OLD MAN MALONE RETURNS

by Marianne Spitzer

  Kellie parked. The girls hurried into the store giggling and chatting.

  Drew looked at Hunter and laughed, “They never even acknowledged us, as if we don’t exist.”

  “I don’t think we do when it comes to soap and bath gel. At least they are going to smell wonderful. I like that.” Hunter raised his eyebrows several times.

  “Me, too”

  The guys got out of the car to stretch their legs. Drew glanced at his watch twice. Twenty minutes later the girls were back with several bags.

  “How much soap did you buy?”

  Kellie closed her car door and said, “We also bought a lot of candles. They smell fantastic.”

  “You bought them for ambiance, not séances, right?” Drew looked her right in the eyes.

  “Exactly.”

  Continuing their drive in the country, Kellie drove down Prairie road until she stopped in at the end. If she drove any further she’d be in the pine grove. She turned and headed for a diner in the next town. Having lunch there would give Mr. Carlyle more time to finish his work in peace and quiet

  Mr. Carlyle finished the repair. He and Austern rehung the painting over the parlor mantel. They stood back and admired the painting.

  Austern said, “It is hung where it belongs, and the paint will dry without disturbance.”

  “You can barely see the cuts now and once the paint is dry, it will match perfectly. The cuts will seem invisible,” added Mr. Carlyle.

  When Kellie arrived home, she hurried into the parlor to see the painting. She stared at her mother’s portrait with tears in her eyes. Unable to see the cuts, she was extremely pleased with the repair work.

  ########

  Kellie decided a few bottles of the excellent wine, stored in the basement cellar, would make a wonderful addition to the New Year’s Eve celebration. She didn’t know all that much about wine except that Austern had told her the old man only bought the best. She wandered around looking and reading labels wondering which to choose. The single light bulb cast oddly shaped shadows on all four walls. Its dim light made it difficult to read the labels.

  “This room certainly is creepy. I’m surprised Austern hasn’t complained.” Kellie chose wine with romantic sounding names. She gathered up three bottles in her arms and walked to the other side of the wine cellar to look at additional bottles when the light went out.

  “Damn,” she mumbled, “one light bulb in this cellar, and it has to go out now. We need better lighting down here.” She stomped her foot trying as she tried to find the door.

  The scent of rotting leaves wafted toward her and a disembodied growl filled the air. More of a low, evil snarl than any human voice she had heard. “All the light in the world won’t help you now.” A chilly breeze blew past her.

  She dropped the three bottles of wine, heard them shatter when they hit the floor, and backed into the wall. The fruity aroma of the wines mixed with the decaying scent of the leaves creating a stomach turning odor. Kellie bent over and vomited on the floor. Coughing and gagging kept her from being able to scream.

  “Problem, dear?” His gray face broke into a grin and evil glared from his cold, black eyes.

  She caught her breath and screamed. Trying to run toward the direction of the door, something grabbed her arm. Screaming again as she fell to the floor, Kellie could feel his icy fingers on her shoulder as he tried to force her to stand. Curled into a ball on the cold floor, she tried to scream. Her hands covered her face, and her heart raced and pounded so hard she could feel it in her ears. Trying to get up, her muscles felt as if they were made of rubber. She knew the old man would certainly kill her now.

  Busy writing checks to pay household bills at the kitchen table, Austern heard Kellie’s scream. His eyes opened wide when he looked at Mrs. Decker. He pushed away from the table and ran toward the cellar door. He glanced back at Mrs. Decker and yelled, “Get Drew.”

  Mrs. Decker rushed into the parlor. “Mr. Drew, Austern has gone into the cellar. Miss Kellie’s screaming.”

  Drew nearly knocked Hunter down as he ran toward the cellar door. Taylor’s eyes flashed with fear as she followed Hunter. When they arrived in the cellar, they found a sobbing Kellie lying on the floor curled into a fetal position. Broken glass and the aroma of wine surrounded her. The stench of rotting leaves was no longer noticeable. Austern had knelt down to help her. He looked up, “I can’t get her to respond to me. When I try to touch her, she recoils from my touch.”

