The Secret Keepers

By Mary Grant

The story of a love that is so deep, two people share one soul, one heart. A love that consumes whatever is in its path. When one person breathes, the other is breathing the same air, when one hurts the other bleeds. When one mind shatters, the other will risk their own mind and body to save their soul.

The Secret Keepers is the journey of a woman, tortured by Multiple Personalities and a husband that would die a hundred deaths for her to live free of pain and terror. Together, they search for the truth she is unable to remember. With the help of Doctor Hammond, Amelia and Jacob begin a harrowing journey into her mind and find secrets that lead them and the police on a manhunt in Maine.

This is a journey both Amelia and Jacob will take, but only one can finish.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 13, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450097024

Mary Grant

Mary Grant lived in New Hampshire and now she and her husband and two dogs live on the Gulf Coast of Florida. She was always driven by the need to write and would spend hours at night creating stories and scripts, all of the treasures hidden away when they were finished. The idea for The Secret Keepers and the sequel, The Truth Keepers, originated from a dream on Christmas night and the manuscripts wrote themselves from there.

Book preview

The Secret Keepers

12619.png

Mary Grant

Copyright © 2010 by Mary Grant.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

77600

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

My Final Hour

Epilogue

The Truth Keepers, The Irresistible Sequel To The Secret Keepers

Chapter 1

Dedication

The Secret Keepers is dedicated to my father, Robert T. Grant Sr., the master storyteller. Dad never got the chance to read the finished manuscript, but he was my biggest fan by far. Love you, Dad, and safe journey.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T O GUIDO, FOR your patience and always finding something to do so I could write in solitude.

To Lorena Sanchez, for pushing me to publish this manuscript. She was relentless in her support and editing of everything I sent her.

To Jason Peterson Grant, for the work with the Facebook page and pushing me to stay focused.

To my entire family and friends, for allowing me to hibernate during the writing of this book without complaining once.

To Dr. David Whitenack, for the idea of the character Dr. Douglas Hammond, thank you.

CHAPTER 1

A MELIA!

I could hear the voice from a distance, down the dimly lit corridor.

Amelia, walk to me, follow my voice.

The corridor had openings on my right, where doors once were. I kept my back to the left wall and slid sideways, listening for the voice. Other noises filled the corridor too, but I couldn’t distinguish which opening they were coming from. I froze against the wall, willing myself to become part of the plaster. It sounded almost like the fluttering of hummingbird wings, soft and gentle to my ear.

Amelia, can you hear my voice? Walk toward my voice… The man’s voice was gentle and calming, I wanted to find him.

I slid a few feet more along the wall until I was across from one of the door openings. My eyes looked into the blackness of the room, through the latticework that covered the opening. I could feel the terror clutching at my throat; the air would not fill my lungs or escape from them either. I pressed my palms against the wall, afraid to move any further. Something was in the darkness, or someone was in the darkness. I turned my head slightly to peer down the corridor again; if I moved or drew attention to myself, would the monster come crashing through the latticework?

The hummingbird wings were louder now, coming from the next door; but they were not as gentle, more urgent, calling to me, willing me to move. I pressed myself against the wall and moved my feet in the direction of the next door. I could not will my eyes to move from the darkness of the room across from me. I could feel the eyes on me, watching and waiting. As I got to the next door, it was closed, but I stepped to it keeping my eyes on the dark door that was now to my right. The humming of the wings was loud now; I wanted to cover my ears to block the sound.

Amelia… The voice was soothing and protective. What do you see? Do you see the way out of the hallway? Follow me, follow my voice… ignore the doors, Amelia… find me… keep looking.

I pulled a small amount of air into my lungs and reached for the door handle, and it was very warm to the touch. The hummingbirds were behind the door. There was now the sound of murmurs, like children talking among themselves. I knew if I opened the door, I would be safe; the monster from the dark room wouldn’t come through this door. I just had to open it and step in.

