beth & emma

There were two siblings living together with mom and dad.correction.a stepmom.and no correction for the dad.

The older sister named Beth. And the younger ones, named Emma.

Emma just got back from New Jersey. It’s been a year she’s been living with her Aunt Sophie. And now she’s coming back home for good. She misses Beth very much.

Beth and Emma are very close to each other even though they have their own differences.

Beth is loud, flirtatious, aggressive, outspoken, and talkative.

Emma is more on keeping to herself. About everything. That is why she needs Beth for back up. She loves Beth more than anything. As much as she loves her mother, who died 2 years ago. And now, she only has Beth to rely on. Only Beth she could talk to, her swimming partner, her soul mate, her friend, her partner in crime. Talking about partner in crimes…

Beth: you should get out from this house, you know. Find new friends. Some friends at your age.

Emma: And why do I need one? I have you. (smiling pleasantly)

Beth: I know.I will always be here for you. But I’m your sister. Somehow, whenever the time is come, you will need a friend. for real.

Emma: Are you trying to tell me that you are leaving? (her smile faded)

Beth : Oh come on Em’. For Godsake, I’m not going anywhere. I will always be here. Stucked with dad and the beeyarch. Its you that I’m concern about. You need to go out to college or something to live your own life.

Emma: I’m not ready to face the world.Yet. (her voice saddened)

Beth: It’s Mother, isn’t it? You have to let her go. I did that too. And I feel better for myself. Only except for the fact that dad’s married to that beeyarch. (a sudden anger from her voice appeared)

Emma: I will never forgive him. He abandoned us for the beautiful stranger.

Beth: Hollyshit! She’s not even pretty. Mother’s much more graceful than her. (Beth pinched Emma on her shoulder)

Emma: Ouch! Take it easy,B. Or you want me to say that you are the prettiest amongst all?hahaha.

Beth: Haha.you are so damn genius. You are sooo good at reading minds.

Emma: Just your mind. I can’t even read mine. (she said jokingly)

They continued laughing through the whole evening.

Later that evening, in their living room….

Dad: Emma, let’s have dinner together. Tonight, Maddy is cooking.She’s a great cook. (their stepmom’s name is Madeline)

Beth: Yeahrrrritteee..

(Dad choose to ignore Beth for being such a child)

Dad: How about you,sweetheart? Mind to join us for dinner? Come! (Dad turned to Emma and held out his hands)

Emma: Let’s go,B. I know that you are so damn hungry. (Instead of holding her dad’s hand, Emma drags Beth along to the dining table.)

(Dad just smile. And gave a shrugged)

Maddy: Come help me with the bacon, Sweetie pie. You are going to love it!

Beth: Hell yeah (Beth murmured under her breath)

(Maddy stopped walking and look over at Emma. Emma just smiles hesitatingly and turns around to give a warning look to Beth with the ‘see what happen? She thought I’m the one whom said it’ look.

 (Beth smiles apologetically.)

In the kitchen, Maddy tries to talk things through with Emma.

Maddy: I think you should not hang out around her a lot. She’s just too much.

(Emma felt a pang all of a sudden. She’s angry with the statement of Maddy’s.)

Emma: But she’s my sister. I love her.

Maddy: Believe me. I do understand how you feel. I also have a sister and I love her so much too. But not with that attitude.

Emma: If you don’t like us, please knock yourself out of this house. (Emma tried to control her anger)

(Maddy just stared at Emma in disbelief. By looking at her face right now, Emma could tell that she’s hurt but try to stay calm as she always tries to be)

Maddy: You have no idea what I have done to this family. (At last, she managed to say)

Emma: Of course I have. You ruined us.

Maddy: Yeah, I guess. But in a good way. (She smiled confidently)

(Emma just stared at her without a blink)

Maddy: Hey, I’m sorry.What I’m trying to say is that I have been helping your dad to go through all these pain since your mother’s death. I took care of everything. I even wrote you all those letters during your staying with Aunt Sophie. But still, no reply from you at all. But its ok.I understand.

(They remain silent for a while)

Maddy: Sometimes, I think maybe I spoilt and ruined you guys for doing everything in this house. That’s why Beth never learns how to appreciate people.

Emma: You know nothing about Beth. Please stay her out of this. (She said through gritted teeth.)

Maddy: Out of what? Out of this family’s talk? Don’t you get it, Emma? We are family.

