Melabeth Forgive Me, For I Am Sin! (31 page)

I had hardly paid any attention to the movie; it was about firemen putting out fires. I don’t like fires, and this movie was full of it. Taking a vampire to a movie about fire is like taking Frankenstein to a weenie roast. Still by the end of the movie while everyone started talking again and going on about what they thought of it, I had made a decision, I would leave Mindy out of the plan.

Mindy was asking me a question, but I knew it wasn’t the first time she asked it, “Sorry Mindy, my mind was elsewhere. You were asking about the movie right?” Mindy nodded, “Well can I tell you a little secret. I wasn’t really paying attention… sorry.”

Mindy laughed, “Don’t worry about it; my dad does that all the time. You could swear that he was listening or paying attention to something, but he never heard a word. Don’t worry you didn’t miss much; the movie was only ok.”

Just at the mention of her father made me shudder. “I don’t do well in big groups, but thanks for hanging with me and making me feel welcome.”

Mindy smiled, she was staring at me with this intense look. “I don’t know what it is about you, but it’s like I know you. You remind me of my father, the way you talk and use your hands. I bet you would get along great.”

I tried to hide that fact that I was gritting my teeth. I couldn’t stand her talking about my father in a positive light, “So, do you get along with your dad?” Why did I ask that? The words just escaped.

Mindy spoke as we headed back toward the bus. “Oh yes, me and my father are tight. We do everything together; he's cool... for a dad that is.”

I might have hurt her, but Brian startled me as he spoke to me,
“Melabeth,” his voice was loud and excited. “What did you think?”

“Well the movie was ok,” I answered.

Brian was still smiling, “We sure hope you had a good time. Hope to see you come to our church more often. We are always planning fun things like this; in fact, Monday night we are all going to the roller rink to skate. What do you think about that?”

I gave Brian a weak smile, “Sorry, I won’t be able to make Monday.”

“Well, will we see you at church Sunday?” Brian asked, still smiling big.

“Well
,
I’ll try,” I lied to him.

He could see I had no intention of going to church; his smile slipped just a little, “Well, we would be glad to have you… alright,
folks, let's load
it up.”

With that everyone piled up into the bus and off we went. I sat next to my sister; that momentary pause with Brian was a good thing. She had upset me. Why is she worthy of my father’s affections? Mindy was most definitely going to join in on the festivities.

The next twenty minutes Mindy gladly told me about her dad and how wonderful he was to her. So, by the time I escaped the youth group and was driving back toward the church, tears of blood were running down my face.

My father, who did nothing for me growing up, left me to fend for myself against other adults; who never under any circumstance was there for me.  He kept me from friends my own age and even a formal education; a man who put his drugs first, but found time to kidnap me from my
grandparents, who loved me just so he would have someone to cook, clean and wash his clothes. Then he sold me for drugs, let me go to my death without even a backward glance. He didn’t even say goodbye, not even that he loved me. HE LOVED HER; he took care of her and was a real father to her.

Why her? Why not me?

Mindy stole what should have been mine; she will pay, and my father will pay. I think it’s time to go learn the layout at the roller rink. Monday was only a few nights off, and I had some last minute things to do.

*                     *                  *

I finished applying my makeup; I had set up a large mirror in the balcony of the old church. I stood in front of the mirror and took in my appearance. I had cut my hair so that it only hung a little lower then my
chin; I had also dyed it
red. It came out nice; I looked good with red hair. I was wearing a yellow sundress with blue flowers all over it, white stockings and blue shoes. I put up my hair on one side with a blue ribbon. The hardest thing about this getup was the makeup; it had taken me hours to give my face color without looking like I had a ton of makeup on. The low level lighting of the roller rink would be good; no one would notice my large eyes, and, with this getup, I would be invisible. I looked just like one of those do-gooders.

My plan revolved around getting my sister away from everyone else, without everyone else noticing. If I went as the Goth princess, everyone would be staring at me. They stared at me Saturday night, when I went to check out the place. In this getup no one would pay close attention to me.

I went out to the car and double checked the trunk to make sure that I wasn’t forgetting anything. “Check, it’s all there, I’m ready,” I said out loud to nobody.

