MUMA

by M. K. ROZE

  down and soaked her white shirt.

  Pop.

  Adelyn released Mom, got up, and limped toward Dad.

  She looked at the blood running down her thigh and up at

  him. “It’s time to die, you son of a bitch for a father!”

  Dad aimed his shaky hands toward her other leg. “Stop,

  please stop. I don’t want to kill you. You need her.”

  “I need no one!” Adelyn leaped on him.

  Pop.

  A violent jerk to Adelyn’s body caused her to fly

  backward. A guttural scream escaped her lips as she dropped

  to the floor, grabbing her legs. “D-dad, it burns.”

  Mom crawled to the corner of the room, holding her

  bloody neck, and began rocking while shaking her head.

  “Breanna, are you okay?” Dad asked.

  Mom nodded in a daze.

  Dad got up and ran to Adelyn. “I’m so sorry for having

  to shoot you, honey.” He looked at Mom. “Breanna, will you

  please help her! I don’t know if I hit an artery.”

  Mom went to get up and fell to her side.

  “Oh, my God, Breanna!” Dad jumped to his feet and

  ran toward her.

  Steve charged in the door, followed by three other cops.

  Steve looked at the bodies and pointed his gun toward Dad.

  “Jeff, don’t move a fucking inch, or I will shoot you where

  you stand.”

  Dad raised his hands and fell to his knees, sobbing.

  “Help Adelyn and Breanna, please,” he begged.

  The cops carefully approached Jeff and cuffed him.

  “Don’t arrest him,” Adelyn said and fainted.

  Adelyn woke up in the ambulance and looked at EMT’s

  dressing her wounds. She tried to move her arms, but she

  was strapped down. “Is my mom okay?”

  The female EMT ignored her. “She’s awake,” she said

  and started an intravenous line.

  Steve hopped up into the ambulance. “Why did you

  want us to release your dad after what he has done?”

  “Because it wasn’t him.”

  Steve gave her a confused look. “If it wasn’t Jeff, then

  who was it?”

  Adelyn looked into his watery eyes in a shock. “Me.”

  Steve gulped and jumped down from the ambulance.

  The EMT’s took Adelyn to the hospital, where the

  nurses rushed her into emergency surgery. After Adelyn

  woke up, the doctor told her she was lucky the bullets missed

  her femur bone and only went into the tissue. Adelyn wished

  it was her forehead Dad aimed at instead.

  The following day, a detective she didn’t know

  questioned her about what happened. She told them the

  truth. The detective told her he believed it was her who killed

  the people, but not an evil entity within her as she said in the

  report. She knew the truth and that was all that mattered to

  her.

  They released Dad and placed Adelyn under arrest. Two

  days later, she was wheeled into court, and Judge Garth

  ordered her to be placed into Magus, a mental health

  institution, until her competency hearing, which was a week

  away.

  delyn sat up every night for six days, staring at a

  white wall. She wondered where the witches went

  and why they hadn’t possessed her since the

  murders. She thought that Muma somehow found a way to

  enter Witchery Cove, caught Sula, and they killed each other.

  As the long days turned into nights, Adelyn became

  furious. She wanted to become possessed again, not to kill

  anyone else, but to prove to the doctors what she told them

  was the truth. She needed her life back, and she wished she

  could turn back time and never steal the mirror. Adelyn

  didn’t want to know that the paranormal world ever existed.

  She wanted to live her life as she once did, or she would end

  hers as soon as she got the chance.

  On the seventh day, Adelyn rocked back and forth on

  the bed, wearing a pink flowered top, and her favorite ripped

  jeans while staring at her aged reflection in the barred

  window.

  Adelyn yanked on her white hair and pushed in the large

  lump on her wrinkled face, revolted by Muma’s curse. She

  told the doctors her sudden, elderly look wasn’t an unknown

  disease like they thought, but they weren’t convinced and

  gave her antipsychotic drugs every day to keep her calm.

  Adelyn thought because the medicine was stronger than the

  sleeping pill she took from her mom, that was another reason

  why the witches didn’t possess her. She knew they hated it

  when she became weak, but she didn’t know why they did.

  The door opened and two policemen walked in. “It’s

  time for your competency hearing, Miss Mae,” the officer

  said and approached her with caution.

  Adelyn stood and turned to the cops. “I would hurry it

  up and secure me. You never know when the others are

  going to show themselves. I wouldn’t want to hurt any of

  you.”

  The one cop cuffed her while the other officer shackled

  her. They led her out of the institution and helped her get

  into the police van.

  As they drove the short distance to the court building,

  Adelyn glanced out the window at her school, then looked

  up at Broom Mountain. She quickly lowered her head and

  sobbed. God, why are you allowing this? She slammed her head

  a few times on the metal cage in front of her.

  The officer in the passenger seat looked over his

  shoulder. “Hey, stop trying to hurt yourself, or we’ll have no

  choice but to hogtie you.”

