Haunting Megan

By Rebecca Reilly

After suffering years of abuse at the hands of her alcoholic mother, Megan wakes to screams, cries of murder, and the room splattered with blood. Sent to the mountains to live with the grandfather who’d once abandoned them, Megan must learn to care for her young sisters and manage Wind Hollow Lodge. Megan tries to ignore the haunting memories of her past as she struggles to live a normal life. But she can’t ignore the ghosts who terrorize her, nor can she calm the fear that her sanity is slipping away. When deputies discover the bodies of men murdered on Wind Hollow land, people start to wonder just how crazy Megan Wilson really is.

The investigation at Wind Hollow Lodge is just another case to Deputy Jason Belt—until he sees Megan. Drawn to her beauty and her wounded spirit, his oath to protect and serve takes on new meaning. But why did she lie to him? What does she have to hide?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rebecca Reilly
• Release date: Sep 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311910622

Rebecca Reilly

I love the joy of new adventures, the challenge of new dreams, and the fun of a life well lived. My husband of thirty years is my rock, and my two children my joy. I am a youth pastor, a zumba instructor, a health coach, a massage therapist, and a writer. Writing is something I have to do. Writing in different genres with different voices keeps life interesting!

Book preview

Chapter One

San Jose, California

March, 2000

Years of grime and neglect marked the powder blue walls of Megan’s bedroom.  Twelve-year-old Carrie huddled against a corner and waited for Megan to come.  She wanted to hold onto one of Megan’s pillows for comfort, but the pillowcase didn’t look clean.  She wrapped her arms tight against her chest and held herself instead.

She didn’t know Megan lived like this.

They’d met the first day of sixth grade.  For over a year they had talked about boys, the latest songs, the coolest clothes, but today was the first time Carrie had come to Megan’s house.

Carrie hadn’t noticed anything unusual as they walked up to Megan’s front door.  It was just a little two-story house in a poor neighborhood on the east side of San Jose.  On their walk from school she saw signs of gang activity in the spray painted graffiti.  She saw more broken down cars than she could count, many resting where front yard grass should be growing.  But this was Carrie’s neighborhood too.  Run down and poor was life.  What was the point in thinking about it?

When Megan opened the door, Carrie stepped into a world she didn’t know existed.  She reeled back and gagged as the stench of vomit, urine, and diarrhea assaulted her senses. 

Megan pressed her lips together and closed her eyes.  Her face flushed with embarrassment.  She turned to Carrie and mumbled, Let me take you upstairs to my room.  I’ll clean up down here and be right there.

Carrie nodded and would have followed, but a loud grunt bellowed from the kitchen.  Startled, Carrie looked and froze.  Megan grabbed Carrie’s hand and pulled her toward the stairs.

Come here you little bitch.  Witch or woman or beast, Carrie wasn’t sure what was weaving toward them.  Carrie’s eyes widened and her body clenched as she tried to back away from this thing with a sheet-white face, jet-black hair, and mounds of bloated flesh.  To Carrie, the room seemed to darken and chill.  The creature growled and lunged, her face twisted with rage.  She grabbed Megan’s arm with one hand and backhanded her across her mouth with the other.

Megan’s head jerked with the slap, but that was the only movement she made.  She threw her shoulders back and looked eye-to-eye with her mother.

The room stilled and the air felt thick as Carrie backed away.  She almost made it to the front door before Megan’s mom groaned and slumped unconscious to the ground, pulling Megan with her.

Carrie, moving without thinking, rushed forward to help.  Megan shook her mother off and stood tall.  She put her hands out to stop Carrie from coming close.  Too late, Carrie saw the woman’s soiled pants and the chunks of vomit in her hair.

It’s better this way.  Megan looked at Carrie and then down at her mother.  I always hope she’s passed out by the time I get home from school.

What can I do?  Carrie couldn’t take her eyes off the creature on the floor.

I want you to call someone to come pick you up.  The pain in Megan’s voice belied the words.

Carrie spoke without thinking.  I’ll stay.  I’ll help.

Megan stared at Carrie for a moment, then nodded.  Words would not come.  She looked at her mother, and the blush of shame once again colored her features.  Megan knew Carrie had seen too much.  There could be no pretending her life was normal.  But Carrie had offered to stay and help; that meant something to Megan.

What’s wrong with her? Carrie blurted out with more revulsion than politeness.

She’s drunk.  Megan swallowed hard, and then turned to face Carrie.  My room is the blue one at the top of the stairs.  Could you take your things and go up and wait for me?  I need to clean her up.