I turned the door handle, taking a quick glance to my right, and stepped into the darkness of the room. It was warm inside, but as black as the room I had passed. I could feel the presence of people around me, but I wasn’t afraid. I took in a full breath of air and let it release. I could stay here, they would protect me, and I knew it even without seeing who was with me. A young girl spoke first; I could tell by her playful voice she was very young – maybe eight years old, no more than that.

Do you want to play a game? she asked, and I could feel her smile. The blackness of the room made me wonder if my eyes were open or closed. I couldn’t tell for sure.

I don’t know… I’m looking for someone, I answered as I felt her body move around mine. Her hand brushed against mine ever so softly.

Everyone is here, even David is here. The child spoke as she circled me again, brushing past my other hand. I moved my hand in front of me, trying to touch her, but she was invisible in the dark. I felt another hand touch my cheek, my hair, my arm.

David… I could feel his pull from somewhere in the darkness.

I don’t want to go out into the hall, the monster is there. I can’t hide outside this room. Please don’t let him in. I wasn’t afraid in here, but I knew what waited outside. I knew everything would end if the children wouldn’t allow me stay invisible like them.

I’m right here, Amelia. I will go out and find out for you what the voice wants. You stay here with Celia, be very quiet. David’s voice was older than Celia’s child voice. He was stronger and more grown up, I could feel that too. He put his hand on my shoulder as he moved past me.

Don’t be afraid, stay in the darkness. As David opened the door, it dimly lit the room and I could see several children ranging in age from eight or nine to twelve years old. They all moved back from the light of the door. Celia put her hand in mine and pulled me ever so easily away from the light, further into the darkness.

Amelia, listen to my voice… come to me. You can do this without any help from the others. Walk, Amelia, and don’t stop. I am here waiting to help you. Come. The voice from the corridor seemed to be pleading, slight anxiety rising to the surface of his voice. I could hear David speak to the voice as the door closed and the room was dark again.

Dr. Hammond, she is with us. I won’t let her come out to talk to you. You can say what you want to me.

David? Almost a question, but the older man with the gentle voice knew whom he was addressing.

Send Amelia back, David, she needs to be here. I know she can hear me. His voice was calm, but an edge of demanding was not far from the surface.

No, I think we will keep her with us for a while. You can’t help her, and no one can help her but me. David’s voice was moving toward the angry side.

Dr. Hammond, you think you know everything, but you don’t. You need to leave us alone. I have all the control, and Amelia and the others will only respond to me. I could hear David trying to bait the doctor, and I waited quietly in the room. Celia put her arms around my waist and took another step backward, like there was going to be trouble outside the door that might burst through it at any moment.

Amelia, come to me, you can do this. Concentrate on my voice. Dr. Hammond was pleading. Had he sent me too far this time? Too far backward for me to find my way back to him and, and… there was someone else. I could suddenly feel the draw from the other side of the door. Someone else was waiting for me, someone I didn’t want to disappoint by staying in the dark.

Don’t talk to her. You speak to me only… I’m the only one that she listens to. David was shouting at the doctor, he was angry that the doctor would try to bypass his authority like this.

Call to her, Jacob, let her hear your voice. Dr. Hammond was speaking to someone else that was with him, I could feel David’s anger. He was seething, and my head began to throb and ache.

Come back to me, hear my voice, Amelia… I can’t do this without you… please try… don’t be afraid, I am waiting right here. I’m here, please… come to me. It was the voice of my angel, my savior. Jacob was calling me to him. How could I not listen? I trembled as I tried to move my body to the door, but Celia was now holding me, restraining me.

Don’t you dare move, Amelia. I won’t allow this to happen. You know what I can do to you. You won’t be able to survive the pain. David was angry now at me, I could feel it through the door. My head started to streak with pain. I wanted to call to Jacob, to tell him I would be fine here, to go on without me. My lips would not move, David had the control and was not going to relinquish it without a fight.

Again, Jacob… call her, say her name. Amelia, listen to us. Dr. Hammond was speaking to my angel, and I could hear the pain in Jacob’s voice as he spoke to me. How could I keep hurting him like this? I could stay here in the dark and he would be safe from me. I could let him go, if he was safe.

