“We don’t know,” I said shaking my head. “Laurie is in there with him.”
His head bobbed slowly. “Good. She’s an excellent care-taker.”
“How did you hear he wasn’t feeling well?” I asked unable to stop my eyes from narrowing.
Lucas pointed at a two-way radio strapped to his hip. “Laurie messaged me. I came back as soon as I could.”
“Can you help him?” Mallory asked.
“I’ll do what I can,” Lucas said with an impossibly small smile. “Never underestimate the power of prayer.”
Lucas opened the door and disappeared inside the room. I could hear them whispering but I couldn’t make out a single word.
“How can it be so bad that he needs to be saved by prayer?” Mallory asked. “What is going on here?”
“I don’t know,” I said as I turned to see Marty, Austin, and Noah coming our way.
Austin stepped up to the door and looked over his shoulder at me. “Is it bad?”
“We don’t know what’s going on,” I said. “They have the door closed.”
“They won’t allow you in?” Austin asked his brow wrinkled with confusion.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. We didn’t ask.”
“Well, I’m going in,” Austin said reaching out toward the doorknob.
He turned it but didn’t get the door open more than a few inches before Lucas stepped into the small opening and stopped the door from going any wider.
“I’m sorry to inform you that things are not good,” Lucas said.
“What’s going on?” Austin asked.
“We’re doing what we can, but he’s vomiting, convulsing… we can’t even get him to talk to us anymore,” Lucas said in a quiet voice.
“Can we see him?” Mallory asked.
Lucas shook his head. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea. “We’re going to need to quarantine this room.”
“I don’t understand,” I said wrapping my arms around my middle. “How could this have happened? He was fine before we came here.”
Lucas glared at me. It was clear he was taking offense to my words.
Lucas took the radio from his belt and noisy static cut through the air. He kept his eyes on mine as he pressed a button.
“Samuel,” Lucas said hesitating for a response.
“I’m here,” Samuel said his voice fuzzy as it came back through the radio.
“Need your help downstairs.”
“On my way,” Samuel replied.
Lucas slipped the radio back onto his belt. “We’ll get you all set up in a new room in no time.”
“Please,” Mallory begged. “Let me see him. Maybe there is something I can do to help.”
Lucas looked over his shoulder into the room. Laurie began whimpering loudly.
“He didn’t make it,” Laurie said.
A shiver ran down my spine. I looked at Austin as my hand began to shake.
“What?” I asked as if she’d spoken in another language. “That can’t be.”
Mallory dropped to her knees and pressed her hands to her face. She released a wail that would have scared the creatures away had they been near.
Marty knelt down next to Mallory and did his best to comfort her.
“We are so incredibly sorry for your loss,” Lucas said bowing his head. “We can discuss plans for a service when you’re ready.”
“I don’t understand,” I mumbled.
It felt like my head was floating away from my body. Everything was moving too quickly. Nothing made any sense.
I was waiting for someone to wake me and tell me it was all a horrible dream. Before I knew it, we were being ushered into another room.
Samuel was telling us he was sorry for our loss and that if anyone should need anything, anything at all, not to hesitate to ask him. They had medicine to help us sleep. But why didn’t they had anything that could have helped Bradley?
The tears that rolled down my cheeks were little coals as I stared at Samuel’s moving lips. Nothing he said made any sense. But he hadn’t stayed long. Moments later, he closed the door and the room began to spin like I was on a merry-go-round.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I had no idea what time it was but I could hear someone moving around in the hallway. Austin was in a seated position with his head back against the wall, but his eyes were closed. He must have tried to stay awake but there is only so much a single person can do before you can’t fight off sleep any longer.
The light was on in our room. Mallory was curled up into a small ball on the air mattress in the corner of the room. I moved silently to the door, not wanting to wake her.
I pressed my ear to the door and listened. It was a long while before they started moving again.
Someone complained about how heavy Bradley was. Another person shushed them.
Their feet scratched the floor as they moved by the room. They tried to be quiet but they were failing.
It had felt like minutes had gone by before I didn’t hear anything. I looked at the others over my shoulder before turning the knob and looking out into the hallway to make sure the coast was clear.
The only thing in the hallway was the dim light flowing from the lights they’d left on in the kitchen. It felt cold as I stepped out into the hall and glanced over toward the room Bradley had been in.
The door was open and the light was on but there weren’t any sounds coming from the room. I wasn’t sure why but my feet were leading me closer.
My breathing was shallow as I leaned into the room and looked toward the mattress Bradley had been on. Nothing had looked peculiar except for the fact that the bed was empty. It was hard to believe Bradley was really gone after all I hadn’t seen him.
The cup of water Laurie had brought for Bradley was tipped over at the side of the bed surrounded by a small pool of water. I walked over to pick up the cup wondering if he’d been able to drink any of it.
As I picked up the cup, I noticed some white residue that was lightly coating the floor. I reached out my finger to touch it but stopped myself. I moved it around with the tip of my shoe noticing its damp but somewhat flaky consistency.
