Chapter 6
Brenda came down in the morning and heard her hostess shuffling about in the kitchen. It was eight o’clock and no breakfast was on the buffet table like it usually was. Mrs. Evans was running behind schedule. Brenda suggested she slow down and not worry about breakfast as it was only for the two of them and there were no other guests registered. The elderly woman collapsed into one of the kitchen chairs.
“What is the matter?” Brenda asked concerned for her hostess.
“He was here last night,” she answered. “After you went to bed.”
“The sheriff?”
“Yes, I was doing the dishes and he was standing in the backyard staring in the window at me. He took out his gun and waved it at me as a warning,” she replied, her fearing apparent in her voice.
“That settles it. You’ve no new guests checking in until tomorrow, right?” Brenda asked, pouring a cup of coffee.
“Tomorrow at eleven,” the elderly woman answered.
“You need to get dressed; you’re coming with me to the cabin. I’ll not leave you here by yourself,” Brenda stated.
“I haven’t been out there since Flora told me not to return,” she said hesitantly.
“We’ll be safer together. And I’ve a feeling if anything happened, your sister would be there to protect you,” Brenda advised her friend.
“Do you think I might see her again?”
“You never know,” she answered. “Go get dressed so we can be back before dusk.”
Brenda hid the diaries in her purse. They double checked the bed and breakfast was securely locked and drove away under the watchful eye of the sheriff.
“He knows we left,” Mrs. Evans whispered.
“Don’t worry. I called my friend in New York last night and told her what was going on. She knows where we are going today and why. I also have my cell phone with me and it’s fully charged,” Brenda assured her.
They drove the rest of the way in silence. Brenda kept an eye on the rear-view mirror watching for the sheriff, but he never appeared. Arriving at the cabin, Mrs. Evans hesitated on getting out of the car.
“Are you okay?” Brenda asked.
“It just brings back so many memories, knowing this was the last place my sister was alive,” she replied.
“We won’t stay any longer than we have to,” Brenda promised. “Do you want to stay in the car? We can lock it if it would make you feel safer.”
“No, I’d feel safer going in with you,” she announced. “Let’s go find those diaries. I want Holmes to pay for what he did to my sister.”
The two women walked up to the cabin door. Just like last time, it opened on its own. Mrs. Evan grabbed for Brenda’s hand.
“It’s okay,” Brenda said, sensing her grandmother’s spirit around her.
They entered the cabin. It had been ripped apart like someone was looking for something.
“This is where Flora spent all her years?”
“Yes, she did. It looked quite different then, though. Okay, we must assume Holmes never found the diaries because of his response when he saw the ones we were reading at the dining room table?”
“When you were here during the summer, did she have a favorite place? Somewhere you weren’t allowed to go?”
“Her closet. I was never allowed in her closet,” Brenda answered.
“Let’s start there.”
‘NO!’
The women turned in the direction the voice had come from. Standing just inside the cabin door was Brenda’s grandmother and the young woman Brenda had seen at the outhouse that night. It was the same spirit who’d come to her in her dreams.
“Stella...” Mrs. Evans uttered.
‘Hello, Margie. It’s been too many years.’
“I’m so sorry, Stella...” Mrs. Evans said, tearing up.
‘For what, Margie? It was me who snuck out that night to go to the party. The party you told me to stay away from’.
“I should have come to get you.”
‘How could you? You didn’t know where Gary Holmes had taken me. You need to let go of the guilt you’ve been carrying around all these years.
“The last time I came to visit Flora, I felt you near me. I knew you were one of the screamers. I knew the Valentine Killer had murdered you and then Flora confirmed it,” Margie sobbed. “But, until last night, I’d no idea who the killer was.”
‘We have made some terrible mistakes; innocent boys and men were taken by us in revenge while we protected girls we thought to be in danger. We thought we were protecting them from bad men.
“Is that why you stayed here all these years, Flora? You said you had to protect the innocent.”
‘That is why I stayed.’
“We know who the Valentine killer is now, but we need the rest of your diaries to help us identify the bodies in the lake, Grandma,” Brenda said, “Where are they hidden?
‘Go to the fireplace. The large stone with the heart etched into it is loose. It will release from the wall to reveal the missing diaries.’
Brenda rushed to the fieldstone fireplace. Digging her finger nails into the sunken edge around the heart stone, she grabbed hold and wiggled it until it came free. Four diaries were hidden behind the stone.
“I have them, Grandma!” she exclaimed.
“We need to get these to the state police,” Mrs. Evans insisted.
“Don’t worry. I called them this morning and asked they meet us here at noon,” Brenda stated. “They should be arriving very shortly.”
The others are waiting at the pond’s edge.
“Come on, Mrs. Evans. Let’s go meet the screamers,” Brenda suggested. “We have the diaries and suddenly, I’m not afraid anymore.”
They walked out to the edge of the pond. White, wispy figures hovered above the water. Flora and Stella had joined them. The spirits opened their mouths and God-awful screams seemed to emanate from each one. The shrill screams made Brenda’s skin crawl.