  “I saw her have a severe panic attack once after her parents died. It was similar to this. She shut the world out and cried for nearly an hour. I was ready to take her to the E.R. when she began to come around.” He sat next to her and cradled her head in his lap and gently ran his hand through her hair. It was all he knew what to do at the moment. “Something awful happened to her.”

  “I’m not sure what. The light was on, and the door to the secret tunnel is locked from this side,” Austern added. “She was alone.”

  “I’m sure she ran into ‘him,’” said Taylor gripping Hunter’s arm as her lip trembled in fear.

  “That could be. We need to get her out of here.” Drew and Hunter helped Kellie to her feet and back upstairs. Kellie collapsed onto Drew’s chest and he let her cry. Gradually her tears slowed and her breathing began to return to normal.

  Kellie took a deep breath and explained her ordeal in the cellar. Austern came into the room and offered her a brandy snifter. “This will help with your nerves,” he smiled at her. She sipped the brandy letting its warmth calm her nerves.

  Rufus began howling. The sound was coming from the south wing. Hunter went to investigate. Returning with Rufus, he said the dog had been locked in a bathroom and the south wing doors were locked.

  Hunter said, “Rufus didn’t get into the wing without help.”

  “The old man locked him in the bathroom. I know it.” Taylor’s brown eyes blinked tears as she spoke. “He didn’t want Rufus to help Kellie.”

  Kellie began to relax. “I’m not going to let this ruin my evening.” Rufus snuggled up against her making her smile. The three friends worked to cheer Kellie. She tried to laugh at one of Hunter’s jokes although the terror she felt in the wine cellar was fresh in her mind. She tried to push them out when the doorbell chimed.

  Drew said, “That should be Andrea and Cole.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cole and Andrea arrived a little before seven. Andrea hugged everyone and Cole walked in carrying a cat carrier. He placed the carrier on the floor and took off his coat.

  “When did you get a cat?” Drew asked.

  “A couple of days ago. It was sleeping on our door step when we got home from work. The poor thing must have been tossed out. It didn’t have a collar and warmed up to Andrea immediately.”

  “What kind of cat is it?”

  “Not sure. It’s black with a white tipped tail and a little gray on its face.”

  Hunter looked at Drew, “Claudia said it’d be back”

  “It can’t be. It’s back. No!” screamed Taylor.

  “Who’s Claudia?” Andrea asked looking at Taylor huddled on the couch.

  “The Medium, we’ll explain in a bit,” Kellie said sitting down next to Taylor.

  Hunter grabbed the cat carrier, “Let me see that cat.”

  He looked in the carrier, the cat hissed, and its eyes turned red. Rufus began to howl and jumped up at the carrier. Hunter shook his head. “Not again old man, not again. I won’t let you hurt Taylor.”

  Hunter gripped the carrier’s handle tightly and took off running through the house. He went out the kitchen door without his coat. Everyone followed him. He was headed for the river.

  At the edge of the river, Hunter tossed a rock at the ice. It broke right through the thin ice.

  “Perfect.”

  The cat was hissing loudly. Rufus howled at the cat.

  Andrea was screaming, “Cole, stop him. He’s insane.” She yanked on Hunter’s arm pulling him and the c
arrier away from the river. Drew held Cole back from stopping Hunter. Cole struggled to get loose, but Drew’s arms were stronger. He held a tight grip around Cole’s chest.

  Kellie tried to stop Andrea from pulling on the cat carrier. She didn’t want it to open.

  “If it’s the cat, drown it,” yelled Taylor as she ran to help Kellie.

  Hunter pulled away from Andrea. He turned half way around and spun back throwing the carrier as far as it would go.

  Andrea screamed again as the carrier bounced several times on the ice and slid to a stop. The ice remained firm under the carrier. The door of the carrier popped open and the cat emerged. It quickly ran over the ice to the other side of the river. Looking back toward the six friends, it hissed loud enough to reach across the river and cause them to grimace. The eyes glowed red in the dark. It turned, hissed again, and disappeared into the trees. Hunter grabbed Rufus’ collar as he tried to chase the cat.

