Return To Hill House
Disclaimers: I don't own the story or the characters, the plot line belongs to me, everything else belongs to Shirley Jackson and Jan De Bont.
Warnings: With this Chapter it's going to show more than just a simple attraction to each other than in the movie, but a what if they had the chance to get together and fall in love, before the attack the following night. As we see her change from her old personality and into a different than she was in the movie, as just meeting the quintet is changing her now.
So some of her feelings are going to reduced here, from her shy self and into a more self confident individual now as the week continues. As the week continues now. But from here we see their relationship growing as things change directions as we see what things would have been like if the duo survived past the last fifteen minutes of the movie
So for this chapter we see their relationship as it's going to be their first night together, which is when the soulmate activates and they act like they known each other for years, before things start shifting directions the next day, before he tells them the truth and they find her in the greenhouse which is the next chapter, before they see the truth for themselves.
But his memories are going to show the portions leading into their return to the house, before it starts getting out of hand, as theirs going to be a few added scares in the middle of the story, as the paranormal attacks start up again, as they get frequent visitors from her family and get ready for the return trip.
Chapter 8: Truths Come Out And Bonds Reborn
"Hey not too far up, Some areas are slightly rickety." I told her and she nodded as she moved to me. "Afraid of heights, Dave?" she asked and I smiled as she stopped at the step one up from me and I lifted her the rested of the way down as I answered her. "Yes, but to make sure he never hurts you, I would face that fear for you." I said and she nodded as she hugged me and I pressed my forehead to hers in response then.
As she answered me, and I could see the pain in her eyes as she answered me. "I don't care what the Websters say, you are my everything, I'm not leaving you. I love you, you are the only thing that matters to me, but you guys are my best friends. I'm not letting go, I'm never letting." she said and I nodded gently to her. "Well he touches you again and he's ending up in jail or I kill him myself." I told her and she nodded to me then.
"You don't have to tell me anything I already figured it out honey, because like you I would choose a haunted house and leading into the week. And of Halloween and All Saints Day, what better place to run these tests then in a haunted house. Last night was a classic example to that, the entire time, but you never left my side. Or the room to check, when the cord in the harp snapped you were at the fireplace, the noises."
"You were checking out the house and Luke bumps into you, before you came to investigate, the pot: that wasn't you, the window: you were in bed. The fireplace: I would have heard you and it's the same for the painting. Everything that happened was never you, so if this lunatic can't get to us by scaring us out of the house. He's trying to get us to point fingers at each other." she said and I nodded as that made it clear then.
"How many different ways do you got to give that synopsis and theory exactly, we think alike, but for right now, I know you better then you know yourself?" I said and she nodded. "You're a junior parapsychologist, so like I said, anything that can go wrong will go wrong and never turn your backs to these statues, the human sized ones." she said and I looked at the fountain warily as that made up my mind as I answered her.
"Issues in training, and I specialize in phobias, was that part of your training?" I asked and she nodded to me. "Yeah and the lunatic is going to try and to get to you by your phobias, so whatever you're afraid of. Get it under control right now, he's acting like Freddy at the moment, and mine is claustrophobia. So any maniac wanting to get to an adult is by targeting our family and friends." she said and I nodded as we ended it then.
"Alright come on, we better join the others, you guys need to fix your bonds right now, and Benson's supposed to arrive soon." I said and she nodded as we headed for the sitting room to find them talking them. And I saw an amused look on Mr. Dudley's face at the way she was standing next to me. "Getting closer son?" he asked with a smile gently and I nodded grinning as I answered him as I answered him then gently at that.
'Yeah it just snapped into place now, our bond of connection has been turned into a soulmate connection now with that heart to heart talk. I'm what she was looking for in chosen soulmates, though Rebecca and Rob. They already picked me in advance at the moment." I said and he nodded with a bemused look. "Lovely timing son, alright if I didn't know any better I'd say this situation was rigged to bring you together."
"And she fell in love with you." He said and I chuckled gently at that as I answered him. "It was rigged, everything Jane has been taunting her with ever since the heart attack Rebecca fixed, and two out of three are here at the house, Rebecca got her the money to finish school and Malcolm had her office ready and waiting for her once she starts work at the hospital." I told him and he nodded with a gentle smile at the news.
"Whatever you told her she knows already and doesn't care about the false pretenses right?" he asked and I nodded. "No she doesn't mind and is doing added investigating for this. But I'm monitoring things." I said and he nodded as he said the next remark aloud as he looked at the four of us smiling. "We're leaving in an two house than the place is yours for the night, you four." he said and we nodded as I heard the trio talking.
As I walked over to him. "What was the family descension starting from here, because for some reason she thinks you might know that?" I asked him softly and I heard his wife answer that. "Fred's the start of her bloodline, but his mother was Craine's second wife." she said and I nodded. "So is there a reason Rob's worried about her digging further into that truth, before she's ready?" I asked and he nodded with a worried look at that.
'"Yes, the portions Tom gave you regarding Hugh Craine were the shades of Grey, but the darkside version of the legends where he's concerned are about to rear their ugly head, she's not ready to know yet, not this soon and not when her mother never got the chance to tell her-herself. As Tom said, Renee didn't just die, she killed herself, but it's because he's a sadistic schizophrenic that lost his mind at the time."
