The Curious Case of Jacob's Hallow

by Patrick Walsh

  Tom looked in both directions. They were on the edge of a narrow alley, with few people around them. “Meet me at the house.” He waved the two boys off, leaving him alone with Dullahan.

  He looked over Tom’s nice attire and much cleaner skin. “I assume then that you are dressed up for the execution?”

  “Yeah. Today is the first day of a new era in this town, and it starts with the death of the Nightman.”

  “Then why kill Aza?” He was asking a question, but in reality, it was an accusation. “You ran with us through Scaramire Mortalis. You saw the witch and her monsters.”

  It stung Tom and he shifted in place. “Because… because he’s still one of them. They think he’s the Nightman, it’ll give them hope, get things moving.”

  “I could come up with a number of reasons why that would not work, but the main one is that there is no future to get things moving to.” He pointed to the storm brewing out at sea. “The witch is bringing her army here tonight and wiping us all out.”

  “What!?” He stumbled back.

  “Tell your dad and let Aza go. You all seem to hold sway over part of this town. If you combine them with Gretel’s allies, then we might have a chance against them.”

  “No… no you’re lying!” He looked from side to side. “I don’t even know why I wasted my time with you.” He turned around and began to walk away.

  “I do, because I have stood where you do now!” He called out.

  Tom stopped and turned. “What are you talking about?”

  “You and your dad had a lot of money but lost it. I bet that left you in a bad spot. One where it seemed like he was the only one truly there for you.”

  He clenched his fists. “What do you know about what I’ve been through?”

  “I come from Dellathorn, a land far from here where there is a prestigious academy for the magical arts. I have no talent for it. I have spent countless hours studying, searching, practicing...and to no real avail. Almost no one took me seriously or would even give me the time of day. That was except for one boy, Bres. We became friends, studied together, played games… it was all I had ever wanted.” Old pains poked and prodded as he remembered.

  “This going somewhere?” Tom rolled his eyes, yet stayed put.

  “Yes. You see, while I took being an outcast for granted, he was far more bitter about it. He began to talk about getting payback. Sometimes even going on long tangents where he talked about getting even with some of the more rotten people. I did not challenge him. I let it snowball until he came up with a plan to poison everyone at the solstice banquet. He worked in the kitchen and I scrubbed tubes in the labs. I knew it was wrong, but I went along with him because he was my best friend...my only friend and I did not want to lose him. It was easier to convince myself they deserved it rather than risk upsetting him.” He looked right into Tom’s amber eyes.

  “Well… well did you do it?”

  “No. I told my mentor, who told the other five heads of the school. Bres was expelled, and I was only kept on by the thinnest of threads. All because I was too afraid to stand up to him when it would have really mattered. I was a coward.”

  There was a long silence as Tom swayed, his eyes sinking from one cobblestone to the next. “Even if your story mattered, it’s too late now.” With that he ran off, more houses to grace and more people to rile up.

  Dullahan was left alone, wanting to pursue but knowing there was more to be done with Gretel. When he got back to the shop, he found that others from the town had already arrived. Some, like Zackery and Desmond he recognized, while others were complete mysteries. They planned, mapped, and called from one transponder to the next as the hours ticked on. As a crowd gathered on the land of Tobias, partying and celebrating, another group formed at the old potion shop. Two halves of the town separated, destined to meet as the hour of execution approached. Gretel, Dullahan, and Hansel leading the mob out to the west, while the people there began to catch wind of what was coming. A logical man would have simply pushed up the execution to before they could possibly arrive. Yet Tobias didn’t see this opposition as a threat, but instead more audience members to be won over now that the old hag was dead. Gretel knew this. She only hoped they could convince them of the real threat drawing ever nearer. Because, as they marched across the land, evil things were crawling along the seafloor, ready to destroy this divided city and all within it.

