“L o o sin g G rip ” ( A T a l e t o T e ll )
H o ld o n u n til y o u c a n ju st lik e a m a n th a t h o p e s u n til h e c a n .
C h a p te r I
U ne xpected b a c k , in
th in g s
happen
o n
tim e s w h e n p e o p le b e lie v e in
u nex pected
m o m e n ts.
T h in g s
th in g s c a lle d , “K A R M A ” a n d
li k e
th is
h app en
w ay
“ D E S T IN Y ” , w o rd s th a t
r e se m b le sig n ific a n t m e a n in g s o f th in g s th a t h a p p e n u n c o n tro lla b ly , in a n y w a y th e y w a n t to o c c u r. A T h ey
fa m ily o f b ig n a m e h a d b e e n
re c o g n iz e d
an d
liv e s so m e w h e r e in
th e u rb a n z o n e .
w e re fa m o u s n o t b e c a u se o f u l tim a te p o p u la rity , b u t b e c a u se o f th is c e rta in
c h a in e d
sc e n a rio th a t k e e p s o n h a p p e n in g in th e ir f a m ily . T h e y w e re th e C U R S E N B U R G S , a fa m ily o f 1 2 , w ith te n c h ild re n a n d o f c o u rse tw o p a re n ts, b e fo re . B u t n o w , o n ly t w o fa m ily m e m b e r s r e m a in . T h e
fa th e r,
M r.
C u rs e n b u r g o r w h o m
W iz m o
C u rse n b u r g
and
th e
o th e r s c a ll, “D ric o ”. Y e s, o n ly
sic k ly
th e tw o
so n ,
th e
o f th e m
y o u n g e s t, F ie n d ric o w e re l e ft fo r th e te n
o th e r fa m ily m e m b e r s h a d a lr e a d y p a s se d a w a y , i n th e sa m e e v e n t , in th e sa m e tim e . M y s te r y ta k e s i ts to ll in th is, n o
o n e k n o w s w h y th is h a p p e n b u t th e tw o
w ho
r e m a in e d
e v e n tu a lly
k n e w h o w th is to o k p la c e a n d h o w it a ll sta r te d .
It w a s 3 :4 5 a m , a n d still D ric o is n o t y e t a sle e p . O n e th i n g is k e e p in g h im th e o b je c t h is m o th e r h a d
g iv e n
h im
th e n ig h t b e fo re h is m o th e r d ie d
lo o k e d to th e w in d o w a n d p e e k e d th ro u g h m o u r n fu lly
at
th e
n ig h t
sk y . H e
a w a k e a ll n ig h t, it’s o f no
re a so n . H e
th e t ra n sp a re n t g la ss e s o f th e w in d o w s a n d g a z e d
gasped , “W h y
fa m ily ?”, h e fe lt th e g ri e f a g a in a n d d e c id e d to
is
th is
h a p p e n in g
to
m e?
To
u s?
To
th e
sto p lo o k in g a t th e n ig h t sk y b u t to si t b a c k
a n d ju s t lie d o w n o n h is flu ffy , g re e n c o lo re d c lo th e d b e d . D ric o ju st c a n ’t im a g in e h is m o th e r a n d th e o th e r n in e sib lin g s d ie in c h a in , o n e a fte r th e o th e r. A s h e w a s a b o u t to c lo se h is e y e s, so m e b o d y k n o c k e d o n h is w o o d - m ad e d o o r th r e e tim e s u n til i t o p e n e d fo r its e lf. It w a s M r. W iz m o
th a t
d o e sn ’t
fa il to
ch eck
D ric o
if h e
is a sle e p
o r
n o t.
H e
w ent
in to
D ric o ’s b ig
w a llp a p e re d n o tic e d
ro o m
th a t
D ric o
d u m b - faced p a le .
and
H e
fo rw a rd
and is
slo w ly
to
h im
still
lo o k s
so
w a lk e d
and
sit s
o n
th e c h a ir rig h t n e x t to D ric o ’s b e d . H e lo o k e d
se rio u sly
o n
h is fa c e a n d a lso D ric o d id th e sa m e a s w e ll, th e y each
o th e r’s
W iz m o
c a n ’t
b ecam e D ric o
lo o k e d
M r.
th in k
and
w o rrie d
had
so m e th in g
b e en is
at
fa c e s.
b e c a u se a c tin g
no t
lik e
go o d
h im . H e a sk s, “ M y
in
so n , w h y
a r e n ’ t y o u s till a s le e p ? Is th e r e a n y p ro b le m ?” D ric o ju s t lo o k e d a t h is d a d a n d in ju s t a fe w se c o n d s, slo w ly , te a rs fe ll d o w n fro m
h is e y e s. W o rrie d , M r. W iz m o g e n tly
sta n d s u p fro m
h is se a t a n d
w a lk e d
to
th e b e d .
