Rotting Souls

by Sara Clancy

  “There,” she said once everything was perfectly arranged. “They went right up that incline with the woman. The man they took a few more yards north before turning off at that old Jack Pine.”

  Benton leaned closer to the screen to study the image closely. “I’m impressed but not surprised.”

  The praise made a huge smile cross her face. With a rush of confidence, she asked about the third and final question.

  “No car. House on lockdown.” He looked far too pleased with himself as he asked. “What’s your plan to get out?”

  Damn.

  Chapter 11

  “This is a horrible idea,” Benton said. The steady flow of rain made the roof tiles slick under his sneakers and brought an early twilight to the sky. “It has to be one of your worst.”

  “It’s not that far of a drop,” Nicole replied.

  “We’re jumping off the roof–”

  “The patio roof,” she interrupted. “Don’t start drama.”

  He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Into a blanket that Zack and Danny are holding between them. What part of this is good?”

  “We don’t have to open a door. Your parents really should account for windows in their home security. Now, come on. Meg can’t distract your parents forever.”

  “Yeah, we should get out of here before they look left and see the bright red pickup truck,” he said bitterly.

  “Exactly.”

  Benton watched as Nicole tossed her school bag down into the center of the waterlogged blanket. It landed with a splash.

  “This is how you get a broken ankle,” he said.

  “Come on, Benton. This isn’t even the hardest thing we have to do tonight.”

  He begrudgingly shrugged. “You’ve got me there.”

  She offered him a dazzling laughter before, without a single attempt to check with the others, she jumped. Danny choked on a flood of swear words and Zack almost lost the sheet. But, between them, they managed to keep Nicole from cracking her head on the ground. Benton’s heart remained lodged in his throat until he saw her standing safe and sound, and not gushing blood. Still beaming, she took her portion of the sheet and waved for him to follow.

  ‘I hate you’, he mouthed.

  She let go of the blanket just long enough to make a heart out of her hands. It wasn’t the reaction he had been aiming for. Summoning what little belief he had left in humanity, Benton prepared for the worst, squeezed his eyes shut, and jumped. His stomach lurched. Hitting the sheet made pain spark across his raw skin. They managed to hold his weight just long enough to break his fall before dumping him on the gravel. Nicole was next to him when he opened his eyes.

  “See?” she whispered. “Everything’s fine.”

  “Are you checking on me or gloating?”

  “I can do both.”

  The red Chevy pickup belonged to Zack’s older brother. Benton didn’t have time to ask why he had chosen this one. The vehicle only had a front bench seat. He grabbed the tailgate and scrambled into the flatbed, turning to help Nicole follow. Once they were both lying flat on the uncomfortable metal, there was nothing for them to do but wait. Either get caught by his parents or leave and go on a corpse hunt.

  Why can’t I have nice options?

  The truck shook as Zack, Danny, and Meg jumped into the front bench seat of the old truck. Then the engine roared to life, painfully vibrating the metal body, and they were off, creating a cloud of dust that billowed into the dwindling daylight.

  We’re actually doing this.

  Benton had to repeat it to himself a few times before he believed it. After the hell he had endured on that stretch of highway, it was madness to go back. It took five minutes to reach the edge of his property. Nicole sprung up the second they passed the boundary and joined the public roads, instantly scrambling for the large bag pushed up against the truck cab. Benton followed. He had been curious about the bag ever since she had called her friends. She had very specially and repeatedly told them that they needed to bring the bag ‘with the purple tab’. How many bags did she have lined up in her basement?

  It was one of those large bags people used to go camping for days on end. Unzipping the top, she collected the first couple of items and thrust them towards him. With the wind whipping the long tendrils of her hair into her face, she didn’t bother to say a word. He unraveled the items. A huge parka designed for arctic expeditions and heavy, thick-soled boots. Relief flooded through him.

