MUMA

by M. K. ROZE

  Adelyn’s eyes widened—certain he wasn’t mistaken. She

  knew it was Muma inside of her.

  He patted her leg. “I’ll be back in shortly to check on

  you. And I’ll have one of my nurses give you steroids for that

  bite under your eye.”

  “What bite?” Adelyn touched under her eyes and felt a

  bump under the left one.

  Dr. Diaz said something to the nurse, but she couldn’t

  hear what he said. He looked back at Adelyn. “I believe that

  you may have been bitten by one of those spiders that were

  in your room. This would explain the fever and the violent

  behavior you’ve been having in school for the past two days.

  And again, a few minutes ago. Some bug bites can do that.

  Especially those Florida spiders. But no worries. The bite will

  go down in no time.”

  When the doctor walked out, Adelyn sat up and groaned

  from her achy body. She hesitated before trying to convince

  her parents about Muma, but she tried anyway, hoping they

  may be able to help her. Especially Mom, knowing she

  believed in the paranormal. “It’s not the bug bite,” she said

  in a low voice. “It’s something evil inside of me.”

  Dad’s eyebrows raised, and he looked away.

  Mom sat next to Adelyn and rubbed her shaky hand.

  “There’s nothing evil inside of you. You’re reacting to the

  bug bite. You can hallucinate from it as well. This is why you

  thought you heard the woman in the house the other night.”

  Adelyn exhaled, not convinced. “Mom, you told me and

  Dad the paranormal world was real. It’s happening to me

  now. Please believe me. She wants to kill me.”

  “I know I told you that, and I’m sorry. Please trust that

  it’s only a reaction to the bug bite, honey.”

  Adelyn sighed. “Why would an infection cause me to

  speak with an evil Romanian accent? And I spoke with a

  Southern voice too. I know you guys heard the Romanian

  one. I tried to tell you the other day when I asked you about

  someone being drugged.”

  “We did hear your accent, honey,” Mom said. “But like

  I said, infections can cause erratic behavior. I’ve seen it in

  many people. We’ll have you see Dr. Perry. He will know

  what’s going on better than me.”

  Adelyn looked at her dad, who had his eyes on the floor.

  She wanted to tell him about what Detective Able did to

  prove she wasn’t lying, but she feared the detective would

  kill them if she did. She knew it was pointless even trying to

  convince them. “I hope you’re right.”

  Dad leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Get

  better. I need to go back to work and clock out. I’ll be back

  soon. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Dad.”

  Dad kissed her forehead, turned to Mom, and kissed

  her. He walked out with his head down.

  “Mom, where is my mirror?”

  “What mirror?”

  “Forget it.” Adelyn lay back down—sure it was left at

  school or Dad had it.

  Mom kissed her on the temple. “You need to rest. I’m

  going to work overtime and keep an eye on you. I’ll be right

  here when you wake up.”

  “How long do I have to stay here?”

  “Only for the night. Dr. Diaz needs to make sure you’re

  alright before he can release you. Now, fall asleep for me,

  please.” Mom looked at her vital signs and started for the

  door.

  Adelyn thought about Muma and wondered if it might

  have been all from the infection. “Mom?”

  Mom opened the door and turned to her. “What is it,

  honey?”

  “Can an infection cause your body to become paralyzed

  and make it where you’re not able to talk?”

  “It’s possible. Why, has that happened to you?”

  Adelyn wanted to tell her about the previous night, but

  she knew her mom didn’t need more stress. “It felt like I

  didn’t have any control when I was freaking out a little while

  ago.”

  “That was from the meds we gave you to calm you

  down. It’s one of the side effects, honey. Now, please get

  some rest. You need it.”

  “Okay, I’ll try.”

  When Mom walked out, Adelyn knew she didn’t have

  any medicine in her the night she became paralyzed. She

  knew she had to be possessed by Muma or she was a psychic

  with a mental illness. That was the only way she would know

  about the dead bodies. She closed her eyes and tried to

  relax—sure Muma would be back.

  ***

  Adelyn woke up to the gurney shaking. She sat up and

  looked around the room breathing heavily.

  Take my mirror back, Muma ordered.

  Adelyn gulped, desperate for help. She grimaced as she

  tore off the white tape and yanked the catheter out of her

  vein—blood squirting all over her hospital gown. She took

  the pillowcase off and wrapped it around her hand and slid

  off the gurney.

  Adelyn opened the door, looked up and down the

  empty hallway, and walked to the chapel. She knew if anyone

  could help her, it would be God.

  As Adelyn walked down the hall, a male nurse came

  from around the corner and headed toward her. She calmed

  her breathing, trying to act normal, and placed her hands

  behind her back, hoping he didn’t see the pillowcase.