U n re lie v e d , h e sa t d o w n o n D ric o ’s b e d a n d h e ld th e b o y ’s h a n d s a n d sa id , “I k n o w , I k n o w , th i n g s in th e p a st a r e y e t to b e r e m e m b e r e d , b u t so n , p a st is a lre a d y in th e p a st a n d n o w , w e ta k e s te p to th e w o rld a h e a d o f u s. W e sh o u ld b e fo rg e t tin g th o se e n tir e m e m o rie s so n , th o s e b itt e r m e m o rie s.” D ric o s u d d e n ly sto p p e d , to o k a b r e a th a n d sp o k e , “It’s o k to fo rg e t th e p a st, but
D a d , it’s
h app en ed
to
o u r u s,
e n tire w h y
fa m ily
M o m
th a t
and
go t
m y
v ic tim iz e d
sib lin g s
d ie d
by o f
th is,
no
D ad ,
re a so n .
I d o n ’t D a d , it’s
kno w so
w hy
th is
u n tru e ,
it’s
u n b e lie v a b le a n d I k n o w th a t so m e th in g is w ro n g , so m e th in g e v il is o c c u rrin g a n d so m e th in g b a d is h a p p e n in g .” U p o n h e a ri n g w h a t D ric o sa id , M r . W iz m o C u rse n b u rg w e n t n e a r h is so n and
h u g g e d h im
so
tig h t. S a m e e m o tio n s r u sh e d
w a te r d ro p p e d o ff fro m co ncerned
th a t
th ro u g h h im , a n d
i n n o fu rth e r m o m e n t,
M r. W iz m o ’s e y e s, h e ’s c r y in g . H e fe lt p it y o f h is so n fo r h e is re a lly
so m e th in g
m ig h t
happen
to
h is
so n
if h e
kee ps o n
th in k in g
ab o ut
w hat
h a p p e n e d to th e ir fa m ily a ft e r se v e ra l. H e w ip e d o ff th e te a rs in h is e y e s a n d w e n t a w a y fro m h is so n , c u ttin g o ff th e m o m e n t. H e d re w b a c k a n d sa t d o w n q u ie tly , a n d lo o k e d a w a y fro m h is so n . H e lo o k e d to w a rd s th e d o o r o f th e ro o m
a n d g a z e d a t th e d a rk n e s s o u t sid e h is so n ’s
ro o m . D ric o c o u g h e d a n d c o u g h e d u n til h e g o t re d d ish . M r. W iz m o su d d e n ly s ta n d s a n d sa y s, “ Y o u n e e d m e d ic in e s o n , a lo t o f it, I’ ll ju s t g o
d o w n a n d lo o k fo r so m e o n th e m e d ic in e
c a b in e t, r e st so n , p le a s e , ta k e a re st.” A s h e st e p p e d o n e s te p a w a y D ric o u t te r e d , “D a d , c o u ld y o u re a c h m e th a t b o x ?” a n d p o in te d o n th e o ld - lo o k in g b o x lo c a te d o n th e c o rn e r o p p o sit e to
w h e re th e b e d is. M r W iz m o tu rn e d a ro u n d a n d g o t
c u rio u s o f th is. H e w e n t to
th e p la c e w h e r e h is so n w a s
p o in ti n g a t, a n d sa w th e re th e b o x , w h ic h sm e lle d o f th e p a s t, a n d slo w ly c a r rie d it to h im . H e g a v e th e b o x to h is so n
and
d a sh in g ly
w ent
o ut
o f
th e
ro o m
to
g et
th e
m e d ic in e . A s h e w a s a n in c h c lo se to th e d o o r, h e h e a rd D ric o and
m o aned sa w
D ric o
and
c rie d
c ry in g
a g a in . H e slo w ly w h ile
h o ld in g
lo o k e d