It was only eleven minutes to the roller rink from the old church. I arrived early, went inside and found a booth. So far, so good; no one was staring at me like last time. All I had to do now was wait for the youth group.

One negative thing was that there were fewer people here on a Monday night; it would be harder to get my sister out of here without anyone noticing. Maybe it wouldn’t really matter if they saw us leave, as long as they didn’t follow for at least five minutes; it shouldn’t be a problem. As I was wrestling with my plan, the youth group piled in the front door.

It didn’t take long before I spotted my sister Mindy. I watched as half of them went to get in line for skates while the other half went to the snack line. Mindy made eye contact, but did not recognize me.

An hour later, and the group had spread out; most of the time my sister was hanging out with an unknown girl and boy. I watched all three of them go skating and then sit and eat snacks. Finally she got up with her friend and headed toward the girl’s bathroom.

I waited outside for her; she came out engrossed in conversation with her friend. I waved my hand and said with an excited voice, “Mindy, how’s it going?”

She interrupted the conversion with her friend, and looked at me. I knew from the look on her face she didn’t even recognize me, she tried to play like she knew who I was, “Oh, hey, how’s it going?”

I smiled then asked her, “I don’t know if you have any time… I don’t want to bother you…”

I made it sound as if I were having trouble asking her a question.

Concerned, my sister asked, “What is it?”

Doing my best to act shy, “Well, your dad’s a preacher, and I kind of have some questions about God. Do you think you would… or could talk with me for a minute? I mean if you’re not busy…”

She responded just as I hoped, “Of course, I have time… would you like to talk now?”

I looked around like I wasn’t sure, “You don’t have to.”

Her friend spoke up, “Mindy go hang with her, and I’ll go check up on Matt.” And with a wink, she walked away.

I ushered Mindy up to a booth that was close to the front door of the building. Once we were both sitting I looked over at her, “You don’t remember me, do you?”

Mindy’s face turned red, “I’m sorry.”

“Melabeth, last
time we met I
was in Goth make up. So see, how could you know who I am?”

She gasped, “Wow, you look… well you look good. I had been hoping I would see you again. I can’t explain it, but I felt like we really connected.”

I smiled, “I did too.”

Mindy was really happy to see me; it almost made me feel bad. She stopped smiling, and, with a concerned face, asked, “So, what’s going on?”

I did my best to look like I was about to cry, “Well… it’s” I looked around as if there were spies trying to overhear me. “Can we go outside; it’s kind of embarrassing… and I don’t want anyone else to know.”

Mindy quickly responded, “Great idea, then I can hear you better; it’s so loud in here.”

With a smile she followed me out of the booth and out the front door. There were a few guys and one girl hanging out front smoking. It was the perfect excuse to head further down the side of the building away from the smokers. She followed me without question; she trusted me.

We had just arrived at the edge of the building when Mindy stopped walking, “So what’s going on?” she asked kindly.

I pointed around the corner of the building at the white Impala I was driving. “Let me grab my sweater out of my car.”

She followed me as we now headed toward my car; there was no one in sight now that we were out of view from the front doors. Sounding a little confused, Mindy commented, “It’s not that cold, and you’re wearing a sweater silly.”

I had forgotten that, but it didn’t matter; the goal was at hand. We had arrived at the rear of my car; I popped the trunk then asked, “Can I show you something important?”

Mindy looked a little unsure, “Sure… what is it?”

I opened the trunk and picked up a white hankie. Then I picked up an unmarked bottle and opened it, and poured its contents into the hankie.

Mindy inquired, “What is that?”

“Chloroform, it will help me kidnap you.” A wicked smile spread across my face.

Mindy froze in shock; I was fast in cupping the handkerchief over her face. I held the back of her head with my other hand so she couldn’t pull away. She hopelessly tried to push me away.

It only took a minute before she became unconscious and then fell into my arms. Then I quickly pushed her into the trunk of the car and shut it. I did one more quick check to make sure no one saw me before jumping into the driver’s seat and speeding away. In ten minutes I would be at the old church, and the fun would really begin.

I got to the church without a hitch; I locked Mindy in a large cage that I had built just for her. The cage sat in the middle of the stage in the front of the church. Mindy lay quietly still knocked out from the chloroform.

