Switch Blade Romance

Return to Manitachie Falls.

February 25th, 2015.

Manitachie Fall's Arkansas. Rachel Edison sat in the passenger side of the rented Impala. She Stared out of the window, "What exactly are we hoping to find" she asked John Henry who was driving. Well this is where it all started, so far as I know. He said in a thick southern accent! They had just turned off of highway 63 and into the Manitachie Fall's. Town line, Juanita sat in the backseat with Lacey. Neither of them said a word, he came here in the summer of 2007 Charles Grady. He was in class with my Emily, John was talking never taking his eyes off the road. Well are we going to talk to Emily asked Rachel no she doesn't live here anymore thank God! She and her Fiancee. Moved to Missouri about a year ago. I was thinking we'd talk to some people who might've known Charles, they might have some insight on where he could've taken Andrew. You mean there are actually people who are still alive. That knew Charles Grady? Rachel asked. Yeah he had a few friends and an aunt who are still around! We'll probably talk to his aunt Marta later on tonight. John pulled the car into the parking lot of a Convenience store that had a small diner attached to it. There were a few Trucks and cars in the parking lot besides their's. Who are we meeting first! Rachel asked. Angel Bowen, John responded. She was friends with Charles, She works here now I think she might be on break. John opened his door and climbed out, Rachel and Juanita and Lacey followed. They stepped inside the diner,  the smell of bacon and eggs and other frying food hit Lacey in the nose first. She hadn't realized she was hungry until just now. She hadn't exactly been eating just right, not since this whole ordeal had started. They were all hungry, Let's get a table, you guys. Lacey said. Moments later a young woman, guided them to a back table. Is Angel in? John asked.... I was supposed to be meeting with her at noon. The girl looked at them " I'll go get her. She's in back about to go on break!" John nodded, ok please do! The girl left them menus and walked back towards the kitchen.  A few minutes later a brunette girl, who looked to be in her mid twenties but also like she had seen a lot of pain and trouble in her years . Walked over to the table and sat down next to Rachel! "Well now John Henry, she said. It's been a while, what three years maybe? John nodded yeah Angel its been about that long. Are you staying clean? She nodded" yeah I better be! Right? Or you'll bust me again! Juanita cleared her throat. John looked at her.... Oh OK yeah Angel, we need to talk to you about. Angel interrupted him. " Charles Grady. I already know. He's got a new boy doesn't he? He still into obsessing over them. Wow that's actually sad as fuck! Angel said lighting up a cigarette. I'm sure you guys know he's done this before right? Yes Rachel said. In 2008 right? Yeah Angel said! and two years before that. In 2006 in another town before he came here. Rachel looked at Lacey, Juanita and John. Wait what? He killed before he came here? How did we not know about this?  we did said John. Well i did anyway! Lester Sturgis isn't it. He said looking at Angel, yeah she said. Ashing her cigarette. He didn't outright admit to killing him. But he, hinted to it. He said that one of his first boyfriends Lester got caught over at his house. By his step dad! Earl Rodmoore, it didn't end pretty. That was one of the reasons he kept such a hold on Matthew Sager. That's one of the victims from here isn't it? Asked Juanita. " Yeah John answered, we found what was left of his body out there in the woods. About the same time we found the rest of the kids in the cabin! Rachel spoke next, Angel you really haven't told us anything we don't already know! Other than he might've killed a guy named Lester and maybe his step dad.  Angel looked up putting her cigarette out. He drugs them, i know that. He used to get this weird hypnotic drug from my  ex boyfriend. Seth I can't remember the name of it. But he gives it to em.  It messes with their heads, like makes em compliant. They do what he tells them, oh my God is that what he did to Andrew! Lacey said. I mean that night he attacked him. At the store, John nodded. Yes most likely! He attacked the Sager boy after school. In 2007, two weeks after the first murder. When the janitor found him, Matthew was incoherent too.  He kept saying something about a devil with Green eyes. Rachel thought back to Andrew at the grocery store that night.  Rachel his eyes were green they were bright green! Bright green Rachel. Oh God he did do it to Andrew.  We need to find Andrew, if he's alive that is. Angel do you know where Charles Grady might have taken Andrew.  No Angel said Shaking her head. No I don't, his Aunt Marta might though! After they had finished their meal and paid. They got back into the car, "What now said Juanita? Do we go to talk to Marta Lumpkins? John pulled out of the gas station parking lot. Yeah that's where I'm headed now! Fifteen minutes later. They pulled up in the yard of a Double wide trailer. There was an old Ford Truck in front of the trailer. With another old wrecked car on the other side of the trailer. This is where he lived isn't it? Asked Lacey. Yes said John, his mother and him both lived here with Marta for a few years. Before she met Earl Rodmoore, they climbed out of the car and stood looking at the trailer for a few minutes. The screen door to the trailer swung open. A woman who looked to be in her late 60s, stepped out on the porch. John Henry what in the hell you want! She said in a strong southern accent. You know why I'm here Marta! Ah hell who else has the boy killed now she asked? How many this time? Eleven, John answered eleven that we know of so far. Jesus Christ all mighty, Marta said well y'all get in here and I'll tell you what I can. Lacey looked around the trailer, it wasn't exactly the cleanest place she had been before. It smelled of cat piss and stale cigarettes and. Cheap liquor! " how do people live like this. She thought to herself, how do people stop caring enough to the point they, let cigarette butts pile up on the floor like this. They sat at Marta's kitchen table, Marta was wearing a blue house dress and pink slippers. Her red hair  lay slack against her face, my sister had such hopes for that boy! Marta said. He was her only one left, after the accident took all her others. Ralph too! We thought we were gonna lose her as well. I remember when Mama and Daddy called me! I drove all the way to the hospital, in Bowling Greene. Me and my man Fred, the rest of the family was already there. My sister's and brother. Poor  Debra she was the youngest next to Sheena. My sister that lives in South Carolina!God Debra was bandaged from head to toe that night. It was a miracle when the doctors told us. She hadn't lost the baby she was pregnant with!  It was definitely a time to give thanks to God. When Debbie got out of the hospital, Fred and I told her she could stay with us. Her and the baby both! And she did too, I can still remember when little Charles was born. In 1990, God those were such good times. Debra came out of her depression, Fred played and practically worshiped that little boy. See Fred and I couldn't have kids of our own. We had tried for years, but I just never could get and stay pregnant. Everything was OK until Debra met that bastard Earl. Marta lit herself a cigarette and extended the pack to the table. None took a cigarette,  I could see my sister change once she got with him. She lost her job at the library, she started stealing. She went insane practically! I don't know what earl did to her, but it happened fast. Then one day after she got arrested that last time for stealing raw meat. Out of the grocery store, Earl bailed her out of jail. She come home and said she was going to go with Earl. He was going to take Care of her, from now on. Fred and I begged her to let Charles stay with us. But she took him, that day they left in June of 1998, was the last time I saw my sister. I did see my nephew again though, 8 years later. After social services called me and Fred to tell us he was abandoned by Debra and Earl. I knew, I knew right then, my sister was dead. She would've never Abandoned that boy. Never! So Fred and I, we go to pick him charlie up. He had been living in Faulk Arkansas, just down the road. He was only twenty something miles away from us. All these years!  When we got him, he was different. "Wait what do you mean different? Rachel asked.  It was like he was hollow inside, he wasn't the little boy, Fred and I knew. He seemed cold and distant! Fred would ask him if he wanted to go fishing and go watch a Razor backs game. But he wouldn't! He'd spend all his time either in his room. Or out somewhere. We didn't know how to reach him! I finally got him to play football. Then it seemed like he lightened up some! He actually started making friends. Then he started dating Someone, we didn't know who at first. Not until after the murders. It was in 2008, right before he went on the camping trip. I got this strange feeling one night! That something was in the house with us. Me and Fred, I got up from my chair. I had been watching TV, I went down the hallway and Charles door was open a crack. Well I look inside of his room, and Charles is just standing there. All these candles are lit  and Charles is wearing a mask a doll face mask. He had on a T-shirt and jeans, and it was like he was talking to something! Something. That I guess he was worshiping, because i heard it say something in a low almost growling voice. I won't lie to you! I got scared! I knew the right thing to do. Was to ask him what was going on. But something stopped me, I don't know what it was. But I knew the last thing I wanted was to go in that room. So i eased back down the hall and into my room! That night I had the worst dreams. About that doll mask watching me, with bright glowing green eyes! Taunting me, the next morning when i woke up.  Charles was leaving, he had a bag of clothes with him. I asked where he was going, he told me to spend the weekend in the cabin with those kids. I never saw him again after that! Next thing I know the cops are busting my door in. With search warrants, looking for Charles...... I still can't even show my face in town, almost ten years later. People blame me, saying I should've known! I should've stopped him. My poor Fred drank himself to death. Because of it! Mrs Lumpkin's Juanita said. I am so sorry for all your suffering! Believe me I am. But now you can stop him! Where were Debra and Earl staying. When they left here? Did they tell you? Marta nodded, yes Sneedville Tennessee. They all looked at each other, is that where he has Andrew Rachel said out loud. He might! We need to go back to Tennessee right now. Said John, Marta interrupted again. If you do find that young man alive! Get him away from my nephew. And if you find my nephew! Kill him, please.