Puppet

by Ed Kightlinger

  Colette reaches out to shake the girls’ hands one by one. As she does, Chloe hands her a slip of paper that she had removed from her notebook. She has jotted her name and cell phone number on it.

  Colette says, “Thanks, Chloe. I will add your information to my contacts.” She briefly looks at the three girls one at a time. “It was a pleasure to meet the three of you. Please feel free to call or text me at any time.” She turns to Chloe and says, “If you can, please give me a call after six o’clock. I should be home by then. I haven’t told anyone about my visions.” Colette starts to leave, and then she turns around.

  “To be honest with the three of you, I do not scare easily. My old country has its share of creepy legends just like here in America. I have seen my share of crazy, unexplainable, startling phenomena. All the same, I must admit that I was frightened by what I saw in my visions.” She reaches out and squeezes Chloe’s forearm gently. “Not so much for me, Chloe, but out of concern for you.” She glances at Brenae and Diana Jane.

  “I am concerned for the two of you as well. As I had mentioned, last night I had a dream. It actually was a nightmare. The two of you were in the nightmare along with Chloe. There were others as well, two teenagers, a redheaded female and a male. The male was handsome! Well, more of that later. I have to go. Haste ye back!” She laughs, and then she says, “That is my Scottish way of saying farewell! Then again, that is a modern expression. The Gaelic expression for goodbye is Beannachd Leat.”

  After Colette is out of earshot, Diana Jane exclaims, “Wow! She is cool! She is not like your typical looking-down-at-freshmen high school senior. She seems very intelligent too.”

  “Yep,” Brenae says. “I agree. She’s very articulate, and I can tell she is smart. She will do awesome as Tinker Bell in the play.” She rolls her eyes. “Especially with that Scottish accent of hers. She will fit the part to a tee.”

  Chloe says, “I agree. Also, she could be of valuable assistance with our investigation.”

  “Indeed,” Brenae says, “especially if we have to interview seniors to see if they are behind this creepiness.”

  Diana Jane says, “It would be great to have her on our team, Chloe. Seeing as you are the leader of our investigative team, perhaps you could ask Missus Davenhill if we can include Colette on our team.”

  “I think that is a grand idea,” Chloe replies. “Thank you. If the two of you do not mind, let us first see what she has to offer. Then we should ask her if she would like to join our team. Hopefully, she will want to join our team if the three of us unanimously agree and presuming Missus Davenhill says it is okay.”

  Brenae says, “I would like to know more about her vision and what in the world we were doing in her nightmare. I mean, let’s be honest with each other. Today is the first time, at least to my knowledge, the four of us have met in person. Added to that, Colette supposedly has a dream about Diana Jane and me and a vision about you as well, Chloe? It seems too coincidental.” She frowns. “Remember, she is a senior, and not all seniors are decent classmates, especially when it comes to us lowly freshmen.”

  Diana Jane slings her backpack over her shoulder. She says, “You are right, Bre. However, I have to say this. It is almost as if Puppet wants the four of us to do something together. Additionally, I’d like to know more about Colette’s nightmare that involved the three of us.” She briefly hugs Chloe and Brenae. “Sorry, but I have to go. A few of us are getting together tonight at my house to practice our lines for Peter Pan.”

  Diana Jane starts to walk toward the open gate of the school courtyard. She hesitates momentarily, and then she turns around. She throws her hands up high in the air.

  She says, “This is some super scary, crazy stuff in which we are involved. I was already scared out of my wits with all that crazy Puppet twine in my bedroom. I can only imagine things will get worse before they get any better.” She turns about and continues walking toward the gate.

  Chloe and Brenae look at each other. They need not exchange any words. For they know, Diana Jane is one hundred percent correct with her prediction.

  The worst is yet to come.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE RISING ALLIANCE

  “The twine slithered like an inchworm!”

  Part I: Bre and Di

  Brenae suddenly jumps up from the bench. She grabs her backpack and runs in a sprint after Diana Jane. Diana Jane is about to pass through the courtyard gate. Once she turns to her left, toward her home, she will be beyond the tall brick wall and unable to hear Brenae’s shouts.

