Chapter 5: Escape and Unanswered Questions

“This house will be hard to cleanse again.” Aunt Lisa shook her head. The room felt colder.

She stood, pacing the room. Her steps were slow, deliberate, as if she was searching for answers in the worn floorboards. The weight of her words pressed down on all of us.

“What does that mean?” Tyler’s face darkened. Aunt Lisa looked tired.

He crossed his arms, jaw clenched. Aunt Lisa stopped pacing, turning to face us. Her eyes were tired, full of sorrow.

“This time, it wasn’t your demon baby, but... your sister-in-law.” I couldn’t breathe.

The words hung in the air, heavy as lead. My breath caught in my throat. Tyler stared at Aunt Lisa, disbelief etched into his features.

According to Aunt Lisa, after drinking, the protection from crosses weakens. Alcohol increases a person’s energy, making it easier for restless spirits—like a woman who died in childbirth—to find them. Caleb, after drinking, was found by his dead wife, who took his life, making them ghost spouses. That’s why he was found naked. It sounded crazy, but I believed her.

She explained it in a hushed voice, her words heavy with superstition and sorrow. The logic felt twisted, but in that moment, it was the only explanation anyone could stomach. The room seemed colder, the shadows deeper.

Tyler was beyond grief, exhausted and on the verge of collapse from the endless tragedies. Now only he, his half-crazed mother, and I were left. I sat beside him.

He slumped against the wall, head in his hands. I sat beside him, rubbing his back. My mother-in-law whimpered in the corner, lost in her own world. The house felt emptier than ever.

“Aunt Lisa, is there anything that can be done for my mom?” Tyler finally asked, eyes red. He was pleading.

His voice was rough, desperate. He looked at Aunt Lisa, pleading for hope. She sighed, shaking her head.

“Your mom was scared out of her mind, her spirit broken. Even if you took her to every doctor in the county, they’d just say she’s lost her mind. And...” Tyler’s shoulders slumped.

She trailed off, glancing at the window. The morning light was pale, weak. Tyler’s shoulders slumped further.

Aunt Lisa hesitated. We waited.

She fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, searching for the right words. The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable.

“And what?” Tyler pressed. Aunt Lisa met his gaze.

He leaned forward, voice sharp. Aunt Lisa met his gaze, her eyes full of sorrow.

“And, your sister-in-law and the demon baby aren’t done yet. Before the seventh day, they’ll haunt this place, taking someone every day. Your mom is weak now, she might...” Tyler’s face crumpled.

She didn’t finish, but the implication was clear. Tyler’s face crumpled, and I reached for his hand, squeezing it tight.

Aunt Lisa didn’t finish, just sighed and continued: She looked at the door.

She stood, straightening her dress. “In short, the next few days will still be rough. Don’t go out. Wait until after the seventh day to bury them. Luckily, it’s cool—the coffins will keep.”

Her words offered little comfort, but we clung to them anyway. The only thing left was to wait and hope we survived. It wasn’t much.

When Aunt Lisa left, as she opened the door, a few townswomen eavesdropping nearly fell in, then scattered. The gossip would spread fast.

The sound of their hurried footsteps echoed down the porch. Tyler shut the door, locking it tight. The gossip would spread like wildfire, and we all knew it.

By noon, everyone in Maple Heights knew our house was haunted, and more deaths were expected. If this town weren’t so remote, hours from the nearest city, everyone would’ve left to avoid disaster. Tyler unplugged the phone.

The phone rang all afternoon—neighbors calling, not to offer comfort, but to ask if we’d seen anything strange. I stopped answering after the third call. Tyler unplugged the phone, and we sat in silence, listening to the wind rattle the windows.

Tyler and I tidied up Caleb’s body, looking at the three caskets in the living room and my mother-in-law weeping and laughing crazily, exhausted in body and mind. My mother-in-law rocked in her chair.

We changed Caleb into clean clothes, arranging his hair as best we could. The living room looked like a funeral home, caskets lined up in a grim row. My mother-in-law rocked in her chair, sometimes sobbing, sometimes laughing, lost to the world.

“The three of us won’t go out today. We’ll stay together and see what else can happen!” Tyler suddenly punched the wall in anger. I grabbed his hand.