"Craine wanted children, but Renee was infertile, and he started kidnapping children from the people working at the textile mills and the truth lies buried from there. That's where the legends shifted directions, Andy is his son, but learning it. In how he died and why Alicia and Frederick left is the thing. And that's really going to scare her, and as to why that is, it's because this is turning into the Springwood Slasher legends from here."
"And said legends, where a family member are concerned are going between the stories of being the daughter of a very famous Jedi and a town local. But if this turned into our version of A Nightmare On Elm street, she's going to be getting the worst portion from Becky." he said gently. 'Craine's second wife, just why is everyone so scared of this recluse, what's the big secret about him?' I thought as she looked at me gently then.
Before I could ask, a new voice joined in the conversation as a man their age dressed in a police uniform walked into the room. "To answer the unspoken question here about that Dr. Marrow, Craine turned into a schizophrenic and a madman by the time his youngest son was five and everything you told them barely scratches the surface. He's the pitch black sheep in the family, but the bloodline is pretty obscured now here."
"And to the point now, that her family was quite a bit like the March family in Little Women, but honestly they were good people with a dark and dangerous secret buried. But frankly until's reached the level of seeing their souls she's not ready to know that information right now." I heard as there was a follow up remark then from a different voice at that, the tone I heard in Jefferson when he dragged in my patients at work
"So she's nothing like him, but like Frederick himself now son." he said and the duo smiled. "Doctor Marrow, this is Chief Jack Benson and Judge Peter Walters, Jack, Peter I'd like you to meet Dr. David Marrow. And his group for this, Luke Sanderson, Theodora Willis and Eleanor Vance." he said and we nodded gently with a smile. "Nice to meet you guys." Theo said and Luke nodded in agreement to her thoughts gently at that.
"Yeah it's good to see you guys again." Eleanor said smiling as she walked forward and Walters smiled and gave her a hug and she hugged him tightly at that. "God you grown baby, how you are you holding up right now?" he asked and she sighed. "With the trio I'm alright, but I'm still on the automatic response where mom was concerned. Uncle Peter the added reason they sent for you was to get the added information."
"I just cracked the real will the one that Jane has is the fake, but if mom told you about Lou, I need you right now, you, Uncle Jack and Uncle Jared." she said and they nodded as Jack hugged her. "Don't worry, that kid is dead." Jack said and I took over at that as I answered the introduction. "Just David now guys, but the duo wanted you involved there was something we had to show you that makes it clear now in our conversation."
"This afternoon, but like I said, Rebecca taped the entire conversation." I told them and the trio nodded, as a box full of tapes and a camera appeared and Jack nodded. "Becky I know that's you and thanks for the added help at the moment, though Jared hears this. And he's going to kill the little schmuck for even touching her like that." he said and a message appeared in response to that as Beth read it out to the three of them and me.
"I know Jack, but trust me, though it's been a few years since you saw Eleanor, I decided to help her along in getting everything. That Jane keeps throwing at her, squared away, but everything just came back to haunt them. But the test was rigged and he's intending on selling the apartment after probate closes. You know the rules of the test just as easily as I do guys, as such now."
"That rule was underlined in the test, so with that, and that's what all the tapes were for, I taped the fight for you so you can see it. But they intend to take advantage of the admission of the will and sell the apartment. And that's a whether she agrees with that or not too, so he goes through with that. And he just shot himslf in the foot, because she's got the money sitting with Robert."
"She already figured it out, before checking the bills after Mary, Malcolm and Dave, they contacted her from the office at work. And decided to get involved in the experiment, but I know and knew, if she was completely active. And she would choose this time of the year and the site of where it was done. That it was going to be a haunted house, so not realizing he chose the house here."
"Two plans came together as one and here we stand now at the moment, but that's why I needed you involved, as this was an attempted murder. Louis is so greedy, he's willing to kill the sole heir, just to get my insurance. But what he doesn't realize is that the prize is the house and the entire family fortune." she read out and he started laughing at that as he answered that remark smiling gently.
"Well that works right now Becky, you were good at seeing the unstableness in the character, but the amount in the family account is enough any sane man. They would lose their minds over that total at the moment, but the lions share. That amount goes to Ellie and Dana right now." Walters said as he started laughing at the remark. "Amy's furious enough when I told her I was coming up to see you guys, but that now."
"Lovely, that's a perfect nail in the coffin Becky, but any man would lose his mind from that amount. Yeah, alright so we got all the evidence needed for this, but let me guess now. But you, Becky, decided to tape the entire trip, getting enough evidence that this was an attempted murder. But an attempted murder/suicide job if that car is rigged to kill on impact with the fence, and that fence is made of iron and that car is 20 years old."
"Well kid, that's not going to work, if she ends up in the hospital." he said and I nodded to that remark. "Too late, you're going to kill him anyway, but Malcolm, Dana, Eleanor and I been speculating that Lou did what De Lancie did on that Kirk Cameron movie. And poisoned mom's evening tea when they were at the house that night." I told him and he nodded sternly. "He's going to jail anyway." Walters said and Benson nodded to that.