Carrie ran up the stairs, relieved Megan didn’t ask her to help deal with the feces and vomit.  She rushed into Megan’s room and dropped her sleeping bag and backpack on the floor.  She climbed on Megan’s bed and scooted back against the corner and waited.

It took Megan fifteen minutes to finish downstairs and another three to gather her courage and face her friend.  Sorry about that.  She tried to make light of it, to make it seem like no big deal.  Megan shrugged her shoulders and added, Should’ve warned you. When Carrie smiled, Megan closed the door and plopped down on the bed. 

It’s okay.  Carrie squinted to see Megan’s face better.  How’s your mouth?

My what? Too much humiliation had been heaped on Megan for her to remember a little slap.  Oh, she rubbed her hand gently against it.  It’s fine.  Won’t leave a mark.  She didn’t have enough balance to put her weight into it.

Megan reached into her nightstand and pulled out her stack of teen magazines.  Carrie took one, but even the familiarity of ogling stars and painting her toenails couldn’t help her relax.  Megan kept the conversation to their typical junior high silliness and did her best to act like nothing had happened.  She reached over to her cassette deck and flipped on I’m a Barbie Girl. It only took a second for the girls to jump up and start dancing and singing to the old pop song.    

Carrie froze mid-move when a quick knock sounded and the door opened.

Hey Baby, Megan's eighteen-year-old sister Jessica leaned against the doorjamb.  A quick glance was enough to gain Carrie’s instant admiration.  Confident and beautiful, Jessica wore her blonde hair short with bangs parted so they sloped over her left eye.  Blue eyes sparkled and her smile shined.  You okay? 

Yeah, I'm cool.  Megan grinned at her sister.  This is Carrie.

Hey Carrie.  Welcome to our happy home.  Jessica's lips quirked.   Did you do the cleaning and covering downstairs?

Yeah, Megan jerked her head toward Carrie.  Poor Carrie didn't know what she was getting into.

Jessica forced a smile. Don't worry about things, Carrie.  We can't change her, so we make do.  Jessica held up a McDonald’s bag.  I didn't have time to cook, so here's dinner.  She tossed the bag to Megan.  There's plenty for both of you.

What about the twins?  Megan peaked into the bag and saw two burgers and two fries.

They're sleeping at Marcia's, so it's all yours.  Eat up.  Jessica started to leave and then leaned back into the room.  I'm going out for a bit tonight.  You gonna be okay?

Sure, we're fine.  Megan nodded and Jessica pulled the door closed behind her.

Wow, she’s cool.  What did she mean, ‘cleaned and covered?’ Carrie asked.

Megan pressed her lips together and took a deep breath.  She’d known there was a decent chance her mom would pull a drunk day when she’d invited Carrie to spend the night.  But knowing it hadn’t kept her from hoping it wouldn’t happen. 

She's too fat for us to move.  So when she passes out, we do our best to clean her up, get her a pillow, and throw a blanket over her.  She's lying where she fell down.  Sometime tonight she'll wake up and stumble to bed. Megan kept her voice even, trying desperately to show neither emotion nor compassion. 

Carrie mumbled under her breath.  If someone hit me like that, I don't think I could bring her a pillow.   

She's my mother.

Carrie looked up, startled that Megan had heard her.  I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have said that.

It's okay.  I'm used to it.  You're not.  And, Megan pulled a few fries from the bag, Like I said, I should’ve warned you.

Carrie shrugged her shoulders.  The last thing she felt like doing was putting food in her mouth, but she was a diabetic and skipping meals was not allowed.  Carrie dug through her backpack and pulled out a baggie that held her insulin and several syringes.   Do you want to talk about it?

Talk about what?  Watching you give yourself a shot?  I’ve seen that before.  Megan took a bite of her burger.

Carrie stuck the needle in her thigh.  No, stupid, not me.  You.    Your life.  How...  Carrie had the raging curiosity of a pre-teen, but she didn’t want to hurt Megan.  She gritted her teeth to keep from asking.

How what?

How do you live with your mother like that? Carrie blurted out.  How do you eat?  How do you get the clothes you need?  How do you sleep when you know she might hit you again and really hurt you?

Megan stood up and hit rewind on the cassette player.  When it was ready, she hit play and sang along with Barbie Girl again, this time quietly with no dancing. 

I'm a Barbie girl

In the Barbie world

Life in plastic

It's fantastic

When the song finished, Megan turned off the tape and faced Carrie.

