Regina (20 page)

“So, you never got married, Bill?” I dared to
ask one day.

He shook his head no. “I never found the
right lady.”

Bill finally deciphered what the voices were
saying that night.

Bend her soul to the Law

Defile her Spirit

Diiiiieeeeeee!

-----

“Regina. I think you need to sit down
this time.” Bill said one day after school. I drove to Manor after
helping decorate the gym for the Friday the
13
^th
dance. I feel into the
chair beside him with exhaustion. Even though it was October, the
heat was still unbearable, but I didn’t let that diminish my
excitement. Was he finished with the video?

“This time, we need to watch the last part
together…..”

“You saw the face?!” I couldn’t help shouting
at him with excitement. My hands clapped together and I sat at the
edge of my seat, but Bill put up his hands to slow me down and sit
back. His face was clear with anxiety.

“Regina. We need to watch the whole video
together. Something happens in it that I don’t think you’re aware
of. This isn’t something you should see by yourself. I was alone
when I saw it and it nearly scared the pants off of me!”

“Ok, Bill. Fine, let’s see it together. But
you did get a clear image of the face?”

“Yes. You’re definitely going to have a clear
view of it.”

My body trembled as we sat down together.
Bill looked at me and pressed play.

On the computer, that night came alive, but
this time it was crystal clear. The night that kept me locked in an
attic, terrified of what was below me. In the back of my mind, I
knew I wasn’t crazy but I did doubt what really happened. Bill was
very kind and gave me his trademark hard pat on my shoulder. It was
nice that he was there with me. I began to feel terrified of what I
was about to see.

Very clearly I saw myself turn on the camera.
Wow, I hadn’t seen that before! This was going to show me
everything! I got excited when the camera distinctly paned over to
the door. I began to sit on the edge of my seat as the words they
were speaking became clear.

The creepy voices called again, “Bend her
soul to the Law. Defile her Spirit, Diiieeeeee!

I watched the rest of the video, waiting for
it. Everything else was as I thought, the voices, the words, but I
was anxious to see the face in the video. The moment came and I
held my breath.

Something flashed in front of the screen! It
ran in front of the camera as the smoke filled the room.

“Whoa! What was that?”

“A pig.”

“A pig? Why would a pig be in my room?” I
asked out loud.

“Pigs are used in satanic worship.” Bill said
and I felt a chill go thru me as he said that.

Before I could ask him to please explain what
this has to do with the devil, I saw the face! It was a woman with
blonde hair. Though the smoke and distortion, I saw her face. It
was like stone, her cruel features chiseled into her face forever.
Ruby red eyes looked straight into the camera as if they could see
me through the computer screen. I knew that face very well. It bent
over and coughed, as if it was choking on something. All of a
sudden, something long and slimy came out of her! She hacked the
thing out of her throat and onto the floor. She leaned her head
forward to push it out of her mouth. I couldn’t see her as she did
this because her head wasn’t in the way of the lens. She sat back
up and wiped her face with the back of her hand. Whatever it was
she puked up, we’ll never know, but once again her face was caught
on camera.

It was my mother’s face!

“Regina? Regina!” Bill was calling me but I
was still looking at my mother’s cruel face on the screen.

“No, no, no, no, no.” I repeated as I paced
the floor back and forth with disbelief. I needed to be alone. My
breath was coming so fast, I couldn’t catch it and my eyes were on
the verge of large tears. I needed to go home and beat the answers
out of my parents for I was that pissed off, but I knew I wouldn’t
do that. This video finally gave me the proof I needed to leave
this place forever. I had to plan it carefully otherwise they won’t
let me go.

But who were ‘they’? Who were the people my
parents turned into? Were they devil worshipers?

“Regina, answer me!” Bill’s concerned voice
screamed out to me again.

“I’m fine. I have to go. Thanks for watching
it with me Bill.” I gave his old hand a tight squeeze and picked up
the copy of the enhanced video. I turned away to leave.

“Regina! Wait! Who was the woman in the
video? Will you be safe?”