I know it’s hard for you to accept everything that happened recently, but I’m telling you, this is life. You have to accept and face the realities around you. Because if you don’t, then WALK AWAY.

(Then, Maddy walk away and get out of the kitchen.)

(Emma though,’ what she’s trying to say? She took away my dad and my mother’s life and gives me no choice but to accept the truths? Oh My God, Beth was right. She’s a total bitch)

Later that night, Beth came over to share the bed with Emma like they always do.

Beth: Hey sleepyhead! Do not sleep yet. I want you to hear something.. (She said with her naughty lopsided grin)

Emma: What is it now? (Yawning, she tried to adjust her eyes to make it wider)

Beth: Shhhhh..Come, let’s lean closer to the wall. (She already leaned her ears against the wall, Emma followed)

(They heard the moaning sounds came from the other room. Emma quickly go back to lie on the bed and covered he ears with both hands)

Emma: For Godsake B, are you sick or what! That’s disgusting! I can’t bear hearing them both having sex and sounds like an animal!

(Beth started to laugh hysterically by looking at her sister’s reaction)

Beth: Now you know why I couldn’t stand them both. Every single night I have to hear them. Especially that beeyarch. She’s pretty good at making sounds, though.Hahahaha!

I’ve heard before she settled down with dad, she’s been with so many rich mens in her past life. No wonder she’s sooo gooood in bed.

Emma: Oh B. Please stop talking before I throw up. (and this time,Emma really means it)

Beth: Alright alright. It’s just that I’m lonely here, you know.

(Beth stopped. Then took a deep breath)

Beth: A year without you makes me crazy here. Sometimes I feel like killing people. Or scratch my hands or something. To get the attention from the people who used to love me.

I wrote you letters. But you never reply. It hurts me inside.

(Emma started to say something but Beth wouldn’t let her)

Beth: I know you want to say, you are so damn sorry and blah blah blah. But its ok.You might be wanted to get rid of everything that happened and put everything behind your back. I understand. But now that you are back with us, I’m more than happy.

Emma: I’m sorry B. I just thought the letters were from Maddy, so I didn’t bother to open it.

Beth: Yeah.I wrote the letters. But she sent them for me. Maybe she wrote her name on it so you thought those letters were from her. I’m not surprise at all. She’s so full of strategies to ruin our family. But you know what, she succeeds.

Emma: No, she’s not. I won’t let that happen. I won’t let she hurts you or dad.No, that won’t happen. I’m willing to do anything to make it so untrue.

(She continues saying those words in her sleep)

On the Sunday morning,

Maddy: Kitty! Kitty! Oh My God my Kitty!!!!!!!!

Dad: Honey, what happened? (Dad rushed towards his wife and found the cat’s corpse lying on the kitchen floor. Full of blood)

(His jaw dropped open and quickly took Maddy closer to him)

Dad: How the hell is this happened?

(Maddy tried to find her own voice to explain. Kitty was her beloved cat. And now it is dead)

Maddy: I –I..I- don’t know. I just got down and making breakfast. And this is what I found.

Dad: That’s ok honey. Maybe wild animals from the outside came inside and attacked Kitty like what had happened to your hamster a year ago.

Maddy: Please don’t remind me that. And his name is Tommy. (Maddy glared at him with tears fell down her cheek)

Dad: Yeah. Whatever you said, honey. I’m sorry for what had happened. We will find you a new cat, ok?

Maddy: But it’s not gonna be the same. What in the world would do such a thing to her?

(she said pointing her slender finger to the dead cat)

Dad: I have no idea. (he shake his head)

Behind the closed door, Beth and Emma looked from a far.

Emma: Let’s come clean, B.

Beth: What?!

Emma: I know you did that. Right?

Beth: What makes you think so? (She blurted solemnly)

Emma: I watched you last night. You got out of bed silently. But I heard you.

Beth: Shhhhhh!

Emma: Why would you do that?

Beth: Well, serves her right, didn’t I?

Emma: By killing her cat?

Beth: I have to, Em’. She hurts mother. I have to hurt her too.

Emma: You told me, its time to let go. But, you just said that without doing it.

Beth: I know. I ‘m sorry. I’m not a good example to you. I’m sorry for what I have become. I’m disappointing you. (Beth started to turn around and walked out that door)

(Emma didn’t bother to stop her. She felt terrible for what Beth had done to that poor cat)

Later that evening, Beth still hasn’t showed up.