so m e
b ack
k in d
o f
a n tiq u e - lo o k in g o b je c t. H e ste p p e d c lo se r to w a rd s h im ,
s te p b y s te p , a s h e w a s o n ly tw o s te p s a w a y fro m
th e b e d h e c le a rly s e e s th e o b je c t h is so n is
c ry in g a t. M r. W iz m o ju st c a n ’t th in k o f h o w th e th in g w e n t to h is so n , w h o g a v e it to h im ? H e sa y s, “T h e h o u r g la ss, h o w ??? H o w d id y o u …
g e t th a t m y so n ?” A n d h is so n sto p p e d c ry in g
a g a in a n d c o u g h e d , h e is w h isp e rin g so m e w o rd s, h is d a d c o u ld n ’t h e a r it, so h e w e n t n e a r e r to h im . D ric o is sa y in g so m e th in g , so m e th in g sig n ific a n t th a t a n sw e rs M r. W iz m o ’s q u e stio n to h im . S lo w ly , h is d a d w e n t o n to h im
a n d l i s t e n e d t o h i s v o ic e , “ F r o m m o t h e r , d a d . ”
C h a p te r II
D ric o ’s b e a u tifu l th a t
no
m o th e r
w o m an o th e r
b e a u ty
w ho
la d ie s
d o e s n ’t
g e n tle m e n
but
C a rm e la
w as
has
c h a rm
ju s t
a lso
th is
c o u ld
th e
b e a t.
a
H er
a t tra c t
th e
e lit e s
th e
o f
to w n , th e p rin c e s a n d e v e n th e k in g s o f h e r tim e s. B u t o n e p e rso n a t te n tio n
o f
C a rm e la ,
C u rs e n b u r g
th a t
b e c a u s e o f h is
it
d id
g e t th e
is
W iz m o
h o o ked
ta m in g
h er
face
h eart
and
a
very
h u m b le a n d k in d c h a ra c te r th a t C a rm e la c o u ld n ’t b ecam e and
had
fa m ily .
fin d
fro m
o th e r
h er
lo v e r s.
T h ey
ten
b e a u tifu l a n d
m en
go t
th a t
m a rrie d
h a n d so m e c h ild re n
w h ic h m a d e th e m
a
g r e a t, h a p p y
and
lu c k y
U n til o n e o d d e v e n t h a p p e n e d in th e liv e s o f th e C u r se n b u rg s. It w a s o n th e ir E ld e s t d a u g h te r
R o w e n a ’s
18
th
b irth d a y ,
her
d e b u t, th a t a n o ld a n d w itc h - lik e la d y e n t e re d
th e
d eb u t
a re a
and
to
Ro w ena
and
so m e th in g
th a t is n o t u n d e rs ta n d a b le
and
sa id
w en t
ga ve h er a n
o ld -lo o k in g
w e re w o rrie d a n d th e
la d y
and
sh o w e d fro m
so m e th in g ,
b o x , a ll
M r. W iz m o w e n t to
lo o k e d
at
h e r,
fea r
h is fa c e fo r th e la d y w a s
so m e b o d y fa m ilia r, so m e o n e , h e k n e w th e n , u n til h e c a lle d a ll th e g u a rd s a n d h a d th e la d y th ro w n a n d sh o o e d a w a y , as
sh e w as
h e ld by
th e
g u a rd s, sh e s p o k e a n d sc r e a m e d , “Y o u r fa m ily w ill n o t s u rv iv e th is,
yo ur
D EA TH ,
fa m ily
is a t
D EA TH ,
H A H A H A H A H A !”
s ta k e , a ll
T h en
o f a ll
y o u r fa m ily yo u! th e
lig h ts
w ill fa c e D E A T H ,
A LL tu r n e d
O F o ff
Y O U !!!! and
th e
e n e r g y w e n t o u t, in ju st a fe w se c o n d s th e lig h ts w e n t b a c k a n d th e la d y v a n ish e d .
