~*~Chapter Fifteen : Dark Side~*~

Later in the evening, Dr. Saybrooke was concerned. As far as he knew, the exterminator had left the premises without any explanation as to why the flies were in parlor. The horrible stench was worse than ever, making the doctor very angry. He went upstairs to check on his wife who was sleeping.

A few minutes later, Marty came downstairs looking for Todd. She found him standing in the parlor. That's when she started questioning him.

"What is going on with you?! What happened to that guy?" she demanded.

"What guy?" asked Todd, trying to act all innocent. "Who are you talking about?"

Marty crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Todd. "The guy in the crawl space. You tell me this instant what happened!" she screamed at him. "You're acting so weird!"

Todd took a deep breath, then he just blurted it out. "I'm sorry, Marty. I had to kill him."

"What? Why?" she cried out.

"Because he was going to find out. I couldn't let that happen," Todd stated. "They'd take you away from me. They'd take you away from me forever!"

"Todd, what are you talking about? I don't understand," She said in confusion.

"Come with me, Marty... and I will show you. Come on; don't be scared."

He took Marty's hand and lead her through the house until they came to the entrance of the crawlspace. He lead her down below the house.

"Don't be afraid," he said to her soothingly as they entered the dark space. Marty hesitantly followed Todd into the crawl space. When they reached the area beneath the parlor, tears filled her eyes.

Lying there so still was her body. She realized in that moment that she had died. She was no longer alive. She had become a ghost.

"N- No," she said in horror as she tried to back away. "That's not- not me," she said. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. She choked on a sob as she brought her hand to her mouth.

Todd grabbed her in his arms as she was sobbing. He was trying to stop her from shaking, but she was distraught. "You took the pills... and you- you died... I could not save you," he said as his own tears came pouring out. "I tried. I TRIED to save you, but I was too late."

"I'm dead," she said tearfully as she began to sob against his chest.

"Yes... but I love you. I couldn't show you this," he said as he gestured to her dead body. "You died crying in my arms; you were so sad. I couldn't let you know. I wanted you to be happy."

"Ohhh my God, what's going to happen to me now?" she asked hysterically. How could she be happy now? How had she went on all this time, not knowing that she had died? How could she not know that she was a ghost?

"You'll stay with me forever. We'll never be apart," Todd stated.

Todd kissed her and wiped away her tears. "I know you're scared, but everything will be alright," Todd said as he gave her a smile. "We'll get through this... and we CAN be happy."

"Now all of my loneliness is gone. You will be with me in this house... Forever," Todd said.