HOUSEWIFE

Epilogue

The day I wake up, everything feels different. The bright room, the white ceiling with a tint of yellow, and the smell of rubbing alcohol are all so unfamiliar. As Bella told me about what happened, flashes of honking cars and blinking headlights appears in my memory. I am currently hospitalized after a hit-and-run.

'Dad...hit me?'

Bella's nod is one of the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen. I know that Dad doesn't really care about us, but the fact that he wanted to kill me, is beyond sad. However, it's not the craziest thing I hear that day. I mean, you don't hear a story about a murderous house every day.

Our house, the lovely suburban house surrounded by a lovely black fence is possessed. It isn't a friendly spirit either, because that spirit, has taken the life of our Dad. I can't believe it, and neither could the police. It's understandable, only a mad man would believe it. However, when one of their retired senior, Uncle Henry, told them the story, they didn't question it any further. In the end, his death is ruled as an heart attack. 

'Older...sister?'

'Well, I don't really know the details. Leon is the one who talked to Justin.' She takes a sip of her iced coffee, 'She calls herself....Holly.'

'Holly huh? I wonder where did she come from.'

Bella doesn't answer. Instead, she stands up and reach into her bag. 'I found this book in your house the other day'.

From the countless white creases, I can tell that it's an old textbook. Moreover, the cover is more yellow than white. It has a painted image. Some brush strokes, that I think is supposed to look like a ghost or spirit. On the upper side of the cover, in big black letters, the title is written. "Exorcism Through Time". Judging from it's state, I don't think the book would explain past the 1980s.

'Honestly, I don't know how accurate this book is,' she says as she flips open the pages. 'but, there's something....interesting in it.'

'....Being one of the most popular instance of paranormal activities, possession is a common incidents occurring throughout the world. Records of mythology regarding possessed items are found both in the west and east side of the world. Possession, ranged from general items (e.g. Tsukumogami found in Japanese Myths) to specific ones (e.g. Klaubautermann believed by German sailors), are said to happen due to...'

'....strong feelings shown towards the object.' Like a dusty gear, my brain starts to spin. 'No evidence are able to support this claim. However, several witness had claimed that 'strong feeling', such as love or hatred had lead to several paranormal activities.....'

'It also says...' Bella stands up and points at one of the paragraph. '...that possession of a house is a common thing. I guess that's why haunted house is so popular.'

'Mom...really loved that house...,' My voice is weak, as if I am talking to myself. 'Did it...kill Mom?'

'No....,' Bella shakes her head. 'Well, from what Justin said, it seems that she killed Grandma. But the one who killed Mary, was Arthur.'

Of course. Deep down, I knew that Dad did it. The way he bounced back so quickly, and his way of diminishing the topic of her death, are suspicious. The only reason keeping me from accusing him, is the fact that he is her husband. Turns out, my assumption is nothing but hope. I was a fool to ever think him as a good man.

'Orion..?'

The world has become blurry. My mouth refuses to smile as tears start to stream down my cheek. I clench my fists, trying to hold back the flow, but I can't. Before I know it, I was wailing. As if the world has been drowned by my screams, I cover my ears. I can feel my bandaged head and arms throbbing in pain, but the tear in my heart is far greater.

With no one left to care for us, Uncle Henry and his wife takes us in. So far, I think that he is a great man. I've been awake for three days and he had visited me four times (He visited me twice in the second day to give me some fruits). Leon and Justin seem to think so as well. Seeing their face, I can feel two things, regret and relief. I regretted not being there for them, but I was relieved that they are ok and that everything was over.

Dad's funeral is sad, but not in a tear-jerking way. It's pitiful. The rumour about him killing Mom has gone around the neighbourhood. We suspected one or two wives of the policemen, but there's really nothing we can do about it. Few flowers are sent. Even fewer people come. Those who come are either Dad's coworker or people who are concerned about us, like my coach, and Bella's parents.

'Hold the sticks here..' I show Justin how to hold the incense properly. 'Be careful of the ashes, ok?'

'OK!'

During my days in the hospital, Uncle Henry, Leon, Justin, and I, discussed about what we should do with the house. We decided to take it down. That's why the three of us are currently standing side by side in front of the house, with three sticks of incense in each hand. It's a final prayer and goodbye for the house. Leon suggested it. He said that although she did kill Grandma dan Dad, she tried her best to protect us.

'Holly....' I call out her name in my prayer. 'Thank you for protecting our family....,' I've never prayed with incense sticks. I'm not sure about what I should say, but I keep going. 'We'll be moving in with Uncle Henry, so I guess we're safe now.' Tears starts welling in my eyes. 'If you meet Mom up there....please tell her that we'll be fine....I hope you'll be happy up there with her.'

'Alright! We're in the clear boys!' One fireman shouts to the others.

'Please step back a bit.' With a yellow tape, the fireman told us to back away.

A classic exorcism, one without spells or weird drawings, cremation. It was widely believed that burning would burning a soul medium would prevent it to be possessed again. Afraid that Holly will be stuck here even after we demolished the building, we thought of burning it. Obviously, it's impossible, but Uncle Henry said otherwise. He said that his friends in the fire department might be able to use it for training. Luckily, the neighbourhood is sparsely placed, meaning there's enough space between our house and the next. In the end, they agreed to burn the house down.

The three of us stayed a few feet apart from the training firemen. Not long, smoke starts to come out of the windows. None of us move a muscle. From the corner of my eye, I can see Justin starts to tear up, before he clings to Leon. Poor him. Even though he's only 6, he had attended three funerals. He has cried so much. I really hope that this will be his last funeral, at least until he grow up into an adult.

As the smoke thickens, flashes of orange and red starts to appear from the window. The sky turns dark with flying soot, and the temperature rises. Still, the three of us don't move a muscle. I don't know why we don't. Perhaps it's due to respect, guilt, anger, relief, or maybe all of them. We have done a lot of things in this house. It has provide us with shelter and memories, both good and bad. It's a good house. I never talk to Holly, but although she's the reason I'm going through a therapy now, it's still hard to let go.

'Thank you...' 

Amidst the flame, I see a smiling figure.