“Bill,” I said turning back to him with a
pleasant smile on my face. “I’ve come to love you as I once did my
Daddy. Thank you for your friendship and help. I won’t forget
it.”

He blushed and looked down at the compliment.
I know he wanted to stop me from leaving and get answers out of me
but he didn’t. “Thank you Regina. Will you be back?”

“I hope so, but if I don’t, give the video
to…….” I hesitated. Who did I trust? Who would watch it and do the
right thing? “On the outskirts of Galveston, is a town called Lady
Bird. Somehow, find a man called Pirate and give it to him. And
give him this….” I went to my bag and took out a brown shoe box. In
it was the old letter from Rachel, and the rest of the items I took
from Grandpa’s shed. Though I almost considered against it, I
included my dream diary in the box as well. I had ended the journal
with my personal conclusion for those who read it.

My shaking legs moved to Bill’s main desk and
I rested the box beside his keyboard.

“Keep it safe.” I said, turning back to
him.

I bent down and gave Bill a hug. Little tears
had formed on the bottom of his eyes. Before he had a chance to
spill them down his sweet face, I turned and left.

I was going to confront my mother.

Chapter
Twenty-six

She was waiting for me in one of the cozy
patio chairs when I drove up. The sky was turning dark and the
shadows began to come alive. Her face was calm but she knew exactly
what was in my head. How did she know?

“Regina, come sit by me.” She said in a silky
voice that scared the hell out of me.

“No. I want to ask you something.”

I was too scared to go sit by her. Her face
was black from the lack of light and her voice seemed different.
She was wearing a light blue dress that highlighted her perfect
shaped legs. One would say she looked normal but in reality, she
was far from it.

“That will wait. You have some explaining to
do.”

“Oh yeah? What must I explain?” I
snorted.

“Why you stole things that belong to me.” Her
eyes narrowed and her cheeks turned fire red.

“What did I steal from you?”

“I went out to Grandpa’s gardening hut
today.”

Oh shit, I whispered to myself. I shifted my
stance and moved my eyes to the ground.

“He keeps old mementos of my and Rachel’s
young life in there. The containers he stored the items in were
obviously disturbed. Items were taken, letters were read, but I
guess I don’t have to tell you any of this, do I Regina?”

“I was going to talk to you about it, but I
wanted to wait for an appropriate time other than your mother’s
funeral.”

“Is that so?” She asked.

“Yes, mom. I promise I didn’t look thru those
things in spite. You know me. I was curious about you at my age
because you never talk about it. I was curious about Aunt Rachel,
you never talked about her before. I feel like a complete stranger
in your life but I’m your daughter. Yes, I was bored one day and
found the shed. I honestly didn’t think anyone would mind if I
looked thru the tubs. I swear I was going to tell you after a
little time passed. I swear.”

“Why did you take my things?” She
bellowed.

“I didn’t take anything. I’ll admit I looked
thru the tubs but I didn’t take anything.” I lied. Best to admit I
looked and keep denying I took her stuff. Plus, if I admitted
taking her things, Bill might become involved since I left those
items with him in the box with my journal. I would never reveal
Bill’s involvement.

“Really, you didn’t take anything?”

“Yes, mom. I really didn’t take
anything.”

Moments passed as I looked at her shadowed
face. Her faceless figure just watched me as I stood there, waiting
for her to speak.

“I will find what was taken and you will be
punished.” She hissed softly at me.

“Well, you won’t find it with me.”

Again, moments passed as she contemplated my
response. She seemed to cool down because her legs crossed and
started to sway with the breeze. Her posture seemed to relax.

“You were going to ask me something?”

“Yes ….” Before I could get the words out to
confront her about the video, I felt something deep inside me
screaming not to. It was if a big red NO was flashing painfully in
my head. Feeling compelled to listen to it, I covered my lie
quickly. “I wanted to know if I could visit Jane for a couple of
days. I’m not behind in one class and my attendance is perfect, so
a couple of days won’t hurt me.”

“Your father and I knew you would ask one
day.” She says after a few moments pass. Though I expected her to
be annoyed at my question, she sounded surprisingly motherly.
“No.”