His fist left another dent. I grabbed his hand, wincing at the redness spreading across his knuckles. He let out a shaky laugh, but there was no humor in it.

“Okay, we’ll both stay by Mom’s side, take turns for meals and the bathroom, make sure she’s never alone.” It was all we could do.

I squeezed his hand, offering what comfort I could. We made a plan—one of us would always be with Mom, no matter what. It was the only way to keep her safe, or at least try.

I held Tyler’s reddened fist, gently blowing on it to comfort him. He buried his face in my shoulder, breathing hard. I stroked his back.

He buried his face in my shoulder, breathing hard. I stroked his back, whispering, “We’ll get through this. I promise.” For a moment, it felt like we might actually survive.

“What are you doing! Why aren’t you having children yet!” Suddenly, my mother-in-law ran over, pointing at us fiercely. “Your brother’s wife was pregnant twice, why haven’t you given the Brooks family a child!” Tyler’s jaw tightened.

Her voice was shrill, cutting through the silence. Tyler’s jaw tightened, but he forced a smile, guiding her back to her chair. I could see the pain in his eyes, but he said nothing, just stroked her hair gently.

Tyler was about to get angry, but seeing his mother’s crazed state, he held back and coaxed her to sit down. I sat beside them.

He spoke softly, promising her everything she wanted to hear. I sat beside them, offering silent support. The day dragged on, heavy with grief and fear.

We didn’t leave the house that day. The hours crawled by, each one heavier than the last. We clung to each other.

We took turns sitting by the caskets, whispering prayers, lighting candles. The hours crawled by, each one heavier than the last. Outside, the wind picked up, rattling the windows. Inside, we clung to each other, hoping for a miracle.

At night, Tyler and I stayed in my mother-in-law’s room, sleeping on the floor, passing the night safely. We woke to sunlight.

We spread blankets on the floor, keeping watch as my mother-in-law slept fitfully. Tyler held my hand all night, his grip tight. For once, nothing happened. We woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains, a small mercy in the darkness.

The next morning, the fifth day after my sister-in-law’s death, sure enough, something happened again. It never ended.

The phone rang before dawn, a neighbor’s voice shaky on the line. Tyler answered, face growing pale. “Another one,” he whispered. My heart sank. It was happening again.

Ever since she died in childbirth, it seemed a new body turned up every morning. Yesterday we got a good night’s sleep only because we didn’t find Caleb’s body in time. This morning, no such luck.

The town square was packed, voices raised in fear and anger. Tyler and I hurried outside, hearts pounding. My mother-in-law refused to leave her room, rocking and humming to herself. She was lost to us.

Another townsman had died, but this time no one threw eggs or rotten vegetables at us. Because this time, the victim was an old bachelor with no family, known as Uncle Ray, over seventy. With no family, no one came to curse us. His death was met with a strange mix of relief and fear.

Uncle Ray was the town oddball, always muttering to himself, feeding stray cats behind the diner. His death was met with a strange mix of relief and fear. People whispered that maybe, just maybe, the curse would end with him.

When Tyler and I arrived at the town square, a crowd had already gathered. Seeing us, people made way, afraid to catch our bad luck. Though no one sought justice for Uncle Ray, their disgust was obvious. I felt their stares.

The crowd parted, eyes averted. I felt their stares burning into my back, their whispers sharp as knives. Tyler kept his head down, jaw clenched.

We approached the old oak tree and saw Uncle Ray hanging there. His shirt was neat, but his pants were gone. His death was similar to Caleb’s.

The sight was horrifying, more grotesque than anything I’d ever seen. Someone covered him with a sheet, but the image stuck in my mind. The sheriff shook his head, muttering about “bad omens.” I couldn’t look away.

People whispered, and nasty rumors drifted our way. Every word hurt.

The gossip was vicious—people speculated about curses, revenge, and dark secrets. Every whispered word seemed to add another weight to our shoulders.

“I came home late last night, thought I heard a baby crying and laughing. Must’ve been the demon baby coming for Ray!” Fear spread fast.

A woman in curlers clutched her purse, eyes darting nervously. The rumors grew with every telling, the fear spreading like wildfire.

“I heard Ray once harassed the Brooks’ daughter-in-law. This is payback!” No one cared about the truth.

