Dream Travel

by Janet Gillooly

Chapter 2

  Jane called Megan to invite her to the art show and informed Megan of all the details. Megan was excited about any mystery they might uncover. Megan felt hopeful for her future and excited about the art show.

  The night before the art show Megan was over at her grandmother's house looking at the painting. Megan thought Patrick was very handsome and in awe looking at the rosary around his neck. She knew her grandmother did not tell her everything about the events that conspired, because Jane seemed to her to have a painful guilt, that went deeper unwarranted by the events told to her.

  Megan sensed that the ti.me with her grandmother would be short. She wanted to spend as much time with her as she possibly could. It would be a sad day for her when grandma would no longer be around.

  Jane and Megan were now at the art show nervous and excited to see all of Maria's art. There was a painting there of Jane and Patrick together. Jane and Megan were both shocked .Jane did not understand how Maria could have gotten a picture of her. There was also a painting of Megan as a child and as a young teenager. A painting was also presented of an old house something one would see in the' eighteen hundreds.

  Maria did not notice either, Jane nor Megan because she was busy talking to other people. There were about three hundred people that attended. Jane and Megan would try to find an opportunity to talk to Maria alone.

  Jane also noticed a painting of Missy, Maria and Patrick. She needed to know if Missy and Patrick were still alive. There were so many answers that Megan and Jane desired to obtain.

  Maria did finally notice both of them and she was in shock. People looked around noticing the resemblance of the artist's portraits, comparing Jane and Megan to them. Megan could have passed for the little girl's mother.

  Maria went up to Jane and Megan when the art show was over. She motioned them to come with her into an office that she used when she was tl1ere. Jane was about to explore the past, which would change some of her previous beliefs and notions.

  Maria looked at both of them as if she were looking at ghosts. Maria had no idea of Jane and Megan existing. Her grandparents had obviously kept a great deal from her which made her feel odd for she always though t she knew everything about them. They all introduced themselves to each other and Maria was in shock.

  Maria would not answer any of their questions, until they told her everything she wanted to know. Jane began painfully to tell her everything except about her orgies. This was a detail that Jane felt no one needed to know.

  Maria informed Jane that Missy and Patrick were both dead. They had both been dead ten years. Patrick and Missy had a daughter named Maria but she died giving birth to her daughter Maria. Maria' at age fifteen was adopted by a Frenchman who lived alone. He had provided her with everything she needed and she was quite wealthy after his death.

  Maria said she had a lot to tell them which was painful for her. She seemed to be trying to figure out how she would begin. It also seemed to Jane that Maria was suddenly aware that all her puzzles were solved.

  Maria began to speak. "I was doing some research on my family history and I did extensive work. I came across this article in the newspaper with a picture of my descendents. The couple and child lived in the eighteen hundred s. The exact date that they all died was in 1820."

  "I did not come across this story until my grandparents had been dead about five years. If I had known about this story before they died I might have been able to save them. Maybe all this was meant to be."

  "The couple lived in that house like in my painting. They had a little girl just like in my painting also. The couple were named Mr. and Mrs. O'Conner just like my past name. I did not change my name even though I was adopted."

  "The father's first name was Patrick and the mother's name was Jane. The little girl was named Megan. I did not understand everything until I knew both of your names.

  "The little girl seemed to have a gift of dream traveling which neither parent possessed. She was only five when she began first to talk about her dreams. The parents considered her very imaginative and did not take her dreams seriously."

  "She was not allowed to talk about her dream travels anymore to her parents but apparently she did talk about them to a friend named Missy. Their little girl, Megan, was supposedly involved in devil worshipping not aware that it was wrong. Her parents never instructed her about God because they felt constrained by church rules and did not really believe in God."

  ''Missy was not interested in being involved and so she stayed away from Megan . Missy looked just like my grandmother. Megan was very angry at her and threatened to get even.

  "Megan grew more hateful as she got older. Her father Patrick molested her until she was age fifteen. He started molesting her around age six. She informed Missy that if she could kill her father twice she would. Missy was very scared because she did not like to hear her talk like that. Megan told Missy that she would die in a future generation."

  "The dreadful night came and the parents were ignorant of their fate. Megan was fifteen when she took a gun and shot both of her parents in the head. Then she took the gun and shot herself in the head."

  Maria showed Jane and Megan the article. It was a long article with many pictures. Jane was feeling very grateful to be alive. Maria continued to tell them the rest of the story.

  "It was believed that their house was haunted. Many people who tried to live there heard a little girl's laughter and anotl1er laugh, which sounded like a devil. It was believed that she would come back to fulfill her promises of future deaths."

  "My grandparents were shot in the same way when I was at a friend's house at age fifteen, the same age she killed her parents. The same gun showed up, that she used to kill her parents. The house is still standing but has been reconstruct ed. It is the same house that we were living in. I no longer go to that house because it scares me. The story is that the house will burn down when Megan is at peace. I have no family left and- my mother never did marry. She never did tell anyone who my father was.

  "I would sometimes hear her laughter but my grandparents never heard anything. I heard the laugh of some devil. I just assumed that I was dreaming. I wish I had known the history of that house." "I would like to believe there will be no more killings but as long as that house stands I can't be sure. Megan I believe you will be safe since you are an image of her. Jane it is fortunate that you never did marry my grandfather for your life might have been taken."

  Jane could not help but feel scared for all of them. She hoped since her and Megan were believer s that they would be okay. Maria had no real beliefs but was certainly not interested in devil worshipping. Patrick and Missy had been believer s but now they were gone.

  The three women agreed to stay in contact with each other. Jane was scared but yet her and Megan were curious to see the house. This was a crazy idea and it could not be considered.

  "Grandma this story sure is scary. I cannot believe we are at your home looking at a painting of a man who has been killed twice. I do hope we are not in any danger."

  "I hope you are not in any danger. I have lived all my dreams but you are still so young. If something has to happen to one of us then I hope it is to me."

  The night ended and Jane prayed very hard for her family when she was alone. She felt very sad for Missy and Patrick. She prayed for that little girl hoping she could be at peace.