The d e c id e d b ack
fa m ily
to
end
h o m e.
sh e
und er
c u rio u s
and
and
r u sh e d
R o w ena,
w ho
sh o c k e d , w e n t in sid e
a s sh e w a s a b o u t to
n o tic e d
b u lk in g
sc a re d
p a rt y , a n d
h o m e,
and
h e r ro o m , a n d do w n,
th e
A t
w a s s till tire d
go t
th a t
th e
b ed
re m o v e d
lie
so m e th in g
is
fo a m , sh e
go t
th e
sh e
fo am ,
c rie d o u t lo u d fo r sh e sa w th e b o x th a t th e
la d y
th ro w n w ay
had
ga ve
a lre a d y
to
h er
by
h o m e , sh e
H e r sc re a m
w h ic h
th e
ro a d
sc re a m e d
sh e
had
o n
th e ir
o u t lo u d .
w a s h e a rd a ll o v e r th e p a la c e h o u s e , M r. W iz m o a n d
frig h t e n e d a n d r u sh e d to th e ro o m
C a rm e la g o t so sc a r e d a n d
o f R o w e n a , th e y ra n , a s th e y e n te r e d th e ro o m , C a rm e la
c rie d . R o w e n a , is a lr e a d y o n th e flo o r, p a le a n d b re a th le ss, h o ld in g so m e th i n g , a n h o u rg la ss, w ith th e sa n d s in it a lre a d y ra n o u t fro m
th e to p p a rt, n o w a ll o n th e b o tto m . R o w e n a d ie d a t
e x a c tly 3 o ’c lo c k a m , e x a c tly th e r e a l d a t e o f h e r b ir th d a y . It s ta r te d th e r e , it a ll sta rte d th e re , s a m e w i t h t h e o t h e r c h i ld r e n . T h e y d i e d e x a c t l y o n th e ir
b ir th d a y ,
3
o ’c lo c k
h o u r g la ss, th e c re e p y
th in g
h o u r g la ss
and
w a s a lr e a d y
am
and
ab o ut a lw a y s
h o ld in g
th is is th ro w n
an
t h a t, th e aw ay
by
M r. W iz m o b u t e v e r y tim e h is c h ild d ie s, th e y h o ld th e sa m e th in g , th e h o u rg la ss. N o w it is o n ly D ric o , C a rm e la a n d M r. W iz m o th a t w a s le ft th a t tim e , a n d C a rm e la ju s t c o u ld n ’t th in k o f w a y s o n h o w to s to p th e
c u r se ,
th e n
fa m ilia rity
w ent
th ro u g h
M r.
W iz m o ’s m in d , h e re m e m b e re d th e la d y , th e w itc h lik e la d y . It w a s th e la d y th a t s h e a c c id e n ta lly h it b y h is c a r , a n d it w a s th e tim e w h e n s h e w a s r u sh in g to g o to th e h o sp ita l th a t tim e b e c a u se h e r m o m is h e ra n a w a y fro m
th e la d y w h o
d ie d
is u n d e r e m e rg e n c y , so w h a t h e d id
b e c a u se o f h im . A n d
th a t w a s e x a c tly 3 :0 0
am
and
a c t u a lly h is b irth d a y . A ll h a p p e n in g s w e re sig n ific a n t, a ll w e re c re e p y . A n d th e la t e st w h o d ie d , C a rm e la , th e y
a ll d id n ’t e x p e c t it, b u t
b e fo re th e d a y sh e d ie d , C a rm e la w e n t to
D ric o a n d
to ld h im
th a t sh e d r e a m t
la st n ig h t th a t sh e w ill d ie th e n e x t d a y , but
it
w as
so m e th in g b re a k in g
a lso
in
c o u ld
her
sa v e
d re a m th e m ,
th e h o u rg la ss in
th e
w i tc h - lik e
la d y
th e m
th e
c u rse ,
h a nd ed
ro sa ry
fo r
C a rm e la
g u id a n c e
d ie d ,
o n
fro m
her
is
fro n t o f th e
la d y ,
sh e
th a t it
w ho
gave
D ric o
G o d .
b irth d a y
a
Then sa m e
t i m e , a n d h o ld i n g t h e s a m e t h i n g , b u t D r i c o d i d n ’ t t h r o w t h e h o u r g l a s s , h e
k e p t it, b e c a u se h e k n e w n o w h o w th e c u r se w o u ld e n d , h e is h o p in g th a t it’ll e n d so o n .
