NINE
Frank woke up on the ground, his body was soaking wet. His head throbbed and he felt as though he would throw up. The rain had let up some and he noticed he was in the woods near his house in a clearing. Slowly he sat up and realized in the firelight Marcus was standing there holding Faith by her arms. Her clothes were missing and she shivered from a mix of cold and fear. Just as Michael had described it, the smell of something dank and dead, like rotting garbage crept up Frank's nose and it was unmistakably coming from Marcus. His eyes empty and without emotion, stared out at nothing. Lucy was standing near them with her lip bleeding. Frank noticed Lucy held a sharp knife in her hand and she raised it to Faith's body. Her eyes trembled in fright as Lucy ran the icy blade up and down her torso and pressed harder, piercing her skin. Faith whimpered and cried as the sharpness of the blade met her warm abdomen and twisted. Blood began to flow down her naked legs. Lucy pressed harder, jagging across Faith's silky white flesh. She let out a soft moan in pain.
"We could make a deal Frank. I let her go you come and be with me. Love me as you love her. I could be everything you want. You are all I ever wanted don't you understand that?" Lucy stepped towards him, pointing the knife as she helped him get to his feet. Frank wobbled a bit and Lucy held him steady. She touched his face with the bloody knife and kissed his lips. Frank stood there paralyzed and stone faced, his eyes fixed on the bleeding Faith. He knew he had to do something fast or they were both dead. Frank suddenly raised his arm and punched Lucy again in the face. She went down hard but shoved the knife deep into his thigh. He yelled out in pain and went down on one knee.
"You don't get it do you?" Lucy angrily screeched. "I AM THE ONE TO FEAR! I AM THE ONE IN CONTROL!"
"No, Lucy, there are many things you CAN control, but this isn't one of them. Love is the one thing you have never been able to control!" Frank continued to scream at her as the pain in his thigh throbbed. "You have tried so hard to take it away from so many people but it was the one thing that was always stronger than you ever could be. You have fought me for years now, trying to ruin everything I cared about and you have hurt so many people. It is time to let Faith go and let Marcus rest in peace. It's time for all this to end." Frank swiftly charged at Lucy and pushed her down to the ground hard. The knife flew from her hand as he slapped and grabbed at her, lashing out all the anger and pain she had ever caused anyone and threw it back at her. He ripped the braided chain from around her neck in order to get a closer grasp but as he did so, a flash of lightening and an ear-splitting wail filled the night sky and shook the ground, knocking everyone off their feet. Frank could hear Faith scream and everything went dark.
Hours later, Faith woke up and realized she was back in the house on Frank's bed. Her wounds were tended to and Frank was lying next to her, smiling and holding her hand. She could see out the window that dawn was breaking and the rain had stopped.
"Frank? My God," She said, pulling him to her and clutching tightly. "What happened?"
He gave her a soft smile. "It's over. Everything is over. When I woke up Lucy and Marcus were gone. I'm sure he's back at rest and we won't be hearing from her ever again."
Faith let out a heavy sigh and snuggled up against him. "I don't know much of what went on here and what I do know I wanna forget and move on."
Frank smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "You will."
Faith nuzzled into the curve of Frank's arms and closed her eyes. "We will."
Three days later, Mister and Misses Hutchinson arrived to bury their daughter Taylor. They thought it best not to bring her back to Bradley Beach and chose a delicate spot at the local cemetery. After the funeral, Danvers Hutchinson stood there, watching his oldest daughter be lowered into the ground. Danvers was a broad shouldered man with a thick mass of reddish brown hair, strong face, squinted eyes and firm jaw. The sky was gray and dark with thick brooding clouds and a chilly wind bringing the forecast of snow. Frank watched unmoving, his heart squeezing in sympathy. He could not imagine what he would be feeling if anything ever happened to Jordan.
Frank glanced over to see Faith and her mother Charlotte engaged in conversation near the head precession car. Faith's eyes shifted over and saw Frank walk over to her dad, his long black coat swinging side to side.
"Mister Hutchinson I'm very sorry for your loss." Frank said with sincerity.
Danvers did not look up at him but he spoke. "I told Faith today that we sold the restaurant and my wife and I will be moving to Florida in a week. Her brother lives there and so does my mother and sister. Can't stand this northern chill much anymore…goes clear through to my heart."
"I understand." Frank replied.
Danvers raised his head and stared out into the cemetery.
"My daughter said she was going to stay here in Pennsylvania…with you." Danvers's voice was stern and almost angry.
Frank nodded slightly but did not let himself be intimidated. "That's right. There is a hotel in the next town looking for a new kitchen chef. I thought Faith would be happy there. It's only a fifteen minute drive from my house."
Danvers did not say anything for a few seconds as the casket was completely lowered into the space.
"What is it that you do, Mister Black?" Danvers questioned still not making eye contact.
"I'm a criminal profiler for the local police department. I've also worked for the FBI and numerous other law enforcement groups."
Danvers nodded as if he approved. "And you also deal with…the unexplained?"
Frank nodded.
"And you are in love with my daughter?" He turned and faced Frank, expecting a solid answer.
"Yes sir, I am very much." Frank replied without hesitation. "I will do my very best to take care of her and my daughter Jordan. They are my priorities and my world."
"Then we shall expect the three of you for Christmas." Danvers turned and tapped Frank on the shoulder as he began to walk away towards the cars. Frank turned to follow him, his long black coat swinging as he walked towards Faith. She stepped away from the limo as she watched her parents enter the back seat. Frank sauntered up to her and took her chilled hand sweetly.
"What happened?" She asked curiously.
Frank smiled softly. "You can breathe."
A few months later on a sunny afternoon, Faith walked through the back door and into the kitchen carrying groceries. Frank was standing there pouring himself a cup of coffee watching Jordan and Todd on the floor laughing and playing with Todd's new beagle puppy. Frank set his mug down on the counter to grab the groceries from Faith's arms. He kissed her as her wedding ring shone brightly in glare of the sun.
