Beth moves fast and is now standing in front of Nakia. Before Nakia can even blink, Beth places both of her hands on the side of Nakia’s face and kisses her. The bathroom lights go out, and Nakia feels an overwhelming rush of electricity travel through her body. She wakes up on the floor of the bathroom. Having no recollection of what just took place, she stands up, walks into the bedroom, and lies down next to Brad, who is still sleeping.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Night has fallen, and rain pelts against the windows. After an eventful dinner, the Winters’ house is quiet. Everyone is nestled in their beds except one little girl. A dream has taken over as she tosses back and forth. She whimpers before sitting up in her bed. Her bedroom door opens, and her shadow on the wall follows her as she goes down the hall to her parents’ room and opens their door.
Brad flinches from the breeze and wakes up.
“Whoa, Megan. What are you doing up?”
She has fear on her face as she stands at the foot of their bed. “I had a bad dream.”
Her father wipes his eyes and sits up. “Aww. Want to get in the bed with us?”
His daughter stands there, still looking fearful.
“What’s wrong?” Brad asks.
She starts to step backward toward the door, her facial expression changing to a look of horror.
“You don’t want to get in the bed with us?” he asks.
She continues backing up slowly. “No.”
Brad leans forward a little. “Why not, sweetie?”
“Because in my dream, when I woke you up, the thing wearing Mommy’s face sat up,” Megan answers.
He looks at Megan, confused. “What?”
Just then, the sheets on the bed start to shuffle behind him. He slowly pulls back the covers to see Beth lying next to him in her ghastly form, staring at him with black eyes.
Megan shrieks as Beth attacks Brad and runs out of the room. She takes the hallway toward her bedroom door as Brad screams for his life. Not wanting to be by herself, she turns to go to her stepsister’s room.
Megan rushes over to Shawna’s bed, pulling back the covers, but she isn’t there.
“Shawna, where are you? Nakia?”
The doorknob to the bedroom starts to jiggle. Then someone starts striking the door. She runs over and puts her back against it, trying to keep whoever is on the other side from entering.
“Please stop! Shawna, where are you?”
The banging on the door stops. When she leans her head sideways to listen, she starts to hear music playing behind her. Megan slowly turns around to see someone in the rocking chair.
“Who’s there?”
She hears what sounds like her mother’s voice calling her.
“Mommy?” She walks toward the chair.
“Want Mommy to read you a bedtime story?” Beth says, mimicking Megan’s mother’s voice.
Megan stops walking as Beth stands up from the chair. Screaming, she runs from the room.
The whole time, Shawna is sitting in her closet with the music box. She can hear the commotion but is too scared to peek outside.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A week later, the morning sun shines through the small window on the front door. Nakia makes her way downstairs to answer the knocking. She opens the door to a woman and her daughter’s principal standing on the porch.
“Hello, what brings you by today, Mrs. Harding?” she asks, not inviting them inside.
“We noticed the girls haven’t been in school and just wanted to make sure everything is okay,” the principal replies while trying to get a peek inside the house.
“We have been dealing with some family issues, but we are okay now.” She looks over at the second woman. “And who might you be?”
The woman extends her hand for a shake. “I’m Miss Wells, the new social worker at your daughters’ school.”
Nakia looks her up and down. “I see. Well, thank you both for stopping by, but my daughters and I have to drop some items off at the Goodwill and should get going.”
Mrs. Harding leans back and sees Shawna swinging.
“Where is Megan?”
Nakia’s body language changes, and she starts to get irritated. “She is sitting in her favorite chair.” She points to the right side of the wraparound porch.
“Will both girls be at school on Monday?”
She thinks to herself, These people don’t know how to take a hint.
“Mrs. Harding, we really need to be going. I’m not sure about Megan since her father has left.”
“How long will your husband be away?” the social worker probes.
Nakia places a hand on her hip. “I’m not sure. He has taken an extended trip with his secretary.”
“Oh my, I am so sorry,” she says.
“It’s fine. I just haven’t had the heart to tell the girls. I’m not sure they will understand.”
The principal and social worker turn to leave. “We’ll get out of your way and look forward to their return.”
Nakia nods her approval. She checks on her daughter before shutting the door. Megan is sitting in a chair, rocking back and forth with a blank stare on her face. As a car goes by, the social worker looks over at her but can only see the blacks of her eyes.
“Something is wrong with those people,” she says to Mrs. Harding. “Something happened there. Did you see? She didn’t even blink.”
Shawna is going back and forth in the swing beside the house, the wind swishing around her. When she comes into her downswing, her feet graze the ground. As the dirt starts to clear, it reveals a hand with a wedding band.
After closing the door, Nakia looks down. She sees the full box sitting by the door. The music box sits on top. It opens to start playing music.
“No, we don’t need to take care of them. They’re gone.”
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I first want to give honor and thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I would have never taken my script and turned it into a book had it not been for the support of my wife, Teresa Beasley. I thank you for
