MARVIN'S CURSE

Chapter 6.4

Stella grabbed Marvin's hand which was curled up into a fist. 'What's the matter with you?' she whispered. 'Just calm down. At least they're here.' 

But Marvin was far from finished. 'So let me get this right. You took people's hopes, dreams, - and, except for hers, just disposed of them?' 

'So to speak... and don't forget nightmares, worries... memories.' Old Kedigan looked at Stella as he spoke.  

'What kind of a man are you?' said Marvin, curling his lip with disdain. 

'A very powerful one,' said Old Kedigan, laughing. 'Very powerful indeed.' His cruel laugh suddenly broke into a series of gasping coughs. He held his hands to his chest, but regained his composure quickly. 

'Powerful? Look at you. You're just a pathetic old man!' said Marvin. 'You've preyed on people's weaknesses. You're evil.' 

'It was their choice,' spat the old man. 'I never made them pawn anything. They came to me!' 

'That doesn't make it right,' said Marvin. 'Have you seen the state of the people out there?' 

'I see it everyday,' said Old Kedigan. 

'Just give Stella her memories,' said Marvin, pulling Stella up from the chair. 'Give them back and we'll go.' 

'Stella? Is that the name you go by now?' 

Stella shot a nervous look to Marvin before answering. 'That's what it says on my...' 

'Her name is irrelevant,' cut in Marvin. 'Her memories... please.' 

Old Kedigan pressed the chair's button. Seconds later, a woman appeared in the room. 

'The purple box in the safe, bring it to me, Carson,' he said, without even glancing at her.  

Just as quickly, Carson disappeared. 

'I take it you still have the receipt I gave you,' the old man said to Stella. 

Stella took the card from her pocket, her hands trembling, and placed it in his outlying hand. 

'Have to keep things in order, you see,' he said, slipping the card into a wooden box beside his chair.  

Marvin curled his lip dismissively and rolled his eyes.  

Carson returned to the room carrying a small box. It was covered in purple velvet and had a brown tag attached to it. She handed the box to Old Kedigan and backed away towards the door. 

'Here, my dear. I believe this is what you came for.' He handed the box to Stella who took it in both hands. She clutched it to her chest. 

'The jar inside is sealed,' said the old man. 'You only have to break the seal and put the jar to your ear for your memories to be restored.' 

'Thank you,' whispered Stella, her face showed both relief and anxiety. 

'I don't understand,' said Old Kedigan. 'You've got your memories back, but you don't seem very happy.' He shook his head then pushed the chair button for a second time. 'Show them out,' he said when Carson appeared. 

Marvin took Stella's hand as the woman led them back to the front door. She gave a small smile back, holding on to her purple box and was just about to step outside onto the path when Old Kedigan called out. 

'You know you always seemed perfectly happy when you worked for me.' His callous laughter flooded Marvin's head. 

The door slammed behind them. 

'What does he mean? You worked for him?' Marvin dropped Stella's hand. 

'N-No, I couldn't have,' stammered Stella. 

Marvin clutched his head in despair. 'That's why he kept them. He knew you'd come back.' 

'It's a lie! How could I live here with dead people?' 

But Marvin brushed this to one side. 'You helped him?' he said, staring at the ground. 'You helped him take away all they had. All those people...' 

'Perhaps it's not true, perhaps he's making it up...' Stella fumbled with her box. 'I'll open it. I'll find out.' 

Marvin flicked the box out of her hands. 'All those people wandering around. You saw the emptiness in their eyes, you saw it! They're trapped here forever.'