“No?” I asked in disbelief.

“No.” She said but this time with more
force.

“Mom, why did you tell me things about
Grandpa and Grandma that are obviously not true? Why did you truly
not tell me about Aunt Rachel? In the pictures in the shed, you two
looked as close as sisters could be. I saw the report cards and the
pictures. Things you told me about your life don’t add up.”

“You are taking things you see and spinning
them into things that are not true.”

“Really, mom? I don’t think I am.” My sarcasm
was in full bloom.

“Yes you are. I’m not going back over my life
with you because I don’t owe you an explanation. You are unhappy we
kept you here this year instead of returning to your precious city
school. Don’t think I haven’t seen you with your sad face around
here. All you want is to get back to New York.”

“That’s funny because I seem to recall you in
a wedding dress marrying someone other than dad.” I snapped.

Something inside mom must’ve snapped too. The
air between us changed. She stood up abruptly. Her shoulders
started to hunch forwards and a growl began to come from her
chest.

Now I must admit I was definitely scared of
her at this point. I have no idea what would’ve happened because a
scream ripped into the night.

We stopped looking at each other and looked
quickly to the house. It came from the upstairs. Chills ran down my
spine as I gazed up to my window. My eyes couldn’t move from it. I
could hear mine and mom’s breaths as we waited for something.

“What the hell was that?” Mom breathed
quietly. I could hear the fear in her voice.

“I don’t know.” I breathed just as quietly.
“Is anyone in the house?”

She replies, “No.” We looked at each other
again, this time with fear instead of anger. “Let’s go up.”

“No. Are you crazy, mom? Call dad.” I said,
putting my hand on hers in effort to stop her from going inside the
house.

“Dad took Grandpa to get his meds before the
store closed. They left thirty minutes ago. It’s up to us,
Regina.”

“Mom, please. I don’t want to go up there! I
don’t want to!” I pleaded quietly with her. “Let’s just leave! Come
on, I got the keys to the truck right here. Let’s just get in it
and leave.”

My brilliant mind was running overtime. My
feet were catching up to my brain by moving to my truck with mom in
tow whether she wanted to or not.

“Oh screw it. Lead the way to the truck.” She
responded.

We sprinted quietly to my truck. The doors
weren’t locked, thank goodness.

Slam!

We stopped for a second for some stupid
reason.

“What was that?” Mom asked.

“Sounded like a door slamming shut.” I said.
“Are you sure dad and Grandpa aren’t home?”

“Yes! I saw them leave! Their car is still
gone!”

Our eyes met with renewed fear. The night
became still. The wind quieted down to nonexistence. It was creepy.
The insects went silent and something was filling up the air, a
thickness maybe.

I was the first one to see it. My truck was
faced away from the tank, giving me the perfect view of my bedroom
window.

“Mom! Look at my window.” I said, pointing at
it.

She turned and gasped. There was something
looking out at us. I could say it was a person because it was
shaped like a human. It had dark hair and white skin. Cuts were
visible on the face. It was searching for us with its dead
eyes.

“Holy Shit!” Mom screamed, not caring anymore
about being quiet. “Get in the truck!”

We opened the doors to the truck and heaved
ourselves in. Mom locked her door once we got inside. I strapped on
my seatbelt and easily jammed the keys into the ignition. Thank
goodness I didn’t have one of those stupid Hollywood moments where
the protagonist can’t get the keys in right.

But before I threw the truck into drive, the
door leading out to the porch threw itself open. It made a loud
bang and caught mom’s attention.

She screamed from fright. One glance was all
I needed. One glance told me the same woman at the window was now
at the door. I didn’t look any further and concentrated on driving.
I shifted the truck into drive and softly pushed the accelerator.
No way was I getting the truck stuck in the mud.

Easily I steered the wheel to the left,
catching the gravel driveroad. The truck came up and we were
bouncing down to the gate quickly.

Another scream pierced the sky as we drove
away. It was horrible to drive away with that chasing us.