Page 28 of Dead Evil
“I think so. Did I hurt the men?” Poppy asked.
“No, they’re gonna be fine, unfortunately,” Everly laughed.
Poppy giggled along with her. “What happens now? I want my Mommy and my Daddy!” She began to cry.
Everly wrapped her arms around the little girl, hugging her close. Ronan could see her lips moving and assumed she was trying to calm the little spirit. A flash of white light nearly blinded him. It struck the stage beside Everly. Ronan could see people gathered together and crying. He assumed they were Poppy’s family.
“Mommy! Daddy! Patrick!” Poppy shouted, before turning back to Everly. “How did you do that?”
“I asked for a little help.” Everly hooked her thumb behind her, where Ronan saw Bertha Craig and his mother, Erin, standing together. “It’s time for you to go to heaven.”
“I miss my family, but I don’t want to leave you,” Poppy said.
“You’ll always be able to find me. Just call my name and you’ll come right to me.”
“Really?” Poppy asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
“Yup! Give it a try after you’ve had some time to hug your Mom and Dad.”
“Okay!” Poppy ran toward the light, but stopped suddenly. “Oh, one more thing, can you take care of Agatha Louise?”
“I promise I will.” Everly set a hand over her heart.
Poppy ran into the light which burned brighter for a few seconds and slowly faded.
Everly ran into her grandmother’s arms. “Thank you, Mimi Erin. I didn’t know if I could save Poppy by myself.”
“You’re welcome, little miss.” Erin knelt down in front of Everly. “You are just amazing. I am so proud of you and love you somuch.” She hugged her granddaughter like she never wanted to let go.
“What about me?” Ronan asked, standing behind Everly.
“Always, Ro your boat.” Erin stood and pulled Ronan into her arms.
Ronan didn’t want this moment to end. He was hugging his mother and Everly and Ten were safe. Ronan couldn’t ask for more than this.
Bertha hugged Ten, then Everly. “You did good, honey.”
“I was so scared Poppy was gonna hurt Daddy or Uncle Jude. I didn’t even think about myself, I just ran to help.”
“That’s true courage,” Bertha said. “It’s one of the reasons the light appeared when you called it. Your pure heart was the other. Now, I’ve got to hug your handsome father before my time is up.”
Everly stepped back to Tennyson, her eyes on the doll.
“Was Poppy’s spirit inside the doll?” Ten asked. “Or was there something else in there too?”
“It was Poppy and something else. Whatever the other thing was vanished when I picked up Agatha Louise. It was the other thing who was killing people. Poppy tried to stop it, but the thing hurt her.”
“Did it go back to hell?” Ten asked Bertha, who was still hugging Ronan.
Bertha shook her head. “It flew off, I’m not sure where it went. Off to find another host, I assume.”
“Bertha Craig, you’re looking mighty fine for a woman who has been dead for a decade.”
“Well, thank you, Cisco. Can you do me a favor?” Bertha grinned at the chief of police.
Cisco grinned. “Name it.”
“Stop yelling at my boys! Ronan, Jude, and Fitzgibbon are sweet, sweet angles.” Bertha winked at Cisco.
