Scared To Death... Easel Musings: week 20...Non-Challenge. A Halloween Treat!!! ;0

Hi!  I know...not only is this being posted late...but it is WELL over 500 words! LOL...It's actually 1800!!!!  I had a bit of trouble getting on line, so I said what the heck!  I told Reena that I already had a story...so why not give a little treat...No calories...no extra fat or sugar!!  Just plain old fun!  So...enjoy, my friends!

To An Inspiration: Reena!                                                             

"Two, four, six. Eight to the back, two to the front." Delfina Ray had memorized the order of the cups on the shelf. She was meticulous in her cleaning. "Four to the side. Ten on the top. Eight in the middle." Delfina continued to arrange the cups. Oblivious to the sounds that were whirling around her...

 ******* 

At the corner of Bleecker and Macdougal streets, a crowd had formed. All wondering how such a tragedy continued to happen every year at the same time for the past five years.

Police sirens blared in the background, signaling their eminent arrival. Ambulances not too far behind. Each second that passed, the crowd intensified.

Some pointed to a fourth floor window in Apartment building 1031, while others shook their heads, and others cried and turned away.

"I don't understand," a short, stocky woman said. "Why does this keep happening?"

"It's senseless, I tell you. And here, on a busy street where our children frequent." A tall, wispy man leaned forward to get a better look. "Mm. I can‘t take it anymore. I‘m getting out of here before it happens to me!"

The police arrived. "All right. All right. Everyone back away. I said, back away," the officer yelled while pushing the crowd apart. "What in the he--" The officer was shocked at the sight before him.

*******

"In the draw, sets of two and now four. Clean it twice to make it shine just as nice." Delfina moved methodically through out the apartment. "It must be done. Always on time. Haste makes a terrible waste. But to dawdle causes more of a muddle." Delfina walked to the kitchen. Opening the draw near the stove. "There is one for everything. One, two, three...three...three..." Delfina's brow furrowed. She counted again. And again. She couldn't go past three. Number four was gone. Did she put it somewhere? Delfina began to wring her hands. She couldn't remember where she placed it. If she didn't find it, she'd be in trouble. Everything must be just right. Or else...

*******

The Coroner had arrived. Lifting the sheet, he said, "Number five. Right on time."

Under the sheet lay the body of a man. His eyes wide, a look of shear fright upon his face. Skin, a chalky white. Hands in a defensive position. His legs, as though he was in flight... and shards of glass protruding from his body.

"I ain't never seen anything like this before. How could his body be in this position? And, how could rigamortus set in so quick?" The officer looked up. "He jumped from, there." He pointed towards the building.

"Fourth floor," the oroner said without looking up. "Apt. B."

"How'd you know?" The officer asked puzzled.

"2003. Douglas Ray. My first day on the job. Apparent suicide. People said he went mad; killed his wife, Delfina, then jumped to his death."

The officer whistled.

"Delfina was a dancer before she met Douglas. She gave up everything to marry him. He kept her locked away like a slave. Everything had to be in perfect order. If anything was out of place, he'd make her stand for hours and recite the order in which things went."

"How do you know all of this?"

"Research." The Coroner looked at his watch. Five more minutes, he said to himself.

"What do you think really happened?"

The Coroner didn't answer....

******

Delfina searched frantically. But the fourth knife was missing. She'd no idea where it was. Douglas would punish her for sure. They were getting more severe. She tried her best to make sure things were perfect.

Delfina looked everywhere. "There's a place for all things. Everything has its place. There is no tolerance for insubordination. The punishment must fit the crime." She recited this over and over again while desperately trying to find the knife. The drawer was always the second place he looked.

Her breath stopped when she heard the familiar click of the door's lock. He's home. Dread overwhelmed her.

Douglas Ray walked in. Delfina stood straight. Not moving a muscle.

Douglas didn't say a word to his wife. He walked in, hanging his jacket on the hook near the door. He walked to the cabinets. He counted. "Two, four, six. Eight to the back, two to the front." He inspected each shelf.

It felt like frogs were leaping in Delfina's stomach. She watched from the corner of her eye, as Douglas opened the draw near the stove.

"In the draw, sets of two and now four..." Douglas began to count then stopped. He turned to Delfina, with a wicked look upon his face. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Delfina. What are we gonna do with you?"

Delfina was too afraid to move.

"Look at me when I am addressing you!" He bellowed.

Delfina shot her head up quickly, looking to Douglas. An evil grin painted across his face. It terrified Delfina to no end. There was something strange about Douglas. He seemed more than his usual mean and hateful self. He seemed...like the Devil himself. The look in his eyes had her breath caught in her throat. She took a step backward.

