John dragged Molly back into the cellar, shoving her against a wall. Then he turned to Hateful Helena and said, "What are we supposed to do now? She's going to tell."
Molly curled up into the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry," she said.
Hateful Helena knelt down and grabbed Molly by the chin. "You're not going to tell anyone, are you sweetheart?" Helena asked. Molly shook her head.
"I told you we were going to get caught. I told you we should have gone somewhere else," John said.
Helena turned away from Molly to hurl John's clothes at him. "Go out to the forest until sundown. If anyone asks, say you were hunting. That's what you boys do, isn't it?"
"I guess so, but I haven't caught anything."
"Then go find something. Do I have to think of everything?" Hateful Helena kissed John on the cheek and then added, "Don't worry about poor widdle Molly. I'll deal with her." They kissed again before John ran up the steps.
Hateful Helena wiggled into her dress and then turned back to Molly. "You know it's wrong to spy on other people, don't you Molly? You're going to be in big trouble when I tell your mother what happened. You don't want that, do you?"
Molly shook her head. "Good. Now, let's go upstairs and pretend nothing ever happened. All right?" Molly nodded and took Helena's hand. Mama Becky had told her before not to pry into other people's business. She would get mad if she found out Molly had been spying on Helena and John.
Hateful Helena led Molly up the stairs, where Ugly Phyllis waited. "What's going on here? John ran out of here like his ass was on fire. What's Freckles doing here?"
"Molly's been a very bad girl. She was spying on John and I," Helena said. Molly looked down at the floor, saying nothing so she wouldn't get in more trouble.
"Oh shit, what are you going to do?" Ugly Phyllis asked.
"Don't worry, everything's under control," Helena said. She bent down to look Molly in the eye. "Molly, because you've been a bad girl you have to be punished. This is going to hurt a little, but you should learn a valuable lesson."
Before Molly could say anything, Hateful Helena pushed her down the stairs. Molly screamed as she bounced down the steps, landing in a heap on the floor. She cried out for Mama Becky before passing out.
When she awoke, she found herself in bed with Mama Becky at her side. Hateful Helena stood near the door, her face red with tears. Mama Becky said, "Are you all right? You took a nasty spill. If Helena hadn't found you-"