RED SOX: It looks like another edge of our seat season..
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Part 5 - Conclusion
Kierce sat at Bishop Brewster's desk spinning a jack. It had twinkled in the sunlight when she first began to toy with it. However, now the sun, which had been pouring in the west window all afternoon, was dwindling to twilight. It would be dark soon.
Then the only source of light to brighten the heavy brown wooded room would be from a battery powered camping lantern Kierce brought with her. The workmen who were hired to clean the house after the initial investigation finished were unable to get the electricity functioning again. A hulking electrician stormed out of the basement some hours earlier complaining there was no reason for the power to still be out. He and his crew left in complete frustration vowing to hit the Archdiocese up for more money before returning in the morning.
"Wonder what they'll find when they get back here tomorrow," Kierce mumbled to herself.
"Tricks then treats."
The jack spun out of control off the desk. Kierce remained perfectly still. It seemed to be getting darker with every beat of her heart. She was hesitant to reach for the lantern which sat on the corner of the desk no more than a foot or two from her left hand.
"Deidre," Kierce spoke in a hushed voice, "listen to me. I'm not here to hurt you."
Girlish giggling filled the empty room. It seemed to surround Kierce. The walls and desk and chair vibrated in sympathy with the chilling but childish laughter.
"Too bad 'cause I'm gonna hurt you," the voice peeled off into a fit of near hysterical amusement.
Kierce felt her heart raced. In a panic, she reached out to turn on the lantern. Inches from the switch, her hand disappeared into a shadow. The pain was sudden and sharp. A slice opened across the back of her hand. She tried to pull away but the shadow held onto her.
"Tricks first then you get the treats," the shadow sang it like a nursery rhyme.
"No, stop, please don't hurt me," Kierce shouted as the shadow dragged her out of her chair and head first into the abyss of blackness before her.
The tug of war stopped but a firm grip held Kierce half bent across the desk top. Kierce gasped as her assailant's features emerged from the brooding darkness. Hauntingly familiar pale gray eyes and a sinister grin peered back out at Kierce.
"You don't get to cry. No crying," the face and voice pouted. "I never got to cry. Neither do you."
The little shadow's free hand moved. Kierce screamed at the razor sharp pain piercing her hand as it was nailed it to the desk.
"OH GOD!"
Kierce shuddered in agony. The struggle was brief when shadow grabbed her right hand. Kierce was in too much pain to put up much of a battle.
"Tricks then…"
"DEIDRE ROIS BREWSTER!"
The voice from the front door startled both the shadow and the FBI agent. The shadow released her hand and Kierce fell to the floor like a forgotten toy cradling her injury. Then the shadow turned to face the woman emerging from the gloomy hallway.
"Mommy?" the little shadow asked.
Dakota stopped a few feet away from her former self.
The shadow cocked her head and put her balled fists on her hips, "Hey, you're not Mommy!"
"No, I'm not," Dakota answered as she knelt down. "I'm…I mean, it's me. I'm Deidre. I'm you all grown up now."
The little shadow took two steps forward with her arms open but stopped dead and drew away.
"No, no!" She waved her finger. "You left me! You forgot all about me. How could you leave me behind?"
Dakota shook her head and swallowed back her tears, "I didn't leave you. You left me. I lost you."
"Uh un," the little form disagreed, "You ran away from me. Left me with him all by myself!"
Dakota's tears could no longer be held back, "I'm sorry. I thought he took you away from me. I'm sorry; I didn't know where you were or how to get you back."
The shadow took a tiny step forward. As her foot hit the floor, her darkness dimmed.
"Will you hold on to me this time?" The shadow questioned.
Dakota nodded and smiled, "I'll never leave you again. I'll hold onto you forever this time."
The shadow stepped forward again. Her image lightened.
"Come back home, Deidre. Please, come back to me. Please, stay with me," Dakota spread her arms wide.
The little lost innocent skipped the last three steps into Dakota's waiting embrace. Kierce watched the shadow fade to gray in Dakota's tight hold. The gray softened to white as it melted into Dakota. The woman was left kneeling on the floor hugging her own self.
"You okay?" Dakota managed to ask once she realized she was whole again.
Kierce did not utter a sound. Instead, she gestured feebly to Dakota's throat. The woman traced her fingers along the now smooth and unmarked flesh.
"You were right," Kierce finally spoke. "Deidre really is a good little girl."
