Sighing, she allowed him to hold her hand and debated whether to tell him what happened. “Daddy, listen, whatever it is that has you worried, leave it alone. It’s better to forget about it than to allow it to rule you. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about,” she said, scooting her shoe against the pavement. Jennifer glanced up to look into his eyes and saw something in them that knocked the wind out of her. She winced, falling back against the door.
“What is it?” he asked, jumping up from the swing.
Jennifer pulled herself up by grasping hold of the doorknob. She swung her body around and yanked open the door.
“Wait, what’s the matter?” he yelled, following on her heels.
She couldn't tell him why she took off so quickly. The only thing on her mind right now was finding her mom. Something she saw in her dad’s eyes scared her—it reminded her of Mitch’s evil stare. Rounding the corner to the kitchen, she saw her mother sitting at the table staring out the window. Jenny’s heart raced up in her throat. Slamming down in one of the seats, she sprawled her arms out across the table, laid her head down, and tried to catch her breath.
“Good Lord, child, what happened to you?” Cindy asked, leaning over her.
“M…mom,” she said gasping.
She rose in surprise, scooting the chair back from the table when Steve barreled in the room.
“She flipped out on the front porch. I don’t know what happened to her,” Steve said, flopping down beside Cindy.
“Well, if she doesn’t want to talk about it, leave it be, for Heaven's sake. She just needs some good food. Here, hold this pot holder, dinner's ready.”
Jennifer watched as her mother placed the meatloaf onto the platter and carried it to the table. She tried to calm her turmoil, convincing herself she imagined things. Maybe Mitch caused her to see what she saw? After all, he did possess powers like Maddie Ann.
“You wanna give me a hand here, Jennifer? The potatoes are on the counter with the green beans,” Cindy told her, setting the platter of meat and catsup in the center of the table.
Storming across the kitchen, Jennifer snatched the two bowls up, whizzing them above her dad’s head and slammed them down beside the meatloaf.
“Jen, will you please get the margarine from the fridge?” Steve asked, licking a bit of catsup off his thumb.
Jennifer jerked up from her seat, swung the door open to the fridge, grabbed the tub of margarine, and marched back to the chair. She crossed her arms, moping while she watched her parents eat. They inhaled the food like they'd never eaten before.
“Aren't you gonna eat?” Steve asked, his knife pointing at her empty plate.
She couldn't eat. Her stomach was tied in knots. Her body trembled. “I’m not hungry. I just want to know one thing, Dad. Who is Channing?” she growled.
Steve winced. The fork in his hand crashed to the plate. “Come again?” He looked like somebody punched him.
“Daddy I asked you a simple question and all I get is a distressed look on your face. Again, I ask you, who is Channing?”
“Yeah, Steve, what’s the big deal? Why can’t you answer her?” Cindy asked.
Jennifer watched as his eyes widened.
Clearing his throat, he asked, “Where did you hear that name, and why are you asking me this? I don't know anything!”
Her face drooped. She wanted to cry, but couldn’t. For some reason, she didn’t believe him. He obviously knew something about the Watsons, otherwise, why would Mitch make that connection? The urge grew stronger to know the answer. She wasn’t about to let it rest. Not this time. Not now when her life was at stake.
“I’m just gonna say this once and if you care anything about me, you’ll speak up now. I had a run-in with Mitch Styles today at the park. He is the one who told me to ask you about some old man named Channing. And you wanna know what he said? He said you’d know him. Daddy, you do know him, don’t you? He’s a Watson, isn’t he? They are the people who are going to kill me and all you can do is sit there and deny any knowledge. Why are you not telling me the truth?” she cried. “I know you know who they are. I can feel it.”
“Okay, that’s enough, young lady! I have no idea what or whom you are talking about. Damn it, I can’t even eat my food in peace without hearing all the bitching going on. Now drop it,” he said with bitterness in his voice.
“I won’t stop asking you until you tell me the truth. If I have to shout at you, so be it. For the love of God, Dad, please tell me the truth. I’m scared.”
Jennifer noticed how uneasy her mother became talking about the Watsons. She saw it in her eyes and the way she kept shifting in her chair. “Need I remind you of the troubles we faced when we had to deal with the Watsons? Steven Cravens, don’t play dumb with me. You know something and for some twisted reason, you’re not talking. If it isn’t such a big deal, then why the secrecy?” she asked, gritting her teeth.
“Cindy, when this bullshit happened, I told you it was merely nonsense, but you insisted that it wasn’t. I told you to leave it alone, and let it run its course, but again, you insisted on sticking your nose in. It wasn’t me who suggested you do anything. You did this on your own. I don't know anybody named Channing. I don’t know what game you're trying to play, but you won't play me. Now you have our daughter believing this crap. And what do you think she is going to think of me? Let me answer that for you. She’s going to think I’m a lying piece of shit. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Now listen to me and just drop it,” he warned.
“No, you listen. I don’t have to drop anything. Fine, you don’t have to say another word about it, but I swear if something happens to our daughter and I find out you know this man, I will hunt you down,” she said. “And I assure you, Steven, I’m nosy.”