“D a d , m y b ir th d a y is to m o rro w , a n d w e a lre a d y h a v e 1 2 h o u rs b e fo r e I c a n b e sa v e d a n d fo r
th is
c u rse
to
co m e
to
an
m e .” D ric o
c rie d . H e h a n d e d
h is d a d a n d
to ld h im
end.
D a d , sa v e
th e h o u rg la ss
th a t “U n til th e h o u r g la ss
is n o t s to p p in g , d o n ’ t lo s e h o p e D a d , I’ m a liv e , b u t if it e n d s , I’ m to
th e m .”
M r.
to
s o r r y d a d , b u t I’ m
W iz m o
sa id , “S o n ,
still nex t
I c a n ’t
do
th is , I w a n t to s e e y o u a n d b e w i th y o u . If I g o , n o o n e w ill b e w ith y o u h e re a n d I m ig h t m iss th e m o m e n t y o u ’ll sa y g o o d b y e . S o n , p le a se , if y o u ’r e
g o in g
to
d ie ?
I’ ll d ie w ith
yo u”. T hen
D ric o re p lie d , “I h a v e th is,” H e sh o w e d a ro sa ry , and
e x p la in e d
to
M r.
W iz m o
th a t
th is
is th e
o n ly th in g to d o . “B u t, w h a t if I d o n ’t fin d h e r? A nd
w h a t if I l r u n o u t o f tim e ? I’ ll p r o b a b ly lo s e y o u m y s o n , a n d
h a p p e n ” D ric o
c o u g h e d , “D a d , y o u sh o u ld
I w o n ’t le t th a t th in g
h o p e . T h e re ’s h o p e d a d , th e re is. Y o u b e t te r g o
n o w . G o w ith th is h o u r g la ss, a n d d o n ’t le t th e tim e slip a w a y .” “H o w a b o u t y o u ?” M r. W iz m o d e m a n d e d , “ I’ ll b e f in e , a ll w e h a v e to d o is to h o p e a n d a c c e p t a ll th e th in g s th a t m a y h a p p e n D ad . G o , n o w g o !”
C h a p te r II I
M r. W iz m o
can
no t
th in k
o f o th e r
th i n g s a t th a t tim e , h e re a liz e d a ll th e th in g s th a t
had
lo o k e d
h app en ed
at
running
th e
o u t
and
m ay
h o u r g la ss,
o f
sa n d s
and
in
i t,
h app en.
H e
it’s
yet
no t
w h ic h
m e a n s,
th e re is s till tim e . H e lo o k e d a t h is w a tc h , a n d sa w
th a t
th e re
m ise ra b le
are
fa te
o f
11
h o u rs
h is
so n ,
le ft
b e fo re
D ric o ,
th e
h a p p e n s.
U rg e n tly , h e h e ld D ric o ’s h a n d s a n d to ld h im , “ I’ ll g e t h e r e s o o n , I’ ll c u t it a ll o u t, a n d sa v e
yo u,
le a v i n g
m y
D ric o
so n .”
A nd
a lo n e in
s w iftly
w en t
th e ir h o u se
I’ ll o ff
g rip p in g
th e ro sa ry tig h tly .
M r. W iz m o d ro v e a s h e w a s s w iftly to th e p la c e w h e re h e h it th e la d y . In stin c t w e n t in
h is
m in d
th a t
th e
lad y
c o u ld
be
liv in g
s o m e w h e r e n e a r t h a t p l a c e . I t w a s a c o l d n i g h t , a v e r y c o l d c o l d c o ld n i g h t . H e i s n e a r t o t h e p la c e a n d o n e h o u r h a d a lre a d y p a s se d b y g iv in g h im t e n h o u rs le ft to sa v e h is so n fro m
d e a th .
H e is n o w o n th e p la c e , h e lo o k e d a ro u n d a n d se e th a t th e re is a fo r e st n e a rb y , ju st a c ro s s th e s tre e t, th o u g h sc a re d , h e th o u g h t , “S h e c o u ld b e th e re , I c a n se n s e it” . H e p a r k e d h is c a r a n d fie rc e ly w e n t o u t o f it a n d tre sp a ss e d th ro u g h th e fo re st. A s h e e n te r e d th e w o o d s , h e ju st f e lt so m e th in g u n e a sy , so m e th in g stra n g e
e sp e c ia lly b e h in d
h im .