  Chapter 22: We Stand Together

  Winds tore through the twisting shadows as the sun began to set on the dreary little town. The partying rabble around Tobias’ farm had settled and the event of the hour was close at hand. Directly in the middle of the crowd was a stage set into an old oak tree. It was used by the various higher ups to give speeches, or for common folk to do shows at other celebrations. Set into the decaying wood was a trapdoor, and a ways above that sat a sturdy branch with a rope attached. Aza stood in place, hands tied, and five gunmen surrounding him. He couldn’t get away even if he wanted to.

  Tobias and Tom stood next to him, the former waving and cheering on the crowd, but seeming to stall things. Aza couldn’t figure out why, until he saw the torches of a second group in the distance. At first, he assumed they were more people out to see the show and paid them little mind. That was until the citizens below began to mill about and whisper, even some drawing weapons. It was hard to tell what was going on. Despite the time of day, it was already dark. Likely the only thing keeping anyone here was their massive numbers, with near a third of the town around him and another third on the way.

  The celebrating rabble had begun to whisper and consolidate around the tree as the second army marched its way through the property line. Aza looked to the side and saw Tobias grinning from ear to ear, while his son looked more nervous than ever. The giddy man whistled to his men and the crowd began to part. Three horses came into view, leading the line that began to funnel in between the shuffling citizens. Gretel was ahead of them all, with Dullahan and Hansel on either side. Aza wasn’t sure what was going on. Was this to save him? Why was Dullahan still here, along with who knows how many other people? His business was done, Gretel and her brother’s business was done. They all lost. The spindle of thoughts was brought to an abrupt halt as Tobias began to slowly clap, stepping forward as the three stopped but a few feet from the stage. There was a lever at the gleeful fiend’s side that could drop the trap door at any moment should the intruders tread too close. He made sure they all could see it while he slithered around the platform.

  “Gretel, what brings you of all people out here?” He looked off to those behind them. “I see you brought more witnesses to this glorious event. Oh, even some more of our brothers and sisters from under the bridges as well I see. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of wine and food to go around for such a momentous occasion as this.” His words were punctuated with a roar from his followers.

  Gretel's face was like stone, gun at her side, and transponder still coiled around her arm. “I know how much this little show means to you, to all of you. But he isn’t the Nightman.” She looked to them and pointed out to sea where a storm was roaring ever near. “The real monsters are out there, and they’re comin tonight. Not just to roam around in the dark like usual, but to kill every last one of us!”

  This put the crowd at an unease, with even some of Tobias’ followers looking worried.

  “How convenient. You rustled up near half the village for this silly little charade?” Tobias strolled to the other end of the stage, seemingly without a care in the world. “I suppose you needed some way to keep the little band together now that the old hag bit the dust.”

  Both siblings felt their grip tighten on their weapons, but it was Gretel that replied. “Agnis died trying to protect you lot, to protect all of us.” She pointed to Aza. “He fought alongside her against the Nightman. The reason those monsters are commin after us tonight is that the Nightman was too strong for them. They didn’t stand a chance alone, but if we put this nonsense aside then maybe we can
. There isn’t any other option.”

  Tobias looked to the crowd behind her. “You really believe this? You take the word of a silly girl who lost her mommy trying to save a monster she’d been foolish enough to befriend? Don’t make me laugh.” He continued to stroll about the stage as the crowd whispered around him, his eyes falling to the pink haired man next to his opponent. “This your brother I’d assume? If I recall he was supposed to be dead, but I guess he’s just been cowering in the woods. Just another lie.”

  “Enough of this!” Zackery stepped forwards from the crowd, seeing many familiar faces on Tobias’ side. “I don’t like the unnatural as much as most of ya, but they aint the problem. Agnis had her secrets, but if ya stand against her and her daughter then ya stand against me and the rest of Cedric’s Row!”

  This elicited a lot of uneasy whispers and nervous doubts from the citizens. Some even shifted sides, not wanting to stand against him.

  Tobias saw what was going on and was quick to respond. “Don’t listen to that old coot. Really think about it, what has he done for ya? He claims to keep order, but has he now? You’re divided, more things have been trying to creep in from below, flooding through the roof, the list goes on. Even the greatest accomplishment was done by the Hero of the Olmire, not this unstable hack.”