Jennifer jumped up and ran from the room in tears.
The rest of the evening Jennifer spent outdoors on the back patio staring up at the night sky. She snuggled the blanket closer as hateful tears rained from her eyes. Her head throbbed even harder, and a sick feeling gurgled around in her stomach. Leaning back in the lounge chair, she closed her exhausted eyes and tried going back to the last time she saw Claire. She remembered what she told her right before she disappeared into the clouds. I’ll always remember you, Jenny. I love you. Never forget about me and whenever you need me, I’ll be there.
She sat straight up out of the chair, stood to her feet, and raised her arms toward the sky. If Claire were true to her word, she’d find her tonight.
“Claire…,” she shouted. “I need you Claire, where are you?” Jennifer stood there waiting for her to answer, but she heard only the neighborhood dogs howl in response. “Claire…,” she shouted much louder, “Please don’t make me beg.”
She fell to her knees bawling. Why did she not answer? Jennifer felt betrayed and deeply troubled. What if she never saw her again? This couldn’t happen, not now, not when she needed her so desperately. Rising to her feet, she walked further out into the dark yard and called for her again.
“Claire, you have to answer me. They’re going to kill me. Mitch says they’re going to kill me.”
Her hands tightly gripped the wooden privacy fence. Jennifer fell against the gate, sobbing louder and stirring up the neighborhood dogs again. She didn’t care who else heard her, just as long as Claire heard her plea for help.
Realizing she wasn’t coming, an idea popped into her distraught mind. She’d sneak out and drive to the park and may be Claire would show up there. It was risky, but worth it. Wiping her crying face, Jennifer quietly tiptoed into the house, grabbed her purse, and went back out through the side door in the kitchen. Thankfully, she still had her dad's car keys in her purse. Scampering through the dark, she found her way to the gate, and snuck around toward the front of the house. She slid in behind the wheel. Instead of starting the engine, she put it in neutral, allowing it to roll back into the street. Leaving her headlights off, she started the car, and took off up the road. Please don’t fail me, Claire, she thought on the drive b
ack to the park.
Every stoplight in Old Creek flashed red. She glanced down at the glowing clock on the radio. 12:30 a.m. Geez, I must be out of my mind. Coming up on the park, Jennifer slowly drove into the dark parking lot. With her bright headlights on, she drove up near the old oak tree and stopped. She killed the engine, and then she reached for a flashlight under the seat. She took her keys from the ignition and shoved them down in her pocket. Quietly shutting the car door, she shined the light on the dirt path and walked slowly. On both sides, tall pampas grass reached to her waist. It frightened her, wondering if something could hide in there. Stepping up the pace, although she wanted to turn around and go back, Jennifer knew she had to do this.
She heard the sounds of brown thrasher birds chirping high above her head. The sudden noise against the calm darkness startled her, and she raised the light to shine it up in the tree branches. She signed the cross over her chest and walked on, hurrying her pace a little faster. She kept the flashlight aimed at the darkness ahead, and spotted The Rock and ran toward it. Scrambling to the top, Jennifer didn’t sit this time; instead, she stood looking out over the park.
“Claire…,” she shouted. “Show yourself.”
Jennifer demanded she come out and face her. She felt disappointed when nothing happened right away. Working herself into a snit, she allowed her loud voice to carry across the park.
“Claire Renee Barton, where the hell are you?” She didn’t hear a sound. Maybe it wasn’t meant to happen and she had to accept the fact Claire would never come back. Jennifer’s anger flared and she took in a deep breath and let it go. “I hate you, Claire…I hate you, I hate you,” she screamed flailing her arms about. “You lied to me, and I’m glad you’re dead!”
Jennifer fell on her backside, not meaning any of it. She sobbed loud enough to shake the birds roosting in the trees. Curling up in a ball, she closed her eyes and shivered.
“Jenny…,” a whispering voice called to her. “Get up.”
She didn’t want to move or open her eyes. At this point, she couldn't care less what happened to her. A hand firmly pressed down on her shoulder and shook her hard, back and forth. She felt its fingernails dig into her flesh, then pull away leaving a little cut.
Jennifer rose from The Rock. She shined the flashlight out in front of her, but saw no one. Her eyes widened as a haunted feeling washed over her.
“Who’s there?” she called, but no one answered.
A gust of chill wind circled her, blowing her hair around her face and making her ears ache. Shaken by the abruptness of the wind, she scooted near the edge, turned on her belly and slid all the way to the ground. Again, Jennifer pointed the light out in front of her, but what had called out to her remained a mystery. She dared not look. If something were to grab her, she didn’t want to know about it. Making all kinds of excuses in her head to leave that place and never look back, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She needed Claire and she knew no other way to find her. Backing towards The Rock for protection, Jennifer stood shivering from the cold and the fear that poisoned her. Giving it one last shot, she stood tall, took in a deep breath, and yelled, “Claire!”