I had changed out of the do-gooders outfit. I was wearing an old pair of jeans with a worn out T-shirt. I was finishing up when I could hear movement from down in the church. Mindy was coming to; I could hear her getting to her feet and banging into the bars.

I looked over the balcony; it was nighttime outside, and, even though I could see inside the church, Mindy could not. She had run into the bars and now was feeling around the cage looking for a way out. I could tell she was coming out of her drug induced sleep. Without a sound I walked off the balcony and slowly floated toward my sister.

Mindy was still groping around in the dark, “Where am I? What’s going on? Is there anyone here?”

I could hear the tears start, “Don’t cry.”

This made her jump, “Who’s there?”

I landed next to her cage without a sound, and then lit a candle followed by another. Mindy finally must have been able to see me, “Melabeth, is that you? What are you doing… why did you kidnap me?”

I turned away from the task of lighting candles, “Yes it’s me, Melabeth. And to answer your second question… well it’s a long story, but don’t you worry, I’ll have time to tell it.”

Mindy's heart was pounding with fear, but she was brave as she talked to me boldly, “How long do you plan on keeping me? Do you really think you will get away with this? You can go to jail for this; did you know that?”

I have to say normally I like people with a spine, but I wanted one more reason to hate her, so I was kind of hoping she would be a coward. I pushed the emotions to the side; this girl had my life, and I hated her for it. “I plan on keeping you here until I have a chance to lure our father here. Then after I deal with him, then you can go.”

Mindy’s voice was shaky, “Our father?”

I picked up a candle and held it to my face so she could see me. I had no makeup on and I knew my large eyes would almost seem to shine in this light. I opened my mouth and let my teeth slowly extend, “So much to tell you my sister.”

My sister turned white, and then she screamed… I laughed.

再会

The next few days went by quickly. I let my sister out of the cage most of the time, except when I was sleeping or hunting. We spent all of our time talking. She wanted to know everything, every answer lead to another question. It was the third night after I had taken her from the roller rink; I had just come in from a hunt.

I entered into the candlelight and Mindy looked up from her cage, “Where have you been?”

Ever since I showed her what I was, Mindy treated me like a wild animal. She didn’t act afraid but she was never really comfortable, never sure what she could and could not ask of me. Of course that was partly because when she did ask a few questions that upset me, I hissed at her.

I answered her question nicely, “I was hunting.”

She grimaced, “You didn’t… hurt anyone?”

I growled, “I go around and give men back rubs. You need not worry about them; worry about yourself.”

Wisely she didn’t respond, and after a few minutes I calmed down and let her out. Only once did she try to escape, but when I flashed in front of her and took her down like a wild cat, she never tried again.

Mindy walked around the church stretching her legs out. I was sitting on the ledge of the balcony looking down watching her in silence. She stopped and looked up at me, then started walking, stopped and looked at me again. I knew she was working up the courage to say something to me. It must have been something she knew might make me mad, because she was hesitant.

I was bored and tired of the silence, “Spit it out, Mindy. I promise I won’t get mad.”

She stopped walking looked up at me as she crossed her arms over her chest. With a pleading voice she said, “Can't you just forgive father?”

“No,” I said bluntly.

She almost sounded whiny, “Why not?”

I had promised not to get mad, so I tried to keep the venom out of my voice as I answered her. “Wouldn’t that be nice for you?”

“I didn’t ask for me,” her reply was on the edge of tears.

I floated down from the balcony and landed without a sound on the back of the pew in front of my sister. I could hear her heart speed up, but she held herself together and tried her hardest not to look scared. I smiled, but I knew it was a mean smile.

The pain was plain in my voice, “Who did you ask for then? Well, if not for you… you must have asked for good old dad. And of course that works out well for you too, I can just go away, and all will be forgiven. I’ve got an idea, why don’t you take his place?”

Mindy was mad, and, for the first time, it was stronger than her fear of me. Not yelling but saying forcefully, “I would gladly take my father’s place, but I wasn’t asking for forgiveness for us. I was asking for you! You’ll never find peace unless you forgive him, and if you kill him; you’ll never be able to forgive yourself.”

I was a little shocked to see her telling me off! I could tell she was bracing herself for my anger, but she was taken off guard with my reaction. I burst into uncontrollable laughter, and, the more I laughed, the redder my sister’s face became.