"Chief how many members were part of mom's inner circle exactly?" she asked out loud and he turned to her and then smiled as he moved to her smiling. "Ellie, baby, is that really you?" he asked and she nodded. "If you're really who I think than yes, but we just need her to confirm that, but at the moment what she is true. And aside from dad, I don't know know what she's been possessing aside from books and the salt shaker."
"But if she's hanging around, I'd have to have her confirm that, Chief the reason mom got you involved was because, aside from possibly being your god daughter. With you being a cop and chief of police is because of Lou, those two right now. They are crossing lines not meant to be crossed, but I just unloaded all of it to him right now. But that's why I need you, if anything, he's like the dead beat dad, in the nightmare films."
"The one that Arquette's father played, after he took off on her and then she grows closer to her psychiatrist as a result. Aside from what Rick Jefferson is going to tell you later, the rest is going to make you three want to have his head on a platter. But I've already translated the meaning of the will and the games are over. I'm letting them dig themselves into the hole they created." she told him and he nodded with a furious look.
"You're the sole heir and he gave you a car that is twenty years old, alright if anything happens Halloween night, kill the damn car if you have to. But you're not getting behind the wheel of it, Son, if he scares you into trying to break down the fence. But that's your only chance to save her, by destroying the car, before she does what Becky did. Before you ask, just trust me it's takes time for the ability to go back to full power again."
"But all in all, I'm not losing my daughter, because she got the truth, before Becky could tell her." he told me as she got off the couch and stood next to me, while leaning into my side and he, Walters and Mr. Dudley all smiled at that. "The connection snapped into place this morning, but the frequent jolts caused her to switch from my title to my name." I said and they nodded with a bemused smile as he answered me at that gently.
"I take it the attack this afternoon resulted in you getting territorial with her, I can understand that, and you were who we would have chosen for her anyway." he said and I nodded as I answered him, smiling firmly as she leaned her head into my shoulder. "So though my in-laws are gone, you guys are filling in that spot for her and me now. Alright that helps now, but I really got to know now Chief, your honor, and you two Rick, Beth."
"So if she told us the reason why she wanted you and Dr. Jefferson, as well as the rest of your circle involved and why exactly, what's the response going to be." I told him and he nodded as he answered me, his tone hardening as he said it. "If I just had my baby return to me, tonight, I'd want to see those reports Jared's cousin had. In regarding how many times this brat got arrested and her medical reports and hear it from her."
"Becky married Robert Vance thirty 6 years ago, he's a friend of mine, but if she's using her other names for the job and goes by March with us. I'd have to find out what she learned in case of a repeat performance of what caused her attack to begin with if she starts dealing with the same thing. Though learning the truth on her own, before we tell her, if she's really who I think, it's going to result in the same reaction now."
"That Skywalker gave in 'The Empire Strikes Back'. including sacrificing herself to save you. Though if this was the brother-in-law's intention and the guys and I are killing him for that ourselves, and I'm investigating what the reason is here. And because this is tantamount to attempted murder, if they used that theory. It's because she nearly killed herself because of paternal abandonment and I'm turning it into an attempted murder."
"And he's getting investigated if we find anything on Becky too." he told me softly at that remark. "Chief, how well did you know my mother exactly, if she went by that name here in town, because she brought me up here ten times for month long visit, just before my father was killed in that explosion when I was a kid and I started college two years later?" she asked and he looked at her with a gentle look as his eyes looked her over.
And then narrowed in concentration. "Why do you ask honey?" he asked her gently and she sighed as she explained that to him as she leaned against me at that. "Your faces faded by the time I was eighteen and started college Chief. And there's a bit of information in the records, that you're not going to like. if you're really Mom's best friends as well. Especially if Jefferson, Walker or Jackson are living here in town as well."
"But the reason I'm asking this is because I just remember two of the eight here, their official names would help in breaking down that door blocking out my memories of you guys and your families, if your mom's inner circle." she said and Mr. Dudley quickly answered that question, as he immediatdly got the point then. "Our head of the hospital doctors is Jared Jefferson, he's the one who treated Becky for that surgery."
"As for the duo, Adam is the surgeon who did that bypass, his name is Adam Jackson and David Walker is an orderly who is a friend of ours, honey. Peter Hawthorne is Judge Peter Hawthorne and Tom Redford is Mayor Tom Redford. But we're Becky's best friends and inner circle honey." he said and Mrs. Dudley finished his sentence. "Added side trips aside if this starts jogging your memory now and you're out here for a week."
" And before this ends we can talk things over, but if this results in a full scale fiasco that's all I need to know. In judging in where the next tree limb down in the Craine family tree ended this time, though if it did and I need to know. Now, in the real reason you decided to take part in this, because if somethings come up in the newspapers that's enough for us at the moment honey." She said and Benson finished her sentence.
"Though I swear, that any foolhardy stunts in the middle of this and you're in big trouble if one of you ends up in the hospital. And it was because you got too irrational to listen to orders here and with that fact in mind Dr. Marrow. But what kind of doctor are you, psychologist or psychiatrist anyway?" he asked and I explained that. "Medical psychiatrist, Chief, I work in the rehab department at Riverside psychiatric hospital."
