“I never saw you like this, Rose,” Jerram said. “I can’t believe it.”

She turned away, afraid to see that Jerram was near to tears.

“Please?” he said. And when she didn’t answer, he quietly left the room.

Jerram suddenly gone altruistic? The gruesome Jerram? What got into him all of a sudden?

She refused to feel bad about it and shut her ears to her brother’s accusations. He had no right to accuse her. He didn’t know what it was like.

Daniel, she thought. I really need to talk to you now. Only how can I possibly explain all this? You said I should trust myself. But I don’t know what to do. Am I obligated to keep getting messages? Must I go on talking to the dead? I’d rather forget it and stick with the living. Like you.

Part Five

Him

She is a strong one. Clever. But I am learning her ways. The newspapers hint about powers but I don’t believe she can match me. It will be nice to play with her for a while.

They must all look into my face and see my real self. Then death will bring them the flower bloom of love.

Tomorrow I have much to do. I will prepare the little gift with red blood ribbons and leave it for them. I have taken the risk again but everything is all right. Wollenschaft is gone, and the house is quiet and empty. No one to spy on me.

After the gift is delivered, I think I will buy myself a Christmas tree.

I am in such a good mood. How does that old song go? Oh, what a beautiful Christmas. Everything’s going my way. But perhaps best not to think of old songs, old anything. Reminds me of the mothertimes. Mothertimes, othertimes, bad times, death times.

Rose

Seventeen

The church was packed on Sunday. Dad said, “We should have bought reserved seats.”

Mom said, “Sssssh, Carl,” so loud everyone in the last few pews turned around. They slipped into seats near the back, and Mom’s face was bright red.

“The Emersons and the Merleys are down in front,” she observed in a whisper. “I wonder if Reverend Fairley is going to say something special.”

“The whole town’s running scared,” Jerram said.

He was right. The church was filled with a need that was almost tangible … you could feel it pulsating with the music of the organ. It seemed frighteningly wrong, as if the adults of Bethboro had become little children again.