  When the nurse smiled as he passed her, Adelyn picked

  up the pace and took the elevator to the first floor. She

  glanced at a couple crying and eased past them, where she

  continued down the long hallway to the small chapel.

  What do you think you’re doing? Muma asked.

  Adelyn ignored her and opened the door. She glanced

  at a priest kneeling in front of a Jesus statue, praying.

  The priest stood and smiled at her. “I will leave you to

  pray in private.”

  Adelyn grabbed his arm with tears trickling down her

  face. “Can you help me, Father? I think there is something

  evil inside of me.”

  The priest stood back, glanced at her hand, and looked

  at her with concern. “Why would you think that there’s

  something evil inside of you?”

  When Adelyn went to tell him, she got a stabbing pain

  in her chest. She let go of his arm, staggered over to the pew,

  and an unseen force pushed her into the Jesus statue

  breaking—the ceramic pieces scattering everywhere.

  “Miss, are you alright?” the priest called out as he ran

  over to her.

  Adelyn turned to him with pure hatred. “Get away from

  me, you godly bitch.”

  The priest backed away with caution and took off out

  the door.

  How dare you try to get rid of me, Muma shouted.

  “Help me!” Adelyn screamed.

  Shut up, thief, Muma ordered and cackled.

  Adelyn tried to crawl away, but something grabbed her

  foot and dragged her across the floor—the ceramic cutting

  her back.

  “Stop, please stop,” Adelyn begged and moaned from

  the burning pain in her back.

  The unseen force picke
d her up and pushed her against

  the wall. God can’t save you, Muma said. Now, take my mirror

  back.

  When she was released, she fell to her knees, crying

  uncontrollably. She was hopeless and terrified of how strong

  Muma was. She looked at the broken statue of Jesus. “I hate

  you for allowing her to torture me.” She glanced at the

  ceiling, hoping God heard her. “And I hate you more.”

  The door flew open, and two security guards walked in,

  followed by the priest and a female nurse.

  “What’s going on in here?” the guard asked as she

  approached her with caution.

  Adelyn knew she needed to come up with a lie that

  everyone would believe. “I came here to pray, and then I

  started to feel dizzy. That’s when I fell into the statue.” She

  looked at the priest with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry for what

  I said to you earlier. Please forgive me. I have an infection

  that makes me angry sometimes.”

  That’s a good thief, Muma said.

  Adelyn ignored her and looked at the priest nodding.

  The nurse walked out and came back in with a

  wheelchair.

  “I can walk on my own,” Adelyn insisted.

  “It’s for your safety, especially if you’re dizzy.”

  Adelyn sighed and sat.

  The nurse took Adelyn back to her room, with the

  security guards following them. Another nurse came in and

  helped Adelyn get back into bed.

  When the nurse that brought her there left, the other

  nurse followed her out and she returned a few minutes later.

  She looked at Adelyn’s hand. “Didn’t that hurt when you

  took the IV out?”

  “A little.”

  “Please let us take it out next time, okay?”

  Adelyn nodded.

  “Can you look at my back? It’s on fire.”

  “Let me take a look at it.” The nurse stepped to the side

  and untied her gown. “How did you get all these cuts and

  scratches all over your back from a fall?”

  “I fell on my back.”

  “It looked like you were dragged across something

  sharp.” The nurse went into the cabinet and got gauze out.

  “Are you sure nothing else took place in the chapel with the

  priest?”

  Adelyn wanted to blurt out what she went through, but

  she was sure Muma would show up and shut her down, so

  she played it off. “Yeah, I’m sure. I think I may have dragged

  my back against the floor while trying to get over to the pew

  to get back up.”

  “I see.” The nurse poured a clear solution on the gauze

  and then began wiping Adelyn’s back down gently.

  Adelyn grunted.

  “Sorry. I have to wipe the blood away to see if you need

  stitches.”

  “Do I?”

  “Not yet.” The nurse went silent and kept cleaning her

  back. “Nope, no stitches.”

  “Is my mom still here?”

  “Yes, but she’s in surgery with Doctor Diaz. I will tell

  her you’re asking for her when she gets out.”

  “Okay.”

  After the nurse cleaned her hand off from where she

  took the intravenous line out, she gave her a new gown to

  wear and walked out.

  Adelyn lay on her side, staring at the vital sign monitor,

  wondering where Muma was when she wasn’t inside of her.

  She stopped trying to figure it out and thought about how

  she was going to get the mirror back to Florida, so Muma

  would leave her be.

  he following day, late afternoon, Adelyn was

  released from the hospital. She got sent home with

  antibiotics and steroids for her bug bite.

  On the way home, Adelyn was trying to figure out a way

  to tell her parents she was going back to Florida, but she

  didn’t want them to question her, so she didn’t bother.

  Adelyn knew she had to take off without telling them when

  she felt like she could drive without crashing her truck.

  Mom looked back at her. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  Mom smiled and turned around.

