Memento Mori

Chapter 9: What happened that summer

22nd July 1935, Brighton

Lifeless, cold and unresponsive, Tom had never seen Cordelia in that state and he never wanted to.

In the future that had already passed, he never saw Cordelia's corpse. She just vanished, never returning, no body, nothing. She was only declared dead in absentia.

Perhaps he was fortunate he didn't see her cold and lifeless like the little girl in front of him because he didn't know what he would've done in retaliation then. His carefully crafted plans might've fallen apart much earlier.

There were times he wished he knew what became of her, if there was ever a body found or even a look alike but there was nothing. Nobody was insane enough to claim to be her, at least not while her uncle was still alive—by the time he died, everyone had forgotten her.

Something had changed, he didn't know if it was him or her.

Maybe returning to the past had returned that childhood naivety he had lost along the way into his descent or maybe he was being hopeful but he truly and sincerely hoped that Cordelia hadn't come back from the future that had passed. It was selfish of him to have that hope remembering how things ended between the two.

He couldn't help it.

He was selfish and he was aware of that. Nothing he would do would change that—not that he wanted to change. Repentance and redemption were not what he was searching for or what he wanted. What he wanted was for things to go as the way he planned them to be and Cordelia was getting difficult to control. She refused to act as he remembered her.

The rational part of him kept yelling at him that he should look into it more but the quieter yet oppressive emotional part of him persuaded him not to. He was torn. He knew what he had to do but he just couldn't will himself to act. Still he had to know if Cordelia had any idea of the future passed. He had to do it for her own safety even if she would go against him arguing she didn't need him to protect her.

Cordelia needed to be protected from the world and herself.

Her recklessness was beyond him and he knew that her kindness to others were hollow. It wasn't real. She was kind and nice for the sake of it, a means to survive. Really, deep down Cordelia only cared about a few things—things that drew her fascination and at one time, he was one of them. She liked to dissect the unknown and chase after what she didn't know.

That was Cordelia, not the kind and polite girl everyone saw which was why he was furious at her current state.

He could still picture that horrid picture of her heavily injured self. He could still hear that sickening crunch of her bone breaking and the sound of her head colliding against the rough rock underneath her.

The day before she looked almost dead—at least to him. Her shiny light brown hair was matted with blood, reminiscent of her first appearance at Wool's and her eyes were shut. One of her feet seemed swollen.

Cordelia had never looked worse.

Unfamiliar and suffocating fear gripped him tightly when she fell—fear he had never felt before. He had sat there for a while cradling Cordelia's bleeding head and cursing fate for being so cruel to him. Yet he or maybe it was Cordelia that was fortunate, she was still a little warm and there was some life left in her.

Of course, those idiots attempted to apologise to him profusely. They even got down to their knees. Dennis had begged and begged on behalf of Amy and to not tell Mrs Cole or anyone what happened. It didn't matter that Cordelia was seriously injured. It didn't matter if she nearly died. Those two didn't care, only Eric seemed genuinely apologetic about what happened but Tom didn't care.

"Please…" Amy begged quietly as she hunched down to the cold damp floor, quivering in pain. "W-we won't d-do it again. I s-swear we won't. I'm s-so sorry T-Tom." She cried as tears mixed in with her blood.

A snake coiled up against her bleeding arm and she flinched, suppressing a scream. She bit her lips, drawing blood. Tears nearly blinding her, she looked at Dennis who was only staring at the cold hard floor. She looked up at Tom who stared down at them without an ounce of pity in his gaze.

Tom clicked his tongue in disgust and shifted in his spot as he watched the snakes he had called slither around on the walls and floors of the cavern he had found so long ago.

At first, he was going to leave them alone this time but they just had to go and bother him. He couldn't forget what they did to Cordelia. He was going to back off and leave them alone as Cordelia had asked him to but that strange voice in the back of his voice egged him on. Before he could stop himself, he was at the entrance of the familiar cave—Amy and Dennis at his tail. He couldn't stop himself.

"T-Tom, we're sorry!" Amy cried.

Fog rolled out from the corners and crevices of the cavern without warning. Alarmed, Dennis and Amy huddled close together.

"I didn't say…you could speak." Said Tom with a sadistic smile as Amy choked and gasped for air. "You two really should think twice before following someone."

At least, their stupidity remained the same. He was grateful for that. The two had followed him out early in the morning from the inn that Mrs Cole had hastily booked rooms at after Cordelia's injury. They probably thought he was going somewhere interesting or they'd find something to tattle about to Mrs Cole.

Stupid Muggles.

