Chapter 2: Mourning
Darkness, All She could see was darkness. Beth opened her eyes but still black formless nothing stood before her eyes. She wondered where she was and how she got here. She tried to sit up and realized she couldn't. She put her palm flat against the blockade that stopped her from sitting up.
She snapped to a memory so quickly she didn't know it was happening. Jimmy stabbing her his father stabbing her. No! She screamed loudly coming back to reality. They had buried her and she had lived she thought but how?
Suddenly she herd a tapping sound above her that made her jump. Caw came a sound that she herd clearly but it sounded like it was in her head. Now it seemed clear to her she put her hands against what she now knew to be her coffin lid and pushed. To her surprise it gave rather easy and she found her self crawling up through the soft soil. Then the darkness was gone replaced by the bright moon and pouring rain. She tried to stand but felt weak and fell to the ground again. Her once favorite red shirt tattered and dirty barley clung to her but the jeans were mostly in tact. The rain was coming down hard she felt cold. She glanced around to see a black bird standing on a tombstone. Caw it said pecking once at the headstone. She felt a rush of emotion reading "Here lies Beth Collins loving mother and loved member of the community". The crow did a hop motion to the smaller gravestone right next to hers and Caw. "Here lies Erin Collins loved son and taken far to soon".
Beth crawled over to the gravestone and put her cheek against it emotion flooding thru her. She thought sadness was the emotion she should be feeling but it wasn't anger filled her more. Her boy her sweet inocent boy killed so coldly without hesitation taken at such a young age before her very eyes.
Caw! Beth jumped to her feet with new found strength and rage. She knew her goal was to set things right the crow was her link to this world she now knew she didn't belong here. Suddenly it flew from the gravestone and cawed to Beth. She followed quickly and discovered she was seeing thru the crows eyes. After chasing the crow with what she thought to be unnatural speed for awhile she came to a halt at the front of the theater. On the billboard it read come to the church feast starting at 8:00 pm.
Beth reached under the light by the front door for the spare key. She made her way in and to the back room where she usually got prepared.
She was shivering as she looked around it was almost the same as she left it. She noticed her clothes were right where she had left them a gray shirt that fit her snugly and dark blue jeans. She stripped her ragged clothes from her firm body and replaced them with the clothes she left there the night she died. She looked around and found a few pairs of shoes that she tried on until she found a pair of black tennis shoes. Beth turned to head back out of the theater when she saw a picture tapped to the mirror. It was of Erin and her she was wearing her clown make-up. She smiled slightly then reached into the drawer to pull out the creamy white base and the dark black face paint.
She recreated the clown makeup she had worn in the play the night she was killed. Before she left she grabbed a long black jacket with a hood on it that they used as a cloak in some plays. It was of a fairly thin material but she could use the hood to hide her face if needed.
Now to go say hello to some old friends she thought to herself as she headed out the back doors. Something caught her eye as she was about to head toward the church. Ducks she said very low. She walked over to the docks where she had been killed and like in the coffin she snapped to a memory. Nathan held her while they took turns rapeing her in front of her boy. Tim snapped her son's neck. Ahhh she screamed spinning from the docks and running full speed toward the church.
After a few moments she arrived at the church the parking lot was full noone was outside the rain was comking down very hard almost all of the dirt had been washed away by the heavy downpour. Beth walked to the entrance and glanced thrugh the window. everyone was sitting at the front of the church on the first story noone was up in the balcony area where late arrivers and the kids who rung the bell sat on sundays. Beth went to the right side of the church and up the side stairs leading to the balcony area of the church. She opened the door quietly and shut it quickly noone seemed to notice as she sat in the balconies the hood pulled over her headand looking down on the dinner.
Ok said Father Tomas before we eat does anyone have any prayers that need to bee shared? Yes came Mike Lewis's voice I pray as I do everyday That the souls of Beth and Erin Collins rest in peice and that the rouge killer who drifted through are town is caought and justice is served. Amen said everyone at the table. Beth noticed one persone not saying a word and that seemed to be a very normal thing for James she thought not saying anything. She sat still and just watched as everyone ate and then made there way out into the rain to head home. She was keeping her eye on James who she knew staied at the church most of the times becuse he and his dad didn't get along. Noone cared that the church was never locked it was open to everyone at any hour.
After the last person left father Tomas shook hands with James and bid him goodnight. James waited a few moment before sitting in a pew and removing a flask from his long coat. He raised it in a toast movement to the cross and said forgive me lord I have sinned.
