CHAPTERS 14 AND 15

CHAPTER 14

On the following morning, Andrew was the first to wake up, as he had managed to sleep only for a few hours – the weird sensation still present in his heart. He went to the kitchen and started to prepare breakfast, and soon Monica, Pamela and little Amy were up too.

“G’morning Monica! G’morning Andrew!” the little girl greeted, now she and her mother finally used to his presence around her.

“Good morning, Amy! Did you sleep well, huh?” they greeted, gently ruffling her hair.

“Yes! Thanks!”

Smiling at her daughter’s enthusiasm, Pamela agreed, “She’s right, we haven’t had such a comfortable room in months.”

“Well, we’re glad to hear that you’re both comfortable here and you’re welcome to stay as much as you want.” Monica spoke, showing them their places at the table and finishing to set it for breakfast.

“I don’t want to take advantage from your hospitality.”

“But you’re not, I told you that already. Besides, I guess [i]two[/i] children in a house really make it happier!” the Irish angel said, looking at Amy and little Joy, who were already playing together. Then, they noticed the first sun rays coming through the windows. “And it seems we’ll have a beautiful day today!”

 The Irish angel suddenly remembered the small inhabitants in the trees that surrounded the cabin and looked for something inside the cabinet; she soon found a pot full of bird food and then turned to her dearest friend, “Andrew, could you please finish to set the table? There’s something I have to do...”

“Monica, the sun is shining but it’s still cold outside...” he protested, knowing that she was going to feed the birds that lived on the tree tops nearby the cabin.

“Oh, I won’t be long...”

The blond angel sighed and took off his coat, draping it over her small shoulders; the outfit was many sizes bigger than hers, enough to almost reach her knees. “I’ll give you 5 minutes and not a second more!” he stated, with a stern look in his eyes, causing Monica to smile. “Okay, sir!”

Pamela watched the tender way the two friends treated each other with a secret smile upon her face, not missing the constant love and care Andrew showed towards his dearest friend. Her first impression about him was wrong, now she knew it, as anyone could see Andrew indeed had a good heart. Monica left the kitchen and opened the front door – the ground and the vegetation around the cabin were still wet, but the last dark clouds in the sky were moving away quickly.

The birds that inhabited the trees near the cabin were already up, looking for the seed grains that the kind little angel used to throw on the ground for them. She climbed down the porch steps and started her task, distributing the food equally among the tiny little creatures hungry for ‘breakfast’.

What Monica didn’t know was that she was being observed. And this time, the eyes who followed every movement of her body weren’t those green, protective ones, always filled with love for her. His eyes were black, as well as his hair, and one could see much hate and evilness reflected in their spark.

Hidden in between the bushes, at a safe distance from the cabin, he watched the little Irish angel calmly feeding the birds, unaware of the great danger lurking around her. He was tall and strong, probably in his thirties, and had an accelerated breath. His motorcycle had been left near the road, hidden amongst the bushes and he was about to go back to the gas station where he worked. He had first seen her there, inside a red Cadillac, on a stormy night together with a blond guy who was driving the car. And since from that first moment, he knew she had to be one more to be added to his collection. One more to pay for what someone had done to him about some months before.

There she is... Exactly how I want to see her... Alone... Vulnerable... I could go there and take her away right now, and he wouldn’t know what happened to his pretty girlfriend. Maybe I can do that... Maybe he’s still sleeping and won’t even hear her crying... I won’t let her cry anyway, I’m much bigger than she is... she wouldn’t have a chance to fight...”

The possibility of going up to her was tempting... The man gave a few steps closer to the cabin. If he had to do it, he should be fast, exactly like he had done with the other women – all of them looked the same: petite, with auburn hair and dark brown eyes. Just like her. Just like the one who had betrayed him. They were all the same! And, since he hadn’t managed to find her yet (although he knew she was close), all of them deserved to die!

He was much closer to Monica now but, before he could take her away, Andrew came out of the house.

Damn! It seems he is always around her! First at the gas station, driving along these roads and now here... But there’ll come a time when he’ll make a mistake... Yes, there will come a time when he’ll leave her alone and then... then she’ll have to pay too! All of them have to pay! My revenge will never be complete!

