CHAPTERS 16 AND 17

CHAPTER 16

Little Amy walked for about an hour chasing Joy and started to feel the effects of that dangerous adventure through the woods. “Can’t we stop a little? My feet hurt...” she complained, but the small animal turned around and bit her socks, dragging her along the trail, which soon ended in the only road that crossed the mountains. “Are we going back home? We gotta go back, mommy is gonna be mad at us...”

But the little dog remained walking, now apparently detecting something and at the same time urging the little girl to continue to follow her. Suddenly, Joy stopped walking and barked loudly: it didn’t take her too long to find out what she was looking for. A red Cadillac and an old Caravan were parked by the road and, lying unconscious next to them, was Andrew. The small animal ran towards the blond angel and started to lick his face, while Amy held his hand with a very worried and sad expression, “Andrew?” she called, realising the blond angel was hurt, “Wake up, please... You’re hurt, aren’t you?”

Seeing that he could not reply to her, Amy started to cry, “Please, Andrew, wake up, don’t die... Monica’s gonna put some medicine in your head... I’ll call her to take care of you...”

*

“Where is Amy?” Edgar wanted to know, looking around the living room and grabbing Pamela’s arm firmly.

“She was playing in the porch...”

“Well, she’s not there now I want to know where she is! Damn it, Pamela, what kind of a mother are you who can’t even take care of your daughter properly?” he fumed, shaking her arm.

“I’m the kind of mother who will always protect her from a man like you!” she replied back, causing him to throw her on the ground and grab Monica’s arm instead.

“I’ll go around this house and look for my stepdaughter because I get the feeling you’re hiding her from me somewhere in these rooms and if we’re going back home, I want her to come with us! After all we’re a family, right?”

“I don’t know where Amy is, I ...”

“Shut up, woman!” he shouted, and pointed the sharp knife at Monica’s throat, “And you’re going with me, angel...” he spoke, in her ear, causing her to close her eyes briefly and shed a tear. Her thoughts were on her dearest friend and the possibility of him being hurt scared her deeply. But now, she was the one being threatened by that evil man, and all she could do at that very moment was to pray and ask God for their lives.

Edgar passed his arm around her small shoulders and stared at his wife, “We’re going upstairs and if you try to run away, I’m gonna cut your pretty friend’s throat and let her bleed to death like I did with the other ones!”

The man dragged Monica along the living room and made her climb the stairs up to the second pavement. “Show me the rooms, sweetie...” he spoke in her ear again, with a voice that caused a chill to run down her spine. Everything she had said to Andrew about those poor women came back to her mind. Yes, terrible things happened in this world; yes, she knew God was with her and that He cried for those innocent victims. But right at that moment, being one of that man’s next victim stopped her from holding on to her beliefs, as her soul was taken by great fear. And all that she could pray for was that Pamela wouldn’t take that opportunity and run away again, as that action would have terrible consequences, especially for her.

“Take your hands off me otherwise I won’t be able to open the door...” she managed to say, in a constant battle to over come the fearful thoughts and trying to find her faith back. He did what she asked, although he kept on pointing a knife to her, “As you wish, honey...”

Monica went from room to room, opening each door and showing him there was nobody in them. Hers was the last one and when he noticed that that was the place where the Irish angel slept in, Edgar pushed her inside and looked around them, with an evil smile upon his face, “So, this is where you sleep, right, angel? I could’ve guessed it... I can smell your perfume everywhere...” he said, stroking her auburn hair and causing her to close her eyes and turn her face away from him, with fear and utmost disgust. “Hey! Look at me when I talk to you!” the man spoke, his voice louder now, and grabbed her face.

“Amy is not here, you’ve already seen all the rooms, let’s go downstairs...”

“Why are you in such a hurry, huh?” now he grabbed her arm, “You stood here with that boyfriend of yours for such a long time, why can’t you stay with me? And he’s not coming back anymore, you know, I killed him on the road, his blood is spread everywhere right now...”

*

Little Amy remained next to Andrew, holding his hand and crying with the possibility of him being dead. Suddenly, on the road that crossed the mountains, a single car came along and the driver kept it in a low speed, which allowed him to notice the two other cars ahead of them. He pulled over next to them and got off the vehicle: it was Dr Baker, the same doctor that had examined Monica a few days earlier, when Andrew took her to the hospital with the beginning of a pneumonia. With a worried frown, he came closer to the two cars and soon found the blond angel lying unconscious on the ground and the crying little girl sitting next to him.

“Oh my God!” the man exclaimed, quickly kneeling on the ground to check on Andrew’s head. Amy stood up and backed away from him, but it took her just a split second to realise who he was, “You’re the doctor...” she said, as in the same night, he had assisted her with a slight flu.

“Yes, sweetie, I am... You remember me right?” as he spoke, Baker checked Andrew’s pulse.

