Blackbirds Hill

Blackbirds Hill

Looking down at the familiar town of Blackbirds Hill, Melissa Hartley sighed with resignation.  Her hand on the pump, waiting for the gas to finish filling her Volvo’s tank, her eyes slowly closed as her mind was captured by the flood of memories invading her present reality.  She had spent so much time running from her past and the people of this town; and yet here she was once more standing on a precipice. Only this time there was no turning back, no where she could run or hide, and no one to rescue her.  The longer she stood there the more the memories pushed forward, creeping and engulfing her mind.  As try as she might to erect walls, she had to admit, with a soft sigh, there was no escaping Blackbirds Hill.

Lifting a hand to brush a stray strand of deep chocolate hair back from her face, Melissa’s eyes drift to glance over other customers.  She could not help but wonder if any of them recognized her, though she quietly hoped none did.  A flash of what appeared to be a tattoo revealed itself on her inner wrist as she tucked her hair behind her ears.  Swiftly, Melissa brought her hand down, tugging at the sleeve of her shirt; making sure her wrist and the insignia were once more covered.  Unfortunately, she was too late. 

A gasp of shock and recognition flowed through her body as the familiar burning ignited her flesh, informing her they knew she had come home.  She had no doubt who they would send.  In fact, he would volunteer and how can she resist him; to resist him would be to resist herself.  Melissa quickly replaced the pump, closing the tank, moved to get in her car.  She paused only a moment to check on her daughter asleep in the back seat.  Could she keep her from him?  She knew she could not.  Glancing upwards she noticed everyone seemed frozen in time; their eyes glowing slightly, as they turned their gazes in her direction.

“Melisssssa….” The voice echoed all around her.  She would recognize his voice anywhere; no matter how long of a period of time had passed. 

“Welcome home, Melissssa.” 

She cringed as the voices drew out her name. With a jolt of the car, and her foot on the gas, Melissa sped out of the gas station into the night.  About a mile or so down the road, just on the outskirts of town, she pulled over.  Laying her head upon the steering wheel, her knuckles white as they gripped the leather, Melissa attempted to slow her breathing.  “

“It was a hallucination.  It had to be.  Just a fucking hallucination.” She found herself repeating this over and over quietly, so as not to wake Erica in the back seat.  The tears flowed down her face, unheeded, until they soaked her shirt front. 
“God damn you!  God damn you to hell, Mathew!”  She slammed both hands on the steering wheel forgetting her daughter sleeping behind her.  “Why did you have to die?  Why leave me, making it so I have to return here?”

“Mommy?” 

The small voice broke through Melissa’s pain and anguish.  Lifting her hands she wiped her eyes, uncaring that her mascara was smudged across her cheekbones.  Bending to pick up her daughter’s Pooh bear, Melissa tucked it next to her, before stroking her hair and cheeks.

“Sorry baby, Mommy didn’t mean to wake you…”

“Mommy, why you crying? You need a hug from Pooh?”  Her daughter’s innocent question brought a smile to Melissa’s face.  Perhaps this wasn’t so bad, and even if it was she would fight.  She had a reason to fight, and her name was Erica.  She would not let the darkness have her daughter.

“No… I think Pooh needs you to hug him baby… We still have a bit to go till we get to Nanna’s house.”  Turning once more to face forward, Melissa took several calming breaths and started the car.  As she drove she sang softly along to the music playing on the radio, allowing the lyrics to soothe both her daughter and her own mind. 

Looking out the windows of the Volvo into the night, Melissa could not help but note that Blackbirds Hill seemed to be the town time forgot existed.  Nothing had changed, or at least it appeared that way at first glance.  Looking closer she could see new age shops, a deli on the corner of Market and Main, and a new bookstore where Frank’s Piano Repair shop once stood.  A slight shiver ran up her spine.   She still was unsure if she was ready for this, but she had nowhere else to go.  Mathew’s death in the car accident had left them without enough funds to survive, let alone pay a mortgage in Long Island.  Whether or not she liked it, returning home was her only logical option.

 Pulling up in front of the old Victorian Melissa sat for several minutes just staring at the home she grew up in.  Her daughter’s bouncing laughter of excitement and the knock on her window drew her attention.  She had not even realized anyone was there.  Her wrist once more flared as fingers splayed on the outside, calling to her.  Without even thinking, almost as reflex, Melissa lifted the hand, which held the tattoo, and placed her own upon the window.  The cool glass could not stop the connection.  Her eyes pulled upwards to look into a face matching her own. 

“Steven…” she whispered.  The very one she had feared seeing, and yet here he was.  He was her twin, the only one who could see deep within her very being.  Nothing about her was hidden from him, and vice versa.  Her lashes came down, only to open wide as she heard another familiar voice…

“Now, Steven… you let that poor girl out of the car!  What do you think you’re doing?  For shame, it’s past 10pm and people around here are sleeping. We don’t need you two starting your antics already and waking the dead!” 

“NANNA! NANNA!!”

Erica’s excitement came through her own senses, bringing her once again to reality.  Unbuckling her-self got out of the car and stretched lightly before opening the back car door.  She chuckled at her grandmother’s words, though she did recall a time when Steven and her tried to wake the dead.  Looking with amusement at her twin, she lifted Erika down.  She knew better than to show fear or trepidation. 

Standing back she watched as her grandmother swept her daughter up in a large hug.  One would not think, seeing her diminutive frame, the strength and power Eleanor Westerly possessed; and yet she was not a woman to be trifled with.  Many in Blackbirds Hill learned this lesson the hard way, others still respected and kept their distance from the Westerly Family.  The people of Blackbirds Hill knew better than to cross Eleanor Westerly, for one never knew if a loved one would be there the next day should be brave enough to challenge her. 

“Welcome home, Melissssa.” Her twin threw his arm around her shoulders, revealing the matching insignia upon his inner wrist.  He walked up the cobblestone path, keeping her close to him, almost as if he was afraid should he release her she would escape and run once more.  Melissa paused and looked behind her at the glowing lights of town, beckoning and twinkling at her.  They almost looked as if they were laughing at her, daring her to say different.  With a purse of her lips, she bit down upon her bottom lip for several seconds…

“Yeah… Welcome home.”

Melissa muttered softly to herself before turning and allowing her brother to guide her through the heavy oak doors.  She didn’t even flinch when the doors closed behind them, though no one touched them; the hidden, unseen voices chattering and whispering about Steven and Melissa as they moved forward into the familiar darkness of Westerly Hall.