H e m u rm u re d , “ W h o is th a t?
S h o w u p !” N o o n e a n sw e re d , n o b o d y d id , so h e to o k s te p s a n d ro a m e d a ro u n d , se v e ra l h o u r s had
p a ss e d
by
and
s till h e
c o u ld
no t
lo c a te
th e
p la c e , h e g o t w o rrie d a n d a g a i n lo o k e d a t th e h o u r g la s s, th e g la s s w a s a lm o st h a lf e m p ty w h ic h sc a re d h im
so
m u c h , “I w o n ’t lo se h o p e , I w o n ’t lo o se
g r i p , I ’ ll f i n d h e r , I w i ll ” .
Back b ad ,
h e
fe lt
in
th e
lik e
h is
h o u se , c h e st
D ric o is
fe lt
f e e lin g
so m e th i n g h eav y
and
u n sta b le , h e c o u g h e d a n d c o u g h e d , h e lo o k e d o n th e c lo c k
rig h t n e x t to
h is b e d , a n d
o n ly
h e sa w
th a t th e r e a re e ig h t h o u rs l e ft b e fo re th e th in g h e is
a fra id
o f h a p p e n . “D a d , fa s te r,
d a d , p le a se ” h e
s c a r i l y s a i d w h i l e s t i ll g r i p p i n g t i g h t t o h i s r o s a r y .
“E ig h t h o u rs le ft? N o , I h a v e to fin d h e r, I h a v e to ”, M r. W iz m o fie rc e ly sa id .
T h o u g h lo sin g h o p e a t so m e p o in t
b e c a u s e til n o w , th e h o u s e o f th e w itc h lik e la d y w a s s till n o t y e t a t sig h t . A s h e w as
k e e n ly
so m e o n e ,
lo o k in g so m e
so m e th in g , g o !”.
It’ s
c o m in g
a ro u n d
sa w
la d y
p o in ti n g w as
fa m ilia r
“S tra ig h t
t u rn e d a
a ro u n d
to
fa c in g ,
he
h e a rd
v o ic e ,
sa y in g
fo rw a rd ,
fro m
th e
stra ig h t, b ack.
H e
fo r c u rio sity ’s sa k e a n d
in
w h it e ,
th e
in
d ire c tio n
w h ite
d r e ss
M r. W iz m o
“C a r … .m e … .la … ?”
H e
go t
sh o c k e d , th e la d y i n w h i te w a s C a rm e la , a g h o st o f h e r, th o u g h sc a r e d , h e g e n tly s te p p e d ab o ut
to w a rd s fiv e
h e r,
s te p s
and
near
a n o th e r v o ic e , b u t a n o n e, “H A d e a th !”,
H A he
H A
tu rn e d
h e r,
as
he
he
w as
h e a rd
e n t i r e l y d i ff e r e n t
H A ! D e a th , d e a th , a ro u n d
and
go t
in te r e st e d . “T h e la d y , sh e m u st b e n e a r n o w !”. H e tu r n e d a ro u n d a g a in a n d sa w th a t C a rm e la w a sn ’t th e r e a n y m o re . H e w e n t stra ig h t to th e d ir e c tio n C a rm e la w a s p o in tin g to . H e ra n q u ic k ly , a s fa st a s h e c o u ld , a s h e d id so , a c re e p y little h o u se in th e m id d le o f th e w o o d s is n o w
v isib le to h is e y e s, a n d c le a rly h e s e e s th a t C a rm e la w a s rig h t. T h is w a s i t, th e
la d y ’s h o u se . T h e h o u se is a s c re e p y a s th e h o u s e to ld
in th e s to rie s o f C o u n t D ra c u la a n d
m a n y m o re . M r. W iz m o d id n ’t h e sita te a n d w en t fo r
th e
g o a l, h e lo o k e d
a g a in
o n
h is
w a tc h a n d fo u r h o u rs w a s n o w le f t b e fo r e h is so n ’s
life c o m e
to
an
e n d , h e w e n t in sid e
r u sh in g , a n d a s h e w e n t in sid e , h e d id n ’t se e a n y o n e . T h e la d y i s n o t in sig h t. H e p u n c h e d th e
w o o d en
w a ll, a n d
as
b o o k o f c u rs e s fe ll d o w n n a ile d
o n
he
punch ed
fro m
th e w a ll. H e o p e n e d
it
a
th e c a b in e t it a n d
re a d ,
“T h e c u rse d o n e is rig h t e o u s to d e a th , a n d in h is tim e o f d e a th , I sh a ll c o m e to h im
a n d g iv e h im
th e o b je c t o f th e c u rse a n d th e re , h e ’ll d ie
o f n o m e a n s” M r. W iz m o g o t sc a r e d a n d a lso g o t su r p rise d , “T h e la d y c o u ld b e in th e h o u s e b y n o w , a n d sh e ’s th e re to g e t D ric o a w a y fro m
m e , n o , th is c o u ld n o t h a p p e n , it c o u ld n ’t!”
