Chapter 10: Bethany Villafuerte
The following morning I slapped myself silly for what felt like forever. I haven't slept a wink since I got back from my latest "hallucination", I keep on calling it that way because it's the most logical and acceptable explanation, that I'm just another paranoia-ridden police officer with a dash of psychological imbalance and a dollop of neurosis just to give it a little kick, in short I'm a mental train wreck. Despite all of that I was a man with a mission, a case I have to solve and a demented little girl to find, with that clear cut objective I went through may day. First order of business was Bethany Villafuerte, she was the last person to officially see her sister normal. She wasn't really hard to contact, very willing in fact, but like everyone in their family she had her own quirk, she wanted to set up the meeting in a church, a certain 'St. Monica Parish' where their family has always been parishioners. Going to St. Monica was no easy task, I think my car would need to have its suspension change when I get back. The road was not for a city car, potholes were everywhere and the asphalt was uneven, I was riding on my very own bump-car the whole trip. By the time I got to St. Monica, mass was over, and for that I was somehow glad, my faith as of the moment was not as strong as it once was due to the last few months. The church itself gave off an eerie vibe, it was made of adobe blocks with some parts covered by a mat of vines in dark shades of green, making the church look darker than it is. I walked inside, my hands were sweaty and shaking, I didn't know why but I was. Near the altar, I saw Bethany immediately, she was looking at me. She looked much like her father, fair complexion, bright eyes, high cheekbones and puffy lips. She was neither smiling nor frowning at the sight of me. I felt her doubt as I walked towards her; I was about 3 yards away when she held out her hand and said, "Stop. That's close enough! " Her voice was soft but it was obvious that she was threatening me, I slowly pulled out my badge and presented it to her. "I'm Robin Alkalde, my grandfather used to investigate you sister's disappearance, I'm the one who asked if you could see me today." I said, trying to establish anything with this girl, she was after all, older than me but for some reason she looks a lot younger than I am.
"Why did you ask for this meeting?", she said back, looking half scared and frustrated.
"I inherited the case, and for some reason your sister and I have a very strange bond." I replied.
She looked confused; she was silent for a moment, then gestured that we take a seat, she lead, I followed.
"I'm not sure why your family got tangled with us. Your personal history with my sister in particular might jeopardize your judgement", she started. Honestly I was surprised she wasn't as stupid as I thought she might be. I stayed quiet and she continued, "I saw you in the television before, your parents died in that accident, but Annie didn't. You must have some grudge in your chest so why bother helping us?"
"I honestly have no idea", curses I let my tongue slip.
"My point exactly. But since we're here, and since all of us are tangled up with my little sister's disappearance, might as well do something about it," she was cut throat, her words were sharp but she has a very sweet voice, to the point that it is kinda menacing. I simply nodded.
Another long pause, I was at loss; I'm not sure where to begin, but I strengthened my resolve and opened my mouth.
"About your sister, how was she before she went..."
"Crazy?"
"Yeah."
"She was the sweetest girl there was." she said quietly, she bit her lip then continued, "but, after the accident she changed, actually my parents changed as well, only my older siblings remained the same." I turned on my recorder.
"By change you mean...."
"All of a sudden they were too protective of Annie. I get it that they almost lost her, but what they did was just...weird." I kept silent and waited for her to carry on. Somehow she grew pale, she was scared.
"Miss Bethany?" I said to her, as if waking from a daze, she looked at me a bit shocked, "You were saying?"
"I'm sorry, remembering all those things just gives me chills, but as I was saying, my parents changed so much that it really creeped me out. For starters, no mirrors were allowed in the house, if we need to see how we look we had to go to a secret bathroom; it was secret because Annie was not allowed to know about it. My parents forbid us to speak of the mirrors, then after that we stopped having our photos taken." she said. All the while she was talking I began to remember the photos of her family members in the files; none of them had a decent picture except for Bethany. Things like that make you wonder.
"Did they ever tell you why? "
"Not really. They were obsessed about keeping Annie from seeing her reflection or her image. It makes a kid wonder."
"Yeah it makes a kid wonder", I stared at her again waiting. "Then it did, so that night I found out why, but I guess, that was the reason why my sister broke", I heard sobs, she was crying. I was about to ask what happened next but she just pulled out a photo from her purse and handed it to me.
I took it, and my whole body shook with fear. The picture was that of Annie Villafuerte smiling but behind her stood a creature holding her by the neck with its claws, its eyes were bloodshot red with slitted pupils, skin black as ebony, and horns that twisted on its head - it was the demon who wants me dead. "That was her last picture ever taken, I've kept it a secret all these years because I was scared to be blamed for her disappearance."
I allowed her to cry until she was calm. I held back my reactions since they were unwarranted and quite improper for an investigator, we follow facts and not just mere hallucinations. I tried convincing myself once more that everything that had been going around this family was just a series of unprecedented misfortunes centered on their youngest child, as freaky as it may be. Soon Bethany stopped her sobbing and I continued, "Ms. Villafuerte, I'm sorry but this picture, it's very difficult to believe that this is real in this time and age. Please understand that this could be easily done with Photoshop."
She stared me in the eyes and said in a very serious tone, "Officer, in my every waking moment I prayed to God that it isn't. Believe me when I say that photo has not been put under any editing device or programs. That thing that holds my sister by the neck is as real as it gets just like the photo."
I wanted to nod my head in agreement but I can't allow myself to believe that this is reality, and that everything that has been happening to me is not just a part of my mental problems. Again I stayed silent as I watched her; this girl is convinced that this whole thing is real, something that I don't even want to acknowledge as part of this reality that we are living here. I allowed her to cry once more since I was not any good in comforting women, something my ex girlfriend pointed quite clearly and bluntly as much as I could remember. As I was waiting for her to calm down I noticed something dangling on her wrist, it was a bracelet with a crucifix. Unknowingly, I put my hand inside my pocket and took my small evidence that I almost forgot, the blood-stained crucifix.
"I'm sorry to ask, but do you recognize this?" I said, showing her the cross. I saw how her eyes widened and the color drained her face. All of a sudden, she screamed and bolted away from me. I followed her in pursuit as people began looking and while the nuns and priests were suddenly coming our way, one of them caught Bethany as she broke down on the floor crying. The nun who held her stared at me in disbelief. I showed them my badge and the priest approached me.
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Jared_Linux
Jared_Linux Wow...almost 3k views.... thank you so much to all of those who have been reading through! I hope you are enjoying yourselves!
This is a very short story and as I have said we are nearing the end. But don't worry if you like this I'm already working on the next book
again thank you so much and enjoy reading!
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