Karma Hotel Ch. 18 A Light in Darkness

Margot falls apart after being rejected by Beny who suddenly believes that she's now evil

                   

Chapter 18

A Light in Darkness

During the drive home all three Larson's were silent, lost in private contemplation's. Bob adjusted the inside mirror to peek at Beny in the back, who seemed to be studying the ceiling. "When we get home Beny I want you to get ready for bed." Beny nodded vacantly.
Later on, Lauren reminded him, "And brush your teeth before going to bed."
But Beny had matters in mind bearing more gravity. Rev. Leroy's voice rang in his head. 'Minions of Satan are very clever. They might be anywhere! Those minions even wear disguises to resemble your loved ones.' Very scary stuff. They might be after me!
Those words also droned in Lauren's head long after the sermon and the apparent depression. 'Words spoken by spirits will only lead you into Satan's trap. He listens to our every thought. Don't fall for the temptation to commit the sins of pride and self-trust. That will only lead you to further sin. Only Jesus can provide real safety! Reach up, now!'
They hung their garments on the coat tree inside the vestibule. Lauren walked absently to the kitchen. Bob followed behind her and wondered, what now? Maybe we can lighten up a bit.
"What was that thing?" Bob wondered aloud as he filled two wine glasses with Merlot. To help loosen up. "That entity who seemed to be channeling through Donald."
Lauren sipped her wine and gazed upward, her shoulders shivering a bit. "I must say. That was a lot to take in. Can't even imagine..." She paused for a moment. "That entity, if that's what it was, sure had a lot to say. But I don't remember it ever giving a name."
"But the good reverend sure did! What did he call it?" Bob scratched his chin in contemplation. "Let's see - Minion of the devil, Beelzebub, Unclean spirit. He's got a talent for name-calling."
"Yeah. His way with people. God, but that was so funny!" The wine began to clear her head. "I've never witnessed one before. Are all exorcisms like this? A contest of wills? And such high drama!"
"This was my first experience too. Total theater to the very end." Bob shook his head. "Amazing."
"That entity was really provocative but seemingly accurate. Did you see the guilty expression on Leroy's face when it accused him of chasing after other women?"
"It was like ah...whoops!"
"And that routine where 'Beelzebub' was rocking back and forth reminding the good reverend that he was in denial!" Lauren was laughing to tears now and gasping for air, 'You're in denial three times!' That cracked me up so bad. I could barely keep it in. After all, we were in a church pew."
"Maybe next time Rev. Leroy should offer that creep a cross painted red, as a gesture of goodwill. That just might make him a new friend." Bob added and raised his eyebrows and wine glass. "A kindred spirit for sure."
"But, seriously, was that real? I mean, that entity seemed to know so much about Leroy." But Lauren couldn't keep from cracking up. "Whoops! Sorry, I mean Reverend Leroy."
"By his wife's reaction, looks like those suggestions hit a raw nerve. It's as if that, uh, entity or whatever we call it has a nose for vulnerability. Remember how it just seem to nail his two assistants right where they were vulnerable." He grinned with satisfaction. "Those two were rendered speechless."
"That was hilarious until the screaming." Lauren wanted to take the discussion in a more serious direction. "Did you notice Beny? He about jumped out of his seat when that began. The expression on his face. He was really scared."
"No. I admit to being too busy watching 'spiritual warfare'." Bob paused to close his eyes and think about his son. Then he looked at her. "We need some quality face time with him soon."
Lauren sniffed in reply and threw her hands in the air. "Yes. And what do we say to Beny? He's already way too interested in spirits in my opinion. Imaginary friends in my home! And what's next? I just hate that." I'm unable to protect my own child. I'm out of my league here. She paused to collect herself.
Bob was usually eager to probe into otherworldly matters. So nice for him.... "Now what, Mister Wizard? "

It was bedtime for Beny. He inspected the ceiling, looking for spirits, while carefully trudging up the stairs. By now, he was familiar with several non-physical residents at Hoyt House. He learned that he could stare with his imagination in such a way that brought them into view. He knew each one's unchanging routines. All boring, according to Beny.
But, now he had been warned: he should not be so trusting now. They might be minions of the Devil! No longer feeling safe in his own home, he cautiously snuck down the hallway to the bathroom, wondering if he was being watched.
Standing in front of the lavatory mirror, Beny spread toothpaste on his brush and peaked around for spirits again. He tried to focus on his brushing. But the mirror seemed to beckon him. Who's behind you if you dare to look. But he resisted the temptation, lest hespot a minion of the devil hovering near.
Instead, Beny stared at the sink and pondered his situation. So all those spirits I see are evil. How come Mom and Dad never warned me about them? And who is Jesus? He is supposed to keep me safe. Where is he? What's his phone number? And never trust a spirit. Only trust Jesus--whatever that means...
Margot decided to wait for him in his bedroom She was more than shaken. She felt slammed, overwhelmed. Hovering above Beny's chest of drawers, she pondered her dilemma.
Little Beny. The only living soul I can talk with. I'm so grateful. But, how do I share such heavy material to a seven-year old? 'Hi Beny. Oh by the way I just discovered that I'm dead now.'
Shaking her ghostly head. Oh Margot, that will not work. How can I expect him to be the one to tell his parents about me? About what happened.
Beny opened the bedroom door and walked in. He slipped off his slippers and looked up. Off to the left he saw the floating image of Margot.
She was eager to connect with him, arms outstretched. "Hi Beny."
"Eek! Go away Minyun! You're an evil spirit!" Eyes bulging, Beny scooted away from her.
"Honey. It's me, Margot. Your auntie."
"Go away you evil Minyun!" He was screaming now. "You're not Margot! You're evil!" He threw himself face down on the bed.
"But Beny. It's really me, your auntie Margot."
"Eek! Go away Minyun! You're bad!"
Margot was stunned. "But, Beny...." Beny placed his hands over both ears and threw himself on his bed, tears streaming down his cheeks. Helpless, dead Margot could only watch him react with fear.
"Oh, honey. Beny, it's me, Margot. Please believe me. I would never harm you. I'm your auntie..."
Beny hollered now. "Bad Minyun! Bad Minyun!"
What's happened? Why is Beny suddenly afraid of me? I don't get it. My only living in-body friend. What now? Margot moaned inwardly. Things were better before. I was okay with being his imaginary friend. Now I'm one of Satan's minions!
Lauren turned her head toward sounds from the second floor while the phone rang. "Hear that? Now he's yelling at someone! Can you hear him?"
"I sure do. 'Bad minion'." Bob stared off. "Oh boy. I have a good idea where this came from." What was I thinking! Taking Beny to a place like that. He felt so irresponsible.
They both focused on Beny's voice upstairs again. "Go away bad minion! Bad minion!"
Bob sunk into Lauren's eyes for a moment while the telephone kept ringing before voicemail kicked in. "I'll find out what's going on."
He bounded up to the second floor. Assuming that the average ghost was different from minions of the devil, he wondered how an actual evil minion got into his home. He entered the bedroom. "I'm here, Beny. I heard you holler, 'bad minion'. What happened?"
"There's a bad Minyun in my bedroom that looks like Margot." Beny grabbed his father's shirt and pointed at a wall in his bedroom. "I'm afraid Daddy. The preacher told us about bad spirits. They only pretend to be good."
Bob sensed the need for calm. "Yes. I remember Beny."
"Where's Jesus? He's supposed to help us. The preacher said so."
"Umm. Ah, I'll try to find out about that." Bob felt totally unqualified.
"What's real Daddy?" Beny felt betrayed, confused, overwhelmed. So did Margot.