Carrie saw Megan’s face and immediately apologized.  I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have asked.  But damn, it was so trippy.  And gross.  And scary, like out of a movie.  Carrie was torn.  Part of her wanted to know every sordid detail; the other part was horrified by what Megan had to live through and afraid of what might happen during the night. She gentled her voice and asked, Do you want me to leave?

No.  Megan sounded tired, looked tired.  No.  I want you to stay.  The worst is over.  Megan sat on the bed next to Carrie.  They looked like sisters.  Both tall and gangly, they had bones sticking out rather than curves.  Each had blue eyes, a straight long nose and full lips.  Megan’s face began with a pointed chin, broadened to wide cheekbones, and was topped off with stringy blonde fly-away hair.  Carrie’s chin rounded more and she kept her hair in better condition, but the coloring was the same.  Except today.  Megan’s cheeks matched the yellowing sheets on her bed, and Carrie’s held the pink blush of twisted excitement laced with fear.

My mom is not drunk all the time.  Megan explained.  Only maybe four or five times a week.  She shops sometimes when she's sober.  Jessica takes care of us though, all the time.  She makes sure we have food and the twins get to school and stuff.  The french fries were cold but still tasted good to Megan.  You're eating Jessica’s hamburger.  Megan laughed when Carrie gasped and tried to hand it back to her.  No.  She didn't know you were here, but she wanted you to have it.  That's why she went out again, you know, to get her own.  She'll be fine.

So your twin sisters won’t be here?  I wanted to meet them.

Megan grinned.  Why?  They’re annoying ten-year-old brats.  She popped the rest of her burger in her mouth.  When my mom gets like this, Jessica makes sure they stay across the street at our neighbor's.  Megan chuckled.  They really live there more than here.  

Carrie couldn't get a handle on Megan.  How could she laugh?  The girls ate in silence for a few minutes before Carrie asked, What about your dad?

Don't have one.  Megan stood and took her hamburger wrapper to the trash.  With her back to Carrie, she asked, Do you want to leave?

No, Carrie insisted, even though she wanted to grab her things and run out the door.  I'm fine.  I just, I don't know, I don't understand how you can be happy and look at teen mags and stuff.

What else am I supposed to do?  Megan looked at the closed door of her bedroom.  She wanted to run, to get out, to breathe fresh air, to stop being embarrassed for something she had no control over.  But her mom lay half naked on the floor between the stairs and the front door.  No way in hell Megan wanted to take Carrie past that again.  She closed her mind to it and pretended life was normal.  Want to play Monopoly? she asked.

Chapter Two

Carrie tried to laugh, to joke, to play board games, but fear that Megan’s mom would wake and come looking for them haunted her.  Leaving the room to go to the bathroom had been an ordeal she’d only managed once in the six hours she’d been there.   When the stairs creaked, Carrie jumped off the bed and backed away from the door.  Eyes wide and hands braced against the wall, Carrie watched the doorknob turn.

 Doing okay, kiddos?

Carrie gasped, then laughed when Jessica pushed into the room.

Megan ignored her and smiled at her sister.  Yeah, you want ‘a …Oh. 

An older guy, maybe twenty or so, stepped into the room behind Jessica.  He reminded Megan of Bono from U2 with his thin lips, day old beard, and greasy dark hair.  Sunglasses rested on top of his head.

This is Joe, Jessica smiled.  Joe looked around Megan’s bedroom.  His eyes locked on Carrie’s.  She felt her skin grow hot as he lowered them to look at her body. 

Lock your door, Jessica whispered and winked at Megan.  She backed out of the room taking Joe with her.

Carrie’s eyes looked ready to pop.  "What did she mean, lock your door?  Who is that guy?"

She meant lock my door.  Listen Carrie, the pain in Megan’s stomach twisted and burned.  She needed friends, but Carrie asked too many damn questions that Megan didn’t feel like answering.  Jessica put the lock on my door to keep my mom out.  But sometimes Jessica brings guys home, and she doesn’t want them prowling around in my room.

The first cries of sex slammed through the walls.

Carrie gasped.  What are they doing?

Megan rolled her eyes and threw her hands up.  Whatever they want.

"She just brings guys to your house?  Just like that?  And they do it right there, in her room?  Carrie’s voice cracked with shock.  Is Joe her boyfriend?"

