Chapter 3
"You knew all along and never said a word?" I hissed at Paul moments later after he dropped that little bombshell. I was whispering so the others couldn't hear. It was a nice apartment and all but the walls weren't sound proof. I had practically yanked him by the ear into Jesse's bedroom, leaving Jesse to entertain our ghostly friend Jenny.
Paul ran his fingers through his hair, clearly frustrated. He opened his mouth ready to say something but quickly shut it before a word could be said.
"What? What is it Paul? Just spit it out!" I whispered getting aggravated myself.
"I didn't know…" He replied and plopped down onto Jesse's bed.
"You didn't know what?" I asked, sitting down next to him trying to manage my anger.
"I didn't know that the legend was true! If it was I would have never let her-" His voice broke and he took a second to clear his throat. "I would have never let her go through with the dare."
I looked at Paul, really looked at him. He looked completely scared out of his mind. Then I noticed something else. Tears. Tears where actually running down Paul's face. Paul Slater, the man who was willing to kill for my affection not to long ago, was crying.
I was at a complete loss on what to do. Then I knew. I jumped up from the bed and grabbed a box of tissues that was on Jesse's nightstand and offered him one. He graciously took it and blotted at his eyes. He muttered thanks and cleared his throat once again.
"Paul, why didn't you tell Father Dominic or me or Jesse even what had happened?" I asked sitting back down next to him.
He sat there in thought for a moment.
"Well, I suppose I was in shock or something. I heard her die Suze." He said.
I bit my lip. What was I supposed to say to something like that?
"After it happened, a couple of guys and I managed to get the door down, it had been locked. And I found her. Dead with her eyes scratched out. Blood was everywhere…" He paused before continuing. "You know what the funny thing is? I didn't see her ghost. Maybe I wasn't looking for it or something." He ran his hands through his hair again. "Does this make any sense?" He asked me.
"Kind of." I
answered even though it really didn't.
He continued with his
story. "After I found her, a few of us stayed behind, her best
friend and her boyfriend and me. We called her parents, and then we
called 911. Everyone else at the party left…"
This boy was truly hurting. You could see it in his eyes.
"Paul…We will figure out why the legend is real ok? We need to. For Jenny's sake and in case anyone else decides to play the game anytime soon. We need to stop her." I said after an awkward moment of silence. "Are you in?"
He nodded and got up and went back into the kitchen without another word. I could only assume that it was to see Jenny.
I got a funny feeling that he was finally understanding why it hurt me so much to see Jesse as a ghost and then I started to worry that he may try to solve it like I did, which is to keep her from dying in the first place.
Hopefully though, Paul won't do that. Because what happened to me, was pure luck, the fact that Jesse lived I mean. Paul wouldn't be that stupid, would he?
..OoOoOoOoO..
The next day I found myself in Father Dominic's office an hour before school started. Jesse had given me a ride early since he had classes to get to at the college anyway.
"So Paul saw it all?" Father D asked fingering the packet of cigarettes like he usually does when stressed. He hasn't smoked in years but he once told me that just holding them calms him.
"Well heard it not saw it." I replied playing with the silly putty again and drinking some of his coffee.
"Hmmm very interesting. So do you have a plan?" Father Dominic asked taking his own sip of coffee.
Boy did I ever. Last night Jesse dropped me off at my house so I could have my family dinner that Andy so heartily prepares.
Anyway, after eating one of his most delicious meals yet, I went up to my room, did my homework as rapidly as I could and wondered over to Doc's room. Doc knows practically everything in the whole entire world so I figured he could maybe give me more background on Bloody Mary.
"David!" I hollered as I knocked on his bedroom door. "Its your favorite person in the whole wide world!
"Come in Suze." He replied.
I came in and saw him poured over a textbook working on 11th grade math. Yeah, did I mention that he's a freshman?
"What's up?" I asked and sat down in an extra chair.
"Just working on some math problems. Can I help you Suze?" He asked looking up at me.
"Well, actually you can. What do you know about Bloody Mary?"
"The legend? Which one in particular?" He asked.
"Anyone."
"I know that she's a ghost that appears when you say her name in the bathroom mirror. And if she's a ghost, that means you can see her."
"What's that now?" I asked, my heart starting to race. I knew that Doc knew about my abilities but, to be so blunt?