He continued to watch ‘the couple who lived in the cabin’ but suddenly, something made his breath catch in his throat: a 4 year old little girl came out of the house together with a puppy dog. And following her, there she was. Exactly the same Pamela to whom he had married. Exactly the same Pamela who had walked out on him 3 months earlier. The one he had been looking for since then. To release his anger towards that woman, he had killed some others, all of them looked exactly like her and all of them should pay for his revenge against her.

I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it! I found her! I found my Pamela![/i] he thought, his heart beating wildly.[i]I knew she was in this city, I just knew it! And what a coincidence: she ended up exactly in this house... She’ll be mine again, and now forever! The car in the middle of the road must be hers; she changed it to escape from me... but now... now she won’t go anywhere else. Her little trip is over.

He was clenching his jaw with anger and waited until all of them were inside the cabin to move away from the place. He was coming back soon, however, but first he had to find a plan to get rid of the blond man. With him out of the way, things would be much easier to handle.

*

“Joy, please, stop complaining! You’re such a jealous wee puppy!” Monica spoke, as the little puppy dog didn’t stop barking loudly.

“But what’s wrong with her?” Pamela wanted to know.

“She’s jealous of the birds, Ms Garner! She wants Monica’s attention all to her!” Andrew spoke, finding it quite funny though always apprehensive whenever the little dog started to bark so insistently.

Monica set a bowl full of dog food and placed it on the floor, hoping that it would make her stop ‘complaining’. But strangely, the small animal didn’t even look at it, and kept on barking continuously.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you, wee one?” Monica spoke, taking Joy in her arms and frowning at how uneasy she was. Only when Andrew finally closed the door did she stop barking.

“See? They’re outside now, don’t need to feel jealous anymore...” the Irish angel spoke, holding her against her chest.

“You know, Monica, sometimes I’m under the impression that she is a little spoiled..."

She looked at him slightly indignantly, “Oh... she’s just a baby, Andrew, she needs attention! And now let’s go and have our breakfast? I’m a wee bit hungry...”

Fortunately she didn’t see him chuckling at her ‘extra protectiveness’ concerning the little puppy and they all moved to the kitchen. The blond angel followed them too but before he took one more look through the living windows and made sure that the door was locked.

*

After a pleasant breakfast, Andrew looked outside the window and noticing that the rain was finally gone, he announced that he would check on Pamela’s car.

“I feel really bad for taking you out of the house and giving you so much trouble, Andrew.” the woman said, visibly embarrassed.

“Oh, you shouldn’t, Ms Garner. You see, it’s probably a minor problem, easy to solve, and as I said before, I’m glad to help you and this little princess here!” he spoke, stroking Amy’s soft hair and causing her to smile.

“I know that but the truth is we cannot stay here forever. Look at me! I borrowed not only your house, but also your friend’s bedroom and even Monica’s clothes!”

“Oh but I don’t need them, Pamela! You know, I was scolding myself for bringing so many clothes but then I was happy that they’ll be useful for you.” the Irish angel said, helping her to wash some dishes used in breakfast, “Isn’t it amazing that we wear the same size, Andrew?” she smiled and secretly winked at him, and he couldn’t help chuckling.

“Yes, it’s really amazing, Monica!”

“Mommy looks like Monica!” the little girl, who was having a lot of fun giving her own cookies to Joy, suddenly said, causing Monica and Pamela to laugh and look at each other. “You know something? Little Amy here is right! You’ve got much in common!” Andrew concluded, also looking at them. “You’re a very smart little girl, Amy!”

“Thanks...” she replied, grinning at him.

*

The rest of the morning was a calm and pleasant one. The blond angel started to prepare lunch and had to make an extra effort not to let Monica’s suggestions about some exotic ingredients ruin the food. By one o’clock they had a delicious meal and only after that, did Andrew leave the cabin to check on Ms Garner’s car.

“Here are the keys, Andrew. I left a bag with some of my things inside, so if you could bring it, I’d be very grateful.” The woman said.

“Okay. I’ll be back soon.” Before he climbed down the porch steps, the blond angel bent his head and kissed Monica’s forehead, “And you, don’t you stay outside for long, okay? You’re still healing, don’t you forget that;”

“I know, I’ll be careful, Andrew, I promise.”

“I won’t be long, angel.”

