The First Culling

by Michael Eicherly

  “Why aren’t Mom and Grandma with us?” Cindy asks.

  “Because they left with Kelly,” replies Frank.

  “You know she’s under stress right now. It’s not fair to her. That’s probably why she gets those shots. It’s the stress.”

  “Cindy, you don’t know anything about life, or your Mother,” replies Frank. “You’re still wet behind the ears. All your mother does is watch Grannie do the laundry and housework, while she lays on the couch with that ugly frigid blue robe. Your mother has it easy. She doesn’t have any problems. And she’s never had to work.”

  Cindy folds her arms and looks at Frank with a disapproving look. How can he talk negatively about my mother? Especially in front of Rachel?’ Cindy looks at Rachel. Rachel is fixated on her cellphone. She’s probably texting everyone about what has happened.

  “Dad, you’re not being fair. Mom’s a great mother. She’s always been involved with us, the school, everything.” Cindy sighs deeply and gathers her thoughts. “Dad, maybe you two should get counselling. Re-assess your marriage.”

  Frank looks at Cindy and laughs. “What the hell do you know about marriage? What do you know about adult life? Maybe you should sit there and keep your big mouth shut until we know what happened to Kelly.” Franks looks at Cindy with dark gleaming eyes. Eyes she’s seen before. Eyes that tell her shut up or run for your life. Cindy places her head on the passenger side window and watch the cars. Frank swerves through the traffic on Superior Avenue.

  Frank parks the Range Rover. They walk quickly through the sliding glass entrance.

  “You girls wait here. I’ll check in,” says Frank.

  Cindy and Rachel head over to the lounge area. Cindy looks up at the television. ’Night of the Living Dead is showing. The George Romero classic. “Hey cool, check it out.” Says Rachel.

  Two paramedics wheel in a man, victim of an auto accident. Half of a steering wheel is stuck in his head. Blood pours down the side of his face.

  “Whoa, that’s gnarly,” says Rachel.

  Frank stands in line at the front desk. Concerned friends and family members are asking questions about their loved ones. The nurse behind the desk is 5’5", blonde hair, light eyes, and average looks. She has dark circles under her eyes from exhaustion. Frank now stands in front of the woman.

  “Can I help you?” she asks Frank.

  “Yes, my daughter was brought here. Kelly, Kelly Walbreck.”

  The nurse looks at her chart and sighs. “Walbreck, Kelly, let’s see. Ahh, here she is. She’s in room 440 in the ICU building.”

  “Girls, get over here!” exclaims Frank. “So, how do I get there?”

  “Go down this hall, then turn right. You’ll see the elevator. It’s right by the soda machine,” says the nurse.

  “Thanks,” says Frank.

  Frank, Cindy, and Rachel walk quickly in the direction that was given. They are in front of the elevator. Frank stands impatiently, shaking his leg. The elevator door opens; in front of them stands an older woman in her seventies. She is only five feet tall and wears a black dress, black shoes, and a black shawl wrapped around her head. She wears black stockings, very pale skin, and eyes dead white.

  “Fourth floor, please,” asks Frank. There is no response from the old woman.

  “Ma’am, can you please push fourth floor?” Frank asks again. Again, there is no response from the old woman. “Excuse me, please,” says Frank. He reaches around the old woman and pushes number four.

  They get to the fourth floor and it opens. Frank, Cindy, and Rachel work their way around the old woman and exit the elevator. Frank looks back to see the old woman staring back at him. She wears the same lifeless expression. Frank and Rachel walk on. Cindy turns around looking at the woman. She opens her shawl and grins at Cindy, her teeth are rotten and brown. Cindy looks closely at her. She remembers seeing her face on one of the old portraits in the hallway. Yes, she thinks to herself. There’s a picture of this woman in our house. Cindy looks at her, as she points out her long decrepit finger at her.

  “Do I know you?” asks Cindy.

  The old woman continues to grin cynically at Cindy. Cindy turns away and catches up to Rachel and Frank. Cindy looks at the elevator and the old woman is now gone.

  “What’s keeping you, kiddo?” asks Frank.

  “Nothing, Dad, I’m here.”

  Frank, Linda, Grandma, Cindy and Rachel are waiting in the ICU unit. Frank walks to Linda and kisses her on the cheek. He kneels down in front of her and speaks.

