THE WATER BABY CHAPTER THREE

"Sophie, why don't you come over here and let me cuddle you?"
"No, Mum. I'm not Sophie."
"Of course you are. I only have one daughter, my darling, perfect Sophie. Your older sister, Sara, died years ago. Oh, it was so tragic. She drowned, remember?"
"But, Mum..." I protested.
"No buts, Sophie, you know we don't talk about her that often. The subject is still too painful for me."
I sighed. Clearly, Sophie's death had fuddled Mum's brain. If it got worse than it already was now, I'd have to make sure the men in white didn't come after her.
I suddenly remembered the funeral. Mum had said some painful stuff to me...

The wind whipped across my face as the vicar said one final prayer for Sophie. I really couldn't see why everyone was crying, and what all the fuss was about. Sophie hadn't been that old when she died. Possibly only about six months or so. Mum, who was standing next to me, shot me an evil glare.
"Sara, it seems you're the only one here who's not crying. Don't you feel any condolances towards her poor sister?"
I looked at her. She knew how I felt about my sister when she was alive. She knew that the reason why we argued all the time was because of Sophie every time. And now she was asking me if I had any condolances towards her? The barefaced cheek of it!
Mum stared at me. "You hard-faced little bitch. I almost wish it were you who had died and not your sister."
I felt tears swelling up. I swallowed, determined not to cry. I stared down at the floor. Mum shook me, a little too hard, possibly trying to make sure that I died too, and soon.

I came back to the present with a bump. I could feel the tears coming even now. I looked over at Mum, and stared at her, really hard. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, rocking to and fro. knuckles clenched in her mouth. I sighed. I decided the only thing to do was to run her a bath.
I sauntered off to the bathroom, and turned the bath taps on. I put in some bubble bath, and suddeenly, I shivered. You know, like someone just walked over your grave? I looked down at the bath, and gasped. A hand was protruding from the plug area! As I watched, flabbergasted, it slithered towards me, and started to pull me into the bath...

What happens next for Sara? Find out in Chapter Four...