The Harper Generations: Country Roads

The past bites you in the a**

Misty

Grandma Mary wasn't looking at Misty Reeves but at Maggie Holloway. She knew my family from the previous life, including my stupid father.

"Oh, dear god!" Grandma Mary gasped.

"What's wrong, Mary?" I tilted my head slightly. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Don't you recognize me?"

Grandma Mary raised a shaky finger and pointed it at me. "You're Maggie Holloway. You died years ago."

"Does anyone really die?" I took slow, methodical steps, focusing on Grandma Mary. "You should know since Anthony Holloway and Emerson Barnes just up and vanished into thin air." I snapped my fingers as fog settled into the room.

"I-I don't know anyone by those names."

"Are you sure? Anthony was a distant cousin of mine who came to West Virginia with you. But funny thing. No one knew what happened to Anthony. Some say he left town. But others have their doubts." I leaned into Grandma Mary's face as a sinister smile formed on my lips. "What would happen if Anthony miraculously appeared? Do you think people would welcome him with open arms?"

"That's impossible!"

"Why is it impossible? If I'm here, nothing is impossible." I smiled brighter.

"Because he's dead!"

"What do you mean he's dead?" I arched my brow as my smile faded.

"H-he.. he... died."

The lights flickered in the room, making Grandma Mary whimper. That damn Nash is ruining all my fun. He could wait a bit. Nope, he's so damn impatient.

"Maybe I should help you with the truth." I pressed my finger to her forehead as the lights flickered and the fog swirled.

"Fine! I'll tell you! Please don't hurt me!" She screamed in anguish.

I lowered my hand as the lights stopped flickering and the fog cleared. "I want the whole truth and nothing but the truth, or I'm sending you to hell."

Grandma Mary whimpered. "I killed Anthony, Emerson, and Edward."

We knew that. We just didn't have all the pieces.

"What did you do?" I asked.

"I-I poisoned them with strychnine, causing them to have a heart attack. Then, I buried them in the basement so no one would find them. I couldn't go to jail. I had kids." She shook her head as tears fell down her face.

"Why would you need to kill Anthony and Emerson if you had Edward?"

"Because I lied."

"About what?"

"I told Edward that Sylvia and Raymond were his kids so that he wouldn't leave me. Anthony and Emerson threatened to tell Edward the truth. I couldn't let them destroy my plans. Edward drafted a will, leaving me everything until he discovered the truth. He would leave me high and dry after I gave him everything."

"What did you do to Raymond's girlfriend?"

Grandma Mary averted her eyes to the floor.

"What did you do?" I screamed, scaring the living daylights out of her.

"I threatened to end her and her bastard child if she didn't leave and showed her proof," Grandma Mary whimpered while trembling.

I stared at my grandmother in disgust. She used three deaths to destroy her child's happiness. Grandma Mary lifted her head with her face ravaged with tears. The woman took lives and destroyed happiness for greed. I wish I could pity her, but I don't.