  Each ghost carried a chill. A drop in temperature that signaled their presence even when he couldn’t see them. Generations of murder had filled the forest with bodies. Enough that they corrupted the earth and air. Benton felt it with arctic savagery. One that crept into his bones and brought him to the brink of hypothermia. A real physical sensation. Last time, he had almost lost three toes to frostbite. Everyone else had been fine. And now I’m going in winter. And it’s raining again. These are good signs.

  Traveling east to the Highway of the Lost meant that they avoided the town entirely. Here, there wasn’t much in the way of speed limits, and Zack took full advantage of that, pushing the truck until it trembled in a desperate race against the sun. Nicole had refused to listen to reason and wait until morning, worried that the Baykok would kill Amy on his next attack, arguing that the ghosts were just as strong during the day and it was easier to hide from killers in the dark. Benton clutched his snow gear to his chest as he leaned against the side of the truck, dread growing within him as the hours passed and the sun crept ever closer to the horizon.

  Trees rose up from the sea of grass. A mixture of hills, deep valleys, and gushing streams had created a dense forest. The highway was the only path carved through the wilderness. A strip of civilization shrouded by towering pines that blocked the light. Shadows clung to the trucks, rolling over the forest floor like fog. Peace Springs was on the other side of the gloomy vegetation. Nothing but a single roadside diner stood within it.

  Benton felt the edge of the cursed land before they crossed onto it. Terror scuttled under his skin like insects. He hurriedly shed his damp hoodie before heaving the heavy parka on. The hood muffled the light rain and growl of the engine. Nicole’s gesturing let him find two pairs of thick wool socks in the parka pockets before he shoved the boots on. Protected somewhat from the elements, his body heat quickly filled the parka, becoming stiflingly humid. Then they passed over the borderline.

  Frozen air slammed into Benton with a crushing force. Doubling over, he gasped, unwittingly drawing the air into his lungs, letting the cold in. Frost filled his lungs until he could feel ice crack with every breath. Pins drove into every inch of exposed skin. He couldn’t stop trembling. Nicole scooted over to his side, pressing in close to share her body heat while she rummaged in one of the numerous pockets. Of course, she packed gloves, Benton thought with a smile. The rain had left his hands damp, which admittedly ensured that the gloves didn’t work as well as they should have. It was still bliss to pull them on.

  Benton pressed his back to the wall of the truck bed, trembling as he squeezed his eyes shut. Already the world was pressing in on him. He could hear them screaming while they never made a sound. Could feel their touch while miles separated them. Confusion mixed with his fear and he curled himself into a ball, letting the rain patter against his arched spine. Maybe if I stay still enough, they won’t know I’m here.

  It took a focused effort to keep his breathing slow and even. Everything else faded away into an oblivion of cold and rain and the sense of horror that had taken on a life of its own. Suddenly, the engine died and he snapped his head up.

  “It’s okay,” Nicole said, giving his shoulders a reassuring squeeze. “We’re just stopping for a break.”

  Confusion lingered until he spotted the neon sign of the roadside diner. The night had gathered strength, swelling upon the ground and fighting back the few rays of sunset that played across the treetops. Zack had parked beside one of the two only other cars in the parking lot. Bento
n stood, but before he could climb down, something caught his attention. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. What shift or sound had made his heart lurch into his throat. It left him scanning the area for nothing in particular.

  “Hurry up, I want to get out of the rain,” Zack said.

  Benton didn’t stop staring at the woods on the other side of the road. Droplets of rain struck the leaves, making them shift and giving the illusion of hidden creatures. Nicole gently touched his hand.

  “Benton?”

  “I’m okay,” he murmured on reflex.

  “What do you see?”

  Turning towards her, he noticed something out of the corner of his eyes. Not a full body apparition. Just a small lump in the middle of the rain-slick road, about the distance of a football field away. A distorted orb surrounded by tendrils of ebony. In the gloom, it took a moment for him to realize what it was.

  “A head.”

  “You mean, ‘ahead’, right?” Meg asked.

  Danny quizzed her sister. “What would that even mean?”

