The Bargain
by Valentina Abate

A good place to start over.

A roof over her head, a bed and food. All in exchange for some cleaning.

It was the best arrangement she came across. The best for her and Oliver.

At least, that was what Stella thought.

*

"May I have your attention please?" Agatha's nasal voice broke the chattering in the living room. "Henry, He-n-n-ry! Why aren't you assisting me?" She smiled at the audience and beckoned to her husband who answered, "Yes, dear. Coming, dear." Some guests chuckled. "Now, if my husband will allow me..." Agatha glared at Henry as he opened the trunk, "I am going to introduce you to a few of my closest friends." Reaching into the trunk, Agatha pulled out an old, creepy puppet in a white dress with blonde braided hair, "Say hello, Annie." She gave the doll a nudge and suddenly it appeared to come to life. "Oh, my! Hel-lo, everyone. I’m Annie!" Henry held up another male puppet, and asked, "George? D-do you want to say hello too?" George gave a deep, “Hello!”. The voice sounded too low to Agatha and she glared at her husband again, disappointed. Stella didn't like how Agatha treated Henry. He was such a kind man.

Henry’s puppet, George, didn't seem as cheery as Agatha’s Annie puppet. Then George exclaimed hysterically, “Fools! All of you! Run away from the Millers!" Henry grew pale as Agatha laughed out loud and used Annie’s puppet hand to slap George’s puppet face. "Silly George. Always forgetting to take his pills!" Annie spoke in a belittling tone, then turned toward the guests. "Don't tell me you didn't know he’s a little cuckoo?" The guests laughed, Stella cracked a smiled and sat tight as the show had only just begun.

*

Dust fell down from the cracks in the wooden ceiling with each and every step from upstairs. Stella could hear her own heart beating furiously. She hugged her baby to her chest, hushing him gently. As the footsteps descended and entered the basement, a high-pitched laugh filled the room, "Stella?" Stella tried to hide behind something when she heard her name being called. Her eyes searching for a way to escape, but Agatha was standing at the bottom of the staircase, blocking her path. "Come on out, darling. What are you afraid of? I am not going to hurt you, I just want baby Oliver to join my collection." Stella kissed her baby and lowered him into a basket. She couldn't run with the baby but she might have a chance to fight off Agatha if she wasn't holding him.

"You are not touching my baby." She faced the woman, clenching her fists. Agatha smiled, revealed a sharp kitchen knife and leaped at Stella. "I always get what I want!" Her voice sounded like a squeal as she levelled her weapon at the young woman. Stella hit Agatha’s arm with a rusty bed warmer she grabbed. Agatha lost her balance falling aside while Stella rushed to grab Oliver and run toward the stairs. The older woman was quickly back on her feet and lunged! Her knife went right through Stella's shoulder, causing her to scream in pain and stumble into the kitchen. "Get away from us, you hag!" She ran into the foyer, but the front door was locked. Henry appeared from the top of the stairs with a worried face. He gestured for Stella to follow him. She thought about it for a second, then trusted her instincts and followed him. The man led her inside a room and locked the door behind them.

On shelves and on the walls, sat several dozen puppets, wide-eyed and scared. "Run!" yelled one. "Get away from here!" said another. Stella was terrified and tears ran down her face. "The baby is hurt!" Henry pointed at Oliver, who was bleeding from his neck and wasn't breathing anymore. Stella looked down with panic, "No, no, no!!" She cried out, shaking him gently. Agatha's knife had gone right through his delicate neck. That was her target, all along. "No!" She fell to her knees, as Agatha screeched for Henry to, “Open the door!”

"W-wait! There is still a way." Henry stuttered and opened a box on top of a vanity table. He began reciting what sounded like a summoning spell. "My mother owned a Haitian slave. I watched her do this many times. Agatha forced me to teach her the spells I learned as a kid." In a few minutes thick smoke filled the room, the dolls screamed and the spirit of Bawon Sanmdi appeared before their eyes. "Look at this! What do we have here?" The “Loa” of death spoke in a deep tone, moving closer to look at Oliver. "That is some bad mojo right there." He shook his head. Henry swallowed hard. "Loa of death, grant me your blessing, return this infant to his mother." The Loa laughed, "I could do that... but what would my payment be? A soul for a soul?" Stella rocked the dead body of her son. Agatha screamed from outside, “The baby's soul is mine to keep!” Henry shouted, "Take me!" and picked up a ritual sword. "Take me and Agatha in exchange for Oliver."

Bawon Sanmdi clapped his hands together, "Then, so be it!"

Henry opened the door and let Agatha fall onto him. Skewering her to himself with the sword. She screamed. Henry smiled, "It is over, I am free..."

*

"It's gonna be okay." Stella whispered to baby Oliver, who giggled at her. "We’re gonna be okay." She turned only once more to look at the Miller’s house. Wiping a tear from her cheek and remembering Henry's brave sacrifice, she whispered a prayer before making her way toward town.

She had done the right thing to quickly gather her things and leave. If she had returned to “the room,” she would've found two creepy new dolls, laying exactly where the Millers' bodies had found their deaths.