  “Di, wait up! I need to talk to you.”

  Diana Jane turns around. She is more startled with Brenae calling her Di in public than with Brenae running toward her. No one ever calls her Di, except for Brenae. What is more, Brenae only calls her Di when the two of them are alone. Brenae has that special knack for making you feel special even if it means calling you with a nickname she has made up.

  A name I am not sure that I particularly like. Then again, when Bre calls me Di, for some reason, I don’t get angry with her. I wonder why that is? Anyway, I wonder why she calls me Di in the first place? I think I’ll ask her.

  “Yes, what is it, Bre?” Diana Jane shouts.

  Brenae stops in her tracks and rapidly waves her hands. She is a dozen feet away from Diana Jane.

  “Hold on a sec, Di. I need to apologize to Chloe for running off like that.” She turns to face Chloe who has gathered up her backpack and gym bag.

  Brenae yells, “Sorry, Chloe. I didn’t mean to rush off like that. It’s just that I have to ask Diana Jane something that popped into my head. It is personal. I will text you later, okay?”

  Chloe nods her head. She shouts, “It’s cool, Bre. I will talk to you later.” She waves at Diana Jane. “Have a good night, Diana Jane, and have lots of fun at practice. I will see you on Tuesday. You text me too, okay?”

  Diana Jane gives Chloe a thumb’s up. Then she and Brenae look at each other. They begin laughing as they earnestly flap their arms at their sides. They shout a familiar quote from the movie Hook.

  “And remember, don’t let your arms get tired!” Chloe laughs loudly in response to Brenae and Diana Jane’s antics they have directed at her.

  The movie Hook, along with the original Peter Pan movie, is but two of the teenager’s favorite films. In the movie Hook, the late Robin Williams, who plays Peter Banning and Peter Pan, is teased by his coworkers before he departs to visit England. He is afraid of flying. His coworkers tease him by shouting, “And remember, don’t let your arms get tired!”

  Diana Jane says, “Bre, what is on your mind? You shouted to Chloe that you wanted to ask me something personal. Walk with me, okay? I do not want to be late for practice.”

  “Sure, Di, I’d like to walk with you"

  As they exit the courtyard gate and turn left to walk on the sidewalk, Diana Jane says, “I need to ask you a question.”

  “Sure, Di, ask away.”

  Diana Jane says, “Why do you call me Di? Except for today when you shouted it, why do you only say it when we are alone? I have noticed you use the name Di when we are texting each other as well. Does it have a special meaning for you?”

  Brenae is slightly alarmed with Diana Jane’s question. She says, “Does it bother you? I do not mean to insult you. If you do not want me to call you Di when we are alone, I won’t. I am sorry if I have offended you.”

  “No, Bre, it doesn’t offend me. It’s just that no one has ever referred to me as Di except one time before. It was when a long-lost friend sent me an Instagram direct message. He had typed the word Di, and I questioned him about it. I may have acted like I didn’t like the name. Now that I think back to the incident, I know it was his way of treating me as someone special. Nonetheless, I will not get into that now. Bearing in mind all of that nonsensical, historical trivia, why do you call me Di?”

  “Goodness, Di!” Brenae exclaims. “I mean, look at you! You are tall,” she laughs, “about five maybe six in
ches taller than me. I’m five-foot-two inches. You are slender with beautifully toned skin. You have stunning, blue-grey eyes and long brown hair that falls to your waist. You are super smart, athletic, talented, and you are creative, artistically and when you write. You also are a fantastic actress and model. I could go on with listing your attributes if you would like.”

  Diana Jane’s face flushes noticeably. She waves her hand. “No, that is not necessary, and I thank you for your nice compliments. That is very sweet of you, Bre. However, you still have not answered my question.” She briefly stops walking as she looks at Brenae squarely in the eye.

  “Bre, I must ask you one more time. Why do you call me Di?”

  “Because you are grand and proud, Di. You hold your head up high and look on the bright side of things. You always look out for others. Even when you are hurt, like that time you were injured, you managed to smile and to consider the well-being of everyone who visited you at your home. You remind me of royalty, Di. You remind me of the late Princess Diana of Wales. You also remind me of the character Diana in the movie Wonder Woman, particularly after I read that story about your character likeness in the novel, Diana’s Incredible Journey: Fall of Mendacium.”

