Episode 6: The Truth About Sadie Wilkins
Read “The Truth About Sadie Wilkins” from the beginning.
Episode 6: Go to HELL!
I got outside, and there was Rhonda standin’ across the road, motioning for me to follow her. I figured she knew what was goin’ on, so I did. Instead of going to the cemetery, she ran to her house and disappeared as the front door swung open.
I followed, and it seemed like I stepped in another time. The house was lit up. I heard voices from the kitchen, so I quietly walked toward them.
Like my dreams, it was almost as if I was watchin’ a movie. But I could feel everything. I stood in the kitchen doorway watchin' Rhonda's Ma. Her face was bruised and swollen. She was peelin' vegetables. Rhonda's Pa was holdin’ a full burlap bag. Her Ma snuck a peek as he dumped the carcass of a freshly slaughtered piglet into the sink.
He reached above Ma to fetch somethin’ from the cupboard. She flinched. He smirked.
"Move, sow," he said.
He grabbed a large bakin’ pan and, to my horror, placed George in the center. He smiled at Ma and took a carrot from her. Then he stuck it in the piglet's mouth.
"Misery loves company," he said.
I thought I was gonna throw up. I wanted to leave, but I couldn’t move. The table was set, and George was the main course. Ma sat at the table, head down as if in prayer. Pa sat with his back to the door. Rhonda walked into the kitchen with Brutus close behind. Pa heard her and moved slightly to show off his surprise. Then he turned to enjoy Rhonda's reaction. She froze.
“I'm going to throw up.”
"How many times have I told you to leave that mangy mutt outside."
Rhonda looked at him with murder in her eyes.
"He wants to be in the house."
"Get him out of here. NOW!"
She choked on her words but managed to spit them out. "N . . . NO."
"What did you say?"
Pa stood up and knocked his chair over while reachin’ out to grab Rhonda.
Brutus lunged, yellin’, "Run!"
Rhonda ran out into the night, headin’ for her safe place. Brutus escaped and ran after her. I watched as Rhonda grabbed a shovel on her way through the backyard. Pa was frothin' with anger, yellin' at the top of his lungs.
"You gonna make me come after you?! You never seen a beatin’ like you're fixin’ to get! Goddamnit Sadie!"
I was still tryin' to figure out how Rhonda's Pa knows my name when he burst from the woods. I feel the hard slam of the shovel when it hits his head. He lies still.
"Is he dead?! Is he . . ."
Rhonda poked Pa's body with the shovel. He grabbed it, pullin’ her down. Brutus jumped on Pa, and they struggled. I couldn’t see much, but I felt every hit Rhonda took. She finally broke free and fell backward.
I hit the ground with a hard thud. Now, I was sittin' in an empty candlelit room in an abandoned house. Rhonda's diary was lyin’ open next to me. There was a circle of salt surrounding me.
"What is happenin’ to me?"
I can't hold back the tears any longer.
"Maybe Timmy is right, and I am plain crazy. Nothin' is really wrong. Daddy's eyes weren't black pools of evil. I'm just dramatic, like everyone says. I'm probably asleep. Wait! I'm asleep!"
I was still busy convincin' myself I'd gone crazy, or maybe dreamin', when the front door creaked open, and I heard heavy boots headin' our way.
"He's here," came a tiny whisper.
"I can't do it."
"You have to."
The diary was in my hands, and I knew somehow that I had to read the pages out loud, but my throat felt like it was gonna close up and my voice might disappear.
At first, it's only a whisper.
"Saint Michael, Archangel, defend us in our battle. Protect us against the wicked snares of Satan. May our God rebuke the devil. We pray humbly. And, Heavenly Spirit, by God's almighty power, cast the Prince of Evil to Hell and his demons, who roam the earth seekin’ the ruin of souls. Amen."
I heard Daddy laugh, and then he was standin' in the doorway. I don't want to look at those hollow black eyes, so I look down at the book and repeat the prayer.
"Saint Michael, Archangel, defend us in our battle. Protect us against Satan's wicked snares."
Daddy's laugh turned into a roar.
I looked at Ronda. She was kinda shrinkin' up beside me. I knew right then she really needed me. So, I gave it all I got and read a whole lot louder so he could hear it over his roarin' laughter.
He got closer but couldn’t come into the circle of candles and salt. Instead, he walked around the outside of it, callin' me all kinds of names.
"You're gonna end up just like your Mama, girl. Right where you should be."
That made me stop for a minute. I felt my heart slip down to my stomach like I was gonna puke. Daddy laughed, so evil it sounded more like a growl.
"What's the matter, you little bitch? Are you scared of your dear old daddy?"
I was shakin' so hard I could barely see the words on the paper.
"Keep goin', Sadie. You're almost there."
Daddy was circlin' around like a hungry coyote. But I didn’t need to read the prayer anymore. It just came flowin' out of me, like it was always there. Daddy's threats and name-callin' got a whole lot worse. I don't even want to repeat what he said. I tuned him out and continued as loud as I could, even though tears were runnin' down my face, and the snot was flowin', too.
"O Heavenly Spirit, by God's almighty power, cast the Prince of Evil to Hell, and his demons, who roam the earth seekin' the ruin of souls."
Then the most incredible thing happened that I’d ever seen. Our Blessed Mother Mary appeared in a mist behind Daddy. I knew it was her because she radiated love. Her light showed through my Daddy's body, revealin' his dark soul as he fell to the floor.
Then a glowin' Angel appeared beside Mother Mary with his flamin’ sword.
"It's Saint Michael the Archangel," Rhonda whispers.
She didn't sound scared anymore. The demon in my daddy let out an unearthly roar. His eyes were black, and his face was full of rage. It twisted up like some kind of weird dried fruit. He reached for me. I sat on the floor, protected in the light, and the angel's sword cut right through him. The room filled up with horseflies making a terrible buzzin' sound.
Then, suddenly, it was over. Mary, the angel, the flies, and the demon were all gone. Daddy wasn't movin', and I wasn't worried about him hurtin' me anymore.
"Show me where my mama and brothers are."
"Your brothers are in the cemetery in the Willow tree, waitin' for you. I'll take you to your Mama, Sadie."
I picked up the book and ran up the hill as fast as possible. Sure enough, Stevie and Tommy were sittin' in the tree. They saw me and jumped down.
"Where's daddy?" asked Stevie.
He looked so scared. Tommy did, too, and he never gets scared.
"He killed Mama," Tommy cried.
Tommy's words left his mouth, deliverin' a sucker punch right to my stomach. No wonder Rhonda wouldn't tell me until we sent that demon to hell. I wouldn't have been able to fight knowin' he'd killed my Mama.
"I grabbed my brothers and hugged them as hard as I could.
"Now, listen to me. I need you to go to Mr. Tucker's and get him to call the police. You don't have to be scared. Daddy ain't gonna hurt you."
My brothers didn't argue. They took off to get Mr. Tucker. I watched them disappear down the hill, and my legs went weak. I fell into a pile on the ground, sobbin'. Rhonda was next to me.
"I'm sorry, Sadie. But I want you to know you're a hero."
My face burned like it was on fire. "Will you show me where my mama is now?"