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Secrets of St. Margaret's © |
| Written by r.e.potter | |
| Saturday, 06 September 2008 | |
1977 The air was cool upon the open face and a crescent moon cast light upon the open meadow, but hidden in the depths of the shadows of the surrounding trees lurked an evil presence that only a man could possess. With cigarette in hand, occasional red glows from its tip would flair and outline his hardened face. But even the trees inhabitants we're oblivious to his reserve, and dressed in black, he waited. On the other side of the foliage; the county fair was in full motion. Noisy rollercoaster's and bad music filled the night's sky with sounds of good times and cherished memories. Thousands of people scurried about in all directions. Some parents held tight their sons and daughters while other children ran free and unaccounted for. Auctions of livestock were the center piece for most adults, and also for curious children who had never seen a pig or a goat or any other animal of that kind outside of a zoo. But children lose interest quick with the simple things, and when nine year old Kyle found a pack of cigarettes on the ground with a book of matches in its fold, he and his friend Billy took for the woods. Puffing away on the forbidden treat just a few feet into the tree line would on other nights be but a growing tale that would be told countless times to other friends of their brave doings. But on this night however, another tale would be told by the coming dawn, a tale of two boys', a tale of murder. Authorities found the bodies of the two boys' the next morning. Three weeks later another young boy of only nine had gone missing. His body however was never found. He's been assumed dead.
Both cases remain unsolved.
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Thirty one years later
Standing on the side of the car, twenty eight year old Brad Colton looked back to the house that held his fondest memories within its walls. Now packed away were photo albums of still shots and video of those same memories he'd now be taking with him. Still, he knew he'd be leaving part of those memories behind when he drove away from the house for the last time.
"Honey, lets go," his wife Megan was hollering out from within the car. "We have a long drive across the states." ***
Brad Colton had worked at Tyler Industries for the past nine years, and when his company gave him the option to either resign his position or relocate, he had no choice. Tyler Industries was a company based out of Denver Colorado for the past twenty-two years. It was a small company that had started out with the simple designing of computer monitors, but progressed quickly during the late nineties processing mother boards and micro chips, a more profitable trade. But now, for the last five years Tyler Industries was also a company who had begun to expand immensely with the manufacturing of the highly demanded fiber optics. A field Brad Colton was most equipped for.
Although Brad had lived his entire life in the Denver area and had many roots firmly planted, he also had a responsibility, his family. He had met Megan his wife to be at a banquet his company was having eight and a half years ago to celebrate a multi million dollar account the company had just landed. Though Megan wasn't working for Tyler Industries, she was however working that night as part of the group catering the event, and after a brief courtship of six months, they had married. Within the first year of marriage they had a son named Jacob, and like any adolescent, spent most his days watching cartoons and re-runs. But now Jacob was seven and starting school, and Brad had more then just himself to think about, he had his family. So Brad knew he had no choice when his company gave him the ultimatum to retire or relocate. With a child he was determined to send through college, he accepted a position at the newly constructed plant on the east coast in Annapolis, Maryland.
Growing up in a strict household; Brad learned quickly that if you didn't say yes ma'am or no sir, severe consequences were handed down, usually in the form of a belt. But oddly, his parents rarely cared where he would spend his nights or even if he had attended school that day. The unloving nurture he felt from his parents was the reason he had never pursued college, at least that's what he told himself. The real reason was because he had become lazy without any responsibilities while growing up. But he got lucky getting the job at the industry, and though he started his career in the mail room, he quickly moved up the corporate ladder by attending night courses in the field of high speed communication and fiber optics. But the one thing that he didn't want his son Jacob to have to rely on was that same luck when he moved into the working world, but first things first. He figured, get his son enrolled in a good catholic school to begin his elementary years and worry about the rest later.
With his family in the car and their belongings due to arrive a few days later, they headed east towards the state of Maryland; towards their new house and their new beginning. But Brad felt he was moving towards something else, a calling he couldn't explain. As they past the state of Maryland's welcome sign he couldn't help but let out of sigh of self pity for the life he was leaving behind. Noticing his changed demeanor, his wife Megan gave comfort.
"It was our only decision Brad. We had no choice but to leave Denver and our families. So stop worrying, we're going to be fine." Megan said assuring him by placing her hand atop his knee.
"I know dear, it's just that this year has been so stressful with my company and with little Jacob growing up so fast and now with these damn dreams that have returned..."
"Those dreams are back?" spoken with a look of shock on her face. "Why didn't you tell me about this Brad?"
"I know I'm sorry; they just started up again perhaps from all the stress with moving and all the headaches from my job, but I'll be fine," he now assured her by tapping his hand on top of hers.
"My God, are they the same dreams?" She spoke while glancing back to see if Jacob was still asleep. "Are they, are they the same?" she asked again.
"Yes, there always the same, always the same damn dream Megan. Always the same child no more then Jacobs age crying out. I hear him crying out for someone or something not to hurt him anymore, then it becomes quiet and I hear the sound of shoveling of some sort. Then right before I wake up I see...My God I see..."
"Its ok honey, everything is going to be ok." Megan stopped him before he painfully continued on.
"Megan," Brad spoke while squeezing her hand tightly now, "it's always the same child. I know by his cry...it's always the same child."
Brad Colton had his first dream when he was only nine years old. They continued on for the next five years and then came to an end. Thinking his mind was through with childish nightmares, he thought nothing else of it until the same dream resurfaced only eight months ago. Now, with the same dream relentlessly haunting him again, the one thing he knew he would miss most of all was the comfort and rapport he had established with his psychiatrist Helen Diggs back in Denver. Funded by his company and not to worry his wife, his visits were kept secret during lunch time visits. But for Brad Colton, as he would soon discover, these secrets were the last of his worries.
To be continued...
Copyright 2008 r.e.potter |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 13 October 2008 ) |
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