"Ok. Suze. I know you can see ghosts, I don't know how or why, science can not explain it, but I know that you do. So if Bloody Mary is a ghost, then that means you can see her." He said with a smirk and went back to his math.
Huh. I hadn't even thought about that. Doc is a genius. Anyway, I told Father Dominic this and he looked a little shocked his self.
"That was very smart of David." He said and leaned back in his chair in thought.
I smirked and played more with the silly putty fighting back a yawn.
"Yes it is. Which is what led me to a plan." My smirk became a big grin.
"And what's that Susannah?" He asked.
"I'd prefer not to say it quite yet, but don't worry Father D. I've got it covered. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go use the bathroom before class starts." I said and got up leaving Father Dominic to holler at me to come back and tell him.
I couldn't though. He would tell me not to do it. But the plan was so simple, it had to work so what was the use worrying him? I was simply going to call Bloody Mary and toss her sorry ghost butt into the Twilight zone, so to speak. I mean, it is my ability to do that. So why shouldn't I?
I wondered over to the bathroom and took care of my business. I was just about to leave when I heard Kelly Prescott and Tiffany Wafner come in. Tiffany was Jenny's best friend. I hovered in the stall and quietly picked up my bag and stood on the toilet seat. Hey, a girl has to do what a girl has to do.
Just as I suspected, Kelly checked to make sure no one was in here.
"Kelly, I know it's just a legend but I really don't think we should do it again." I heard Tiffany say in her nasally voice.
"Don't be stupid. Come stand here with me and I'll prove that it wasn't why Jenny died. Bloody M does not exist!" She said.
Uh oh. She wouldn't…would she?
"Kelly I really don't think we should-"
"Shut up and stand here!" Kelly demanded.
I heard Tiffany's Prada shoes clack against the marble of the bathroom floor. I could only assume that she was standing in front of the mirror with Kelly.
"Bloody Mary…Bloody Mary…Bloody Mary!" Kelly said with mock enthusiasm.
I was ready to scramble out of the bathroom stall the moment I heard any screams. Much to my surprise, I heard nothing.
Kelly's laughter filled the bathroom.
"I told you it was stupid. God Tiffany way to be gullible. I'm going to see Mark, so I'll see you later. Oh and don't take too long! Jason is waiting for you outside." Kelly said still laughing as she walked out leaving Tiffany inside the bathroom.
All I could hear was her breathing and then her sniffles. I realized then that Tiffany was crying. Before I could do anything about it (not that I would know what to do or anything) I heard her scream.
I froze, completely awkward over the toilet still yet.
It took one more scream to get me out of scared girlie mode to kick-ass mediator mode.
I jumped down and unlocked the door and came face to face with poor Tiffany. Her eyes where bleeding, or better yet, they where scratched out. I glanced into the mirror and saw Bloody Mary. Or the ghost of her at least. Thinking on my feet, I swung my bag (that had my pre-calculus and history book) at the mirror causing it to shatter and Tiffany's screams to lesson. I looked around, still ready to fight off the crazy ghost, but I didn't see a trace of Mary.
Serves her right.
I glanced at Tiffany who was now on the floor clutching her eyes, and still screaming. A guy, Jason I could assume, came fleeing into the bathroom, his eyes looking bewildered.
"Jesus, what
happened?!" He shouted.
"Call 911! And get some help!" I
replied and tried to soothe Tiffany as much as I could by assuring
her Mary was gone.
Jason just stood there like a big ox.
"Go!" I pressured.
He sprinted out calling
for help.
I looked back down at Tiffany who was now sobbing red
tears. I resisted the urge to throw up at the site of so much blood.
"She's gone…I promise you she's gone…" I muttered into Tiffany's hair. I was now holding Tiffany and rocking her back and forth like a baby. Strange, but it was seemed to be working.
Finally, Jason came back with Mr. Walden who was prepping for his class early. The moment he saw the scene, the blood, broken glass, me rocking Tiffany, Mr. Walden seemed to pale and stager on his feet. Jason didn't bring the best help for the scene but he was an adult. Mr. Walden whipped out his cell phone and called 911 before trying to pry Tiffany from my arms. When he finally did, I realized I was shaking to the core. I had gotten rid of Mary for now, but how long would she stay gone?
Jason and I stood in off to the side while the EMT's took care of Tiffany.
I looked down at my white Dior shirt and saw that it was stained with blood. Ok, that's it. Bloody Mary was now officially on my list.