“Those screams were the ones I heard coming over the water when I used to visit my grandmother,” Brenda stated.
“It’s frightful,” Mrs. Evans commented.
One by one, the figures vaporized until Brenda’s grandmother was the only one left.
‘Run! Get in your car.’
Before Brenda could ask why, a man’s voice rang out behind them. They turned to see Gary Holmes standing there, gun drawn.
“Give me the diaries,” he ordered.
“You shouldn’t be here. Do you want to end up like your father did; at the bottom of the pond?” Mrs. Evans said.
“Everyone knows the screamers don’t come out during the day. They only come out at night, because it’s when I killed them,” he replied matter-of-factly. “I’ve been up here during the day searching for those damn diaries and I’ve never seen or heard them.”
“That doesn’t mean they won’t come out if need be,” Brenda threatened.
“Now, give me the diaries,” he commanded.
Brenda set the books on the ground in front of her and stepped away. She saw the state police coming up the dirt road on foot, approaching the sheriff from behind. He had no idea he was finally going to be held responsible for all the women he’d murdered all those years ago. His hidden identity, The Valentine Killer, was finally going to be made public.
“Where are the rest of them? The ones you found last time you were here?” he demanded, waving the gun in Brenda’s face.
“They’re in my purse in the car,” she answered, watching the state police duck down behind her vehicle.
Holmes was watching her eyes. He turned to see what was so interesting. Seeing nothing, he ordered the two women to move away from the diaries sitting on the ground. He picked them up, his back to the water and a smile crossed his face.
“When I get the other books, you two will be history. You’ll be joining your dear family members I drowned in the pond years ago. The Valentine Killer will be able to go on the prowl again,” he boasted.
Screams that chilled to the bone broke the still air. The state police jumped up from behind the car and covered their ears with their hands. Brenda grabbed Mrs. Evans and pulled her to the other side of the car where the state police were standing.
Brenda could tell by Gary Holmes’ face he knew what was happening. He turned to the pond, his face frozen in fear. He feet wouldn’t move. He tried to run, but it was like someone or something was holding him in place.
“But, they don’t come out during the day!” he screamed, over and over again.
“Join your father, you murderer,” Mrs. Evans yelled at the top of her lungs.
Brenda was glad the state police were there. No one would ever believe just her and the bed and breakfast owner, but with four state police witnessing the event, the women couldn’t be accused of murder.
White, mist like figures rose up out of the center of the pond. The screams continued, becoming louder as they got closer to shore. They floated over the water, coming closer and closer to Gary Holmes. Their arms waved like they were reaching out to grasp something, their fingers clawing at the air.
Holmes was screaming bloody murder and continued to scream as the misty figures surrounded him. After dealing with the initial shock of what was happening, the police rushed from behind the car toward the water’s edge. They managed to get within five feet of the sheriff before the white figures picked him up and dragged him out to the center of the pond.
The ear-piercing screams had ceased. The only noise breaking the quiet of the woods was Gary Holmes’ screams of fear as he was dragged under the water and disappeared for good.
The police stood there looking out over the pond. Brenda and Mrs. Evans walked to the water’s edge. There was a lightness in the air they both could feel. The screamers had got their revenge and now their bodies would be recovered and returned to their families. They could be at peace. No more people would die at Valentine Pond.
“I’ve heard of the screamers, but thought it was just one of those urban legends,” the captain stated. “If I hadn’t seen it for myself...”
“Now, will the pond be dredged, and all the bodies recovered?” Brenda asked. “I’ve my grandmother’s diaries which list all the murdered girl’s names.”
“I’ll need those books, all of them,” the captain commented, still staring out over the water. “I’ll have a dive team in here at first light.”
“I’ll get you the books,” Brenda replied.
“Will you women be all right out here if we leave? This is going to be one hell of a report to write up when we get back to the station.”
“We’ll be fine. We won’t be leaving far behind you,” Brenda insisted.
They watched the police walk up the road, the captain carrying the seven journals. They re-entered the cabin and sat down at the kitchen table.
“We did good here today,” Mrs. Evans said. “You were so smart to call the police and have them meet us here.”
“I knew the sheriff would follow us here, and I knew we needed witnesses,” Brenda replied. “I’m glad they were here because it gave validation to my grandmother’s words.”
A cool chill filled the air around them. The hairs on Brenda’s arms stood on end. Mrs. Evans could feel it, too. They looked to the door and were amazed at what they saw.
Girls, in full human form, had appeared in a group inside the cabin. They were no longer the white wisps of mist that existed in the water. Brenda’s grandmother led the way.
“Oh, Stella...” her sister whispered. “You were so beautiful.”
‘You have freed us; I knew that you would, my dear sweet, Brenda. They will return our bodies to our loved ones and we can all move on. They will never find the sheriff or his son; we have made sure of that. The whole story is in my diaries. Make sure you get them back from the police as they’re my private property.’
“I will, Grandma. Are you in the water with the others? The sheriff said you died in the cabin,” Brenda asked.
‘He lied. He overpowered me and drowned me in the pond, finishing the job he had attempted to do years ago. He just barely escaped the screamers the night he killed me. That you won’t find in the diaries, but you will find my body in the pond. No one ever questioned his word.