Amelia, please, baby… come to me. I’m not going anywhere without you. I can’t do this alone. I need you. We have a life together, I need you… please. The last please was broken by a soft intake of air. He was trying to contain his sob. Jacob knew even now that I could not return to him. I was here for a reason, to save myself and to save him.

"Stop talking to her, she is staying and there is nothing you can do now. You made this happen. You sent her back to us. Why? I can protect her here, you can’t. Stop getting in the way."

David, you do have control right now, but she is strong, stronger than she ever has been. Don’t you want her to feel better? To get better? Dr. Hammond must think he could reason with the young man.

I will not allow this to happen, we have nowhere to go, we need her more than you. You stay out of this…

Amelia, you are strong, you are in control… find the will, tell David to let you go. Dr. Hammond was demanding now.

David hit the door with his fist, and the crack made me jump. Celia’s hold was broken. I tried to move to the door, but it was like swimming in mud. I struggled against it, wanting to scream to Jacob not to leave me here. I couldn’t get the words to come out. David was so strong, so many years of experience behind his anger. I put my hands over my ears again, to help with his screaming. My head hurt, and I felt like it was going to explode as the pain he was inflicting was like hot pokers to my temples.

You are not going back to them, stop struggling! David was still angry, holding the door closed.

Don’t touch that door. You will be sorry if you don’t obey me. Stop struggling! David was increasing the pain in my head; it would be so easy to fall away from the door, to let him win. Jacob and Dr. Hammond could hear David and his threats, and they knew what kind of pain that caused me. David was so strong.

Don’t hurt her, please. Please let her come back to me… please let her go. Jacob’s voice had panic in it. I pulled on the door, but David had a firm hold.

Jacob, listen to me… talk to Amelia, not to David. Amelia has got to be the one to control this. Give her the strength. Dr. Hammond’s voice was low and calming.

Please, you are my life, Amelia. Come to me, listen to me… I’m here.

I tried to uncover my ears, just long enough to grab the door handle. Celia was there now, beside me. She touched my hand with hers, softly, like a child afraid to cross the street by himself.

I don’t want to stay here without you, you can’t leave me here!

Who is that? Celia, is that you? Help her, Celia, help her open the door. She is not leaving you behind, you are always with her. Dr. Hammond knew all my alters by name. They were all distinct.

Is that you, Celia? Help Amelia find her way out, Celia, help her, Jacob was asking

Yes, speak to her… speak to her like a father would a young child. She can help Amelia. Dr. Hammond was gaining control again.

"Celia, this is Jacob, do you remember me? I am your friend, we have spoken a lot together. I’m reading you a book, Cinderella, do you remember?" Celia didn’t move her hand from mine. I could feel her eyes on me in the dark. She was terrified of David and was afraid to speak to my angel, but she found the courage to respond in her tiny voice.

Yes… the voice was so low, I didn’t know if Jacob could hear her through the closed door.

I like talking to you. We play games, do you remember? You have come to see me before… come… talk to me now. What is Amelia doing, Celia? Can you see her? Dr. Hammond’s voice was soft and gentle, all antagonism was gone. A different voice for a different other.

David is being mean to her, he is hurting her. Make him stop… he will hurt all of us!

Oh God, Hamm, get her out of there, please stop this. Jacob’s voice was filled with pain.

Celia, can you open the door for her? Can you help Amelia? Dr. Hammond appeared to be ignoring Jacob as he continued in the same soft voice. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep standing with the pain in my head. David was coming back to the front of the conversation, his rage was so painful.

Don’t you touch that door, Celia, get away from her. Get away, now! My knees started to buckle from the pain. Was I going to die in here?

Amelia, I know this hurts, but it will stop if you come out, come to my voice, come to Jacob. Celia, open the door.

With Celia’s help I flung the door open, and David was not outside; I searched the corridor for him, but he was gone. I remembered the dark door beside me and was still afraid to speak too loudly for fear the monster would burst through the lattice. I could hear him in there, breathing, panting. I turned my thoughts back to the end of the corridor and moved to the safe wall again and began to inch my way back to the end of it. My head hurt and I couldn’t focus my eyes as I moved.