I pulled the top off the cup and noticed the same residue clinging to the side. Why would they have given Bradley water inside a cup that had been so dirty? The residue wasn’t like a hard water stain but I didn’t know what else it could have been. It couldn’t have been medicine since they said they didn’t have anything that could have helped him.
Where had they taken him anyway? My knees felt weak as I walked down the hall and into the kitchen. I set the cup down next to the sink and chewed my fingernail for a moment.
I wanted to see Bradley.
I needed to see him for closure. He may have been a thorn in my side but I hadn’t wanted him to die and especially not like this. Not with strangers at his side giving him dirty water to drink.
I went up the stairs and into the church. There were candles lit at the windows casting dancing shadows on the wall. It made the church feel far from safe.
I crossed my arms as a chill wiggled up and down my spine like a worm digging its way into the earth. Where was everyone? Sleeping?
I started making my way back out of the church when I heard voices. The words were indecipherable but it sounded like someone was scolding someone else. Lucas?
I walked quickly to the door at the front of the church and opened it slightly to make sure the lights were on. The entire neighborhood was glowing in the bright pale yellow color from the copious amounts of lights positioned perfectly around the roof.
Even though I still had my gun tucked into the back of my pants, I stepped out into the night with my nerves buzzing. A gun wouldn’t stop the creatures if they came on me at once.
Why was I even thinking about my gun? I probably should have told someone where I was going.
I walked out around the side of the building where I’d heard the voices. Lucas, Samuel, and six others were standing shoulder to shoul
der staring at something on the ground.
My feet stopped moving and I stepped closer to the building. I wasn’t sure why but I didn’t want to be seen.
Samuel looked at his father and nodded before lifting an axe over his head. What were they….
“Oh, God.” The words slipped out of my mouth in a single gasping breath that tightened my throat.
Samuel lifted the axe again, letting it fall back toward the ground with as much force as he could put behind it. Something rolled away from his feet.
It wasn’t until the fingers uncurled like a blooming flower that I realized what I was seeing. Bradley’s arm.
They’d chopped it off. Like a butcher slaughtering cattle.
Bile stirred up the back of my throat and I had to swallow it back down. If they heard me vomit, my body might end up on the ground next to Bradley’s.
I couldn’t watch. Every time Samuel raised the axe, I gagged covering my ears as I looked away.
Finally, he stopped lifting the axe. There was so much light that when they stepped away, I could see the large hunks of Bradley split up on the ground.
Icy tears streamed down my face. I didn’t know what to do. I felt helpless. All I could do was stand there in shock as each one of them picked up a piece and threw it into the darkness.
It was like they were making an offering. Their lips moved as if they were reciting something before throwing Bradley to the creatures.
I could hear them moving about… making their squealing noises. They were enjoying their feast.
“They’re pleased!” Lucas said quietly but it had been loud enough that I could hear it. “Let’s go.”
I turned quickly, moving soundlessly as I made my way back inside the church.
My heart was pounding against my chest. The hard thumping was making it difficult to take in oxygen.
It felt like I was moving in slow motion as I skipped down the stairs and jogged through the cafeteria.
As I stepped in front of the door, reaching out for the doorknob the door opened. I stumbled backward into the wall flailing my arms as though I was trying to find a breath to pull into my body.
“Lucy!” Austin said reaching out to me. His eyes were wide as he stared at me. “What are you doing out there?”
His eyes darted to his left as the doors to the church squeaked open and echoed through the basement. The stretched expression on his face indicated that he realized something was wrong.
Austin picked me up and dragged me back into the room. He wrapped his arms around me and I couldn’t stop myself from silently sobbing and shaking.
“What’s going on?” he whispered. “I was about to lose my shit. I woke up and you were gone.”
“Something bad,” I said my voice squeaking out between my lips. “We have to get out of here.”
“I don’t understand,” Austin said shaking his head.
There were sounds coming from the cafeteria. Was someone coming? Did they know I was out there?
“Lay down,” I said. “Pretend you’re sleeping.”
“Lucy, you’re freaking me out,” Austin said.
My hands tightened into fists. I would knock him out if he didn’t listen.
“Please. I’ll explain as soon as I can,” I said lowering myself down onto the mattress.
My heart was still racing. It felt like my body was shaking. No one would believe I was asleep. Never. No way.
I pulled the thicker blanket over my body and hoped that would hide my movements.
Whoever was out there was coming closer. I could tell by the increasing volume of their footsteps.
Each step was like a thud of the axe being swung. It was almost as though I could feel the blade hitting my body.
The footsteps stopped outside the door. Could whoever was out there hear my heart pounding against the inside of my chest like a drum?
The footsteps padded softly as they continued down the hall. My eyes widened.
Oh, God. The cup.
Chapter Twenty-Three
It was several hours later when I told the others what I’d seen. Even though I couldn’t see outside, I was almost certain it would be morning soon.
