Saints and Sinners

Chapter 3

“Amelia, please I want to go to the doctor.” her sister pleaded but Amelia had said not yet because as the nurse said at the school and she confirmed at home, Bethany seemed to be perfectly fine with no fever. Amelia tucked her sister into bed and told her to rest if she felt ill tomorrow Amelia would take her to go see the physician. It wasn't something she was against because yes they are very helpful for some people; but Amelia could never tolerate the medications very well even as an infant. Her mother had said she'd react to the vaccines and as she grew older her mother would use natural remedies before she’d consider a doctor and nine times out of ten, they would work better and more quickly for her. Then again besides Amelia's preference of natural remedies she didn't really trust the young doctor who had taken over the practice last year. She would go for a yearly physical and that was it, Amelia was generally a very healthy individual.

Amelia went and sat in the small addition on the cabin that acted as a living room in an overstuffed chair that was in her opinion the best seat. She turned on the old box style TV and flipped some channels landing on a talk show for some background noise. She pulled a blanket over her lap, and yawned ‘Might as well take a nap.’ she thought as she closed her eyes while a guest speaker was talking about the natural instinct one has to sense good or bad if someone is willing to open themselves up to listening to their gut instinct. A soft menacing laugh filled Amelia's head, “You humble yourself to lowly human work. You could just get what you want. You're above a human, they're merely playthings for us but you're a plaything for me.” the voice finished and a face flashed into the picture. Amelia's heart raced as she recognized the man from earlier and she awoke with a start. Amelia stood up on shaky legs and ran for the bathroom heaving into the toilet.

It was then that a knock came at the door and Amelia mumbled under her breath. She was rinsing her mouth out when the knocking grew more insistent. “I'm coming!” she yelled and made her way to the door hoping she looked better than she felt. Amelia whipped the door open as the visitor was midknock. She was about to yell when she saw who it was. “Michael! I hope you didn't come to fire me at home,” she said with a laugh. “No, the twins collected the rest of Bethany's work and wanted to see how she was doing so I said I'd bring it up and find out for them.” Amelia gave him a smile, “Thank you. Really it means a lot. Beth must be sleeping though. I haven't heard anyth. .'' she cut off as her head felt like it was being split in half. The pain was so strong it turned her stomach. “You are weak and pathetic. Killing you will be like taking candy from a baby. Your time is running out, Angel.” A dark menacing rough voice said laughing. “Get the hell out of my head.” Amelia muttered causing the voice to roar with laughter. “You don't know what hell is but you’ll see soon enough, silly girl. I'll see you soon, I hope your soul is as tasty as your mother's.”

Just as soon as it had come the voice was gone along with the pain. Her stomach still urged her to empty its already nearly empty contents as the room grew back into focus as well as her awareness for her own body. She was sitting in a chair and bent over with her head between her knees and a strong hand rubbed her back. “Michael!” she exclaimed out loud when she was fully aware she wasn't alone. Her cheeks flamed a deep red, “I'm so sorry,” she muttered when her ears picked up on his own mumbling. She sat up, “Please stop, I'm okay now.” she said louder which grabbed Michael's attention. He looked at her and removed his hand from her back. “What the hell was that?” he asked her. Amelia chewed her lip debating on telling him the truth or telling a white lie, “Look it's really no big deal just had a sharp pain in my head but it's gone now. I feel fine.” she said leaving out the part about the voice and feeling sick. Michael gave her a look that seemed to say ‘I know you aren't telling me everything but I'll let it go for now.’

Amelia gave him a smile, “Really I'll be okay. Thanks for bringing Beth’s work by.” She stood up and walked Michael to the door and he gave her a chaste fatherly hug. “If you need anything just call.” he said and let her go. Amelia nodded and said goodbye, shutting the door behind him. “Hey, Beth dear, how are you feeling?” she called out. Not getting any response she went into the room and found the young lady in a bikini bathing suit sitting in front of a fan that she must have pulled out of the closet turned on high. “That bad?” Amelia asked, only getting a shake of the head as a response. Amelia felt the girl's forehead and yelped in a mix of pain and shock at how hot Beth was, despite sitting in front of a fan and wearing hardly anything. She came back a moment later with her shoes on and grabbed a blanket from the bed wrapping it around her sister's frame. “Let's get you to the doctors.” Amelia said, guiding her sister out of the cabin and to the truck.