"So with that in mind, if what you're going to say is what I'm thinking I'm doing it to ensure nobody gets hurt." I told him and he nodded as he dropped his tone into a whisper as we went into a huddle at that as he answered me. "Medical psychiatrist, so you've taken basic and advanced medicine in addition to the mind disorders, alright that helps, how much have you've pieced together so far exactly anyway."
"Because if she's my god daughter like I think it means it's just about to start getting out of hand, if the intrusions have sped up they're going all out tomorrow night if this keeps up?" he asked and I sighed. "With her I think she's holding in more anger at the Websters than you'd think right now, and I've just gotten a piece of it. But whatever they're constantly taunting and baiting her with is going to cause her to now."
"To shove aside her need for rest and finally drive herself into the ground, physically mentally and emotionally. To solve your case, though if this results in a severe case of shock if she gets hurt during it, I'm pulling the plug on that investigation automatically. Though with our soulmate connection I think I've just taken the role of her future husband now at this rate." I told him and he nodded to that as he answered me gently.
"So you'd follow unspoken medical orders even if I, or Jared, never got that phone call if she gets hurt in the middle of this correct?" he asked and I nodded as Rick answered that. "If it takes a repeat performance of Becky for us to know who she really is, it's going to result in her needing emotional therapy if she learns the information her mother never got the chance to tell her." he said and Benson nodded in agreement to that.
"You're right about that, hearing this information from us or Becky's ghost is safer and she's not going to dig into the pieces she forgot, but with her emotional state like it is. This could be could be considered a murder/suicide rap, by giving her a car that is on its last legs and waiting for her to learn that bombshell, before she's told it by someone who knows the most about it, like us or Becky herself." he told him and he nodded.
"Yeah well I just got commed through her from Rebecca, she said you had something to tell me." I said and he nodded. "Telepathy through a conduit and it activates once together, alright that's another connection here, though if my face starts clearing in her memories. Though there's no need of that, if Becky tells us all at once who we are to her, and we get her message and communique before we leave the house."
"And she tells you why she wants to talk to Rick Jefferson and Tom Williamson in Boston and I'm really going to be pissed at that. As to why exactly, it's because if the little brat did this on purpose, he's a dead man, but situations like this. The stupid fool crossed the people now, when one of the friends of the family. They're a judge and another one is the chief of police." Benson said and I looked at him with a worried look at that remark.
"How serious is that truth exactly at the moment, Rob said that it was close to what Hamill learned about Vader in the movie. She said her memories of those stories faded by the time she was twenty, she has no idea where her family is from. Let alone what caused that triple bypass, so how serious is going to ben if she finds out. Before Rebecca can tell her thr truth now in that?" I asked him and he sighed as he answered me.
As Mr. Dudley answered that question gently as he looked at her with a concerned paternal look on his face. "Very serious, fact of the matter is that, like her, her face, as a cub, faded in our memories as well. But if it takes a repeat performance to get every piece out the ending results, if she does what Becky did. Then this is enough for us to put it together, but that's what worries me right now in her case, son, in truth."
"And learning that truth from us or Becky's ghost would work better than learning it on her own in her emotional state, if this is what Webster planned and if it is, he's a dead man when I get my hands on that brat, as to why it's enough that just seeing the information and with you guys in the middle of it, this is going to be like Jack said, an emotional suicide turned into a murder/suicide rap, but listen to me."
" David listen to me carefully, this situation can't be taken lightly, ever since the surgery we've had to arrest ten kids. And for trying to break into the house, it's essentially like that nightmare on elm street series. And one kid sees something that traumatizes them and it starts spreading like the flu around here. But that's why I kept the gates locked and chained, as to why, they could be targeted by Craine as well now."
"She understands why we decided on this, because if Becky is her mother, the need for protecting people comes first, before her own health. She looks just like Becky and Becky was the only one who could survive that stand off and live to tell about it. And that's why I'm not risking any child getting into this house, because Craine is a homicidal maniac. And one with a penchant and possessive need for children, any kid who tries it."
" Just to break that quarantine in the house could get killed if they break into the house, if he's haunting it, and she knows this. Her knowledge of parapsychology is unsurpassed, but you remember the lunatic cult leader in Poltergeist that was after her?" he asked and I nodded. "Same thing, but worse and it's because what stories Becky probably told her are beginning to come back, but the parts left out are the ones that I'm worried about."
"Every Halloween we always had trouble with our latest teenage arrivals and they never take these stories seriously enough and try to break quarantine and I've had to catch them, before they can try and climb over the wall." he said and Benson finished his sentence with a worried look then. "I've had to arrest twenty skeptic teenagers from trying that the last ten years and with that fact in mind here it's just gotten worse."
"Whatever she learns you've got to end before it reaches the part that landed her mother in the hospital for that surgery. So she finds out why she had to drop out and he's a probable starting point it's going to make an already serious physical. And emotional condition worse, because he knows that she learns everything. It's putting him back in the doors, but physical injuries in the middle of it and that's when the plug gets pulled."