Your asking the wrong person for forgiveness he's not who you pissed off. The female voice startled James causeing him to spill some vodka down his coat. Whos there James choked wipeing his lips with his wrist? No answer came. You startled me James said looking around for the phantom voice with a grin on his face. You don't look startled said the voice in some what of a loud wisper. Stop playing with me you sound cute come out and we'll talk said James still trying to locate the person. I thought you were the silent type James the female voice said. James thought he saw something move out of the cornor of his eye so he spun to see a black crow perched on the cross he had raised a toast to. Caw! James jumped a bit then laughed. Your pet he called to the mystery voice questioningly? My friend came the responce that he now figured was comming from the balcony area. James made his way up the steps toward the upper seats looking aroound for the girl.
He walked over to where the bell rope was hanging looked behind the seats closest to the rope and turned toward the railing looking down on the first floor seats about 20 feet down. Why are you hideing he yeld loudly? Who's hideing the voice said so close it caused James to jump and spin quickly? Holy sh.. her finger touched his lips now now we are in church said the girl. James could only see her lips with the black lipstick and the painted smile. Who are you he demanded now angry she had startled him so mutch? She flipped her hood back and stared stright into his eyes wich widened with shock. How..but your.. Dead she wispered over his stammers. Beth I.. I..Stop with the stammer James My boyis dead I'm dead and you guys are still alive how is that right she asked. It wasn't right Beth it..Shut up she yeld this time anger filling her inside. I'm only going to ask once and your going to tell me where is Nathan I'm seeing him next? James looked terrified he runs his dad's liqour store he stays there after hours to have a few drink most nights James spit out quickly.
Beth took hold of the bell rope and pulled the slack end from the floor never taking her eyes off James. What are you going to do asked James almost frozen in fear? Rid the world of evil answered beth still looping the rope. Beth I didn't do anything shouted James. Beth quickly through the rope around his neck and used it to pull him close and said firmly "To do nothing in the presance of evil is evil enough". She pushed him back wards about a step the lifted her right leg kicking him backwards sending him into the railing surounding the upper level. James hit the railing where his spine met his hips and his backwards momentem carried him over it. He began to let out a scream as he fell aboout 7 of the 20 feet but was cut short when the rope snapped tight silencing him and ringing the church bell.
Father Tomas was only about halfway home when he herd the bell ring. Thats strange he thought turnning back toward the church. He had only walked about 70 yards so he begining to jog toward the church figureing something was wrong. Tomas opened the church doors took two steps in and was agast at the sight of James hanging over the rail by the bell rope. people were starting to come toward the doors to see why the bell had rung so father tomas stopped them saying he had to contact Frank the local police captian before anyone could go in.
Police Captian Frank Myers was sitting behind his oak desk reading an articale in the paper about bird watching when he herd the Church bell sound. He found that strange but thought nothing of it until the phone rang. Frank it's Tomas said the voice you need to come to the church quick James Taylor just hung himself. Frank felt his heart sink and a bit of a worry come over him. Was there a note asked Frank? I have't looked do you want me to answerd the father? No keep everyone away from there until I arrive answered Frank. As soon as he hung up the phone he wasted no time running as fast as he could out of his office and toward the church.
As he arrived a hoard of people were already gathered outside the church doors ignoring the rain tring to see what father Tomas was keeping them from. Alright yeld Frank walking through the crowd go home this is a police matter. Tomas looked shaken but still held his ground on not letting anyone into the church. Frank entered and after two steps saw James hanging from the bell rope. Frank shook his head and made his way to the upper level Tomas following behind him very slowly. Frank scanned the area for a note happy to not find one he turned to Tomas and said you going to help me pull him up?
Yeah I supose said Tomas looking slightly shaky. I should have satied and talked to him I noticed he seemed down tonigh said Tomas. Don't beat yourself up over this noone saw this comming Frank assured him. Today is a truly sad day one year since the death of Beth and Erin now James kills himself sighed Tomas.
Beth was moving fast raceing the comming sun she had killed James a few hours ago and wondered around waitig to feel remorse,but it never came. James was only the first their were six more who had to pay and they would pay dearly she thought. She was making her way back to the theater she could use the basement to stay hidden until night could cover her movements the small town was far to busy during the day to move around unnoticed.
At the docks where Beth and Erin were killed Mike was putting flowers at the site. I miss you to so much he said to the small memorial that had been set at the murder scene. I miss hearing Erin laugh and watching you perform your big shows laughed Mike with tears in his eyes. It's far from broadway came a familar voice to Mike's ears causeing him to jump and turn. Noone was there but he knew he herd her voice he knew it. I hope I'm not craking up he said aloud to himself.