Somewhere Over The Rainbow

"Here, grab my hand!" Maybelle screamed.

"I cant! I am slipping!" Jessabelle cried in pain.

"Yes you can Jessa! I got you! Please, don't look down," Maybelle pleaded.

Jessabelle closed her eyes tight. Clutching the clift firmly with her right hand she quickly extended her left hand towards Maybelle. Maybelle grabbed her hand and struggled to pull her over the clift.

"I got you girls now! Your going to pay for what you done! You are mines now!"

Maybelle and Jessabelle frantically turned towards the evil demonic voice.

"Oh no! She followed us! Hurry Maybelle pull me up! Pull me-"

Before Jessabelle could finish, the girls were surrounded by a mist of darkness. Jessabelle felt Maybelle let her hand go.

"Noooooooo..."

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"Jessa! Jessa!"

Jessabelle opened her eyes screaming in agony.

"Jessabelle! Calm down. It was just a dream. Jessabelle please," Maybelle pleaded.

Jessabelle looked around frantically. She started to calm down as the familiarity of her room became more evident. The deep purple curtains hanging from her window with just a hint of sunlight poking through. She looked down at her purple carpet, her purple sheets and her purple painting of The Starry Night. Painted by her favorite artist the late Vincent Van Gogh.

"Jessa? Are you okay?" Maybelle asked with concern.

Jessabelle slowly shook her head yes and looked at her sister.

'Maybelle is such a beauty,' Jessabelle thought as she gazed at her. Maybelle had curly red shoulder lenght hair that always smelled of lavendar. At just 16 years old, she was much taller than Jessabelle who was 18. Maybelle stood at 6 foot 2. She had fair skin which made her green eyes pop out at first glance. She had a body of a woman. She indeed was the reflection of their mother.

Jessabelle often compared her sister looks to her own. Jessabelle had blues eyes with blond hair in a short pixie cut. She stood at only 5 foot 3 and her body was often compared to a young boy. She didn't have a full figure like Maybelle. Jessable had freckles all over her face and body. She looked like her father.

"Jessa, your nightmares are getting worse. I've been trying to wake you up for over an hour. You should really get that checked out," Maybelle snared as she got up off of Jessabelle's bed.

"Oh cry me a river Maybelle," Jessabelle snapped back.

She slowly got off her bed feeling beside herself. Her dreams felt real. For the past week Jessabelle been having the same dream. Some witch, demon, or presence was always chasing after her and Maybelle. The presence seem to think the girls did something to it.

Jessabelle couldn't figure out what. The girls were always running and she somehow always ended up on the edge of the clift.

"Are you hungry? I am starving," Maybelle said as she clutched her belly. "It's after 12 p.m. so breakfast is out. Do you want pizza?"

Jessabelle rolled her eyes and shook her head no. "We already had pizza three times this week. Let's eat cavier and sushi instead," she suggested.

Maybelle looked at Jessabelle in disgust. "I'm sorry but in case you haven't notice, real people do not eat that. Besides, I thought you hated fish?"

Maybelle was right. Jessabelle did hate fish. However, the fish wasn't going to be consumed to fill her hunger, it was more like a coping mechanism for the passing of her parents.

Her parents died just last year around Christmas. They were going to a Christmas party her dad's company was throwing to congratulate him on his promotion to Vice President of Sushi Enterprises . A successful fish company that had over 100,000 locations world wide.

She remembered her dad fixing his tie in the mirror making sure his white and black tux was immaculate. At just 42, her dad was great eye candy standing at 6 foot 3 with blond her and ocean blue eyes.

Her mother came and kissed his cheek ever so softly. She had on a beautiful sparkly black dress that complimented his suit. It was an off the shoulder dress with a V-shape in the back. Her hair wrapped in a beautiful bun pinned with tiny black bows to match her dress. "Honey, we don't want to be late," she whispered in his ear. "I am so proud of you Julius."

Jessabelle remember her father giving her mother a big smooch. "Your right Tyrabelle, we should get going. Thank you and I love you," he had told her.