She turned away and floated into the hallway. Standing outside Beny's room, she just wanted to curl up under a blanket. This is so damn confusing. I'll just find my usual guest room and crash. That bed would feel so comforting.
She drifted down the grey and misty-looking hallway. Searching for the second door on the left, the guest bedroom.
Margot tried with some self-coaching: I know what this: A wild lucid dream. All of it! It's all been just that. And this is how it will go in the morning, Margot told herself. When I wake up, Lauren will already have coffee brewed. Her French press makes the best. We'll exchange hugs and eat breakfast together at the dining table.
Bob will rant about the latest political outrage in Washington. We'll engage in clever conversation. It'll be normal. And I'll simply wonder at the wild ride the night before. What a strange nightmare beginning with a drive through fog. I'll be saying to myself: Glad it's over. I'm still alive.
Margot noticed the sound of footsteps from above. There was a slow cadence, a rhythm that repeated over and over. There's nothing up there but an attic with steeply sloped walls, she remembered. Odd, oh well. A minor thing right now.
She noticed that the guest bedroom door was closed. So she reached out for the handle and attempted to rotate it. It's as if it had been coated with grease. Her hand moved but not the door handle.
"Dammit! Not again! I can't take this anymore. I want in NOW!" By the sheer force of will she blended through the old wooden door. Standing in the dark room, she discovered that although the room's lights were off she could still make out the furniture, the carpet and various houseplants.
Her eyes landed on the bed with towels and blankets that Lauren laid out for her. At last, my guestroom and the bed. However, as if glued to the bed, they resisted movement no matter how hard she tried.
OK. I'll just lay down. Margot positioned herself horizontally over bed and hallucinated a comforter over herself and tried to slow down. But, her mind had other ideas.
All right. Dad used to talk about it: second sight, remember? Seeing what's not physical. I wonder what would he do if this was happening to him.
Margot's father died in a car collision three years prior. He and her mother divorced long before. She had been a devoted Baptist. And according to her and her church ladies Margot's father, Darwin Green, was a genuine "wack-a-doo". Under Satan's influence for certain.
Apparently, I'm not exactly physical right now, being dead. So.... only those who have second sight can see me or hear me now. Only dogs and kids. Just wonderful. And I have Matthew who sees me because he's dead. Oh, but let's not forget that cigarette addict: slimy Bud the user.
Margot simply moaned. I want my life back. I want Josh, even though he broke my heart. I miss good food, my practice, hugs and kisses. My friends think that I just no-showed!
She felt like screaming, followed by a stab of guilt. I'm so sorry for scaring Beny. Oh, Beny! What have I become to you? One of Satan's minions? Maybe Bob will do another s/I>ance. I can wait. Then perhaps I can tell them....
Margot's mental spin was interrupted by what sounded like a recording of Lauren's conversation with Bob as she entered the bedroom. It was as if she was broadcasting it right in the bedroom. 'I've got some bad news.' She could even sense that Bob was shaking as he tried to tell Lauren what happened.
"What bad news?"
"Friday night Margot died in a car wreck. On Hwy 30 near Scappoose."
Margot felt the shockwave surge through Lauren. "Oh no! No! What, what happened? Oh, Margot!"
"Apparently, the highway was very foggy. A semi ran right into her car."
Margot felt undulating erratic waves of intense emotions as Lauren approached the bed. She could hear Lauren's thoughts.
'Oh no! Oh no! Margot!....... And we all just thought she was just late again. I'd rather have you late any time than not at all Margot!'
Lauren fell to her knees in grief, head and shoulders resting on the bed.
Much of Margot's mental chatter was now laid to rest. So... Now the earthly world knows that I'm dead. But, clearly...I'm not.... Just no longer physical.
The revelation overshadowed everything--Now what? Next, she distinctly heard, "Look up Margot." That voice again!

End of Chapter 19

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