Mallory’s eyes were red from crying. Marty had his hand on her shoulder and looked like he was going to throw up.
“White powder, huh?” Austin said. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive,” I said.
“Did you touch it?” Austin asked looking at my fingers as if he was afraid they were going to fall right off my hand.
I shook my head. “All I know is that we have to get out of here.”
“I don’t think they’re going to let us leave.” Noah frowned. “It’s going to look suspicious.”
“Why would they poison him?” Mallory said her voice squeaky and hoarse.
Austin lowered his voice. “It seems like they’re trying to keep the creatures satisfied. Feeding them so they stay away.”
“That’ll just have them keep coming back for more,” Noah said.
“We’re going to die here, aren’t we?” Mallory asked.
Marty squeezed her closer. “We’re not going to die here. We won’t let that happen, right?”
“Yeah, we’re not going to die,” Austin said pulling out his gun. “We’ll do whatever we have to do.”
There was a sharp knock at the door and Austin quickly tucked his gun away just as the doorknob turned. Lucas grinned as he stared at us.
“Oh, good,” Lucas said. “You’re all awake.”
“Yeah, we haven’t been up long,” Austin said as he turned his lips upward. “When one of us wakes up, we all wake up.”
Lucas chuckled. “I know how that is. I hear every creak and squeak in this place. Sometimes it’s quite difficult to get a good night’s rest.”
“I can only imagine how it must be for you,” Austin said.
There was a long silence before Lucas placed his hands together and took another step into the room.
“There’s something I wanted to talk to the five of you about,” Lucas said in a velvety voice.
“Oh?” Austin said cocking his head to the side.
“It’s about your friend, Bradley.” Lucas’s eyebrows drooped. “We were wondering if any of you might have known what he might have wanted in the event of his death.”
Austin narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean exactly?”
“Do you think he would have wanted to be cremated?” Lucas asked.
“I don’t think so,” I said speaking quickly. “His family was Catholic.”
Lucas bowed his head in understanding. “I’ll send Samuel and a few others to acquire a casket. We’ll have a service for him around noon if that suits you?”
Lucas looked at each one of us in turn. He wasn’t going to move until someone answered.
“Sure,” I said glancing at Mallory. Her head was lowered and tears were dripping down into her lap.
Lucas nodded and turned to leave. He stopped in the doorway and turned slightly.
“One more thing,” he said. “I’m afraid it’s going to have to be a closed casket. Whatever he had gone through hadn’t been kind.”
“What do you mean?” I asked knowing full well why the casket was going to be closed.
I could feel Austin’s eyes burning a hole into the back of my head. I should have kept my mouth closed.
“It’s why we didn’t want you to see him,” Lucas said lowering his gaze. “I really don’t feel comfortable describing it. It would just be too painful and you all have already been through so much.” Lucas cleared his throat and turned away again. “Breakfast should be ready in a few minutes.”
Lucas had left the door open putting an end to our discussion.
“We’ll leave after the service,” Austin said in a voice that floated through the room like a feather.
“How?” Noah asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” Austin said tapping his hip. “But one way or another we’re leaving.”
Mallory sniffed back her tears. “We won’t survive out there.”
“We can and we will,” Austin said confidently.
We sat through breakfast in mostly silence. There were a few whispers back and forth between the others but meals, for the most part, had been quiet.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Bev said placing her hand on my shoulder and then on Mallory’s.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Didn’t know him, but he seemed like a decent man,” Bev added.
I shrugged and Austin’s eyes widened. I drew in a deep sniff that stung my brain.
“Sorry,” I said hoping my eyes were as glassy as I was trying to make them be. “This is all just so difficult.”
“I understand, dear,” Bev said. “You two should take the day off. I’ll manage things in the kitchen just fine without you.” She lowered herself down closer to my ear. “Did it all myself before you two arrived.”
Bev patted me on the back but all I could do was wonder if she’d been out there with the others hacking Bradley into pieces. I looked around the room but I couldn’t remember who I’d seen. The only ones that I knew for sure had been Lucas and Samuel.
Monsters. Horrible, disgusting monsters.
They were the ones that should have been fed to the creatures. Lucas had acted like he was a religious man, but was he? Maybe the two of them, Lucas and Samuel had just holed up at the church after the creatures came and weren’t actually affiliated with it at all.
Samuel smiled at me. I hadn’t realized I’d been staring at him. I swallowed hard and looked away letting a slow breath escape from between my lips to calm myself.
“Excuse me,” I said offering a nod to everyone around. I placed my hand on my stomach and walked quickly from the room.
My stomach was swirling. Was Samuel smiling like that as he sliced into Bradley? How could he do that to a human being and, then, sit there eating breakfast with everyone as if nothing happened?
I went up the stairs and out of the church. No one tried to stop me.
I drew in a breath as if I’d been drowning. The sun beat down on the top of my head, warming me instantly. It was higher in the sky than I’d expected. Breakfast had been late which meant it wouldn’t be long before it would be time for the service.
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