Amy and Dennis had followed him through a narrow path and into the cave. The two tried to follow him to the second floor of the dark and slippery cave, only for Amy to lose her footing and fall to the ground below, taking Dennis with her. The two broke their bones in the fall.

"T-Tom, please…" Dennis finally found his voice. It was hoarse and barely audible, almost getting lost in the wind. "Please…let us go. We won't ever bother you or anyone again. We swear we'll be on our best behaviour. We didn't mean to hurt C—"

Before Dennis could even utter Cordelia's name. The mysterious fog started to choke him. His mouth opened wide as he tried to gasp for air, unknowingly, inviting the mysterious fog into his body. The fog climbed down his throat and started to gag him as it forced itself into his body.

Amy let out a loud shriek before she shut her mouth, tight. She covered her ears and closed her eyes, rocking back and forth, humming trying to drown out Dennis' horrifying screams of pain.

It was pathetic watching the two suffer again. Just when he was both to call out to the serpents below, he stopped. Cordelia's last words echoed in his mind. He smiled ruefully and hesitantly called out to the serpents. They all looked up at him and advanced towards Amy who refused to hear, see or cry.

Unfortunately, Amy's fear of snakes was greater than her need to protect herself. She couldn't help but let a scream escape when she felt hundreds of serpents crawling all over her.

"Nooooo! Make it stop! Please!" She shrieked. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She kept begging. "I didn't mean to do it. I'm sorry. Please...s-stop this. Please. Please. T-Tom, I'm begging you. I didn't mean to hurt Cordelia. I won't do it again plea—"

Abruptly it all stopped.

"Amy! Dennis!"

The serpents slithered away into the dark crevices of the cave and the fog just vanished with no rational explanation. Dennis panted and groaned, reaching out for his bruised throat while Amy hoarsely cried.

"Amy! Dennis!" Cried Cordelia from outside the cave. Her voice could be heard more clearly now and it was clear to the three in the cave that she was getting closer. While the two on the floor were filled with hope, the one on the high ground was displeased. "Amy? Dennis? Is anyone there? Can you hear me? Come on, answer if you can hear me or I'll just leave you here."

The two young victims glanced at each other and looked over at the startled Tom. He was not expecting her. He didn't even know she was awake. She shouldn't be here, she was still injured.

Amy tried to call out to Cordelia but her voice had disappeared. All that screaming, crying and begging had stolen her voice from her. She glared up at Tom and mouthed curses to him, much to his amusement. He had stolen something from her yet again.

Seeing Amy struggle, Dennis tried his luck at calling for rescue. But unfortunately his bruised neck had almost taken his voice. When he did manage to call out, it was with a small voice. "H-here!" He shouted but his voice was merely a whisper lost in the wind. So he tried again. "Here!" And again. "Here!"

But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't shout out. Hopeless, he started to silently cry once again, desperately shaking his head side to side as he struggled to breathe.

Tom paid them no mind as he strolled out of the cave before running into a spring to meet Cordelia and stop her from entering the cave.

"Tom?" Cordelia tilted her head to the side and looked at the entrance of the cave Tom had just ran out from. "What were you doing in there? Nevermind. Have you seen Amy and Dennis? Mrs Cole's not pleased, those two ran off again."

He only nodded along. He wasn't really listening, too busy examining Cordelia. She was bandaged with old rags. Her body supported on a sturdy stick fashioned into a walking stick and she gasped in pain every time she moved. On top of that, she was still pale as a sheet.

Immediately, he went over to her side and put her arms around his shoulders. He supported her weight, helping her to sit down on a nearby rock. He was furious and he knew she could feel the rage radiating under his skin.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Tom coldly. He helped her sit and crossed his arms. "You can barely walk and you're running around looking for the ones that put you in that state!"

Cordelia's eyes darkened and her jaws clenched. "Don't yell at me. I know what I'm doing. Can't say the same for you." She glanced back at the entrance of the cave behind Tom. She knew why she was there but she hesitated telling him. "What were you doing in there at this time?" She asked instead.

"I took a walk and I found a cave." He lied without taking his eyes off her. "You haven't answered my question."

She shut her eyes as she was getting a little frustrated. "Amy and Dennis went missing. Everyone's looking for them."

"I don't understand what it has to do with you."

"You know Tom."

"No, I really don't." He did. She wanted to show those people that she was one of them. She was not and she never would be. "Come on, let's take you back."

Looking him straight in the eye, Cordelia refused to move. She didn't budge when Tom pulled at her wrist, she didn't move when he glared at her. "What's in the cave?"