“We’ll be waiting for you...” she gave his hand a gentle squeeze and they watched him getting into Tess’ car and leave the place.

*

“... this is such a peaceful place. And a very beautiful one too; the mountains are just amazing!” Ms Garner spoke, she and the Irish angel were sitting on the porch steps, in that lazy afternoon. The warm sun was shining brightly in the bluest of the skies and little Amy was playing with Joy right a few steps away from them, and giggled every time the puppy tried to jump on her whenever she sat on the ground.

“Oh... yes... It’s a wonderful place, in fact. Andrew and I, together with our friend Tess, come to the cabin when we’re not working...” she quickly corrected herself, as, in fact, she was on assignment, “I mean... most of the times, we’re not working...”

“I see... Don’t you think about having children? I noticed the way you both seem to love them!”

The little Irish angel smiled, “Oh, Andrew is my friend, we’re not married, you know...”

“Well, it’s about time! I also noticed the way he takes care of you, he obviously loves you very much, Monica!”

Her smile became broader and she nodded her head, “I know he does. Andrew has always been a wonderful, dear friend. I love him very much too.”

The woman’s smile seemed to fade a little, “It must be wonderful to have someone who loves you so much...”

Once again, the Irish angel watched the great sadness that appeared in the woman’s eyes, “May I ask you a question?”

“Yes...”

“You said you and wee Amy have been travelling for a long time... Don’t you have a family or friends?”

“No... my... my parents have passed away some years ago and I don’t have any brothers or sisters...”

“I’m sorry...”

“Oh but I have that little princess over there! She’s the most precious gift I could ever receive!”

“I know... I can see how your face lightens up when you talk about her!” Monica said, smiling.

“Yes.... she’s my world; my life. For her, I’d do anything.”

 Monica hesitated a little to go on with the conversation, but something in her heart was telling her to insist, “What... what about Amy’s father?”

The tiny smile on Pamela’s face immediately died with the question, and she sighed deeply, “Sadly, he passed away some years ago, when she was just a baby...”

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry...” she quickly said, sad to hear that piece of news.

“It’s... it’s ok. It’s been some years now but I still miss him, you know...”

Trying to cheer her up, Monica spoke again, “And don’t you think about getting married again? You’re still so young...” At that very moment, two big tears rolled down the woman’s face, causing the angel to worry. “Pamela? What is it?”

“Yes, once... but... but that’s in the past I... I wish I could leave behind...”

“If... If you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll understand. But I want you to know that I’m a good listener.” The Irish angel said, placing a supportive hand over her shoulder and feeling sorry for that poor woman.

“Thank you... thank you so much, Monica...” she was quiet for a few moments and then stared at the ground, unable to face anybody due to what she was about to say. “In fact, I got married again... he... he seemed so nice, such a loving man, always so caring about my daughter, but... But I left him 3 months ago. That’s why Amy and I have been travelling so much, I don’t want him to find us.”

“And why did you run away like this?”

“I found out that Edgar is... a violent man...”

“Oh dear Father...”

“And things came to a point where I had to leave... I have a daughter now, Monica, and, as I told you, she’s the most important thing to me right now. I couldn’t risk her happiness...” she looked at the angel with her eyes full of tears, “... he used to beat me and got very angry without a reason... I could take it, but not my little Amy. Although he never hit her, I realised it would be just a matter of time for him to get angry and lash it out on her too.”

“I’m so sorry, Pamela... I’m terribly sorry for you two. But why didn’t you go to the police?”

“I was afraid... What if he got even angrier and did something really bad to us.”

“But... Do you think that running away is the only answer? You live in fear, I noticed that since the first time you arrived here. You were even afraid of Andrew.”

“Yes, and now I feel really ashamed about this. But facing that man... is unthinkable right now...”

Pamela was crying so much that little Amy stopped playing with Joy and hugged her mom tightly. And although she was still very little, she already knew the reason for her tears. Monica found it better to give her some water so the group left the porch and headed to the kitchen, unaware of the danger that was lurking around that beautiful and calm place.

CHAPTER 15

Andrew drove the red Cadillac until he found an old Caravan abandoned on the road that crossed the mountains. He pulled over, got out of his car and came closer to the other vehicle, easily opening its door. As Pamela had explained, there was a bag in the back seat of the car, together with some Amy’s toys. Smiling, the blond angel put everything in the Cadillac and then checked on the gloves compartment. There he found her documents and tickets of many toll roads, indicating the many states where mother and daughter had been to.

