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Anna smiled, tremulously. She hoped so, too.

  “What about Catherine?” She asked.

  She was half afraid of the answer, but she couldn’t help but hope that it was over for her as well.

  KK pointed over her shoulder.

  Surprised, she turned and watched the figure of Sister Catherine walking away, disappearing into the fiery red of the setting sun. Had Catherine listened to Anna in the end, and finally let go of her own pain?

  Anna turned back to KK.

  “Goodbye, Anna,” he said.

  He flashed her the boyish smile that had brought her comfort in the worst moments.

  Anna felt a tear slide down her cheek even as she smiled bravely at him. She wished there had been something more she could have done to help him, even if she knew that she had entered the picture far too late to change his fate. Somehow, she still thought of him as a friend. One she didn’t really get a chance to meet. He turned away from the window and vanished like smoke in the wind.

  Anna began to cry, then, great heaving sobs that shuddered though her whole frame. Her legs buckled, the last of her energy burnt out. Mike caught her just before she hit the ground, carrying her back over to the moving truck.

  “Hold on, Anna. I’m calling 911.”

  Anna just closed her eyes and let the darkness claim her.

  It was finally over.

  Epilogue:

  THREE MONTHS LATER (For Real)

  Anna dug her fingers into the flowerbeds out front of her new house. She was dressed in her customary black clothing, happily ignoring how much dirt she was getting all over it. Her wounds still ached from time to time, but she didn’t mind it so much. To feel pain was to be human. To be alive. It was good to feel alive.

  She smiled as Claire waddled over, dragging a large bag of mulch.

  “Look at you! You’re not all brains after all!” Anna crowed.

  “Here, honey.” Mike stood up and took the bag from Claire.

  Claire smiled gratefully at him and collapsed next to Anna, huffing dramatically.

  “Still want to try out for track next year?” Mike asked her.

  Claire nodded. “Yeah. Depends on the coach, though.”

  “I still can’t believe they let you skip fifth grade,” Anna declared.

  “I’m nervous,” Claire confessed. “I’m not sure I’m ready for middle school.”

  Mike laughed. “Don’t worry. Nobody’s ready for middle school.”

  An old car pulled up at the end of the drive, a bright, triangular sign affixed to the roof.

  “I’ll get it,” Anna stood up, dusting the majority of the flowerbeds off of her.

  She strolled up to the window with a friendly smile.

  “Twenty-one oh nine,” the pizza driver told her.

  Anna handed over two bills and some change, accepting the pizza.

  “Thanks,” she said and turned away.

  “Wait!”

  Anna turned back, the bottom of her stomach dropping out in sudden dread.

  The pizza man shook his head. “Never mind. False alarm.”

  Anna smiled, relief sweeping through her. She turned and made her way back up the driveway. She joined her family on the porch, handing the box over to Mike with a smile. Claire dove for the first slice with all the enthusiasm of a ravenous tiger. Unsurprising, given how hard they had worked today.

  The bright sunlight filtered down around them, warm and golden. A breeze tugged playfully at Anna’s curls, bringing with it the smell of earth and growing things. Anna accepted a slice of pizza from Mike and dug into it with gusto.

  Around them, life marched on.

  THE END

  CURSE OF THE NUN

  Bonus Materials:

  Deleted Scenes:

  DELETED SCENE #1

  NOTE: This scene took place at the very beginning of the movie after Anna finds the

  crucifix in the spare room. We cut it out for time restraints.

  INT. KITCHEN - DAY

  Mike crams the pizza box into the trash. Anna enters.

  MIKE

  You okay up there?

  ANNA

  Yeah. Some old church stuff fell over.

  MIKE

  Church stuff? My aunt’s a lot of things, but not a church girl.

  Mike walks over to Anna. She hands him the checklist.

  ANNA

  Everything’s packed.

  MIKE

  Good. Now let’s hope we didn’t take any of her stuff on accident.

  She’ll lose her mind.

  She slowly moves closer to him.

  ANNA

  You’re lucky you don’t have to deal with her tomorrow.

  MIKE

  I am.

  ANNA

  You might have to find a way to repay me.

  MIKE

  I might.

  They stand inches away, their lips about to touch.

  She grins, takes the trash bag from him, and backs away.

  DELETED SCENE #2

  NOTE: This scene took place during Anna’s hallucination. After the message she gets in the department store, she decides to call him back. This was cut out because I felt it explained too much.

  INT. GARAGE - DAY 54

  Anna closes the lid of the trashcan. It’s sunny out. Her phone rings. “INCOMING CALL: LEX”.

  She hesitates and answers the call.

  ANNA

  Hello?

  LEX

  Hey… Don’t call the cops, I —

  ANNA

  You’re fine. Just this once.

  LEX

  I heard you got out of the hospital. I wanted to make sure you were okay.

  ANNA

  I’m fine, I don’t remember anything.

  Anna strolls around the garage.

  LEX

  The doctors didn’t think you’d make it. I hated seeing you like that.

  ANNA

  Seeing me?

  LEX

  They let me visit you in the hospital.

  ANNA

  No one told me that.

  LEX

  The nun let me in, from the hospital chapel.

  ANNA

  Nun?

  LEX

  Sister Catherine, I think? She read you your last rites.

  Anna goes quiet.

  LEX

  Look, I’m just glad you’re okay.

  ANNA

  Thanks.

  LEX

  I’m getting cleaned up and I’m ready to move forward.

  ANNA

  You’ll have to talk to the lawyers about that.

  LEX

  No, I mean I’m moving on for good. I met someone and I’m starting over.

  Anna stops walking. She notices a huge mark on the wall.

  A brief flash: Her and KK watch the hammer hit the wall of the garage.

  She runs her finger across it.

  ANNA

  So this is it?

  LEX

  I think it’s best that way.

  ANNA

  I’m sorry I never got you help.

  LEX

  That wasn’t your responsibility. Tell Claire I’m sorry. When she’s older, tell her I’m here if she wants to see me.

  ANNA

  I will.

  LEX

  Goodbye Anna. Anna hangs up and sighs.

  Behind the Scenes’ Images: