The Kiss Of Death

Chapter 14

After Frank told Lola everything that happened the night that he met Jacqueline, Lola did some research. Rather than wasting time with folk stories and urban myths, she directed her information gathering to the factual side of Jacqueline. For several seconds, Lola looked at the laptop screen with her lips pressed tight. Letting out a frustrated sigh, she turned to fiction.

"Jack was often referred to as Jack McLantern. Has Jacqueline ever told you her surname?"

"No."

"Did she ever tell you what happened?"

"When she appeared the second year, I was a little upset. For once, she actually had a caring bone in her body. After the dark deed had failed, she sat us down and told us of what life was like when she was considered alive. How we should be grateful to live in such a technologically wonderful age. We have lights, she walked the town with a lantern. Everything was done by candlelight, clothing was heavy and constricting, everyone was poor. The street that she lived on was a muddy lane, her neighbour was a pervert that would always watch her. Many a man visited to claim her as their wife, her father sold her to the highest bidder. She thankfully didn't offer the gory details of her wedding night but said that regretfully, her new husband died in his sleep. Of course, Jacqueline had that always present sinister smile so we can safely assume that she murdered him."

"It does sound like it would be highly likely. Anything else you can offer?"

Frank thought about the times when Jacqueline would turn up in his life, annoy him, make him take a life and then leave. She had one goal, and that was to pass into the afterlife.

"Not really, but a few years ago, I said something about the Jack-O-Lantern tale, and she scowled pretty hard, cursed the Devil, and disappeared. Maybe there's some truth to the tale."

Lola didn't like relying on the folklore tales as fact, but if Jacqueline was so angry at the tale, then maybe Frank was right. Maybe it was real. So, with an open mind, Lola investigated the different tales of Jack-O-Lantern.

"There are minor differences, but the majority say that Jack tricked the Devil twice. When Jack died, God would not let him into Heaven as he was seen as unsavoury and the Devil was upset that he'd been tricked. The Devil threw a lump of coal from Hell out at Jack, which was used to light his path through the dark world. If this is true, then it means that when Jacqueline was in her living state, she was able to come in contact with the Devil."

"Well, they do say that the Devil is everywhere, tempting humanity."

Lola frowned, shaking her head.

"No," She hummed. "This is more than that. The first time Jack tricked the Devil, he asked him to join him for a drink. This story makes it seem like he's got a human form, that he actually walked this land and was open about who he was. I know that the church says that the Devil is everywhere, tempting us, but this is far beyond that. Does the bible say that the Devil was open about his identity?"

Frank shrugged. He'd never read the bible and never cared to either.

"You know what I think? I think that if you want to be free of her, you need to get her into the afterlife."

"But I'll be dead."

"Are you certain about that? You said that she kept the details about you kissing other people to herself. It stands to reason that she'd keep other details hidden as well."

"Not if it meant that she could get into the afterlife. It's all she ever goes on about. This is what she wants. I think she'd prefer Heaven but would accept Hell."

"Seriously?" Lola said dryly. "This website says that Jack kept tricking the Devil so that he wouldn't come for him. To me, that sounds like a person that doesn't want to go to Hell. I think Jacqueline likes her life now. You said it yourself, she told you to be grateful that you're living in such a wonderful technological age. It sounds like she doesn't want to die."

Frank thought about it and agreed. Who would willingly go to Hell? If he could avoid it, he would. But how would he find the Devil and convince him to take Jacqueline's soul without killing him in the process?

"Okay, say you're right. Say that Jacqueline doesn't want to go to Hell and is avoiding the Devil by her continual sins against humanity. How do we find the Devil and convince him to take her away while ensuring that I don't die?"

Lola was perplexed, it was a difficult situation, but she was determined. Always up for a challenge, Lola returned to the Internet to search for more information. If it meant a long life with Frank, then it would be worth it.