MUMA

by M. K. ROZE

  out while aiming his light around.

  Adelyn wanted to ignore him, hoping he’d go away, but

  she knew Dad wouldn’t stop looking for her. She quickly

  crawled back out, wiped the dirt off her clothes the best she

  could, and walked toward him. “I’m coming, Dad,” she

  yelled, hoping it would mask her shaky voice.

  Dad flashed his light in her face, blinding her. She

  shielded her eyes and picked up the pace, hoping he didn’t

  see the freshly dug hole behind her.

  Dad stopped in his tracks. “Why the hell did you dye

  your hair white? And why are you wearing cosmetic makeup

  to make yourself look older than you are?”

  Adelyn knew she didn’t have time to lie and say it was a

  sudden disease. “I was dressing up to be scary.”

  “Well, you succeeded.”

  “How did you get here so fast?”

  Dad ignored her and walked over to the shallow grave,

  aiming his flashlight in it. “Whose body is this?” He turned

  to her. “And don’t you dare tell me it’s Detective Abel’s sister

  like you told Marissa.”

  Adelyn stood frozen, unable to talk.

  “Okay, let’s try this. How did you know the body was

  here? And don’t tell me you’re possessed like Marissa said,

  or a damn witch showed you where the body was in some

  fucking vision.”

  A million thoughts dashed through her mind, and one

  of them was the detective going on a shooting spree. She

  needed to make sure they didn’t perform DNA on the

  remains. Adelyn didn’t want the detective to get away with

  murdering his sister, but she didn’t want to lose her family

  either. She remembered the detective’s lifeless eyes when he

  threatened her.

  “I’m not possessed. I was trying to scare her.”

  Dad stared her down. “I know you’re not possessed.

  Where did this body come from?”

  Adelyn sighed, trying to come up with a quick but

  believable lie. “I went to a cemetery and dug an old grave up,

  then buried it here to scare Marissa.”

  “Why in the hell would you do something like that?”

  “Because—”

  Before she could add more to the lie, police cruisers

  with their lights on flew up the hill.

  Adelyn gulped. “Why …why are the cops here?”

  “Because there’s a damn dead body three feet in front

  of us. Why would you lie about Detective Able like that?

  Especially about him raping and killing his sister, which he

  had nothing to do with. They never found her. How heartless

  of you.”

  Adelyn walked over to him and looked in the shallow

  grave, wanting to tell him, but she just couldn’t risk it. “I

  didn’t like the way he interrogated me. He was mean, so I

  wanted revenge. I’m sorry.”

  Dad shook his head. “Well, you can think about how

  stupid revenge is when you get arrested for vandalizing the

  grave you dug up. And you’re going to show me where it is

  after we leave here.”

  Adelyn gulped, knowing she was caught. She knew

  when he found out there wasn’t a grave, she was going to

  have to tell him the truth. “But Dad, I—”

  “Jeff,” Steve called out.

  “We’re over here,” Dad yelled back.

  When Steve walked up to them with his German

  shepherd at his side, he stopped and pulled his dog back

  while looking at Adelyn. “Why does your daughter look so

  old?”

  Dad turned toward him. “She thinks it’s Halloween.

  What’s going on?”

  Steve gave Adelyn a nasty look and faced Dad.

  “Detective Able is on his way here.”

  Adelyn stumbled backward—sure the detective was

  going to kill them before he found out she stuck up for him.

  “Why would he want to come here?”

  “Wouldn’t you want to face your accuser?” Dad asked.

  “Dad, I don’t want to see him. He will kill us.”

  “Adelyn, he’s not going to hurt you, or us,” Steve said.

  Yeah, right. She ignored him. “Dad, take me to the police

  station. I don’t want to be here when he arrives.”

  “Tough shit.” Dad scolded. “You’re staying right here

  until he gets here.”

  Adelyn wanted to run, but she knew the cops would

  catch her. She stood there in silence. A few more cops

  walked over to them, grimaced at her, and approached Dad.

  She stood there looking down as Dad told them why she

  looked that way and what she had done.

  After a truck pulled up, Adelyn turned away—sure it

  was Detective Able.

  “Able, we’re over here,” Steve shouted.

  Adelyn turned away, but Dad grabbed her by the arm.

  “Stay here, or I will have Steve put you into cuffs right now.”

  Adelyn’s body became weak, and she grabbed onto

  Dad, holding herself up. She didn’t want to face the

  detective, not after what she knew.

  As Detective Able approached the grave, he shot

  Adelyn a nasty glare and stepped back. “What the hell is

  wrong with your face?”

  Adelyn said nothing.

  “It’s makeup and hair dye,” Steve said.

  The detective shook his head and flashed the light onto

  his sister’s body. “Well, I guess my career is over now,” he

  mumbled.

  “What was that, Able?” Steve asked.

  Adelyn gulped and stood behind Dad. “Dad, tell him

  what I told you.”

