Dark Keys of Uncomplacency

Chapter 22: What Doesn't Kill You

Everything was in place. Right under Ruth's nose. Right under the nose of the being that controlled Ruth. After everything that had transpired she was still just a bystander. Someone caught in the crosshairs of a centuries-old feeding frenzy that would finally end—if they were successful.

Connor and Julian struggled up to the front door with a covered frame, another artifact dug up from Connor's basement. A frame Julian claimed he could've easily sold on eBay, after doing some research on it. Though, he doubted anyone would buy it, knowing what ghastly piano it was leaning up against. Allison walked behind them to ensure that the frame stayed neatly covered. She then worked her way around them to ring the doorbell.

The decrepit hanging gardening swayed in the faint breeze as they waited for Ruth to open the door. Connor lowered his forehead to the frame and prayed this would work. The door opened like a hatch to a cryo-chamber letting out plumes of overapplied perfume and powder, scents Allison didn't even flinch at at this point. Mrs. Marley's face went from unwelcoming to responsive in an instant. "Well, what a wonderful surprise! I can't remember the last time I had visitors. You kids must be bored to come over to see little ol' me. Summer may seem long and drawn out now, but lemme tell you, when you're my age the time seems to just leap off your wrist. Come in, come in, you'll let all the cool air out".

"But Mrs. Marley, we're actually not staying, we just came by to—"

"What's under the tarp?", the old lady asked.

"That's what we came by to give you. It's a portrait of a noblewoman, or something. My mom was getting rid of some stuff that didn't quite fit in our house now, when we stumbled upon it. She said it may be from the Victorian era and I told her how much you enjoyed collecting stuff from that time period and that you'd be able to identify it. So as a kind gesture, and also to apologize—yet again—for almost running you over, she wanted me to bring it to you".

Ruth hesitated for a moment too long, which made the boys' arms tremble under the weight of the frame. She looked from Allison to the frame and back to Allison. A few macaroni sculptures from the kids here, a taxidermy falcon from the late Mr. Marley there, but this was something she did not need. Something that would undoubtedly end up at next week's flea market. She chuckled and replied, "bring it on in , we'll have a look at it".

Allison followed her into the house and when the coast was clear, Julian let out a sigh of relief.

"Wait a minute, young man, I think I deserve an apology from you".

The two of them looked at each other, with their eyes going over all the mischief that may have encircled Mrs. Marley in the last few days and months.

"Not you, Faulkner. You, Julian, for your rude outburst at dinner the other night. I hope your parents gave you a proper beating, my sons wouldn't dare speak out like that without expecting a slap across the face. So let's hear it, my 'possessed' ears are waiting".

Julian gulped down the saliva that had accumulated in his throat as he felt the edge of the frame scraping against his sternum. "I-I'm sorry Mrs. Marley. I didn't mean what I said the other night. It w-was childish and uncalled for". He put his head down as part of his penance. Uncalled for but true, he thought to himself.

"Where would you like us to put it, mam?", Connor said as politely as possible.

Ruth gave him a dirty look and said, "right over there by the table with the falcon sitting on it". Then she turned towards Allison and asked with a pleasant smile, "how come your mother didn't come over too?".

"She was...". Allison took her surroundings in bit by bit, lost in the smell of old perfume and what smelled like maple syrup coming from the kitchen down the hall. She glanced over at the living room and then through the half-open bathroom door. Nothing, not one mirror—at first glance, anyway. "She was going to, but she had to go pick up a lock box for his video games".