Jacob? I breathed.

You’re almost here. Run, Amelia, run to me, Jacob was begging.

Easy! Jacob, slowly. Amelia, you are safe, just walk and don’t look back.

I was coming to the end of the corridor; there was light under the double doors, and I reached for the metal bar to push the door open to my angel. I looked over my shoulder briefly down the long hallway and saw the door where Celia had been close quietly, and I knew I would be back. I was not finished with this yet. I did have the courage to return and move between my two worlds.

CHAPTER 2

B REATHE SLOWLY AND open your eyes, Amelia. I’m counting now, come to me when I get to one. Three… two… one. Dr. Hammond counted backward and my eyes opened and a flash of fear was on my face. What had I done? Jacob started to move to me, and Dr. Hammond put a restraining hand on his arm.

Wait, don’t touch her, just wait. You are safe, Amelia, breathe! Dr. Hammond extended his hand in my direction, and I recoiled from it.

I came instead of Amelia, she was afraid David would hurt me. She sent me instead. Can we play a game? Celia smiled at Dr. Hammond, and he smiled back at her.

Hi! Jacob, why are you crying? Did I do something bad? Celia sat on the couch and pulled her legs up tight to her body. She was keeping distance between her and them.

No, honey, you haven’t done anything wrong, I’m just so happy to see you is all. Jacob wiped tears from his face so as not to scare the little girl.

Where is Amelia? How did you come without her? You’re a very brave little girl, Jacob asked softly. What did you want to talk about? Do you still want to play a game? He shifted his weight in the chair he was in but made no other move to close the ground between them.

Dr. Hammond shifted his position across from her, and she instinctively pushed herself into the back of the couch.

I’m not coming any closer, Celia, you don’t have to be afraid. I won’t let anything hurt you. I won’t touch you, I promise. I remember how you told me that it burns when someone touches you. Please don’t be afraid. Dr. Hammond shifted slightly away from the child before him. Celia’s eyes were wary of the two men, but she smiled and loosened her grip on her legs. Her eyes went to Jacob, and he smiled back at her. He so wanted to reach out to her, but he knew that was impossible with the little girl. He would wait, not moving.

She sent me out. She didn’t want me to be afraid of David. She said you would be here waiting for me. She pushed me through the door, and I ran down the hall. Why is David so mad? He is always mad… he does bad things, did you know that? Her voice was so soft; the men had to concentrate to hear her. Her eyes focused on Jacob, and Jacob looked at Dr. Hammond for direction. The doctor nodded to him.

David wants to protect you and Amelia and the others. He doesn’t want to be mean. He’s like your big brother, isn’t he?

I have seen what he does to her, and it scares me… I’m afraid he’ll do that to me. Jacob looked down at his hands; he had to be careful with the path he took with her.

I don’t think David would hurt you, Celia. You are a little girl, and he just wants you to be safe. He thinks he is helping you. He and Amelia just like to argue. They don’t mean anything by it, honest. He lifted his eyes back to her again. The little girl gave him the sweetest smile he had ever seen and then looked at the empty couch beside where she was sitting.

Can you sit with me, read the book to me? The one we were reading the last time I came to visit. I don’t want to talk about David anymore. She was still smiling at him. Jacob looked at Dr. Hammond and rose from his seat to sit beside Celia. He gave her plenty of room so as not to touch her. Dr. Hammond lifted a nursery book from next to the light on the coffee table beside him and handed it to Jacob. Jacob opened the book to the pictures of Cinderella, and Celia reached for him – he didn’t move an inch. He just watched her, glancing at Dr. Hammond. The two men were pros when it came to the others. Each of the others had their own personality.

Celia raised her hand with one finger extended in his direction, still smiling. Jacob raised his hand slowly and reached toward her. As their fingers touched, Celia recoiled, pulling her hand back and grimacing.

I want to touch you, but don’t move. Be very still, okay? Jacob smiled back at her. Celia touched his cheek ever so slightly, like the wings of a hummingbird, and then she was gone.

