Heavely Seas Chapter 17

There had to be a way for the curse to end. Elodie’s worst fears had been realised. The secrets that had devoured her for years were about to be exposed. The golden vacation was a nightmare beyond imagination. Her chest ached. Her muscles clenched.

She expected Elaine to jump out and give one of those holier-than-thou speeches on how everybody in the room was responsible for her misery. Elaine had Elodie’s sympathy for once. Despite their differences in morals, they had more in common than just their blonde hair. Though Elodie would never admit it publicly, her downfall was self-inflicted. By raising Apollo as Heath, Elodie still had a little piece of Elaine with her.

No one spoke apart from Theo. But was it really Theo? Elodie wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t anymore. She wished so hard that she could wake up, and it was all an epic hallucination. She couldn’t wish it hard enough. It hurt her head.

“Oh Mummy Dearest, what’s the matter?” Theo asked, hugging Elodie tight. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

“That’s because I have!” Elodie squealed, pointing at Clarence. “He’s right over there!”

“Daddy!” Theo teleported over to Clarence. “I missed you so much.”

“Oh I did too,” Clarence whispered, then his voice rose. “Now everybody take a seat so we can listen to my lovely wife’s story!”

“My story?” Elodie asked.

The ghost of little Heath appeared before them. He floated to Elodie and asked her, “Why did you cheat on Daddy?” Heath then floated towards Clarence. “Why did you kill me, Daddy?” The next question was for Theo, “Why did you let me die?”

“Oh how was I supposed to know you had a bad allergy?” Theo asked. “You were just unfortunate.”

“You’re all trying to make me feel guilty!” Elodie squealed.

“That’s because you are,” Clarence said, smiling. The harder Elodie’s heart shuddered, the deeper Clarence’s grin became. “If you had kept your legs shut, all our boys would still be alive. I told you, didn’t I? Elaine was bad news. How could you cheat on me with her?”

“You cheated on me, too!” Elodie snapped. “No… I did that out of revenge! Now she’s spent her pathetic life sabotaging you.”

“You got what you deserved!” Elodie snapped.

“Calvin didn’t….”

“STOP IT!”

“It was so cute that you thought Apollo was our Heath. They were best friends; almost twins. I wanted to make you both suffer the way you made me suffer. And it was handy that both of the boys shared the same allergy.” Clarence’s lack of remorse shook Elodie more than any storm could.

“You can talk about your own boy like that?” Elodie’s lips trembled with every word.

“I doubt he was mine. It wouldn’t surprise me if Heath was Theo’s son.” Clarence’s white fingers pointed at Elodie. His clenched teeth and glare were the equivalent of a hot knife in the chest. “Yes, Elodie. I know about those bedtime stories with Theo.”

“I’m so sorry, Daddy Dearest,” Theo cooed. “I only wanted to make Mummy Dearest happy.”

Clarence’s tone changed as he embraced Theo. “Of course, my son. I don’t blame you at all; you always had the heart of a child. You deserved better fate than this.”

“And I know you’re angry cause of Calvin. But Mummy Dearest didn’t mean to.”

“I know, Calvin deserved better. He was the apple of my eye. You and Calvin made me a better man.” All ghosts vanished. Theo waved and puffed away. Calvin’s body also vanished. The lights went out as the windows shattered.

“Well, it looks like my job here is done!” Lucas stood up, brushing his coat. “It’s time to go home! Good night, everyone. I wish you all well.”

“Where are you going?” Elodie asked.

“Going to my family,” Lucas said. “Perhaps it’s time you returned to yours, too.”

“Wait!” Apollo roared. “You don’t have to die. Josephine can knit you a jumper.”

Lucas shook his head. “No. I don’t need a jumper. It’s time for me to go.” Elodie watched as Lucas opened one of the patio doors. He marched towards the blank and never looked back. Another life claimed by the curse: her curse.

“Josephine?” Apollo asked.

Elodie turned around and noticed the toddler who stood where Josephine had stood. What was going on? She was a crazy old knitting lady when she first saw her.

“I’m sorry,” the little girl in Josephine’s place stood, crying. “As more people die, I get younger. I’m so young now, I can’t knit anymore. Soon I will be a baby, and I worry my protective spell will cease to work.”

“Everyone must leave!” Elodie announced. “This curse started with me, and it will end with me.”

“What are you talking about?” Apollo squealed. “We can’t just leave you.”

“You must,” Elodie hissed, for what future would there be for her? A lifetime in prison or worse, a mental institute. She never wanted to make it past 50 anyway. She had hurt everyone she ever loved and care for, and could not bring herself to spread it any longer. “You know the truth now. Move on, and live your life. Make that animal sanctuary you’ve always dreamed of.” Elodie squeezed Apollo’s hand and tapped his engagement ring. “You have a purpose. I don’t.”

The survivors followed crew members to the lifeboats. Only little Josephine, Sook-Jo, Elaine and Apollo remained with Elodie in the dining room. Sook-Jo had no hesitation to wrap the frail Josephine in her arms like her own child.

“Are you sure about this?” Elaine asked, tears flowing in her eyes.

“You hate me,” Elodie said, smirking. Her arms folded, and she winked at Elaine. “You should be happy. Didn’t you once say on your blog that you couldn’t wait for the day I die? Now today is the day.”

Elaine sobbed. “I never hated you. I was frustrated. I gave you everything, and you betrayed me. So I wanted to destroy you.”

“Just go!” Elodie requested. The circle of abuse had gone on for too long. It had to end before it dragged more innocent lives. Apollo had a fiancée waiting for him. Sook-Jo had businesses to run. Elaine had many stories to write and tell. “All of you. Please leave me alone. Look after yourselves and each other.”

She gave them all one last hug and waved goodbye to them. She watched all the lifeboats leave Heavenly Cruise with tears rolling down her cheeks. She blamed everyone and anything for all her turbulence. It was time to take responsibility for her actions.

The lifeboats headed north. Heavenly Seas headed south towards an iceberg. She took a deep breath. It was time. Heavenly Seas would share Titanic’s fate. At that moment, Elodie was the only human on the boat. None of the monsters and ghosts entertained her. If anything, they mocked her as she broke every beverage in sight. She set one deck on fire.

As the sea level grew closer as the floors crumbled and split. She had never seen such a beautiful sight. The blue hues from the sea combined with the orange and reds from the flames. Even through the thick smoke and glacial shards, she could see dawn approaching.

Whatever she had to do to break the curse, she would do it.

Elodie reached the top deck. Following the calls of her deceased husband and sons. A fresh start in the afterlife. She couldn’t see her husband and sons, but she knew they were there. The white hands on her shoulders… It’s theirs.

“Don’t worry,” Elodie whimpered. “Mama’s here!”