Frowning slightly, as he found it a bit strange to see how much they had been travelling in the last 3 months, he started to read the information on each ticket. Suddenly, the blond angel realised something: that sequence was familiar to him – he had been to all those states, as an angel of death. The crimes he had witnessed had started at almost the same time that woman had started her journey. They had happened in the same places she had been.

“Father... what’s all this? Please, help me to see what’s going on here...” he whispered, now with his heart pounding loudly in his chest. “... she’s been travelling so much, as if she’s running away from something... or someone...” And then he remembered Dana, the last victim of those terrible crimes; in a flashback, Andrew remembered the expression on her face when her soul started to leave her body... and, most importantly, he remembered her few words.

”I’m scared... I’m afraid of him... He said he wanted revenge... I don’t understand...” 

If Pamela was somehow related with those crimes, then he should go back to the cabin immediately, as his dearest friend was there too.

He put all the papers in his pocket and was already going back to the car when suddenly a heavy piece of log hit the back of his head. He tried to grab the car door to stop his fall, but it was inevitable: the same log hit him a second time and made him fall on the ground unconscious, with the back of his head bleeding.

Smiling, Edgar threw the log beside the angel in human form, “I knew you would make a mistake, buddy! And now, they’re both alone! Your pretty girlfriend and my Pamela! And I’ll go back there and take back what’s mine! And don’t you worry – you’ll bleed to death here, but soon, that cute baby will make you some company because I’ll do to her exactly the same of what I did with all the others! No... maybe I’ll do even more, cause you both are hiding my wife from me!!!”

With his eyes filled with hate, the man walked away from that place and took his motorcycle, heading to the cabin on the deserted road, where almost no one used to travel.

*

“Mommy was sad...” Amy spoke, to the little black puppy dog that was playing with her shoe laces. “I don’t like it when she gets sad... I get sad too...”

She was standing on the porch steps with a few of her toys, as her mother had told her to go and play, not wanting her daughter to see her crying so much. She and Monica were still in the kitchen talking and the door was open.

Suddenly, little Joy stopped playing and looked around, attentive to some noise only audible to her canine ears. Then she let out a small bark and moved away from the cabin. Little Amy frowned a bit confused and followed her, “Where are you going, Joy?”

The small dog didn’t stop, but made sure that the girl was following her. Finding that ‘game’ quite funny, Amy continued to walk trying to catch Joy and without realising it, little by little they both moved away from the cabin, entering in the woods and disappearing through a small trail.

*

“... thank you, Monica. And I’m sorry to bother you with my story...” Pamela said some time later, wiping away the remaining tears on her face and feeling better after talking about her sad story.

Monica took her hand and squeezed it, “You don’t have to be sorry about anything, Pamela. In fact, I told you before, Andrew and I work helping people to solve their problems. We’re here to help you too... And I also think you should talk to God about what happened, ask Him for guidance, ask Him to show you what to do.”

“I know what I should do... but it’s not easy...”

“It’s not easy to live in fear either... Running away is not the answer...”

“But that’s what’s the best way to protect my daughter and myself...”

“There are other ways to face him without having to run away... If you go to the police, they’ll give you support. And most, importantly, God will protect you both, you’re both His daughters...”

“I know... I keep on praying and asking Him to give me the courage to do that... Someday I hope He can answer to my prayers...”

“I think He’s already answering them... Now you just have to listen...”

Pamela managed a tiny smile and nodded her head, grateful to have found two kind people to help her when she least expected. “Amy and I are so blessed to have found you... That reminds me... it’s time for her bottle...”

The two stood up and headed to the living room, thinking that the little girl was playing outside in the porch. But when they reached the room, Pamela’s blood drained from her face and she felt a chill running down her spine with what she saw. Standing there, at the doorstep, was a tall and strong man, with dark hair and deep black eyes. He had an evil smile upon his face and, when he saw her, the man gave a few steps forward and closed the door behind him. “Hello, honey. I missed you so much...”

“Edgar?” her voice came out as a whisper.

“I’m so happy I found you... Now we’ll be a family again...”

