Part I
+1+
So I wrote this part for me. If I could take out some of the other moving pieces in the story I would have foreshadowed this scene more.
It was just past midnight.
Joy had spent the rest of the evening trying to comfort Rosalie. I couldn't bring myself to move from the chair in the parlor, staring at that empty music box. It was so pretty and so . . . useless.
My heart jumped as I heard footseps behind me.
“Clara ?”, Joy asked sweetly from behind me.
“Yes”, I whispered not really wanting to make conversation.
“I just want you to know Rosalie is asleep”, she let out a breath, “I guess she just cried herself to sleep.”
Now that unnerved me. Rosalie never cried. At least not for me. Never. Not even as a baby.
Clara : Uh, she is such a Daddy’s girl
I walked past Joy and upstairs to Rosalie’s room. Her room was almost a replica of the light blue and gold room she had in England. It was a little smaller which just meant all of her stuff was piled closer together. Her night light displayed stars across the room.
Remember that scene in LL where Clara and Mr. F are lying in the grass looking at the stars ?
She was sleeping and despite things it was nice being just the two of us again. Well, almost the two of us
“Rosalie, we need to talk about--”
“About Papa?”
“Um, yes. You see Rosalie I’m sure you understand crime and punishment.”, I knelt beside her bed.
“Yes”
“Well Mr. Fierro he well. . . he might not be back for a while.”
“Because of Grandpa ?”
“Yes, because of what happened to grandpa”, This was the last thing I wanted to talk to her or anyone about.
Cluctching her elephant to her chest and sat up in her bed.
“No, Mommy. Papa, didn’t do anything to Grandpa. He didn’t. I know, I really do.”
“I know Rose, but that doesn’t matter. You’re just a child and . . .”
I lost my train of thought as I noticed Rose’s large unblinking eyes. The pale iris, when I thought about it, was the color of cream mixed with a tiny drop of blood.
“You lied Mommy”
“I didn’t lie I. . .I’m just protecting you--us. It can be just you and me again. We can go anywhere. Won’t that be fun ?Isn’t that what you want ?”, I mustered all my strength to smile.
“Mommy, why do you keep lying ?”
Clara : Why doesn’t she like me ????
LiLe : Well at this point Rose’s only perception of Clara has been through Clara living with her parents. In Rose’s mind Clara is more like her older sister than her mother. Also you got her father arrested. . . just saying.
“I’m not”, I said warping my arms around myself and standing
“You never protected me. You never wanted me. Not like Papa.”, she said
Oh, right so something else. In DSI Clara is BLIND to what Martin does to Rose but when Mr. F finds out well. . . he goes to makes some poison. So that’s also why she doesn’t like Clara.
“Rose”, It came out an angry whisper, “Don’t say things like that. And stop . ..”
Clara : Calling him Papa, I don’t like sharing you. I mean you just met him 6 months ago. I’ve always been there. Was what she was going to say.
Clara probably should have started crying by now.
I tightened my grip on her, both my hands on her shoulder. For a second I just wanted to shake her. To make her stop saying things like that. She was supposed to love and protect me not him.
She squirmed away from me and ran into Joy’s room, the door locked behind her.
I stood and peered down the stairs, pulling at my hair till a few strands came out. I closed my eyes and opened them when I heard footsteps behind me.
“Miss ?”, I turned to see Joy behind me.
“Is she okay?”, I asked turning on the step, “I don’t know what’s come over me lately. Things have been difficult”
“I’ve never seen her so upset”
“Really?”, I said thinking of all the tantrums and torture Rosalie had put me through since her birth
“I’ve never really seen her upset until. . .”, Joy started but didn’t finish.
“Unitl what ?”, I said walking back up the stairs to her.
“Until you came around.” she finished
“Really ?”, I said. My tone like venom. What did this woman know about me anyway ?
“I’m just saying we were happy together. All of us. We were a family.”
I held in a laugh and turned away from her.
“Oh, God please stop”, I said laughing at her, well the vodka was laughing at her, “Honestly what is it with you nannies and the men you work for ? What you live in their house care for thier kids and you think that means he loves you. How stupid can you be.”
Good one Clara.
Clara is super angsty at this point
“You’re wrong”, she called
“Like hell I am”, I turned away from her, “You know. I don’t really need or want you here. I think it’s time you left.”
