Maddie Ann s Playground

by Mackenzie Drew

  ***

  Cindy didn’t want to believe Father Donavan responsible for this. Something must have coaxed him. The man excelled at deception; she had to give him that. She'd known him for years, and he'd never shown a hint of a mean streak. He'd christened Jennifer; over the years, he'd counseled her when she had problems, and never once did he show his true colors. It was a nightmare. A nightmare that wouldn’t go away.

  As Steve and Cindy sat in chairs outside Jennifer’s room while she had her dressings changed, a couple of police officers came through the double doors. Cindy jumped up from her seat and rushed toward them.

  The police officers wrote down the details of the victim and the alleged criminal, Father Donovan. Cindy watched their facial expressions and it felt as though the police failed to take her words seriously.

  “Ma’am, are you sure of this?” the tall, thin one asked. “I’ve known Father Donavan for years and he seems like a worthy man.”

  Nodding, she added, “I know. I thought so, too. He acted so concerned about Jennifer, I thought it was because he cared, but he was feeding me a line of bull. He's nothing but a perverted predator.” With the distaste Cindy now had for Donovan, all she wanted at this point was to find him and get justice for her daughter. “Please, find him. I want him behind bars after what he did to Jennifer.” Cindy lowered her head and sobbed.

  “We’ll put out an APB on him and as soon as we find him, we’ll nail him. Someone will contact you,” the officer said. “We may need to talk to Jennifer when she's feeling better. Try not to worry, Ma’am.” He pulled out his business card and handed it over to her. “I'm glad she's safe now. If for any reason you don’t hear from us, please don’t hesitate to call,” he added.

  As Cindy turned to go back into Jennifer's room, Steve held on to her arm. “Wait a minute.”

  “Honey, what is it? Jennifer's waiting…,” she said.

  “I have something to tell you, and it can’t wait,” he answered.

  Cindy was too upset to hear whatever crap it was that he had to say. She bowed her worried, tired face into her hands. “I can’t take anymore bad news right now.”

  “It's good news if you care to listen,” he offered.

  She raised her head to look at him. She’d gladly accept good news at this point. “Did you win the lottery? Because a minute ago, you resembled the devil with your fiery red eyes, and for a second there, I could have sworn you were growing horns from your forehead.”

  Laughing it off, he replied, “I talked to one of my buddies who owns a real estate office—you know him, Tim O’Neal. Well, he said he'd give me a job. He wants to teach me the real estate business.”

  As her face lit up with pure joy, Cindy wrapped her arms around his neck, and planted a big wet kiss on his mouth. “Thank God,” she shouted, and then shushed herself, giggling. “When do you start?” she whispered.

  “You know, you sounded just like your mother right then,” he replied. A smile grew on his face. “Next week. Tim said he’d call me with the details. So stop worrying. We’ll survive.”

  With hope filling her body, there was much to do before the doctor released Jennifer from the hospital.

  They checked in on Jennifer to see her progress and to say goodnight. She looked like an angel lying there. A habit since her daughter’s birth, Cindy leaned in to kiss her on the forehead, when Jennifer's scratchy voice startled her. “Where are you going?” Thanks to the morphine pump, a drowsy Jennifer couldn't open her eyes all the way.

  “I’m so glad to see you’re awake,” her father answered.

  “Yes, but barely and not by choice; these needles are hurting my arms,” she mumbled.

  Steve sat down by his daughter, trying to console her. “They will all come out soon, and we can take you home,” he told her. “Your mom and I are working out the details, but I don't want you to worry. You'll have a wonderful bedroom to come home to. You just get well.”

  “Oh, Daddy, I love you so much. I’m so happy someone found me,” she said smiling.

  Bending down beside her, Steve kissed her cheek and started toward the door.

  “Where are you guys going?” she asked again.

  “It’s a surprise, and you, young lady, well, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.” He winked at her to irritate her further.

  “DADDY!” she yelled as loud as she could, but she smiled from ear to ear.

  Steve blew her a kiss while he stood at the door. “Get some rest. It’s gonna be a long day tomorrow.” She waved as they left.

  ***

  Tom decided to go back to the station to pick up Jake and take him out to the cemetery. He wanted proof of Maddie Ann's existence. He knew it wasn’t an easy task to face the apparition again, but he’d either wonder about it forever or hit it head on and face his fears. It scared the hell out of him, but if he had Jake with him, he knew he could face her again. Maybe Jake could explain this supernatural experience. Wherever this case put him through, he promised himself not to give up without a fight.

  Pulling into the parking lot of the station, he gave a big sigh before he got out, and said a prayer for wisdom and guidance. Being a man of strong faith, he asked God to get him through untouched. Walking across the blacktop, he saw Jake outside smoking a skinny cigar. Before approaching him, Tom rehearsed in his head what he wanted to say.

  “Hey, Jakester, what’s going on?” he asked.

  “Not much. I’m sitting here trying to corral my thoughts and rest for a sec before I start back on the dirty work. How about you?”