Maybelle and Jessabelle stood before their parents looking in awe. They loved them. Their mother was a stay at home mother but she loved to sew clothing. That's where Maybelle get her love from fashion. Jessabelle was quite fund of her father and wanted to follow in his footsteps and take on business affairs.

"Girls," their father had turned his attention toward them. "You know the rules. No-" before he could finish the girls beat him to the punch.

"We know. No boys, no parties, no friends, no t.v. , no cell phone, and no social media," the girls said in unison.

"And what else?" Their father asked.

"No snooping in daddy's office," the girls finished.

Their mother and father smiled contently obviously satisfied with their answer. "We love you Maybelle and Jessa," their mother said. "Pizza is in the oven." Their parents embraced the girls with a quick kiss on the cheek and warm hugs.

"Have fun you two," Maybelle said as she opened the front door for her parents. Their cab parked just outside.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Jessabelle called after them as her parents scurried out the door.

Those were the last words she had said to her parents.

Jessabelle closed her eyes tight willing away the tears. She didn't want Maybelle seeing her cry. She had to be strong for her sister.

"Jessabelle...I know," Maybelle whispered. "I miss them too."

Jessabelle looked over at Maybelle who had also teared up. "Why do you think I keep suggesting pizza? I'm starting to hate it too."

Sighing, Jessabelle knew she had to wipe away her tears and be strong for her sister. Besides, they were all each other had. Her parents both had estranged relationships with their extended families so there was no grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts and uncles. All they had was one another.

"Pizza isn't going to bring them back silly," Jessabelle said trying to force a laugh. She embraced her sister. "Let's make spaghetti."

Maybelle eyes lit up as she gazed upon her sister. "With monster balls. Can we make it the way mom and dad use to?" She asked.

The girls loved making spaghetti every friday night with their parents. It was their bonding time and quite frankly the only day when the whole family was together. Their dad worked long hours every other day and wasn't able to come home until 2 to 3 a.m. in the morning. Then he was back up at 7 a.m. the next day to do it all over again.

The girls and their mother missed their father dearly hence why they cherished Friday's. It was his only day off so it was declared family day in their eyes. To celebrate, their parents always made spaghetti and monster balls. Their dad made meat balls so big they were the size of hamburger sliders. Their mother stuffed the meatballs with mozarella and often coated the outsides with parmesean. The girls always boiled the pasta and warmed the marinara sauce. They all loved cooking together and bonding.

Jessabelle shook her head yes. "Let's make spaghetti and monster balls!"

*********************************************************************

After dinner the girls washed their dishes and sat on the couch to unwind.

"Jessabelle...why do you think father never wanted us to go into his office?" Maybelle asked. It was a question Maybelle pondered over ever since she was eight years old and first learned of her father's office. Since the passing of her parents, her curiosity grew. What was he hiding? She often wondered.

Jessabelle too had these thoughts. However, out of respect for her deceased father she tried to ignore them. Her dad always locked up after he left his office. Even upon entering his office he locked the door behind himself. Jessabelle always assumed it was important business because that's what their mother would tell them when they asked her about his office. Since tragedy struck neither girl dare stepped foot in the direction of his office which was just down the hall way from them.

The home was a 4 bed room two bathroom home with an attic and basement. Each girl had a room on the right side of the home. Their parents shared a room on the left side of the house with their dad's office right next to them.

"We mustn't worry about that Maybelle. We should-"

"Should what?! Continue ignoring the room like it isn't there?" Maybelle cut her off. "Aren't you the least bit curious of whats in there? Dad isn't coming back in case you haven't notice. We are several months behind on rent and honestly, how many eviction notices are you planning to throw away?" This caught Jessabelle completely off guard.

The girls were two months behind on rent but their dad always handled the bills. Neither girl ever held a job nor had too. Their own mother never worked. Jessabelle being the oldest didn't want her sister to worry. Hence why she discarded the eviction notices in the trash can behind the house.

"I don't know about you Jessa," Maybelle continued. "But I'm ready to see what's in there. It could help us pay the bills." Jessabelle sighed reluctantly. "Fine, but only for a few moments."

