GRIEVOUS VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 40

Marvin and Jackie arrived at Henry's house. It was a white a two-floor style situated at the center of a big courtyard surrounded by trees. It looks serene and peaceful. It is fenced with grills, passers by can see the beauty of the house from outside.

"I hope he's there," Jackie said. "But what are we going to tell him? Hey, you had a black shadow with horns swimming with you earlier, you scumbag?"

Marvin laughed. "Maybe, we'll try. Does he know you?"

"Yeah, I was with Jen when we caught him hitting another woman in school." She came closer to the gate and pressed the door bell.

They waited a few moments before seeing Henry went out of the house and walked towards the gate.

"Yes?" He didn't bother to open the gate. He looked at them and trying to recognize his visistors. "Oh, you were also at the try out." He looked at Jackie. "It's you. How's Jen?" He gave a casual smile.

Jackie wanted to confront him but Marvin held her hand. She looked at him and waited for what he's about to say.

"Did you experience weird things recently? Let's say, earlier at the try out?" Marvin waited for Henry's answer.

His face became pale. He remembered what he felt and what he saw at the locker area. "W-what do you mean?" He didn't say anything. He thinks no one would believe him. "I'm sorry, I don't get you."

"A combined cold and warm feeling that would give you a chilly vibes and goosebumps," Marvin explained.

"Did you feel it, too?" Henry asked, he looked unstable and anxious.

Marvin's side of his mouth twitched. He just hit the right button. "I did."

"Did you see it, too?" He immediately opened the gate, eager to know his answer.

Marvin nodded. "I did. It has horns."

"I saw the same thing! It was so close to me, like this!" He placed his palm closer to his face. "Its skin was decaying and its eyes were pitched black! It smelled rotten!"

"Can we talk about it inside your house?" He looked around. "People who could hear us would think we're crazy."

"Right, right. Come in." He let them get in. They walked towards the house. "I'm sorry. My girlfriend is sleeping in my room so we could just stay in the entertainment room for privacy."

They entered the entertainment room. It was spacious enough to relax and watch on a huge flat TV screen while having popcorn and lying on one of their four recliner seats. There's also available sofa and couches at the far end of the room.

"Please, have a seat." He pointed on the sofa.

"Thank you." Marvin cleared his throat. "By the way, I'm Marvin and you already know Jackie."

Henry didn't waste any time to ask his concern. "It was creepy. I think it also followed me here."

"What have you experienced so far?" Marvin asked.

"Broken vases even though there was no one around. Sometimes there's like visitors in my room, also in my sister's room. Then recently I think I hit a shadow with my car." His eyes were confused. "Do you think our school is haunted?"

"I don't think it's the school that's being haunted, it's you." Jackie didn't hold back.

"Me? Why me?" His face says he's clueless about his fault.

"How many women have you fooled around?" she asked. "How many have you played with their feelings?"

"I don't fool around. I just enjoy my youth, and I give what they want from me," he said it like a matter-of -fact.

"That's why you're being haunted, because of your attitude. When will you learn and accept your mistakes?" Jackie asked. She can't control her disgust over the guy.

"Okay," Marvin interrupted the heated argument. "Do you remember any woman who hates you so much that could possibly do anything to get back at you?"

Henry couldn't reply back. He thought of many women he's been with, and couldn't recall all of them.

"The recent one was Berna. She claimed she's pregnant."

"It wasn't a claim. She was really pregnant." Jackie's face became serious. "She got a miscarriage that day you pushed her. You killed your own child."

"I didn't mean it. I thought she was just lying," he said. He buried his face in his hands.

"I heard you on the beach that day. You want it aborted and she disagreed." She crossed her arms.

"I just said it! I am not yet ready to become a father. I'm still young for that responsibility."

"You should've thought about that even before taking those women to bed. You just want to satisfy your lust without thinking about what will happen."

"Okay, fine. I'm at fault. But what can I do now? It already happened. My child is gone and I am being haunted by my ex. Happy now?" He desperately let out a deep breath.

"Which ex?" Jackie asked.

"I dont' know!"

"You should try to recall the name of the woman you hurt in the past. Any familiarity with the face of the creature you saw earlier? Have you heard any voice?" Marvin asked.

Henry took a moment of silence, trying again to recall every women he's been with. He remembered the voice of the creature earlier. A moment of flashback came to him.

"I promise I'll be yours, forever. We will always be together," he said. He kissed her lips tenderly. They were in bed in his room, cuddling each other.

"Really? Do you swear you're all mine, till death do us part?" she asked.

"Yes, Babe." He kissed her again deeply and passionately. She opened her mouth to let his tongue in her mouth. His hands touched her whole body.

"Henry, we'll be together for life."

"Claire..." he said. "It was Claire. Claire Cervantes. She was also my classmate."

"Who is she? Where is she?" Jackie asked. She even moved forward to hear him clearly.

"She was my girlfriend last year for four months, I think. We broke up when she said she was pregnant." He sighed deeply. "I don't know where she is now. It's been five or six months since we broke up. I can't remember."

"You did the same thing to Berna. You're impossible." Jackie shook her head. "You better find out what happened to her or you will never escape the torment of the black shadow with horns." Jackie stood up. She can no longer talk to the guy. She took her bag and opened it. She handed him a black tourmaline necklace. "I hope this could save you. Don't remove it. Thank you for entertaining us." She stormed outside the house to leave.

"We'll go ahead." Marvin shook his head while looking at the guy before he left him alone. As a guy himself, he felt ashamed of what Henry has been doing with women.