  “You ok?” Linda nods yes to Frank. “Have you heard from the doctor yet?” asks Frank.

  “Nothing, not a word.”

  “Damn,” replies Frank. Linda stands up and hugs Frank. She sobs in his shoulder. Frank rubs her head with his hand.

  “I’m so scared, Frank. That’s our child in there. What did we do wrong to deserve this?”

  “Nothing, baby, we did nothing wrong,” replies Frank.

  As Frank and Linda hug, the door opens to the ICU waiting room.

  His name is Doctor Chu, mid 50s, 5’7", black hair, olive skin. Doctor Chu looks over the waiting room and stares at his clipboard.

  “Are you the Walbrecks?” Frank stands up and offers a handshake to the doctor.

  “I’m Frank Walbreck. This is my wife Linda, Linda’s Mother, our daughter Cindy, and her friend Rachel. So, what’s going on here, Doc?”

  “Is it ok if we talk in private?” says Doctor Chu.

  “No, you won’t. Stay here with Grandma and Rachel,” says Linda.

  “We won’t be long. Go get some coco or something with Rachel,” says Frank. Cindy shakes her head and takes five dollars from Frank.

  “Alright then. I’m so tired of being treated like a child all the time.”

  “You are a child pumpkin. Enjoy it while you can.”

  Frank, Linda, and the Doctor leave the ICU waiting room. They walk down the hall towards his private office. They enter the office. Doctor Chu takes the chair behind the desk. Linda and Frank sit down in the chairs facing him. Doctor Chu takes a piece of chewing gum. He offers to Frank and Linda; they both deny.

  “What we know is she has bruises. She does have scratches on her mid torso, legs, and neck. Two bruised ribs, a slash on the back of her head, and some minor internal bleeding. The individual that attacker was extremely large and very strong. It looks like she was cut with a knife right below the jugular, or a very sharp fingernail. It looks the perpetrator somehow was fought off. She mumbles when she speaks, and she is in a trance-like state. Apart from the scratches and bruises, I assure you, there’s nothing else physically wrong with Kelly.”

  “Thank God for that.” Says Linda.

  “Like I said, it’s the trance state I’m concerned about. It may still be shock. If that’s the case, she should come out of it in a few days. We need to do blood work and an MRI to see if there are any infections or brain trauma. For now, we have her heavily sedated and resting. This is all we know for now.”

  “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Someone had to be there with her?” says Linda.

  “You mentioned mumbling and in a trance. Elaborate,” asks Frank.

  “Your wife thinks someone may have been in the house. Was Kelly seeing anyone?”

  “Not that I know of. I was on the couch resting downstairs. My Mother was knitting in her room. Frank was out. The kids were out also. Why?” replies Linda.

  “Well, there is no way she did this to herself. This is according to our observation.”The bruised ribs, lacerations, scratches, slashes, marks on neck, knife-size cut on her head and back prove it was very large attacker. More than likely a male. An attacker who easily overpowered Kelly. An attacker with large hands. An attacker around 300 pounds," Doctor Chu pauses for a moment. He looks at Frank and Linda to study their expressions. Frank and Linda look disgruntled, confused, and angry.

  “The individual who attacked her would have to be strong, extremely strong. I also find it odd that you and
your mother did not see a large man, or hear a large man walking upstairs,” says Doctor Chu."

  “So, your saying we’re involved in this madness?” Says Frank, angrily. Doctor Chu does not respond. He studies the couple. He’s testified for the Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Tustin Police before. Something does not seem right about. Especially after he read the newspaper about the young girl being murdered and hung in the same neighborhood.

  “I still need to run some tests. We can’t run tests until she wakes. In the meanwhile, notify your local police and security company. I was wondering, if you are aware, if now, or in the past, did Kelly have a drinking problem?”

  “No, not even. There is no way. At least not that we know of,” says Frank. “I mean she’s in university; most kids let go and drink here and there.”

  “We live in a safe neighborhood. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

  “What about the murder of the young girl just a few days ago?” asks Doctor Chu.

  “Where are you going with this, Doctor? This is preposterous. Our daughter Kelly is a good girl, a good student, a good sister, and very stable. Her brothers, sisters, and everyone we know adores her!” exclaims Linda.

