by Dina Rae
Epilogue
Several months later
Jake had a couple hours to kill before starting his shift at Tilman’s Rest Home. He began working there full-time after graduating high school a semester early. He liked his job well enough, but couldn’t fathom doing it for the rest of his life. The rest of his life…he had no clue what that could even entail. Today he was officially an adult. Naively, he thought adulthood would magically provide all of the answers.
After he changed Mami’s water and placed a fresh rat in her aquarium, he glanced at the blank junior college application he printed last week from the college’s website. It sat on top of his junk mail, daring him to apply. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to pursue a degree, but thought he could benefit from an education. He had a shoe box of Lucien’s jewels sitting in his closet. If he was ever robbed…He already sold one of Lucien’s heavy gold-linked chains at a Cash for Gold store. The heavy chain awarded him $10,000. He used the money to move out of Leah’s trailer and into his own apartment, learning later on the gold chain could have netted him three times the amount.
He began filling out the application. Business and finance courses were a must. College made him think of Lucien. The old man was the reason college could even be a reality. All of Lucien’s faults no longer mattered. He missed the old man almost as much as he missed his mother.
After Lucien died, Jake brought the Voodoo book Lucien gave him to the commons area of the trailer park and torched it. The Bizango Brotherhood was now his past. He poked around the pit and found the three rings Lucien had worn, still intact. He kept them for now. They would make a nice gift for Henry once he was released from the hospital. Lucien would have wanted it that way.
As Jake continued to sift through the fire, he found bones that didn’t ash. They had to be Lucien’s. Jake even speculated some of T.J.’s were mixed in. He took as many as he could carry, and then buried them next to his mother’s headstone. Lucien and T.J. eternally together, how poetic. They once shared a ti-bon-ange, now they share a resting place.
In the end Lucien offered protection from the law to both Jake and Henry by leaving a not-so-hidden confession in the bathroom’s waste basket along with T.J.’s dead flesh.
Lucien was portrayed as a serial killer among the media. His letter confessed to the murders of Pete LaRue, the caretaker at the nearby cemetery, and the attempted murder of Ms. Fontana, claiming he wanted her dead because of her suspicions of his Voodoo black magic. His letter also declared that he had hypnotized Henry into a rebellion against his doctors and anyone who stood in his way of his escape. At the cost of his reputation, Lucien wanted both him and Henry protected from the law while giving Hayward some peace.
The police were willing to close most of the cases. However, they doubted Lucien attempted to kill Candy Fontana. Instead, whispers and rumor pointed in Henry’s direction. Brittany was confirmed pregnant, giving Henry a motive. Still on the hook and very much a suspect, the boy was placed in an institution in hopes of getting some answers to what had happened on the night Brittany died and Candy Fontana was put into a coma. Jake faithfully visited him once a week.
Lucien’s letter verified what Jake had suspected all along. The old man sacrificed himself to save Henry as if he knew T.J.’s dead body would not be enough to rid them of the djab. For all of the old man’s talk about good and evil being one in the same, he chose good in the end, believing his selflessness would not be rewarded. To Jake, that was as good as one could get. May his last actions count for something with the loas, Jake thought. It certainly counts for the way I want to live my life.
Jake filled out the college application and thought of Leah. Leaving her had broken his heart. He dated other girls over the last few months, but none of them could compare. He knew if he didn’t leave her, she’d grow to resent him. Time would eventually wash away his charms. He also had Rhianna to think about. The little girl already lost her father. Although a good thing, it was still a loss. She didn’t need Jake to add further confusion.
Jake gave Leah some of his windfall from the gold chain and suggested she keep on collecting the state’s checks for his foster care. If she missed him, she could always track him down once he was legally a man. She’s not going to remember my birthday. She probably found someone else.
He arrived early at Tilman’s and waited in the breakroom until it was time to punch the clock. His supervisor told him he was needed right away in Room 311. An ornery patient refused to get out of bed, making it impossible to change the bedding. Jake punched in ten minutes early and rushed into 311. Leah and Rhianna were sitting on the bed of the empty room, wearing birthday hats. A clear plastic cake carrier sat on the table. Jake could see the homemade cake inside.