"Just snakes. I think the cave leads to the beach on the other side. There's levels to it but most of it is home to snakes and spiders. Do you want to see them?"

She paused to think. She didn't really like snakes or spiders and she was a little afraid that they could be poisonous. Puffing up her chest and exhaling, she tried to be brave. "...Yes, I do."

Tom shook his head. "No, you don't." She was pretending again and normally, he would think her attempts at being brave was endearing but at that moment she was annoying him with her recklessness. It was like she was purposely trying to get on his nerves. "Why are you being like this?" Tom found himself asking without thinking.

"Like what?"

"So difficult." He answered. "Why are you always like this? It's gotten worse, honestly."

"What did I even do?"

"You know exactly what you did."

"I don't!" She was confused. "Why are you starting an argument? I'm just trying to help!"

Tom took a step back and circled around her. He was about to burst with anger but he had to hold it in for his own "Look at yourself!" He gestured wildly towards her bandaged leg and head. "You nearly died!"

"But I didn't!" Cordelia jumped up and immediately, a sharp stab of pain made her sit down. She bit down her bottom lip, holding back a cry of pain out of pure spite of not letting Tom know she was in pain. Tom stared at her, displeased and enraged. "I'm fine. I just…" She swallowed back any oncoming tears and breathed out heavily. "I just need a moment, I'm fine."

"Right, we're going back. I don't care why you're here or who you're looking for, you can barely stand." Tom spoke as calmly as he could, momentarily forgetting all about Dennis and Amy. He slipped Cordelia's around his shoulders and carefully helped her up. He could feel Cordelia going stiff as she refused to move but he was stronger. "Come on, then."

Reluctantly, Cordelia let Tom take control. She didn't want to. She actually wanted to go into that cave. No. She had to go in there. Her grip on Tom tightened but she couldn't muster the strength to ask him.

In the distance the two saw Robbie running towards them—no doubt, he was looking for Cordelia. The older boy stopped in front of the two younger children, hunching down to catch his breath. He looked up and gave Cordelia a look that told her she was in big trouble.

It was just as Tom suspected; Cordelia snuck out. He was angrier than before, but he hid it quite well. He even managed to smile at Robbie who didn't really care about Tom's politeness.

"Empty bed, no word to anyone, hobbling around like a chicken on one foot—what were you thinking?" Robbie shouted at Cordelia, breathing heavily as his damp hair fell on top of his head. His forehead was covered with sweat. "And you," He turned to Tom with a nasty glare. Robbie never did like him and nothing would change that. Tom certainly would not be the first one to take that step. "What were you doing out here, all alone? Trying to get snatched by some sick bastard?"

Tom rolled his eyes and looked away. "Worry about the one who's actually injured, not me."

"Tom—"

"You know for someone who wants to be a doctor, it's not a good look for someone under your care to go missing."

Robbie glared at Tom but the moment he heard him mention the word 'doctor', his face scrunched up in confusion. His anger over the two faded. "When did I tell you that?"

He didn't.

The two boys couldn't stand each other. Tom went out of his way to avoid Robbie and Robbie would do his best to be the bigger person. If it was up to either, they'd have each other kicked out of Wool's or worse.

"You did." Tom lied.

"No, I didn't."

"You did." Tom insisted, narrowing his gaze on the older boy. Robbie shrunk back as a dull headache formed and put a haze of confusion in his mind. "You must've forgotten, you told us at the library three weeks ago."

Distracted, Cordelia wasn't listening to the bickering of the boys. Her attention was elsewhere. Her head slightly turned to the cave, she tried to focus on the cave or the sounds coming from it. She swallowed heavily, and thought about freeing herself from Tom to go look at it herself.

Quiet painful moans and cries carried in the wind. Against the cries of seagulls, crashing waves and the bickering of the boys, Cordelia had to strain her ears to hear it.

"Do you boys hear that?" Asked Cordelia, hoping she wasn't the only one.

"Hear what?" Tom questioned, tilting his head to the side and reaching out to move Cordelia's windswept hair out of her face so that he could see her more clearly. Her blue eyes were wide with concern and she had gone silent. "Cora?"

Cordelia held her finger to her lips. "Listen!" She hissed at the boys.

Robbie did as she instructed and tried to listen. "Sounds like…crying and shrieking."

"Might be seagulls and the waves or the wind." Robbie offered andTom was surprised yet pleased.

"You're right, I think it might be the wind." Tom agreed hesitantly, glancing over at the overly concerned Cordelia.

"No, it's not the wind." Cordelia was the only one who didn't agree.

"It is." Robbie said. "The wind is pretty bad—we should get out of here."

