Please Note: I saw this on homepage and thought others should see it. I didn't know that it was wrong to do this thing. I'm just letting others know so that their accounts don't get deleted.
April 27th, 2005 -- In addition, would like to address a growing problem. For whatever reason, some writers feel its okay to copy-n-paste musical lyrics they have not written into their fiction. If you did not write it, do not post it. This has always been our policy. Please remove these entries immediately to avoid account closure.
D.S.: I removed the song I used from this fic because of this message. If you want to read it the way it originally WAS. You have to read it at my new homepage, just click 'homepage' on my profile to get there.
The Horror of Popularity
Chapter 8: Death
(Three Days Later)
"Bring Chad out!" Mr. Richton shouted from his megaphone as he stood across the road from Chad's (parents) Residence, "we want the boy Martha (don't know Chad's mother's name so I made one up)," he said seriously and he was surrounded by police, residents of Dimmsdale and the Mayor.
"No!" Martha cried from inside her house, "I wont give you my one baby!" she declared, "you've stolen other people's children!" she shouted, "I'll DIE before you steal mine!"
"Break down the door," the Mayor suggested coldly.
"Their security system doesn't allow us to even make it to their lawn," a police told the Mayor, "I've never seen a scarier defense system at a residence in my life."
"Then we'll just burn them out," Mr. Richton said emotionlessly, "I have a lighter," he said, "all we need is some gas."
"We want to burn them out not kill them," the police man told him, "we're only carrying the boy to where the other popular kids are located," he continued, "at least, that's what me and my men have been told," he said seriously and turned to the Mayor.
"That is my intention," the Mayor stated, "that boy will join his friends at their new location and share in their ultimate fate," he said formally, "is there any flaw in my plan Sergeant Murray?"
"Yeah," Sergeant Murray said, "that I'm going to participate in this scapegoat murder of a wife and her son," he said seriously, "come on men," he said to the other officers, "we're out of here."
"Any officer who leaves will be imprisoned for obstruction of justice and refusal to carry out their duty," the Mayor declared, "Sergeant Murray of course will be allowed to leave since I've exempted him from such charges," he said formally.
"I've been with you officers between two days (rookies) to more than five years," Sergeant Murray stated, "if you're not a coward then do what we pledged to do as police officers," he said, "which is to protect civilians from all forms of evils, biases and prejudices," he said proudly, "even if they're (the evil(s)) high in the political arena in our town," he added and stared straight into the Mayor's face.
But only five police officers of the seventy-five officers present decided to follow Sergeant Murray's request. They were immediately arrested and placed inside nearby police cars to be soon taken to jail.
"I thank those who've given up their freedom for the better good," Sergeant Murray said formally, "the rest of you," he said, "pray that God forgives you," he told them then he turned away and left.
"Don't just stand there," the Mayor said in annoyance, "get something to help make the house light adequately on fire," he said hurriedly.
"I can be of assistance," a dark brown haired female resident said with a Southern drawl, "I live three houses up and just got a large supply of gasoline yesterday," she told them, "just one of those canisters should blow that house to kingdom come," she said frankly.
"Well!" Mr. Richton demanded angrily, "aren't you going to get the gasoline from this helpful young woman?"
Several officers followed the woman to her house quickly.
"Excuse me," a male rookie officer said, "but wont something like that burn up the entire house?" he asked curiously, "we only want to get the boy and mother out to take the boy to a location where he can't have any contact with unpopular children," he stated, "isn't that our intentions?"
"Until he escapes and returns to kill more children?" Mr. Richton asked superiorly, "I don't think that we should take that risk," he said formally, "do the people agree?" he asked and got a cheer of 'yes' and 'burn them alive!' from the gathered residents.
"I'm out of here," the rookie said in disgust and walked straight into a police car and waited to be taken to jail.
Fifteen other officers soon followed suit and more of the officers seemed to be considering their actions more than when the Sergeant spoke.
