Melabeth Forgive Me, For I Am Sin! (32 page)

I could see my father trying to process all of this. He sounded bewildered as he asked, “My gun?”

“I don’t know… does it matter?” I shook my head in disbelief.

Almost crying, whispering he said, “Why… how did I fail her? Are we too late?”

I patted his knee sympathetically, “Don’t worry, I’ll hurry.” I had to keep from laughing.

I pulled up in front of the church and shut the car off. I stepped out followed by my father. He was looking all around; it was a very dark night with clouds covering the moon.

A little bewildered, he finally could see the church, "Is she in there?"

"Yes, just go in the front door; I'll be right behind you." He about ran as he grabbed the door and pulled it open, then rushed inside. I closed and locked the door as I followed him in.

At the front of the church where the stage was, there were no chairs or pulpit. I had set up a cage in the center where I kept my sister Mindy. On both sides of the cage I set up tall candle holders with many lit candles in them. There were candles lit all over the sanctuary; it was a lot of light for me, but dimly lit for the human eye.

My father was half walking, half running down the center of the church. He came to a sudden halt ten feet away from the cage. Mindy grabbed the cage bars at the sight of him.

She yelled out in panic, "Father… get out of here!"

In disarray, my father started walking toward the cage again, "Mindy? What are you doing in there? What's going on?"

Mindy took my father’s outstretched hand. Between sobs and tears pouring down Mindy's face, she said, "Run father, run… please."

"Who's
done this?" my father cried out with anger and rage in his
voice.

I was standing quietly ten feet behind my father. His head and eyes were now sweeping the church, only to find me. It took him a second to come to the conclusion that I was a threat. Even dressed up like a Goth, I was still a hundred pound girl.

My father’s eyes were full of threats, as my sister was still pleading for him to leave. In the midst of her crying and panic, "It's her… she’s not what she seems. Get away from her; she's a monster… a vampire."

My father was about to say something to me, but the vampire remark made him pause.  Enraged he said, "Do you two think this is some kind of joke?"  He turned and faced his daughter. "Are you trying to play a joke on me? If you are…"

Mindy yelled out, "NO FATHER… this is not a joke. That’s not Melabeth… it’s your daughter… Melanie. She proclaimed that she rose from the dead to have revenge upon you."

My father slammed his hand into the bars of my sister’s cage, causing her to step back away from the bars in fear. My father screamed in rage, "HOW DARE YOU…" as he spun around to face me.

His face was twisted in a mix of rage and hurt. He stood staring at me with his hands clenched; I could tell he really wanted to hit me. His pain, it made me smile, and, as I did, a new emotion crossed my father's face… disbelief.

Through clenched teeth, "You think this is funny, who are you for real?"

I flashed up to his face; he didn’t even have time to be surprised when I punched him in the bottom of his rib cage. He collapsed onto the ground gasping for air.

With a cruel smile I stood over him, "Goodnight daddy."

And with that I punched him in his temple and watched his eyes roll into the back of his head.

He lay before me still breathing, but out for the count; that’s when it registered that Mindy was screaming at me. I would have to quiet her; I couldn’t think with all the noise she was making. I went and got a gag and some duct tape.

I had two chairs before me. In one chair was my sister all tied up and gagged; still trying to yell at me she sounded more like a Zombie. In the other chair was my father, he was tied up as well and was starting to come to. I floated up to the balcony to get ready as my father moaned and began speaking.

I was busy washing off all the makeup. I laid out a black dress that had spaghetti straps on it; it fell to my knees. As I dressed, my father was whispering to Mindy, “It will be ok sweetie… don’t be scared.”

Of course he was the one who sounded scared. Mindy was still gagged so there was no reply as my father whispered encouragement. I looked in the mirror; I was back to my old self, well expect for the red hair. All I had to do now was to find the courage to face my father, and end this.

Without a sound I dropped off the balcony and headed toward the front of the church. My father was busy looking at my sister and had not realized that I was now standing two feet in front of him.

