"What happened?" Mira was curious.
Hugh cleared his throat. "When he placed his hands on her head to pray the demons away, his hands started to sizzle as if they were on fire and boils bubbled up on his skin. He was in such pain and agony that he had to be rushed to the Emergency Room. He never had full use of his hands after that. I witnessed what he endured with my own two eyes. Cara was laughing the entire time he was in terrible pain."
Myrtle was nodding.
Hugh turned to Mira. "I'm ashamed to say that I was at the door eavesdropping when you stopped by to speak with us. When I heard you say that you believed our daughter was hurting people, especially children, I knew we couldn't let you leave this yard without discussing things with you — as hard as this is for us."
"I really appreciate that," Mira replied. "The only thing is to now figure out what we can do to help Cara diffuse the anger she has and move on. She has latched on to my daughter Rosie and now to me."
"Really?" Myrtle looked surprised.
"She appeared in my car the other day and asked if I would be her mother. She claimed that you both hate her."
"I don’t hate her," Hugh said. "I've always loved her. I just didn't… understand her."
Bobby thought he seemed sincere.
"To be honest with you, even as a grown man who is much larger than she was, I have to admit that I was afraid of her. Myrtle and I both were, but we loved her, nonetheless. She was our daughter."
"When did you realize she hadn't moved on after she died?" Bobby asked.
"Three days after her funeral when we started hearing the screeching of the swing in our back yard," Myrtle replied. "When I looked out the bedroom window, it was swinging back and forth as if someone was in it. I watched it for at least five minutes before it finally stopped."
"My first inkling that she didn't move on," Hugh started, "was when I was running my bath water one morning and as I was reaching to turn the faucet off, I saw the handle twisting all the way to the right on its own and the water shut off completely. Cara could do those things when she was alive and I just knew without a shadow of a doubt that she still could even in death. I knew she was still here."
"Has she appeared to either of you in person since she passed?" Mira asked.
They both shook their heads.
"No. Never," Myrtle said.
"It was just all these things she did that was typical of Cara," Myrtle indicated. "I'm sure she knows we knew she was responsible."
"So since you're able to see our daughter, that means you're psychic or something?" Hugh asked.
"Certainly not the devil's child," Mira responded, much to the Straptopuluses' surprise. "You think Cara's anger has risen to the degree it is due to the possibility that she just wasn't understood?" she proposed.
The room was silent. Bobby was looking at Mira knowing that her straightforwardness was about to emerge big time.
"I can almost guarantee that hearing throughout her entire childhood that something was wrong with her or that she was evil or the devil's child gradually made her into something she was not and was never intended to be."
"What are you saying?" Myrtle was clearly on the defensive. "That we caused Cara to be that way?"
"I'm saying that your daughter was not responsible for the gift or ability that she had and it sounds to me that she was made to think that somehow she was. You mentioned your grand-aunt. Maybe she was also misunderstood. What you're referring to as a curse could have simply been a gift that many people could not understand and your ancestor was killed because she couldn't help who she was — just like many hunted down and falsely accused during the Salem witch hunt back in the day." Mira paused for a moment, studying Hugh's reaction. "The more Cara had to hear that something was wrong with her in the most malignant way, the more she responded negatively to it as if with a shield of defense. The only thing is, what she was accused of being—the evil—was what she eventually became, not because she was born that way, but because over time, she was made that way."
Bobby smiled inwardly at Mira's bravery.
"How dare you?!" Myrtle fired back. "How dare you accuse us of being horrible parents?"
Hugh got up and tried to calm Myrtle down.
"Sit down, Hugh Straptopulus! I can handle this on my own!"
So said, so done. Hugh took a seat like the obedient husband he was.
Mira and Bobby observed in amazement.
