Lifting his hands, he smacked them together and then everything turned black.
“Not again.”
64-WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS
“Dudes, this place is whacked!” Colton shook his head. They were standing in another room filled with pedestals. Most were empty, but a few statues remained perched on the tops. Sconces flickered on the walls and cast the corners in shadows.
“What do you think those are for?” Chance asked, and pointed to the empty pedestals. He walked up to one of statues and peered at it closely. “Hey, check it out,” he said. “This one looks like old Mrs. Thompson?”
Barnaby glanced over at the statue. It did kind of remind him of her.
“I wonder what happened to her.” Chance absently rubbed his belly. “She used to come to the docks and bring me the best tomato and cheese sandwiches.”
“Chance has a girlfriend,” Colton taunted.
“Stop man,” Chance said. “She stopped coming and I always wondered what happened to her.”
“Maybe she didn’t want to see your ass anymore,” Colton said.
“Yeah, I guess but…” He peered closely at the statue again.
“Where’s the book, Chance?”
Chance reached into the back of his pants and pulled out the book. It slipped from his hands and thudded loudly to the floor.
Barnaby picked it up and leafed through the pages. He couldn’t see clearly, so he moved closer to one of the torches by the entrance.
“Hey Barnaby,” Kingston called.
“Yeah,” Barnaby said absently, looking at a picture. It was mythological-looking with people dressed in robes, and on the floor there was a symbol painted in red. It looked like…he looked up. “I think this room is in this book.”
“What do you mean?” Kingston walked over and grabbed the book. “See Barnaby…” he said, and pointed down at the page, “there are statues on all the pedestals in the book, and there are only a few of the statues in here.”
“Yeah, but look,” Barnaby said. “The room is the same, only the statues are missing.” He lifted his widening eyes up from the book.
Kingston’s eyes widened right along with Barnaby’s. “Turn the page.” He swallowed hard, feeling sick.
Barnaby turned the page carefully and held his breath. The page was gone.
Chance looked over his shoulder. The statue of Mrs. Thompson was gone. He gulped. “Ah Barnaby…”
“Maybe they sold them.” Barnaby looked warily over his shoulder. He had the strangest feeling he was being watched.
“Really, by who?” said Kingston. “This place has been deserted forever.”
“Ah…Barnaby…” Chance said again, his voice urgent.
“What man?” Barnaby snapped.
“Remember that statue that I said looked like Mrs. Thompson?”
“What about it?” Barnaby turned another page.
“It’s gone,” Chance said.
“Yeah, right. Stop messing around, Chance.” Barnaby tried to decipher the symbols in the book.
“What are you talking about, Chance?” Kingston asked.
“I was telling Barnaby about a statue that looked like Mrs. Thompson.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Kingston lifted the stick he’d found in the air and tested the heft.
“Hey, where’d you get that?” Colton walked up. “Can I hold it?” He reached out to grab it.
Kingston swatted his hand away. “Get your own.”
“Come on man,” Colton whined. “Let me hold it for a while.”
“No way.” Kingston swung it in the air a few times, like a bat.
Colton made a face and walked over to Barnaby. “What are you looking at?”
“I don’t know man,” Barnaby said. “It looks like a picture of this room, but do you see what’s different?”
“Yeah, there are statues on all the pedestals in the picture.” Colton lifted his head and looked around at all the empty pedestals. He frowned. “Weren’t there more statues a minute ago?”
Barnaby looked up.
“Ah…Barnaby,” Chance called, his voice shrill.
Barnaby sighed. “What, Chance?”
Chance swallowed hard. “Remember that I said that statue looked like old Mrs. Thompson…”
“What about it?”
“I think it was really her.”
Barnaby looked up and his face paled. “Ah, Chance…I think you might be right.”
A loud scraping sound came from the corner.
Chance took a step back and gulped. “Mrs. Thompson…you don’t look so good.”
The figure shuffled forward. A withered, decrepit hand reached out toward Chance. He batted it away and it burst into a cloud of ash. He was in mid-scream and some of the ash floated into his mouth. He gagged.
“What’s the matter, Chance?” Colton waved his hand.
“I got old Mrs. Thompson in my mouth.” He gagged again.
“What?” Colton looked up. “What the fuck is that?” Once again, he felt the air stir beside him. He caught sight of Chance’s golden hair as he ran quickly from the room.
Colton turned back around.
Barnaby and Kingston were gone.
A group moved slowly out of the shadows from other side of the room. They had decrepit bodies and eerily white-glowing eyes.
“Dude, run…” he heard Barnaby call from a distance.
Colton swung his head around, his close friend, fear, made another appearance. “Oh, hell no!”
65-A NIGHTS MADNESS
The boys ran and shoved at each other down the tight passage as each one fought for the lead.
Even though Colton was the one in the back, he easily sprinted past the rest of his friends. He turned and tried to slow them down. “I shut the gate,” he yelled.
“There’s a gate?” Chance slowed, held onto his side, and tried to catch his breath.
“Colton move!” Barnaby tried to squeeze past.
“Damn, Barnaby.” Colton grabbed his shirt.
Barnaby kept right on going and dragged Colton behind. His shirt stretched to the limit.