"Back with gas!" the dark brown haired woman cried enthusiastically as she returned with seven struggling officers carrying a huge canister of gasoline, "my name's Helen Jackson by the way."
"Great job Helen," the Mayor told her, "you've really served your town well this day," he said and Helen blushed as she looked away.
"Roll the canister and let it go across the road on it's own," Mr. Richton instructed, "then I'll use my lighter and right after that we run."
Mr. Richton first order was met in seconds. Right then Martha opened her home door. Three steps away from her was a red canister.
What's that smell? It smells like... Oh no! (Martha's thoughts)
"You can't burn us alive!" Martha cried incredulously, "that's murder!"
"The boy," Mr. Richton said firmly.
"When pigs fly!" Martha cried furiously and slammed the door behind her after she re-entered the house.
Nothing else could be said. Mr. Richton quickly threw his lighter at the canister. But it didn't ignite.
"Let me," a middle-aged police officer said and took out his pistol.
BANG!
All that was heard was the shooting of the gun, the explosion of the canister and the screams of a mother and son who were still inside and being roasted alive.
(Meanwhile at the Entrance to Dimmsdale)
"We're so glad to have found out where you live Wendy," a dark haired man said kindly, "are you sure that this is the town where you were born?"
"Yes," Wendy responded.
"Ever since we found you you've been such a blessing," the man said kindly, "a blonde haired princess who was whisked into the hospital that I worked because of the car accident," he said, "too bad you lost most of your hair in the accident," he said sadly, "you did say that you had a memory flash of it being longer than shoulder length right?" he asked and Wendy nodded, "I have to say that you've been one of the least scared amnesia victims I've ever met," he said with a laugh, "I call you Wendy after my Canadian Nanny," he told her, "I'm glad that you don't mind," he added and Wendy giggled.
"Why should I Mr. Caulfield?" Wendy asked, "you took me in after all," she said happily.
"You remember what to tell them?" Mr. Caulfield asked.
"Yes," Wendy responded, "that a priest came to the hospital secretly healing patients and I got healed," she said with a laugh, "I promise not to tell them that you did it," she added.
"With people's perception of magic today I'd be ostracized," Mr. Caulfield said solemnly, "even though I only have the power to physically heal people," he continued, "people would hate me and the government might even want to kidnap me and perform experiments," he said, "you understand why I have to keep my ability a secret?"
"Yes," Wendy responded then giggled, "I wont tell, promise," she said and placed her right hand over her heart, "I five year old Wendy pledge to keep quiet and protect Dr. Cau..." She said but stopped because of trouble pronouncing his name.
"That's alright," Mr. Caulfield said with a laugh, "but I keep telling you that even though you currently feel five that you're really at least ten or eleven years old," he reminded.
"I'm not THAT big," Wendy said and broke into a big fit of giggles, "I just look big."
"We'll see," Mr. Caulfield said not pushing the issue, "at least your memory flash of doing a cheer gave me an idea the town where you're from," he said with relief, "anyway you'll soon be back with..."
Mr. Caulfield stopped when he noticed a sign up with a girl's picture. He stopped the car and read it.
Missing Criminal.
Name: Veronica
Crime: Being a possible cause of the curse killing Unpopular kids, running away and evading justice.
If Found: Call the police, Mr. Richton's Capture and Destroy Committee or shoot on sight. Do not get in close contact with this perpetrator who might be a female witch.
Signed: The Mayor
Mr. Caulfield's eyes looked closely now at the picture of the girl which was in colour. A blonde blue eyed girl wearing a cheerleading outfit and not looking younger than between eleven to twelve years to him. But what hit him most was that this girl looked like his car occupant Wendy.
"Is that me?" Wendy squeaked, "am I a criminal?" she asked in a small voice and looked ready to cry.
Mr. Caulfield looked at her in surprise. For a girl who thought that she was five she didn't read like a five year old.
"Possibly," Mr. Caulfield said honestly, "but you know what," he said to her as her eyes filled with tears, "I'm not giving you in," he said sharply.