  “Hopefully something better than a severed head.”

  Benton lifted one hand to point at the head. “No one else sees that?”

  “I can’t,” Nicole confessed before checking with the others. “Is it looking at us?”

  “No. It’s facing back towards Fort Wayward.”

  “Well,” she said with forced cheer, “let’s not bother it. Come on, I’ll get you some coffee.”

  Benton gave the silent phantom one last glance before he followed the others into the diner. One front corner was dedicated as the gas station. Nicole hurried them past that and the few stands of trinkets to find a small table.

  “We’re closing up,” a waitress called out from somewhere unseen.

  “That’s okay,” Nicole said. “We just want the table.”

  There was no response. Just the random clatter of the kitchen being cleaned. Once she had Benton seated, she ducked away to get some coffee from the old vending machine set on the gas station counter. She returned with a few cups and a couple bags of chips. Benton pulled off his gloves to wrap them desperately around the warmth of the paper cup. Nicole pulled a map out of her pocket, along with a pen, and spread it out over the table. It said something that not one person at the table was surprised to find her so prepared. She talked carefully, precisely, outlining exactly where she thought they went. With a few swipes of her highlighter, she also marked where she thought they might be hiding.

  “Because of the terrain,” she concluded.

  Benton watched as the three other people at the table nodded in understanding. Vastly outnumbered, he decided not to admit that he had no idea what she meant by that.

  “Thanks again for all of this,” she told the trio. “Really, it’s above and beyond the call of friendship.”

  Zack waved the comment off and claimed the salt and vinegar chips.

  “It’s not a problem,” Meg said.

  “Only a mild inconvenience,” Danny added with a nod.

  Nicole never lost her smile. “We really appreciate it. Not to sound ungrateful but, Zack, why did you bring your brother’s truck? Your car would have fit all of us.”

  Zack laughed. “I’ve seen what this thing did to your jeep.”

  Almost knocking over his cup in his haste, Benton jerked his hand back and forth in front of his neck. The universal please, for the love of God, don’t talk about that, gesture.

  “What happened to my jeep?” Nicole asked. She whirled to Benton and he snapped his hand down. “You said that you just couldn’t drive it.”

  “I can’t drive,” he defended.

  She looked at each of her friends in turn. “What happened to my jeep?”

  “Nothing,” they all said at once.

  Subtle, Benton sighed.

  “So, what’s the game plan here?” Zack cut in.

  It was an obvious ploy to distract her, but it worked.

  “I explained it all to you when I called for help,” Nicole said.

  “Oh,” Meg said softly. “I just thought there would be more to it.”

  “The beauty is in its simplicity. We go in, retrieve the body, and bury it. And we’re done.” Nicole looked honestly proud of herself as she finished.

  “And the angry ghosts?” Danny pressed.

  “I have a half dozen iron bracelets in my go bag,” she said. “Along with first aid kit, camping supplies, headlamps, cleaning supplies, and a few body bags.”

  Danny’s brow furrowed. “Why did you bring cleaning supplies?”

  “In case we run into a little bit of human trouble and need to cover our tracks.”

  It was hard to tell which one of the twins looked more disturbed at the prospect of cleaning up a crime scene.

  “I’m not saying that we’re going to need it,” Nicole rushed. “I’m just sick of not being prepared for these situations.”

  “Which is why you brought body bags. That’s comforting,” Zack said before choking down a gulp of the milky coffee.

  “What did you want me to do? Throw him in my school bag? He’ll be in stage five decomposition. I don’t want to touch that,” Nicole said.

  Meg leaned slightly forward, lowering her voice even though there was no one close enough to hear.

  “What’s stage five?”

  “Maggots have almost finished all of the soft flesh and beetles are moving in to eat the tougher stuff,” Benton said.

  Zack scrunched up his nose, a hand full of chips at his lips. “Dude, I’m eating. Couldn’t think up a nicer way to say that?”