"And it's because with Todd's having the only spare key you're going to have to wait it out. With it being a full moon out tomorrow if there's added trouble, and she's doing whatever research she wanted, if she's hurt or gets hurt pull it and let her rest, Rob's going to agree when I say this, but if she pushes too hard it could tear something and I don't care what the duo say, until morning you got to wait it out, as to why."
"The reason is because with no key and it's freezing outside, if she's in shock, she needs to be in bed and kept warm, and horizontal. And till Rick gets back up here, since they usually get in at seven in the morning, but it's close. As to that I don't take these injuries lightly and I'm already occupied with with a bunch of teenagers when on duty as well,
"I'm not risking a fatal or near fatal medical emergency out of self preservation here. As to that, if she's who I think I just got my God daughter back finally after fifteen years. Do whatever it takes just make it clear that you've got to wait it out till morning." he said, before I could answer his notepad got removed then and it opened and his pen wrote something out as it was passed by an invisible hand to him and he nodded.
"Yeah I get it Rob, I'll explain that." he said, after reading it and looked at me. "Alright so it's not just cop or medical orders being given now, but parental. He says that if she gets hurt in the middle of the investigation pull the plug and get her to rest. As he's not risking her finding it out till Becky tells her, but with Todd having the spare key it doesn't matter what the kid says you're taking orders by us and Rob to wait it out now."
"And till morning here, but the kid looks like he's not likely to follow orders if you tell him the truth, is she who you're bonded to now though" He asked and I nodded as I answered him. "Yeah it just snapped into place a bit ago, but whatever the Websters are doing to her emotionally I don't think she's going to give up. And till she solves your case, because you're her first true chance at putting her PH.D's to use finally actually."
"Though if Webster is counting on that and her driving herself into the ground and he's in serious trouble. Because the little bastard is ending up dead if I find so much as a cut or bruise on her that wasn't there before," I told him and he nodded to that firmly as he answered me at the news. "I don't blame you for saying that at the moment, I was Becky's best friend, if she's still the seven to seventeen year old cub I remember."
"And I find anything on those records if she ends up in the hospital, because one of them caused her to get the truth, before Becky could tell her and I'm going to be pissed. I was her favorite adoptive uncle out of her parental extended family and following me. They were the duo here, and Jared Jefferson and Peter Walters." he said and I answered that. "I'll take that catch of ghosts around here, because we ended up with alot here."
"In excess of twelve to thirteen jolts in twenty four hours up here, if this keeps up tomorrow it's the full scale intrusion. And he's trying to get her out of the house and me with her, but for whatever reason, that I don't know. Orders though if something does happen after you leave though?" I asked and he nodded as he answered me. "Where's he from exactly anyway?" he asked nodding to Luke, and I sighed as I answered him.
"L.A. actually, Theo's from New York and my friends, Eleanor and I are from Boston." I told him and he nodded to that."Great if he grew up a skeptic, seeing a full scale intrusion is going to scare the hell out of them both. But I ran into your friends last night at the hospital after I arrested a drunk and brought him in for treatment. But he's addicted to the ethanol and his wife has tried to get him to quit for five years running
"And he still won't, but your friends filled me in on the previous happenings leading up to her injury." he said and I nodded to that, before Beth checked the clavichord and then looked at me then. "Speaking of which, what caused it exactly?" She added and I sighed. "Some maniacal poltergeist tightened up the string on the harp and the chord she did caused it to snap, and she barely missed losing her eyes as a result last night."
"But Eleanor's first aid training kicked in and she went to preventing the blood from getting into her eye, by using a shot glass to filter it. But she went to medical decisions and said no one is taking in anymore alcohol after dinner, if we do. After that she went on a fast medical decisiob and it's 3/4's non, to one part is." I said and he nodded. "Rob's a fireman and I'm a cop, she knew what we'd both say to that at the moment."
"Smart move though at the moment, she knows what I'd say to that if I had to arrest a member of your group for being drunk. And when the final scares leading into our version of the ending of "Poltergeist' hit and self preservation is going to come first if that does happen here. And before the safety and health of the one person who understands this stuff better than they do, because said person is the daughter, of a lost fireman."
"And of the most revered town parapsychologist and with that fact in mind for said psychologist our adopted cub. So if you lose your temper, don't try anything stupid, because things are going to get out of hand if he chooses tomorrow night or even Halloween to try and scare you guys out of the house, before she puts him back in the doors, if he's haunting the house and she's a blood relation, direct blood relation."
"To his previous jailer." he said gently and I nodded to the orders. "As for the doors, if I'm right I think some wizard hexed them to act as a judgement day regarding the souls of the deceased." Eleanor said and he smiled as he answered her. "Yes you got it right, in his case, he's facing another duration of eternal sexual harassment. And for the rest of his afterlife in this case, with his being what he became, Fred had the doors created."
"And had a wizard hex them so he could keep his father's soul in permanent purgatory. But that explains why we been judged innocent, they know we're her allies and she's their new keeper." he said and she nodded to him. "If the line started with him and ends with me, I'm finishing whatever mom did, if he's the reason I nearly lost her and my dad is gone." she said and I looked at her in shock as Theo said it for the three of us.