  “All of that is fiction, Bre,” Diana Jane says softly. “There may be some factual information in the incredible journey novel, but otherwise it is pure fiction. Besides, I am not royalty like Princess Diana of Wales. Not even close.” She laughs. “I am your average nobody.”

  Brenae says earnestly, “Maybe you’re not a princess, Di. However, you certainly are an empress! You are Empress Artemis-Diana of the World Beyond, at least you are to me. Just like Diana in the Wonder Woman movie, you have the strength of character and courage, not to mention the tenacity of both of the heroines Diana. More importantly, you are humble. That is your strongest attribute.” She takes Diana Jane’s hand in hers. “I hope we can be friends forever.”

  “Yes, me too,” Diana Jane replies with a smile that draws attention to her unusual blue-grey eyes. “Do you know, Bre, no one has ever said those complimentary things to me before. You are very kind. Thank you. I feel the same way about you. You are pretty, petite, have gorgeous blue eyes and your hair! Goodness! What any girl would do to have your natural curls! You are smart and outgoing,” she chuckles, “and stubborn, outspoken, and tenacious too! I envy you for the way your inquisitive mind works and, more importantly, how you never seem to give up.” She squeezes Brenae’s hand.

  “It is important for you to know that I respect you, Bre. I believe in you. I always will. I know you will go far in this world. You will go further than the stars.” She laughs as she points to the sky. “Just like Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies – ‘To Infinity and Beyond!’”

  Brenae replies, “Aw, thank you for saying all that. Also, don’t forget I am pig-headed when I want to be obstinate. If I want something, I usually do not quit until I get it.”

  Diana says, “Yes, I admire you for your stubbornness. It is a good trait because you use your stubbornness in a good way and not for nefarious purposes.”

  “Why thank you!” Brenae laughs. “Okay, Di, my dear empress friend, now that we have all of that out of our systems, can I ask you my question?”

  Diana Jane replies in earnest, “Fire away!”

  *****

  Part II: A True Friend

  Diana Jane shakes her head. “No, Bre, I am sorry. I cannot give it to you. I will not give it to you!”

  Brenae says, “Oh, I do not want to keep it. I want to borrow it for a few days. Also, I have a friend who might be able to help us when things start to get nasty. I want to ask her opinion about it and all this craziness that is happening.”

  “Who is that friend, may I ask?” Diana Jane says.

  Brenae replies, “I cannot tell you who she is exactly. I refer to her as the Accountant. Please trust me when I say she is good at what she does. Besides, from everything you told Chloe and me, I know you want to get rid of it.”

  Diana Jane says, “Oh, there is no doubt in my mind! Not only do I want to get rid of it, but I also want it destroyed. I wish it destroyed along with the hundreds maybe thousands like it in our town. Only the Lord knows how many of the evil coils of twine exist in this town. That is here in this dinky place with a population a bit more than four thousand. There could be countless more like it throughout the state, even the entire country!” Diana Jane looks at Brenae questionably. Then she grins.

  “The Accountant, eh? What is she going to do, Bre? Is she going to count all the coils of twine?” She chuckles. “Bre, you seem to have a nickname for everyone. Do you have a nickname for Chloe?”

  “Yep, I do.”

  Diana Jane asks, “Can you tell me what it is?”

  Brenae says, “It’s Champ. Even some of the teachers refer to her by her nickname, Champ.”

  “Does she like the nickname you have given her?” Diana Jane asks.

  “I imagine that she does,” Brenae replies. “Otherwise, she would have knocked me silly by now. She is pretty tough. I also have a nickname for Puppet. Puppet’s nickname is Loser.” Her expression suddenly turns serious. “So, Di, will you lend it to me?”

  Diana Jane stares at the ground and slowly shakes her head. “No.”

  Brenae says, “Oh, come on now. Why not?”

  Diana Jane replies with a tone of voice that is anxious and full of concern. “I do not want you placed under its spell, Bre, pure and simple. Don’t you have one? Didn’t he give one to you?”