“You gimme candies the other day at the hospital...”

“Yes... What’s your name again?”

“Amy...”

“Amy! Yes, of course... I’m Dr Baker... Can you tell me what happened here, sweetie?”

“Andrew is hurt...” she said, nearly whimpering again.

“I see... how did he get hurt, did you see it?”

“No... Joy and I got here and found him... He’s my friend, can you take care of him?”

“Yes, yes, honey, I’ll try the best I can... Will you help me?”

Sniffling, she nodded her head. The man took his suitcase inside his car and started to give Andrew the first aids. And, to his and Amy’s (and even Joy’s) relief, the blond angel woke up after sensing the strong smell of alcohol.

“Andrew? Son, can you hear me?” the doctor said, watching as he slowly opened his eyes and moaned with pain. “Son, can you hear me?”

“... what... what happened?”

“You’ve been hit in the head... I stopped the bleeding but you have to go to the hospital, this is serious.”

“Andrew! You didn’t die!” little Amy spoke, a smile back in her face, while Joy contentedly wagged her tiny tail.

At that moment, somewhat regaining full consciousness, the blond angel tried to sit up straight, “Monica!”

“Calm down, son! Wait, you’re badly hurt, you need to go to the hospital immediately!” the man tried to dissuade him, but gathering all his strength, Andrew managed to stand up. “No, you don’t understand doctor, Monica may be in great danger... as well as this little girl’s mother!”

“Monica... I was exactly going to see that young lady... I took your address with the hospital receptionist... What... what do you mean by she’s in danger? Who did this to you?”

“I didn’t see him, but I... God, I’m almost sure of who he is...” the blond angel turned to Amy, “Honey, what are you doing here?”

“I followed Joy, she and I were taking a walk in the forest...”

Sighing with relief that at least that innocent child didn’t cross the murderer’s way, he stroked her dark hair, “Listen to me, I want you and Joy to go with Dr Baker to the town and stay there...”

“But mommy’s gonna be mad at me if I don’t come back home...”

“I’ll tell her that you’re with the doctor and she’s not gonna be mad, honey, Dr Baker took care of you once, didn’t he?”

“Yes...”

“So, he’s a good man and will take care of you and Joy until you can come back home... Will you do it for me?”

“Okay...”

The old man shook his head reluctantly, “But Andrew...”

“Please, doctor, take her with you and call the police... I’m almost sure that there is a murderer in this town... he was the one who hit me and right now... he’s at our cabin, with Monica and Ms Garner...”

“Oh my God!”

“Please, call for help, doctor... I’ll go back to the cabin right now!”

*

“Let me go!” Monica shouted, tears rolling down her cheeks at the mention of her dearest friend.

“Not so fast, sweetie! You and your dear friend have been hiding my wife from me all this time, you’ll pay for that the same way he did!” he shook her while the Irish angel tried to wriggle from him, “She’s been running away from you because you’ve hit her! God is watching all the crimes you’ve committed, He knows what you’ve done!”

“Oh really? Good to know that I have an audience, but I don’t care, honey!”

He started to push her further into the bedroom and there was no way Monica could fight him. Besides, he had a knife in his hand, “Stop it! Let me go!”

“Shut your mouth up, or I’m gonna have to kill you right now...”

CHAPTER 17

Monica tried to fight to set free of Edgar’s rough grip, but it was useless. The man was twice her size and she could feel the sharp blade against her soft skin. But before he could make another movement, something heavy hit him on the head and made him let go of her arm. Pamela was holding a log taken from the ones Andrew had cut a few days earlier and as Edgar stumbled on the ground, she reached out for Monica’s hand, “Come with me, quick Monica!”

The two climbed down the stairs while the man continued moaning with intense pain. He would recover, however, and they had to be fast.

Running, they left the cabin and climbed down the porch steps, where Monica stopped for a few seconds, breathing hard. “Are you ok, Monica? Did he hurt you?” Pamela placed a supportive hand over the angel’s shoulder.

“I’m... I’m fine...” she managed to say; her face pale and her entire body was shaking – the angel in human form was still terrified at what had almost happened to her. Then, Monica looked at the woman with gratitude, “... and he didn’t hurt me, thanks to you...”

“I couldn’t stay here and watch him hurt the one who has been like an angel to me...”

“Then this time you were my angel...Thank you!”

“I have to find my daughter...” the woman said, wiping away the tears that never stopped from falling. “Amy!!!”

“She must be near, somewhere in the woods. And Joy has disappeared too...” the little Irish angel looked around them and had an idea, “The lake... Joy has been to the lake with Andrew and me, and the trail is easy to follow, maybe they’re at the lake!”