"Just what secret do the doors have on them exactly, if that message was written into them?" Theo asked him and she explained that. "There was a supposed legend that Rodin had a wizard put a spell on a set of doors that were meant to catch cruel and evil souls. The doors acted as a reverse of what the condemned did when they were alive, so say they were like Jack the Ripper, the demons turned into a homicidal maniacs."
"And it turned into a never ending cycle of dismemberment, for rapists, the demons turned the tables on him and he was subjected to sexual harassment and worse in his after life and so on, but to judge these things the soul. But the research is meant to act as a possible guide for whatever mission my grandfather had, but if the perp was a ghost, when he was doing it and came directly in front of them as a result."
"But when I say in front, I mean they had to stand directly in front of them. The keeper of the doors was the only one who could lead the demons on the door. That keeper was descended from the person that had them created at the time. But mom got the truth, if she was here and checked the doir's and thry responded to her. So the night of All Hallows Eve is the time of changing and I'm Catholic, so same difference."
"The person owning the doors were never named off, but he put a message on those doors, 'All ye who stand before these doors shall be judged', so that any person who came into range them were judged by God and heaven as a pure soul. Like we did yesterday, and we were judged innocent, as for the children, those souls are waiting to be released once the true owner of the house and the keeper of the doors arrived."
"But 'Ghost' is the perfect example here for it, they committed murder and the demons took them to hell, Patrick saved his friend and his girlfriend and the results are he went to heaven. But this is the exact same thing and the doors are the judgement of the souls, if they were like Patrick's character alive, they went to heaven, if they turned into Fred Krueger, or the duo that killed him, they ended up in hell or trapped in the door."
"The doors act like the weighing of the feather ceremony in the ancient Egyptian culture, if the person was completely pure of heart and never broke the laws their souls could move on to the afterlife without repercussions, but if they didn't their souls got eaten by Ammit, which is where this comes into it, because it's a purgatory now. While the keeper of the doors was a descendant of his bloodline." she said and she went into that.
"Yeah okay so why are the kids stuck in the doors exactly, if they're whoever your mother tried to free, before she died exactly?" Luke asked and she sighed. "They're probably the older brothers and sister to Andy's friends and if they are, they're the next ones on the list I have to free. Andy said my necklace was the symbol of their maternal protector and they turned to me to protect them from whoever Craine turned into."
"But going on my research here, only the descendant that had every bit of his son and wife's abilities would be able to control the doors and the demons on it saw that descendant as their equal and lord and when standing in front of them. Would come to life, to do the descendants bidding right as they're getting said soul in front of it. So purgatory, or limbo, which is what the message meant, stand in front of the doors."
"And you're getting judged by heaven and the demons, in the afterlife of where you're ending up. If the victim, or victims, were pure of heart than once in death they were judged innocent and free to return to heaven, but if the soul was a total monster, by that I mean men like Krueger, or some of the other homicides they talk about on Tv. Than once he floats in front of it the door comes to life and the demons judge him guilty."
"And to an eternity spent in hell and drag him into it. It's like screwing around with Voodoo. They couldn't worship one God and draw the symbols of another and the results if they did are they ended up in their own version of Hell in the afterlife. To spend the rest of his days dealing with being in eternal damnation and whatever he did as the demons do to him whatever he did to his chosen victims when he was still alive."
"For skeptics that theory is beyond ridiculous, because most of them don't take the afterlife seriously enough, anything beyond what we can see like we're seeing now. Then again with the amount of intrusions we've seen so far, it just makes it more clear, but the closer we get to Halloween and the more it changes from a scary story. And directly to real, which is what the Elf in the Santa Clause meant, believing is seeing, for some."
"They see it as a crock: magic, the supernatural and the paranormal they think it's fake, but for those of us who believe this stuff and believe in witches, black cats, haunted houses, poltergeists and so forth. But it adds on to the belief that there really is life after death and such as a near death experience which is as close to that nun movie as you can get. While nuns also take stigmata into consideration and with that fact in mind."
"Though we believe in the act of God, Catholics, once they see it with their own eyes, it changes their perspectives for life and for those of us who study everything that has to do with it, we take it very seriously, but for parapsychologists it makes perfect sense, as to why it's because the house was probably built on a old ancient burial ground or just directly on top of holy ground, like a grave yard or where a church used to be."
"Which is what the first ghost busters movie was based on, their first six months had resulted in them facing off against the Old Testament and they were doing battle against a deity as close to the demon on Children of the Corn as you can get. Which is pretty close to the mark. But in this case, the supernatural results in unexpected jolts as you see things you once thought was a fake and it changes your perspective for life."
"As the cat said evil creatures and monsters can't set foot on hollowed ground, like once they got into the graveyard and was right next to a church, because it's ground touched by heaven and the lord. To the ghouls that's enough of a worry, because the ground is holy ground and blessed by God and the holy ghosts. To quote the remark Ackroyd gave though, the achitect who built and created the doors was a certified genius."
