Trilok: Simmon Tree Bottom Continues

By Raye

Simmon Tree Bottom was the town of Kinsales best
kept secret. No one in that small Virginia town knew
its historic value. No one knew why this place was so
horrid. No one really cared either. Nonetheless, the
ones who happened to stumble upon this place would
never forget it. After writing a best-selling novel about
the family that lived in this place called Simmon Tree
Bottom, Lizzy found herself dead center in the legend that lay beneath
Kinsales mysterious persimmon tree. It seemed that all hell was breaking
loose, and Lizzy realized that this small, insignifi cant place was not so
obscure, at least not to those who dwelled beneath it. There seemed to be a
connection that tied it all together. Lizzy introduced the world to Simmon
Tree Bottom and now Simmon Tree Bottom was introducing her and the
rest of the world to the Trilok.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781479793679

Raye

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Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Raye.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4797-9366-2

                Ebook          978-1-4797-9367-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 02/13/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

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Contents

Dedication

Prelude

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Epilogue

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this book to my Grand Pa, William R Wilson, may you rest in everlasting peace. I love and miss you.

PRELUDE

Simmon Tree Bottom was the town of Kinsale’s best kept secret. No one in that small Virginia town knew its historic value. No one knew why this place was so horrid. No one really cared either. Nonetheless, the ones who happened to stumble upon this place would never forget it.

After writing a best-selling novel about the family that lived in this place called Simmon Tree Bottom, Lizzy found herself dead center in the legend that lay beneath Kinsale’s mysterious persimmon tree.

It seemed that all hell was breaking loose, and Lizzy realized that this small, insignificant place was not so obscure, at least not to those who dwelled beneath it.

There seemed to be a connection that tied it all together. Lizzy introduced the world to Simmon Tree Bottom and now Simmon Tree Bottom was introducing her and the rest of the world to the Trilok.

CHAPTER 1

It was about 3:00 am, hours before dawn on a Tuesday morning, when Lizzy woke up in a cold sweat. She sat straight up in the bed looking around in the dark for some sign that she was still at home and it was only a dream. Even after she realized that she was indeed home, she remained unsure that she had been dreaming. It seemed so real to her. The dream was clear, vivid, with bold colors and strong fragrances; in fact, she could still catch a hint of the jasmine. She looked for her husband Curtis, but he was not there. Lizzy gathered herself; she remembered that Curtis was out of town on business. She wondered why Kelly didn’t come and jump in the bed with her like he usually did when his dad was out of town. Kelly always made Lizzy feel so safe. He was the one thing that she could count on, the one constant in her life since Curtis stayed gone so much. Lizzy jumped out of bed and fear surrounded her in the dark room. She found herself running down the hall to check on Kelly. Lizzy let out a deep breath of relief when she looked at Kelly as he rested so peacefully. She always liked to look at him while he was asleep. This was the only time that she could truly capture the essence of her son; when he was awake he never stayed still long enough.

Lizzy sat down on the floor next to Kelly’s twin bed while he rested. She didn’t want to disturb him. She sat there in partial darkness as the light from the bathroom in the hall cast a faint glow on the doorway to Kelly’s room. She remembered her dream then. She had dreamed about Grandpapa, and it seemed so real that she was almost convinced he had made personal contact. Grandpapa was a man that she had come to know a little and love so well just before God had called him home.

Lizzy and Grandpapa were in the bus station headed up north to see Francine, Grandpapa’s mother. They called for them to board the bus. They had no luggage at all. Grandpapa looked so handsome in the dream. It seemed as though he may have been twenty years younger and a little heavier. Despite being right there with Grandpapa, Lizzy felt that she couldn’t touch him; even in her dream she thought he was only there as some sort of guide. When they boarded the bus, it was 9:11 am. Lizzy noticed the time as she gazed at a watch she had actually been admiring in Nordstrom’s department store the day before. Lizzy walked all the way to the back of the bus and took a seat. All of a sudden, they weren’t on a bus anymore—they were on a plane. She looked out of the small window and gazed at the clouds. Lizzy couldn’t remember taking off and, when she looked around for Grandpapa, she noticed that he was not sitting beside her. She did not see him at all. Then Lizzy stepped into the aisle and everything began to shake violently from left to right. It was then that she noticed she was now on a train. When she looked towards the back of the train she saw Grandpapa, but he was in the next car. She ran to the back of the car and reached up to push the button to open the door. When it opened, she could see that the next car was disconnected from hers yet still moving. Grandpapa stood there with a group of people who were grinning and waving goodbye to her. The next thing she knew, the interiors of both train cars lit up and they were at a funeral. Lizzy didn’t know whose funeral it was, but that same crowd of people was standing around Grandpapa. Then she realized that she could name almost all of the people. There was Samantha, whom she had never laid eyes on before, and even her mom and dad whom she missed terribly. She had lost them so long ago that she had almost forgotten the pain of losing them until she saw them standing there. There were others too. Kilani and Francine were there and she thought to herself that they all should look a little older, even older than Grandpapa did, but they didn’t. She noticed that Hattie was there in the background, looking at her and laughing hysterically. Her laughter was chilling. But then Lizzy saw a young woman whom she felt she should know but she couldn’t give the girl a name. She focused on the coffin and all of the pretty flowers surrounding it while an organ played the most dreadful song she had ever heard. She noticed the colors of the flowers. There were roses of every color and she noticed every rose. The only thing was that the roses didn’t smell like roses at all; they smelled just like jasmine. Lizzy loved flowers but the sweet smell made her nauseous. She still couldn’t help but notice the strange sounds from the organ and the disturbing laughter that came from Hattie, the town witch.