  “Well, I have something interesting to do. I thought if you're not too busy, maybe you wouldn't mind helping me out…that is, of course, if you don't have any prior engagements today…”Tom stated, trying to keep it casual.

  “Just paperwork. What’s on your mind?” he asked.

  “Now, before you say no, hear me out. I need to find out something about the cemetery and I want you to go out there with me. I don’t know how to explain it without sounding insane, but man, there are weird things going on out there. I saw a child behind the gates this morning and she was skin ripping, eye jerking scary,” he explained with fear in his voice. “She wasn't human.”

  “What, have you lost your noodles or have you just gone senile?” Jake asked, chuckling. He took a long drag on his cigar. “It’s much too early to be hitting the bottle,” he said, looking at his watch.

  “I knew you wouldn’t believe me. That’s why I hesitated to ask, but I have no one other than you I dare tell this to,” he said desperately. “Look at my face where she touched me.” He turned his cheek to show Jake the tiny raised red handprint and scratches.

  “What do you want me to do about it, then? Is this like an evil darkness thing, where we get all gooey after we clobber the dude, or what?” he asked grinning from ear to ear at his reference to “Ghost Busters.”

  “See there, you’re making fun of me. I need to know if you're with me or not.” Tom expected Jake to act this way, considering the guy was young and inexperienced. Wait until he meets Maddie Ann, he thought.

  “Okay, I’m just trying to mess with you. Can’t a guy have fun before he goes into battle?” Jake asked, grinning.

  “Sure you can, but remember who is captain of this ship. I’m serious about this, Jake, when you find out what I have to show you, you’ll have a new perspective on life. Even the cemetery has been restored to its natural state. All traces of the earthquake yesterday are gone.”

  Jake looked at him like he'd developed boils all over his face or something. “No way, I saw the destruction. A man died out there.”

  “Well, it's gone now, but the worker is still dead. Don't ask me how it happened; I haven't a clue. You wait, you'll see. There's something ungodly going on out there.”

  The black soul Tom faced earlier burned in his mind. How could something so evil exist? Preparing himself for the worst; he told Jake that if anything happened to him, he wanted to make sure all of his possessions went
to his loved ones. The puzzled look on Jake’s face suggested he didn’t take this mission seriously enough. Agreeing to go along for the ride and promising to support him in any way he could, they headed out toward the cemetery. As they enjoyed the countryside and sucked in the crisp, clean air whistling past the open windows, Tom told Jake about his morning at the library and his encounter with possibly another ghost.

  An electric shock nailed his head the moment he turned onto the old dirt road. The blood vessels popped out across his forehead. Beads of sweat dampened his brow.

  “Hey, buddy, are you gonna be okay or should we come back another time?” Jake asked, noticing the distressed look on his face.

  “No, I’ve got to do this now. If I wait another day, I won’t come back. It’s time to deal with this, otherwise more innocent people will die,” he said.

  “Whatever you say, captain. Remember; keep your head high and your instincts intact. It’s important you pay attention to everything around you and don’t lose sight of me,” Jake replied. “I don't like ghosts.”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes, and I’m here to win, not lose. They better watch out.”

  After stepping from the car, Tom and Jake walked up the grassy hill shoulder to shoulder for solidarity. Jake looked at the massive gates in disbelief. “Wow. You’re right. It looks like the night we found the knife. Who has this kind of power and how did this happen?”

  Tom shrugged and pointed. “Right over there through the gates is where I saw her. I wish she were there now so I can prove I’m not insane,” he said. “Whatever power she holds, it's formidable. I've never experienced fear like this in my life.”

  “Hold on there, tough guy. If she's a spirit in the cemetery, you might face her again,” Jake said, warning him. “You sure you want that?”

  “I'm not sure, Jake. I stood right here, marveling at the lack of destruction, and when I least expected it; she let out a god-awful screeching noise. I turned around to look, and it was this tiny blonde girl. She cried and said she was hurt. I walked closer toward the gates and she looked so helpless and adorable. Then she changed, her face getting atrocious and demon-like, and man, I thought I crapped my pants. Maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but I felt sorry for her,” he said, scowling.

  “Don’t worry about it; you’re only human,” Jake said, patting him on the back.

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “Let’s face it; we’re not ghost chasers or exorcists. We’re cops doing our job and hoping for the best,” he said, dancing a jig to ease the tension.

  “Look, Jake, this is important. I believe I heard Officer Kyle say Jennifer Cravens had gashes and bruises when they found her, and I think she was the one who escaped from this hellhole. If that’s the case, she’s not out of the woods yet. In other words, from what the old woman at the library told me, she’s marked for the rest of her life. So we have to protect her, and the only way to do this is to get in there and find out exactly what we're dealing with,” he muttered.

  “I’m with you, let’s do this,” he said, nudging Tom ahead.

  Inching closer to the gates, every little noise startled them, but they kept on with a sharp eye and guns drawn. Back to back, they walked slowly making sure nothing surprised them. They crept with the pace of a turtle and somewhere in the distance, a child cried.

  “Did you hear that?” Tom whispered, going wide-eyed.

