The Visit

[Solaris 182]

The Visit

By Michael Edwards

© By Michael Edwards

Abigail sat the laundry down on the table with a big Huff. Her sister Becca helped her go through the laundry. Sorting, folding and stacking the clothes for Maggie and them. Three years since they moved into the house on Little Creek road in the midst of the farming town of Lodi, Ohio.

Maggie played with her dolls, keeping herself busy while her mom and aunt worked on choirs. Aunt Becca walked over and gave Maggie a hug. She went outside to sweep the porch while Abigail made lunch. Turkey sandwiches, chips and juice. The old television sat in the corner of the living room. It took some time to get it working. They didn't have a cable box. So they could only watch what was available. Some daytime soap operas were on.

Maggie started talking real loud because of her mental problems, annoying her mom Abigail. Abigail tried to pay attention to the show, but Maggie kept getting louder. Abigail tried to calm Maggie down but she was having a manic episode and would not listen.

"Becca, I need help with Maggie!"

Maggie bit Abigail's hand and stomped on her foot. Becca ran in, grabbed Maggie's feet to keep her from kicking her. They hated doing it but they had to restrain her until she calmed down. There was no other way to get through these mood swings of Maggie's. The medication helped with the symptoms but wasn't a cure at all. It took almost a half hour before Maggie settled down. She was all tears. She had cussed them out instead of a bunch of horrible things but now she was just feeling the opposite.

"I'm sorry momma!!"

"I know honey," said Abigail holding Maggie to her chest. Becca rubbed Maggie's back to comfort her.

"It's okay, Maggie, we know you don't mean it."

Night fell. While Abigail and Becca slept, Maggie curled up in front of the television. The screen flickering on and off. Maggie watched as faces appeared and disappeared. She didn't know what to make of it. Her condition made it hard to sleep. Abigail forgot to give her Seroquel to help her sleep. So Maggie's mania acted up, keeping her awake and jittery.

Written words appeared on the television, kill them…

Maggie shook her head and the television started to bleed, with blood leaking from just above the screen. This frightened Maggie. She wondered if she should tell her mom. The memories of causing trouble earlier kept her from doing this.

"I'm not going to hurt momma and Aunt Becca!"

The television screen covered in blood had the words we will see on it. Maggie got up and fled upstairs and found the pill keeper. She took the Seroquel and went to her room where she eventually went to sleep. Her fleeting thought was that it was her condition acting up and that she didn't witness a haunting encounter.

The next morning the television appeared as it did during the day. Maggie felt secure that it was her mental health acting up. Abigail had breakfast ready and she and Aunt Becca waited for her.

Maggie didn't give another thought to what she thought she saw last night. She enjoyed her breakfast and got ready for school. Aunt Becca sipped her coffee while Abigail got the car started. Maggie ran out the door after hugging her Aunt Becca. The television which was thought to be turned off, came back on with the channels flipping before going black again.

Becca had no idea what transpired since she was lost in thought about keeping their bills paid and food on the table. The coffee didn't last long. A whole pot was gone before Abigail came back.

"Where's the coffee?" said Abigail.

"I uh, drank it…"

"Now I gotta make a fresh pot," said Abigail with a sigh.

"I'll stay out of it this time," Becca said with a chuckle.

Abigail laughed; "No, you won't!"

The two laughed and enjoyed the next pot. The television in the living room flickered again. Then abruptly stopped. Abigail looked at the television suspiciously.

"Did you see that?"

"See what?"

"I could have sworn…"

"What?" said Becca.

"Nevermind, I must have imagined it."

The two went upstairs to discuss something when the television came back on. There was static but a laugh could be heard.

-
Maggie came home with her mom feeling emotionally exhausted. The kids bullied her and so did the teacher. She didn't say a word to her mom. However, Abigail was a mom and she could sense something was off about Maggie. She was too quiet.

"What's wrong, pumpkin?"

Maggie lowered her head further and didn't look at her mom. Abigail pulled the car over sensing that Maggie was hiding something.

"I'm not moving until you tell me," said Abigail.

Maggie looked up with tears in her eyes, she began crying and saying that she was being bullied. It came out garbled, where Abigail only understood some of it.

"Who's bullying you honey?"

"The teachers and my classmates!"

"How long has this been going on?!"

"Since school started…"

"Tomorrow I'm having a talk with the principal and ending this right now!"

"No, I'll get in trouble! They'll just bully me more!"

"I'm not letting this go on Maggie," said Abigail.

Maggie lowered her head, she didn't know what else to say. Instead, she looked out the window while the car moved and went back onto the road.

-
Television fluttered on and off, the strange voice kept laughing. When Becca came downstairs, the television was as quiet as a mouse. No signs of acting up. Becca went and took a seat to turn the television on but the television didn't come on.

"What the hell?!"

Becca banged the side of the television, cursing it out.

"Stupid piece of s***!"

After a few minutes of messing with the television, it finally came on and she turned on the daytime soap operas. Abigail pulled the car up to the house and Maggie got out and ran inside. She ran directly upstairs.

"What the hell?!"

"Did you see where Maggie went?"

"She went upstairs," said Becca.

Abigail headed upstairs and she knocked on Maggie's door.

"Come on; Maggie let me in," she said.

"I don't want to!"

"I just want to help you, Maggie, you're my daughter."

Maggie was quiet for a while. Abigail waited and waited, finally the door opened and Maggie let her in.

Maggie sat on the bed and Abigail sat on the bed opposite her which belonged to Becca. Both were silent for some time before Abigail started to say something.