  Detective Able whipped around and looked at Steve.

  “You heard me.” His angry eyes found Dad. “Yes, please tell

  me what I already know, Jeff.”

  “Excuse me?” Dad said, confused.

  “I-I told him I planted the body here and said it was

  your sister,” Adelyn blurted. “I’m sorry.”

  Detective Abel smirked Adelyn’s way, not convinced. “I

  know what you really told them, you little bitch.” He drew

  his gun and pointed it at Dad.

  Steve and the other cops drew their guns and backed up.

  “Lower your gun!” Steve yelled—his dog barking nonstop.

  “Able,” Dad said, “my daughter is sorry for lying about

  you killing your sister. Please put the gun away.”

  “You’re lying. I know she told you what I did to my

  sister. Now, move away before I pull the trigger, and she

  wears your brain all over her rotten face.”

  “Adelyn, what is he talking about?” Dad asked.

  Adelyn ran to the left of Dad and raised her hands,

  showing Detective Able she wasn’t armed. “I-I didn’t tell

  them anything.”

  Detective Able pushed Dad away and aimed his gun at

  Adelyn’s forehead.

  “Adelyn back away from him, right now!” Dad yelled.

  “Shut up, Jeff. This is between your daughter and I.”

  The other cops stayed quiet as they surrounded the

  detective while aiming their guns at him.

  Detective Able stepped closer to Adelyn. “I want to

  know how you found out that I killed my sister over forty

  years ago. And if you lie to me, I will kill you and bury you

  with the whore who always made fun of me for
being a

  virgin.” He glanced in the grave. “I bet you enjoyed it when

  I ripped you apart as I strangled you.” He spit at her remains

  and faced Adelyn. “I should’ve done the same to you and

  made your dad watch.”

  “What the fuck,” a cop muttered.

  Dad cocked his gun. “Shut your fucking mouth.”

  “Or what? You’ll shoot me? Do it! I want you to.”

  Dad stepped closer. “Touch one hair on my daughter,

  and I will.”

  “No, don’t do it, Jeff,” a male cop yelled out.

  Adelyn’s body jerked, and she pointed at Detective Able

  in a trance. “You told me when you were interrogating me,

  then you threatened to kill my friends and family if I told

  anyone. Does that sound about right?”

  Detective Able cocked his gun, ready to shoot her. “You

  liar. Now, who told you?”

  Adelyn tilted her head, glaring his way, as Muma made

  Detective Able turn the gun on himself—his hand shaking

  as it was forced toward his mouth.

  “Don’t do it, Able,” Dad said in a calm voice. “We can

  help you.”

  “It’s not me,” the detective said in a shaky tone “It’s her

  making—” The detective slammed the gun into the roof of

  his mouth—breaking his two front teeth—blood drizzling

  down his chin.

  “Stop,” Steve said. “Think about your kids and your

  wife.”

  Detective Able pulled the trigger—his brain matter

  erupting from the top of his head—splattering in Dad’s face.

  His body fell backward into the shallow grave.

  “Holy shit,” Steve yelled.

  Adelyn snapped out of the trance and dropped to the

  ground, knowing it was Muma who made him kill himself.

  She rocked back and forth, never having seen someone

  shoot themselves before. Adelyn watched Steve take his shirt

  off and hand it to Dad, who used it to wipe the blood off his

  face.

  A cop walked over to Adelyn and helped her up. “Are

  you okay?”

  Adelyn nodded and staggered over to Dad, wondering

  why Muma possessed her, but she didn’t make her use her

  voice. She embraced Dad. “I’m so sorry for lying. I was too

  afraid to tell you what he had done. I didn’t want him to kill

  you.”

  Dad kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry you had to

  go through this, honey.” He led her away from the body and

  back to the patrol car, where he helped Adelyn sit inside.

  “I’m going to have the EMT’s look you over, okay?”

  “Why?”

  “Because you just witnessed something horrible. I need

  to know that you’re okay, mentally.”

  “Dad, I’m fine. I will have mom check me out”.

  Dad rested his arms on the hood and looked down at

  her. “I just don’t understand why Able would confess to

  something like that, especially not knowing you. And not

  knowing the video camera could’ve been on.”

  Adelyn looked up at him and shrugged, not wanting to

  talk about it anymore. “Can we go home? I don’t feel well.”

  “Let Steve or one of the other officers take a report

  from you and we can, okay?”

  “Why can’t you just take the report from me when we

  get home? I don’t want to be here anymore.”

  “It’s a conflict of interest, honey. It will be fast. We all

  heard him confess to killing her.” Dad sighed and looked

  back at the shallow grave. “I can’t believe it was him all these

  years who killed his sister.” He shook his head and faced

  Adelyn. “Let me go get one of the guys, so I can get you

  home.” He walked away.

  Adelyn shut the door and thought about Muma. She

  knew she needed her alive to get her mirror back, so she

  figured that was the reason why she didn’t make her use her

  voice, and why she stuck up for her.