  Adelyn squeezed her fists together and took a couple of

  deep breaths, remembering Steve and another cop having to

  hogtie her after the murders because she flipped out. She

  calmed down, knowing he was serious.

  When the van came to a stop, the cops got out, and

  Adelyn looked at the courthouse. She glanced at the police

  station, wondering where her Dad was.

  One of the officers opened the door while the other one

  helped Adelyn step out of the van. They held her arms and

  led her inside, where they placed her in a room with nothing

  but a white built-in- bench. She sighed and sat on its hard

  surface, remembering cleaning the room when she helped

  Dad out. Adelyn never thought she’d be handcuffed looking

  at the same white walls as so many inmates had. Adelyn

  placed her head between her knees and grimaced from the

  pain in her legs.

  When someone knocked, then opened the door, Adelyn

  looked at the lawyer Dad hired for her case. “Hello, Miss

  Mae. Do you remember me visiting you last week in the

  hospital?”

  “Yes, Mr. Reed. I know who you are. I’m not crazy like

  you all think I am.”

  Mr. Reed adjusted his red tie. “I never said you were. I

  just know that you were highly medicated at the time when I

  last spoke with you.”

  Adelyn looked away. “Do I have to go out there? They

  know I’m guilty, so what’s the point of coming here just to

  admit I am?”

  “This is how it works, Miss Mae. Did you think about

 
what we spoke about?”

  Adelyn looked up at him. “I’m not pleading insanity. I

  knew what was going on at all times. I was just under

  someone else’s control.”

  “This is why I would like to say you had a mental break

  down. The jurors may not give you any time at all. Especially

  if I can get a doctor to say that all this erratic behavior was

  caused by the head injury from your accident. Or the rapid

  aging disease you acquired in the last week.”

  Adelyn glared his way and touched the lump on her face.

  “This is not a disease.” She paused and grabbed her hair. “It’s

  a damn curse. I wish someone would believe me.”

  The door opened and an older woman peeked her head

  inside. “Mr. Reed, I’m sorry for interrupting, but Judge

  Garth will be out soon.”

  “Thank you.” He looked back at Adelyn. “Miss Mae, we

  don’t need to make a decision now, but I will need to ask the

  judge for a continuance. Don’t you want to become free

  again?”

  Adelyn stood. “Everyone fears me, including you, so

  what’s the point?”

  “Miss Mae, the prosecutors want to give you life in

  prison without the possibility of parole.”

  Adelyn shrugged. “Tell them to give me the electric

  chair and be done with it.”

  Mr. Reed exhaled with the same hopeless look on his

  face from when he met with her the previous week. He

  opened the door and escorted Adelyn into the courtroom

  with cops following them.

  When people gasped, Adelyn was sure it was from the

  way she looked, not from what she was charged with. She

  looked at the floor until she got to the partition and sat on a

  bench. She glanced at the male and female inmates who sat

  next to her wearing red jumpsuits, wondering what they did.

  They gave her nasty looks and scooted away from her.

  Adelyn sighed and found Dad, who was sitting next to

  Mom. They smiled at her, and Dad tapped on his lap. Adelyn

  looked at a red gem sticking out from under his jacket,

  questioning why he would bring the mirror with him. She

  didn’t know and glanced at the people in the packed

  courtroom, who were eyeing her with hatred.

  Adelyn scanned the room and found reporters standing

  in the back with cameras aimed her way. She looked at

  Marissa, who was sitting in the second row next to Nellie and

  Jake. When Marissa smiled at her, Adelyn wondered why she

  did, especially after what she had done. She took another

  look at Jake, but he grimaced and looked away. Nellie made

  eye-contact, shook her head with disgust, and looked

  forward.

  When a door creaked open, Adelyn’s body flinched as

  she glanced at Judge Garth, who had a grumpy look on his

  aged face just like the last time she saw him. He walked out

  of his chambers and continued over to the raised wooden

  bench, where he sat and looked at his computer.

  “All rise,” a bailiff said from the other side of the room.

  “The Honorable Judge Garth presiding, is now in session.”

  Everyone stood, except for Adelyn, who was now

  staring at Judge Garth in a daze.

  “Miss Mae, please stand up for Judge Garth,” Mr. Reed

  urged in a whisper.

  Adelyn glared at him and shook her head slowly with a

  nasty grin on her face. “I rise for no one,” she said in Sula’s

  voice.

  People gasped.

  “Please be seated,” the bailiff said.

  Judge Garth found Mr. Reed. “I don’t normally do this,

  but being that your client seems to be agitated, I’m going to

  call your case right now.”

  Mr. Reed nodded, and he approached the podium.

  Judge Garth looked on his computer. “Your client, Miss

  Mae, is charged with three counts of murder. How does she

  plead?”

  Adelyn cackled and looked over at Dad. She licked her

  lips and flickered her eyes to Mom. “You’re lucky to have

  lived, cunt!”

  Three bailiffs approached Adelyn and stood near her,

  ready to take her out of the courtroom.