"Or just an authentic wacko, because this stuff is the hard core religious stuff most see as fanaticism, like getting into the Wiccan craft. Or people who screw around with voodoo, as if that's not enough, Concord is one of ten of the oldest settlements. And in New England and like Salem was populated by puritans and for any person. To commit these types of atrocities, whatever Craine did, before he died, or his fellow maniacs."
"So if that's why Renee died than they'd be judged guilty repeatedly and forced to an eternity of enternal damnation in whatever he did when he was still alive. It's more than just simple parlor tricks coming to play as well, it's October, so this month's added side effects are hitting the table next and if he decides to go all out, it means he knows Thurday's his judgement day and he's got the daughter, or grand daughter."
"Of his previous captor arriving and he's screwed now, I find out the reason why and it's going to turn into a full scale fiasco next, if I'm the said heir. Let alone his descendant and keeper and these kids are trying to get my attention at the moment. Though he targets you guys and I'm putting him in those door for good now." she said and they nodded to that as the trio looked at her in amazement at her knowledge of it.
"Now you really do sound like Becky honey, looks and attitude, if this means what I think he knows that if you're here, you're the latest limb on the family tree, but I hope that's not what it means right now, because the added secrets if found on your own. Before you get the truth by a friend of the family, than it's going to be just as bad as what happened in the original Starwars movies and by that I mean the reaction Skywalker gave."
"And when he found out on his own that Vader was really his father, as a result, but best to learn this by the parent or the adopted parent and friend of your family. Though if that happens I'd have to tell you myself if the asshole puts you in the hospital. Since we're the first of the eight that you met in our circle baby, but two cases: one is Kruegers daughter and the other the kid." Benson said with a worried look on his face at this.
"Friend of the family, who here was friends of the March Family exactly?" I asked and he explained that to me as they went over it. "Aside from us, it's Jared Jefferson, Tom Redford, Peter Walters, David Walker, Adam Jackson and Jack Benson. Or if you want to get more official in Jared, Adam, Tom and Peter's cases, it's Judge Walters. Mayor Redford, Dr. Jefferson, Dr. Jackson, and Chief Benson as you just met him now."
"But the eight of us were friends of Becky and she came to see us every summer, while Robert took care of the girls. Though the only one we got to see repeatedly was Ellie, she came up to see us nearly every month. So though Robert was from here and he, Jack, David, Adam and I were a quintet." he said and I nodded as she answered him at that. "Dad was from Concord?"" she said and he answered her at that with a gentle smile.
"Yes baby he was from here, and his descension was also from a philanthropist, but he and Becky chose to raise you in the next peg down. And though they influenced your love in reading, you're exactly what they wanted to turn you into now, but your sister turned into exactly what they hoped you wouldn't, and that little bastard if he does anything, is in serious trouble here, and we find anything of evidence on that car later."
"Whichever one it is, than I hope it's the second, because you're the spitting image of your mother, and your father would want us to take his place here right now, with you in the condition you are emotionally. Though if this was a damn set up and he's getting it when we get through with them, but this is going to get him busted by a man who was a former sergeant and is now chief police, by both towns later." he said gently to her.
"And said sergeant rank I gained when she was eight years old at the time, we came to Boston for the christening at the time and I got to see her every summer for seventeen years straight till the explosion and Rob was killed. Rick and I are the same rank, he's also from here, but we tell him if the truth comes out that morning and he's going to kill him." Benson said and I nodded as she looked at the three of them to go into that.
"Rick, Jefferson?" I repeated and he nodded. "Yeah he's a friend of the family as well, that's why Becky kept calling him. But to him, he hears that real truth and he's going to kill Webster if there's more in her records than we know of." he told me and she quickly answered that. "And what's your reaction going to be if you learn that the victim's brother-in-law is getting a bit too rough when drinking?" she asked and his eyes flashed.
As Mr. Dudley answered that question gently, his eyes narrowing in concern as he said it to her then. "I get that from both her and the med records and I see the little bastard we're having him committed for rehab ourselves. Because with our friends gone the only thing she's got left of them is us and..., honey please tell me that's not why you're asking that?" he said gently to her and she sighed as she answered him honestly then.
"Mom never mentioned who was connected to her, because half those stories she used to tell me were fading by this point as were your faces. Ten visits in fifteen years and your faces were fading by the time I was in college, because I spent only one month up here, but if you were one of the few she was closest to, in out of town friends than I had to know Mr. Dudley. Hearing the truth from you and the others would work better."
"Then just learning whatever dark secret was hidden away now, though if that's his idea we can just add that to the prosecution for the trial. If you know the truth of what caused that surgery I need to hear that from you and Dr. Jefferson, because what abilities I have are rusty because I forgot how to use them, every memory I have about you guys. Or the others and the trips here faded after my father died in that explosion back then."
" But everything else, it's still fuzzy, but our bonds, the mother/daughter bond with you Beth, the dather /daughter one with you two. It's feeling like it's getting stronger every mine right now." she said and he nodded gently as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Both parents gone by this age, I understand baby." he said gently and she nodded. "What happened exactly?" Theo asked and she sighed as she told her the truth then.