H e ru sh e d b a c k h o m e to se e th e r e a l th in g .
D ric o se n se d so m e th in g , h e lo o k e d a ro u n d h is ro o m
a n d s u d d e n ly h e se e s a ll h is la t e
fa m ily m e m b e rs, h is n in e sib lin g s a n d h is m o th e r a ll s ta n d in g i n fro n t o f h im
a n d p o in ti n g a t
h im . H e lo o k e d a g a in a t th e c lo c k a n d th e re w a s o n e h o u r le ft. H e g o t sc a re d a n d c rie d o n c e a g a in , a m in u te p a ss e d b y a n d h e s e n s e d so m e o n e c lim b in g u p th e sta irs, la u g h i n g in a lo u d
a n d h u sk y m a n n e r. H e s e n se d th a t it i s th e la d y , th e w itc h - lik e la d y w h o i s s till te n a c io u s a n d c a n ’t b e to n e d
d o w n fo r sh e is i n
th e m o d e o f s e v e re v e n g e a n c e fo r th e fa u lt h is d a d
c o m m itte d . L a te r o n , th e v o ic e v a n ish e d , a n d
it w a s th e la d y w itc h th a t w a s n o w
h im , sta n d in g in fro n t o f h im , h o ld in g a n h o u r g la ss a n d
had
v isib le to
g rin n in g . It sh o w s th e re , th a t th e
h o u r g la s s is r u n n in g o u t o f s a n d b u t s till M r . W iz m o is n o t y e t h o m e . “ D a d , I’ m
re a d y , I a m
r e a d y fo r m y tim e , m y d e a th .” H e fe a rfu lly w h isp e re d .
M r. W iz m o is o n e st e p a w a y fro m
th e d o o rst e p o f
h is h o u se a n d a s h e lo o k e d a t th e h o u rg la ss, th e re ’s o n ly a fe w
sa n d le f t b e fo re e v e ry th in g c o m e to a n
e n d , h e lo o k e d a t h is w a tc h a n d
sa w
th e r e th a t 3 0
m in u te s w a s l e ft b e fo re D ric o d ie s. H e u rg e d i n a n d h e ld th e d o o rk n o b . It w a s lo c k e d , h e trie d to g o in b u t it d id n ’t o p e n . H e is sh iv e rin g a n d sw e a tin g , h e is in g r e a t fe a r th a t h is so n m ig h t b e g o t te n b y th e w itc h
in
no
le ss
th a n
15
m in u t e s .
H e
c o u ld
no t
th i n k st ra ig h t, “N o , th is c o u ld n o t h a p p e n , o h G o d , p le a se , le t m y so n liv e . I h a v e to d o so m e th in g ”
It’s a b o u t
tim e ,
th e
la d y
w itc h
is w a lk i n g
n e a re r to D ric o , D ric o c a n ’t lo o k a t h e r fa c e , it’s a ll sc a rre d a n d w o u n d e d a n d b lo o d y a n d h e r b o d y w a s d isto rt e d , e v id e n tly
sh o w in g
th a t sh e h a d
b eco m e a
v ic tim
o f a h i t- a n d - ru n
car
a c c id e n t b u t n e v e r w a s ru sh e d to th e h o sp ita l a n d c a re d fo r b y th e o n e w h o h it h e r . O n e n e e d s a lo t o f g u ts to
lo o k a t h e r. H e c lo se d h is e y e s a n d
h o p in g , d o n ’t le t h im h im
sa id , “D o n ’t le t m y d a d lo se h is g rip in
lo se th e fig h t o f h o p in g th a t I m a y still b e sa v e d ” . T h e la d y w itc h is n e a r
n o w , a n d th e h o u r g la ss h a s a p in c h o f sa n d le ft b e fo re it ru n s o u t, h e sh o u t e d still e y e s
c l o s e d , “ N o ! ! ! P L E A S E !! ! N o ! ! ! ! Y o u h a v e d o n e t h i s t o a l l m y f a m i l y m e m b e r s a l r e a d y , w a s n ’ t t h a t e n o u g h f o r y o u r v e n g e a n c e ? N O ! !! ! ! ” .