“Surprise!” exclaimed Rhianna, looking more like a little girl than a baby.
“We made you a chocolate cake. Let’s have a piece,” Leah said. “And here, it’s a present from both of us.” She handed Jake a card.
Jake opened the generic birthday card and a plastic giftcard dropped out. “What’s this? Joe’s Steakhouse? I love this restaurant. Can’t believe you’re here.” Don’t get too excited. This could be her just being nice.
“That giftcard is where I’m working. I want you to go there for dinner. And thought you could take me and Rhianna with you. Should be enough on the card for three big steaks,” Leah said. She smiled at him. He missed that smile. She looked more beautiful than he could remember.
“Two jobs?” he asked.
“Just one. No more Dollhouse. I want Rhianna to be proud of me. And…I want you to be proud of me,” Leah said and looked away. Jake momentarily saw her fill with tears.
“Me? I am proud of you. You’re the love of my life. I don’t care where you work, just as long as you’re happy.”
“The new job helps, but I’m still not happy. I don’t have you. Listen, we might have started off under…unconventional circumstances, and I stress the word might, but too much time has passed. I’m not under any spells right now. I even went out with a few guys to see if maybe I was just lonely, but I wasn’t. It’s you, Jake. You’re the love of my life, too. You’re officially a man. Will you take me and Rhianna out to Joe’s Steakhouse tonight?” Leah asked, no longer able to hold back her tears.
“Can’t think of a place I’d rather be than with my family!” Jake exclaimed.
***
Henry left his therapy session in anger. His mother suggested he cool off by going to the lounge area of the ward. He could watch television or play a game. He wished he could go home. However, he could tell by the pitiful looks from the panel of doctors he wasn’t going anywhere for a while. They were closed off to the possibility of demonic possession. Even though his mother witnessed it with her own eyes, she used terms such as ‘hypnosis’ and ‘delusions’, blaming Lucien for everything bad that ever happened in Hayward or even the state of Wisconsin.
Henry found one of the men from group therapy in the lounge and asked him to play a game of chess. The man was nice enough, but irritated Henry when he started talking about aliens invading the doctors and nurses in the hospital.
They sat by the TV and watched a morning news show as they played. As much as he hated the psychiatric ward, it had to be better than his other option, jail. The djab inside of him done some horrific things the law wasn’t willing to completely overlook. His mother stood in the hallway and talked to his new doctor.
Henry remembered bits and pieces of last summer, but was still foggy in many areas. He recalled killing Dr. Resnick, but not by his own hand, and remembered injuring Dr. Gold and some man at a gas station. He held no recollection of hurting Ms. Fontana. Once she woke up from her coma, she couldn’t remember Henry hurting her either. Nonetheless, he was blamed for her condition so it must be true. As his favorite all time teacher, he was truly sorry and hoped she would one day forgive him. He would explain to her it was the demon inside of him who hurt her. He loved her and wouldn’t harm a hair on her head. If only t
he doctors would believe him. Then he could go home and sleep in his own bed.
Henry waited forever between each of his chess partner’s moves. The game turned monotonous and he switched his interest to a talk show on TV. The host announced her next guest, Dr. Justin Gold, would join her after the commercial break. He was invited on the show to talk about his new book.
“Mom! Get in here now! Dr. Gold’s going to be on TV!” Henry yelled as he raised the volume.
His mother abruptly ended the conversation with his new doctor and sat down next to him.
“There he is. His new book, Patient H. Am I Patient H?” Henry asked.
“Don’t know. Let’s watch,” said his mother.
“Sarah, thank you for having me on your show. My new book, Patient H, is a case study of the longest recorded period of time anyone has ever been fully under hypnosis. I included the legendary Dr. Phillip Resnick posthumously as co-author. Had he been alive…well, it was a joint effort.” Dr. Gold looked like a movie star. Henry’s new doctor came closer to see what was so exciting.
“Your book has made it to the New York Times Bestseller List practically overnight! Why so successful? What makes Patient H so interesting?” asked Sarah, the pretty blonde talk show host.
“He came to me misdiagnosed, catatonic, hopeless. With Dr. Resnick’s help, we devised a new kind of therapy, a real breakthrough. Our research has the potential to help millions,” claimed Dr. Gold.