I started to make my way down the stairs and Joy quickly left. I turned wandering where she had gone. Once I reached the second step I heard her behind me again.
She was breathing hard, at first I thought she was going to say something, but the only sound I heard was my own scream as everything went black
So Joy bitch slaps Clara with the silver “C” that was hanging on her bedroom door. This was sort of building up because Joy is jealous of Clara.
+++
Oooh, third person. It’s what I have to do when one of my characters is knocked out and the other is in jail.
The small farmhouse in Monroe Country was quiet that night. Except for the sound of Joy Westmore’s ragged breath and silent tears. Her hands dropped to her knees and she realized she was hyperventilating.
Joy Westmore had watched horrified as the woman had fallen almost gracefully down the flight of wooden stairs. Clara DeLune landed on her back, her legs awkwardly bent on the last step, her hair splayed out on the rich dark wood. Joy dropped the silver “C” in her hands, its shiny silver surface now covered in a thick layer of blood.
She
hit her with it, I need to be more blunt about these things. See what I did there. Blunt ? She hit her with a blunt object.
Joy brought her hands to her mouth and watched in disgust as the blood pulled from Clara DeLune’s head, seeping into the floor. Clara’s heavily rimmed eyes leaked black makeup down her scarred face.
“Mommy ?”, a voiced called out from behind
Go Call Saul !
Joy turned to see Rosalie step out of her bedroom with Melody safe and secure in her arms .
Before Joy could protest, Rosalie made her way down the stairs taking them one at a time to her mother’s limp figure. The little girl kneeled down and pressed her small hand to her Mother’s neck.
“Come here “, Joy tried to call to her, “You shouldn’t see this”
“She’s so cold”, Rosalie said. Her hand on her mother’s low thrumming pulse.
Rose knows her mother can’t die and is lying to get rid of Joy. Rose is going to get back at Clara for arresting Mr. F. Fun times.
“Maybe if I--”, Joy began
“No”, Rosalie cried. Stopping Joy from getting any closer,“She’s dead. . . You killed her.”
“Oh, God. I'll call the hospital I’ll tell them it was an accident--”
“No”, the girl’s voice was urgent, “ You have to leave. . . go back home. . . before someone finds out. . . or. . . or they’ll take you away too. I don’t want to lose you too.”
“I can’t just leave you”, Joy was still as far from the body as she could get.
“I can call my Aunts. . . I don’t want the police to take you too.”
Joy’s heart fell. This little girl could very easily be losing everyone in one day, one night
Her dad’s going to jail, Joy thinks Clara is dead . . . so Joy doesn’t want to be taken away too. Man, I should have put Mr. F in jail for the lolz.
Joy’s looked from the girl to the body and realized that the child seemed to be the smartest one at the moment. Trying to stay calm Joy stepped over the body and rummaged through the kitchen drawers intill she found an easy to open liquor bottle.
At the stairs Rosalie was still in the same position, the blood was touching the edge of her nightgown.
Joy opened the bottle of liquor and poured the alcohol into and over the woman's lips. When it was empty she placed the bottle in Clara’s limp hand. Tears streamed down Joy’s face the entire time, but apart of her was glad she was dead.
Or in layman’s terms : Dat Bitch
“I’ll be back.”, Joy said in a comforting tone, “When I leave call the police and tell them she was drinking and fell down the stairs. I’ll be in London have them call me and I’ll come back for you.”
LiLe :See Clara this is what you get for being a lush
Clara : I can’t die
LiLe : Just sayingAlso Joy never hears from the Fierro or Clara again and goes about living her life like nothing happened, living in fear.
The nanny wrapped herself up in a winter coat and scarf. She threw her suitcases into one of the cars in the garage. She gave one last glance at the girl she had been charged with caring for.
“Wait”, the girl had pulled herself from the gruesome scene and followed joy to the car,”You’ve been so nice. Like a real friend. You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met.”
She means this
Rosalie watched from the door as the car disappeared down the road, she was certain she wouldn’t see Joy again.
Rosalie with Melody in tow made her way over to her mother. She set Melody in a clean spot on the floor then began stroking her mother’s long s black hair.
Ew.
With careful fingers she unclasped her mother’s charm necklace. It only had one charm but Rosalie always thought it was pretty.
It’s
a music note necklace I think she randomly has this in HOF or something. She also has it in the
epilogue ! Wrong, LiLe Mr. Fierro gives it to her before the wedding. CONTINUTIY HIGH FIVE
“You lied Mommy”, she whispered, “Now you have to be punished”
AHHHH !