T h e la d y w itc h is a lre a d y h a n d lin g th e c u rs e d h o u r g la ss to h im , slo w ly sh e sa y s, “D e a th , d e a th , it i s w h a t y o u r fa m ily d e s e rv e d , it i s.” T h e c u r se d h o u r g la ss is a n in c h a w a y to h is h a n d s and
i n ju s t a
m o m e n t if it to u c h e d
s to p p e d . “ Y o u , e n t e re d
h is h a n d s, o n e th i n g
w i t c h - l i k e l a d y ! !! ” M r . W i z m o , w h o
is fo r s u re , h is e x iste n c e is to
c lim b e d
up
to
th e w a ll a n d
b e
fe a rle ssly
th e w in d o w , sh o w e d u p , w e n t in fro n t o f th e w itc h - lik e la d y , p u lle d h e r a w a y fro m
D ric o a n d th r e w
th e h o u r g la ss o n th e flo o r i n fro n t o f h e r, w i th w h ic h h a s o n ly h a lf a p in c h
le ft b e fo re D ric o d ie s, th e h o u rg la ss g o t b ro k e n in to p ie c e s o n th e flo o r, “T h e d e a th y o u c a s t upo n
m y
w h o le fa m ily
is
no w
b ro k e n ,
th o u g h , b u t th e v e n g e a n c e y o u m a d e w a s I h a v e , m y so n . I c a n ’t g iv e h im
yo u
a r e fo re v e r v a n q u ish e d , I w a s
at
fa u lt b e fo re
m o re th a n e n o u g h a n d I w o n ’t le t y o u g e t a ll w h a t
to y o u , y o u a lre a d y h a d m y w ife a n d m y n in e c h ild re n a n d if
y o u g e t m y so n , I ju s t c a n ’t th in k o f su c h w a y s o n h o w
to liv e m o re th a n I c o u ld e v e r w a n t
to .” T h e la d y b u rn e d , tu rn e d in to a sh e s a n d v a n ish e d w ith th e w in d .
M r. W iz m o c rie d so m u c h a n d c h e c k e d o n D ric o , if h e ’s o k a n d s till a liv e , “F ie n d ric o , it e n d s h e re , I w a s a b o u t to
lo se m y g rip to
th is, b u t I re m e m b e re d
w h a t y o u sa id . I b e tte r
h o p e til th e re is h o p e , a n d n o w w e ’re b o th h e re , a liv e , it’s a ll m y fa u lt f ro m fo rg iv e m e , b u t th e c u rse is n o w b ro k e n , th e c h a in is c u t.
N o w th a t it h a s a ll v a n ish e d , w e c a n
n o w liv e w ith o u t a n y p ro b le m s, w e c a n n o w b r e a th e , a n d “D a d , th a n k s, th a n k
y o u !” D ric o
re p lie d , a n d
th e sta rt, p le a s e
re s t!” H e h u g g e d D ric o so
tig h tly .
c r y in g
u n sto p p a b ly , “S o n , b e fo re y o u sl e e p , I
th
b irth d a y m y so n , y o u a re n o w sa f e , y o u
w a n t to g r e e t y o u , a H A P P Y B IR T H D A Y ! H a p p y 1 8 are”.
T ill th e re is h o p e , w e ’ll h o p e . T ill th e re ’s life , w e ’ll liv e , b u t till th e re ’s d e a th , w e ’ll d ie .
TH E EN D
G ro u p (P L A N T A Z O M B S ) W il fr e d o C o lla d o III G io Q u e b r a l Ju d ith S ara C h e ls e a B o n ifa c io R ik a M a s a k i C h r is tin e M o r illa G id e o n L u c z o n