  Adelyn glanced out the window and saw her bag with

  the mirror in it. She got out, picked it up, and got back into

  the truck. Adelyn opened the bag, slid the mirror out, and

  looked at her dirty face. “Where do you go when you’re not

  inside of me?”

  Her face transformed into Muma—her beady black eyes

  glaring back at Adelyn. Don’t worry about where I go. Now, take

  my mirror back before I kill all of you.

  When Muma vanished from the mirror, Adelyn shoved

  it back in her bag, never wanting to see her wicked face again.

  She glanced at the cops surrounding the shallow grave and

  sighed, not sure how she was going to leave Witchery Cove

  to return the mirror. She feared Muma was playing games

  with her and tormenting her for stealing it. Adelyn was

  hopeless.

  She glanced at her phone, wanting to call Marissa, but

  she decided not to. She was sure Marissa was hurt by the way

  she treated her.

  Adelyn was glad that Muma made him kill himself for

  what he had done. She hated thinking like that, but what he

  did was unforgivable, and what he said about her after the

  fact was even worse.

  delyn sat up in bed and looked at her mom, who

  was lying next to her, sleeping. She slid off the bed,

  trying not to wake her up.

  Mom grabbed her arm. “Are you feeling better now,

  honey?”

  “Yes.” Adelyn lay next to Mom, wondering if it was

  going to be the last time she saw her.

  Mom wrapped her arms around Adelyn, hugging her. “I

  miss this.”

  Adelyn giggled. “I do too.”

  Mom kissed her forehead.

  Adelyn stayed quiet, embracing that moment, trying not

  to think about the night before. But the detective blowing

  his brains out took over her mind, and she got up. “Are you

  going to call the doctor to get me in as an emergency?”

  Mom got up. “Yes, I’ll call the clinic when they open.”

  She examined her hair then touched her face. “I wish you

  would’ve allowed me to take you to the emergency room last

  night.”

  “No, it can wait. I feel just fine. I think Dad is more

  freaked out than I am.”

  Mom kissed her forehead. “I know. But he’s just

  worried about you. I’ll wake him up and make us some

  breakfast, okay?”

  Adelyn smiled.

  When Mom walked out of the room, Adelyn fell back

  onto the pillow and let out a low sigh. I’m sure they won’t allow

  me to drive to the doctor, not knowing what’s wrong with me. So how

  am I going to be able to take off to Florida?

  Adelyn had no clue and glanced at her cell phone to see

  if Marissa called or texted her, but there was nothing there.

  She decided to call her, not sure if she’d ever see her again.

  Marissa answered on the third ring. “What do you

  want?”

  “I’m sorry about lying to you and hurting you. Please

  don’t hate me. I need you more than you think.”

  “You made my head bleed from ripping some of my

  hair out when you tossed me in the fucking grave. Why

  would you do that?”

  Adelyn knew it was pointless to eve
n try telling Marissa

  it wasn’t her. “It’s the medicine I’m on. Mom said it made

  me violent. But I’m off of it now, so it won’t happen again.”

  Adelyn hated lying to her, but she needed her to forgive her.

  Marissa stayed quiet for a few seconds. “Did you see the

  detective blow his brains out?’

  “Unfortunately, yeah. How did you find out?”

  “It’s all over the news.”

  “Did they mention our names?”

  “Yeah, we’re heroes for finding her body.”

  Adelyn smiled—happy someone thought she was an

  angel and glad that Detective Abel’s sister would have a

  proper burial. “Can you forgive me for what I did?”

  “If you allow me to kick your ass, I will.”

  “Okay.”

  Marissa giggled. “I was kidding, but that shit hurt. I

  thought you were going to kill me. If you’re freaked out

  about stealing the mirror, I’ll take you back to Florida next

  weekend. But don’t make shit up about you being possessed.

  It’s fucking freaky.”

  “I’m over it now. I’m going to throw the mirror away

  like you said.”

  “Finally, you’re somewhat back to normal.”

  Adelyn walked over to her window. She pulled the

  drapes back and looked down at her truck, hoping it would

  make it to Florida. “If something happens to me, always

  know that I will love you, okay?”

  “Wait. Why did that sound like a goodbye? You’re not

  going to go kill yourself because of your disease, are you?”

  “No, I was just expressing my love for you in case I die

  from old age in the next few days.”

  “I don’t believe you. I’m coming over.”

  Adelyn wanted to see her, but she didn’t want to take

  the chance of Muma coming out and hurting her. “No,

  don’t.”

  “Why? You said you were off the meds.”

  “Because I have to go to the doctors and see what’s

  wrong with me.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “No, Mom wants to take me alone. Come over

  tomorrow, okay?”

  Marissa sighed. “Fine.”

  “I have to go eat breakfast. Call me later, and we’ll talk,

  alright?”

  “Okay. Bye.”