The Following Article: Foster Careless chapter 15 House on a Hill (5/10)

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Foster Careless chapter 15 House on a Hill (5/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Deb looked confused at Dale.
“I don’t understand. What are we doing here?” she asked, her eyes shifting through the room.
“This will be your new room” Dale explained happily.
“What about Agnes?” Deb asked, slowly.
“She won’t be a problem anymore” Dale smiled reassuring. He walked towards Deb, and took her by the shoulders. “I told you I would take care of it”
He leaned forward, and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “What’s wrong?” he asked, when he let go of her.
“I, uh, I thought I was getting my old room” Deb quickly made up a lie to explain why she looked like she was going to burst into tears. “You know, the one I shared with Beth”
“That’s a children’s room” Dale protested. “You’re a woman, Debra. My woman”
Basically, Debra had no choice but to accept, and so several members of the community walked in and out, carrying this and that, to get the room ready.
Dale had literally thought of everything. She had a closet full of clothes and shoes. She had a bag full of toiletries. She had a jewelry box. She, even, had a brand new sketchbook.
“I know you used to draw, when you were younger” Dale said. “I thought, maybe you would like to pick it up again”
Debra nodded, and thanked him for everything.
“There’s scissors in that bag” Dale pointed at the bag with toiletries. “I trust you will not use them to stab me again?” he joked. Deb stared at him. “Hey, I have forgiven you a long time ago. I can’t hold a grudge against you. I love you too much for that”
After his declaration of undying love, Dale left Deb alone, so she could adjust to her new environment. No matter how you put it, this was an improvement. At least Deb wouldn’t have to sleep on the cold, stone floor anymore.
Knowing it was wishful thinking, she started opening cupboards and drawers, in search for a phone. If she could just call Ryan, and ask him if Mike was okay…
She didn’t find a phone, but she did found small pieces of paper. Having nothing better to do, she collected the pieces, and carried them to the desk. She put them down, and began puzzling them together.
When she was finished, she looked down on a letter, written in her handwriting, but she didn’t remember writing it.
The letter was addressed to Beth. Deb gasped for air, when Beth’s outburst from the previous night came back to her.
“That bitch!” she shouted outraged.

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Foster Careless chapter 15 House on a Hill (3/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

It wasn’t until Deb couldn’t feel her knees anymore, that Dale decided to call it quits. Him, Deb, and Mrs. Parker had been praying on their knees for two hours.
Dale’s voice had resonated through the basement, reading chapter after chapter, verse after verse.
“We’ll have to do this before every meal, until your soul is cleansed” he said, getting up.
“How will we know?” Mrs. Parker asked, concerned.
“I’ll know” Dale replied confident, and holding Mrs. Parker by her shoulder, he added: “Have faith”
Mrs. Parker nodded, and left the scene.
Dale turned to Deb, to see her, converted...

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Foster Careless chapter 15 House on a Hill (2/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

A while later Deb got another visitor, her mother this time. She put her hands on her sides and looked reproaching at Deb.
“Get up, child, and get dressed” she ordered. “Dale is expecting you. He wants to have breakfast with you”
“Mom” Deb moaned, holding her stomach. “Can you please tell Dale I’m really not up for it? I feel sick” She had barely said it, when a new portion of vomit escaped her throat. “You have to take me to the hospital. Please, I won’t try to run”
“Nonsense” Mrs. Parker shook her head. “I will discuss this with Dale. He’ll tell us what to do”...

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Foster Careless chapter 14 The Trickster (10/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

“Sorry, Deb, no can do” was the answer, when Deb asked Rob, nicely, to return her sketchbook. “It’s the only thing securing you to come back to this office, and I think you really need our sessions”
Deb frowned sad, and frustrated.
“Can I ask you something? What’s Annabel’s story?”
“That’s classified information” Rob replied strict. “Besides, we’re not here to talk about Annabel. We’re here to talk about you” he reminded her kindly.
He opened his desk drawer, and pulled out the sketchbook. He flipped the pages, and then stopped.
“Today, I want to discuss this drawing”...

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Foster Careless chapter 14 The Trickster (9/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Sunlight shone through the window, but it was Deb’s intense stare that woke Annabel up. She caught Debra, sitting on her knees, in front of her bed, her hands folded as in a prayer.
“What are you doing?” Annabel asked, suspicious.
“I’m praying for your soul” Deb replied, her eyes closed.
“My soul doesn’t need any saving” Annabel snapped, and she jumped out of bed, causing the picture, of her parents, to drop on the floor.
“It does, when you’re getting involved with those people” Deb replied, with a nod at the picture.
“Those people are my parents” Annabel hissed, defensive....

