Cottage Creep - Chapter 17
ugu...@nowhere.net
"You could burn it, You know," said the old woman crouched in
the corner of the waiting room. It almost went unheard she said it so
softly. At first Ron just looked in her direction and then deciding
he had imagined it, looked away.
"Or, you could pay her back. That's what I'd do if I were
you," she uttered. "I tried to tell your brother but he wouldn't
listen."
"Madam, are you speaking to me?" Ron addressed her.
"Only if you're listening. Otherwise, I'm just speaking to
the thin air," she emphasized with hand motions.
"How do you know my brother? What all do you know about us?"
he demanded.
"Oh, I know. I know all I need to know. I know all you need
me to know," she croaked. "And I know more than you do."
"So, tell me what you know then," Ron encouraged her.
"Well, her name is Nora. Nora Jean Crape. We called her Nora
Jean Creep. It really suited her better anyway. Your bother hasn't
really aged. She has just absorbed his life energy. I can get it
back for you. It would serve her right if I just sucked it all out of
her. She used most of it on that moldy old house anyway. She just
wanted to show off was all. And she drew some from you too didn't
she? Greedy winch, I'd say. I can see by your look you think me a
dodling old fool, don't you? Can you explain your brothers state
then? And your own?"
"How can anyone draw another person's life energy? I don't
know what happened to me or my brother, but I think is must be some
kind of mold in the house. Madam, I would not stoop to calling you a
fool or anything else, but your claims are a bit far fetched for me to
buy into. Even if you could help, what's in it for you anyway?" Ron
challenged the old woman.
"Revenge Sonny. Pure sweet revenge. Oh, we go back a long
way, Nora and I. Nothing would be sweeter than to see her beg," the
old woman cackled. "But enough about what I want. What is it worth
to you to get your brother back? Would you leave some of the stolen
life energy to me? Would you allow me a percentage for the return of
most of his youth? Or will you let him wither away until there is
nothing left but a bag of old bones to plant in the earth? What's it
to be, Sonny?" she said, staring at him with one eye closed.
Ron looked back at her thinking her insane. But he didn't
upset her least she be dangerous or at the minimum subject to causing
a scene. He decided to humor her. "Of course, Madam, your offer is
only fair. By all means, do whatever you would like to do. You are
most welcome to enact vengeance on Nora if that is what you wish.
Now, if you will excuse me, I need to see about my brother."
"You must take me to her now, while there is still time.
Every minute counts if I am to save your brother. I know you don't
believe me, but what can it hurt. They wont let you see your brother
now anyway, so we should use the time wisely. Take me to her," the old
woman demanded.
"Really, I need to look in on him. I wont be long. Wait for
me," Ron protested. Then the old woman moved with unexpected speed
and grabbed his arm. She looked in his eyes and he saw visions. He
say a battle. He say flashes of light, and magic he didn't
understand. He say streams of light and dark flashing between two
opponents, and he saw his brother first grow older, then grow young
again. He saw the woman from the porch grow very old and withered,
and he saw the house fall into despair. All these visions were very
real, and he knew then she had spoken the truth.
"Or you could burn it," the old woman said again. "Take me
there now," she demanded again.
Ron felt almost in a trance. "Okay, we'll go now," he
acknowledged. They left the hospital and drove to the house. It was
dark when they arrived.
"You stay here while I go tell Nora Jean Creep hello," the old
woman cackled.
Jules W.
happens next.
Jules W.
ugu...@nowhere.net
wrote:
>Cool story so far, great twists! I'm looking forward to whatever
>happens next.
>
>
>Jules W.
Thanks Jules. I like twisting, turning, and tangling my tales. :)
Hang on though, this tale is coming to an end soon.. got another in
the works. Not sure where it is going to go, but I like the
beginning. I dont even know its name yet.. but, as usual, we'll see
what develops. :)