X-Files Fanfic Challenge 11: Teena's Letter

Idea: Teena Mulder finds a letter left for her on the porch.
Word Count: Under 500 words.

Title: Unwelcomed

Teena opened her door and stopped short. She stared at the little white paper corner protruding from under the welcome mat. Her heart caught in her throat - she wondered who it was from. What it was. If it was a note for her husband, or a letter-bomb, or perhaps a death threat. Of some state secret left there for him to find. Or maybe it was an offer for a new facial cleanser the local Avon lady was peddling.

She briefly considered waiting until Bill got home. But how could she explain it to him when he found she’d been afraid of an ad for Avon products.She stepped out onto the porch and glanced around. No unfamiliar cars sat on the street. No strangers walked on the sidewalk. She took a deep breath and carefully pulled the corner of the paper. It was an envelope. She flipped it over. It was addressed to her. Addressed to Tina.

She sighed. People were always spelling her name wrong. Her annoyance took the edge off her nervousness. She took the envelope inside and sat at the dining table. It lay on the table in front of her, staring back at her. She sipped her iced tea and regarded it with animosity.

She wouldn’t find out what it said if she didn’t open it. Her hands trembled ever so slightly as she tore open the envelope. Quickly, like a Band-Aid ripped from tender skin.

The writing was unfamiliar. A forced cursive - someone had disguised their writing. It had been folded so that only the words “Dear Tina Mulder,” appeared. She folded down the paper to reveal the message.

Bill arrived home an hour later to find his wife incensed and inebriated. “How dare they?” was all she would say.

He read the note on the table in front of her, and put his arm around her with uncharacteristic sympathy, “It’s okay, Teena. Everyone who matters knows that Fox didn’t have anything to do with Sam’s…going away.”

She stood and walked to the kitchen sink, looking out the window, “I don’t want to be here anymore. Let’s move.”

“Let’s move. And I’ll see that whoever sent that note is dealt with by the authorities.” She didn’t see the rage in his eyes. She didn’t have to. It was in his voice, too.

Step 1. Serve
Step 2. Resist from Within