In The Garden

Chapter 23

"Is it done?" asked Zelda as she entered the door to Aston Manor.

"Yes," cried George, "I killed her. I killed them. But Alice got away."

"I see," said Zelda, "we can work with that. These stories always need a survivor."

"Why did it have to be me?" asked George.

"Because you loved her," said Zelda.

"You loved her too," said George.

"I did but you were her true love it had to come from you," explained Zelda, "where is the child?"

"Alice? I don't know she was picked up by some car," told George.

"Not that child," said Zelda.

"I don't know she wasn't in her room," said George.

"I'll find her," said Zelda, "this is for the greater good, George."

"Is it, Zelda?" he asked.

When the group arrived at 8600 Westridge the house had several police cars in front of it already. The young girl's father was outside frantically talking to a police officer while her mother sat on the front porch steps and wept uncontrollably.

"We're too late," said Zelda

"Well we know where they're going," said Darren.

"Drive fast," said Anna.

They sped off towards Aston Manor in an effort to save Debra Hart. They had been walking for about twenty minutes Veronica checking back every so often to make sure Debra was still close behind her. Veronica skipped and hummed pleasantly as she led the girl to what she knew would be her death. Veronica and the entranced Debra Hart came into a clearing. The moon was high and bright in the sky tonight. The clearing would have been an ideal space for a picnic after a nice hike but here tonight the what would have been pleasant any other time was solem. From the clearing the could see Aston Manor looming in the distance the shadow of which was cast into the clearing.

"Almost there," said Veronica, "keep up"

"Where are we going mother?" asked the girl.

"To visit a friend," said Veronica.

The two girls continued along their way reaching the walls of the garden but instead of running into Georgette they were headed off by none other than George Walker. George stood there, axe in hand blocking the girls' way. Debra didn't seem to notice he was there but Veronica certainly did she stopped dead in here tracks looking up and George with fear in her eyes. She began to visibily tremble

"George," said Veronica.

"There's no cat here to save you this time," told George. "Or a detective."

"I don't know what you mean we are just lost," said Veronica.

"Don't play coy with me," said George, "I know what you're doing."

"Do you now?" she asked, "she's making me do it."

"No she isn't," said George, " I thought there was hope for Alice but I was wrong about her I won't make the same mistake twice."

"What are you going to do?" asked Veronica.