Tom’s hands shook with such force that he could barely hold the cell phone to his ear.
“What’s the real reason you called? I know it wasn’t to make small talk.”
Erebus chuckled. He found that he liked Tom because he was not afraid to call things as he saw them. “You’re correct, as always. You need to boot-up your computer and check your emails. I’ve sent you a special message, and I am sure you’ll need time to process it. I’ll call you back in an hour.” The call ended.
Tom reached for the power button on the computer and waited for it to boot-up. He scanned through the list of emails until he came to one that said, From a friend, in the subject line. He took a deep breath, and hit the open button, but what appeared on the screen caused his breath to catch in his throat.
***
The room was dark, except for the lone light hanging above to the two shadowy figures. Suddenly the sound of familiar voices erupted from the computer’s speakers, “Shit that’s John and Mac!”
Chapter 12
Erebus walked back into the room and smiled at the thought of Tom sitting at his desk, looking at his two friends.
It’s coming together perfectly. Now I only need to wait for the final move to play itself out.
“So, did you two miss me?”
“Why did you bring her here? She’s not supposed to be in this part of our game!” By Mac being there, John knew that she would have to die as well.
Erebus stood in front of Mac and smiled. “Ah, but you’re wrong. She’s precisely where she needs to be. You see, I have decided to have a grand ending to this particular game, and it involves the both of you.”
Mac shook her head and looked up at Erebus. “It’s you; the guy from the parking lot!”
“Yes, my dear, and I must say it was quite difficult to control my excitement when I watched you walk into the convenience store. You are much more beautiful in person, but I must admit I’m a bit disappointed at how quickly you allowed yourself to be captured.”
He reached down and moved a strand of hair from her face.
“Don’t touch me!” she growled, pulling her face away from his touch.
“Leave her alone!” John demanded, but he knew he was helpless to do anything to help.
“Do not fear, my dear Lucinda, I have no intention of harming you. I merely wanted to see your beautiful eyes.”
He had waited for this moment since he first found her. She was quite lovely, and the flush of anger on her cheeks only added to her beauty.
“What’s your fascination with green eyes? Did you have an old lover with them? Did she break your heart, causing you to become the monster you are today?” Mac stared at him defiantly.
Erebus smiled. “No, it’s nothing as common as that, my dear. My interest runs much deeper than that. My infatuation with green eyes comes from a pure love, not sexual desire.”
His words struck her as odd. How could anyone like him ever experience a pure love? “Okay, who was it then?”
“First things first, John wanted to know the story of my life, and I promised to tell him before he dies,” Erebus chuckled at the shocked look that appeared on Mac’s face. “Yes, my dear, John is going to die before this game ends.”
“Shut up! You don’t need to involve her in this!” John knew his pleas were useless, but he could not stand the idea of anyone else in danger from this maniac.
Erebus smiled as he grabbed a chair, and pulled it next to the pair under the dim light, “Let’s see, where was I?”
***
The following school year went by uneventful for Caleb. His new roommate was a quiet boy and stayed to himself most of the time. He was pleased when his father had told him he would return to school as his mother’s constant hugging and crying was getting on his nerves.
“Oh baby, you could have been in that library,” his mother cried, holding him close. “I can’t imagine how terrified you must have been. I wish you didn’t have to go back, but your father says you need to continue with your education. I wanted to hire a private teacher, but he said you were man enough to go back.”
To be honest, Caleb had counted the moments until his return to his room in the dormitory.
“Mother, please don’t worry. I’ll be fine,” he told her.
“Thank goodness, he didn’t hurt you. I can’t imagine how you lived with him all that time. What a terrible thing to do to all those children,” she cried, as she visualized the carnage of the students trying to escape their fiery deaths.
“Elizabeth, leave the boy alone and stop smothering him. He is a strong, young man, and can handle himself just fine,” Charles bellowed.
“Charles, he could have been one of those poor children. I don’t know what I would do if something ever happened to him,” Elizabeth sobbed.
“Mother, I’m okay. Please, you need to stop feeling this way. It’s over, and he’s locked up.” Caleb struggled not to smile when he thought of that night. His game had played out to perfection, and no one would ever know that he had orchestrated the entire thing.
Russell is sitting in a mental institution, and no one will ever learn that I turned an insecure boy into a crazed murderer.
***
“Okay, so you played that poor kid. That still doesn’t explain why you enjoy destroying people the way you do. What happened to your family? Are they still alive?” John tried to keep Erebus busy with memories from the past.
“Let’s see, where to begin. I was seventeen years old and had just returned home for my summer break. Everyone was excited about my sister’s upcoming wedding, except for me.
***
“Caleb, please help us with the invitations,” Miranda looked at him and smiled, as she set the last box of wedding invitations on the dining room table.
“I don’t want to. It’s your wedding, so you can address them yourself!” he groaned, while sitting in the library reading a crime novel.
“Caleb, please. You have such nice handwriting,” she pleaded.
“Fine, but I don’t see why you’re marrying that fool. He’s below you.”
