Chapter 17

Mark drove like a maniac, his car scampering across the road like a drunk puppy. The wheels barely could keep their footing on the ground he was swerving so quickly through the streets. When he got to the house, he could see Kelly was standing at the base of the house, her hands in the air, her body drenched in sweat. She was trembling from head to toe, “Coralina, wake up. This is your mother. Wake up!”  Her hands were outstretched as if she was prepared to catch Coralina.

Coralina was standing exactly where Mark had stood just the other night. Her eyes were shut, and her arms were spread out in the shape of a cross. Her toes were on the edge of the roof, one step forwards and she would fall to her death Kelly was terrified to move. But Mark was all action, grabbing the ladder from the garage as quickly as he could. He shouted to Kelly, “keep talking to her.”

Kelly had tears streaming down her face from the terror raging inside her. Kelly let out a sharp “No!” as Coralina swayed suddenly forwards.  But she didn’t fall, instead just rocking back until she was still again. He got the ladder and climbed up it in a frantic rush. And he grabbed Carolina, screaming, “I’ve got her! I’ve got her Kelly.” He sat her down next to him on the roof and he burst into tears. Kelly didn’t climb up the ladder, but he could hear her shouting from below.

“Can you carry her down the ladder? Let’s get her off the roof.” Kelly still sounded terrified, like her eyes and heart had not been fully convinced of Carolina safety yet.

“Okay, just a minute. She’s not awake yet.” Said Mark. He carefully picked up the girl holding her tight hugging her to his chest. She barely responded, but eventually started hugging him back. “Coralina, hang on tight and I can get us down.” He wasn’t sure she is awake or not but her grip tightened significantly. Slowly and carefully he climbed down the ladder with her on his chest squeezing him. When he got to the bottom he handed her to Kelly. Kelly let out a terrible scream.

Coralina was covered in blood. It was smeared across her neck, and down the front of her light pink nightgown. Mark was startled, even horrified to see it. “But she was fine up there!” He ran his fingers frantically through his hair, staring at her.  She was blinking and rubbing her eyes. Coralina was the next one to talk, “daddy you are bleeding.”

Kelly turned to stare at him, and then back at Coralina.  She turned to Mark, “Your nose is gushing blood.”

The third stage.