"Why?" Wendy asked in a small voice.
"Because you're a good girl," Mr. Caulfield said defiantly and turned the car around, "and no dumb sign is going to make me not think or say that," he said firmly, "plus they want people to shoot a little girl on sight!" he cried incredulously, "rumours had been going around about Dimmsdale, but I didn't know that they were true," he said as he quickly exited the town, "Dimmsdale really gone on a crazy witch hunt," he said, "and worse yet our president supports it," he said darkly, "guess Iraq wasn't enough," he muttered.
"Will I have to dye my hair?" Wendy asked suddenly, "I definitely don't want my name to be Veronica," she told them, "I like Wendy better," she said happily and clapped her hands to emphasize this.
"How about dyeing it light brown?" Mr. Caulfield suggested, "I think that colour will help bring out your pretty blue eyes," he said and smiled when Wendy giggled and blushed, "and I'll get you home schooled so that you don't socialize too much," he continued, "that would be best with all the paranoia going on," he stated, "plus so that they can't find you," he told her, "Wendy," he said to her, "I think it's best we move far away," he added suddenly.
"Why?" Wendy asked in a cracked voice, "I like it in Helpsville," she protested.
"So do I," Mr. Caulfield said with a sigh, "I've been residing there for years," he said, "but I've got something more important to take care of now," he said and smiled at Wendy who sat in the front seat beside him, "Helpsville General can always replace a doctor," he told her, "but they can't replace you if you're taken away from me," he said frankly, "and I can't risk that," he said and his own voice started to crack.
"Don't cry," Wendy said to him, "I know what will cheer you up," she said happily, "some music," she said excitedly and turned on the car radio.
"I love this song!" Wendy cried excitedly when she heard the intro to a song that she had just heard yesterday, "I'm glad that you're not an illusion," she said suddenly and smiled at Mr. Caulfield.
"So am I," Mr. Caulfield said softly, "let's enjoy the song," he said just as the song was nearing it's first verse, "I love you Wendy," he said and gave Wendy a happy smile.
"I love you too Jeremy," Wendy responded softly not giggling like a little girl this time but smiling back at him warmly.
(4:00pm at the Barn)
"This food is great!" Ian cried as he stuffed another sugar roll in his mouth, "the work may be hard and the condition of this place is horrifying," he stated, "but the food is awesome!" he cried happily and grabbed piece of sugary pastry and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Ian," Britney said seriously, "don't you think it's suspicious how many people have been falling sick since they've given us this food?" she asked, "look at you!" she cried, "yesterday you fainted and now you have to sit in a wheelchair," she pointed out, "you don't find that strange?" she asked him frankly.
"You and Trixie were the only ones who didn't sneak off to swim in the creek during our first day doing classes here," Ian reminded them, "the creek was really cold and then everyone who went in it started to feel sick two hours later," he stated, "it's all just a coincidence," he told her, "you're not ill like the rest of us," he pointed out, "even Trixie looks worse for wear."
"But I'm..." Britney stated then stopped, "something is in the food," she whispered, "why else give us so many sugary things when they're trying to punish us?" she demanded.
"They must be trying to appease angry parents," Ian said dismissively, "if it were poison we'd all be dead by now," he said simply, "I don't think that they'd bother to slowly kill us if they wanted us dead."
"I must agree with Britney," Trixie whispered, "I don't feel so good," she said and put down a plantain tart that she was eating and held unto her rumbling stomach.
"I haven't seen Kira though," Ian said suddenly, "now that I think of it I haven't seen Mr. Crocker either since the day before yesterday," he said thoughtfully, "strange," he muttered.
"I'm personally glad that Mr. Crocker isn't here," Trixie mumbled, "all he loves to do is see kids suffer."
"Exactly," Ian stated, "most of us are ill and several more tables are empty of children today," he pointed out, "our Principal said that they were sent to hospitals," he recalled, "but now I'm starting to wonder if they ever left Black Manor," he muttered.
"What did you just call this place?" Britney asked.
