by Ben Cass
She blew Ellie a kiss. “You just rest for a while. Help yourself to the kitchen. I am sure you can find something to eat in there. Go outside and sleep in the hammock. Take a hot bath. The property is yours. Enjoy yourself.” She walked away but stopped as if a second thought had hit her. She turned around and leaned against the doorframe with her hand. “Just...be sure you avoid the barn, okay?”
“The barn? Why can’t I go in there?”
“Alistair has a very large, very fierce dog in there and it can be....touchy...with strangers. I am sure you will meet him eventually, but it would be best to not be on your own. Promise?”
“I’ll be careful,” she promised. Kira smiled and left. Ellie set about putting on her socks and shoes, then stood, determined to go explore the domain of the mysterious Coach Doyle. She might never have a better chance to get some answers about him.
Her first stop was indeed the kitchen. Although she had eaten a light meal earlier, she wanted something more substantial. After examining the contents of the refrigerator, she settled on making a sub sandwich. She took out every kind of lunch meat she could find, every kind of cheese she could dig up, and sliced up some of the homemade bread on the counter. She recognized the wrapping from Joanna’s bakery, and knew how tasty the bread was. After piling on the meat and cheese, she looked in the refrigerator for something to drink. The gallon of milk looked good, so she poured herself a big glass.
Taking her sandwich and drink in hand, she went out onto the back porch. There was a swing hanging from the roof, so she settled down to enjoy her meal. A small table and some chairs were on the other side of the porch, which was probably a good twenty feet on each side.
Ellie took a big bite of her sandwich and chewed, looking around the property. Coach Doyle lived on a lot of land; she guessed it to be somewhere upward of a hundred acres, all told. There was a shed just behind the house; no doubt it held the lawn equipment and other tools the coach would need. Off to the side, maybe a hundred feet away, sat another small building. A little larger than the shed, but not by much, but it looked unused.
She could hear birds chirping in the distance, probably in the woods. A gentle breeze blew, rustling the small trees and bushes beside the house. The wooden swing squeaked as she swung back and forth, reminding her of the swing set she’d had as a little kid.
Further back, probably a few acres away from the house, stood the barn. Ellie stared at it as she ate, wondering what kind of dog was in there. She took a big swig of her milk, swished it around her mouth and swallowed it. The cool liquid felt good against her throat. Ellie looked down and realized her sandwich was gone. She didn’t remember eating the entire thing.
As she pondered whether to make a second one, a strange sound came to her. It was very faint at first, so Ellie strained to hear it. After a moment, she was able to identify it. Somebody was humming “Amazing Grace.” She had never heard such a deep, musical voice give a rendition of the song. Even without the words, it was still gorgeous.
Ellie finished off the glass of milk and brought the dishes into the kitchen. After quickly washing and drying them, she went back outside, determined to find the source of the song. It had to be very close. She didn’t see any outdoor speakers or microphones, but she figured Doyle for the kind of person who would have some kind of setup like that on his property. Maybe a television was on somewhere and the sound system was carrying the song. No, that didn’t make sense. There were no televisions playing right now.
The humming stopped, and Ellie paused, thinking. Maybe I just imagined it? After a moment, she shook her head. No, she was sure she had heard humming. She decided to go find the speakers and hurried down the patio steps.
Her first step was to look around the porch. She knelt down, checking underneath the wooden patio, but saw nothing. She stood, brushing stray pieces of dirt off her knees, and slowly walked around the side of the house where she’d been sitting. Still nothing.
Puzzled, she looked up towards the roof. The house was three stories tall, with bright white clapboard walls and red shutters, the kind you could unhitch and fold down to provide protection from storms. She had no idea how wide the house was, but going by the number of windows, there seemed to be two or three rooms on each of the second and third floors. She already knew Doyle’s room was on the second floor, as were two other guest rooms, but she hadn’t gone to the third floor yet. She’d go check it out—after she figured out this voice. Her eyes still couldn’t see anything unusual. Maybe Coach had somehow wired the speakers to work through wood? She wouldn’t put it past him. That would require some pretty powerful speakers, though.
She spotted a flower garden off to the side and walked over there, admiring the variety of blooms. The garden was huge, easily the size of a bedroom. Butterflies flapped all around it, landing on blossoms before taking off again. Ellie peered carefully around the garden, even lifting some of the larger rocks to check them, but still couldn’t find speakers.
She gazed around the property, thinking. Her eyes were again drawn to the barn. She had an overwhelming urge to go check it out, but shook that off. If there was a big dog, which might not be friendly, she sure as hell didn’t want to startle it by going inside.
The humming started up again, more powerful and alluring than last time. Ellie tilted her head and closed her eyes, trying to identify a direction.
A sort of peacefulness had fallen over her. Her father had loved the tune, and had sung it frequently while he worked in his little workshop, even when cutting wood or drilling holes. She smiled slightly, remembering the sound of the table saw cutting off the words as he sang. It had always made her giggle.