Caleb did not approve of the young man his sister had chosen to be her husband. Granted he was an attorney at one of the more prestigious law firms, but his pedigree was substandard at best.
“What a horrible thing to say. Gerald is a fine, young man, and he loves your sister. He’s going to be a part of this family, so you need to change your attitude, young man,” Elizabeth scolded, as she handed each one of them a list of names and addresses.
“Oh mother, he’s just upset because I’ll be moving out,” Miranda teased. “I know my little brother will miss me.”
“Well, regardless, he needs to stop being so cruel. Now, I have listed everyone in alphabetical order, so be careful, not to skip anyone on your list. We don’t want anyone upset because we overlooked them.”
Elizabeth reached for the first invitation, wrote the name and address on the envelope, and then put the card inside. “I’m so happy that I decided to go with the self-sealing envelopes,” she grinned as she sealed the envelope.
Miranda giggled, “Yes, we’d all have our tongues glued to the roof of our mouths by now.”
Caleb worked in silence. He did not understand how his mother and sister could find enjoyment in doing this menial job, but his mother had insisted on doing it herself instead of hiring a professional.
“Hello, where is everyone?” Charles called out, as he walked in the front door.
“We’re in the dining room. Come in here; you are just in time to help us with the wedding invitations,” Miranda laughed, when she heard her father moan.
“I don’t have time for that right now. I have something I need to work on in my study.”
To be honest, Charles did not want to sit and address hundreds of envelopes. At first, the plan was to have a small and tasteful wedding, but over time, it had grown into a grand affair. At last count, the guest list had grown to nearly six hundred, and while Charles did not
mind, he had no desire to help with the planning.
“It looks as though you have everything under control. Call me when dinner is ready.”
“Father is correct, why do I have to help? Why can’t you hire someone to do all this for you?” Caleb groaned and then pushed his chair away from the table.
“Where are you going?” Elizabeth did not like his attitude at all, and she was tired of everything with him ending in an argument.
“Anywhere, but here,” Caleb said angrily, as he left the room.
***
The next few weeks were hectic around the house, and the tension between Caleb and his sister had grown to the breaking point.
“I don’t understand why you’re so angry with me. I thought we had a better relationship than this,” Miranda cried, trying her best to get Caleb to look up from the book he was reading.
“Caleb, I love you and I want you to be a groomsman in my wedding.”
Caleb refused to look up, but he had heard her every word. He could not understand why she insisted on going through with this marriage to Gerald. He was such a fool. Every time he came over to their house, he would try to get Caleb to go outside and toss a football around, but Caleb would always refuse.
“Doesn’t he understand that I detest playing sports? He has never seen me show any interest in them, so why does he insist that I join him?”
“He’s only trying to be your friend. Why can’t you at least try to get along with him?” Miranda pleaded.
“I don’t want to be his friend, and I don’t want to be in your stupid wedding!” he said flatly then returned to reading his book.
“You’re a heartless soul, and I hope that someday you realize what you have thrown away because of your stubbornness.”
Miranda loved her little brother, but she could no longer handle his dark moods. She was going to marry the love of her life in a few weeks; for this reason, she would focus on her perfect future, and leave Caleb to dwell in his self-induced world of darkness.
Caleb despised the cheerful mood in the house. Even Millie, the maid shared in the joyous mood permeating from every corner of the house. One afternoon while watching his mother and sister looking over some flower samples, he knew it was time to play another game.
Chapter 13
Caleb was quite pleased with his plans for this new game. He had waited until the house was empty to set the first move in motion, and then stepped back and allowed everything to fall into place.
To destroy the trust of a couple who had loved each other deeply for almost twenty-six years was power, and Caleb looked forward to watching this parent’s marriage crumble before their eyes. Miranda, on the other hand, was a different matter. She would never believe that her beloved, Gerald would betray her, so her role in the game would take extra care to ensure perfection.
“Caleb, has Millie returned yet,” Elizabeth asked when she and Miranda walked into the library where he was reading.
“I don’t believe so, mother, but I have been in here for most of the afternoon,” Caleb responded as if uninterested.
“It’s getting late, and she should be home by now. I hope nothing has happened to her.”
Elizabeth knew that Millie had planned to spend the day with her sister, but she would never stay out this late.
“Mother, why don’t we prepare the dinner tonight? It would be fun, and besides I need the practice. I don’t want to starve Gerald once we’re married,” Miranda giggled at the idea of Gerald having to eat her dreadful cooking.
“That does sound like fun. Let’s go see what we can come up with,” Elizabeth smiled, as she took Miranda by the hand and walked toward the kitchen.
Caleb watched the two women walk to the kitchen, giggling like a couple of schoolgirls. He smiled, as he thought of his mother’s reaction once she found the notebook, and the coming events that would stem from that revelation.
“Well, let’s see what Millie had planned for dinner this evening. I know she keeps her weekly menu in one of these drawers.”
Elizabeth opened several of the drawers until she found Millie’s meal planner. “Ah, here it is. Let’s see, today is Thursday, so it looks as if she planned to make pork chops, stuffed with rice pilaf and a tossed salad. That shouldn’t be too difficult to prepare. Look in the refrigerator and see if the pork chops are in there,” Elizabeth pointed toward the refrigerator while reaching for a large baking pan.