+2+
Some hours past midnight the usually silent house in Monroe Country was once again disturbed. First by a police car dropping the house's owner and then by a pair of headlight in the distance.
The headlights belonged to a small red car that settled in the middle of the driveway, the car was loud and scratched but the car had been on quite a journey.
Emile’s got a sporty little red car from the 80’s.
The owner of the red
car, Emile, was a friend and confidant of the man who lived in the house. None
of this was the reason for his visit tonight.Hastily Emile approached
the front door ringing the bell.
Emile smiled and settled on his heels as little Rosalie Fierro opened the door.
“Rose”, he said surprised, “What are you doing up this late?”
“I’m not tired”, she said
She attempted to stand in front Emile made his way into the house. Although Emile had never visited this particular house it still felt very familiar to him.
Emile : This fool has another house ? All in a day
“Where is your--”
“He is sleeping”, she finished. . . She was now stayed planted in the hallway. Not letting Emile easily pass.
“I need to speak to him, please”, he added, “Maybe if you wake him I’ll give you a little treat”
This didn’t seem to deter her, but she liked Emile and she wanted to make him happy. She took his large hand into hers and led him through the back hall and into the kitchen.
“Wait here”, she said
He sat at the table, recoiling at the large knife and the mutilated pie on the table.
“Dear, God”, he said involuntary. Pushing the mess away.
Emile, this is like your last part. I wish I could have written you in more.
He waited a few moments and then a few moments to longer. After several more moments he walked out of the cramped kitchen coming eye to eye with Fierro in the hall. For the first time he noticed the blearniess to the man’s pale eyes and the wrinkles in his black clothes.
He realized he had never seen him tired before.
Emile : He sure does look good tired. Hmmm, maybe I can turn him, lord knows he hasn’t had the best luck with women.
“Emile”, he greeted him, “It is quite late”
“Yes, and how has your night been ?”
“Not well”, he said absently, “Apparently someone has been in my bed.”
“What ?”
This is referring to Clara falling asleep in his bed in the earlier chapter. Mr. F is so tired he doesn’t realize that came out wrong.
“Again. What brings you here Emile”
“I had to come down the moment I found out you were accused of running over that poor detective. You should have called me. You know I was with you when it happened. Imagine my surprise when I went down to the station to clear your name and was told you had already been released. Now look Clara has just lost her father, I think you have done enough to her already”
You know like being mean to her when you first met her, almost throwing her in a fireplace, buying the piano she wanted, causing her to get possessed by her grandmother, getting her pregnant, lying to her about dying for four years, fake marrying her, leaving her at the altar, making the poison that killed her father.
Okay, I need to write another serial just so I can put Clara anyone else.
“It is all almost over for Ms. DeLune”, He replied his eyes darting around.
He realizes that something is off . . .Emile squinted at him, trying to detect if he meant any harm by his statement. He then focused past the man; to the foyer, the steps and to the floor where the light from upstairs highlighted something unusal.
“What in God’s name”
Emile reached for all the lamps in the hall, each of them was missing a light bulb. The only light that worked was the dim overhead lights.
Rose had enough foresight to remove the light bulbs so no one would notice all the blood from the wound Joy inflicted on Clara.
Fierro followed Emile’s gaze, his eyes for the first time noticing the dark red stain embedding itself into the wood. In the dark he had simply missed it.
“Fierro, where is Clara ?”, Emile asked and edge to his usual jovial voice.
Fierro couldn’t tear his gaze away from the stain and glanced up the stairs.
“She left”, he said simply, “She became frustrated and left.”
He’s covering for Rosalie.
“Is that blood ?”, Emile stepped a little bit closer catching a scent of cooking sherry.
This is the alcohol that Joy poured on Clara.
“Of course not”, he admonished him, “Ms. DeLune must have dropped a bottle of her wine”
“I don’t think--”
"Don't defend her Emile. Between her and the child I have lost 3 vases."
Fierro turned back to the man leading him toward the front door, an unsteady arm on Emile’s back.
“Emile, it is late you should leave. I am certain Ms.DeLune will turn up sooner than later. I want to find her as much as you do.”
“Fierro”, Emile stopped him, his hand on his arm, ”Whenever I have a conversation with you. I feel as if you know more than you are letting on.”