  “Don’t you dare use him to spread your filth!”

  “This is a waste of time!” Hansel began drawing forwards. He didn’t care much about Aza as a person, but the scholar said they needed him so by the loa he would get him out of this

  Tobias spun closer to the stage lever as the crowd on his side began to edge in, with several of the gunman even turning their weapons. “Hold up there now, you don’t want to start a war now do ya boy?”

  There was a brief stagnation between both sides, broken when Gretel called out again. “If you lot won’t join us, then we’re already dead. At least if we fight now then I can have the pleasure of seeing this bastard die.” She pointed right at Tobias and looked him in the eyes. “Don’t push us; just let him go. He’s not the Nightman and we both know it.”

  “Yeah...we do.”

  Tobias turned around to see his son looking to him, afraid but resolute in a very painful decision. “What did you say?”

  Tom began walking to the head of the stage, all eyes falling upon him. His wandering gaze searched all around him as if looking for a place to hide, for a place to escape this madness. Words of honor and blusters of future grandeur swirled in his head, all spoken by his loving father. Yet, the very man who espoused these great truths had broken them all. It was now his job to set things right. His dad would understand in the end. It would be rough, and he didn’t know what would happen next, but he had to take the chance. It was his duty. The boy took a deep breath and looked out to the crowd, having about as much notoriety as his dad. “It was a mistake. For a long time, it looked like Aza was the Nightman...but he’s not. I was with him down there, deeper than any part of Cedric's Row. I saw the real Nightman’s lantern and his monsters. This whole event was just to...to unite you.”

  The whole of Tobias’ side began to shift and sway like the turbulent ocean beyond. Some held fast in their conviction, but too many began to worry. If he was wrong, and Gretel was right, then this could be the end for all of them. Some saw Tom as a traitor and others as a hero blowing the lid off a lie. Anger and fear spread like wildfire while Tobias called for them to settle down. Though, soon something else spread. Eyes on both sides looked out to sea. A blue light snaked and swirled amongst the clouds, thunder and lightning beginning to pick up in its wake. Others still, were speaking of ships in the distance. Some in the far back had brought telescopes to see the hanging, or just amuse their kids. Now they were trained on the approaching storm in awe and terror.

  Tobias saw the two men on Gretel's sides beginning to creep forwards while she too was trying to keep people calm, even shouting into her master transponder. Maybe he could regain control, but things were quickly falling apart. He looked to his son, who was giving a half hearted smile.

  “Please dad, we can just…” Tobias cracked his nose with one rage filled punch.

  His cheery mood had snapped away as fast as it had come, just like so many other times before. “I’ll deal with you later you traitorous little bastard!”

  Tom gagged on the blood now running down his throat. “Don’t!”

  Tobias ran to the lever, ready to hang Aza and end all of this. This was his moment, and no one would take it from him. Dullahan and Hansel rushed their horses to the stage, pulling themselves from the beasts. The determined scholar snatched out his puzzle box while the jaded hunter drew his scythe. Yet, it was neither of them that stopped the bitter old man. A loud bang tore out through the night, one that none of them could have predicted. Tom had a pistol at his belt, now in his hand. It smoked as Tobias dropped to the ground, his fingers falling from the lever just as he was about to pull it. The boy looked on in horror at what he had just done, what he had to do. The five men around Aza trained their weapons on Tom as the crowd around them began bursting into chaos. Aza blinked a few times, looking at someone who had caused him so much misery. Then his gaze fell to the body of the true mastermind behind this whole movement, whose life was quickly seeping away. He saw Dullahan and Zack on one side of the stage, while Hansel took the other. The gunmen were swinging their rifles around, unsure of who to even aim at anymore.