It was my lifesaver, and I reached back. Jacob lowered his head for a moment, and I thought it strange that he would have tears in his eyes when he looked up again at me.

What happened? I had to know this time. Did I hurt anyone? Jacob, please forgive me. I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you?

No, Amelia, I was afraid that you wouldn’t come back to me. Jacob labored to smile, but he did, and then I reached for him. He shot a glance at Dr. Hammond and moved closer to me. He tenderly wrapped me in his arms and kissed my forehead.

I love you. You did it. He kissed my cheek and held me tighter. I clung to him – my angel, my savior.

Dr. Hammond waited for a moment until I felt safe enough to loosen my grip on Jacob.

What do you remember? Hamm asked when I relaxed just a slight bit. He could see the features on my face relax.

I don’t remember anything. And I didn’t, it was all so blank.

Why did you think that you had hurt someone?

I felt so angry when I woke up, like I was being forced to do something that was wrong… or bad. I don’t know how to explain it.

You have got to try. What exactly did you feel? Dr. Hammond was pushing me, and he never did that. I was starting to be frightened. Did I do something?

I felt… I felt, I repeated, and then there was nothing. I shook my head slowly.

What? He demanded now, he was pushing harder. I saw Jacob glance at him and then to me. I lowered my eyes from his face. I couldn’t stand the look of hopelessness in his face.

Angry, terrified, tired, my headache is back, you know? I finally managed. When will I be me again? I asked quietly. When will I know that I’m better?

You are better. You came back this time easier than the other times. I had you go further down the corridor this time, past the black door, and you came back. Dr. Hammond sounded hopeful. Was he? I caught the look that passed between Jacob and the doctor, like the secret that they were keeping was big.

What? Hamm, what are you not telling me? I demanded. I didn’t like it when I didn’t have all the facts, and this felt like they were hiding something from me.

David was trying to make you stay in the dark. Do you remember him with you?

No! Why?

David is your strong personality. It’s his job to protect you… to keep you safe from everyone and everything. It works like a self-preservation mode. When you are afraid and unable to cope with whatever it is that scares or threatens you, you retreat and let David control the situation. You were angry when you woke up because he was the last voice before you emerged. He feels that we do not protect you. Do you think that also?

I considered this for a moment and wasn’t sure how to feel about this.

If I didn’t believe in you, why would I come back? It is not pleasant to think of myself as unhinged, you know?

Hamm smiled at me, that fatherly smile that made me feel safe. You are not unhinged in any way possible. I think next time you will do even better.

Next time, what do you mean? I knew I didn’t want to go back there.

You have got to try and go back. It is the only way to help you find yourself again.

One of these times, I’m not going to make it back alive… My voice trailed off, and Jacob shot another look at Dr. Hammond.

You will come back. Here is where you belong, in this world. You are stronger now than you have been in the past, remember that. As Hamm finished, Jacob pulled me tight to him again and kissed me gently.

I’m here. You have got to come back to me. We are in this together – what hurts you, hurts me. I love you and you love me and you know it. Here is where you belong. Hamm waited patiently for Jacob and me to release each other because he wanted to continue his conversation. I looked at him and smiled and then he said to me.

Did you know that Celia came to us, just before you appeared? Hamm smiled and continued on without hesitation.

She is such a lovely child. She touched Jacob’s face this time, all by herself. It seems okay when she is touching, but when she is touched in return she still is unable to accept the nearness.

Why would she come here… now? I was confused; I didn’t feel Celia around me.

You sent her out first, he said, and he sounded pleased. I was still confused, and all I could do was stare blankly back at him.

She said you knew we were here waiting for her. You thought you would be protecting her, you had control. That was very brave of you, but you should probably get some rest now. When you come back on Wednesday, we are going to try something different. I want to bring out one of the others, instead of you going in. Do you think you can do that? Hamm explained, and still I stared with my confused expression on my face. Had he not seen enough of my inner world, enough to run for his life? I was under the impression that he had been smarter than to purposely