She spit out at me, “Never mind, you’re impossible… and evil.”

The evil part brought my laughter to an end. I looked at her and with a dark voice said, “Sister, you don’t know evil… not yet.”

*                   *                      *

I arrived at my father’s house close to eight. I could see lights on, and there was more than one car in the driveway. I was in full Goth, with plenty of makeup on and a black dress. I couldn’t afford for my father to recognize me. I still had the red hair, but that went well with the Goth look.

I knew that he had been freaking out; it was all over the local paper. Preacher’s daughter disappears from local roller rink without a trace. Police think foul play; father in panic. When I had been out hunting there had been a lot of missing
girl flyers stuck to telephone poles.

My sister tried to tell me that after I went missing that he searched for me too. And after never finding me, that’s what changed his life. He got help with the drugs and alcohol and devoted his life to helping others with addiction problems. He supposedly had many sermons where he told the congregation that he was a sinner and how drugs had taken his wife and his daughter away. I don’t know how
much I believed her, or thought she was just trying to save his ass.

I buried my face in my hands, "Dear God… end this…STOP this.., and help me find peace. I never found real love with David… I couldn’t even love Michael… this hate is eating me alive… I need to end this; I must finish this…Oh God give me the strength to smite thy enemies." I couldn’t help but smile at that last part… how dramatic of me.

I already hated myself… I wouldn’t let my father get away with it; I would be brave and face the man; I could do it. I raised my
head up and looked over at my father's house, then got out of the car and headed across the street and started up his driveway. That's when I saw a man come out the front door of my father’s house. He walked down the sidewalk toward the driveway; then I recognized
him, Brian the youth leader.

When Brian saw me, his heart rate sped up, and I could see the excitement in his eyes. I thought the gig was up, but as we closed the distance his face changed. He must have thought I was my sister; he was straining in the dark to get a better look at me.

"It's me, Melabeth," I announced with a pleasant voice. "Is Mindy in?"

I could tell Brian had been distracted, then hopeful and now his hope had been dashed. It took him a second to compose himself before he replied, “Mel… Melabeth, that’s right I remember you now, movie night, right?” I nodded my head, “Look it’s good to see you, but this is a bad time. You must have not heard but Mindy is missing.”

I reacted with mock horror, “Missing… Is there anything I can do to help?”

He answered me quickly, “Yeah, just keep an eye open, and if you hear anything, I mean anything at all, let us all know lickety-split. I need to go; wife’s pregnant and waiting and I plan to put some flyers up on the way home.”

I nodded my head and stepped out of his way so he could head to his car, "I would like to talk to Mindy’s dad; is he home?”

Brian pulled his keys out for his car and then answered me in a hurried voice, “Not right now. Some church families are inside, but he’s out looking for his daughter with other members of the church.”

I had planned for this, “Well ok, sorry I couldn’t have been more of a help. I haven’t talked to her since Wednesday night. Good luck and…”

Brian burst out, “What?”

I acted a little confused, “I was just saying that I will help in any way that I can.”

Brian interjected, “No, when did you speak with her? Was it Wednesday night, before the movie?”

I answered him with a calm voice, “No, I hadn’t met her until Friday night at the movies; before that, I had never seen her before. I talked to her this Wednesday night.”

I was even telling the truth.

In a panic he asked, “Where was she? What was she doing?”

I acted defensive, “Look, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

Frustrated Brian scolded, “Don’t worry about that; what’s important here is that Jack finds his daughter.”

I stammered out, “I don’t know…”

Brian interrupted me, in a fit of impatience, “Do you know where she is?”

I need to get my father to come with me, so, in a calm voice, “I’ll tell you what… tell Jack to come home, and I will talk to him about it. It’s kind of personal; I don’t feel comfortable talking to you.”

Brian looked into my eyes; he had the look of an adult who knew how to impose his will upon kids. “Look, this has nothing to do with how you feel. You need to tell me what you know, and you need to tell me now.”

This wasn’t going the way I planned.  I need to reel in the commanding nanny. “I’m leaving asshole; if Mindy’s dad
wants any information from me, then he’ll meet me in front of the movie theater at midnight. And one more thing, he’s to come alone.”

