Chapter44 Anna Sees the Bad Man

"What happened?" Martin answers, "I don't know; like I told Cindy, we just got back here, and I was getting some food from the back seat when she just started to scream and flip out." "Martin," Cindy asks, "you didn't notice anything at all that might've caused this?" Martin pauses to think; then answers, "No. Nothing that I could recall." Anna starts turning blue; and, Martin panics. "Oh my God, she's choking!" "No, Martin;" the deputy reassures him, "she's just turning blue from the hyperventilating. Cindy, give me one of those bags." Cindy hands her uncle a bag; who then dumps its contents and places it over Anna's mouth. "Anna, listen to me. This is Deputy Hopkins. I need you to calm down and start breathing slowly into the bag. Anna, calm down and breathe, Sweetheart; nice and slow." Somehow the deputy's instructions get through, and Anna starts slowing her breathing down. Her color's turning from pale blue to flush red. Anna's eyes start tearing; and, now blink sporadically. Her body's less rigid; but, still trembling. The deputy removes the bag from her mouth as Anna continues to normalize her breathing. She's become cold and clammy to the touch. As her pupils dilate, Deputy Hopkins realizes Anna's going deeper into shock. "Cindy," the deputy hands her his car keys, "go get the blanket out of the trunk and bring it here, please." "Mike, what's going on?" Martin's shaking. "I don't know; but, something sure scared the hell out of this little girl." He notices Martin shaking. "You okay there, Martin?" Martin nervously answers as his voice cracks, "No; not really. Is my baby going to be all right?" Cindy returns with the blanket, and the deputy wraps it around her to keep her warm. "She'll be fine, Martin. Kiddo, stay with her while I go to my car for a minute." "Sure, Uncle Mike. What are you doing?" He bends over and speaks real low in her ear so not to upset Martin. "She's in shock. I need to call for the EMTs, in case she makes a turn for the worse." He pats her on her shoulder, and then, heads to the patrol car. As they pull up, Beth gets a feeling that something's terribly wrong; especially when she notices Deputy Hopkins on his radio. She slams the brakes, throws the gearshift into park, and jumps out. Anna! What's wrong with Anna?" A frantic Beth rushes to her petrified daughter. "Oh my God, Martin, Cindy; what happened?" "We don't know, Beth." Martin dazedly answers. "What do you mean you don't know, Martin; wasn't she with you?" Cindy tries to calm an excited Beth. "Beth; please, calm down…for Anna. This won't do any good. She's in shock; something frightened her…but, we don't know what. They pulled in, and Martin was getting some bags from the back seat when Anna started screaming. No one saw anything." "It had to be Mary!" Beth starts yelling, "Mary! What are you doing to my baby girl? Leave her alone, damn it!" Professor Rhyies approaches the group. "Cindy, what happened here?" "We're not sure, Professor. Something scared Anna into a state of shock. Uncle Mike's calling for medical help now; just in case." "Just in case of what? Oh my God! Anna, Sweetie!" Beth becomes hysterical. The professor calls, "Deputy, please help with Mrs. Lazinski!" Deputy Hopkins runs over behind Beth and grabs her arms. "Beth! Calm down now! Martin, get your wife, man!" Martin goes over and wraps his arms around Beth; squeezing her tight. Beth squeezes back; sobbing on her husband's chest. Professor Rhyies assures Beth, "Relax, Mrs. Lazinski, Anna will be fine. Trust me." The professor kneels on the car floor next to Anna, takes out a pen flashlight, and shines it in her eyes; noting that her pupils are still dilated. The professor then proceeds to alternate shining the light back and forth from one eye to the other as he talks to Anna in a soothing manner. "Anna, listen to me, Anna; it's Professor Rhyies. It's okay; you're safe now, Anna. Listen to me, Anna; it's okay now, Anna. It's over now, Anna. You're safe, Anna." As he continues moving the light back and forth, Professor Rhyies observes the pupils reacting properly. He turns off the flashlight and continues talking to her. "Anna, it's Professor Rhyies; can you hear me?" She nods. "It's over, Anna; you're safe now. Do you understand?" She nods again, staring off ahead with a vacant look in her eyes and blank expression on her face. "Anna, it's okay now. Nothing's going to harm you, Anna. You're safe now, Anna. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?" Anna nods, keeping the same look about her. "Anna, tell me…what was it; what frightened you, Anna? It's gone now, Anna; but, what was it that scared you?" Anna begins trembling violently as her eyes widen; then, she throws her arm out, pointing to the side of the house, and starts screaming, "The bad man! The bad man!" Everyone turns to look; but, there's nothing there. The deputy draws his 9mm Berretta to the ready position and runs over to investigate. The professor reminds him, "Ahem! Deputy; your gun won't help you much with a spirit." The deputy replies, "Yeah; well, it probably won't hurt much either. If it's all the same to you, I'm fine with things just the way they are, thank you." He continues around the side, out of sight of the others. Anna remains in the car screaming over and over, "The bad man! The bad man! The bad man!"