I said in a very matter of fact voice, void of emotion, “Hello… father.”

My father turned his head slowly, and, when his eyes fell upon me, his face froze. It was like watching wax melt as his face slipped into a mask of shock as he processed that it indeed was me.

In disbelief, he formed a question with a word, “Mel?”

A tight smiled crossed my face, “Yes father, it’s me. Long time no see; sorry it couldn’t be under better circumstances, but you know the past has a way of sneaking up and biting you in the ass.”

His eyes welled up with tears, “I don’t understand… how can this be? Where have you been?”

I felt my half hearted smile fall, as I simply answered, “Hell. And how have you been?”

My sister moaned through her gag, but I ignored her. My father looked over at her and then back at me. He begged, “Let her go. It’s me you want; she has had nothing to do with you. It was I who sold you to the bikers; it was I who let you down in every possible way a father could. I kidnapped you from your grandparents. Then I exposed you to a life of hell… to be honest, I can’t even remember what all I had done to you in all those years, but Mindy, she hasn’t done anything to you. Why don’t you let her go?”

I walked over to Mindy, my father started to plea for her again, but I hushed him. I let my fangs grow long, along with my fingernails. As my fingers elongated with growth, my face looked… more sinister. If I wanted to, I was able to open my mouth much wider than any human could. I leaned down behind my sister’s chair. I was now looking over her shoulder and at my father; I gave him a big toothy grin. My arm reached over her shoulders as I stroked her face with my long fingers and sharp claws.

My father was shaking his head in disbelief, “What are you?”

I opened my mouth and bit down upon my sister’s neck. She jerked in surprise as my father screamed in horror. I pulled my mouth away full of crimson blood dripping down my cheek. I laughed at my father’s cries to the almighty.

I licked my sister’s neck so the wound would stop bleeding; I wasn’t ready for her to bleed out, yet. My father was struggling against the ropes and his chair scraped back and forth on the floor as his attempts got him nowhere. He was praying to God and yelling at me, almost in the same breath.

I wiped some blood away from my mouth, and then smiled, “Calm yourself… we’re just getting started.”

My father stopped as he gasped for air; it took him a minute to gather himself. His face was covered with sweat, as he looked up at me, “You’re not my daughter. You’re a demon, and you have no power over me.”

I let out a giggle, “Oh come on; you’re tied up. Your daughter is ten feet away, and I'm killing her… can you stop it? No, you can’t; of course I have power, and I am no Demon. You created me; do you remember?”

My father spit with anger as he spilled verse after verse from the bible. I let him go on for a few more minutes, and then I grabbed his chin with one hand. My grip was like iron; he could not move as I spoke softly to him, “Father, it is me. Look into my eyes; it’s me, the same girl who fixed the car just by going to the library and reading a book. The same girl who took care of you when mother died. The same girl you sold for drugs so you could feed your habit. The same girl who… was taken away and was turned into a snuff film, the same girl…” tears fell from my eyes; my voice was shaking. “Who, rose from the ground, to find… no one.”

The bloody tears fell from my face as I let go of my father. He was crying as well. He didn’t know what to think, and then he asked, “Snuff film, what is that?”

I closed my eyes, walked a few steps and then sat down on the first row of pews. Then gathering my voice and wiping away the tears, “Well, glad you asked. See they take a girl or maybe a boy, then they make a movie. The plot is not hard to follow; first a group of men rape you; then for the grand finale, a man rapes you while he chokes you to death. Then he finishes with your dead corpse.”

My father was still crying as he whispered, “Dear God. I had no idea, none at all.”

Practically yelling, “Well that makes everything so much better. What do you say, time for a family hug?”

