Chapter 21
The funeral was hard to get through for everyone, especially Andy. He looked on with the crowd at the closed casket. Everyone was here. Tyler, James, Kristen even Ms. Malkum. The priest went on to say his vows.
"Blessed be by the holy father that this woman may rest in the kingdom of heaven."
Andy felt tears start to well up in his eyes. Chucky did this, I know Chucky did this. Maybe I should just run away, then Chucky would follow me and everyone would be safe.
The crowd dispersed as the priest concluded the service. Andy went and stood by a tree. He remembered being adventurous when he was younger and climbing trees. Until all his foster parents told him to get down and go inside.
"Hey" he felt a soft hand touch his shoulder. It was Kristen, she was wearing a nice black dress and she spoke softly. "I'm so sorry buddy. I thought this would work out." She hugged him and he thought about just telling her he wanted to leave.
"Kristen I-" he stopped as he was shoved from behind.
"Hey!" Tyler said, Andy turned around. "You happy now? Huh?" He shoved Andy again.
"You ruined everything! I know about your history! You're a fucking curse! Everyone around you dies!"
Kristen held Tyler's shoulder.
"Tyler, we are all sorry about Molly but this is not Andy's fault."
Tyler closed his eyes as he felt his fist clench. He turned around and punched Andy in the gut. Kristen put her hands to her mouth as Andy fell to his knees, holding his stomach hard in pain.
He felt anger well up inside of him. This wasn't my fault you… you… he stood up.
"You son of a bitch!" Andy reached up and hurled his fist across Tyler's face.
Tyler barley just barley flinched, he only held his face for a moment, then he looked back at Andy.
"Got one hell of a punch there Barclay, let's see what kind of tough guy you really are." Tyler rolled up his sleeve and moved to strike at Andy again before he felt a strong hand wrap around his fist it was James.
"Tyler stop!" James pushed Tyler to the ground. Andy ran to Kristen, he felt tears in his eyes as she hugged him and walked him away. James began scolding Tyler, in front of everyone including the priests who were just doing their jobs. Emmet came forward holding his tazer in his right hand. He helped James get Tyler back up and into the car.
Kristen walked Andy back inside. She sat on the steeple with him. "Don't listen to Tyler, this was not your fault.
Yeah it wasn't but if I wasn't here Molly would still be alive. Andy didn't want to admit it but Tyler was right. He was a curse, Curse of Andy Barclay. He looked out at detective Emmet and James scolding Tyler in the car. Andy didn't want to but he knew it was for the best. He had to leave.
James gave Emmet a moment to talk to Tyler alone about assault and how lucky he was to only be sixteen. Kristen came up to him and again apologized for their loss. But then she said something else that cut him deep.
"Andy says that he wants to go back to the orphanage with me, he said he's sorry but he can't live with you and Tyler. At least for now."
James only nodded in understanding but it still hurt. "Ms. Malkum and I will take him back to the center and I'll come back to get his things."
"May I speak to him?" James asked. "Surely I can convince him to stay." Kristen shook her head.
"I'm sorry but he's in no mood to speak." She finished and walked away before Ms. Malkum handed him the paperwork to sign about Andy's release. One blow after the other huh.