“Move!” Kingston squeezed past them both.
“Did you hear that?” Moriah turned.
“Yeah, who is yelling?” asked Heather. She looked down the passageway but she couldn’t see anyone even though she could swear she heard running footsteps approaching. “What is that?”
“I don’t know.” Moriah couldn’t see anyone either but she, too, could hear the footsteps. She belatedly remembered the story Chance had told them during the movie on the lawn. “My friend could hear footsteps following him but when he turned he didn’t see anyone.” She shut her eyes and reopened them. Suddenly, she saw Kingston running toward her. He looked freaked.
“Heather, is that Kingston?”
Heather stared down at the empty passageway. “I don’t see anyone.”
“Shut your eyes!” Moriah demanded.
Heather shut her eyes and when she reopened them, she could see all the boys storming towards them. “Shit!” She backed up against the wall.
Breathless, Kingston stopped in front of Moriah and Heather. He grabbed Moriah’s arm. “We got to get out of here.”
“What about the people in the other room?”
“Screw them,” Kingston huffed. “At least they look human.”
“What?” Moriah did a double-take.
“Come on!” He dragged her along beside him.
Heather grabbed onto Moriah and followed them both forward.
“Hey! Come back!”
Heather tugged on Moriah’s arm. “Did you hear that?” She recognized that voice.
Moriah looked over her shoulder. “No.”
Heather let go of Moriah and looked to her left. There was an opening in the wall she hadn’t seen before. She peered into the darkened room. “Simon?”
“Yes,” he called.
Heather stepped into the room. She saw Simon and ran to his side. His
arms were hooked to the wall. “Who did this to you?” She reached up, and undid one of the clamps on his wrists.
“The Degaré,” he scathed. One of his hands dropped.
Heather made quick work of the other restraint and then he dropped his other hand. “Come on, we have to get out of here. They are waking up.”
“Who is waking…” She didn’t finish. A loud scraping sound came from the corner, like something big being dragged towards them. When she looked she saw there were several somethings moving toward them. “What are those?”
“Nothing you want to get caught by. Now come on.” He grabbed her arm and pushed her forward.
Heather ran out of the room, with Simon following closely behind.
“Thanks.” He pressed his hand against her back.
She looked over her shoulder. “You’re welcome.”
“I owe you one,” he said. Once they were in the adjoining passageway, he took off and left her alone.
“What the hell?” Heather gaped after him.
Chance ran up beside her. “Where are they going?” he asked, his breath stilted.
“I don’t care but I’m following them.” She quickened her step to keep up with everyone.
Addison and Brianna were hovering on the threshold of the doorway.
Simon ran out in front of them.
They grabbed hold of his shirt.
Simon turned. “Ladies, I have to go.”
“Where are you going?” Brianna asked and Addison repeated, making it sound like an echo.
“I have to help them.”
“Who?” They looked confused.
“Them.” He pointed out into the room.
They leaned forward and then back into the passage. “Evie is the only one out there,” Addison said. “Why do you want to help her?”
Simon’s brow creased. He shook his head and looked back out into the cavernous room. He could see several cloaked figures, and he could hear their chants. Sybarite and Dythius were on the pedestals in the corner. Adriane was chained in front of Evie, like a lamb about to be sacrificed. She was talking to him but her eyes looked different, sightless, like she was seeing something other than Adriane. “It’s starting,” he said and stepped out into the room.
“Who are they?” Moriah huddled in the corner of the open room with Kingston by her side, both hidden in the shadows.
Kingston looked in the corner across the room but he couldn’t see anything. “Moriah, what are you talking about?”
“All the people in cloaks,” she said. “Who in the hell are they?” she whispered hotly. “And who is Evie talking to?”
Kingston shook his head. “I don’t see anyone.”
Moriah turned, remembering how she didn’t see anyone until she shut her eyes. “Kingston shut your eyes, clear your mind and reopen your eyes.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Moriah?”
“Ohmigod!” she snapped, exasperated. “Just do it.”
“Fine, I’ll do it but you don’t have to be such a bitch.” As soon as he said the words he regretted them. He felt her body stiffen next to him. “I’m sorry, babe,” he mumbled and then did what she said. Shutting his eyes, he cleared his mind. When he reopened them, he could see several cloaked figures and he could hear the low hum of their chants as well. “Who in the hell are they?”
Moriah turned. “You see them now?”
“Yeah.” He nodded his head.
Chance, Heather, Barnaby, and the twins, all filed out of the passageway and looked around like they were the only ones in the room.
Kingston stepped forward and Moriah pulled him back. “Wait,” she whispered.
“Why?”
“I don’t think they can see us, and as long as they,” she pointed at the cloaked figures, “don’t think we see them…we aren’t on their radar. You get what I’m saying?”
He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I think you’re right.”
“Let’s stay here for a minute.”
“Okay,” he agreed.
‡
“Heather?” Barnaby moved up next to her. “Where did everyone go?” He looked around the vast room that looked empty but he had a feeling it wasn’t.
“I don’t know.” Heather made a grab for Chance and pulled him closer.