“But all of this was at the expense of Dr. Resnick’s life and almost your own,” added Sarah.
“We made some mistakes. Having been pioneers in this particular field there are always risks. But Dr. Resnick did not die in vain. Our contribution to psychiatry has the same magnitude as Freud’s psychoanalysis, maybe more. We’ve only scratched the surface. With more research, who knows what else can spin off of our findings!” Dr. Gold announced. The interview segment ended and cut to a commercial.
“But Mom, what he said wasn’t…” Henry argued.
“Please,” his mother interrupted. Her eyes told him to quit talking. “Let’s go back to your room. I want to explain some things your new doctor and I talked about.”
They walked back to this room in silence. His roommate was gone. His mother shut the door.
“You know I never killed anyone!” Henry cried.
“Oh Son, of course I know that. I was there, remember? Your eyes…They were red. But you’ve got to listen to me if you ever want to get out of here.” Henry nodded in self-defeat. “What I’m about to suggest goes against every bone in my body, against all Christian principles, everything. Your doctors don’t believe in Voodoo, djabs, magic, none of it. And they never will. They will live like I did, in complete ignorance. Bottom line is you got to drop the demonic possession story. Lucien knew this; that’s why he wrote that letter taking the blame for everything.”
“So you want me to lie?” Henry asked.
“Yes! Say you were hypnotized. At least that offers up a more logical explanation to your behavior. Say you’re better now. Say that demons only exist in nightmares and you must have been delusional. Say whatever they want you to say and let’s go home and never look back,” said his mother. She gave him a hug and began to cry. He felt uncomfortable being held in her arms, but awkwardly returned the embrace.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll play,” Henry promised.
Henry’s new doctor came into the room to see how he was feeling about the disturbing story on the TV.
“Did seeing your old doctor bring up bad memories?” he asked. Henry could never remember his name.
“Oh yes. But I owe him everything. He pushed me out of my haze. I’m so sorry for talking about demons. I know they are a part of my nightmares,” Henry said. He saw a hint of smile on his mother’s lips.
“Well then, maybe seeing that talk show segment was a good thing. Mrs. Novak, Henry’s showing some progress. Can’t promise you anything, but he could be released ahead of schedule,” said the doctor.
Henry smiled. If only he knew the power of Voodoo, the Bizango Society, sorcery, zombies, spells, possession…Lucien knew and now he’s gone. I almost forgot! The book! And I remember where I hid it! Lucien will live through me! I can’t wait to get out of here.
Other Books by Dina Rae
A fallen angel runs an advertising agency, fathers a new race, hijacks an ancient religion, and wants to secede from Hell. (Horror, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance)
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Halo-of-the-Damned-ebook/dp/B0075XQYDM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340661188&sr=8-1&keywords=halo+of+the+damned
Freemasons and other secret societies prepare the world for takeover. Preppers hide underground and wait to strike. (Thriller, Conspiracy, Christian, Suspense)
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Degree-ebook/dp/B008GWI754/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341366610&sr=8-4&keywords=the+last+degree
A bouncer falls for a stripper. She is not what he expected.
(Short Story, Thriller, Introduction to The Last Degree)
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Be-Paranoid-Prepared-ebook/dp/B007U00VFW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kstore_1
About Dina Rae
Dina Rae is a new author here to stay. As a former teacher, she brings an academic element to her work. Her three novels, Halo of the Damned, The Last Degree, and Bad Juju weave research and suspense throughout the plots. Her short story, Be Paranoid Be Prepared, is a prequel of sorts to The Last Degree, focusing on the James Martin character. Dina also freelances for various entertainment blogs. She has been interviewed numerous times on radio programs, newspapers, e-zines, websites, and blogs.
Dina lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs outside of Chicago. She is a Christian, an avid tennis player, movie buff, and self-proclaimed expert on several conspiracy theories. When she is not writing, she is reading novels from her favorite authors Dan Brown, Anne Rice, Stephen King, Brad Thor, George R.R. Martin, and Preston & Childs. http://dinarae.co/, http://www.dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com/