The words stung, even though I knew they were just gossip. The truth was more complicated, but no one wanted to hear it.

“He never married, and now a woman ghost took him. Serves him right.” Even they looked scared.

A group of teenage boys snickered, but their laughter was hollow. Even they looked scared.

“Even dead, he’s a dirty old ghost~” The mood was tense.

Someone made a rude gesture, but the older folks quickly hushed them. The mood was tense, everyone on edge.

“Better watch your mouths, or the ghost and demon baby will come for you.” We stood there, not knowing what to do.

An old man spat on the ground, crossing himself. The crowd slowly dispersed, leaving us alone beneath the oak tree.

The older folks hushed the gossips and went to take down the body. Tyler and I lingered.

A couple of men climbed the tree, carefully lowering Uncle Ray’s body to the ground. The sheriff made a few notes, then signaled for everyone to clear out. Tyler and I lingered for a moment, then turned away.

I pulled Tyler away. “Don’t look. Let’s go home and stay with Mom.” The weight of the town’s hatred pressed down.

He nodded, letting me lead him away. The walk home felt longer than usual, the weight of the town’s hatred pressing down on us.

Now, the happiest person was my mother-in-law. Seeing her silly, happy face, I almost felt jealous. For a moment, I envied her.

She sat in her rocking chair, humming lullabies to an invisible child. For a moment, I envied her—at least she’d found a way to escape the pain.

Tyler, back home, was pale and silent. We didn’t speak.

He sat at the kitchen table, staring into his coffee. I sat beside him, resting my hand on his knee. The silence between us was heavy, filled with unspoken fears.

“Don’t overthink it. As long as the three of us stay together, no one alone, we’ll be fine.” Tyler nodded, but I could see he didn’t believe it.

I tried to sound confident, but my voice shook. Tyler nodded, but I could see he didn’t believe it.

I patted Tyler’s shoulder, trying to comfort him. We sat together, drawing what little comfort we could.

He forced a smile, squeezing my hand. We sat together, drawing what little comfort we could from each other.

“I just feel like the three of us are doomed too.” Tyler ran his hands through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. I reached for his hand.

He ran his hands through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. I reached for his hand, squeezing it tight.

“Right! Doomed! We’ll get it too! Hee hee, doomed, doomed, hee hee.” My mother-in-law mimicked Tyler. Tyler winced.

Her laughter was shrill, echoing off the walls. Tyler winced, but said nothing. I looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

I looked at them, not knowing what else to say, and sighed to Tyler: I headed for the kitchen.

“Forget it, you sit with Mom. I’ll go make breakfast.”

He nodded, his shoulders slumping. I headed for the kitchen, trying to keep my hands from shaking.

In the kitchen, I opened the little window over the sink. Then, from the ledge outside, I took a white paper packet. My heart raced.

The morning light was soft, filtering through the lace curtains. I glanced outside, making sure no one was watching, then slipped the packet into my apron pocket. My heart raced, but my hands were steady.

After making oatmeal, I poured the white powder in, mixing it well. I stirred the pot, humming softly.

The powder dissolved instantly, leaving no trace. I stirred the pot, humming softly to myself. The scent of cinnamon filled the air, masking any bitterness.

I carried a bowl into the room. I handed him a mug of coffee.

Tyler looked up, eyes tired. I handed him a mug of coffee, then set the bowl on the table in front of my mother-in-law. She grinned, clapping her hands like a child.

Tyler asked, “Why only one bowl?” I smiled, shaking my head.

He frowned, glancing at the counter. I smiled, shaking my head.

“Too hot, letting the rest cool. This one’s just right for Mom. You wait a bit.” Tyler sipped his coffee.

I handed the bowl to my mother-in-law, watching as she dug in. Tyler sipped his coffee, still eyeing me suspiciously.

After eating, she yawned. “So sleepy, I want to sleep, cuddle my grandson to sleep!” She hugged a broom like a baby, insisting on going to bed. I watched her go.

She shuffled off to her room, broom in hand, humming softly. I watched her go, a strange mix of pity and relief washing over me.

I had Tyler help her to bed, while I went to get the other oatmeal. I returned to the kitchen.