  Brenae replies, “Yes. The Loser handed one to me last summer.”

  Diana Jane asks in a serious tone, “Do you still have it?”

  “Nope. I threw it away in the garbage. It never came back. Maybe it is me, or maybe I got a defective coil. I do not know. All the same, it did not affect me, and it never came back like yours.”

  Diana Jane stops walking and faces Brenae. She grabs Brenae by the shoulders. Her eyes are misting over with tears.

  “It never came back? Are you certain? I mean, did you say something special, do anything to get rid of it permanently?”

  Brenae says, “No, not that I am aware. I may have thought something along the lines of, ‘What in the world am I supposed to do with this garbage the Loser gave to me?’ I cannot remember. All I know is I had no use for it, so I threw it away. It looked very ratty anyway. Can you lend it to me?’”

  Diana Jane reaches into her backpack. She shows the grubby-looking coil of twine to Brenae.

  “I never told you and Chloe this, but I even tried to burn it with my father’s blowtorch. The hot flame did not singe a single thread. It is impervious to good aims, I tell you. It is outright evil, pure evil.

  “Here you go, Bre. It is yours to do whatever needs to be done to get rid of it!” She thrusts the coil into Brenae’s left back pocket of her jeans. She looks Brenae squarely in the eye. “Try not to touch it with your bare hands. Use gloves or something. Furthermore, let me be perfectly honest here. I am not lending it to you. I am giving it to you, so you and your accountant friend can destroy it! Hopefully, the two of you will have better luck than I did!” She reaches out and hugs Brenae.

  “Thank you for trying to help me. If you cannot get rid of it, or if this accountant friend of yours cannot do whatever she is supposed to do with it, promise me you will give the coil back to me. I do not want you injured, having nightmares, visions, or beholden to its evil, magical spell. Promise me, Bre.”

  “I promise,” Bre says as she crosses her heart with a hand gesture. As the two friends go their opposite ways, Brenae calls over her shoulder.

  “Trust me, Empress Di. I will get rid of it, and it will no longer haunt you. I promise you!”

  *****

  Part III: The Skater

  Brenae senses someone is slowly skating along the sidewalk in her direction. Strangely enough, the person skates a bit and then stops, skates a bit more and then stops. She moves from the sidewalk and walks on the grass to allow the skater
to pass.

  “Excuse me,” a male’s voice cries out. “It appears the back pocket of your jeans is falling apart, or you are about to lose something that is inside of it.”

  Brenae instinctively reaches behind with her hand to her back pocket. She breathes a sigh of relief.

  Thank goodness! The coil is still there, and it hasn’t tried to escape or something similarly weird!

  She turns around to reply to the person. Before she can open her mouth, she nearly faints with what she sees. A handsome teenager is clutching a massive clump of twine in his hand. The slackly wound clump of twine is more than six inches in diameter! In a second flat, Brenae knows the twine has come from Diana Jane’s coil. It is filthy and stained from all sorts of food garbage and where Diana Jane had attempted to incinerate it with her father’s blowtorch.

  The teenager holds out his hand and offers the rolled-up clump of twine to Brenae. She instinctively backs away and does not take it.

  He says, “It has to be yours since it is attached to what I imagine is some more twine in your back pocket.” He leans over to his right and points to Brenae’s backside. “See?”

  “Oh, my goodness!” Brenae stammers. “The darned thing is trying to get back to Diana Jane!”

  She reaches into her back pocket and removes the coil of twine Diana Jane reluctantly gave to her less than two minutes ago. To her astonishment, the coil of twine is the same size as it was before Diana Jane thrust it into her pocket. Nonetheless, as the teenager said, one end of the twine miraculously is attached to the large clump of twine he is holding in his hand.

  She screams, “The coil unwound itself somehow or other, and it made itself longer! How is this possible?”

  The teenager whispers, “I do not know what in the world you are talking about, but there are two things I know for certain.”

  Brenae looks at the clump of twine in the teenager’s hand and then at the coil of twine she is holding in hers. Without looking up at the boy, she stammers, “They are?”