That’s when Lizzy snatched herself out of her sleep. The only problem was that she still could not snatch herself out of that dream.

CHAPTER 2

Still trying to translate the dream from the night before, Lizzy stood in her kitchen. She was preparing a meal for her and Kelly. She cooked the kind of breakfast that would make the nearby hounds run to her back door. She was frying ham steaks and eggs, and the biscuits in the oven and buttery grits she’d already made would combine for a wonderful, aromatic breakfast medley.

Lizzy was so deep inside of her head that the whining of the hungry animals didn’t annoy her as much as it usually did. As a matter of fact, the dogs crowding around her door were familiar. And Lizzy welcomed the familiar on such a strange morning.

Kelly had perfect timing; he came downstairs just as Lizzy was taking the biscuits from the oven. Good morning, baby. How’s my favorite boy doing this morning?

I’m fine, Ma. Were you in my room last night?

Yeah, I got a little lonely. I thought that you would’ve stayed with me since your dad is gone.

I was going to, but Dad said that big boys don’t sleep with their mom.

Oh he did, did he? Lizzy asked with surprise in her voice. Come on and get some of this good breakfast; that is, if big boys can still eat their mother’s cooking.

Kelly sat down to breakfast and Lizzy served him as if he were a king. To Lizzy, Kelly was a king. She had waited so long for this child. Just when she thought that she couldn’t birth anything, Kelly came along as strong and as healthy as any mother could wish. Now Kelly was seven years old and quite handsome at that. Lizzy was very proud of her only son. He was very intelligent and talking to him sometimes seemed like talking with a much older child. Old folks swore that this boy had been here before. And sometimes they jokingly called him Grandpapa.

Ma, after school I want to catch the bus home with Kevin. Could you pick me up from over there?

I’m sure that won’t be a problem. Now eat up, the bus will be here soon. Lizzy didn’t want him to miss it. If he did, she would have to drive miles to take him to school. Lizzy never looked forward to that drive early in the morning. She had gotten so lazy. After having Kelly, Lizzy had gained almost sixty pounds and didn’t have a diet anywhere in her future. It didn’t make it any easier sitting at home most of the time where her writing career kept her.

Kelly finished his meal and cleared his plate. He placed the dish in the sink and grabbed a juice for the road. Then he kissed his mother and ran out the back door. Lizzy heard the bus come and go while washing dishes. Soon there was a tap at the back door. Hello. Lizzy, you in there?

Had to be Aunt Anne Marie, Lizzy thought. She was the only one who will see the door open and knock anyway. Yeah, come on in here, Lizzy yelled. You are just in time for some breakfast.

Oh, no thanks, child. I had my breakfast early.

Auntie, it’s just 7:30, Lizzy joked. She knew that this old woman got up with the chickens. What’s been going on with you?

Not much. For an old gal, I’m doing pretty good, Anne Marie replied.

Auntie, I had the strangest dream last night. It was about Grandpapa and it was so real. I wonder what he was trying to tell me? Lizzy said with a puzzled look on her face.

No kidding? I dreamed about him last night, too. The strangest dream. That’s why I came over here to make sure you all were okay.

Did you dream about us too? Lizzy asked.

No, but he was warning me and I knew it. The dead will rest until they have a reason not to. I wonder what he wanted. Now I’m really curious. What did you dream? Anne Marie asked.

I dreamed that we were taking a trip. We started out on a bus then we were on a plane and, before I knew anything, we were on a train. But the strange thing was that we ended up at a funeral and I didn’t know whose. I saw people that were dead for years and I could name them even though I had never laid my eyes on them before. Hattie was laughing that wicked laugh, and I even seemed to recognize Grandpapa’s mother and father, Francine and Kilani. What does that mean?

Lizzy, I don’t know exactly, but something is wrong. You saw Hattie? Girl, where your man at?

Lizzy laughed. Why?

I thought maybe Hattie was trying to let you know that she had him, Anne Marie chuckled. But seriously, if Hattie was in your dreams, she was definitely trying to tell you something. Damn, you make my dream sound like a bad case of gas, Anne Marie sighed. Lizzy burst into laughter.

Lizzy always enjoyed talking to her Auntie. Once Lizzy got to know her, they became really close. Anne Marie was the first person Lizzy had met when she had come to the country over seven years ago. To Lizzy, it seemed as though people in the country live so much longer than those who moved up and out. It had been a long time since Lizzy had a woman to talk to; Anne Marie made Lizzy feel so secure and mothered at times. There were other times when Aunt Anne Marie was like a best friend to her. She knew that her aunt had all of the scoop and Lizzy, being a writer, soaked up the information like a sponge.

You know what, Lizzy? Ella always could interpret dreams. Hanging out with Hattie taught her more than a few things, Anne Marie added.

How is Aunt Ella, by the way? Lizzy asked while trying to catch her breath from laughing at her aunt.

Ella had been sick for some time. She wasn’t a young woman anymore. She was only a couple of years younger than Anne Marie but had aged tremendously. The doctors couldn’t attribute any of the symptoms to anything physical, but mentally she had some things going on. For one thing, she had never gotten over losing Hattie. She still believed that Hattie was alive. She would hold entire conversations with her and could even tell people what Hattie was saying. People would look at her as if she was crazy. However, most of the time Ella would tell them something that she had no way of knowing, usually something that they didn’t want anyone else to know, and that made people stay away from her.

Lizzy, Ella’s not well at all. Why don’t you come by to see your aunt?

No thanks, I’ll send flowers.

Lizzy was one of the people that stayed out of Ella’s way. To her, Ella was no different from that damned Hattie. Hattie was Ella and Anne Marie’s aunt. She was half black and half white, half master and half slave, and half crazy and half sane; but one thing was for sure, Hattie was 100% witch. Ella seemed to tolerate her more than anyone else. Maybe birds of a feather… ? At any rate, Lizzy kept her distance from Aunt Ella.

Curtis has been away for a week, he should be in tomorrow. I should take a trip when he comes back.

Where are you trying to go?

I was thinking about visiting Aunt Gracie. There is some information I have to get from her for a story. She came down to the family reunion last month and told me she wanted me to do something for her.

Oh, you’re writing another book, huh?

Yeah, I have a good one this time. Auntie, this is going to be my best work ever, Lizzy lied to Anne Marie. Lizzy hadn’t written another book since her last one, but she didn’t want to admit to anyone that, other than writing for the magazine, she hadn’t done any writing much less thought of writing a new book.

Child, ‘Simmon Tree Bottom’ was your best work, and you just scratched the surface.

I did alright with that, I surprised myself. What do you mean, ‘scratched the surface’? That book was too deep. This one that I’m working on is even deeper. You’ll see. What is it about that place, really? Lizzy asked, changing the subject. You lived there so many years.

You just let me know when you’re ready; I’ll tell you about the place. At least, what I know. Hell, maybe I should write a book myself, Anne Marie laughed.

You always say that. What would you write about? You never even left the country. Have you ever been in love? Have you ever even dated?

Not to speak of, I mean, I’m not a virgin or anything. Growing up, child, as soon as a boy got to know me, and then heard about my family, he’d leave faster than quick. It was the same for Ella. Most of the boys knew who we were and they knew about us. It’s strange how people knew more about us than we did ourselves. Ella had a boyfriend once. His name was Tommy Ray. He changed her life forever. He raped her when she about twenty-one. She came home one day bleeding and all upset with her clothes all ripped off. She put up a fight, you could see it. But she lost that fight and part of her soul with it. That’s when she and Hattie had gotten really tight. My guess is that Hattie killed him. We never heard nor seen that Tommy Ray again. I would ask Ella about what happened and she never did tell, Hattie explained.

Lizzy listened as Anne Marie talked about her sister. Whenever Anne Marie talked about her life, she always became so sad. That was one reason why Lizzy didn’t want to go any further into the depths of Simmon Tree. They had left the property and all seemed to be going so well.

Auntie, why didn’t y’all leave Simmon Tree Bottom? Why stay there for all those years?

Every time we tried to leave, something would happen to put us right back. I mean, our lives were hell. We couldn’t get any jobs. Neither one of us finished school. No one would hire us and, for a long time, nobody even talked to us. All we had was each other and then I didn’t even have her. She told me once that Hattie had put a curse on us so we wouldn’t leave. I didn’t believe it though, because Ella left me and went to stay with Hattie. I was born there and it seemed like I was going to die right there, child.

Why don’t you take a trip with me? We’ll go up and see Aunt Gracie for a few days.

Don’t your boy got school?

Yeah, but I could take him out for a few days.

You think they will give him the time off? You know Kelly is the best teacher they’ve got, Anne Marie laughed.

She always found a way to change the mood from a heavy one to one filled with laughter. That is why Lizzy came to love her so. Lizzy was fascinated by her aunt. It seemed that this woman never ran out of stories. Lizzy thought to herself that if Anne Marie would have gone further in school, she could have been a writer. She was one hell of a storyteller. Lizzy and Anne Marie talked all day. They talked through the morning talk shows; they talked through their favorite soaps and a few cups of coffee.

It’s about time to get Kelly from over Kevin’s house now, Lizzy said.

Oh my goodness, we been here talking all this time. Let me ride up there with you to pick Kelly up. Then you take me back down the road.

Where is your car? How did you get over here? Lizzy asked.

I walked. My car is there at the house. You know I walk every morning. I go whichever way the wind carries me. I’ve been walking for years. When I get tired, I stop whatever car I see and they give me a ride, Anne Marie said proudly.

I’ll call Kelly on his cell. He should be ready by now.

That child got a cell phone? Six years old with a cell phone, oh my goodness!

Auntie, everyone in the world has a cell phone nowadays, Lizzy explained.

Not everybody, Anne Marie corrected.

I know, but I like to keep in touch with my son.

Lizzy reached for the phone that sat on the kitchen counter and hit the number two to speed dial her son. She heard three rings and then checked her phone to see if she had dialed the right number. The name on her display said my beloved, confirming that she had indeed dialed Kelly’s number. No one answered. She never left a message because she had never explained to him how to check messages and, not only that, he always answered his phone.

Lizzy was getting nervous; this was the first time that she dialed his number and he didn’t answer. On any other day this would have been fine, but after talking with her aunt for hours about things normal and paranormal, Lizzy’s nerves were on edge. She needed to talk with her son. She grabbed her keys from the counter and hoped that Anne Marie got the message to follow. Anne Marie quickly gathered her things too.

Lizzy jumped into her navy blue Lexus and started to drive. She told Anne Marie that maybe he was playing and left his phone in his book bag. She wanted Anne Marie to agree, but Anne Marie sat there in silence as she drove towards Simmon Tree Bottom. As her niece turned onto a road that led right through Anne Marie’s past, she said to herself, I sure wish Lizzy had told me she was coming up here, I would have stayed my ass right there until she came back.

Lizzy never realized that she was driving Anne Marie on the road less traveled. Even the school bus would bypass this street to get to her son’s friend Kevin’s house. His house sat right on the end of this short road. As Lizzy approached the land that everyone knew as Simmon Tree Bottom, she noticed someone was finally occupying the house. She glanced at Anne Marie who had the same look of surprise on her face. Do you believe that someone else has moved into that house? Anne Marie uttered in a faint voice.

This is not the time, Auntie, we’ll discuss it later, Lizzy evaded the question. Every chance Anne Marie got she would bring up one of those stories that would leave your hair standing on the back of your neck. Curtis isn’t home and I’m worried about my son. This is hardly the time for that nonsense, Lizzy thought.

Lizzy swung the car into the gravel driveway where Kevin lived with his mother and four older siblings. Most of the time Kevin would come to their house to play, but Curtis had been accusing Lizzy of being doting lately, saying that he wanted his boy to be a man. Lizzy decided that she would let go a little. But she couldn’t stop worrying about her baby. She left the car door open and ran to the front door. When she saw that it was cracked open, Lizzy pushed her way inside. Good evening, where is Kelly?

He’s out back with Kevin, his mother Lucy answered. Lizzy noticed Kelly’s book bag on the floor and went and picked it up. She looked inside and there was Kelly’s cell phone. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Kevin, Lucy called, tell Kelly to come on, his mother is here.

Okay, Momma, here we come.

When Lizzy laid eyes on her dirty little boy, she smiled. She was glad to see her baby. Was Lizzy a little obsessed with her son? Kelly was her whole life. After having everything that she loved snatched away from her, she hung onto Kelly pretty tight.

Kelly, why do you think Mommy gave you that phone? You are supposed to keep it on you.

I can’t keep it on in school, Mom, my teacher will yell at me.

I told your teacher that you are to have that phone on at all times. So you tell her not to make me come up there, Lizzy laughed. She felt so relieved to be able to joke again after being on the brink of tears when he had not answered his phone.

Once outside, Lizzy opened the car door while holding Kelly’s book bag. He crawled into the back seat. Hi, Auntie.

Hey there, old man, how was your day today?

Okay, Kelly replied. Normally he was a talkative little boy, but now he didn’t have much to say for some reason. He acted as if he had a lot on his mind. Lizzy just thought he might be tired, but Anne Marie knew that something happened to the boy and she didn’t want to worry Lizzy about it. However,