"It sounds like someone's screeching with how bad the weather is." Tom commented as dark clouds began to form above the three.

"It's not the weather, Tom." Cordelia tried again. "I don't think it is—just listen to me."

Lightning struck the sea and thunder a mere moments later, silencing Cordelia. She flinched at the loudness and shut her eyes as Tom masked a smile.

Scattered raindrops started to fall from the sky and in the distance, the waves were getting more and more wild. Clouds started to gather quickly and darkness was falling on the horizon. A storm was brewing.

She could've sworn there was no storm on the horizon before. In fact, she remembered the bright rays of sun shining out the window when she woke up. The sky was clear without a cloud in sight on her way to the cave yet in mere moments, it had all changed.

That gnawing feeling of guilt that haunted her only became worse. She didn't even know why she felt so guilty, she just knew she had to find them. If they didn't find Amy and Dennis, there was no saying what could happen to them. Yet neither Tom nor Robbie were fussed about the missing children. After all, the only thing those two agreed on was how much neither liked those two menaces.

"We should get back." Robbie was the first one to speak.

The winds were getting wilder, the clouds were about to burst with more rain. Robbie helped Tom carry Cordelia back to the little inn they were staying out, leaving poor Amy and Dennis behind.

Search party for the two missing children was promptly called off. No one was reckless enough to go out in this weather. Not even Cordelia.

Tom watched Cordelia as she stared at the dust covered window with concern marring her pretty face. He reached out and tapped on the window once and lightning struck. Abruptly she stood up and the clouds burst. Rain began to pour, pelting the window. She moved away from the window and held her diary close to her.

He wasn't focused on the rain anymore but instead he focused his attention on her diary. "You brought it with you?" Cordelia only nodded in response but that was all he needed. That diary might hold the answers he wanted.

Robbie spared him a glance of interest before carrying on with his game of snakes and ladders with the twins and Margaret. Beatrice stayed nearby on the bed, reading a book she had brought with her while Fran just stared out the window alongside Mary who was around Cordelia and Tom's age. Peter slept on the floor with a few of the younger children. Eric and Billy talked quietly among themselves in a corner, Eric being more considerate than usual.

The room was more crowded than Tom would've liked but it was one of the few things out of his control.

"They found Amy and Dennis!" Lucy shouted bursting through the door.

Margaret and Robbie, who were sitting on one of the beds, looked up in alarm.

Cordelia attempted to get up but Margaret forced her to sit back down. "Who found them?" Jack, one of the twins asked.

"A group of fishermen." Lucy answered, nervously looking over at her friend. "They said the two were just wandering by the sea."

"But we looked through the beach!" Joe, the other twin, pointed out. His brother shrugged in response.

"Maybe they were hiding." Eric speculated. He was sure they were. "Sounds like them." He mumbled, almost sounding sad.

Lucy gave him a look of sympathy. "You should go see them. They look like they've lost their minds." She suggested.

"Lost their minds?" Cordelia echoed, her mind was wandering and glanced down at her diary before looking up. Tom caught her subtle move when no one else did. "What happened?" She asked, pretending she wasn't nervous or concerned.

"Don't know. They're drenched and caked in mud, silent as an owl."

"Owls aren't that quiet." Cordelia pointed out.

Lucy shook her head. "You all get what I'm saying." Everyone nodded.

"I bet something happened." Jack speculated.

"I'm not surprised." Fran replied airily. She didn't really care, she was just gossiping. "What'd you think Mary?"

"I-I don't." The quiet girl responded and looked away. She caught Cordelia's eyes before she turned. She only gave the injured girl a timid smile but no words of comfort.

Margaret opened her mouth to press for more answers but promptly she shut it.

Worn-out and heavy-hearted, Mrs Cole dragged herself to the room. She clasped her hand in front of herself, sighing before she spoke. "Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop have been found." The children in the room bobbed their heads in response, acting as if they weren't just gossiping about their two. "Robbie. Margaret." The two looked up at the old matron. "Help these two settle in. I'll have a word with them later." She moved away and revealed the silent Amy and Dennis behind her.

A quiet collective gasp was heard around the room. Margaret covered her mouth. Only Tom didn't seem to react.

Amy and Dennis looked like a pair of drowned rats. Drenched in the rain and caked in mud as if they rolled around in the muddy beaches like pigs. What shocked them the most was how quiet they were and how tired they looked. It was as if they hadn't slept all their lives.

Other than that, the two were fine. No bruises, no cuts and no broken bones. They appeared to be fine but they were not. They were quiet, too quiet. Dennis and Amy were never quiet.