"Whether you believe what we said or not, Miss Cullen, does not change the facts. I don’t expect you to understand because apparently you and our daughter share a lot in common. I do hope for you and your daughter's sake that you seek redemption for your sins and pray away whatever should not be a part of your life." She was holding her chin up. "My husband and I are not responsible for what happens after death. We did what we could for our child when she was alive. I'm afraid there is nothing we can do if you fear that Cara is harming people even in death."
"So, you're saying that you're not interested in finding a way for your daughter to move on?" Bobby asked, reading through the lines.
"We have done all we could," Myrtle replied. "And we are coping now. I don’t think there's anything left for us to do. If she wants to continue wrecking our home out of spite, she can. I won’t let it get to me. Hugh and I will do what we have done each time — we will calmly put things back in their proper place. We will not let evil take root in our hearts and disrupt our lives."
There was a brief pause again.
"So, it was very nice meeting you both," Myrtle said. "I imagine this is not how my husband intended things to conclude when he invited you into our home, but unfortunately, what will be will be."
Mira and Bobby stood up; Hugh did too.
Myrtle led them to the front door.
"You know what, Mrs. Straptopulus?" Bobby started at the door, "I think you're a sorry excuse for a mother and a straight up…"
Mira squeezed Bobby's hand. She could just imagine the expletive he was about to use. "And you…" he turned to Hugh, "…are a coward. You failed your daughter. You let your witch of a wife plant foolishness inside your head about your own child. No one deserved the punishment they got from Cara more than you two. You worthless sacks of shit!" He took Mira's hand and stormed out of there.
Mira was stunned as they walked away. "I can't believe you said that!" She uttered in disbelief.
"You know you wanted to say it." Bobby looked at her.
"Guess you read my mind."
They headed over to his place. Mira stayed just for a short while.
10
_________________
Myrtle switched off the shower and stepped onto the bath mat. She dried herself off and wrapped the large towel around her frame, tucking in an edge over the top.
When she entered the bedroom, Hugh was lying down reading a magazine.
"Those dirty magazines again?" Myrtle barked.
"Not at all, Myrtle." He waved it at her. "Cars and trucks."
"It's time you moved beyond the crap that's landing people in hell these days. Everywhere you turn, there are naked women doing the vilest things with men in books, magazines, television. They're all going to hell in a hand-basket!" She declared.
"You might be one in the bunch," Hugh muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?" Myrtle demanded as she slipped into bed completely naked.
"Nothing dear." He rolled to his side; his back to her.
"You're lying. What did you say, Hugh?"
He turned and looked at her. "I said you're right. You're absolutely right. You're never wrong. You can do no wrong."
"Are you patronizing me, Hugh?" She had a suspicious glare in her eyes.
"I would never, dear!"
"That's my pubby-wubby." She smiled as she placed her hand across his chest. "Now, make the good Lord proud and please your wife."
"Yes, dear." Hugh leaned in and started kissing her passionately. Myrtle knew her love-making was what had hooked h
im from day one and that was all the power she needed.
2:55am…
"Mommy… Daddy…" went a soft whisper above the bed.
Hugh turned slightly.
"Daddy…" it went again.
Hugh pitched up and Myrtle turned over.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, worriedly.
"Hear what?" Myrtle sat up.
"I heard her voice."
"What're you talking about?" Myrtle asked, tiredly.
"Mommy…"
"Oh my God!" Myrtle exclaimed. "It's her." She whispered loudly.
Myrtle reached for the lamp, but it slid further away, then toppled onto the floor. "What do you want?" she insisted. "Go to hell where you belong and leave us alone!"
She tried to get up, but was pinned to the bed by an invisible force. Hugh did not even attempt to move.
Suddenly, in front of them at the foot of their bed, their daughter appeared. Cara was clutching her favorite brown teddy bear against her white dress.
"Why did you lie?" She shifted her head a little in her mother's direction.
Myrtle squeezed her eyes shut. "Our Father, who art in Heaven…"
"Answer me!" The girl demanded in a raspy voice.