  “I understand and appreciate this. However, I suggest we bring in a psychiatrist. It may be helpful,” replies Doctor Chu. There is now an uncomfortable silence amongst the adults in the office.

  “We performed a toxicology test. There was no trace of illegal narcotics. However, we did find alcohol.”

  “How much?” Frank sits nervously, shaking his leg and biting his nails.

  "Her alcohol toxicity was .0126 Doctor Chu looks over the couple curiously.

  “Suicide!” Linda interrupts. “I never mentioned suicide, Mr. Walbreck.”

  “Speaking of alcohol, how often do you drink Mr. Walbreck?” asks Doctor Chu. “I don’t mean to upset you both, these are standard questions. We at Hoag Hospital know how difficult this is for you all.” Doctor Chu takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes for a moment.

  “You stated on the submission forms that Kelly is fluent in Spanish,” states Doctor Chu.

  Linda and Frank look at each other with blank expressions. They shrug their shoulders.

  “Yes, why? She speaks French pretty good. Also, a bit of Russian. She learned from her grandmother. What are you getting at?” asks Linda.

  “Well, the things she says. The dialogue is not Spanish. It’s a dialogue I’ve never heard before. When in her trance, she becomes vulgar. She quoted the Bible and”Liars, thieves, and hypocrites shall be punished." She also spoke of the resurrection of the earth, and the original inhibitors will be victorious," states Doctor Chu. Doctor Chu stands up from his desk, he walks over his refrigerator, and takes a strawberry Snapple. He offers one to Linda and Frank. They both deny the offering. “I would like a psychiatrist from Saint Mary to visit Kelly. Speak with your daughter. This will be of course with your permission. I know this is a bit unorthodox. However, he’s an expert in this field. He’s spent many years studying ancient civilizations, such as Sumerian, Scythian, Egyptian, and Viking cultures. He’s also familiar with the lost scrolls of the Qumran Caves. He also spent two years in Middle East studying the lost Mesopotamia scriptures. He also translates Latin, Hebrew, and the ancient text of the Zoroastrianism. He is very smart. The Archdiocese states his IQ in undisclosed.”

  Frank looks at his wife and holds her hand. Linda has tears in her eyes, she places her hand over her heart.

  “Wow, Doc. I’m speechless. Don’t know what to say,” Frank replies. “But why would you need someone with these credentials? She’ll be out soon, right?”

  “Frank, stop. I’m sure the doctor knows what he’s doing. You always try to control everything. If you think he can help, I guess we have no choice. Just bring her back to us,” says Linda.

  Frank squeezes his wife’s hand harder now. “I agree with my wife. Do what you have to,” says Frank.

  Doctor Chu gets up from his desk, walks to his water bottle. He pours a cup of water and drinks quickly. He pours another drink and does the same. “Would you like some water?” Doctor Chu asks.

  Frank and Linda are a bit in shock by the news. Jokingly, Frank suggest he needs a beer. Not amused, Linda hits Frank on his arm, then frowns. Doctor Chu can see that Frank and Linda have many other problems than Kelly. Marital, intimacy, infidelity, trust issues. Doctor Chu is also a PHD. He won’t say anything. He feels that Kelly is his problem now, and this is all they can handle for now. Doctor Chu thinks of the easiest way he can relay the bad news. Doctor Chu finishes his water and sighs.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Walbreck, has Kelly ever been baptized?”

  Linda looks at Frank and folds her arms. “Of the three kids, Kelly was not baptized. Why, is this a problem?” asks Linda.

  Frank quickly takes over the conversation, silencing Linda. Linda’s hands are noticeably shaking. “Honey, let me explain, relax.” Frank gives Linda a sign of reassurance. “You see, Doctor, we grew up Catholic, Linda and I and both our families. When we first got married in 1964, we moved to Huntington Beach. By the time Kelly was born, we thought we’d try public schools. All our friends had their kids in public schools. We kind of felt out of place. We thought it might be ideal trying it out. We went to Holy Faith Church for a while when Linda was pregnant. The congregation there was great. Picnics with beer, raffles, singles’ night. Courses teaching sex after marriage. Muscle car clubs, meditation and mind control techniques; in the business world. It was great. I even hooked up with a high paying job at Xerox in my 20s. We really started getting involved with the church. They also taught us that baptism wasn’t necessary. It’s just a sign of order and chaos. You know thieves at the cross. The king, Jesus, and the carriage. By the time Kelly was born, we thought baptism wasn’t important. We were all saved by faith. Kelly just wasn’t baptized. Even was Matthew. All except Cindy. Cindy went to church at Crossroads with Rachel. She decided herself baptism is necessary. Why, what’s the problem?” asks Frank.

