Forlot - Books 10-12

Chapter Five

"You are lying!" Scarlett shot at her. "My and my sister's dead parents are in there. And just for the record, you are breaking a law of Forlot. Opening a casket without the family's consent."

Margaret shifted her body towards her and smirked. "Maybe you forgot the second part of that law," she shot back. "Although, that does not surprise me, considering that you and my replacement..." She was referring to me. "...arrived in Forlot a few days ago." She cleared her throat. "You are not allowed to open a casket unless you have something useful to show. Not word for word, but close enough."

"Why would the leaders of Forlot pass a law that says that it is okay for a stranger to invade a family's casket?" I asked her.

"Is it not obvious already?" She motioned to the empty casket. "For situations like this. You would not believe how many dead bodies go missing."

I shuddered at that last part.

I first thought that perhaps that she was only lying to fool me and my sister into thinking that it was okay for her to look in our parents' casket without our permission. However...she was not wrong about our parents' bodies not being in the casket. The proof was right there, and there was no denying it.

I wonder if she stole the bodies to make herself a secret hero or something.

Excluding me, everyone in the room did not believe Margaret, and I did not blame them. From what came out of the arguing between her, Stanley, and Mr. Hawk, I understood that she had a bad reputation.

Or...did Mr. Hawk and Stanley have the bad reputations?

No. That cannot be. I feel as if I can put my trust in my boyfriend, and Mr. Hawk had already proven that I could trust him.

"I already called the police," Nigel's mom, Laura, announced, holding up her phone and clutching it tightly. "They will be here shortly. They are coming from the next town over."

"Good thinking, Laura," Hansel and Gretel's mom, Paula, complimented. "I hope that they arrest that girl. She is disturbing the peace."

I spun around towards the crowd and waved my arms and hands, trying to get their attentions, and thankfully, it worked.

"Guys!" I cried. "I do not exactly know who this Margaret girl is or what she wants, but I do know this. She is not lying. The casket is empty. I swear."

"Margie, what did we discuss about lying?" Scarlett scolded me. "Remember the last couple of times when you lied to me? There would be no secrets between us."

I turned my head to her. I do not know how I knew, but I somehow knew that there was fear in my eyes. Probably because of the fear that was growing inside of me. I was both angry and concerned - mostly concerned - about where Mom's and Dad's bodies were.

"Yes, sis. I remember. So why do you think that I am defending Margaret when I hardly know her? 'Cause I am telling the truth. If you do not believe me..." I moved away from the casket and motioned to it. "...see for yourself."

Stanley pulled me away from Margaret and the casket as Scarlett went up to the casket and leaned over it, peering in.

"Margie, what are you doing?" Stanley asked me. "Why are you on my ex-girlfriend's side? She is a liar. Always has been."

I lowered my voice to a whisper. "She is not lying this time. Trust me."

All eyes were on my sister. She slowly leaned back, and her head was tilted down. Her shoulders moved up and down like she was crying, and we heard sniffing. She then lifted her head and shifted towards the crowd. Her hair covered her face.

"I cannot not believe this, but..." she began. "...they are right. "There are no bodies in here." She dropped to her knees and buried her face in her hands. "They are not in there. They are gone..."

I hurried to my sister's side and sat down next to her, crossing my legs. I placed my hands on her shoulders and comforted her, attempting to get her to calm down.

"Told ya," Margaret spat. "You all were wrong about me. That I am a liar." She glanced at Scarlett. "What a crybaby your sister is, and she is supposed to be the oldest."

"Knock it off, Margaret," Stanley ordered. "They are grieving. They both are."

Mr. Hawk took a step forward from where he had stood. "Please, Margaret," he said soothingly. "You should go. In fact, let me take you to the mansion and get you something to eat. You must be starving."

As if he just threatened her, which he did not, Margaret freaked out.

"Take me? Take me?! Absolutely not! You are not taking me anywhere!"

"Sweetie, I just want to help you."

"And how are you going to do that? Lock me up in an asylum where there are psychos who could hurt me? Put me to death? The possibilities are endless when it comes to getting rid of me, huh?"

"I would do no such things."

"Now who is the liar? And for the record, I have delicious snacks tugged away in my bag if I get hungry. I do not need your poisonous food. Also, do not call me your sweetie or sweetheart. Margie is your child now."

"Margaret, you are sick. You need help."

"The only help that I need..." She took a bow and arrow out of her bag, letting go of her bag in the process, and set the arrow on the bow. "...you all need help."

Without any warnings, she grabbed ahold of me, forcing me to my feet, and held me close to her, pointing the sharp end of the arrow at my neck.

"And the only way that you guys will receive help is if I kill my replacement."