  Taylor ran toward the house with her hands over her ears. She was crying and screaming, “Its back! It’s really back” all the way to the house. Hunter ran after his terrified wife.

  Kellie and Drew held hands as they ran after them. Cole followed slowly. Andrea’s face was buried in his chest. Her sobs racked her body. Cole held her and ran his hand over her back as they walked. He needed to calm her after watching his friends try to drown her cat.

  When all six were back in the house, Drew did his best to explain why Hunter acted the way he did.

  Andrea didn’t understand. Her face was buried in Cole’s chest after Hunter threw the carrier. She never saw the cat’s glowing red eyes.

  “I think you’re all crazy,” she stood clenching her fists at her side and glared at each of them in turn.

  “You heard the terrible hiss,” Drew said.

  “Yes, but it echoed because of the ice and water and trees. It doesn’t mean it was possessed,” Andrea strode to the opposite side of the room, spun around, and glared at them again. Her fists were balled up tight at her sides. She loosened them and tightened her fists again.

  Drew bit his lip and rubbed his palms up and down his pant legs.

  “Okay, I can tell something else is going on,” said Cole.

  Drew did his best to explain Claudia’s visit and conclusions. Hunter, Kellie, and Taylor all added their impressions and concerns.

  Andrea shook her head and continued to glare at them. Cole believed his friends and if they needed an additional friend he was in. They had been friends for too long for him not to help now.

  “I love you, Andrea, but I know my friends are not lying. I never told you all of what went on last year. I was shocked at the level of evil the old man reached. He had his own daughter murdered. If he’s back from the dead, they need all the help they can get. I’m sorry, honey, I really am.”

  “I’m sure you are. I’m not sure about the rest of this. It sounds insane.”

  Cole expected her to walk out the front door.

  “Cole is always honest. If your Medium said you need two more friends, then you have them. I don’t understand, but I’ll help.” She sat in a chair and placed her hands over her face.

  Cole walked over and held her. “I promise to let you know what’s happening from now on.”

  She looked up, tears in her eyes and nodded.

  “Great,” said Drew. “I’m hungry. Let’s get this party going.”

  Andrea hugged Cole tightly and whispered, “I think they’re all crazy, but I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.”

  ########

  The figure in black laughed in his dark place. His plan had worked exactly the way he wanted. All six would be in the house. They would be close. He could reach out whenever he wished. They would become his pawns.

  ########

  “First, I’m calling Claudia.” Kellie said as she leaned back on the parlor sofa.

  “It’s New Year’s Eve,” Drew retorted.

  “I don’t care. She warned us about the cat.” Kellie dialed her cell.

  “I was expecting your call,” her voice slightly raised.

  “You were?”

  “Yes, I knew you’d call as soon as the cat returned. It returned with a friend, did it not?”

  “Yes, how did you know?” Kellie stammered, looked at the phone in her hand, and resumed her call.

  “I saw it coming. Please listen, the evil is not only in the cat. As I said yesterday, beware of anything out of the ordinary. Your additional friends will help.”

  “You know about them?”

  “You doubt me,” her voice cheery.

  “No, sorry.”

  “Not a problem. Remember the evil is strong. It’s stronger than any of you alone. The more of you together, the stronger you will be, and I’m feeling something new.”

  “What?”

  “There is only one way to destroy this evil, and that is with love. You have a source of light and love surrounding you. It will help you.”

  “Is it my mother’s spirit?”

  “Yes, I must go now. Take care.” Claudia broke the connection; Kellie looked at her phone again, and shrugged.

  Taylor asked, “What did she say?”

  “The evil is strong. None of us can battle it alone. We’re stronger together. Only love can destroy it. My mother’s spirit is surrounding us with light and love.”

  “Yeah, but he was able to kill your mother when he was alive. What do you suppose he can do now?” Drew shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head.

  “I don’t know. I wish I knew what happened to my mother. We’ll never know who killed her. I’m sure the old man paid for it, but that’s all we’ll ever know.”