He tucked her in, smoothing her hair. I returned to the kitchen, ladling out two more bowls, my hands steady. The plan was almost complete.

“Tyler, you must be tired these days? I feel so bad for you.” He looked up, surprised.

I sat beside him, placing a hand on his arm. He looked up, surprised by the tenderness in my voice.

I gently held Tyler’s hand, looking at him tenderly. For a moment, it almost felt real.

He squeezed my hand, eyes softening. For a moment, it almost felt real—like we were just a normal couple, sharing breakfast on a quiet morning.

He looked up from his oatmeal, moved, and squeezed my hand. “Megan, you’ve been through so much. You must be scared.” I closed my eyes.

He pulled me into a hug, holding me tight. I closed my eyes, savoring the warmth, even as my mind raced ahead.

He hugged me. I let myself lean into it.

His embrace was strong, desperate. I let myself lean into it, just for a moment, before pulling away.

“Not really. There’s no such thing as ghosts.” The sound was sharp, almost manic. Tyler pulled back, frowning.

The sound was sharp, almost manic. Tyler pulled back, frowning.

Tyler let go instantly. “What did you say?” He stared at me, suspicion flickering in his eyes. I just smiled.

He stared at me, suspicion flickering in his eyes. I just smiled, tilting my head.

I stopped smiling, raised a finger, and gently pushed his shoulder. He had no strength, slid from the chair to the floor. He looked shocked.

He tried to speak, but the words slurred. His eyelids drooped, and he yawned again, struggling to stay awake. I knelt beside him, brushing his hair from his forehead.

“Hey, for a grown man, you should need more than your mom, and you only had half a bowl. Already out?” My voice was soft, almost regretful. Tyler’s eyes fluttered.

I shook my head in disappointment, then said, “I wanted to talk more with you.”

His words were thick, barely more than a whisper. I smiled, shaking my head.

“You... you drugged us?!” Tyler asked in disbelief. “You did all this?” I smiled, shaking my head.

“Don’t say it like that. Where would I get poison? Just sleeping pills.” I rolled my eyes, standing up. Tyler tried to push himself up.

I rolled my eyes, standing up. Tyler tried to push himself up, but he was too weak. I watched him, arms crossed, waiting for him to give up.

Tyler tried to get up, but couldn’t. I knelt beside him.

He slumped back to the floor, eyes fluttering. I knelt beside him, stroking his hair.

“Don’t bother, you’ll fall asleep soon. The more you fight it, the faster it works.” My voice was flat, emotionless. Tyler’s eyes widened.

My voice was flat, emotionless. Tyler’s eyes widened, fear flickering in them. I felt nothing.

“So you never meant to live here peacefully.” He glared at me, jaw clenched. I just smiled.

He glared at me, jaw clenched. I just smiled, leaning in close.

Like my sister-in-law, I was trafficked here. The memory was sharp, painful. I remembered the night they brought me here.

The memory was sharp, painful. I remembered the night they brought me here—how the house smelled of fried chicken and cheap perfume, how my wrists ached from the zip ties. Tyler had smiled, but his eyes were cold. Caleb had just grunted, barely looking at me.

When I arrived, my sister-in-law had already been locked up for over half a year. Our rooms were a few feet apart, facing each other, with a window big enough to see her whole bed. If not for the chain around our ankles, we could’ve climbed out easily. They wanted me to see.

The first few nights, I lay awake, listening to her scream. The sound haunted me, echoing in my dreams. I learned quickly.

From the start, my sister-in-law screamed and fought every day. Her cries would rise and fall, sometimes fading into whispers, other times exploding into wild laughter. The family ignored her.

At night, when Tyler came for me, Caleb would go to her. The walls were thin. I covered my ears, but the sounds seeped through. I learned to stay quiet.

The warning worked on me; I stopped crying after five days. But they still wouldn’t let me leave the room, even locked the window. I guessed they’d only let me out after I got pregnant.

I became invisible, moving through the house like a ghost. All the while, I watched, waited, planned. I played the part.

But my sister-in-law got pregnant first. But farm work was heavy; all four had to work just to keep up. So they made me watch her.

I spent hours by her bedside, wiping her face, bringing her food. But sometimes, late at night, she’d squeeze my hand... “Don’t let them win,” she’d whisper.