  “Miss Mae, please have some respect,” Mr. Reed warned

  in a harsh undertone.

  “Order in the court,” Judge Garth scolded and banged

  the gavel several times on its wooden striking base. He glared

  at Adelyn. “Keep your mouth shut before I have one of my

  bailiffs muzzle you.”

  “Fuck you, slob.” Adelyn spit toward him.

  “Remove her immediately from my courtroom,” the

  judge ordered.

  Adelyn grinned and looked at the inmates next to her.

  She licked her lips and slid closer to them.

  The inmates scooted to the other side of the bench, as

  two bailiffs tried pulling Adelyn up, but she wouldn’t budge

  as she kept her eyes on her surroundings. The bailiffs looked

  at each other, and they yanked on her arm, trying to get her

  up, but she still didn’t move.

  “Today would be nice, gentlemen,” Judge Garth said.

  Adelyn looked at the bailiff’s, flicked the air, and they

  flew backward, slamming into the bench, knocking them out.

  “What the hell!” Judge Garth stood and fell backward.

  When three other bailiffs ran toward her, she looked at

  them, and they went flying out the bay window. People ran

  out of the courtroom, screaming, while others bolted to the

  other side of the room.

  “Sula!” Dad yelled while aiming the mirror at Adelyn.

  Adelyn stood, looked at her hands and feet, then the

  cuffs and shackles fell off.

  “Holy shit,” a male inmate shouted and jumped over the

  partition, where he ran out the door. Several other inmates

  followed him, but the door wouldn’t open. They pounded,

  yanked, and kicked on the door, desperate to get out.

  Adelyn cackled. “No one leaves unless I allow you to.”

  The inmates turned to her and ran over to the other

  people.

  Adelyn grinned and scanned the room while licking her

  lips. “Who shall I eat first?” She looked at Judge Garth, who

  was holding his chest with his unsteady hand.

  “Zoom in on her yellow eyes,” a man yelled from

  behind the camera guy.

  Adelyn looked into the camera and grinned. “Yes, show

  the world who I am.”

  “Hey,” Dad yelled.

  Adelyn found Dad, with Mom hiding behind him. She

  pointed at the mirror and it flew from his hand to hers. She

  looked into it and smiled. “Muma, what have you done to

  me?”

  A black mass flew out of the mirror, causing Adelyn’s

  hair to blow back, and the shadow hovered into the center

  of the room. Everyone gasped while watching its every

  move.

  “What the fuck am I seeing?” a man yelled.

  “Muma!” Adelyn bellowed in Sula’s voice.

  The mass transformed into Muma and she lowered to

  the ground. She glanced at the people, who were huddled

  together, squatting in disbelief in the corner of the room.

  Muma found Adelyn. “When you banished me from entering

&
nbsp; Adelyn’s body again, I found the territorial spell was easier

  to break than I expected. You’re not as clever as you once

  were when you were human.”

  “The broken spell won’t last long,” Sula said and snarled

  at her.

  “That’s fine. This won’t take long.” Muma pointed at

  her, and the mirror flew into her hand. She kissed the mirror,

  set in on the podium, and scowled at Adelyn.

  Adelyn charged Muma, thrashing at her face.

  “Her eyes are fucking black now,” a man yelled out.

  She’s the devil.”

  Muma grabbed Adelyn by the neck and lifted her. She

  wishes she was the devil.”

  “Please don’t hurt her,” Mom begged.

  “Stop. She’s our friend,” Marissa sobbed while holding

  Nellie.

  Muma stared into Adelyn’s eyes. “Exit the girl and

  challenge me.”

  Adelyn didn’t blink as she stared into Muma’s eyes.

  “Why would I want to do that, knowing you may overpower

  my poor… weak … soul?”

  Muma pulled Adelyn closer to her. “Exit the girl. You

  don’t want me trapped here forever, trust me.”

  “Sure, I do,” Sula said.

  “No!” Mom cried and dropped to her knees.

  “Keep recording,” a male said with a shaky tone.

  Adelyn’s neck tilted backward—her face straining,

  trying to fight Sula. “Get out of me!” she sobbed. Adelyn’s

  body shook violently and abruptly stopped. “Never!” Adelyn

  bellowed in Sula’s voice.

  Muma dropped Adelyn, formed into a black mass, and

  shot straight through her stomach. The mass formed back

  into Muma while holding onto Sula’s apparition, yanking her

  out of Adelyn’s body, where Sula transformed into her

  human form.

  Adelyn fell backward onto the floor. She found her

  parents, got up, and ran toward them. They took turns

  kissing her as they held her tight. Marissa, Nellie, and Jake

  surrounded her, protecting her from the witches.

  Adelyn held onto her parents and looked at Muma, who

  was holding Sula by the neck.

  Muma pulled Sula close. “When was the first time you

  entered the girl’s body?”

  Sula ignored Muma.

  Muma grabbed Sula’s head, sending her to her knees,