Monica was standing right behind the woman and she too was surprised to see the man from whom Pamela was running away. And from the start, the little angel could see evil in the way he was looking at them. She new that the Father was always protecting them. She had just said that. But, deep down inside, Monica was afraid. “You’re Edgar...”

“I can see you made a friend, Pamela. And she’s very pretty!” the man spoke, delighted to see the tears falling from his wife’s eyes as well as Monica’s beautiful figure.

“Go away, Edgar!” she suddenly cried, as he started to approach them. And that was enough to make him angry. “Don’t you talk like this to me!” he shouted back, and quickly shortened the distance between them, grabbing her wrist tightly.

“Stop it! Let her go and leave this house, you’re not welcome here!” the angel spoke, but he laughed at those words.

“Leave? I’ve been travelling way too much to just leave, lady! I came here to take my wife and my stepdaughter back with me, to where we belong!”

“Where is Amy? What did you do to Amy?” Pamela was desperate to hear her little girl’s name.

“You’re telling me that she’s not here?”

“She was playing in the porch, where is she?”

“Gosh, woman, can’t you just take care of our daughter properly?” saying that, he hit her face so hardly that Pamela fell on the floor.

Monica was quick to help her stand up and stared at him with a mix of sadness and anger. “Leave this house now!!!”

“Are you gonna make me leave, angel?” he spoke, causing her to freeze at the way he called her. “You know, I’ve been watching you, baby... At the night you and that stupid boyfriend of yours stopped at the gas station and I lay my eyes on you I was crazy to know where you lived... and I couldn’t believe it when he told me everything I wanted to know...”

Monica’s memory returned to the night she was ill and she and Andrew had an argument. Yes, he had to stop by the gas station and that man was the guy who warned them about the thunderstorm.

He looked deep inside her eyes and smiled, “You know, since I arrived here in this town looking for my beloved wife, I noticed that there is another who looks like you... In fact, who looks like you both... Barbara is her name and I was decided to pay her a visit on that stormy night, but, then, when your stupid friend told me where you lived and when I remembered you sitting in the car... I found you so pretty since from the start...”

Horrified, the woman and the angel listened to those terrible words with her eyes wide open and not believing that the danger could have been so close to them all that time.

“... I gave up Barbara just because of you, [i]Monica[/i]. And hardly did I know that, in the end, I was going to find my baby hidden in this same house...”

“Go away, you bastard! I regret the day I met you!” Pamela spoke, eyeing him with hate.

“Shh! Shut up, honey. You have no choice now. You and our little Amy will come back with me right now!”

“You can’t force her!” Monica replied, helping the woman to stand up.

“Oh yes, I can dear. I can be rather persuasive when I want!” he suddenly showed them the knife that was hidden underneath his shirt; the sharp blade shining with the light of the day.

“You wouldn’t... My friend is about to arrive and...”

“I’m sorry to inform you, sweetie, but the last time I saw your friend his head was bleeding so badly I doubt he’s still alive right now...” he spoke, and that revelation caused Monica’s heart to beat wildly. “What?” she managed to whisper.

“I killed him, baby. He shouldn’t interfere with my plans! But don’t worry, honey, I won’t do the same with you... I mean, I will, but not so drastically as I did to him...”

“... Andrew...” Monica’s tears rolled down her cheeks and she dreaded to wonder if everything that horrible man was saying was true.

“You killed Andrew? How could you do it, you monster?!” Pamela’s eyes were filled with anger.

“Monster? You’re calling me monster? I did it because of you, Pamela!” he shouted back. “Every time I thought about killing you, I had to kill somebody else because I knew that, if I did this to you, I’d regret it; I’d be without my Pamela, my beloved wife!”

“What are you saying?” the woman spoke, she and Monica not believing in what he was just confessing.

“I killed all those women! One by one! All of them looked like you, but I knew that they weren’t you so I could hurt them anyway I wanted, because, after they were all dead, I’d still have you!!! And I was right, wasn’t I? After 3 months searching and making new victims, I finally found you!”

Monica felt a chill running down her spine: all those deaths Andrew had been dealing with had been caused by that man... He was the murderer; he was the one who had committed all those atrocities her dearest friend had told her. And now what she thought was impossible to happen was right in front of her: she was facing the possibility of becoming one of those victims.