The girls walked towards their parents room. Each in their own world. Neither had stepped foot in there since the passing of their parents. With trembling hands, Jessabelle opened their door.

The room looked just the way it always have. The bed was draped with velvet silk comforters and black plush pillows. The room was spotless. Not a hair out of trace. It smelled of their mothers perfume "White Diamond" by Elizabeth Taylor.

Maybelle let out a loud cry startling Jessabelle. "I just miss them so much," she cried. Jessabelle embraced Maybelle holding back her own tears. "I know," she whispered. "I miss them too."

After about five minutes Maybelle wiped her eyes and pushed her sister off. "We need to focus. Where is that key?"

The girls started searching through the drawers. "Dad sure keeps alot of batteries," Jessabelle said as she pulled open his fifth drawer filled with a variety of diffrent size batteries.

"That's odd, he doesn't even own anything that is battery operated besides his car, Maybelle chimed in.

The girls continued searching the drawers with no such luck. "I'll check the closet Jessa, you look under the bed."

Jessabelle got down on her knees to search under the bed. To her surprise she seen a petite shoe box. Wondering why there was only one shoe box under the bed she grabbed it and pulled it towards her.

"Are we looking for shoes or keys?" Maybelle asked her sarcastically. Ignoring her Jessabelle opened the box. There was a tiny black book in there. Confusion over took her as she took the book out. What's a book doing in there? She wondered. It had no writting on the cover or the back. She opened the cover. There on the first page was a key!

"Hey Maybelle!" Jessabelle called. Maybelle looked over at her sister who was holding the book. She could see the key. " Is that the key?" She asked as she made her way to her sister.

"I'm not sure but if it is...what is it doing in this book?" Jessabelle answered. Jessabelle reached for the key. "OUCH!" she cried in pain dropping the booking. Maybelle was startled. "What? What happen Jessa?"

Jessabelle shook her hand frantically trying to ease the pain. "The key ! It- it burns," she stimmered. She showed Maybelle her hand which was blood shot red. "How can that be?" Maybelle asked. She picked the book up and looked at the key. Then ever so gently touched the key with the tip of her thumb. "AAHH!" She screamed dropping the book. The key was the hotter than any stove she ever touched. "How could that be?" She asked in disbelief.

Both girls sat and looked at the book deathly afraid to go near it let alone touch it. "This is weird," Maybelle said after a while. "What should we do?"

Jessabelle still speechless shrugged. "Let's just put it back." As she began to pick the book up Maybelle grabbed it first. "No are you crazy?!" Maybelle snapped. "This has to be it. The key to dad's office. I just know it." Maybelle looked closely at the key again. Afraid to touch it, she turned the page. There was writing on the inside. "Readers Beware." Both girls looked on as Maybelle continued to turn the pages. The next page had even more writing.

Maybelle read aloud. "This is the book of illusion. Whosoever inherit this book inherits all that comes with it. The power is yours." Both girls looked at each other in confusion. Who's book was it? Wondered Jessabelle. What was the key doing in it? Maybelle pondered. Turning the page once more there was one script on the page. "Choose your desire," it read.

Jessabelle scoffed. "This book is dumb." Maybelle agreed. "I know right. Besides, if we could choose our desire we'd say 10 million bucks. That'd change our life right now." Just as she finish saying that the book lit up. The light became so bright the girls had to cover their eyes. "Wh-what's happening?" maybelle asked. After about 5 minutes the light begin to diminish. The girls slowly opened their eyes in astonishment. There surrounding the very room they were sitting in was mountains of money.

"Is this a dream? What's happening Jessabelle?" Maybelle asked as she looked around. Jessabelle was just as confused. She grabbed the book. There on that very page was the statement Maybelle said about having 10 million dollars. But how could it be? It was just...a book. Suddenly the book turned several pages on it's own to another page. "Choose your sacrifice," it read. Jessabelle didn't know what to think of it. Sacrifice? She knew something was awfully strange about this book.

"What do we do with this money?" Maybelle asked looking around. Before Jessabelle could respond they heard a voice from the closet.

" Girls! What have you done?!"

They looked towards the closet in unison. There was the silhouette of their father.

TO BE CONTINUED.