  When Dad pulled in his parking spot at home, Adelyn

  looked at Marissa and Nellie standing on the front steps of

  the cabin, holding overnight bags. “Why are they here?”

  Dad put the truck in park and peered over his shoulder.

  “They were worried about you, so I told them they could

  spend the night. Is that okay? If not, I can tell them you’re

  not up for company and send them home.”

  “No, they’re fine.”

  Mom got out and opened the back door for Adelyn. She

  reached out her hand to help her out.

  Adelyn refused her kind gesture. “Mom, I’m fine.” She

  scooted off the seat and got out.

  “We ordered pizza,” Dad said. “Your mom and I are

  going back into town to pick it up.”

  “Okay.” Adelyn walked over to her friends and took

  turns hugging them longer than usual.

  “Are you okay now?” Marissa asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, minus my body feeling like I got ran

  over.”

  “Why are you so sore?” Marissa asked.

  “I had a seizure from the fever.”

  “Whoa,” Marissa said. “I’m glad you’re alright now.”

  Nellie wouldn’t take her eyes off Adelyn’s face. “I’m

  sorry that happened to you. I don’t mean to ask, but what’s

  that bump under your eye? It’s huge.”

  Marissa nudged Nellie with her elbow while looking at

  Adelyn. “Ignore her.”

  Adelyn giggled. “She’s fine.” She found Nellie frowning

  while rubbing the side of her stomach. “I got bit by one of

  those spiders that were in my room.” She paused and glanced

  up at the moon. “Well, that’s what the doctor thinks.”

  “So that’s why you were wacky at school,” Marissa

  joked.

  “Funny.” Adelyn stepped inside and looked back at

  them.

  Nellie shot Marissa a nasty look. “That was way meaner

  than what I said.”

  Marissa smirked and stepped inside. Nellie rolled her

  eyes and smiled at Adelyn as she closed the door.

  Upstairs, Nellie and Marissa set their bags on the floor,

  while Adelyn examined the room, hoping her father put the

  mirror there. When she didn’t see it anywhere, her stomach

  formed into a knot, ready to puke—sure Muma would kill

  her if it was missing.

  “What are you looking for?” Marissa asked.

  Adelyn sighed and sat on the bed. “My mirror. I think

  Dad left it at school.”

  Nellie sat next to her. “The mirror everyone at school

  said you wanted to kill Mary over?”

  Adelyn looked down and nodded, not wanting to think

  about that horrible day.

  Marissa dug through her bag and handed the mirror to

  Adelyn.

  Her eyes widened. “How did you get it?”

  “While we were waiting for the ambulance to show up,

  I overheard the principal tell your dad he was going to keep

  it until the end of the school year, so I grabbed it when no

  one was looking.”

  Adelyn traced her finger over it and t
urned to her.

  “Thank you. Did you look into it?”

  “Um, no, why?”

  “Yeah, why?” Nellie asked with a puzzled look.

  Adelyn stood and paced the room. “Remember when I

  told you about the woman I saw in the mirror?”

  Marissa sat next to Nellie. “Yeah.”

  “Her name is Muma,” Adelyn said.

  “Wait,” Nellie interrupted. “How come I never heard

  about this? And what do you mean, you saw her in the

  mirror?”

  Marissa scooted back against the wall. “Because you

  weren’t in the office when shit went down. Duh.”

  Nellie rolled her eyes. “Who is Momma?”

  “Muma,” Adelyn corrected in a harsh tone. “When I

  was in the stall looking into this mirror, I asked it, ‘who did

  this belong to.’ Or something close to that. That’s when an

  old, ugly witch appeared.”

  Adelyn paused, waiting to see if Muma would show up

  from what she just said. When nothing happened, she

  resumed. “She said she was Muma, and I had to return the

  mirror from where I got it or I would pay. It rhymed, but I

  can’t remember it right now. She’s the one who is taking over

  my body and making me say things. It’s not from the bug

  bite like people think. She’s too damn real to me.” Adelyn

  lifted her shirt and turned around. “This is what she did to

  me last night in the chapel.”

  “What the fuck,” Marissa said. “What happened?”

  Adelyn lowered her shirt, turned around, and looked at

  Nellie, who was grimacing at her.

  “Yeah, what happened,” Nellie said in a low voice like

  she was scared.

  Adelyn exhaled and sat on the edge of her desk. She told

  them everything that took place in the chapel.

  “Do you seriously expect us to believe that you were

  attacked by an evil force?” Marissa asked.

  “Fine, don’t believe me.”

  Nellie squinted her way. “Let’s pretend that this is real.

  Why would Muma tell you to bring the mirror back but then

  try to kill you? That makes no sense, Adelyn.”

  “Probably because this Muma bitch was pissed off that

  she stole it and she made her go to the chapel to repent.”