Just Checking Up! Part Twenty-Four: The Ghost's of Mother's Sin!

Rip:

“Sit up!” My mother snapped hotly, her nice black truck rumbling into the forest around midnight. “Don’t tell anyone I never took you camping!” The ten year old version of my hands trembled in the view of quivering eyes. Color drained from my cheeks, clammy sweat beaded on my brow. Something smelled horrible in the truck, my shoulder length hair floating up as she squealed into a random campsite. Stranger yet, a forest green tent had been set up. Chewing on my bottom lip, her stern bun wiggled as she hopped out of the truck. Ripping open my door, her slender hand dragged me into the camp. Plopping a sage backpack in front of me, a plastic lantern rolled to my feet.

“Leave this tent and I’ll punish you in a way you won’t forget!” She hissed under her breath, a chill running up my spine. “Mommy has work to do.” Zipping it shut aggressively, her footfalls crunched away. An autumn breeze nipped my cheeks, part of me wanting to know what she was up to. A tarp crinkled past the tent, her shadow intriguing me further. Waiting until she was out of view, a quick zip freed me. Tracking her moves, hunting with my father taught me well. Coming upon a horrible sight, fright rounded my eyes. A tremble claimed my muscles, a lifeless hand stuck out of the tarp. Shadows hid the age, stealth going out the window as I crashed back towards the tent. Stumbling into safety, a swift zip blocked me from my mother. Every breath grew shorter, a different hand shaking my shoulder.

Sucking in a deep breath, a concerned Silks fretted over me. What the Hell unblocked that memory? Wait a minute, the top of the sage tent greeting me. How the hell did I get here? A sympathetic smile did little ease my fraying nerves. Linz wagged his tail in the corner with Bookworth in his mouth, her lips parting several times.

“Something tells me that a demon dragged you into this fine memory. Granted, it might want Bookworth.” Silks pondered out loud, her lips puffing out as she soaked in the current situation. “The only way out is defeating the main guy in charge, sorry.” Dusting off her simple black sweater dress, the cowl neckline emphasized her ample chest. Don't think of that now, you dummy.

“Bookworth, does this guy seem familiar to you?” She queried calmly, his eyes snapping in her direction with a sense of disdain. “Knock it off. You chose my husband, so you get me as well. Knowing about your past discrepancies, maybe you could shoot a girl some information. Unless you want to camp for an eternity.” Shooting him a sarcastic smirk, a long sigh ruffled his pages. Throwing himself out of Linz’ mouth, the pages fluttered to a cracked pocket watch and a black claw. Unzipping the tent, dead trees and spirits of murdered children hovering in the balls dangling off the branches. Tears swam in my eyes, horror joining panic in my features. Silks dawned a look of pure rage, a sharp whistle bringing Linz to her side. Offering me her hand, my fingers curled around hers without hesitation. Yanking me to my feet, the adult version of the black t-shirt and jeans I wore that day greeted me.

“I don’t suppose you know the source of the fear?” She asked comfortingly, her finger playing with my hair. “Whatever you did as a kid, I can’t judge you. We all know what I did. Bookworth, you need to be clearer than that. Can I get a face?” Pages flipped open faster than I could count, a black goat head glaring back up at us. Smirking to herself, her arms folding across her chest. Scarlet eyes and a broken pocket watch glittered back up at us, her head cocking to the left. Mulling over the sight of the goat demon, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“So the pocket watch is his heart?” She asked curiously, Bookworth confirming her suspicions. “Do they go free if we win? Plan is, strike that damn pocket watch at the point of trauma. Harder than it sounds, much to our dismay!” Embracing her from behind, my palms grazing her bump settled my composure enough to think clearer. Rocking back and forth, her humming created a giant orb of orange flames. Hovering a couple of feet in front of us, crackling flames cast eerie shadows. Scooping up Bookworth, she placed him gingerly into my open palms. Motioning me to lead the way, a rock found its way into the pit of my stomach. Breathing in and out, leaves crunched as I took the front of the line. Slamming himself shut, sympathy showed in the twinkle in his eye.

“Master, are you holding up okay? Digging up the past can hurt the worst of us.” He comforted me genuinely, warmth heating up my soul. “If it means anything, I would take your pain away if I could.” Touched by his words, a small smirk haunted my lips. Who knew an evil spell book would be a good friend in these dark times?

“Jesus Christ! Therapy should be your major, Dr. Bookworth.” I teased between chuckles, Silks perking up a bit. “Don’t let your past define you, ‘kay.” Winking in my direction, that had proven to be his way of fist bumping me. Happiness died upon my ten year old self shivering in front of me, Silks struggling not to help him out.

“Do you need a guide?” He queried with a head tilt, his eyes going milky for a second. The dead hand had me leaping back, an apology slipping from my lips. Was the spirit of that kid still trapped here? Bowing my head in shame, his hands clapped together inches from my nose. Surprise rounded my eyes, Silks ruffling his hair in a way to comfort him. Digging around her leather bag, a wrapped cookie appeared in her palm. Offering it to him with a gentle smile, his fingers curled around the rough edges.