Myrtle immediately opened her eyes. "I did not! I did not lie! Leave us alone! Just leave us alone!"
"Honey…" Hugh started, his voice trembling.
"Quiet!" Cara roared.
Hugh and Myrtle felt the house shake at its foundation.
"The porridge was sweet. You didn't tell them the porridge was sweet," Cara said.
"I'm sorry, honey," Hugh dared to speak again though his voice was breaking terribly. "We didn't know what else to do. You were hurting innocent people!"
"All I wanted was for you to love me." Cara shared.
"We did love you," Hugh told her. "We do love you."
Petrified, Myrtle's fists were pressed firmly against her cheeks. She could not stand the very sight of the girl.
Cara shook her head slowly. "You're lying again. Mommy made the porridge sweet, then I fell asleep and could not eat anymore or wash my hair or change my clothes. You left me alone. You hated me."
Hugh was shaking his head in opposition.
"You watched me eat it, Daddy. You both did and you were glad."
"No, we weren't, honey. You're wrong."
"I don't need you anymore. I have a new family now and they love me. My new mommy is so nice," Cara said.
Two curtain ropes above their heads were pulled out from the rods and dangled down near the bed to Hugh and Myrtle's shoulders.
"Hugh, she's evil! I told you she's evil. She came to us straight from hell!" Myrtle exclaimed.
"Shut up, Myrtle!" Hugh barked.
Myrtle in her fright was startled by Hugh's response.
"I should never have listened to you and never should have bought that cyanide," he said.
Cara focused on the curtain ropes which both curled their way up into large, perfectly rounded knots. One looped over Hugh's head and the other over Myrtle's. As if previously held above a flame, the ropes scorched the couple's skin as they were tightened by an invisible force. Myrtle and Hugh grabbed at the rope as they were choking, but to no avail. Hugh was looking at his daughter the whole while as they were suffocating under her spell. He remembered thinking during the course of his torture that he now knows what it must have been like for men and women that were hanged at the gallows. He also resigned himself to the fact that this was the ultimate justice for his daughter. And then, he expired.
Myrtle's suffering persisted for a bit longer than Hugh's. Her eyes were now bulging in her head and her tongue protruded as much as physically possible — her eyes on Cara the entire time. She, like Hugh, finally expired and slumped in the exact spot in which they sat with their backs resting against the headboard.
With a blank look on her face, Cara clutched her teddy bear even more tightly before she disappeared into thin air.
* * *
Bobby turned the corner toward his house and came upon a scene that made him anxious. Police cars, ambulances and unmarked vehicles were parked in front of his neighbors' house. Their property had been sealed off with yellow crime scene tape.
Bobby pulled into his yard, immediately jumped out of the truck and headed to where some of his neighbors were standing.
"What happened?" he asked Mrs. Lee, one of the area's oldest residents and chatterboxes.
"Apparently, dear, Hugh and Myrtle didn't show up at work this morning, so one of their employees went to check on them. Unable to get inside, they called the police and that's when they found them."
"You're saying… they're…"
Mrs. Lee nodded ever so slowly. "Yes, dear. They both dead."
Bobby's legs suddenly weakened and he felt nauseous. He had flashbacks of their meeting the day before and how they parted ways. Feeling an urgent need to leave, he went inside his house, only making it as far as the couch before his legs gave way.
Bobby reached into his pocket for his cell and punched the familiar digits.
"You're not going to believe this," he said in a somber voice, moments later.
"What is it?" Mira asked, putting her fork down. She was sitting alone in the cafeteria.
"The Straptopuluses… they're… they're dead."
Mira was shocked. "Dead?"
"Yeah. Cop cars are everywhere. I came home for lunch and met this scene outside."
"How?"
"I don't know," Bobby replied tiredly.
Just then, there was a firm knock at the door. "I gotta go. Someone's at the door," Bobby said.
"Okay. I'll come by after I get Rosie from school," Mira quickly replied.