"Some truck driver crashed into a gas station and caused one of the pumps to catch fire and dad and his unit went to deal with it. But before he could do anything the entire gas tank exploded, killing both him and the driver that caused it to begin with. It was when I was seventeen, and while I was in college, mom had the heart attack. But in all honesty, David was aproved by mom, while she had forbidden Jane marrying Lou."
"Because she could sense he was only marrying her, because she was rich, we have lived on a high tax bracket, but she had us on regular middle class level. Our apartment was nice and I was planning on living at home till I met and found the right one. And she got to meet said one before I married and I too left, though I'm sure he'd let her live with us." she said to her and she nodded as as the Dudleys exchanged looks to that news
As she answered her as I answered her remark then. "And I would do, if she was getting worse, I'd immediately let my mother-in-law live with us. And she'd be able to watch our children grow up, before she passed at the time now." I said and he smiled. "If that tells me anything, you're exactly the right one, but I think the next test was seeing. Though if you're her true soulmate, son, though if it is, the mind link is going to react."
"Now, and you're going to hear everything she's thinking, and a secondary link activates between you guys so you can hear each other mentally.." Benson told me and she finished that. "Yes and Becky said that her oldest married some little jackass who's of the type of family that any decent parent would rather kill. Rather than have their daughter marry into, while her youngest grew into an exact copy of her the last eleven years."
"And to that our generation considered this a reason to disown our children when said marital heir treats us and the rest of their siblings this way." Mrs. Dudley said and she sighed as she answered that remark, looking between them. "Mom's been gone for two months and it's been pretty hard on me ever since, as for Jane and her husband. They're, whether I agree with it or not, planning on selling the apartment mom left me."
But I just spoke to her this morning after you left the room and she agrees that I should just them make their grave over this. And I'm not telling them the truth of that will till after the test results come back from the bank." she said and his eyes narrowed at that as he answered her. "Yes I'd say that's turnabout is fair play here baby and with that. The amount in the family name is priceless, but that's her fatal mistake."
"As to why I'm saying this like your mother said, we all know about that will and the fact it was a game. But that will was meant to be a test and the real one is with Jack and her lawyer at the current moment, if you figured ut oyt. Though if you figured it out that fast than you're acting according to your station now, though she's chewing up her side. And of the Inheritence out of her greed, and this is going to be a nail in her coffin later."
"So Becky left you the apartment and they're going to try and rush the damn probate, if this gets into the newspaper, you better fill me in, because I've got no clue if she's who I think, but if she is and you're really who I think you are, they're getting it when the others hear this information if these situations get even worse. Because I forgot what she looks like and Rob left town when he was twenty eight, but her last visit up here."
"The last time I saw Becky was eleven years ago." he said and she nodded to that as she looked at him and Benson. "Yeah well for some reason moms going by two names with us, if you're really who I think you are, you think...?" she started to ask him and he nodded as he answered her with a gentle look then. "Yeah I think so, but in order to know that, we'd have to wait for her to tell us, she went by March here in town."
"But she carried her married name and she's using it with your mate and friends baby, if you're really my god daughter maybe she can confirm that now. Though I learn everything about why you needed me now with both of your parents dead and I'm going to kill that brat for that, because you may be thirty two years old, but you're still my cub. Though if she's now using all three here on the job it means, right now, though."
"That he knows he's screwed with you in the house, just be careful tonight let alone later this week, Halloween is in two days here, so in case you learn anything else. If this is the unexpected side trip needed this week, it certainly is welcome now. And because the brat just crossed the wrong person, the chief of police now is the same. As being a three star general within police ranks, but between a chief of police, a judge and a Medical doctor."
"And your future husband, who happens to be head psychiatrist of the department he's winding up in, if he ever touched you at all like that. He's just screwed with the wrong people and Jane doesn't know and didn't know Becky's secret life here. Becky was a Psychiatrist, if she's toying with you guys it's because she's trying to help you heal. But the added information is what she has to tell you, because there's only ten people."
"And I mean ten people, who know, but like Rick said that ability is heredity, if it starts going crazy once it activates completely. And you're beyond worn out its enough that any normal person is going to see this as schizophrenic breakdown, if it does start going crazy baby. Though it activates and anything comes up tomorrow that all he and I need to know you're really who we think you are and the little brat is going to jail,
"So you fill us in and tell us and Jared what you tell David about the little brat, and we need to know everything here, if we're your ticket to being free of him forever after this." he said and she nodded as he ended their conversation as he looked at her with a look of paternal love in his eyes, before she told him the truth then with a sigh. "I know, and I did know mom's secret life, she's a parapsychologist and one of the best in the field."
"And I Idoled her ever since I was old enough to know what it really meant. Mom and I were so close, she's always who I called when I started college, while my friends and I were together, but Jane, she's resented me for mom's affection for the last eleven years and has been throwing it on me ever since mom died. While losing dad is one thing, it happened so fast no one could stop it, that's one thing, but having to see mom like this."
"And seeing her fade away from the woman I Idoled since I was twelve, you have no idea how much it hurt. But now I want to know what caused it, and if it's because of Craine, he's ending up back in those doors when I get through with him, if he's haunting the house and is the reason two of my friends left early." she said and he nodded with a worried look at that as he exchanged looks with the couple at the news then.