“Guide us to the center of it all, my darling.” She asked in a motherly tone, the real spirit underneath warming up to her. “You don’t have to be scared anymore. I am right h-” A ruby eyed woman stabbed Silks through the chest, the younger version of my mother grinning ear to ear. Her bun bobbed up and down with her maniacal laughter, ruby pouring from the corner of her lips. Jamming her knee into her chest, a coughing fit painted the ground. Horror rounded my eyes, her demon form crashing through the thickest tree trunk. Jamming the knife deeper into her wound, her eyebrow twitched in a state of fright and annoyance. Of course she moved up the ranks of Hell, her greedy hands attempting to finish up the job. Tears shimmered in her eyes, dress boots clicking her way. Move, damn it!

“Revenge is going to be so delicious!” She cried out crazily, Silks dodging her next attack with ease as a force held me in place. “Don’t move and be a good boy.” Fluffing her blood red frilly blouse, and black trouser, pure evil glinted in her eyes. Aiming another ancient looking blade for the curve of her womb, a storm cloud rumbled to life. The corner of Silks’ lips quivered, a broken scream announcing the blade stabbing the hand blocking our children.

“Go back to Hell, Bitch.” She growled through gritted teeth, her fingers snatching Liz’s silver bell from its hiding spot. “Care for a ring?” Ringing it a couple of times, her body smashed through a few more tree trunks. Wheezing between deeper breaths, another ring healed her wound. The knife popped into her eager palm, disgust showing at the raw angry scar.

“You know, I can’t even go one day without thinking about Miss Liz. This bell has so many hidden talents. Let’s see if my flames will take to this piece of work.” She mused wistfully, orange flames refusing to take to the damn thing. Tucking it to the side, Flamios materialized a couple of carved wooden stakes. Rolling them in the fresh blood staining her shoulder, symbols glowing to life. Orange flames glowed into a pair of swords, my mother popping up over her head. Ashes danced in the air with every violent clash, every kick throwing my mother through more trees. Placing Liz’s bell in her mouth, silent tears stained her cheeks. Her eyes fluttered about a dozen times, sorrow writing itself all over her features.

“I don’t have time for this shit!” She spoke through her teeth, the next blow narrowly missing my mother. “Shit!” Taking a hit to her shoulder, ruby darkened a good portion of her dress. Ringing her bell with her mouth, the blade clanged to her feet. Hating a new scar, patience wore thin on her features.

“When will enough be enough, damn it!” She roared in desperation, the bell shattering to pieces. “Look what you did! You broke the last thing I had of her! I did not fight my way here for you to kill me off in this horrible torture of a memory!” Bringing the flames behind her head, a cross pinned her to the ground.Digging them into her heart, flames began to devour her body. Curse words flew in her direction, her brow ticking in an unimpressed manner.

“Fuck you right back.” She uttered icily, a single ice decaying my mother to ash. Time to fight like Hell to get out of here.” Plucking the smoking spikes from the pile of ash, relief outshone the tiny flicker of terror. No one wanted to see that woman alive again in demon form. Too agitated to embrace the negative emotions away, instincts told me to go with the flow. The kid shifted oddly, his eye color changing for a quick second, that blasted dread returning with a vengeance. Taking off abruptly, neither of us had no choice but to sprint after him. Crunching spoke of no grace, branches scratching my cheeks. Skidding to a rough stop at that horrible point of trauma, the ratty tarp fluttered away. A scarlet glow taunted me, Sliks’ hand hovered inches from my face. Apprehension haunted my features, her real smile attempting to comfort me.

“Together we can do anything.” She assured me sweetly, the color draining from my face. “Nothing will happen with me around. I promise, my dear king. Let the queen protect you.” Intertwining my fingers around hers, one yank had us floating into a sea of scarlet. Landing gracefully on a black hay bale, a deteriorating barn creaked in the distance. Waving up at the kid, Silks watched the hole seal shut over our heads. Scanning the empty farm for clues, rotting fences didn’t prove to be helpful.

“Sorry about your bell.” I choked out awkwardly, her wet eyes meeting my loving gaze. “Maybe Flamios can make you another one.” Shaking her head, quiet tears swam in her eyes. Fussing with the hem of her dress, her teeth sank into her bottom lips until scarlet beaded to life. Don’t do that, every cell in me wanting to make the emotional pain melt away.

“Can’t happen.” She returned simply, a hoarseness lacing her voice. “Moving on will be hard but time will heal my heart. Besides, it served its purpose. Look, I can forge one out of salt and my flames anyway. Sorry for killing your mother.” Laughing softly to myself, her gentle gaze relaxed me completely. How could she be so calm about a sorrowful situation?

