Around 4:00, Ned called me at home. He asked if I knew who he was. I sighed, “Yes.” He informed me that he and Sabrina had not left town. I told him that was no concern of mine and he contradicted me. If it wasn’t, he said, it should be. He then said he thought I’d want to know how his sister was doing, but, of course, it would be too much for me to be interested. He suggested I get interested because she was going to come out of this… and talk.
He then told me to listen, that he wanted me to hear something. I heard him tell Sabrina to do what she did before. He had to plead with her to show me; he encouraged her to do it… I then heard a weak, raspy voice say my name. She said it two more times, then Ned told me he wanted me to come there now. He said I could help her. If I came, she would remember more.
I paused and choked out a response that I couldn’t. Ned said I’d better. I repeated that I can’t come, and I won’t come. He asked if I felt any responsibility for her. I deliberately said, “I can’t help her.” He said I was there that night and knew what happened, then asked why I wouldn’t help her. I didn’t know what to say without repeating myself, so I hung up the phone.
Sabrina. I want to help her. I want to help her so much and I just can’t. It’s all I can do to keep myself from going over there and spilling the whole thing! It’s just… just letting her remember what happened that night. At the Old House, I told Barnabas that she was going to tell. Something is going to happen to jar her memory. He told me we must see that nothing does, if only we could find a way to end the curse.
Will we ever? Sometimes I feel like I was better off never hoping. All I could think about during that conversation with Ned was tonight… the first night of another full moon. Barnabas told me I would be in the mausoleum. Suppose I broke out? When Barnabas told me I can’t, I told him that I would try. And one day I will break out.
The clock chimed six and Barnabas said he’d take me to the mausoleum. He’d talk to Ned and try to get him to leave town. He’ll never do it! Barnabas said he thinks he’ll have more persuasive powers than me. He grabbed his cape and cane, then told me if I was worried, I needn’t be. He said he wouldn’t say a word; I could trust him. I know that…Suddenly a pain ran through my body, and Barnabas asked me if it was starting. Yes. He said we’d go quickly. When I said I didn’t know if we’d make it, he said we’d try.
As usual, the rest of the evening is a little fuzzy to me now. However, I recall Barnabas and Julia opening the door of the mausoleum. It must have been morning because I could see the outside light behind them. But I was not… myself. I had not returned to human form. It’s unclear whether I lunged at them or not, but they nevertheless quickly closed and locked the door.
Why had I not changed back when the sun rose? How long would I remain in the mausoleum? I was left alone with nothing but questions. All I could do was wait patiently… or not… to learn what was going to happen next… How would my life be different when (or if) I got out?
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