Bobby's front door swung open. On the other side was a tall, bald, colored man in a dark grey suit and a shorter, thinner white man dressed similarly.
"Good day. I'm detective Hal Hinny of the Tinsdale Police Department and this is my partner, detective Ted Sutter. I don't know if you've heard anything, but your neighbors, the Straptopuluses, have both been discovered deceased in their home."
Bobby nodded. "Yeah. One of my other neighbors just told me. I couldn't believe it."
"I was wondering if we could ask you a few questions. Won't take up much of your time." The man had an air of austerity about him.
"Sure. Come on in," Bobby replied, his legs still feeling a bit weak.
They all sat down in the living room.
"When was the last time you saw either of the Straptopuluses?" Hinny asked.
"I saw them yesterday," Bobby said.
"How were they? Did they seem okay?"
"Yeah. They seemed fine to me."
Detective Sutter was scribbling in a small notepad. "Did they confide in you about anything that might have been concerning them or…"
"No," Bobby said innocently. "We just had our usual chit-chat being friendly, but they didn't mention anything that stood out."
Bobby sensed the detectives were studying his behavior and he tried to appear as relaxed as possible, under the circumstances.
After a few more questions, he saw the officers to the door.
"If you hear of anything — anything at all that might possibly help this case, I'd really appreciate it if you'd give me a call." Hinny handed him a card.
"Sure thing," Bobby agreed. He could not wait to shut the door behind those guys.
11
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As Mira and Rosie hurried up Bobby's walkway to his porch, Rosie glanced back at the yellow crime scene tape that was around the Straptopuluses' property. The tape was the only indicator that something had gone terribly wrong inside the split-level house as the busy scene of squad cars, ambulances and investigating officers from earlier that day had pretty much disappeared.
Bobby opened up as soon as they hit the porch and Mira and Rosie slipped inside quickly.
Mira reached for Bobby's hand. "I can't believe it!" She said. "It's terrible what happened."
&nb
sp; "Does she know?" Bobby was speaking of Rosie who had started down the corridor toward the guest bedroom.
"I told her on our way here. She's shocked, but is fine," Mira indicated.
She went behind Rosie and met her near the door. "I don’t want you to go outside to Cara today, okay?" she said.
"Okay, Mom." Rosie readily agreed.
Mira returned out front with Bobby where he filled her in on the day's events concerning his neighbors.
With Mira's help, Bobby had made the guest room one of the coziest bedrooms in the house. It consisted of a single bed dressed in a white, over-sized quilt spotted with yellow roses, a small marble nightstand and matching bureau, and a nineteen-inch television mounted to the northern side of the wall. Fancy yellow curtains graced the windows. They were tucked nicely to each side allowing a clear view of the outside.
Feeling right at home, Rosie walked over to one of the windows and looked outside. She was surprised to see that within minutes of arriving there, the sunny, blue sky was now overcast and she watched as pebbles of rain started to hit the outside glass. The rain rapidly picked up as if with a deep-seated vengeance and heavy breeze was swept into the mix. Branches of tall trees were soon swaying helplessly as the crime scene tape around the Straptopuluses' property flapped in the wind.
"What's with this sudden change of weather?" Mira got up and peered outside a front window. "It was so bright out when we got here. Now, this."
Bobby could see from where he was sitting. "Yeah. Odd, huh?"
"Honey, are you all right back there?" Mira called.
Rosie appeared in the doorway. "I'm fine, Mom."
"You should turn on the tv!" Bobby told her.
"Okay, I will." Rosie retreated inside the room again.
As she headed over to the nightstand to retrieve the tv remote, she heard the door shut behind her.
Cara was standing in front of it when Rosie spun around. The look on the girl's face was one of joy and gratification.
"What are you doing here?" Rosie asked her, surprised that she was in Bobby's house.
Cara (The Cornelius Saga Book 3) Page 6