"Where are you going?" He asked approaching her. "Number four is missing. You've been a bad girl." He walked slowly towards her, with a sinister grin upon his face. "I will have to punish you...again."

Delfina made a quick dash for the bathroom. Douglas was there before she took two steps. Something was terribly wrong.

"I'd knew you'd go for the bathroom first." He blocked her. "You know what today is?"

Delfina was quiet.

"Halloween! Do you want a trick or treat, dear?"

Delfina was confused.

"Trick or treat?" He repeated.

"Treat..." she whispered.

"Okay. Treat it is." Douglas turned around and walked toward the kitchen. "Here," he said pulling the missing knife from the third drawer.

Delfina was terrified.

Douglas held the knife in his hand, laughing wickedly. "I guess my trick is your treat, huh?" He moved closer to Delfina.

Delfina backed away.

"Lucky for you I'm in a forgiving mood." Douglas turned away for a second.

Delfina, without thought, bolted for the door. She was a heartbeat away when Douglas grabbed her from behind.

Delfina tried to scream, but found her air cut off. Douglas had his hands around her throat. She fell to the ground.

Douglas had lost all reason. Delfina was his most prized possession. And he could not allow her to leave. He had sold his soul to Satan five years ago on Halloween. He wanted more than anything to have the beautiful Ballerina, Delfina. Douglas, however, didn't read the fine print. You not only lost your soul; but love, affection, and your sanity. Before he realized it, Delfina lay limp in his hands.

Douglas released his hold. He stood up, looking down at Delfina's lifeless body. He bent, and turned her over. Her eyes were still open. He lifted her off the floor, carrying her to the living room. He placed her on the sofa, crossing her hands in front of her. He stood for a moment, staring at her. He marveled at her beauty. He went to the kitchen, and got himself a beer from the refrigerator. He'd have to give Delfina something special for keeping the refrigerator fully stocked and neat. She was a good wife.

He walked back to the living room. Delfina was tired, and he wouldn't disturb her. She deserved at least one day of rest.

The apartment was silent, with the exception of the noise wafting in from the street, and the opening pop of Douglas' beer can. He took a sip, and walked towards the window. He saw some people dressed in Halloween costumes. He hated Halloween. Never enough treats, but plenty of tricks.

Douglas heard a faint sound. He turned to look at Delfina. She was still laying in the position he placed her in. He turned back towards the window, taking a sip of beer. He spied a few of his neighbors. None of whom he liked. He was about to take another swig of beer, when he froze.

"In the draw, sets of two and now four...Trick or treat, my sweet? Do you want, a trick or a treat?"

The beer slipped from Douglas' hands, falling to the floor. Douglas eye's grew wide. His mouth opened, but no words came forth.

"Trick or Treat?"

Douglas shook his head in disbelief. Standing before him was, Delfina. Or what appeared to be. But it couldn't be. Because when he turned his head, there she was, lying on the sofa where he'd left her.

He reached out his hand to touch her. She felt solid. He shook his head, as if to dispel the trick his eyes and mind must be playing on him.

"Trick or Treat, Douglas?"

"I--I--" Douglas paled, as his bowels loosened. He squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, Delfina was standing in front of him, a breath away.

"Trick or Treat, darling? Are would you like a kiss first?" Delfina smiled.

"You're not real." He shook his head. "Not real." He covered his ears.

"What's the matter, Douglas. Aren't I perfect enough?"

"You're not Delfina!" He shouted, looking towards the sofa. "You're not her!"

Delfina leaned forth, opening her mouth.

Douglas saw death. His death in the opening of this Delfina's mouth. It was dark and hollow, and smelled of rot. He knew then, it was Satan himself; coming to collect his debt.

The Demon moved in closer, and Douglas let out a curdling scream, jumping through the glass window of his fourth floor apartment, to his death...

******

The Coroner checked his watch. Five minutes had passed. He looked up to the fourth floor window. There she was, staring down at them...Delfina Ray.

"I can take it from here, officer."

"So, you never said what you thought happened."

"I believe he was scared to death. He was dead before he hit the ground. Just like this one."

"Yeah? Scared to death...didn't know that was possible." He looked at the building. "I'm gonna try and ask the neighbors some more questions. Someone has to know something."

"Sure. Check you out later." The Coroner knew that the neighbors would say nothing. And those that would--mostly new tenants--would seem crazy.

The Coroner moved quickly. He looked up at the window, as Delfina Ray smiled at him. He smiled back, and nodded his head. He rolled the body to the waiting van. He'd found this perp two weeks ago. Arrested for beating on his wife. He had arranged for him to look at a new apartment, at the corner of Bleecker and Macdougal. After all, it was the least the Coroner could do for his twin sister, Delfina. It was Halloween, and she deserved a treat!

©2008 Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.