Mindful lies

NewEraCulture

Completed

Introduction

Table Of Contents

Introduction

Urban

Ever since moving into their new home, for some inexplicable reason, Beth Lazinski has felt extremely uneasy there; and, that apprehensive trepidation intensifies once she discovers that her daughter, Anna, has made a new "friend" named Mary. Beth soon discovers that Mary is the spirit of one of the last victims of a vicious mass murderer who terrorized the area decades ago; and, that there house was where the last murder took place.

All Chapters

Completed

Chapter1 Beth's Suspicions
Chapter2 Now Presenting…Mary
Chapter3 Mary's Home
Chapter4 Breakfast at the Diner
Chapter5 A Gruesome Discovery
Chapter6 Why Is She Still Here?
Chapter7 The Bad Man
Chapter8 Delilah's Sudden Departure
Chapter9 Beth Meets Chelsea
Chapter10 The Second Floor
Chapter11 Outside the Room
Chapter12 A Call to the Sheriff
Chapter13 A Return – And a Warning
Chapter14 Sheriff Faulkner Offers Assistance
Chapter15 Collapsing of the Barn
Chapter16 The Next Morning
Chapter17 Trisha's Discovery
Chapter18 The Sheriff Confronts the Mayor
Chapter19 Katie Howard
Chapter20 Mary Appeals to Anna
Chapter21 Back to the Past
Chapter22 Back to the Present
Chapter23 The Ramira Gomez Case
Chapter24 The Hammer
Chapter25 The Other Delilah
Chapter26 Delores' "Suicide"
Chapter27 Locating the Old Johnston Farm
Chapter28 Jean-Louise Wadell
Chapter29 A Frozen Room – And a Bloody Message
Chapter30 Friendships and Intentions
Chapter31 Forging of an Alliance
Chapter32 A United Front
Chapter33 Mary Regains Anna's Trust
Chapter34 Hopkins' Niece
Chapter35 Chelsea Confronts Mary
Chapter36 Beth Confronts Mary
Chapter37 The Great Madame Chybovsky – And the True Medium
Chapter38 A Fraud Exposed
Chapter39 Just One
Chapter40 Cindy Meets Mary
Chapter41 An Inauspicious Reunion
Chapter42 Delilah Dies…Again
Chapter43 Trish's Latest Discovery
Chapter44 Anna Sees the Bad Man
Chapter45 Confrontation at the Barn
Chapter46 A Family Affair
Chapter47 A Rape in the Woods
Chapter48 An Ill-fated Spirit
Chapter49 "Don't Mess with the Steinmans"
Chapter50 The Living Mary Howell
Chapter51 More than One
Chapter52 Fibs vs. Lies
Chapter53 Chelsea Moves On
Chapter54 The Corpse Factor
Chapter55 Rolling Meadows
Chapter56 Two Moms
Chapter57 Anna's Vanishing
Chapter58 Cindy's Breakdown
Chapter59 Too Early to Tell
Chapter60 Brothers at the Barn
Chapter61 Political Hostage
Chapter62 The Dementia Dilemma
Chapter63 The Agenda
Chapter64 Beth's Part
Chapter65 Exposing a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
Chapter66 Trapped in Limbo
Chapter67 A Final Confession
Chapter68 Suicide – And the Ripple Effect
Chapter69 Final Visit to Roy's
Chapter70 The Promise
Chapter71 Little Davey
Chapter72 Mary's Murdered…Again
Chapter73 Davey's Room
Chapter74 Beth and the Steinman Brothers
Chapter75 More Family Ties
Chapter76 Drastic Measures
Chapter77 Mind Games
Chapter78 Payback…Perhaps
Chapter79 Anna's Part
Chapter80 A Visit from Vivian Steinman
Chapter81 Vivian's Account
Chapter82 The Music Box
Chapter83 The Photos
Chapter84 A Family Curse
Chapter85 Anna Awakens
Chapter86 Grotto's Confession
Chapter87 More Questions – And Politics
Chapter88 Ruby's Revelations
Chapter89 Tommy's Crew
Chapter90 In the Tunnels
Chapter91 The Professor's Possession
Chapter92 The Trap Door
Chapter93 The Cabin in the Woods
Chapter94 Avoiding the Truth
Chapter95 A Resolution Needed
Chapter96 Flip-Flopping
Chapter97 Final Preparations
Chapter98 The Home Stretch
Chapter99 Revisiting an Unholy Place
Chapter100 "Remains" to be Seen
Chapter101 The Other Killer
Chapter102 The Two Tommys
Chapter103 Summer of 1927
Chapter104 Tommy Enlightened…and Enraged
Chapter105 Something Else Left to Do
Chapter106 Epilogue