“Don’t worry about it. No one needed that bullshit, my dear queen.” I joked blithely, truth lying within every word. “Home is with you and it will always be.” Smiling tiredly with her, hooves thudded angrily in the far distance. Seeming to be in a better place than before, freedom glistened in her eyes.

“Time to release some of this brewing revenge.” She whispered under her breath, her eyebrow twitching in fury. “Considering how weak she was, someone brought her there and could again. I have a feeling we will see her once more. Well, more like a sick copy.” Grimacing in her direction, Bookworth cleared his throat. Focusing on the task at hand, Flamios began to plan internally with her.

“The final blow needs to come from you. Tell her to be the distraction while I find the spell to crack his pocket watch. Yes, I said spell. Nothing can break that glass.” He spoke in a hushed tone, his one eye darting over to the arguing Silks. “He’s kind of your family’s problem, whether you like it or not.” An embrace from behind snapped me out of our strained silence, her finger tapping his cover.

“Time is what you need. Time is what you’ll get. Search until you can’t. Keep my king alive. Linz, time to play!” She yelled gleefully, Flamios floating out of her soul. “Right, you love to let your crazy out. Fuck learning about humanity when it comes to this one.” Crashing towards the danger, orange flames roared into a sort of cage around the perimeter. Throwing himself onto the ground, pages fluttered endlessly. Flipping back and forth, concern wrote its way onto my features. Stopping at a difficult looking spell, a whine paralyzed me. The bastard emerged from the barn with a dangling Silks and Linz, neither of them looking awake. Cutting my palm on the closest piece of sharp wood, a slam of my palm onto the page woke up a circle of symbols around me. Noting a severe difference, these were in the Heavenly magic realm. Ruby dripped from my nose, a long sigh pouring from my lips. Not good, I thought bitterly to myself.

“Heavenly spirits, crack what ticks! Break what rewinds the heart! Shatter the agony from the broken memory! Condemn those to Hell!” I commanded boldly, the corner of my lips curling into a determined sneer at his pocket watch rising into the air. “Strike him down!” Bright lights descended upon the cracking time piece, his realm beginning to quake underneath me. Cupping my nose, hot blood dripped in between my fingers. Pushing myself further, one final internal plea shattered it to tiny pieces. Decaying to ash, Bookworth created a net to catch the limp Silks and Linz. Watching his world melt to a lake in the middle of a random forest, a new problem presented itself. Curling into a ball, magic took its toll upon me. No wonder Silks didn’t push herself this far. Cupping my stomach, the bubble guts didn’t help. Exhaustion weighed on my eyelids, sweet slumber stealing me away.

Groaning awake in a comfy cabin, Silks poked at a river stone fireplace. Sitting up with a tired smile, pictures of her with Sally Sue lined the wall. Approaching me with a fresh cup of coffee, cinnamon wafted up my nose. Confusion twisted my features, her darker bags bringing more guilt.

“Sally Sue gave me this place for my birthday one year. Luckily our dumb asses landed a few feet away from it. I honestly forgot about it. Sorry about that. Drink up, the others will be here in a few hours. I even shoveled waiting for you to wake up. Playing with magic is something that one must attempt cautiously, my dear king.” Accepting the coffee graciously, her bare feet threatened to spin away from me. Yanking her down by my free arm, every part of me didn’t want to let her go.

“No way in hell I am letting you go.” I whispered huskily into her ear, her loving gaze meeting mine. “Not after what I went through. Not to mention that blasted memory coming back to life. How many camping trips did I go on? How many times was I when it came to that freaking point? How many had been killed? What is wrong with me?” Burying my head into her shoulders, raw emotions soaked her shoulders. Rubbing my back, the release felt so nice. Cupping my cheek, her face blurred through the tears. My queen went beyond the crown and found me in the shadows. Pressing her lips against mine tenderly, any stress melted away. Pressing our foreheads together, our breaths became one. Assuring me with actions alone, her sweetness told me that none of that was my fault. How could it be? Kissing my tears away, hope returned to my soul. Popping to her feet, a knock had her clasping her hands together. Perking up visibly, the silhouettes of my family waved on the other side of the door. Dancing over gracefully, an opening of the door had Avery smashing into her arms. Smothering him in feverish kisses, a few bags hung off of my old man’s arms. Begging for them to get out of the cold, a slam of the door behind them had Sally Sue and her chatting pleasantly. Offering to make dinner with her, Avery kept on her heels. Happy to see it, a small smile haunted my lips. Experiencing her thrive in such an environment had me hopeful for the twins’ futures, Avery destined to be a fantastic older brother. Calling for me, nothing could hold me back. Hoisting myself up, a dash had me in a light oak kitchen. Classical music floated in the background, bags waiting to be unpacked in the corner. Perfect, this was all perfect. Asking for me to make the fruit punch for Avery, Silks didn’t have to request it of me twice. Basking in the light of it all, shadows could go to Hell. Please make the shadows stay away, my good Lord.