Chance looked at her, his eyes glazed over. “Oh hey, Heather, where’d you come from?” he asked as soon as she touched him.
“I’ve been here all along.” She frowned.
“Something is completely messed up,” Barnaby said.
Colton ran into a column and only then did he actually see it. “This place is whacked.”
Barnaby shut his eyes. When he reopened them, he could see Moriah and Kingston in the corner. They were about three feet in front of him and he had no idea why he didn’t see them before. He walked up to them. “Where did you come from?”
“You can see us?” Kingston asked.
“Yeah, dude. I couldn’t see you before though, not until I shut my eyes and reopened them.” Barnaby pushed his glasses up.
“I think it’s some kind of freaky optical illusion,” said Moriah.
“I think you might be right.” Barnaby stepped into the shadows.
“Barnaby,” Colton called out. Turning back and forth, he tried to find where his friends went.
Barnaby took a tentative step forward and grabbed Colton’s arm. He yanked him back into the shadows.
Colton had his fist lifted in the air.
“Whoa man, it’s me!” Barnaby blocked his face.
“Where did you come from?” Colton looked at him like he was a freak.
“Can you see Kingston,” asked Barnaby.
“No.” He gave Barnaby a look like he was stupid. “Come on man, all those drugs are finally catching up with you.” He shook his head sadly. “I told you not to mess with that shit.”
“You idiot!” He hit Colton in the arm. “I stopped doing drugs, dude.”
Colton gave him a doubtful look.
“Kingston, touch Colton,” Barnaby instructed.
“I’m not touching his ass.”
“Hey!” Colton heard his cousin but he still couldn’t see him. “Where is he?”
“Right beside you,” Barnaby exhaled, and pushed him right into Kingston and Moriah.
Once Colton hit them, they both materialized in front of his eyes. He staggered back. “Whoa!” He righted himself.
“Be quiet,” Barnaby warned.
“What’s going on?” Colton said out of the side of his mouth. He was trying to be quiet but not doing a very good job of it.
“Just do it,” snapped Barnaby.
“Who put you in charge?” Colton was clearly not happy with the chain of command.
“You want to be in charge? By all means, be my guest.” Barnaby crossed his arms. “Well…” he glared at Colton. “What do you think we should do?”
Colton looked around warily. Still not seeing the things he ought to…like a way out. “Fine man, you do it.”
Barnaby smiled a little. It was a small concession but it still felt good. “Can you see Heather and Chance,” he asked.
Colton shook his head. “No. Can you?”
Barnaby smiled wider. “Yep, I sure do.”
“What?” Colton gaped at him. “That’s not fair.”
“Just close your eyes and clear your mind.”
“I’m not closing my eyes,” Colton said. “What if something tries to get me?”
Barnaby rolled his eyes. “Just do it. I’ll look out for you.”
Colton gave him a doubtful look. “Hold my hand, man.”
“What?” Barnaby gaped at him. “No way.”
“Come on. If you’re holding my hand I can’t like disappear.” Colton gave him a pointed look. “This way you can’t leave me high and dry again.”
“Fine,” said Barnaby and grabbed his hand. “Dude, hurry up. I feel like a girl.”
Colton shut his eyes and did as Barnaby said. He
cleared his mind. Well almost. He was thinking about a nice quarter pounder cheeseburger with bacon and a side of fries with a nice big soda. When he reopened his eyes, he was starving but the room did look different. Suddenly, Heather and Chance appeared too. “Wow,” he gaped. “This shit is freeeaky.”
“Let go of my hand, man.” Barnaby yanked his fingers away and wiped off his palm. “Gross dude, you got your sweat all over me.”
“Sorry, dude.” Colton gave him a squeamish half-smile.
Moriah stepped in front of Heather and waved her hand. Heather stared blankly around the room. “God, this would be awesome if we weren’t stuck in this pit.”
“If we weren’t in this pit I doubt we could do this.” Kingston reached out and pulled Heather back into the shadows.
“Ohmigod!” Heather put her hand over her pounding heart. “How’d you do that?”
“It’s an illusion, we think,” Moriah said.
“If we can’t see, how are we going to get out of here?” asked Heather.
The group turned and looked at her. Each face reflected the exact feeling she was having… “OH-Shit, we’re screwed!”
56-MASQUERADE
Sybarite’s hair moved of its own accord, twisting, writhing around her head. She was perched atop a granite pedestal as she conjured another illusion.
Dythius crouched on the pedestal at her side, his face more serious, contemplative. His eyes were also glazed over, a white film covering the irises. His arms braced on his muscular thighs as he entered inside another illusion.
He could taste victory on the tip of his tongue. It was sweet, much like the cherry wine he had savored so long ago…his mind strayed…small hands roamed freely over his naked body as he stood in the midst of the fountain. The top bubbled over with the blood of another sacrifice and the liquid splashed over the top. His withered, sagging skin, became taut, supple, like a young man’s once more. He closed his eyes…absorbing the essence…
‡
Simon clung to the stone and his hands easily gripped the walls. The humans were gathered in the corner. On the other side of the room were the Curators, who wore cloaks and chanted for the ritual that would soon commence.
Briarcliff Page 29