  “This is may be difficult for you both to hear.” Doctor Chu take his last sip of water and throws it in the trash can. “Have you ever heard of exorcism?” asks Doctor Chu.

  “Are you kidding me? My daughter, possessed? She’s a normal young woman going to college. Are you out of your fuckin’ mind?” Doctor Chu looks over Frank and clutches his Montblanc pen.

  “It’s just an opinion. If she regresses further, it’s something you both may want to consider,” replies Doctor Chu. “There are records from the Church stating this ritual has worked many times. It dates backs over 2,000 years. Of course, the ritual is private. No media, no newspapers.”

  There is no response from Frank and Linda. They sit. staring off in a daze. Frank’s coming down from his alcohol buzz. Linda needs another hit of Xanax.

  “So, what you’re saying is my daughter is possessed by Lucifer?” asks Linda.

  Doctor Chu sits emotionless in his chair. The room goes completely silent. Not another word is spoken.

  It’s now 3:00 am. Frank, Linda, Grandma, and Rachel are sleeping in the ICU room. Cindy sits awake, she’s wired from hot chocolate and hot tamales. On the television, Channel 5 is continuing their weekend Halloween Bash. One of Cindy’s favorite movies is on. ‘Trilogy of Terror’ Cindy watches Karen Black as she gets chased by a voodoo doll around her apartment. The movie reminds her of Tara, and she feels depressed.

  Cindy looks at the night nurse guarding the ICU entrance. Cindy knows it is way past visiting hours, but she feels Kelly is calling her. The nurse reminds her of Beulah from the movie ‘Porky’s.’ Cindy tries not to laugh aloud. Cindy crawls on the ground slowly as the nurse studies her early morning reports. Cindy waits for the phone to ring. Just as she crawls behind her desk, she gets what she wished for. Cindy quickly squeezes trough the ICU entrance. She takes off her shoes so she can’t be heard, then walks down the hall. As Cindy walks, she thinks she sees the same woman she saw in the elevator. She smiles wickedly at C
indy, then stares. Cindy stops, shakes her head, and closes her eyes. The old woman from the elevator does not disappear. She stands staring at Cindy. She removes her shawl, smiles, and takes two steps forward. Cindy takes two steps forward and tells her “Go away.” The old woman smiles and takes two steps forward. Cindy’s hairs on her arms begin tingling. Her head becomes dizzy, her muscles burn, and her back is tight. The old woman holds out her hand and points toward Cindy. She thinks of what she learned at church with Rachel. Cindy closes her eyes.

  “By the blood of Jesus, I command you gone.” Cindy opens her eyes and the old woman draped in black shrieks at her, then walks into Kelly’s room. Cindy shakes off the bad energy which stood before her. She remembers it happens. It happens all the time. I have to be strong. I’m better than you, Cindy thinks. I’m better than all of you. I have to see Kelly. Even though my legs are weak and can’t breathe, I have to see Kelly.

  Cindy know stands in front of Kelly. “Kelly, can you hear me?” Please wake up. It’s my fault. I can’t walk through life without you." Cindy places her head down on the edge of the bed and begins sobbing.

  The night nurse barges in Kelly’s room and places her hand on Cindy’s shoulder. “I have to ask you to leave. It’s way past visiting hours. I’m sorry.” Cindy looks up at the nurse and wipes her nose on her sleeve.

  “Ok,” says Cindy. She stands up, looks over Kelly, and kisses her forehead. Cindy exits the door and quickly walks down the hall towards the waiting room. The nurse looks over Kelly and checks her vitals. Cindy sits next to Linda on the couch and nestles her head in Linda’s chest. Cindy closes her eyes and wishes she could sleep. Most of all, she wishes everything would go away.

  Screaming is now heard from the waiting room. It’s loud enough for everyone to wake.

  “My God, it’s Kelly,” says Linda. Frank stands up quickly from his chair.