  She turned, took a step forward, and stopped. Her jaw fell open, and her eyes opened wide. She scanned what she saw in disbelief. Sprawled across the large, ornate wall mirror were the words, “Father and Chris.”

  “Who the hell is Chris, and where did the writing come from?” Drew demanded.

  “It must be my mother.” The letters faded away as they stood and watched.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I know her handwriting from the letters she sent the old man. That’s how she wrote ‘Father.’”

  Drew threw his hands in the air and said, “Okay. Your mother, my spirit mom-in-law, was here. She wrote on the mirror. She named her killers. Claudia said we’re all okay. We’re all here. We love each other. We’re strong. Let’s party.”

  “Drew, this isn’t funny. She gave us a clue. Stop acting childish.” Her eyes narrowed, and she clenched her hands together tightly.

  “Right, she wrote the name of a person who could be dead. One we’ll never find. If we do, we can’t prove she was drugged. She was cremated. We don’t even know if Chris is a female or male. I’ve had enough of this. You know why she’s dead, that should be enough. Are we going to party or what?”

  Kellie glared at him. His cold and indifferent attitude was apparent to all. She needed him, and all he wanted to do was party. Kellie retreated to the quiet of her room. Her tears and Rufus were her only companions until she regained her composure.

  “You’re always here for me, aren’t you, boy?” She hugged his neck, and his tail wagged in delight.

  ########

  The figure in black paced. Angry with the Medium, he knew he couldn’t touch her. The others would be his one by one as they slept or ate. His maniacal laugh rattled the walls. The music was loud and no one heard. His anger boiled. How dare they become so connected they were not be able to hear him. Sensing Kellie’s sadness, and that she was alone, the figure in black could kill her now. No, she needed to be last. She would suffer the loss of everyone else first. He could frighten her, but that blasted dog would warn her. Too late, she was leaving her room to join the others. The figure in black would bide his time.

  ########

  Drew and the guys placed their celebration feast on the dining room table. They ate their fill of their favorite deli treats, pulled pork, soft home
made rolls, potato salad, coleslaw, and chocolate cake. Turning the music up again, they danced and laughed nearly forgetting their problems.

  Kellie’s face never broke a smile as she watched Drew. Her heart was breaking, but he danced and cavorted ignoring her. Austern had the night and following day off to spend with his family. The group could make all the noise they wanted. They finally took a break and ate left over Christmas cookies.

  Andrea said, “Please don’t think I’m odd or crazy, but do you remember the friendship bracelets we used to make in middle school?”

  Kellie and Taylor nodded.

  “The Christmas I was twelve, my great-grandmother came to visit us. She was close to ninety and used to tell us wonderful stories about the ‘old country.’ One day she saw me braiding yarn and asked what I was doing. I explained about the friendship bracelets. She told me they did the same thing when she was young, but never had enough yarn. They needed to save little pieces of yarn, ribbon or cloth to braid into a bracelet. She whispered to me that if I was making the bracelet for someone special or someone I loved; I should add a piece of my own hair into the braid. She said it would always keep me with that person, and we would never be apart.”

  “That is so cool. I have my mom’s yarn. We could make six bracelets and add a piece of each of our hair into them. Even if we are apart, we’d be together. The guys could keep theirs in their pants pockets. I’m sure the connection would be the same.”

  Kellie ran upstairs. After a few minutes she returned with a skein of white yarn. “White for purity and love—opposite of the figure in black.”

  “If what my great-grandmother said was true, we’ll also need a bit of your hair.”

  That was easy for the girls since their hair was long, but the guys weren’t too sure about having their hair pulled out.

  “We’ll wait until we finish the bracelets and then push a piece of your hair into each braid and use a dab of glue to keep it in place.” Kellie suggested.

  The guys agreed, and the girls got busy cutting and braiding yarn along with a piece of hair from all of them. When they were done, the hair wasn’t visible. Drew found the glue and Kellie snipped six pieces of hair from each while Andrea and Taylor pushed it into the braid and added the dab of glue.