章 3: 1.5
A/N: This takes place in the early 1900s. I barely know what happened then, so I'm sorry if I got some stuff wrong. I greatly apologize.
Summer 1898, Exeter, New Hampshire.
Madelynn
---
Perched on a rough rock by the edge of the lake, I buried myself in the pages of "Dracula," hoping to lose myself in the world of the undead. My older sister, Adelynn, had dragged me along for her outdoor adventure, as instructed by our mother. Adelynn, now a teenager, seemed more interested in the thrill of leaping from trees into the murky depths of the lake than in her reluctant six-year-old sister's company.
As Adelynn launched herself off the towering tree, her words from earlier echoed in my mind. She hadn't been thrilled about bringing me along, but parental directives left her no choice. Her dripping hair obscured much of her face as she emerged from the water, her expression a mix of annoyance and determination.
"Maddy, seriously? You're just going to mope on that rock?" Adelynn's voice cut through the tranquility of the forest. I shrugged, avoiding her gaze, engrossed in my book. Her frustration was palpable as she clambered out of the water and stalked back to the tree.
Suddenly, her wet footsteps approached, and before I could react, she seized my arm, pulling me upright. I stumbled, caught off guard by her forcefulness. With a determined glint in her eyes, she hauled me towards the lake, my protests falling on deaf ears.
"I don't have a bathing suit, Addy!" I protested, wriggling against her grip as we neared the water's edge. Adelynn scoffed, dismissing my concerns with a wave of her hand. "Who cares about that old shirt and pants? You're practically swimming in them already."
Panicked, I continued to resist as she propelled me closer to the water. "Please, Addy, I'll get sick!" I pleaded, but Adelynn remained resolute, ignoring my pleas. With each step, the icy water crept higher, sending shivers down my spine.
"Stop being such a baby, Maddy. You can swim, can't you?" Adelynn's tone was firm, tinged with impatience. But as the water reached my waist, she relented, allowing me to stand there, trembling and cold.
"It's not even that cold, Madelynn. You're being dramatic," she chided, her laughter ringing out as I recoiled from the chill. Then, a flash of green caught my eye, and I screamed, scrambling out of the water in terror.
Adelynn's laughter followed me, the offending algae dangling from her fingers. "See, Maddy? Just a harmless bit of algae," she chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves.
Fuming, I snatched up my shoes and stormed away, Adelynn's calls fading into the distance. Wrapped in my arms, I trudged through the forest until I found solace on the weathered cliffs of a forgotten waterfall, leaving behind the laughter and the algae in my wake.
As I settled onto the rock, the nearby pond offered a serene distraction, its surface alive with darting tadpoles. I couldn't resist the urge to mimic their carefree movements, trailing a stick through the water, lost in their world of endless swimming.
"Madelynn! Maddy, that's not..." Adelynn's voice broke through my reverie, heavy with exhaustion from her frantic pursuit. She slumped onto the rock beside me, her breaths ragged.
"I'm sorry," she gasped between breaths, her tone sincere. "I shouldn't have laughed or pushed you into the lake."
"Lying's bad," I murmured, not bothering to look up as I sensed her discomfort.
"Yeah, I know," she sighed, her words tinged with regret. "Look, I just want you to enjoy yourself. You're not just the 'golden child.' You're... you're ten—"
"Six," I corrected.
"Right. Just... try to have some fun, okay?"
Her smile, genuine and rare, caught me off guard. I shrugged in response, causing her expression to falter.
"Come on," she sighed, rising from the rock. "It's almost time for supper."
Her sadness weighed on me as I reluctantly followed her along the familiar path home. Along the way, I picked up another stick, pausing to inspect it before playfully prodding Adelynn with it. She turned, a quizzical look on her face.
"What now?" she asked, bemused. I glanced up at her before offering her the stick, a mischievous glint in my eye. She accepted it tentatively, her confusion giving way to understanding as I initiated a playful duel, our sticks clashing like swords in the fading light of the forest.
---
As our mother's eyes fell upon us, her dismay was palpable. Adelynn bore the brunt of her disappointment, her soaked hair and torn clothes a testament to her misadventures. I, too, wore the evidence of our escapade, though my dampness was confined to the lower half of my body.
"Adelynn, I expressly forbade you from returning to that filthy lake!" Mother's voice was stern, her frustration evident. "And dragging your sister into your recklessness... I expected better from you both. You're young ladies, not rowdy boys frolicking in the mud!"
We hung our heads in shame, the weight of her disappointment heavy upon us. But as her sigh echoed through the room, her tone softened.
"Both of you, go and bathe. Now."
With a meek "yes, ma'am," we obediently made our way to the bathroom. As we prepared to cleanse ourselves of the day's dirt and grime, a hopeful question escaped my lips.
"Tomorrow, after church, could we have another outing? Perhaps somewhere without a lake this time?" I ventured, glancing at Adelynn. Her smile was my answer.
"That sounds wonderful," she agreed, a spark of excitement dancing in her eyes.
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