“I don’t understand… why won’t you tell me where she is?” He about yelled this as he followed me across the street to my car.

I hissed out, “Midnight… alone.”

I opened my doo,
but before I could get in Brian grabbed my arm. He barked out, “I don’t know what you’re thinking…”

Before he could finish the sentence, I had broken his grip and tossed him halfway across the street. I jumped into the car and sped away. In my rearview mirror I could see Brian get back on his feet. He stood there confused and dazed.

I wasn’t worried about what he thought had happened.  He would rationalize the events until the whole situation of me getting loose from his grip made perfect sense. I had bigger fish to fry, and I was losing my temper.

*                    *                    *

I had parked my car in a driveway at an empty house. From this house I crossed through a small patch of forest and into a parking lot. I was now standing behind the small mall, and, on the other side of the mall, was a theater.

I took to the sky, landing on top of the mall, and then jumped again. Gently floating landing on top of the theater roof, and here I would wait. I didn’t have long. It was eleven o’clock when a silver Lumina whipped into the parking lot. A police car followed him in.

The two cars parked at the furthest corner of the lot; my father got out of the Lumina. He looked just like I remembered him, tall and thin; his hair was still as yellow as the sun. He used to keep his hair long, but now it was cut short. He needed to pretend that he was respectable; he was even wearing a gray suit. He had a blue dress shirt under the jacket but no tie with the top few buttons of his shirt undone. He looked ragged like he hadn’t had much sleep.

My father hung his head in the squad car, I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but I could guess. I took to the sky again and slowly floated over a group of trees, then softly landed between them. The officer was pulling away; my guess was to keep from scaring me off. I had landed in a group of trees in front of where my father and the police car were. I made no sound and it was dark in the tree line.

As my father opened his door and slid into his seat, I flashed over and opened the passenger door and hopped in looking over at his surprised face. Seeing my father this close, I swallowed and then grumbled, “I said alone.”

Surprised my father asked, “Are you Melabeth?”

My emotions became too much for me; I became cold and indifferent. I stared into his eyes, “Drive, head toward the back of the mall.”

My father commanded, “Tell me what you know of my daughter?”

With an authoritative voice, I said, “Drive or she dies.”

He started to ask questions, “What… are you talking…”

I didn’t let him finish, “If you don’t do exactly what I am telling you, she dies. Drive now,” I raised my voice and the hatred seeped out, “NOW!”

He was confused, but decided to follow my directions. He asked me a few more questions as I directed him to the back of the mall. I could see the squad car following us; I was sure he was confused. It wasn’t supposed to happen until midnight, and he never saw me get into the car. I had gotten in before he had a chance to park across the street so he could watch my father’s car. He was staying back, and that was a good thing for me.

“Stop,” I ordered.

My father looked around, “Now what? Is she near?”

I rolled down my window; it was very dark in the area behind the mall. This is where the trucks delivered, I was sure the officer could see nothing but the brake lights. On one side of the car was the mall with a few lights over metal doors. On the other side was a group of trees; on the other side of the tree, was my car.

“Don’t move," I slid out the window. I moved really fast, I could tell my dad was looking around trying to see what I was doing. I grabbed a fallen branch from the tree line.

He started to put the car in park, “What part of don’t move don’t you understand?” He jumped because I was now standing next to his window.

He started to talk, but I hushed him. I opened his door then jammed a stick onto the brake pedal. Using the power seat I adjusted it so there was enough pressure to keep the pedal down. “Get out without knocking the stick. Then shut the door and follow me.”

Like he was in shock, he followed my directions; we were starting into the woods when it hit him. With the brake lights on, the officer would think he was still in the car. He froze and turned around; I grabbed his hand and pulled him behind me.

“Wow, you’re strong for a little thing.” Dad commented.

I had him in my car and was heading down the road before he spoke again. He warned, “Now, if you’re involved in any way, you can get in real trouble. If you tell me now, what’s going on… then maybe I can help you.”

I didn’t need him fighting me the whole way; I needed him to do what I wanted. I told him a story, “Ok, I didn’t want to tell you, but your daughter is trying to kill herself.”

He burst out in surprise, “Mindy?”

As if it were someone else, I went on with my lie. “Yes, she told me if anyone but her father came tonight, she would blow her head off; she has a gun.”