"Mom, you can't tell them!"

"You can't because it will get worse!"

Abigail sighed, pinched her nose

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just, just listen and let me vent."

"Okay, I will do that."

Abigail hugged Maggie and Becca called dinner from near the staircase.

-
Salad, pastas and sliced Italian bread was spread out on the table. The three sat down to enjoy their meal. In the background a thin trail of blood slid down the television screen. Maggie saw it and it spooked her but she said nothing. She looked down at her plate. And dug in like she was a starved animal. Eating everything up and getting seconds for her to eat.

Abigail watched her daughter and despite worrying about the bullying, she didn't bring it up. Becca leaned over and hugged Maggie. Their cheeks pressed together. Maggie had a chubby face but she was adorable. Both her mom and Aunt thought so.

When dinner was done, Abigail helped Becca with cleaning up. Maggie went over to the television and wiped the blood with her index finger.

"It's cold," she whispered.

A frightening face appeared on the television screen and Maggie's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to scream but the face moved left to right. Its intention is clear. Maggie went to the staircase and went upstairs. Her eyes never left the television. Abigail wiped her hands on a towel and looked around for Maggie.

"Where's Maggie?"

"I think I saw her go upstairs," said Becca. "Here, have a drink."

Abigail took the offered glass of wine. She took a sip and leaned against the kitchen counter.

"Maggie is bullied at school…"

"God, the poor girl. I guess nothing changes."

"Remember how I used to get bullied for being a cry baby and you beat up the girls that harassed me."

"That was priceless!" said Becca.

"Not for you, you got detention for a whole month!"

"It was worth it, those girls never messed with you again."

Abigail chuckled.

Becca smiled. Holding her glass of wine near her lips.

Both jumped when they heard Maggie scream. They raced up the stairs with great haste and entered her room to find her convulsing. Black ooze coming out of her mouth.

"Oh my GOD, MAGGIE!"

"Call an ambulance!"

Becca picked up the phone and an hour later they were waiting outside in the waiting room. Hoping and praying that Maggie will be okay. Another thirty minutes and the doctor came in with a grim expression. Abigail fell to her knees.

"No.…"

"She's alive but barely. She's septic and we can't find the cause."

"But she will get better…right?"

The doctor shook his head. "I don't know, I have never seen this kind of infection."

Becca kneeled down to help Abigail stand up. Abigail shook with fright. Becca held her sister and whispered in her ear to get her to calm down.

"We will do all we can for her."

"I'm not leaving, Becca."

"I know," said Becca.

Time went by slowly. Abigail was restless. Becca sat by her. In the patient's room. The doctor looked at Maggie's hands, looking for probable cause of the septic infection. He found on her right hand, the index finger had a penetrating wound. It was infected.

The doctor used his blue tooth to contact a nurse. The nurse came in.

"Get me a sample of this black mucus and an MRI. I want to see how far it's spread."

"Yes doctor."

The doctor left the room and went to see another patient.

The nurse attempted to get a sample but the strange black mucus receded from her attempts. The nurse blinked her eyes, not believing what she saw. She tried again and the same situation occurred again.

She left the room spooked. The preacher for the hospital passed by and then backed up when he saw the state of Maggie. He had a look of recognition on his face.

"Good lord" he said, making a cross gesture with his hand. "Not again!"

The nurse returned with the doctor when they saw the preacher inside the room praying over Maggie which was having an effect on Maggie. She convulsed, leaned over the bed and spat up more black mucus. The doctor and nurse were so stunned. They were frozen to the spot.

"What's going on?" The Doctor finally managed to say.

"This girl was possessed and I exorcised the demon plague that was hurting her."

"Demon…plague?"

"No time for questions, introduce me to her parents because we must hurry."

After some convincing and checking Maggie who was getting better quickly. The preacher met Abigail and Becca in a private room.

"Your daughter was possessed by a demonic plague, very familiar to me."

"What on earth are you talking about? My daughter was sick and --"

"And now! Now she is better without any explanation except that I prayed. Please listen to me, twenty years ago a sick monster murdered his wife and kids and used their corpses for a satanic ritual. He confessed this to me when I was younger."

"I initially didn't believe him until a mysterious series of possessions started killing people. We never tracked the source but we managed to contain it. You clearly have come into contact with the item used for this evil."

"We don't have such an item, just an old television."

"Television? That was an item missing from the scene of the murder…could it be?"

"Show me this television."

It took some convincing and making sure Maggie was better. Upon entering the house, a foul smell greeted them. The kind left by corpses. The preacher walked in with Abigail behind him. Becca stayed with Maggie. Confronting the television they both saw blood pouring out of the screen. The preacher brought an ax and other things. Smashed the television opened where they found a heart beating and eyes that looked up at them.

"Good God," said the preacher.

"Oh my god, I had that in my house?!"

"We must destroy it!" said the preacher.

Strong unnatural winds blew into the room and the lights flickered. The eyes looked at them and the eyes were filled with hate.

"Quick, we must burn it! Get the lighter fluid I brought!"

Abigail raced outside as the house shook. She ran back in almost stumbling over tendrils coming out of the floor.

Once the preacher had the lighter fluid, he doused the eyes and the beating heart. Getting injuries in the process. He collapsed, unable to stand at
Abigail's feet. Abigail took the lighter from him after pulling him away from harm. She tossed lighter on the eyes and the eyes burst into flames catching the heart on fire too.

The two watched it burn as the distant sounds of sirens echoed.