take her out.” I’ll stop by to talk to Betty and get to the bottom of this.

He closed his lips on mine again. “Take your time. Everything’s going to be fine. Annika’s safe.”

I caressed his cheeks and kissed him back. “You’re always thinking about us. I know we’re safe.”

He wrapped me into his arms and sighed heavily. I couldn’t fathom what caused that thing but it made my skin crawl. I didn’t feel good about it.