  “I sure did,” Jake said faintly. “Somebody's in trouble. Maybe it's one of the six-pack girls.”

  “Well, what do you want to do?” he asked, hoping he’d change his mind.

  “What do you mean me? You said we’re doing this no matter what,” Jake replied. Nodding, they moved on up the dirt path toward the gates.

  They tromped through the brush and low branches that stood at eye level, and as they topped the hill, they noticed the gates open a crack, wide enough to slip through. Giving a look to Jake, Tom squeezed through and stood on the other side, amazed at the landscape spreading before him. As Jake joined him, they stood in awe. They saw no graves, no headstones, and no cemetery at all. Just green rolling hills basking in the sun. A hundred yards away, they saw a small girl run across the grass, then trip and fall into a hole in the ground.

  Tom and Jake rushed over to look inside the gloom with rescue on their minds, and there sat Maddie Ann at the bottom of the well, laughing with such evil intent. She peered up at them with devilish red eyes and asked coyly, “Are you going to help me?” Suddenly she flew out of the well right at their faces.

  With a loud yelp, they flung their bodies backwards, falling on shaky, uncertain legs. Scrambling to their feet, they raced back to the gates and squeezed through, ripping their shirts, pants, and flesh on the iron bars. They both sprinted to the car, Jake in the lead, slamming and locking the doors in a full-blown terror. With eyes as big as half-dollars, they panicked when they couldn't get the car going.

  “Holy shit, did you see that?” Jake asked wincing. He fingered a large gash on his arm.

  “I told you. What did I tell you, man?” Tom shouted.

  “Let’s get the hell out of here,” he begged.

  “No, we can’t, not this time. This time they’re mine.”

  “What, are you crazy? You must be out of your freaking mind. I’m not going to stick around and let that thing devour me,” he shouted.

  “Listen, if we don’t stand up to the black souls now, think about what they could do to the citizens of Old Creek. Do you want that? We have a chance to do something right for a change and I’m not willing to give up. We’re staying,” Tom ordered.

  “I'm not going back in there. I don't wanna die, Tommy.”

  “There's a gravel access road a half mile behind us that circles this cemetery. I'm going to follow it. We won't go in those gates again,” Tom said logically. With his hand over his eyes, Jake sank down in his seat and began to pray for their lives. Tom pulled a U-turn, spitting gravel.

  Two minutes later, he pulled the car through a tunnel of trees onto a narrow trail, more a twin path with a high grassy hump in the middle than a road. Hoping they wouldn't get high centered in the low-slung sedan, he kept his eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary and headed north.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The team of doctors checked Jennifer from head to foot and pronounced her well enough to go home, but with strict instructions for her care, including bringing her back for physical therapy. All the doctors who examined her were amazed at her rapid recovery. Jennifer dressed in the new jeans, tee shirt, and tennis shoes they handed her. Cindy gathered Jennifer's meager belongings and stuffed them into a duffle bag, then went to the front desk to sign some paperwork and get her medication from the nurse. An orderly wheeled Jennifer down to the first floor to wait for her father to pull the car around to the front entrance of the hospital.

  “This feels so great. I finally get to sleep in my own bed again,” she squealed getting into the back seat of the car.

  Cindy's heart raced. Excitement coursed through her. She couldn’t wait to show her daughter her remodeled room. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better honey. And you’ll feel even better once we get home.”

  Pressing her face against the window as they drove across town, Jennifer relived her steps and the torture she went through with Father Donovan. She slumped down in the seat resting her hands in her lap. For now, she felt safe. But how long would it take, until Maddie Ann came looking for her? The thought made her stomach ill. She quivered. Unless she and her family moved from Old Creek, her past memories and the future happenings would haunt her.

  As the family drove up into the driveway, a grin spread across Cindy’s face. She got out of the car and guided Jennifer inside the house.

  “Honey, are you ready?” she asked.

  “Hurry Mom, I can’t stand it.”

  Cindy took her by the hand and led her upstairs to her room. When Jennifer opened the door, her eyes went wide. Every piece of furniture was whi
te—the dresser, queen-size headboard, nightstands, and a desk with a tall hutch top. A new quilt with soft pastels in a swirl pattern lay folded on the end of the mattress. Leaning against the closet door were two white lamps with delicate ivory-colored shades for each nightstand beside her bed. “It’s awesome, mom. Thank you,” she said placing the hospital bag down on the floor. The new window seat caught her eye. “Daddy finally built me a place to relax by the window. I could get used to this.”

  Cindy chuckled. “I knew you’d love it, kiddo.”

  Overwhelmed by her new living arrangements, Jennifer agreed to take it one day at a time to recover from her injuries. After she’d worked for over an hour arranging her room, Jennifer needed a break. Her wrist began to ache. Her mother had come in and made the new bed, and she liked the way the quilt accented the soft shade of the sage-colored walls. She looked at the progress she'd made; satisfied with the way her room was coming together. Exhausted, she eyed the window seat and trudged toward it, falling into the thick foam cushions. Getting cozy, she looked out at the blue November sky. A cool breeze whisked through her room the minute she opened the windows.