In my half year here, I was obedient... From my mother-in-law, I learned that almost every family here bought wives. I was “lucky.”

Lisa was the only one who seemed to have any real power. She played her part perfectly... The townsfolk trusted her.

With my obedience, my mother-in-law went from cautious to gossiping with me... Every detail was a piece of the puzzle. She trusted me.

When I entered her room, she wasn’t just chained by the ankle... Her wrists were raw, her face streaked with tears. I sat beside her.

I sighed, brought warm water and a towel to wipe her face and hands. The water was cool, soothing. She winced.

“You’re really pathetic,” she spat after a while. I kept wiping her face.

Her words stung, but I didn’t react. I kept wiping her face.

“I’m just trying to make life a bit better.” My voice was soft, almost apologetic. She looked away.

“I won’t accept this! I want to go home!” She sobbed, her body shaking. I held her.

She started screaming and twisting, tears streaming down. Her voice was raw, desperate. I squeezed her wrist through the towel.

“Shut up!” She met my gaze, eyes wide. I leaned in.

She froze, surprise and hope in her eyes. Her grip tightened on my hand, a silent promise. We would survive.

I secretly contacted Aunt Lisa... Lisa told me stories.

Now, I proposed an escape plan, and Lisa agreed immediately. The plan became our lifeline.

Our original plan was for my sister-in-law to give birth safely... The plan was risky.

But things went wrong. My sister-in-law had a difficult labor... The night she died, I sat in my room, fists clenched.

Frank wanted to bury the child born from my sister-in-law’s life. Their ignorance was suffocating. I wanted to scream.

I couldn’t bear it, and while Tyler was busy with the funeral... I wrapped her tight.

I ran to the riverbank, exhausted. The river was swollen from last week’s rain... I clutched the branch.

“You crazy woman, what are you doing!” His face was red, veins bulging. He lunged for me.

“This child is just sick, not a curse!” My voice was steady, defiant. Frank sneered.

“What do you know! Foolish woman!” He grabbed my arm, squeezing hard. I twisted free.

I sidestepped, shoved him into the river with the branch. My arms ached, but I didn’t stop. This was my only chance.

Exhausted, after several tries... His eyes were wild, desperate. I met his gaze.

“Don’t stare. I’ll not only kill you...” The words spilled out, cold and sharp. Frank’s face twisted in rage.

“You! You!” He disappeared beneath the surface... I stood there, shaking.

I watched the water calm, expecting to feel fear... The world seemed to hold its breath. I picked up the baby.

That night, I carried the child to Aunt Lisa’s house. Lisa’s face went pale when she saw the baby. She ushered me inside.

“What’s this?!” She stared at the child, then at me, her eyes wide with shock. I told her everything.

I told her everything. The words tumbled out—Frank, the river, the plan gone wrong. Lisa listened, nodding.

“I never thought our three-person plan would end with just us.” She wiped her eyes, rocking the baby gently. I hugged her.

“It’s come to this, we have to act early.” Lisa nodded, determination hardening her features. We had no choice now.

“We never planned to take the baby...” Lisa nodded, her jaw set. “We’ll keep her safe.”

“This child is pitiful too.” Her eyes sparkled with a fierce intelligence. We plotted late into the night.

We hid the child in an abandoned house by the town cemetery... The house was cold and dusty, but safe. We brought blankets, bottles.

We met secretly at night, or exchanged messages in English on Bible pages. No one suspected a thing. The sense of hope grew.

Now, looking at Tyler yawning on the floor, I felt disgusted. He was just another jailer... I watched him, heart cold.

“Why should I live here peacefully?” My voice was soft, almost mocking. Tyler glared at me.

I smiled at Tyler. “Do you know how your brother died?” His eyes widened, fear flickering in them. I leaned in, whispering.

“Caleb, you...” He tried to sit up, but the sleeping pills dragged him down. I watched, unmoved.

“He said, after half a year with you...” The words were sharp, meant to wound. Tyler flinched.

Seeing Tyler’s red face, I felt delighted... The cruelty in his words still burned. I spat on the floor.

“You! You...” He glared at me, rage and fear warring in his eyes. I just smiled.

“I was disgusted enough with you...” The truth hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. Tyler’s eyes widened.