She put her head down after the last try failed her. Tears seeped from her eyes, down her cheeks, and eventually landed on her shirt. Snot trickled down to the top of her lips, tickling the fine hairs that lined her mouth. She did nothing to stop it, but let it drip like a little child who didn’t know any better. Jennifer had an inkling of what her mother told her. She wasn’t mature enough to understand real life, much less control it.
Jennifer turned to take one last look at The Rock. She traced her finger over the engravings of the girls’ names. Their presence intrigued her so much, she pointed the flashlight toward the ground looking for the object used to carve their names. Circling the entire area around The Rock, she found nothing, not even a hint of something sharp enough to carve its bedrock surface.
Giving up the lost cause, she glanced down at her watch. Two-thirty already came and went. She knew she needed to get home, sleep off her disappointment, and deal with it when she got up. She took another deep breath for the walk back to the car. She held the flashlight out in front of her as she tiptoed down the path. Once again, she kept her eyes peeled for any lurkers in the high brush that surrounded her.
“Jenny…,” she heard a whispering voice behind her.
Jennifer stopped short. She nearly lost control of her bladder. Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened. Between small breaths, she gasped. It seemed as though the night sky became much darker, encasing her.
“Where are you going, Jenny? Running away back to mommy?”
She didn’t want to provoke this person or thing. So she kept quiet and took off running toward the car. Somewhere near the lake, she tripped and lost her flashlight. She wasn’t about to stop to get it. Using her senses and the light of the moon to lead her back, she sprinted across the dirt path. A small and treacherous root stuck up from the ground caught her foot, and she fell splat on her face.
Jennifer rolled over. She sat up trying to pull her foot loose from the root, but it wouldn’t budge. “Damn it, come on,” she sobbed.
“I see you, Jenny, and you’re not going anywhere,” she heard the spirit's raspy voice say again.
Her mind screamed for her to take off her shoe and leave it. She didn’t need it anyway. Jennifer struggled trying to get her shoe off her foot. Normally it would slide right off, but it just wouldn’t let loose. Oh God, I’m gonna die, she bawled some more. Digging her heel in the dirt, she pushed hard to slip her foot loose. Twisting it did nothing. If she didn’t do something fast, the lurker would have her.
“Leave me alone,” she yowled, straining to get up. “You’re not real; you’re just a figment of my imagination.”
Jennifer told herself this repeatedly, and started to believe it. She thought this was her mind playing tricks on her until it happened. Her arms flew up over her head and she felt her body lift from the pathway.
“No…,” she cried pitifully, her legs flailing in the air, “Don’t do this!”
Chapter Forty-One
High up in the sky she flew, soaring over the top of a huge oak tree. Jennifer tried to see who grabbed her, but she couldn’t tell in the thick darkness and the tears welling up in her eyes.
“What do you want from me?” she wept, trying to hang on for dear life.
“Don’t you worry your little head, Jenny. I promise the fall will only hurt for a second and then it’ll be over,” the raspy voice replied.
What did she worry about the most, her death or the pain her parents would feel after someone told them about it? Dangling so close to the tree branches, she tried wrapping her legs around the strongest, widest branch, but every time she tried, her foot slipped off the slick bark.
“Besides, Jenny, isn’t death what you requested? I distinctly heard you say you wanted to join Claire in the afterlife,” it chuckled.
She realized this could not happen as she had earlier wished. Jennifer didn’t want to die, at least not now. Too late for regrets, she realized she wanted to marry and have children. Seeing her misguided wish about to happen, she resented the previous wants. Building enough courage to glance down past her feet, she saw the ground. The trees looked like miniatures in a diorama, the huge lake, no bigger than a pond. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes and braced herself.
“Before I make your wish a reality, there’s something I need to tell you,” it said, yanking her up like a slab of meat on a hook.
A stinging sensation jabbed into her back. Jennifer winced in pain. She couldn’t do anything about it but accept the pain. She rose higher above the ground. Just as she felt her body jerk back and forth, it all suddenly stopped. She opened her eyes and peered over her shoulder at what had hold of her.
“God, no,” she screamed trying to shake loose.
The sight of this creature reminded her of the black souls that roamed about in the cemetery. The
flesh on its exposed face bubbled with huge watery blisters with purplish veins throbbing inside the blisters. Its teeth pointed like sharp daggers resting against its bottom lip. The demon's eyes appeared hollow, dark, with torn flesh beneath.
Leaning into Jennifer’s ear, it whispered, “If I let go, do you think you can fly?”
The last of her energy drained out of her. She went limp, nearly slipping out of the creature’s grip. She'd heard this before. Those words echoed Liz’s when she tried to kill her. But how—how did this black soul know about it, unless…?
“Liz…is that you?” she asked, glaring at the savage beast.
“Where’s Claire now, Jenny? Do you think she’ll save you this time?”
Jennifer lost the color in her face. Struck dumb, she didn’t know what to say. This whole time she thought Claire took care of everything, and saved all of their friends from the damnation in Old Creek. Obviously, she didn’t save Liz; she must have failed in her quest.
Maddie Ann s Playground Page 50