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Phoebe’s stomach churned with revulsion at how casually Billy had described covering up Francie's murder and hiding his own secret son. Oblivious to her disgust, Billy backed up a step, dragging Chloe with him.
"I got to have the best of both worlds. I got to live my life with Trish, and I was also able to watch my boy grow up from a distance. Everything was fine until Jenna started dating Ethan. Kenneth, I thought you had handled it. You said you didn't want her seeing him because of his temper, but she went behind your back."
"You killed my daughter, Billy," Kenneth said in revulsion. "You took Jenna from me, from this family, from—"
"That's not why Uncle Billy killed Jenna, Dad." Everything began to click together, and Phoebe fought back the tears of anguish at the mistake. "It was supposed to be me."
"What are you talking about, Phoebe?" Kenneth asked, his attention swinging back and forth from her to Billy. Chloe was the only one using the distraction to her advantage. "What do you mean that it was supposed to be you?"
"You thought that Jenna could see Francie, didn't you, Uncle Billy? You thought Jenna was starting to get visions of the dead, and you were afraid that Francie had somehow told Jenna the truth."
"Trish was always going on and on about how her mother claimed to have the gift of seeing spirits. How it skipped generations, and how Jenna might have inherited it due to her being the oldest. How else would you explain how Jenna knew to go digging into the past?"
"How could you kill your own niece, Uncle Billy?"
"I just wanted a chance to explain. That's all, but Jenna ran out onto the ice..." Billy's voice trailed off. Phoebe had no trouble filling in the rest. Just like with Francie at the cliff's edge, a deadly outcome had ensued from his violent temper. "I thought Jenna had the ability to see the dead, but it was you. It was you all along."
The wind picked up once more, this time bringing with it a familiar presence. Jenna had materialized mere feet from where Billy stood, her lifeless eyes boring accusingly into the man who had ended her young life so tragically. Though her feet never seemed to touch the ground, her sodden hair somehow still swayed gently in the breeze.
Billy had noticed Phoebe's gaze gliding to his left, focusing on something just beyond his shoulder. He tried to turn quickly, craning his neck around.
"It's them, right?" Billy asked in a panic. He swung his gaze back to Phoebe for confirmation. "Francie? Jenna? Which one? Tell me!"
Before Phoebe could respond, Chloe seized the opportunity provided by the distraction. She had finally removed the stun gun from her purse. In one swift motion, she flicked it on and jammed it into Billy's thigh, pressing the trigger. Billy's body seized as volts of electricity coursed through him. He let out a guttural cry, eventually collapsing to the snow in a heap, taking Chloe along with him.
Kenneth rushed forward and leaned down to grab the knife that had fallen from Billy's grasp. Phoebe pulled Chloe to her feet and away from Billy. His body was still tense from the voltage administered by the stun gun.
In the distance, the wail of a siren grew louder through the trees. Kenneth removed his phone from his pocket. He lifted the device to his ear to give the 911 operator an update.
"Are you okay?" Phoebe inquired as she held onto Chloe's arm. Neither one of them took their focus off Billy. "You weren't hurt? Cut?"
"No, I'm fine," Chloe murmured in response before returning the question. "I'm more worried about you. I can't wrap my head around…"
"Jenna is okay, which means I'm okay," Phoebe finally replied, not bothering to wipe away her tears. "You should see her, Chloe."
Jenna stood above Billy, her eyes as crystal blue as a summer sky. Her lips were tinged pink, and her blonde hair was as vibrant as the day they were walking through the woods. There was no denying Jenna was at peace.
It was a serenity that Phoebe wasn’t sure she could possess at the moment.
"You're going to spend the rest of your miserable life rotting away behind bars for what you've done," Phoebe whispered, knowing full well that Billy could hear every word that fell from her lips. "Francie and Jenna will haunt you, Billy."
Phoebe doubted that Jenna would have approved of such a declaration. How could Phoebe bring herself to have sympathy or forgiveness for the man who had so callously ended her sister's life?
Such a feat was currently impossible.
The sirens grew louder as emergency vehicles raced down the winding country road leading to the frozen pond. Phoebe knew it was only a matter of time before Chief Bennett and his officers would descend upon the scene, but she wasn't ready to let go of the moment just yet.
She stared down at the man who was her uncle by marriage. Aunt Trish would never be the same after today. Neither would anyone else in the family…in the town.
Billy's eyes were wide with fear, darting back and forth as he searched for the dead that only Phoebe could perceive near them. Billy's chest heaved with panic. He was helpless now, just as he had left Jenna and Francie when he had ended their lives.
Phoebe crouched down next to him. She reached out and slowly pulled his ski mask over his head. He had worn a different mask for years, but that had been ripped off today, as well.
"Every single day you draw breath, they will be there," Phoebe warned him. "Waiting. Watching"
Numerous voices could be heard shouting in the distance. Chief Bennett and his officers were making their way around the pond. Phoebe stood and stepped back to find Jenna's lips turned up into a sad smile.
Phoebe wasn't ready to forgive.