“Spare... my mom, please...” His voice was barely a whisper. I shook my head, unmoved.

Impatient, I pressed a pillow over his face. He didn’t even struggle. After a while, I lifted the pillow.

I dragged his body to Caleb’s room... I slept deeply.

The next morning, the sixth day after my sister-in-law’s death. I slipped through the house, careful not to wake my mother-in-law. The tape recorder fit perfectly beneath her bed.

I brought it to my mother-in-law’s door, pressed play... The performance was perfect. I screamed, sobbed, fainted dead away.

The town soon heard. The rumor mill churned, stories growing wilder with every telling. The Brooks house was now officially cursed.

My mother-in-law could no longer understand words... That night, I gave her sleeping pills... We worked quickly.

Tomorrow would be the seventh day... The town would mourn, gossip, and then move on. Lisa and I would be gone.

Then, Lisa and I returned to the Brooks house at night. We dug the grave by moonlight, our hands raw and bleeding. We marked it with a simple stone.

After all this, it was past 1 a.m. The night was cool, the stars bright overhead. We moved quickly.

We hurried through the woods, saving our strength, saying nothing. Every twig snap made us flinch, every shadow a threat. But we kept moving.

We walked for over two hours; in another hour, it would be light. The flashlights bobbed through the trees, voices growing louder. I clutched the baby tight.

“There’s something up ahead!” The panic in his voice sent a jolt through me. We picked up the pace.

“Maybe it’s her, hurry!” I recognized his voice, deep and angry. My heart pounded.

We felt a chill, only one thought: we’re done, it’s all over. Lisa grabbed my arm, her grip fierce. “Don’t stop,” she said.

“Looks like they haven’t found your mother-in-law...” She pressed the bag into my hands, her eyes shining with tears. “You have to make it.”

“I’ll go back with them, you take the child and run!” She pushed me forward, her voice shaking. I shook my head.

“No! If you go back, it’s over!” I grabbed her arm, refusing to let go. The voices grew louder.

“No other way! They’re about to catch up...” I stumbled, nearly falling. Lisa’s eyes were wild.

I shook my head, tears streaming, feet rooted, unwilling to move. I couldn’t leave her—not after everything we’d been through. She pushed me again.

“Waaah... giggle giggle...” The sound was eerie, echoing through the trees. The men behind us froze.

“It’s... it’s the demon baby! The demon baby!” The men began to back away, stumbling over roots and branches. “Run!!!”

The men scattered, their shouts fading into the night. Lisa and I stared at each other, stunned. We didn’t stop.

“But my wife isn’t found yet...” One man’s voice rose above the rest, desperate and pleading. But the others ignored him.

“Forget your wife, save yourself, run!” The panic was contagious. Within seconds, the woods were empty.

The men screamed in terror, then all ran back toward the town. Lisa and I exchanged a glance, said nothing, and ran toward the city. We didn’t stop until the woods thinned.

We walked two nights and days... The sound of cars on the highway was the sweetest music I’d ever heard. We hugged, sobbing with relief.

“We finally escaped. I never thought I’d live to see this day...” She squeezed my hand, her face radiant. For the first time in years, she looked truly alive.

“Yes, we finally made it out!” We did it. For all of us. We made it.

“Thanks to you throwing the recorder out...” She laughed, shaking her head. She suddenly stopped.

“I threw mine in the river long ago.” We stared at each other, realization dawning. The truth was stranger than anything we’d planned.

“Then... that night’s sound was...” We didn’t speak again. The silence was filled with questions.

We were both educated, believed in science... Sometimes, the world is stranger than we want to believe. Sometimes, you just have to run with it.

Epilogue

We brought the albino child to the county orphanage, then reported everything anonymously. We watched the news reports from a cheap motel room, tears streaming down our faces. Justice, at last.

After that, Lisa and I returned to our own lives... We went our separate ways, new names, new stories. Some bonds are too painful to revisit.

As for that night’s sound, it’s probably a mystery for life. I still think about it, late at night, when the world is quiet. Some questions are better left unanswered.

Many nights since, I often dream of a girl... In my dreams, she dances in the grass, her laughter ringing out like church bells on a Sunday morning. She is free, and so am I.

END