They started to follow the narrow trail that crossed the woods and led to the lake where Andrew and Monica had been to. The two walked fast, as they knew Edgar wasn’t hurt enough to stay in the cabin; they needed to find little Amy and also get some help urgently. And the Irish angel’s heart ached every time she thought about her dearest friend: she needed Andrew, she couldn’t believe what that awful man had said and she needed to find the blond angel desperately.

*

Ten long minutes had passed since Monica and Pamela had left the cabin when the red Cadillac stopped outside the house and Andrew got off the vehicle. The blond angel rushed to the interior of the house and the fact that the door was wide open only caused his worry to increase.

“Monica? Ms Garner?” he called, but nobody answered. “Monica? Monica, I’m home!!!”

He looked in the living and dining room, kitchen and then went upstairs, checking on each room. And when he saw Monica’s bedroom door wide open and the huge log fallen on the floor, the angel frowned with deep concern and fear. “... Father, what happened here?” he whispered, feeling something in his heart that he could hardly explain what was – a mix of panic, fear and anger rising inside his soul. All the victims of that evil man came back to his memory... all of them brutally hurt and... all of them looked like his dearest friend. “... God, please, help me... help me to find her...”

He checked the rest of the house and came to the conclusion that it was empty but he also had the terrible impression that the murderer had been there: some objects in the living room had been thrown on the floor; the heavy log in Monica’s bedroom and the doors and windows wide open were evidences that something awful had happened.

With his heart pounding erratically in his chest, Andrew looked around him, wondering where they were and how he would find them.

*

“...Amy? Amy, where are you, sweetie? Mommy is not mad at you, you can tell us where you are!” Pamela shouted, she and Monica checking the bushes around the lake some time after they had left the cabin.

“Amy, please, answer to us, sweetheart... We’re not mad, but please, say something!” Monica spoke, filled with worry for the little girl.

The two had been looking for Amy and Joy for about an hour and so far, they didn’t have any reply. With fresh tears falling from her eyes, Pamela stopped walking and covered her face. “Oh God, please, help me... Please, I need to find my little girl, help me to find her...”

Feeling extremely sorry for that poor woman, Monica reached up and placed a supportive hand on her shoulder. “Please, calm down, Pamela. We will find her and I’m sure that the Father is watching over her right now...”

“She gave some meaning to my life, Monica... Without her, I don’t know what would become of me...”

“I know that and be sure that God knows that too... In a way, it was good that Amy is away from the cabin, you know.” as Ms Garner uncovered her face and looked at her, the Irish angel kept on talking, “I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if little Amy were inside the house with us when Edgar appeared... we probably wouldn’t have been able to run away.”

“... yes... you might be right...”

“Don’t forget that God always has a plan, even if we can’t see it from the start.”

“Yes, now that I’ve met you and Andrew I’m starting to believe it, but... where is she, Monica?”

“I... I guess she must have followed wee Joy and the two ended up getting lost somewhere near here...”

“God... Amy!!! Amy, where are you, sweetie?” she shouted once again, looking near the bushes around the lake.

“... I’m sorry, Pamela, but you ruined our life...”

The sudden evil voice that came from the woods caused a chill to run down their spines, and before they could run away, Edgar came from behind the vegetation and wrapped his arm around the woman’s neck, pointing his knife at her throat. Pamela hadn’t hit him with enough strength, he managed to recover faster than what they had expected and followed the same trail.

“... And if you don’t want to go on living with me, then you can’t go on living...”

“Let me go, Edgar! Let me go, for God’s sake! You’re out of your mind!” she cried, trying, in vain, to get free from him. Monica stared at him with a mix of fear and anger – how could there be such an evil human being in this world? “Please, let her go! God is watching, Edgar! Let her go, she was once the love of your life!”

“You shut up, lady!!! Shut your mouth up because I’ll kill you as soon as I’m done with her!”

Monica sighed deeply, and at that very moment, a beautiful glow involved her petite body, causing both murderer and victim to stare at her in disbelief.

“... Monica? What’s... What’s happening to you?” the woman spoke with haunted eyes.

“I’m an angel, Pamela...”

“An angel?”

“Yes, and so is Andrew. We’re angels sent by God at this difficult hour to help you and your little daughter...”

“Oh God, I should’ve noticed that...” the woman cried even more, remembering the nights she prayed and asked for help.

Edgar, on the other hand, tightened the hold on her and put the knife even closer to her skin. “A damn angel? You’re saying you’re a damn angel from Heaven?”

“Yes!” Monica didn’t like the tone of his voice, full of irony and disrespect. “An angel sent by the Almighty Father Who has been watching all the crimes you’ve committed, the terrible things you’ve done to this woman...”

“I don’t care! You can tell your God that I don’t care! If Pamela hadn’t run away nothing would’ve happened!!! She’s the one guilty for everything that’s happened!”

“She ran away from you because you hurt her!”