  “That is the nice way.” Benton waited for Zack to crunch down on the chips before adding, “I didn’t mention the mold.”

  Zack was caught between gagging and glaring at him.

  “Benton, be nice.” Before he could protest, Nicole continued, “Zack, you don’t need to know any of this. Like I said earlier, I’m not asking you guys to come with us.”

  “What? Why not?” Meg asked.

  “Yeah, what’s wrong with us?” Danny added.

  “You’ve made it clear that you don’t want to come,” Nicole said.

  “Doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be asked,” Danny said.

  Zack snorted. “Rude, Nicole Just rude.”

  “Fine,” she huffed a sigh then put a smile on her face. “Guys, would you like to go on a body hunt with us?”

  Benton didn’t know why Nicole was surprised that they agreed.

  Shock dropped her mouth. “You all want to come?”

  “I wouldn’t use the word want,” Zack said.

  “I didn’t bring my hunting rifle for nothing,” Danny added.

  Meg reached across the table to take Nicole’s hand. “We’re just as involved in this as you are.”

  The color drained from Nicole’s cheeks. “No, don’t say that. This isn’t on anyone but me.”

  “We were all there,” Meg protested. “Each one of us. We all have our share of the blame.”

  “I pulled the trigger,” Nicole said.

  Zack’s voice softened. “None of us were trying to stop you.”

  “So,” she blurted out. “We’re all agreed? We’re holding hands and jumping onto this crazy train together?”

  “How did we get here?” Zack muttered.

  “Don’t know, don’t care,” Benton said. “Can you come to the bathroom with me?”

  Zack’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

  “Why does anyone use the bathroom?”

  “I meant, why don’t you go on your own?” Zack said with a roll of his eyes.

  “The last time I was here, a ghost crawled out of the drain and attacked me.”

  A heartbeat of silence passed between them. In a sudden burst of movement, Zack took another gulp of his coffee and stood up.

  “Your life is twisted and pathetic and it makes me sad.”

  “That’s accurate,” Benton said as he followed.

  Chapter 12

  The soft drone of the ra
dio behind the gas station counter filled the nearly empty diner. Nicole scanned the area, unable to stop her knee from jerking as she studied each face. It was here that the killers had first caught her scent. She hadn’t noticed at the time. Hadn’t realized that the couple only a few feet away from her were plotting her abduction, deciding how to kill her. And fantasizing about what they would to her during the time in between.

  Skin crawling over her bones, she looked around again, trying to determine if anyone had noticed her. A few people hurriedly shoveled down the last of their meals, racing the setting sun, desperate to get home before darkness claimed the world. Others took their time, looking resigned if not relaxed. It made her wonder just why they weren’t afraid. Maybe they don’t know they should be, Nicole reasoned. The more sinister side of her mind whispered; or maybe they think they’re the most dangerous thing out there. Fur dragged across her brain as she felt the weight of eyes upon her. Launching onto her feet, she spun around, unable to spot who was watching her.

  “Nicole?” Meg asked.

  “Do you feel that?”

  Meg looked to her twin.

  “Feel what?” Danny asked.

  Nicole didn’t bother to clarify. If they felt it, they’d say. Get a grip, she told herself as she sunk back down into her chair.

  “Never mind,” she mumbled, busying herself with folding up the map and handing it over to Meg, the best navigator out of all of them.

  She jumped up again when she spotted Benton and Zack heading back to the table. Zack tipped his head to the side like a confused puppy as they approached.

  “But – if no one can see the arrow, how do they know it exists? Or that they’re, you know, arrows?” Zack asked.

  “I don’t know. Ask Nicole, I’m sure she has a theory,” Benton replied.

  The boys fell silent as they approached the table.

  “Anything interesting happen?” Nicole asked. “Sorry, probably could have found a more tactful was of asking that.”

  “No paranormal activity,” Benton said.

  “Good. Great. Awesome.”

  Benton’s brow furrowed. “Why are you so nervous?”