“Good-night, Emile”, he said simply, "For once I know as much as you"
“Also,
I can’t quit you”
No.
“Good-night. Oh I almost forgot--”, Emile reached into his coat pocket and produced a round spherical mint and pressed it into hands., “This is for Rosalie”
Okay you guys this is a hint at a scene I really wanted to write but it was WAAAY to visual and would have only worked in third person, if that.
It involved Emile, Rosalie and Mr. F at like a café or restaurant. It’s really late and they are maybe talking about Clara being guilty. Rosalie is sitting there very stoically and listening. So, Emile decides to have fun with her. Emile pulls a spherical mint (it must be spherical) out of his pocket and hands in to her but when she reaches to take it, he closes his hand and it disappears.
Mr. F notices this but doesn’t really care and he keeps talking to Emile like nothing is going on.
Then Emile reaches behind Rosalie’s ear and the mint is in his hand again. She smiles and starts to giggle. Mr. F is still ignoring this and talking to Emile.
Then he puts the mint on the table and turns her empty teacup over it (cause Rose is a classy 4 year old) he lifts up the cup and the mint is gone. He puts the cup back down does a hand motion and lifts the lid up but the mint is still gone.
Emile is really confused and Rosalie is frowning.
Mr. F asks him if he is listening (even though he knows he isn’t). Emile says he is listening.
So they continue to talk and just as they are about to leave Mr. F turns his hand and he is holding the mint and he gives it to Rosalie. Emile look dumbfounded.
I mean how do you write that ?
Inside the house Fierro watched as Emile slipped back into his car and his headlights disappeared into the darkness.
Kneeling beside the red stain he pressed his pale palm against the wood, leaving a thin layer of blood on his hand.
He looked up to see Rosalie standing above him on the steps. The music-note necklace catching in the over head light
He
recognizes the necklace. I feel like at some point her centers the necklace
while Clara is wearing it or something. He gives it to her. This is your serial you should know these things.
“Where is she Rosalie ?”, he asked calmly, as she walked towards him “What did you do to her ?”
“You’ll be mad at me.”
“I wouldn’t not think of it. Tell me”
Rosalie hesitated but the child in her wanted to tell someone, she didn't like keeping secrets.
“I wanted to teach Mommy a lesson so I did.”
I’ll ignore the fact that Mr. F didn’t notice that A. The nanny was missing and B. The giant blood stain on the floor
LiLe : A. He doesn’t notice when she is there and B. He came up the backstairs. Also he’s been in the police station all night so he really wanted to take a nap.
C. That a four year old girl somehow buried her mother in a crate in the backyard.
LiLe : Well after what's happened in the other Serials. . . why not ?
Part II
+3+
This section is less than 4k. Why the F do I have part names ?
It was dark
I reached out into the darkness only to find there wasn’t much to reach out into. My hands felt up against rough wood barely an inch above me. My legs were shoved into an awkward angle. One of my shoes was missing and I could feel the cold wood against my right foot.
“Oh My God”, I felt some give or space in the surface and some lose dirt feel into my mouth. I kept feeling the spaces trying to stick my fingers through the dirt but it was too deep.
I coughed as more loose dirt fell on me.
I was in a packing crate.
I was underground
And you must scream.
I screamed
“Rosalie”, I screamed as loud as I could more, forcing my fist against the top of the crate. Causing more dirt to fall into my mouth.
I knew I wasn’t being rational. She was just a little girl but somehow I knew she had done this. I didn’t want to stop and think how.
We will never find out how she did this . . .
I started shivering involuntary. It was so cold tonight that I could just imagine the top soil freezing on top of me.
Despite trying to stay calm I started to hyperventilate, pushing and pressing against the wood to no avail. I screamed until my I started to lose my voice. I just couldn't be in small spaces.
Involuntary tears started to fall into my mouth, mixing with the dirt and turning into mud.
The ground started to shake there was a low grumble, I realized it was a car engine. The car didn’t cut the engine and after a few seconds it pulled away again.
What felt like days later but was probably only hours I heard another car. It hurt to make a sound but I kept pressing against the wood. All I could think about was how I missed the smell of fresh air
So she heard the police drop Mr. F off and then she heard Emile come and leave
For a long time my eyes were wide open and no matter how much my body wanted to give up, it never would.
+++
I was quiet as I heard scarping. . . like shovels.