Emma: Dad, I’m worried about Beth. She’s still not home yet.

Dad: Let her be.

Emma: Don’t you care about her anymore? Owh. I must have forgotten. You started to ignore us since long time ago.

(No reaction from Dad)

Dad: She will be back, Emma. Don’t you worry about her. She used to do this all the time. She might be at her friend’s. Or boyfriend’s.

Emma: Owh..ok. (Deep inside, she wanted to scream to her Dad about everything that happened in their family’s relationship. Where is the love? There is no love anymore in this bloody house! )

It’s been two days. Still no appearance from Beth.

Emma has no idea where have she been. She’s been looking for Beth everywhere. In the woods, at the backyard, near the river but still, no signs of Beth at all.

She tries to talk to Maddy about it, at the open lawn in front of their house.

Emma: Maddy, do you have any idea where would she go?

(Maddy turned around and captured Emma’s eyes. She looked so pretty with a pair of her sparkling blue eyes, high cheekbones, stubborn-looking nose, and her cleft chin. Not to forget her blond sleek cut bob hairdo.)

(‘She might be around her late 20’s or something’ Emma thought to herself.)

Maddy: Who? (Maddy gave her ‘quizzical’ look)

Emma: Beth. Elizabeth Ellis Baxter. (Emma mentioned her sister’s full name. Mocking around her step mom)

Maddy: Owh! You were talking about Beth. I guess she just heard you! (said Maddy while looking passed through where Emma was standing )

(Emma turned around and found Beth was walking towards the house. She looks just fine. Like nothing happened. She gracefully walked toward the house without even looking at both of them)

They watched the ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ show together at the living room that late evening.

Dad and Maddy were sitting lovingly together on the couch.

Emma was staring at Beth with a questioning look on her face.

Beth looked so sleepy but sometimes she managed to silently curse something under her breath whenever her eyes captured the loving pair on the couch.

Emma knows that her sister hates Maddy so much and that is why she killed those poor hamster and cat of Maddy’s.

Emma also knows that her sister blames Maddy for the death of their mother.

Mother was sick when she found out Dad was seeing Maddy behind her back.

To make things worst, Maddy was their mother’s private nurse while she was sick.

Maddy was the caretaker.

She took care of Mother but at the same time, she wanted her to be dead.

So that she could have this family on her own.

Or maybe she just wanted Dad.

And she’s planning on getting rid off the two of us.

Yeah, that makes sense. Beth was right all along.

Dad: Are you okay, dear? You look so pale.

(Dad was standing in front of her and looks worried)

Emma: Yes, Dad. I’m okay. (She tried to smile)

Dad: Good to hear. You have been looking blankly at the television since hours ago. I think you should just go to bed.

Emma: Alright Dad. Where’s Beth?

(Much to her surprises, Beth was not sitting on the couch anymore)

Dad: She already went upstairs. You should talk to her about her behavior lately. I know you are the good girl in this family. (Dad flashes a smile)

(Emma thought to herself ‘I think you are the one who should talk to Beth about things. Be responsible for what you have done to us, will you?’)

Emma went upstairs towards Beth’s bedroom. She knocked on the door.Once, twice, thrice.

Beth ignored her. Suddenly Emma felt so lonely and sad.

Beth doesn’t want to talk to her anymore. She loves Beth more than anything.

She rather dies than being ignored by Beth.

She walked slowly to her own bedroom and heard the ‘usual moaning’ from the other room of her Dad’s and step mom’s.

‘Maybe I should just kill them both to make them stop making those stupid noises’ she murmured under her breath.

Then she fell asleep.

The next morning, the house is surrounded by three police’s car and one ambulance.

Dad was sitting on the couch and being investigated by one of the policeman.

Dad looked so gloomy, sad and helpless.

Emma was sitting across Dad and also being comforted by one of the policewoman.

Not far from them, lies a body of Maddy. Inside the black colored canvas cover, Maddy lies still. Without a single breathe. Dead. Just like the cat of hers.

Policeman 1: I think you should talk to your daughter and explain to her.

Dad: I’ve been trying to. But the psychiatrist asked me to play along with her for a while. To make her feel comfortable. I ne-ne-never expect she would do such things .I never expect she would kill her own step mom.

Dad put his hands to his face. He couldn’t face the fact that his own daughter is a killer. He never thought that she would go this far. By looking at the helpless body of Maddy, he taken aback. He tries to think clearly of what happen last night.

