Every Good Deed

From the moment I first encountered my niece Mary, I knew she was a special girl. Whilst now a teenager we have become close not only as relatives but as friends too. She usually phones or messages me at regular intervals. And she is the only child of my brother Peter and his wife Gill. They all live a short distance from me in West London, though because of all our work commitments we are prevented meeting that often.

Yet just a short while ago I got a very distressing phone call on my mobile. 

"Hey Uncle Bob....your got to help me! Please!" .... I could hear the anguish in Mary's voice...

"I am ringing you on a different phone as I do not want anyone to know that I am calling you"..

-Ah I thought ...that would explain why it showed unknown caller on my cell.

"Hey Mary ... I can understand you are anxious ..just tell me how I can help, and I will do all I can."

I would always try my best to assist niece Mary as previously she had some learning difficulties but despite that drawback, she is basically a well-rounded and sensible young woman.

Yet the tone and urgency in her voice filled me with concern and maybe even dread. I had never before heard such panic in her voice.

"Oh, Uncle Bob ...Uncle Bob...!".... her voice getting more and more distraught pleading me to help...

"A few hours ago, Mum and Dad suddenly told me we needed to move immediately from London to a new place on the coast of Kent. It's in a village called New Haven We were driven there and I am in a spooky type of house or barn in an isolated locale and the people here seem so strange and are frightening!"

I retorted: 

"But why? and why so sudden?"

I could hear Mary breathing heavily and then she replied:

"I have no idea...the house is near the sea front in a place and ever since I got here various people have come and have tried to greet and talk to me. but.they are so odd. I am really scared"..

This revelation caused alarm bells to ring.

-In my mind I did recall around 9 months previously I had spoken with Gill who had told me that a group called 'Followers of Abraxas' had approached her and my brother Pete about a job working for them with high pay and many benefits. Gill told me that Peter did some Google research and whilst they were a secretive sect indeed maybe a cult, he could find nothing damning about them and that they had plenty of money.

I then said to Mary:

"Well, I will try to phone your folks and ask them what is happening...."

She interjected:

"No ...don't contact them...something very horrible is going on.... please... please rescue me.... I have told everyone here I need rest so I am alone in my room hence i can call you now but soon others will come to meet me...and I even heard them talking about arranging guards around the house!"

Again, this caused me even more trepidation. So, I made an instant decision:

"I will drive down now to come for you Mary. Just send me the co-ordinates I will be there as fast I can ...."

Mary thanked me profoundly and send me the location to my phone.

My heart was racing.

I dashed to my car outside.

I have never driven so quickly in my entire life!

Like an F1 driver I sped out of London into Kent and eventually found the main road to the coast.

Fortune favored me as I was going past a sign directing people to the Beach, I notice a very narrow side road with a notice headed "Entering New Haven".

Intermittently on my journey Mary was texting me telling me about how peculiar this place is and the people too. She also complained of feeling unwell.

It was a winding road with some small shops along the way. I noticed a post office and a medical clinic. The few pedestrians around wore dark colored clothing , bonnets and wide brimmed hats.

A few moments later I brought my vehicle to a halt as the place which Mary described in one text where she was staying; a house build like a barn yet modernized.

And lo and behold there it was in front of me!

Then Mary messaged me. For a few moments as she was alone so she would climb of the rear ground back window bedroom where she was being kept.

I dashed to behind the house or barn as it looked and saw Mary with one leg outside the window. the other leg still inside,

I helped her all the way out and we ran together back to my car,...

"Lay on the back seat Mary! You will be hidden from view! We need to escape now!'

She did as she was told, and I motored off as fast as I could!

But alas we had been spotted and suddenly people started running onto the street arms raised screaming for us to stop!

Cars were chasing us too!

I maneuvered around them, turning left and right, right and left! On the road ..on the sidewalk!

Through a roundabout! Across grass verges! My car moved upwards and bouncing downwards from side to side! But Mary hung on and I kept going...

Though during all this I could hear Mary screaming in fear or was it in pain?!

Then miraculously I found myself on the same road I had taken to arrive at the barn, and I recognized I would soon exit this place... then I heard Mary shout out:

" I'm in such pain! so painful!". I glanced behind me, and she was prone face down on the back seat holding her stomach...

"Dearest Bob " she screamed again....."such pain such pain, help me!"

Cars were following me at high speed and whilst I knew had to get out of this place quickly, I realized that Mary's life was at stake and as luck had it the medical clinic, I saw on the way in was straight ahead. I swerved into the entrance, slammed on my brakes and opened the window to the startled staff:

"Quick! Quick!" I ordered them "My niece is desperate...!" They rapidly appraised the situation and stretchered her into the clinic. At this same moment the cars following surrounded me and my vehicle and despite my protests I was manhandled and detained at the front entrance.

I remained silent.

Hours passed and during this time I noticed Gill and Pete came into the clinic with neither a glance nor a word to me.

At one time I notice three distinguished looking persons came to the entrance who seemed to have gifts, but they were prevented from entering and they wisely and patiently waited outside.

Very bizarrely although it was the front entrance light were off but natural light was coming down from the skies. Was it a full moon or...?

Then there was a stirring among the crowd. Ashen faced Pete and Gill emerged from the entrance with a doctor in a white coat.

Everyone stayed silent.

The doctor addressed the gathering:

"I need to announce that whilst mother will survive, but due to injuries sustained getting here the child will not"

A great shuddering intake of breath from all who were present.

And then a stare so horrible towards me from Gill and Peter any love was now hate from them and fear in me.

Oh, my goodness. Oh my God:

What have I done?