Through a hole in the crate I saw the rounded edge of a tiny bright red patent leather shoe. I squinted as dirt fell into my eyes,
“Rosalie Emmiline Fierro, you evil little--”
That’s right she gets your last name when she buries me alive.
I didn’t want to finish that sentence. She was a child, I could out smart a child.
“Let me out of here Rose.I’’m not mad,” I said sweetly through gritted teeth, “I’ll read to you. I’ll buy you all sorts of pretty things”
Nothing
Okay, this is why you discipline your kids.
Rosalie stepped away and I heard someone behind her.
“Good Evening, Ms. DeLune”
I have no idea where
this idea came from of Clara being buried alive but it works. I needed something to happen to make Clara tell the
truth. Also Clara is afraid of the dark because of the stuff that went down in HOF where she was locked in a dark room.
At first I thought I was hearing things, then I saw the immaculate soles of his shoes.
“Let me out of here”, I didn’t have to try to sound helpless.
“Ms. DeLune I’m very tired of playing games. It is quite simple. I will let you out if you decide to tell me the truth. . . everything.”
“I--I-I Can’t”, I managed, “Why aren’t you in jail”
“You know good and why.”
He’s innocent
“Let me out of here”, I realized I had no idea how to bargain with him.
He shoveled a little more dirt on top.
“Stop !”, I screamed.
“I want the truth”
“What do you say Ms. DeLune ? I have nothing against keeping you here. This way I’ll always know where you are.”
Creepy
“This is your fault”, I yelled, “It’s your fault he’s dead”
I mean Mr. Fierro did make the poison
Soil began to rain down on me and soon I was back in the familiar dark silence. Mentally I chastized myself for losing my temper.
For a long time, a day maybe. Hours on end I’m certain. All I can do is think about the past few months. I feel like I’ll always be in the dark, alone and to be honest a little scared.
The shaking never stops.
The anxiety doesn't go away
I'm just scared
NO. NO NO. Mr. F this is so not cool. I feel so bad for Clara.
+++
A little sound and I feel the pressure lifting. It’s still dark but it’s a different day, the stars look different.
Soon I see his spotless soles and Rose’s bright red ones.
I stick my fingers through the spaces in the crate, stretching my fingers out as far as they will go.
“ I’ll tell you the truth”, my voice is so small
“Everything”, His tone is dark
“Everything”
“To the police ?”
“Yes”,
“To your mother?”
“Yes”
“To your sisters”
“Yes”, my voice was dry,”Please let me out”
“I don’t know. Rosalie, do you think Mommy’s learned her lesson ?”
“No”, she said in a righteous unjust voice only a child could use.
“Yes, yes I have. Believe me.”
Clara :If I die next time I am never talking to strangers again. No matter how mysterious and kind of handsome they are.
I untwist myself grasping the grass to stand. Before I can get my bearing Mr. Fierro reaches in and picks me up. My arm is slack around his neck and I press a hand to his chest to stop him as Rosalie skips to the car. She SKIPS
Mr. F : See, I picked her up so she doesn’t have to walk. Points ?
Clara : *glares*
LiLe : *GLARES*
Ms. 3 : *GLARES*
Muse : Great now take her upstairs. . .
“I want you to know I deserve everything that’s happened to me”, I whispered
“I doubt that”
I put both my hands on his shoulder and lower myself so I can stand my unsteady feet. I balance on just my one foot that still has a shoe and lean against him. My eyes finally catch his watchful gaze and when I was sure I had his attention I push him into empty crate.
And how ! Gurl, you better run.
Quickly, I limp for my shoe in the bushes considering all the ways I could escape. No sooner could I revel in my very small victory I am once again trapped in his arms . He carries me to the car tossing me in the backseat. He leans in, his lips inches from mine and he whispers.
“You can not run from the truth anymore Ms. DeLune”, he said slamming the car door shut.
I flinch as Rosalie(who I hadn’t even notice was sitting next to me) starts wiping my face with a damp cloth. As the car lurches forward I noticed one of my work dresses is on the floor
Muse : Wait. . . why
is her dress on the floor in the backseat of his car ?”
LiLe : Um so she can change while they are driving.
“Start talking, Ms. DeLune”, Mr. Fierro ordered making a sharp turn that presses me into the door.
It was a 37 minutes drive from Monroe Country to Rochester. The longest 37 minutes of my life.
.