  Aza closed his eyes, moments feeling as if stretched to hours. Was this all for him, or just the blind urge to survive? It didn’t matter. It would have a few days ago, but not now. They were gone, Gregory, Luke, so many others. He would be on his way out soon enough as well, even if this whole thing hadn’t been thwarted. This was all over and settled. They had lost. Yet here was this army here to save him. Even Dullahan had returned from wherever he had scuttled off to. Then here was Tom. Not in a thousand years did Aza think he would do that, could do that. And why were Gretel and Dullahan working together? No matter the reason for that or anything else, it lit a fire within him that had all but gone out. Despite all he had lost, and the schemes of his uncle, his own doubt...here was near half the town to save him. He couldn’t let their efforts be for nothing, for everyone else’s sacrifices be for nothing. There was still a battle to fight and a town worth saving. He couldn’t just give up. He couldn’t just fade away and leave them all to face the wights alone. He still had a part to play and people to avenge. This wasn’t over, not yet.

  His mind fell to that dark night at Beldrum Manor and his tendrils of fear struck out like an enraged kraken. Those rushing to his aid were stunned, but the men with the guns panicked and leaped from the stage. The fear was diluted between them, but their minds were already reeling from the confusion. With them gone, Hansel cut the rope from his neck and then the ones around his hands. The other two helped Gretel onto the stage while Tom sped to his father. The weary daughter and rejuvenated Puppetmaster nodded to one another as the crowds swirled around them. There was a master transponder on Tobias’ right hand, now writhing on the ground. She knelt down and let her own begin devouring it, tapping into all the transponders it was connected to upon reaching the sacks under its brain. Minutes spun on as, slowly but surely, everyone began to settle down again. Gretel shouted orders to leaders on both sides with varying results. Some ended up fleeing, but most remained, uncertain as to what was going on or who was left standing.

  “Is everyone settled?” Gretel spoke into one of the pores that dotted the back of her master transponder.

  “As much as we’re gonna get.” That and many similar answers called back.

  She cleared her throat and looked to her brother. He nodded and gave a small smile, creating the last bit of assurance she needed to fully take charge. Looking back to the crowd, Gretel spoke loudly and clearly. “Listen! There’s an army on its way, and it will be here at any moment!” Her words were punctuated by thunder crashing through the clouds, as the first of the rain began to reach them. “Tobia
s lied to all of us, but at the very least I'm sure he got you all ready for a fight. The real enemy is out there and it's up to each and every one of us to take it on! We have men and women already gathering arms, and I’m sure you all have plenty of your own. If we move now, begin fortifying, begin gathering anything that might give us the upper hand...then we might just live to see the dawn!”

  Many reluctantly or enthusiastically relayed her message around the masses. Many weren't sure who she was but knew her mom or Zachery. Because of this, her words held a weight to them that she might not have been able to exude otherwise. Slowly, all began to funnel out of the property like a great cascade of briny water.

  For the first time in a long time the people would not remain locked indoors, preying the monsters of the night wouldn’t find them. In this final hour, they stormed into their homes and began preparing for the fight ahead. Lumber for barricades was dragged and hauled to the streets. Guns from every corner of town found themselves in someone’s hands, while powder and shots were collected in impossible quantities. Bear traps were laid near the docks, harpoons brought far inland, even a few cannons were rolled out from the dark storehouses and into the roads. In no time at all, everyone was either hiding, working, or directing. Yet as they milled about under the fungal lamps, the body of the storm made landing. Winds ripped through the narrow streets as the rain cut down from above. Three ships, only minutes from hitting land, loomed in the distance, while countless dead crawled along the seafloor.

  It was in Aggie’s old place of business that Gretel sat, map of the town sprawled out on a table before her. She spoke from one transponder network to the next as old allies of her mom pointed and plotted, bickered and bellyached. While they worked, Aza and Dullahan were left alone in one of the aisles. Compared to the thunderous footsteps and hauling outside, or even the busy room beyond, the small walkway was almost peaceful. They had been sent there so Dullahan could fill Aza in on what all they had planned, as well as maybe reconcile. So now they stood in silence. The scholar was visibly uncomfortable, finding himself in the rare spot where he didn’t know what to say. The puppetmaster, on the other hand, looked calm. Not beaten and worn as he had before, but casual or even a bit upbeat. He leaned against a shelf and waited for the one across from him to speak first, knowing it was inevitable.