"I overheard Mr. Crocker talk about it while I was being interrogated the first day that I was here," Trixie told her, "I told Ian and swore that he'd tell you," she said simply.
"Black Manor," Britney said, "where it's said evil witches used to live disguised as farmers," she stated, "they used kill anyone who trespassed on their property and curse anyone who angered them," she continued, "but one day they found forty-five children wandering across their property," she told them, "the witches decided to keep them and even built a dormitory for them to stay without using magi," she said with a hint of incredulity, "but soon the witches realized that something wasn't right with the children," she said ominously, "after the first two weeks of being playful and happy," she recalled, "they started to become quiet and even glared at some of the witches," she said softly, "then there were murders, massive ones and people began to suspect the witches," she said seriously, "but the witches were innocent and decided to find out the culprits themselves," she whispered, "but one day the oldest of the seven witches was found dead by her cauldron," she said sadly, "the witches were furious but then they found a button on the floor of the same room," she said, "this button was a wooden one with black stripes and the other witches recognized it immediately as one of the buttons from the coats that they had made so lovingly for the children without even using magic," she said, "they went after the children, but soon found out that these were demon children who wandered around finding places to live then went around killing at random," she said simply, "the children loved no one and would eventually even kill those who sheltered them," she said, "the witches found a way to seal the children under property to die of suffocation, but in doing so the land became cursed and no magic could be performed there," she said, "but even after the witches left they couldn't perform magic anywhere and soon found out their magic was sealed within them and would be for several generations," she said, "only four of the witches moved on with their lives elsewhere," she said, "not telling their husbands about their sealed powers or anything," she said, "the others went back to the farm and grew more bitter and bitter," she stated, "they then cursed the land so that normal children who were killed here would die twenty times as fast and that children with witches blood would die twenty times more slowly," she said, "this was nearly one thousand years ago and it is said children who die and are buried here become possessed with the demon children's spirit and will walk the day they feel that their revenge can be taken," she said, "it's a true story," she added.
"How would you know?" Ian demanded, "you don't believe Timmy's crackpot theory about witches?"
"Of which he suggested that I was one," Trixie added sounding very angry.
"Of course not," Britney said quickly, a bit too quickly, "I think I'm going to retire early," she said and hurried off before anyone could say anything.
"Have room for one more?" a voice asked from behind them, "it might be worth your while."
"Lorna?" Trixie asked in surprise and turned to see Lorna Red smiling wryly from behind her, "what are you doing here?"
"Gave myself in," Lorna responded and sat where Britney was before, "I noticed Britney running off just now," she said and her voice held resentment.
"What's your problem with Britney," Ian asked and his voice showed how unhappy he was with her tone.
"You like her too much," Lorna snapped, "Veronica told me about strange dreams that she was having," she continued, "especially one in which she could only see flashes," she told them, "flashes in which she saw blood, lit candles, the star of David..."
"So what's your point?" Ian interrupted angrily and loudly, "why's this made you angry at Britney?" he demanded.
"Because I just connected something yesterday," Lorna responded, "Veronica said she saw hair and a hidden face," she stated, "she only had flashes of this person but couldn't get to see their face or wake up and remember the colour of the person's hair," she stated.
"And?" Ian spat.
"Did she tell any of you what she kept muttering in her sleep?" Lorna asked ignoring Ian.
"I heard her mutter red, flashes, hair and blood," Trixie listed, "but what does that say?" she asked, "it makes no sense."
"Not when it's said like that," Lorna told her, "it's jumbled," she said, "it's really flashes blood red hair," she stated, "blood red hair," she said with great emphasis.
Ian and Trixie looked at her in confusion.
"Who among us has blood red hair?" Lorna demanded loudly, "who among us didn't get kicked out of her house even though her parents are on that crazy committee with Richton's Dad?" she asked and the other two gasped, "yes her parents are on the committee and I'm certain that they've done nothing to their daughter while she was at home," she said and Ian nodded to confirm this, "but since they sent her here I'm certain that they've become suspicious of her," she said wryly.