Chapter1 Beth's Suspicions

Morning finally arrives. Beth hasn't had a good night's sleep since moving in a little over three weeks ago. When Martin awakens; he notices her intensely staring out the window, in deep thought. "Beth, Hon', you okay?" he asks; as Beth continues gazing out the window. Now leaving her trance-like state, "What? I'm sorry; did you say something?" "I said," Martin goes over and embraces her, "are you okay?" "No;" she replies unconvincingly, "I'm fine." "Beth." "No, really; nothing's wrong. Really." He gently places his fingers under her chin. "What's wrong?" "I don't know," she replies somberly. "Beth, come on." She breaks away from her husband's arms and goes back to looking out the window. "Don't you find it odd how little we paid for this house?" "What do you mean odd?" Martin asks while starting to get dressed. "I was talking with Trish the other day. When I told her how big the house is, and how much land we got with it, she was stunned. She said we could have easily paid four to five times the amount we paid." "So…we got lucky." "Maybe…I don't know… it just seems strange to me. I mean, to pay so little for what it's worth?" "You know, this isn't Parsippany, New Jersey…its Beaver Ridge, Rhode Island. Hell, I don't even know if this place is on the map. Maybe the real estate market here isn't as lucrative. Anyway, I'm sure not going to look a gift horse in the mouth." "I suppose. But it's more than just what we paid for this house." "Then what?" "Whenever Anna and I go into town; people stare at us without saying a word." "Well; we're still strangers in the area, so…" "No, it's different." Beth briefly pauses to gather her thoughts. "I honestly believe it's more than just us being new in town." "Okay; so what is it then?" "I get this feeling like there's something they know about this house that they don't want to tell us about. Or are afraid to." "You know what I think;" Martin straightens his tie, "I think you've read one too many Stephen King novels." Beth turns to face her husband, "I'm serious. I think there's something about this house people aren't telling us about." "Beth, Hon'," he places his arms on her shoulders, "not all small towns have deep, dark secrets that they're keeping from the new families about the houses they've just bought. Worst case scenario; this old house is termite infested, and the realtor just wanted to dump it off quick on some poor unsuspecting fools before they realized it…which I truly hope isn't the case." "So what you're saying is…you think this is all just in my head; and I'm blowing things out of proportion?" "No. I'm saying we've just made some major changes in our lives. Beth, between my new job and moving to a new area, you've been through a lot these past few months. It's perfectly understandable that you're a little stressed out and on edge; anyone would be. You'll see; once things slow down and you get a chance to step back and take a breather, you'll realize that everything is fine…And that there's nothing wrong with this house. And no one's keeping secrets from you. Okay?" "You think so?" "I know so." He kisses her forehead. "I have to go to work now; see you later. Love you. Bye." "Love you too. Bye." Beth watches from the window as Martin waves, gets in the car and drives away. She thinks about what he said…that everything will be fine once things slow down. She mutters under her breath… "I hope so." Beth finally pulls herself away from their bedroom window and goes downstairs to make breakfast for her and Anna. While getting a frying pan, that feeling of uneasiness overcomes her as she peers into the cabinet. Beth closes her eyes and tries to visualize how she arranged the pots and pans under there. She opens her eyes, and immediately closes them tightly; then, opens them once again and stares into the cabinet. Beth opens the other cabinets and drawers, finding all their contents moved as well. She starts breathing rapid and heavily, as her hands shake. She stumbles back reaching for the kitchen table while falling abruptly into a chair; nearly tipping it over. She clasps her hands in front of her mouth and begins to hyperventilate as her whole body shakes. Fear is now overwhelming Beth. A voice sounds out from the kitchen entrance. "Mommy?" Beth jumps up, letting out a short scream as one hand clenches her chest while her other wrenches the side of the table to keep her from falling under buckling knees. A bewildered Anna rushes to her mother's side. "Mommy, are you okay?" Beth catches her breath while feeling a little sensation returning to her previously rubbery legs. Managing to stand semi-erect, she stumbles forward, using her body's weight momentum, making her way over to the sink. Beth turns on the water, grabs the sponge and starts fumbling with the dishes as if she were washing them. She tries to compose herself before answering her daughter; who's standing almost motionless, watching her mom with an anxious expression on her face. "Mommy's fine, Sweetie; you just surprised me, that's all. You hungry?" "Yes." "How about some eggs?" "Yes, please." Anna replies while heading over to the table. Beth dries her hands on her apron while going to the refrigerator. "Sweetie, you didn't happen to move things around in the cabinets; did you?" "No." "Do you know if Daddy did?" "I don't think so." "Oh…okay. How do you want eggs, scrambled or sunny-side up?" "Sunny-side up, please." Beth starts melting butter in the pan, then cracks an egg open. She screams from a horrifying sight…a blood-filled egg yolk. Anna jumps up and runs towards the stove. Beth grabs Anna to stop her. "Go sit back down, please." "But Mommy…" Anna's cut off by a frazzled Beth. "Go sit down now! Please! Just sit!" Beth starts crying; then suddenly stops. "Sweetie; Mommy's sorry. Everything's fine. Just go back to the table and wait." "Okay." Anna returns to her chair. Beth slowly approaches the stove; while Anna meticulously watches her every move. Beth gathers up her nerve, and leans over to look into the frying pan. Once again, Beth's shocked by the sight. The once blood-filled egg yolk has returned to being a normal yolk. Beth steps back, taking in a deep breath, then rejoins Anna at the table. She's beginning to wonder if Martin could be right about the stress of the move getting to her. Is it all just in her mind?

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