No.  I don’t know who he is.  She probably just met him.  Jeez, Carrie.  Megan jumped up and paced around the room for a moment.  The moaning and squeaking of the bedsprings coming from Jessica’s room intensified.  Megan turned on Carrie. Don’t even think about looking down on Jessica.  I’ll rip you apart if you even start to go there.

I wouldn’t.  I…I…I just…It’s not like this at my house!  Carrie’s exclamation made Megan laugh, but it wasn’t a pleasant sound.

Lucky you.  Megan sat down next to Carrie and tried to explain as much as her twelve-year-old brain could understand.  When Jessica is really pissed at my mom, like when my mom does stuff like pass out, or hit one of us, Jessica brings a guy home.  Like today, Jessica knew I was really embarrassed for you to see our mom like that, so she’s beyond pissed, and Joe gets lucky.

Carrie shook her head.  She didn’t seem pissed.  The noises from next door didn’t sound angry either.  Wanting to listen, but trying not to, Carrie blushed.  Then she realized what Megan said.  She rushed to assure her.  And you shouldn’t be embarrassed.  I just didn’t know, but it’s not like I think less of you or anything.

Thanks, Megan rolled her eyes and tried not to feel insulted by Carrie’s arrogance.  What Jessica does with guys is more about getting back at my mom than anything else.  My mom will scream at Jessica tomorrow, and Jessica will scream back.  It’s an easy way for Jessica to pay my mom back for the crap she dishes out.  That’s all.  No big deal.  And I just lock the door.  Megan clicked the lock.  I’m ready for bed, and ready to quit explaining, she added to herself.

Carrie tried to sleep, but Megan’s floor was hard and the noises of the night freaked her out.  Sounds from Jessica’s room mellowed to an occasional bed squeak, more like someone turning over than the activity of earlier.  She heard steps on the stairs but couldn’t tell if they were coming up or going down.  She had to pee, but was afraid to unlock the door and go out to the bathroom.  Megan’s deep breathing told Carrie she was sleeping.  The moon was full and cast an eerie light through Megan’s curtains.  Carrie began to settle. 

The click of the doorknob jolted her completely awake.  Carrie sat up and stared at the door.  She could almost see the knob turn; though later she wasn’t sure if that was her imagination or if she really saw it.  She heard the knob move back and forth, back and forth.  The floor rustled as if whoever was trying the doorknob shifted his or her weight.  After a minute, the door handle was released and Carrie heard cautious steps walk away.

Heart pumping, Carrie forced herself to lie down again.  The squeaks and moans from Jessica’s room started up again.  Carrie put her pillow over her head and prayed for morning to come.

Chapter Three

At the first scream, Carrie was on her feet.  She must have slept because the room now glowed with morning sunlight.  Megan sat up slowly.  Don’t worry.  It’s just my mother. The screams intensified.

Help me! Oh God!  Jessica, my baby! 

Megan jumped out of bed, tore open the door and ran to her sister’s room.  Carrie followed.

Megan saw the blood spread across Jessica’s bed.  She froze and then started screaming.  She pushed her mom away and ripped the covers off of Jessica’s mutilated body.  Megan fell across her sister, the only real mother she’d known, and screamed out her grief and rage.

Carrie stopped in the doorway.  The blood, the screams, the fear sucked the breath from her lungs.  Nearly fainting, Carrie grabbed the doorjamb for support.  When her eyes cleared, Carrie raised her head and looked at Megan’s mother leaning against the wall where Megan had pushed her.  Megan’s mother.  Jessica’s mother.  A mother covered with her child’s blood—her face, her gown, her hands dripped with it.  Carrie slid boneless to the floor, eyes opened and focused on the right hand of Jessica’s mother.  The right hand that held the chef’s knife that ended the life of the young girl who had called her mom.

The shock didn’t wear off, but it subsided enough to allow Carrie to crawl to Jessica’s desk and dial 911.  She was too afraid to leave Megan alone with her mother and the knife.  She was too afraid to turn her back on Megan’s mother to leave.  Megan’s mother never looked at her; she never took her eyes off of the bed.  At some point, she slumped to the floor and the knife slid out of her hand.

The police, the paramedics, and the coroner’s wagon arrived quickly.  The first thing the police did was make everyone leave the room.   

Sergeant Ash took Carrie downstairs to answer questions.  As soon as she got to the kitchen table she began to shake uncontrollably.  Some part of her brain wondered why she didn’t start shaking or screaming or crying in the room upstairs.  Sergeant Ash patted her back and called for a paramedic to come downstairs and get her a blanket.  He waited for Carrie’s mother to arrive before he started asking questions. 

