84. Helena

"Wait, what?" Emily was still dumbfounded but still a bit scared and alarmed.

How in the world does she know her name? But if she does know her name, does that mean that Scarlett knows the bat lady too? If that's the case, this girl is just getting more complex and complex and full of mysteries.

Emily stood there trying hard to try and stay serene and not run but the sight of the bat lady whom Scarlett called 'Helena' didn't help at all.

"It's been a long time, Scarlett," Helena said.

"It could be her trick, Scarlett," Emily shouted. "Don't fall for it. We better run or else she'll kill us all like she threatened us all with!"

"Emily," Helena began saying walking a few inches close to Emily.

"No, I don't wanna hear you or you, Scarlett. I know she's gonna kill us. She even told us that so many times. Don't believe her!" Emily yelled as she slowly began backing away.

"Emily, I'm sorry. But my intentions were never to harm any of you." Helena stopped approaching Emily seeing the frightened look on her face.

"Yeah, right" Emily scoffed.

"It's true, Emily," Scarlett said, "She's a good soul."

"Oh. My. God!" Not believing what she just heard, Emily placed her hands on her head. "What is wrong with you?! You don't know how she always terrorizes us! And even if you know her, please tell her to go away!"

Helena got silent and exchanged glances with Scarlett.

"Emily," Scarlett said trying to calm her down. "I don't know what had happened in the past, but I know Helena and -"

Emily scoffed. "How on earth did you two know each other? How is it, Scarlett that you seem to have some kind of connection with the ones that entered into our life just because of Diana? First Clyde and now Helena. How? What's your relation with Diana? Isn't it all a bit suspicious? I should've listened to John."

"No!" Scarlett screamed which shook both Emily and Helena. "You are not safe anymore with him. No one is."

"There you go!" Emily said in a sarcastic voice. "You are so suspicious. If you really were telling the truth and if you want to help us, you would've told us about yourself - the truth - from the beginning. But no! And now, surprisingly, you seem to have connections with all the spirits surrounding Diana?"

Emily turned towards Swift's house as she called out Clyde's name." Clyde, I am going back! With or without you! I'm so done with your lies!"

"Emily, please, calm down and hear me out," Helena said.

Taking a deep breath, Emily responded, "You have five minutes. Convince me that your intentions were good and that Scarlett is not a suspicious person - which I know you both will fail to explain - but my mom always says that everyone deserves a chance, so go on. Five minutes." Emily crossed her arms.

"Alright," Helena began as she walked towards Emily - the bat in place of her earring swinging due to the motion. "I came to know that a person had the cursed stone and went to see who it was. That day I came to know that John had got the cursed stone from the beach. I wanted to tell him that he should let that go. I followed the family waiting for the right time. I didn't know that Nick could be there too. That was just a coincidence. When the Jackson family was in their car, John saw Nick that day and my plan was to follow the car till John was alone. I was flying in my 'bat' transformation ahead of their car but when I saw Nick and that John saw Nick, I decided to meet Nick first. But that was a poor decision as I forgot there was a speeding car behind me. As I took a turn and flew down, I hit the windshield and I got injured.

You, Emily, first came to know about me because of Skylar. That was a small part of my plan. I knew you'd follow me to try and get more information about the stone, so I controlled the mind of Mr. William. I wanted us to meet right then and there but there were so many people around that day.

I followed you three and saw that John was introducing you to Henry. I controlled him to tell you about the tattoos and thus guided you to the star tattoo place - the quiet and less crowded area downtown.

I controlled the man - the tattoo artist at the star tattoo place - who told you all when you can meet me. And when we did, I was only trying to warn you, create fear to such an extent that you'd throw away the stone and stay away from it. Trust me, I never meant to hurt any of you. But then I learned that the stones have created a bond with John and so, it was impossible to just stay away from it. I had to come up with another plan."

"But the first time we met you," Emily began, "your neck and your appearance wasn't so-"

"Because Diana did this to me after she found out that I tried to warn you all. She wasn't happy at all about it. She hates when someone meddles with her. Trust me, we've done that mistake once." Helena shivered as she remembered that time. "But I can't see anyone suffer as we did. She is worse than hell. And that's why I decided to help you indirectly."