A bright, blinding light lit up the cabin door. The girls turned towards it, and one at a time, walked out the door and into the light. Stella waved at her sister and blew her a kiss. As she walked out the door, Margie could hear her sister’s final words to her.
‘When they find my body, I want you to take back the heart locket you gave me for Valentine’s Day. My love will surround you every day you wear it. Goodbye, my sweet sister.
My dearest granddaughter...I hope you come to the cabin and enjoy the solitude as I once did. Hold on to the property; someday, to your children, it will be worth a lot of money. I love you and I thank you for believing in me when no one else did. Margie, my best and loyal friend. I’m so sorry I chased you away and ended our friendship, but I feared for your life.
“I would have helped you, Flora,” the elderly woman claimed.
That was what I was afraid of. I have to go; they’re calling me. Love to you both.
She walked into the light and was gone. The brightness of the light diminished and was finally gone all together.
“What say we go home, Missy?” Mrs. Evans asked. “I could really use some lunch.”
“I totally agree,” Brenda said, linking her arm through her elderly friend’s arm.
Brenda got the bed and breakfast owner situated in the car.
“I’ll be right back,” she told her.
Brenda walked to the pond’s edge and said a final goodbye to her grandmother.
“I’ll be back next year, Gram. I still have to investigate your closet. Now there is peace here, I will return,” Brenda whispered in to the wind.
She got in the car and the two women drove up the road away from Valentine Pond.
‘I’ll be waiting for your return. I’ll never stop killing. I learned well from my victims.
Gary Holmes laughed, turned into a white mist and disappeared into the pond.
Monster’s Need Love Too
By Pamela Silva
The day was grey and overcast. The wind blew hard enough to make the many oak trees on the property groan and creak. It made the gardening— Abby had intended to finish in a day, a bit more of a challenge. She wiped sweat from her face leaving behind streaks of dirt acquired from her morning’s labor. She viewed her handiwork with some satisfaction. After two days of the week with ice on the ground, the weather had turned into a balmy seventy degrees. As with most climate in the part of Texas where she lived, it wasn’t unusual for February. She’d cleared away most of the debris from her previous spring garden in preparation for new rose bushes.
Glancing at the already dark sky she noticed the sun was close to setting and she began gathering her gardening tools to clean off for the next time she had the energy to tackle the garden. Hopefully, the weather would hold. She put the tools away and climbed the steps to the large veranda opening the door to the house.
Placed in strategic positions were her fur family members. Oro, the golden retriever, Delilah, the basset hound and Penny the Jack Russell Terrier. Too proud to lower themselves to joining the canines, the cats, Berry and Kerry, sat atop the refrigerator. Abby sighed. Never let it be argued that animals could not tell time. Her crew certainly knew when dinner was due.
“Really? It is a whole fifteen minutes early,” she pointed out to the expectant faces. Since they group didn’t move she sighed again. “Well, so much for getting a shower first,” she said aloud.
While gathering various bowls, different foods and serving all of the animals as if a waitress in dining room, she kept glancing at the large Valentine Heart sitting on her kitchen table. Full of all kinds of chocolate candy, it had arrived earlier in the day delivered along with a singing telegram which had her laughing so hard she forgot to give the
young man a tip. She knew who it was from without opening the accompanying card. Her boss and Kat’s, the owner of the local book store, was an older man with a wife, three daughters and five granddaughters. The kindest man ever born, he believed women should be treasured and Mr. Laden had never hesitated to share every family holiday with her and Kat as well. In all the years they’d worked for him, he’d sent them large heart shaped boxes of candy. Although it would’ve been nice to have a boyfriend send one, it was better than no candy at all, Abby thought cheerfully. It was one reason she had devoted herself to gardening most of the day. She reasoned if she expended enough energy, she could easily be excused for eating most of it in one sitting. She took herself upstairs to her postponed hot shower. As she allowed the water and favorite body wash to stream down her slim body, she realized it had darkened outside completely. She shut off the water and, with the temperature dropping she hurriedly turned on the heat. She dressed warmly in jeans and a sweater and descended the stairs to the main floor to plan something for dinner. Just as she reached the bottom floor the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Abs, did you get yours?” The voice on the other end belonged to her best friend Kat Hardin. Even if she’d not known her for years, Abby would have known the bouncy voice anywhere on the planet. She’d known her for ten years, ever since coming to Moss Lake. They’d met at work and had been best friends ever since.
“You know it. The singing telegram was so funny this year I think Mr. Leardon needs to turn comedian. I was just making my way to the kitchen to try and scrape up food for dinner before I begin my chocolate orgy,” Abby replied.
“What? Don’t be ridiculous! Its Valentine’s Day. What would V day be without a special dinner? Danny and I cooked today and we made up the best crab legs anywhere in Texas! We have so much we may have to stand on the street corner and give them out.”
“Wow. Now that would be pretty impressive. Handing out crab legs to the homeless. Of course, they’d probably follow you and Danny home.”
Love from the Other Side Page 13