“Yes, and I’ll hurt her again just to show God that He should stay out of my business!” he shouted back at her; the sharp blade pressed against Pamela’s neck was already cutting her white skin.

“No!!! You don’t want to do it! You love this woman; you fell in love with her, remember? Don’t you remember the first time you saw each other? When you got married?” Monica insisted, in a desperate attempt to dissuade him from hurting Ms Garner.

And suddenly, the look on his face changed, as if for some few seconds, there was good in him, “Yes... I did... I used to love you so much, sweetie... so much...” Edgar caressed Pamela’s cheek and she closed her eyes, praying that God would send some sanity to his troubled mind and that he could free her.

“If you hurt her, you’ll be destroying the love you have for her, don’t you see that?” the Irish angel added.

“... you may be right, angel...” he whispered, reflecting upon her words.

“Please, Edgar... let me go... Please, let me go...” Pamela begged him, feeling a trickle of blood running along her neck. And, at that moment, the expression on his face changed again; his black eyes showed an evil sparkle.

“You want me to set you free so that you can run away again!!! Run away from me and find another man!!!” his loud voice full of hate echoed through the forest like a thunder in the storm.

“... please let me go...”

“Let her go, Edgar! God is asking you to do it... in the name of the love you once had for her...”

“She screwed everything we had together! She messed up with our lives!!!” he spoke, on the edge of his fury.

Monica shed some tears and, realising that he was ready to accomplish his terrible revenge and commit another crime, the Irish angel turned her face away for a few seconds. Her glow started to fade and she soon regained her human form. Then, she gave a few steps closer to them and stared at Edgar, as if understanding his craziness. “If you kill her, you’ll lose her forever...”

Those words had effect on him. With a pensive expression on his face, the man stood still for some moments, as if studying a second plan to release all his anger. When he stared at her again, Monica already knew what was on his mind and the only thing she could do was to pray for her soul to meet her dearest friend’s one, somewhere up in Heaven, where they belonged.

“You’re right, angel; I won’t kill her...” the man hit his wife’s face with so much strength that she fell on the ground, unconscious. Then, he walked over to Monica and grabbed her throat. They started a fight and the Irish angel was soon hurt in the arm and in the belly. A few seconds later, Edgar managed to throw her on the ground and finally grabbed her neck once again; now tired and hurt, Monica was an easy target and he would soon accomplish his revenge, as he had done with the others.

“All I want is revenge!” he spoke, and the angel looked deep inside the murderer’s eyes: there was nothing but pure evil in there.

Edgar was about to accomplish his plan, which consisted in killing all those poor women who looked like his beloved Pamela and who dared to cross his way – like that angel did. The murderer grabbed Monica’s throat and pressed his huge hands around it, anxious to complete his task.

“All of them will pay and I’ll still have my beloved Pamela with me! It’s for you that I’m doing it, sweetie; it’s for you, Pamela, that I’m taking their lives away, so that I can keep yours!”

Monica was gasping for air and she felt she would soon pass out. But suddenly, a pair of equally strong hands grabbed Edgar’s shoulders and took him away from the little Irish angel.

“Take your hands from her...” came a voice shaped with the same anger the murderer had in his heart. Except that that voice belonged to an angel.

“... Andrew...” Monica whispered, a flood of relief invading her angelic heart to see her dearest friend again. Holding the man’s collar firmly, Andrew dragged the aggressor up to an huge tree truck, pinning him against the wood with all his strength. His green eyes, always so full of tenderness and compassion, were suddenly sparkling with fury.

“I... I thought I had killed you...” Edgar spoke, staring at him with surprise.

“I wish God could close His eyes not to see what I’m feeling right now...” Andrew spoke, pressing him even further against the tree, grabbing the collar of his T-shirt with one of his hands, and taking a good hold of his wrist with the other one. Edgar was still holding a knife but there was no way he could use it right now – Andrew’s strength seemed a lot bigger than his own, maybe due to the hate the blond angel carried inside of him.

“You’re an angel too, right? Some kind of beast coming from another world...”

“Beast? The only beast here is you...” Andrew replied, staring at him close, looking deep inside his eyes and seeing the same evil his dearest friend had seen a few minutes before. “... And what stops me from doing to you everything you deserve is the fact that I’d disappoint my Father and the person I love most in this entire world...” He took the knife from the murderer’s hand and concluded, “You’re not worth it...”

Andrew motioned to throw the knife away from them, but, right before he could do it, they all heard a voice coming not far from there. “Stop where you are, it’s the police!!!”

Everything happened very fast: the warning, the angel’s movement and the shot that was fired against him. Despite being hurt, Monica was starting to regain her strength when she saw the blond angel and Edgar being hit by the bullet and falling on the ground. A desperate cry came out of her mouth, “Andrew!”

Then, the silence.