"They said this place was her parent's idea!" Ian recalled suddenly, "they must've sent her here to ensure she'd be powerless if she were the witch," he said, "but this is all circumstantial of course," he added.
"You are so blind," Lorna said bluntly, "but you won't be for long," she said with a wicked chuckle.
"What do you mean by that?" Ian demanded.
"You'll see," Lorna said playfully, "if you know the legend of this place Black Manor then you know how certain permanent residents feel about witches," she said, "at the rate kids are getting sick here it wont be long," she said frankly.
"Long for what?" Ian asked suspiciously.
"When forty-five children have died wrongfully at once and are buried alive," Lorna recited, "the demon children shall get vengeance on a full moon when they arise," she concluded, "that's the big chant of the legend," she explained, "bet Lorna never told you," she said superiorly.
"You're just jealous of her perfect personality and figure," Ian hissed, "you're just jealous that you're no where near as good looking, nice and perfect as she is," he said angrily and quickly picked up a donut, "she'd never harm us," he said defiantly, "she's one of us for god's sakes!" he added incredulously.
"Not always," Trixie said recalling what Briney said one of the past nights at the Boarding House, "she said that to me," she told them, "remember how in she didn't get popular 'til in grade two because she liked to sit around eating leaves and speaking to rocks?" she asked them, "she used to be unpopular," she reminded them, "that's why she'd do this," she stated, "she hates us for all the teasing we did," she said, "she hates all of us, unpopular and popular," she realized, "this thing that's happening will make people avoid Dimmsdale like the plague," she said seriously, "they might not even allow people to leave the town," she said, "kids will be ostracized from our school," she pointed out, "popular or unpopular people will fear them," she stated, "people will hate them," she added.
"Open your mind and see my pain," Ian said suddenly, "you'll regret all the mean things you said," he continued, "you just wait," he concluded.
"Britney's poem in first grade!" Trixie recalled, "she definitely held a grudge then," she said.
"And she still does now," Lorna said seriously, "Ian I'd advise you not to eat that donut," she said suddenly.
"Why?" Ian snapped, "is it poisoned?"
"With mutated advanced arsenic," Lorna whispered in a hissing tone and Ian stopped eating it at once.
"How do you know?" Trixie asked?
"I got a call from Mr. Crocker yesterday on my cell," Lorna told them, "he told me that he ran off with Kira more than a day ago because he found out that children were being poisoned to death and he refused to have any part in it," she continued, "he snuck off to someone's house in hopes of hiding out and informing others about what was happening here," she stated, "unfortunately someone called the police and Mr. Crocker was arrested along with Kira and the owners of the residence," she said sadly, "along with that Mr. Crocker had a sample of the mutated arsenic which was the only evidence he had to prove what's happening here," she said, "the only way to trace this type of arsenic is to have in possession a sample of the mutated advanced arsenic," she revealed.
"And how would Mr. Crocker know this?" Trixie asked.
"Because he created it," Lorna said, "he's the only one who knows how to make it," she continued, "but they're using a machine by him as well called the duplicator to mass produce the stuff," she said to them, "and Mr. Crocker told me that he was close to finding a cure for it before he got caught."
"But after this is over can't he still cure us all?" Trixie asked, "he must can get out of jail sometime."
"Not this time," Lorna said with a sigh, "they executed Mr. Crocker and Kiva on live television," she said and the other two gasped, "it was horrible," she said shaking her head, "they put Kiva before a firing squad and then they hanged Mr. Crocker," she said her voice started to crack, "and the worse thing is that the person who got them arrested was the same person who suggested that they be executed for treason and that the executions be put on live to make them examples," she said and started to sob.
"What horrible adult would do such a thing!" Trixie cried in shock.
"Please tell that it was not my Dad," Ian said fretfully.
"Who said it was an adult," Lorna said darkly ceasing her sobbing to speak, "it was Timmy."
Done.