“Here they are and look, she’s already put the stuffing in them.” Miranda set the container with the pork chops down next to the baking pan.
“Wonderful, that will save us some work. It says to bake at 325 degrees for fifty minutes. Okay, why don’t you turn on the oven while I put the pork chops in the pan?”
Elizabeth was happy that Millie had already prepared the pork chops because she was not sure if she could have made the stuffing as delicious as Millie’s always tasted.
“Okay, the oven is preheating. Now, what do we do next?” Miranda waited while her mother put each pork chop in the baking pan. “Those are going to be delicious.”
“I hope so. You know, I am concerned that she still has not returned. It’s so unlike her. Maybe I should call her sister, and see if she’s left there yet.”
Elizabeth walked to the kitchen telephone and looked at the small notepad hanging on the wall. “Here’s her number.” She was about to dial the number when the telephone began to ring. She looked at Miranda with a look of relief on her face and smiled, “Maybe that’s her now.”
She answered the call, “Hello.”
“Hello, this is Millie’s sister, and I was wondering if she’s there?” Janice, Millie’s older sister, asked.
“No, I thought she was still visiting you,” Elizabeth said with a growing sense of dread. She knew something must be wrong because Millie would always let someone know where she was going, or when she would return.
“No, she never showed up. Oh my, that’s strange. We were supposed to go shopping for Miranda’s wedding present today, and then go have a manicure and pedicure,” Janice said, nervously.
“Is there someone else she may have gone to see before you?”
Elizabeth knew Millie did not have many friends, but maybe she had stopped somewhere on the way to her sister’s house.
“No, I talked to her first thing this morning and she told me she would be over after she had cleaned up the breakfast dishes and prepared a few things for dinner tonight. She said she was worried if we took a little longer than expected the dinner to be late. I’m worried; this is so unlike her.”
Elizabeth had to agree. Millie was always dependable. “Let me know if you hear from her, and I’ll have her call you if she comes home.” Elizabeth looked at Miranda and shook her head.
“I will. Thank you for caring about Millie. She has always said such nice things about you and your family.” Janice took a deep breath, trying to hold back her tears. “Goodbye.”
“Now, try not to worry. I’m sure she’s okay. She’ll probably show up soon, goodbye, Janice.”
Elizabeth hung up the telephone and looked at Miranda. “This makes no sense at all. Millie would never disappear like this. Would you go see if her car is in the carport?”
“Sure, but maybe someone picked her up?” Miranda thought aloud, as she walked toward the back door.
“I don’t know, but I have the strangest feeling that something isn’t right.”
Elizabeth took the baking pan with the pork chops, put it into the oven, and set the timer. She then walked to the refrigerator and gathered the makings for the salad.
“I sure hope she is okay,” Elizabeth thought aloud while she washed the lettuce for the salad.
“Mother, her car is out there and it doesn’t look as though she’s used it in several days by the layer of dust on it.” Miranda cried out, as she rushed through the back door.
“Oh dear, I wonder if she took sick and went to her room?” Elizabeth turned off the water and grabbed a dishtowel to dr
y her hands. “I’ll go to her room and see if she’s there.”
Elizabeth gave Miranda a nervous smile before she turned and walked to Millie’s room in the back of the house.
Elizabeth stopped outside the door and gently knocked then waited for a response: nothing. She knocked again, but this time she opened the door a couple of inches, “Millie, are you in here?”
“Is she in there?” Miranda came up behind her mother, trying to see in the room.
“Millie, dear, are you okay?” Elizabeth whispered as she slowly opened the door. “Oh, Millie, no!”
The vision before their eyes was something neither woman could have ever imagined. Millie lay stretched out on her bed with one hand hanging over the edge, and an empty medicine bottle lying on the floor next to the bed.
Elizabeth rushed to her and felt for a pulse. “Quick, call 911, I can’t feel a pulse!”
“You call; move out of my way,” Miranda shoved her mother aside, positioning herself to perform CPR on the lifeless body. “Mother, we are too late; she’s already cold.”
“No, it can’t be. She can’t be dead,” Elizabeth took Millie’s cold hand in hers. “How could this happen?”
“It looks as if she took her life. Look at the empty bottle of sleeping pills lying on the floor.”
Miranda reached down and picked up the bottle. “She had this filled only a few days ago, and now it’s empty. Why would she do this, mother?”
“I don’t know. She had told me how she was having problems sleeping, so I suggested that she talk to her doctor about it. She said that she had a lot on her mind, but I never thought she would do anything so drastic. What horrible thing could have driven her to do something like this?” Elizabeth felt her knees buckle, and for a moment, she thought she might faint.
“Careful mother, you need to sit down. Come with me back out to the kitchen and sit before you fall. I will call the authorities and Millie’s sister.”
Miranda took her mother by the arm and led her back to the kitchen. She knew this would be difficult for her mother because Millie had been with the family for years.
Erebus Page 9
