~*~Chapter Eighteen : Do You Love Me~*~

Marty flashed words across the television screen for her dad.

Look In the Crawlspace, Daddy.

She hoped her dad would find her body. He would know what to do once he found her.

Dr. Saybrooke saw the cryptic message on the TV screen. He knew that his daughter needed him. "Marty!" he called out. He got a hammer and started chopping up the boards in the parlor. When that didn't work, he got an ax.

He found a grisly sight in the crawlspace below the floor. Not only did he find the body of the exterminator, but his little girl was down there, too. Marty was dead! Dr. Saybrooke started to sob.

His wife was headed down the staircase because she heard all the noise. "What's going on, Marshall?" she asked.

"Call the police!" her husband cried out.

Marty was watching her parents. She saw her dad yelling to her mother to call the police.

Mrs. Saybrooke heard her husband's urgent plea. She got on the phone and made the call to the authorities. A couple of police officers arrived within minutes. Marty's parents were grieving as they had no other choice but to say goodbye to their little girl.

Marty tried to stay close to her parents. "Mommy. Daddy." The faintest noise could be heard as Marty was begining to fade fast. "I love you." The words left her lips, but she had no idea if her parents had heard her. She knew that soon she would join all the others who had crossed over. She would find her peace, but she didn't know what it would be like to go on without her parents.

Marty's parents were tearful as they packed up the last of their belongings. They were ready to leave the house and all the painful memories behind. Samantha was pregnant with twins. Very soon the little ones would arrive. Their joy was shadowed by the loss of their firstborn. Their child was gone. Their hearts were broken.

"Come on, Samantha. We must be going," said Marshall as he wrapped his arms around his wife.

"I can feel her. Marty's here," she said softly.

"She will always be with us. In our hearts," said Marshall as he lead her out the door.

Dr. Saybrooke and his wife got in the moving van and drove away. They were returning to Boston.

Marty watched sadly from the window as the van drove away. Her parents were leaving her behind. She wanted to scream out to them not to leave her.

As she stood at the window, she realized that there were other spirits around her, those who had died in the house previous to her. They were all still here because of unfinished business. If she wanted to move forth and be happy, she needed to take care of her unfinished business.

"Todd!" she called out. She had no idea if he would hear her, but she hoped he would appear.

In a matter of seconds, Todd image appeared in the parlor. "I'm here," he said.

"I'm sorry, Marty. I was lonely and I was selfish. You were the only light I ever had in this place of darkness... and I couldn't... I couldn't lose you," Todd said tearfully.

Marty knew she had to do this, but it was hard for her. She truly did love him, but she knew this was what she had to do. "I am sorry too, Todd. I love you, but I have to go," she said gently. "I don't belong here. I must go to a better place now."

"I know," he said but his soul was aching. He couldn't lose her, too. He reached out and locked hands with Marty's. Their hearts also locked in that moment as Marty began to fade away.

"No," Todd sobbed as he watched her disappear along with her precious, beautiful light.

"I will always love you, Marty," he whispered into the eternal darkness.

The End