At 3 a.m, he received a call from his workplace. Duty calls.

He works as a police officer down town.

He leaves the house at 3.30a.m and got back at 10a.m to find the body of his wife sprawled on the kitchen’s floor. Breathless.

She’s been stabbed 25 times on her chest.

He almost couldn’t recognize her face. Totally faceless.

Emma was so frightened of what Beth had done this time. She herself scared of Beth, of what Beth capable of doing.

But she loves Beth so much. She will try her best to protect Beth from getting caught. But she doesn’t know how.

Maybe Dad will help them both, this time.

Beth: What are you looking at?

Emma: I’m looking at you. This time I won’t ask you why you did that. Because I know why.

Beth: You wanted her dead too, right? (Beth smiles mockingly)

Emma: No! I mean, yes, it did crossed my mind. But I don’t and I won’t have the guts to do it. B, I will help you get yourself out of this mess!

Beth: But, how?! No one can help me! And you can’t too!

Emma: Calm down, B. I will try to talk to Dad. I will help u.

Beth: It’s you who needs help. (Beth said coldly)

Dad: Emma my dear. (Dad force himself to smile. She knows it. He took a seat next to Emma)

Emma: Yes Dad. I’m sorry for what has happened. I know she didn’t mean it! She’s a good girl, Dad. Please get her out of this trouble.

Dad: What trouble, my dear?

Emma: I don’t want Beth to be caught by the police for killing Maddy.

(Dad took a deep breath. He felt dizzy. His heart crushed. But, he managed to find his word)

Dad: I’m very very very sorry to both of you. Especially to your late Mother. It was all my faults. All these things will never happen if I stay loyal to your mother years ago. It was my entire fault! (Dad cries, much to her surprises)

(Emma remains silent. She gave Beth a hand signals to ask Beth to remain silent too. She doesn’t want Beth to respond to any of this. This time, Emma will take over to protect Beth. Beth nodded obediently.)

Emma: We both forgive you, Dad. But you have to help us. Please promise me not to drag Beth along in this situation. She just tried to protect us.

(All of a sudden, Dad move forward and hugs Emma. It lasted for almost 5 minutes)

Dad: Emma dear, I-I-I have to be frank with you. It is you wh-who-who did all these.

Emma: Did what? (Emma stiffened. She moved away from Dad)

Dad: The hamster. The cat. Maddy. (He didn’ t managed to say the ‘killed’ word)

Emma: Are you accusing me for killing them all? (She said in disbelief. She looked at Beth next to her. Her face blank. No expression at all.)

Dad: Yes. Err..No, I mean..

Emma: Beth, you have to tell him. Just say it. Just tell him that you didn’t mean to kill them. Just tell him how sorry you are. (She said softly to her sister)

(Dad started to hold Emma’s shoulder. He gripped her both shoulder firmly.)

Dad: Emma, listen to me. I love you so much. In fact, I love you both too much. But you have to listen to me clearly, my dear.

Emma: We love you too, Dad.

Dad: Where is Beth?

Emma: For Godsake, Dad! She’s here next to me. But she refuses to talk to you.

Dad: There’s no one beside you, my dear Emma. It’s been you all this time.

(Emma frozed. Her face turned to white. Ice white. She glanced at Beth next her. Beth remain silent. She didn’t even looked up)

Emma: B-bu-but..she’s sitting right next to me now. (She trembled. Why in the world would Beth just kept silent and didn’t act like she usually does? Why she didn’t respond to any of these? And how dare Dad say that! He claimed I did all these!. )

Dad: Stop it Emma! Stop hallucinating! (This time Dad couldn’t control his voice. He just couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t play along with her anymore)

Emma: I’m not goofing around! I’m very serious about all these.

Dad: She’s gone, Emma. Your sister, Beth was dead 2 years ago. Both Mother and Beth trapped in that fire tragedy and got killed. Since then, only you, me and Maddy lived here. Then, you lost your mind. You couldn’t accept the truth. You started harmed people around you. You talked to yourself. Maddy said you need help from the specialist. I sent you to the psychiatry centre in New Jersey and Dr.Sophie took care of you. After a year of treatment, Dr. Sophie assured me that you are getting back to normal and fine. I missed you and wanted you to be here too. But before that, Dr.Sophie already warned me to behave normal whenever you started to create an imaginary friend. She said it is harmless. So, I played along with you to make you feel comfortable with ‘Beth’ around here. I understand that you really miss her. And so do I. But to tell you the truth, there is no Beth. She’s not here with us anymore. She’s in the different world. It’s been you all these time, you are both Emma and Beth. Sometimes, you almost got us fooled for being Beth. You were just so ‘in’ with her character. And whenever that happens, it touched my heart. I feel so sad and guilty to whatever you have become.

