The Rotting Flesh Book 2: Deadman’s Wonderland

“Get down, jump don’t be afraid okay!” said a beautiful blonde in her late forties, she was Tanya’s mother

“I can’t mama I’m scared” said a little girl about 10 years of age with shiny black hair

“Tanya you’ve always been a coward” commented a girl identical to her

“Hey Tania don’t be mean to your sister alright” said a tall plus size man

“Daddy I’m tired I wanna go home” complained Tania

“Wait for your sister, she’s almost at it” her father replied

“I’m going on my own” said Tania annoyed

She began to walk away towards the pool exit

“Tania wait for me!” yelled Tanya

“No, you take too long and you are a scaredy cat” she replied and left the premises

Tanya got down from the jumping board and ran to her parents crying.

“Come on don’t cry Tanya alright” comforted the mother hugging her

“You can do it next time, come lets catch up to your sister and get you girls ice cream” said the father holding her hand

Tanya and Tania’s father Joel was a gentle man who had a soft and soothing voice which could instantly comfort someone feeling low. His wife Hannah too was a soft spoken religious woman.

“Do you want me to tell you a secret” Joe said smiling down at Tanya as they walked

“Yes” she replied her eyes still watery

“I too am scared of jumping of the plank into a pool”

Her eyes widened and shone with disbelief “really daddy”

“Yes,” he leaned closer to her ear “its our little secret but I never did conquer my fear of heights” he whispered

She giggled and they made a pinky promise to not tell anyone.

“But why is Tania better than me daddy?”

“Whoever said that?” he asked

“I know she is better than me at everything” she puffed her cheeks

“Mmmmmm I wouldn’t say everything” said Joe

“How so?” said the little girl looking up at her father

“Well lets see, who is daddy’s best friend?”

“Me”

“Who is daddy’s hunting buddy?”

“Me”

Her face brightened the more he asked these questions, it was making her feel good about herself.

“Who makes daddy’s medicine when he is ill?”

“Me”

“Who” he was cut short by her hugging him

“Thank you daddy, I love you”

“I love you too my sweet baby girl” he replied smiling

“Hey Tanya come on I want to show you something” yelled Tania appearing from behind their van parked just outside the park

“Okay, bye daddy I love you” Tanya said and ran after her sister

“Don’t stray too far girls!” shouted Hannah waving at them

The two identical sisters ran into the woods one after the other.

“Where are we going Tania?” asked Tanya who was slowly running out of breathe

“Almost there, yea we are here” Tania stopped and pointed a river down below

It had a massive loud waterfall. It was the blue river, the biggest and longest river in the country. It stretched from one end of the country to the other even crossing the boarders into other places.

“Why are we here?” asked Tanya feeling uneasy

“To conquer your fear” said Tania happily throwing her hands in the air

“No I want to go back to daddy” refused Tanya backing away

“Come on don’t be such a cry baby, this is the perfect time to conquer” she said walking towards the edge of the cliff

“Tania don’t go there, daddy said not to go on high places” she warned her sister

Tania ignored her and walked close then got onto a branch that overlapped the cliff almost like the plank at the swimming pool. Below her was the river .

“See nothing is happening, you just have to be positive” said Tania jumping up and down on the branch

The tree creaked but none of them heard it.

“So you coming or what?” Tania asked her sister who still stood a fair distance from the edge

She shook her head in refusal.

“Okay fine, scaredy cat, lets go back to you daddy so you can be a big baby there” Tania scolded her sister

Tanya was quick to cry, tears were already feeling her eyes.

“Ah you are hopeleeeee” she couldn’t complete her sentence, the branch she stood on broke

Tanya’s heart skipped a beat and she instantly turned pale.

“Ta Ta Tania” Tanya said in a low voice praying to hear her sister’s voice

“Aaaaahhhhhhhh help me Tanya,” Tania screamed “please”

Tanya hesitantly walked closer to the cliff and the closer she got the dizzier she became. Tania was holding on to the broken branch which had not completely detached but it slowly was giving in due to her weight. Her pulse throbbed so much and the fear that had gripped her was paralyzing.

“Tanya please” she begged

Tanya looked over the cliff to see her sister and her phobia threw her backwards. She was so scared of heights her body refused to let her go back to the edge.

The branch Tania held on to slowly detached. She screamed for help, called out to her mom and dad. Joe heard the scream and took off into the woods like his life depended on it.

When he arrived he saw Tanya frozen and bundled up in one place trembling like she had seen a ghost.

“Where is your sister?” he hoped in his mind it was not what he was thinking

Tanya shook and pointed at the cliff. Joe ran to the edge and the strength in his knees disappeared. As he was about to fall over Hannah pulled him back.

“Joe what is it!?” she yelled confused with the situation

“I I I Its Tania, Oh dear God no” the man slumped down and wept like a child

Hannah looked over the cliff, a shriek escaped her lips. Their child was dead.