"You mean, Diana did this to you?" Emily couldn't believe the transformation - from auburn hair, bat earring, tattooed arms to tilted-sliced-open neck, ruined face, yellow teeth, and a dead bat hanging instead of an earring. But it was true. Diana hates when someone doesn't listen to her and tried sabotaging her words. Her mind was taken back to the time Aunt Petunia didn't listen to her causing her to have a brutal death.

Helena nodded.

"The next time, when Hannah and John headed towards Nick's house to find the third piece when you were in the hospital, I tried to warn them again, adopting fear to change their minds, but both of them were so adamant. I knew that something bad will definitely gonna happen if they go inside that house. I tried to make them fear, but both the kids had a strong heart. My second plan failed too.

But I waited outside the house. When John began running from the house with Hannah nowhere to be seen, I knew that Diana must have done something to her. Then Diana kept haunting John through Father Williams and I knew that I had to do something.

After John succeeded in escaping him, he was lost and Diana could return any moment to haunt him even more. I knew that you were coming to the Church and that's why I teleported him there where he found you.

Next, remember how you both kept getting notes?

The first note said,"

"The lady in black" Emily replied trying to soak it all in.

Helena nodded and continued. "I was warning you that Diana could come after your Aunt as she wasn't done with haunting you. Petunia was an easy target for her. I couldn't write 'Petunia' on the note as Diana would've known, so I made it a bit cryptic.

And when you were stuck and didn't know where to go to look for clues, I wrote the second note,"

"Skylar," Helena and Emily said in unison.

"I knew that Scarlett was coming in a few days to meet her sister and I was sure that she'd have helped you."

Emily just stood there with her arms crossed. She was beginning to believe Helena. But at this point, could she?

"And then, when you and John came to Skylar's house, I was at John's house to see if things were alright. But I saw Diana's shadow looming around his house and I knew at once that Diana is up to no good. I cautiously followed Diana and saw that she was heading towards John's dad. I wrote another note which you found on the doorstep. "

Your dad 's in danger. Emily said in her head.

"So, all this time you were helping us?" Emily asked in denial and shock. All those missing links and gaps began to come together.

Helena nodded with her crooked smile.

"And you sent all those notes to help us indirectly without Diana finding out?"

Helena nodded.

"But how do you two know each other?" Emily asked looking at both Scarlett and Helena.

"Emily, that's a question for some other time. Believe me, you'll know but now's not the time for it." Helena replied with a smile.

"And," Emily turned to Scarlett, "why did you say that no one's safe with John? Clyde told me that too."

"Remember how Father Murphy told you that Diana has a way of controlling people's mind and body? And that if she succeeded in doing that, then she will have her pawn? Well, John's now a pawn of Diana."

"How can you say that with so surety?" Emily questioned back.

"That's because," Helena said, "I was watching you all closely. When you and Clyde went to the Church, John tried to kill his father with a knife."

"Just like Amber Montana did?"

Helena nodded.

"God, history repeated itself!" Emily said in shock.

"It was Diana controlling him. Then when John couldn't believe his eyes what he was about to do, he went outside to get some fresh air and that was the moment when Diana fully controlled his body making him her pawn."

"Wait, but I talked with John afterward too after we both had the same nightmares. He seemed normal at that time."

"Did you say the same nightmare?" Scarlett asked with a tense look on her face.

"Yes, why?"

"God, this is bad." Scarlett turned towards Helena. "When two people have the same nightmare, it's a sign that something terrible will happen. And if your nightmare occurred after John became a pawn, this is much more terrible news. It could mean that if we do not do something quick, the nightmare could come true!"

"Emily," Helena said, "Did John's eyes began turning black? Or did he have a sinister smile?"

"Uhm... Uh.." Emily pressed her eyes, thinking if she had ever seen John like that. "I don't know. I haven't noticed it. Why?"

"We better hope that never happens because, if it did, then there's no going back, we'll be too late in saving him from the clutches of Diana and in order to free him, he would have to die or worse, if the link became strong, we could lose John forever if we defeat or kill Diana."