She told him about the slap, about Joe, about the doorknob, about the knife.  Shudders and tears happened frequently, but she made it through.  Carrie didn’t know which was worse, hearing Megan scream for Jessica or the silence when she stopped. 

What’s going to happen now? Carrie asked the sergeant.

I wish I could tell you, Sweetheart.  I’m not sure.  It sounded funny for a cop to call her sweetheart.

Can I take her home now? Carrie’s mother asked.

Yes.  He pulled out several cards and handed them to Carrie’s mother.  She’s going to need counseling, Mrs. Arnot.  Here is my card and a couple of people you might want to get in touch with.

Carrie stood to leave, but before she could take a step, Megan ran down the stairs, grabbed her, and knocked her back into the chair.  Don’t leave me here.  Don’t let them take me away.  They’re gonna take my mom.  She slipped to the floor and kneeled there with her head in Carrie’s lap.

Leslie Arnot knelt on the floor with Megan and gently stroked her shoulders and hair.  It’s okay.  My daughter and I won’t leave you, she promised.

Sergeant Ash waited patiently for the sobs to quiet.  Megan, do you have any other family?  Someone you can stay with?

She lifted her head and looked at him.  Her eyes were hollow, sunken into her face.  The girl from yesterday was gone.

I have a grandfather, but he doesn’t like us.  Megan gasped for breath.  He owns an old lodge up in the mountains.  My mom got drunk and broke a bunch of things.  He kicked us out and told us never to come back.  Megan’s sobs and shakes began again.

After a few more minutes, Sergeant Ash asked, Where can I get his number?   

Phone book.  It’s Wind Hollow Lodge, in Sierraview. 

The screams echoed from upstairs.  I didn’t do it!  I couldn’t hurt my baby like that! 

Excuse me, Sergeant Ash didn’t hurry.  He walked upstairs like he was going for a visit.

The two officers brought Megan’s mom down in handcuffs.  Megan jumped up and stepped toward her, but Carrie’s mom held her back.

Tell them Megan! Her mother screamed.  Tell them I found Jessica like that!  I found her with that knife sticking out of her.  I just pulled it out.  I didn’t stick it in.  I couldn’t stick a knife in my baby.  Megan!  Tell them!

The police escorted her out.  A few minutes later, Sergeant Ash came back in with their neighbor.  Marcia took Megan away, first to her home, and then three weeks later to her grandfather who wanted neither her nor her sisters. 

Chapter Four

Emily got sick in Marcia’s car.  The mountain roads between San Jose and Sierraview weaved and dropped, but Megan thought her vomiting had more to do with the licorice and snickers bars Emily crammed in her mouth before they left San Jose.  Marcia pulled over and got out of the car to help, but Megan considered taking care of the twins her job now and wouldn’t let her.  Helpless, Marcia took Sarah’s hand and walked up and down the side of the road, her heart breaking for all three girls.

Megan stripped Emily of her shirt and wiped her down.  Then she took off her own jacket and gave it to Emily to wear.  Megan sent her off to join Marcia while she cleaned the car.

Sorry Marcia, Emily grinned.  Can we hike down there?  I hear a river.

No munchkin.  Marcia jiggled the top of Emily’s head.  Guess you’re feeling better now that you’ve gotten rid of your breakfast.

Me?  I’m fine.  Emily darted from tree to tree looking for wildlife, her copper hair matching the color of the redwoods.  Catching sight of her sister, she called, Come on Sarah, let’s go find a mountain lion.

Sarah held tight to Marcia with one hand and her book with the other.  She blinked fast to keep the tears inside and shook her head.   

Emily shrugged, and with a quick look at Marcia stepped down the embankment and into the forest.

Megan used Emily’s shirt to scrub the backseat.  She wished her nose were as numb as her brain.  The gnawing pain in her stomach lessened when she had something physical to do.  Sitting in the car watching the trees go by had been torture.  Cleaning puke almost made a nice break.

Jessica had been dead for three weeks.  When Megan closed her eyes, she saw her.  Saw her laughing.  Saw her bleeding.  Images exploded in her brain each time her body shut down to sleep.  They left her gasping, sweating, and screaming for help.  No wonder Marcia was taking them to her grandfather’s lodge.  She must be anxious to be rid of them.

Jessica wasn’t the only one who haunted Megan’s dreams.  The image of her mom screaming at her from an imaginary, rat-ridden jail cell haunted her nights, until it was replaced by the very real image of her mom in a mental hospital.

Her mother had begged for