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Foster Careless chapter 14 The Trickster (8/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

It took three men, to pull Deb away from Annabel. She kicked, and screamed, as they dragged her down the hallway.
“You don’t understand” she panted, desperately. “She’s one of them!...What’s that?” Her eyes bulged at the size of a large needle.
“Just something to help you sleep” one of the men said, pointing the needle towards her neck.
“No, I don’t want-” she started, but then her voice trailed off, and she hung limp in his arms.
A couple of hours later she woke up in solitary.
In the meantime, Annabel tried to fathom what Deb had said. If she could believe Deb, they shared...

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Foster Careless chapter 14 The Trickster (5/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Night came, but sleep refused to. Both Annabel and Deb lay on their bed, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling.
Deb let her arm slid off the bed, and touched underneath the bed, where she had saved the fragments of the broken lamp.
When her fingertips made contact with a piece, she grasped for it, and pulled it from under the bed.
Annabel turned her head to her. “That’s not the first time you do that” she said, when Deb made a cut in her lower arm. “I’ve seen the scars” Annabel explained.
She turned her head back. “I used to burn myself with cigarettes. I thought I deserved it, for being...

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Foster Careless chapter 14 The Trickster (1/10)(flashback chapter)

posted by HaleyDewit

“Let’s start with this one”
Rob slid the sketchbook towards Deb. It showed a black and white likeness of Dale’s face.
“What about it? It’s just a face” Deb shrugged, pretending to be untouchable, yet consciously avoiding to look at the drawing.
“You drew it black and white, the eyes completely black. Why is that?” Rob persisted.
“I don’t know” Deb shrugged, again. “I thought it was cool”
Rob pulled the book back, and browsed through it again.
“How about this one?” Rob showed her a drawing of a penis, cut off, in a puddle of what was probably blood. “Did you think...

Foster Careless chapter 10 Tears and Rain (1/10) (flashback)

posted by HaleyDewit

Weeks went by and slowly but surely things went back to normal. Debra’s hair had grown back and she could finally leave her crutches in the corner of her room. Debra almost dared to be happy, until that one unfortunate day.
Mrs. Kelley had been sick lately and at first they thought it was some sort of bacteria. But the sickness didn’t stop and so they had no choice, but to go see a doctor, who confirmed Mrs. Kelley’s suspicion.
There was something growing inside of her, but it was no bacteria.
On the way home, Mr. Kelley wouldn’t say a word to his pregnant wife. He was afraid he would...

Foster Careless chapter 9 The Enemy (10/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

With a heart beating out of its chest, Debra walked to Mike’s hotel room. At the door she hesitated.
“This is stupid” she mumbled and she turned around again. She had made a few steps towards the stairs leading to the next floor, when she changed her mind and returned.
She gathered all her courage and knocked. Two minutes later Mike opened the door a bit and closed it again. Deb heard him take off the chain and a second later he opened the door completely…only to slam it in her face.
Deb backed away and swallowed. Her common sense told her to leave. Mike would come around on his own terms....

Foster Careless chapter 9 The Enemy (7/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

It was the middle of the night and Mike lay fast asleep in Deb’s bed. He was snoring loudly, even drowning out the sound of footsteps coming closer with every second.
However fast asleep Mike was, he was wide awake when a bucket of ice cold water poured down on his face like a brick.
He sat up bolt right, shouting and sputtering. He looked up and his eyes widened.
“Deb” he swallowed. He looked at the soaked sheets. “I promise I can explain” he laughed nervously.
Deb quickly walked towards him and before he knew it she slapped him hard across the face.
“Aaahh!” Mike yelled offended....

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Foster Careless chapter 8 Through Hell (10/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Beth’s eyes widened in fear. If Dale would find her here with a bag of food the consequences would be dramatic. She didn’t know what the punishment was for stealing, but it had to be something terrible.
She tightened her grip on the bag and turned around. Simon had found a way out, she would do, too. Agnes ran off the stairs and chased Beth. “If you’re looking for your friend, don’t bother, you won’t find him” she said mischievous. “I took care of him”
There was a small window at the left side of the basement. Beth ran towards it and opened it. She pushed the bag through it...

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Foster Careless chapter 8 Through Hell (8/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Deb was walking down an aisle. She looked around terrified. She knew this place. She had ran away from it. How had she gotten back here?
Automatically her legs moved to the door at the end of the aisle. She turned her head, seeking help. Her mother stood against the wall, smiling encouraging.
“Go on, Debra” she said. “Go inside and make us proud”
Upstairs Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were getting ready for bed. As Mrs. Jackson put on her dressing gown she said: “I hate to leave her there alone”
“If it makes you feel better I’ll go check up on her, every now and then” Mr. Jackson offered....