(Emma stayed still. She didn’t move for seconds. Slowly, her face relaxed. She tried to adjust her mind, to absorb the truth she heard from Dad. Her head felt dizzy. And blur. And out of sudden, everything went smooth and clear in her mind. Two years ago…

Emma just gotten back from school. She heard something inside her Mother’s room. A sounds. A moaning sound. Worried about her Mother inside, she sneaked a peek. Mother was nowhere to be seen. She was so surprised to find that both Dad and Maddy were having sex. In her Mother’s room! Since then, she hated both of them so much. She told Beth about everything but Beth didn’t believe her. Beth wanted proofs. She told Mother, and Mother already knew it all these time. Her poor Mother couldn’t do anything about it because she fell sick and just lied on her bed. Maddy transferred Mother to the room downstairs so that she could easily seduced Dad without us knowing it.

One day, Emma had an idea. She would start a fire inside the room which she have seen them together and put the blame on Maddy so that Dad will throw her out. What she planned was a mistake. A big mistake. She didn’t know that Maddy would take Mother and placed Mother back to her room upstairs. And she had no idea that Beth would came inside the bedroom because Beth supposed to be at her boyfriend’s that night.

She already called Beth to make sure of that. And she already checked where her Mother supposed to be. She didn’t know at all. When the fire started, she smiled. She thought her plan to get rid off Maddy works. She never realized that’s going to cause the death of Mother and Beth. Since the tragedy, she couldn’t accept the truth. And she started to see Beth everywhere with her. To her, Beth is still alive.)

Emma: Dad.

Dad: Yes, dear.

Emma: Didn’t Beth suppose to be outside of the house and Mother supposed to be at the room downstairs during the fire tragedy that night?

(Dad sighed. He didn’t want to recall about that horrible night anymore. So much pains)

Dad: I guess so. But Maddy suddenly called Beth to return home and asked Beth to help her to move your Mother to the room upstairs. I was at work. Maddy said she’d been calling you instead of Beth but you were nowhere to be found.

(Maddy lied. Emma never heard Maddy called her name at all )

Emma: Owh..But, Dad. Will you forgive me for what I’ve done? I swear I didn’t mean to do all these. Dad, please don’t let them take me away from you again. (She pleaded)

(Dad feels relieved. Because finally, Emma managed to accept the truth and she didn’t pretended anything anymore)

Dad: Of course I will help you, my dear. You are the only family I have now. But you have to go see Dr.Sophie first. Only for a while, she would give you all the medications that you needed and will release you once you are totally fine. Do not worry about me. I will transfer to New Jersey and live near you.

Emma: But Dad, I’m fine now. Can’t you see?

Dad: I believe you, Emma. But they didn’t convince enough to let you go just like that. We have to follow their way. I’ll try my very best to talk things through with Dr.Sophie.

Emma: Ok Dad. Whatever you say. (She relaxed a bit. She knew that it was her fault of killing Maddy. And she promised to herself she would changed and became a better person)

Dad: Alright, Emma. Everything will be fine. I love you. (He kissed her forehead before he leave to see the policeman waited across the living room)

A several hours later, Emma is already in the police’s car. They told her they are on their  way to New Jersey. Dad was still in the house to get things done, so that he would follow Emma to New Jersey on the next day.

There were one policeman and one policewoman at the front of the car.

Emma was at the back. Handcuffed.

Beth: See? They still don’t trust you, right? (She said with the familiar expression of hers)

Emma: B! Where have you been hiding? You are so selfish. You let me took the blame for you. Even Dad blamed me. You were hiding from Dad, weren’t you? (She said with anger but happy at the same time to finally have Beth with her to New Jersey. So, she wouldn’t be alone)

Beth: I love you, Em’. You are my only lil’ sister I have. This time, I will help you to get rid off them.

(She took out something from her pocket. A black object. A gun. Emma recognized it. It was Dad’s)

Emma: You stole it from Dad?

Beth: Yeah. Watch me.

(She started to pull the trigger towards the back of the police’s head)

Beth and Emma walked hand in hand to go back home.