My sister was crying, I flashed over to her, and, using my sharp nails, cut off her gag. Then, barely even trying to hide the cruelty in my tone, “Got a question for you. I am sure you heard me just say how I fixed my father’s car just by getting books and reading about it. Well let me tell you some more about that. Good old dad hadn’t bought any food for the house in sometime. Being on drugs and drinking all the time, good old dad could go days without a meal. I hadn’t eaten anything for days, and good old dad kept saying he couldn’t get a ride to the store, and the car was broken down. I got the idea that I would fix it, and fix it I did. Dad was so proud of me; it made me so happy. He jumped into the car and off he went with the promise to get some food. Mindy, could you tell me what happened next?”

Sniffling and with a shaky voice, “I don’t know.”

I turned to my dad, and in my best show host voice, “And what about you, father… could you finish that story for my sister?”

His face, full of shame he said in a low voice, “I left for two days. I went across town to score some dope, but ended up getting high at the dealer’s house. By the time I had returned, you wouldn’t have eaten for at least five days, but you were always a survivor. You had broken into the old lady’s house across the street; she caught you stealing food. She ended up taking pity on you. After that, she fed you, and I let her." His voice was almost a whisper; he spoke slowly as he added, "I let her feed you many times after that.”

Mindy squeaked out, “Really daddy, that’s awful.”

My father’s eyes rose to my sister’s face and in an empty voice said, “I know.  Mel is right, I was cruel to her, and I am responsible for her death.” His eyes turned to me; his voice took on authority as he spoke with purpose. “I get it; you’re here to have your revenge on me. And after you take it, you will still be a monster. You’ll find no peace in it, for I am a child of God, forgiven by Jesus and washed in his blood. Let her free, for she is innocent. This is between God, you and me.”

I clapped my hands together loudly as if I were taken aback by his speech. “That was inspiring; I should have come in one Sunday and watched you preach. Then again sitting with hypocrites and listening to you preach, is not my idea of a good time. Let’s get to the heart of the matter concerning little Mindy here. Let me start by saying, you’re right.  Mindy here is innocent.”

My father yelled out, “Then let her go.”

I growled, “Don’t interrupt me…” calming myself, I went on, “The heart of the matter concerns your daughter. See there are three things to consider in this matter. One, she has taken my life, the life I should have received, and the love of my father. Unknowingly yes, but, none the same, she is a thief. Two, she knows too much about me, and maybe it’s best the family line dies with me.”

My sister whispered in a small voice, “I didn’t mean to steal from you; dad and I wouldn’t tell a soul… we swear.”

My dad quickly added, “Mindy can keep a secret.”

Mindy protested, “Dad…”

My father understood that I wasn’t even close to letting him leave. He hushed her then consoled her, “Shhh… don’t worry about me. I need you to be strong, the Lord will watch over you.”

I interrupted their little powwow, “Yeah, he’s been doing a real bang up job.” I tapped my finger on my chin and acted like I was thinking real hard. The silence built, until I suddenly spoke, startling them both. “Well, let’s say I let the first two things go. She didn’t realize she was stealing, and I bet she could keep a secret.  Still there is one more little problem.”

My father had hope in his eyes, “What’s that?”

I smiled wickedly, “I don’t want you to go to heaven.”

My father’s hope faded to confusion, “I don’t understand.”

My sister chided in, “He is already forgiven.”

I turned around and smacked her, I hit her so hard blood poured out of the side of her head, and the chair almost fell over. I screamed in rage, “He is not forgiven; I don’t forgive him!”

My father cried out, “Don’t hurt her; she doesn’t understand. Hurt me, hurt me, I am the one you want to hurt.”

My sister whimpered in pain as I gave my father the death stare. I walked up to my father. Grabbing his ropes I picked him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. My father’s eyes opened wide as I spoke in a menacing voice, “If I want her dead… she will be dead, but that would be the easy way out. Denounce God… or watch your little Mindy suffer. I will kill her slowly.”

I dropped my father and the chair; it made a loud crash as it rocked from leg to leg before settling once again. My father clinched in pain from the sudden impact. I stared at him waiting for a reply, waiting for him to denounce God.