Page 75 of Little Twisted Things

“I want to put you under a special kind of hypnosis. It’s co-conscious hypnosis, allowing you to find the other alter and speak to her with the hopes this other alter will front and we can talk. You both will share the same space, and you will hear and remember everything.”

“Fine. Do what you have to do.”

44

“Lie down on the couch. Hands at your sides. Take a slow breath.” Dr. Bondi’s voice echoed. “You’re safe, Dahlia. Nothing can hurt you. I’d like you to picture the cottage.”

The image of the cottage came easily into focus and made me smile.

“It’s there,” I whispered.

“Good. Now look around. What do you see besides the cottage?”

“The ocean. It’s calm today. The sun is shining bright. So bright, it’s hurting my eyes. There’s a light breeze. Barely noticeable and not enough to keep you cool. The flowers look more vibrant than usual. The fruit trees have grown taller and wider. Apples, lemons, and oranges are hanging from them.” I walked over and picked a juicy red apple from the tree.

“Do you see anything else?”

“Like what?” I asked.

“Perhaps a path. Woods. Anything that you never noticed before.”

I looked to my right and saw a small cobblestone path that extended to what appeared to be a forest. A forest that was never here before.

“I see a forest.”

“Good. Now walk toward it.”

“I’m not sure I want to. It’s giving off bad vibes. I can feel it.”

“You’re not alone, Dahlia. I’m with you.”

I walked along the cobblestone path and stepped into the forest. Suddenly, the temperature changed, and I was cold. I wrapped my arms around my body and continued walking. The forest was nothing but a wall of shadow, blocking out the sun. Everything was silent. The sound of the ocean disappeared. The singing birds couldn’t be heard any longer. There were no insects. Silence. Pure silence. The deeper I made it into the forest, the cobblestone path had been replaced by dirt and dead leaves. I stopped and stared at the large oak tree in front of me. I’d never seen a tree so wide in my life. It was almost unnatural. In the center of the trunk was a door with a wood sign nailed to it that read: KEEP OUT.

“Whoever's in there. Come out so we can talk,” I shouted.

I waited while my heart raced. Nobody came out.

“Listen. We need to talk. I didn’t come all this way to be ignored. It’s important.”

I heard the crumpling of leaves behind me and almost stopped breathing.

“So, Dahlia. You found me, and you’re finally going to let me in.” Her voice was frightening.

I slowly turned. Standing a few feet away was a young woman with unnaturally pale skin as if she’d never seen a day of sunlight. Her waist-length, pin-straight black hair hung around her face, and her coal-black eyes stared at me with an expression as empty as death itself.

“Why have you come?” she asked.

“I wanted to meet the person who had been trying their best to force me back inside and lock me up. What is your name? You know mine, so it’s only fair I know whom I’m speaking to.”

“Mara.”

“Why have you been hiding all this time? How come I’ve never seen you?”

“You weren’t supposed to,” she said, walking toward the large oak tree. “I have always wondered what you’d say to me when you finally figured out there was someone else.” She rested her hand on the tree trunk. “You’re the strongest out of all of them.”

“You silenced them, Mara,” I angrily said.

“They have their places, and I have mine.” She tapped her fingers against the wooden trunk.