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Foster Careless chapter 8 Through Hell (1/10) (flashback chapter)

posted by HaleyDewit

Her courage sinking with every step she took Agnes walked towards Dale’s room. He had given her the specific order of finding Debra and bringing her back home. She had failed in that task and now her fear of how Dale would react was making her sick to the stomach.
She swallowed and knocked.
“Get the door, will you” she heard him command his servant. Several seconds later the door opened and Beth’s dirty face was seen. “Who is it?”
“It’s Agnes, sir” Beth replied. Unlike Deb, she hadn’t been given the privilege of calling Dale by his first name. Probably because she hadn’t...

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Foster Careless chapter 7 Scared Silent (10/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

“How are you feeling?” Mike asked softly. The medical staff had taken care of Simon, and now they were left alone for a moment.
“Physically? Like my insides are on fire” Deb groaned.
“Must be the medication wearing off” Mike said concerned. “You want me to go get someone”
Deb shook her head and tried to grab his hand to stop him. “I want my head to be clear” she explained. “What happened? The last thing I remember is standing in front of Joe and then he stabbed me”
Mike frowned, confused and frustrated. “You don’t remember being in the elevator with me?”
“I was in...

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Foster Careless chapter 7 Scared Silent (9/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Ryan sat in his car, unsure what to do. If his partner was a two-faced liar, he couldn’t involve her any further into the case. But if she wasn’t, he wouldn’t only have to make things right with her, he would also have to apologize to Mike.
“Damn it!” he cursed and bashed the steering wheel. He stared through the windshield for a couple minutes and then produced his phone from his inside pocket. He pressed speed dial and waited.
“Ryan? Where are you? They say Joe’s dead. It’s all over the news” Claire ranted.
“I’m at the John Hopkins Hospital” Ryan answered Claire’s first...

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Foster Careless chapter 7 Scared Silent (6/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Joe’s followers were sitting on the floor. Emma and Molly had told them what happened to Joe.
“I can’t believe he’s gone” Lea whispered unbelieving. She looked up. “What are we going to do now?”
“For now it’s really important that we keep a low profile” Emma said. “Now with Joe…dead…the FBI will think us weak, vulnerable. Let’s show them their wrong”
Alex stood and crossed his arms.
“We need someone to take control over things” Emma continued. “I know you’re thinking you’re all worthy of being the next Joe Carroll, but let’s not forget I was closest to...

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Foster Careless chapter 7 Scared Silent (5/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

“It all started after Bethany was born” Mrs. Parker began. “Before that Debra was a dream child. She was a little shy, but really sweet. She never disobeyed us” She glanced at Mr. Parker, who took over.
“That all changed when Beth was born” Mr. Parker continued. “Deb would cry all the time, especially when Beth cried. When Beth was hungry, she was hungry. When Beth was hurting, she was hurting. Sometimes she even came to us with cuts and bruises and when we asked how she got them, she would say Beth had done it”
“Of course we thought it was just a scream for attention. Sister...

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Foster Careless chapter 7 Scared Silent (1/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

“Hey, open the door!” Mike shouted, bashing the elevator doors. Debra clung onto his neck tightly. She kept her eyes on Mike’s chest, trying to remain calm. She closed them and buried her head in Mike’s neck. Suddenly she started to cry.
“Deb?”
“I’m sorry, daddy” Deb sobbed. “I didn’t mean to. I was just so hungry”
“Deb, what are you talking about?” Mike asked confused.
“Please, don’t put me back, mommy” Deb continued, like a scared little girl. “I’ll be a good girl, I promise”
“Deb, your parents aren’t here. It’s me, Mike” Mike said sharp. He felt...

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Foster Careless chapter 6 Where the Story Ends (10/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Though scared to death Abigail tried to stick to the maximum speed as she drove the highway. She didn’t say a word and Debra was smart enough not to speak, either.
She stopped behind a car, waiting for the red traffic light to jump on green. She checked her rear view mirror and recognized the police car a few meters behind her.
Just stay calm. Don’t give them any reason to stop you, Abigail thought to herself.
The light turned green and the car before her moved forward. Abigail clenched the steering wheel and held her feet right above the accelerator pedal, ready to push it all the way...

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Foster Careless chapter 5 Breathe (7/10)

posted by HaleyDewit

Hours later-Deb had fallen asleep again-she opened her eyes. She lifted her head and smiled faint when she saw Mike was sleeping. His head rested on his arms, on the bed.
“I was wondering when you were going to give in” she mumbled. She carefully swung her legs over the edge and stepped out of bed. She took her dressing-gown and made her way to the door.
At the door she turned her head. She hoped Mike would stay asleep long enough for her to make a little walk and come back without him knowing about it. He would probably tie her to the bed, if he knew where she was going.
She left the room,...