She realized the sound seemed to be coming from the vicinity of the barn. The speakers must be over there. Maybe Coach used the side of the barn to watch drive-in movies? She had promised Kira to avoid the barn, but the call of the music was too great. Ellie felt as if it had some kind of magical power, ensnaring her senses to the exclusion of all else.
Ellie started walking towards the barn, trying to keep her ears focused on the humming. The song grew stronger and clearer as she approached. Yes, the speakers were definitely there somewhere.
Ellie considered the building as she walked. It looked just like the ones you’d see in movies or magazines, bright red with large double on the side. Considering the unpainted wood above, that entry had been modified fairly recently. It had been made much higher, perhaps five or six feet taller. She had a hard time estimating the height, but guessed it to be three or four times above her head, easily.
Ellie walked around the barn, examining it carefully. The humming was still going. The outside was surrounded by plants and dirt, with an old green hose coiled up on one side. There was still no sign of speakers. Ellie was starting to get annoyed. What kind of sound system did Doyle have?
One of the double doors was open, but she couldn’t see inside at all. It was like a giant ball of black ink was hovering just beyond the doors. Ellie remembered she’d promised Kira to avoid this place, but she hesitated, torn between her promise and her desire to solve this little mystery. She hated secrets.
She was forgetting something, though. What was it? Ellie tapped her teeth with her fingernail, thinking a moment. It popped into her head quickly: the dog! If she went in the barn, surely it would go after her, if it was as vicious as Kira had warned her?
But if it was so dangerous, then why was one door open? That made no sense unless...unless Coach had taken the dog with him earlier!
Yes, that sounded right. He must have taken the dog. Why else would the door be open? If the dog was potentially dangerous, then the door would definitely be closed. She didn’t think Doyle would be so laid-back.
Her guilt assuaged, Ellie approached the open doors cautiously. The humming was extremely clear now. It could have been inside her own mind. “Hello?” she called into the darkness. “Who’s there?”
The humming stopped immediately. “Oh, please don’t stop,” Ell
ie begged. “That was beautiful.” She squinted, trying to see into the darkness of the barn, but nothing was visible, surprisingly. She couldn’t even see five feet in front of her. The bright sunlight just stopped a few feet past the doors, cut off by the blackness. She had never seen anything like it, but didn’t think to be afraid or worried.
Do you really think so? The deep male voice sounded concerned, and she could hear the musical quality of the voice even in regular speech.
“Oh, yes,” Ellie assured him, whoever he was. “I’ve never heard anything so lovely.”
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wasn’t aware you could hear me. He sounded excited at the prospect.
“How could I not hear you?” Ellie stepped carefully into the doorway, trying to hear whomever was speaking. “I heard you all the way by the house. Your voice would carry anywhere, especially on that sound system.” She looked up but still didn’t see any speakers anywhere. “It was...I don’t even know how to describe it. Majestic probably comes closest. Why weren’t you singing the words, too?” She looked around, still trying to see something. This is so frustrating! she thought.
I don’t know them, admitted the voice in the darkness. I just learned the melody recently. Do you know the words? It sounded eager.
“Sure. Everybody does.” Ellie started slowly walking around, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. She’d been inside barns before and had never found them to be this dark inside. She knew she should be able to see well enough to tell what was inside. Maybe a heavy tarp had been hung from the rafters, effectively blocking the light from coming inside? She reached forward, but found no plastic or cloth or anything there.
Could you teach them to me sometime?
She shrugged. “Easy enough.” She waited a few seconds and when nothing else was said, ventured, “Who are you?”
There was a slight pause before the answer came. A friend of Doyle’s.
“I figured that much on my own,” Ellie replied. “You’re in his barn, after all. I meant, what’s your name?”
Theonus.
Theonus! Ellie’s heart beat even faster. “You’re the one who saved us from the house last night, aren’t you?”
Another pause followed her question, then, hesitantly, Yes.
“Thank you,” Ellie said sincerely. “I don’t know how you did it, but breaking the wall down was amazing.”
I’m sorry about your house. We would have saved it, but not even Doyle could have stopped the blaze at that point.
“Nobody could have stopped that fire, I’m afraid.” Ellie had paused, but now continued slowly walking around, not straying too far from the open doors. “Where are you?”
To Ellie’s ears, Theonus almost sounded scared, even worried. I don’t think you want to see me.
Ellie scoffed. “Why not? I’d like to know who I’m talking to.”
Well...I tend to frighten people when they first see me. They fear what they don’t understand.
“Why? Are you like Quasimodo or something?” Ellie asked, laughing softly. Theonus chuckled in response, a musical laugh which made Kira’s beautiful laugh sound like fingernails on a chalkboard. She heard a growl somewhere, echoing through the barn at the same time.
He didn’t take the dog! A spark of fear shot through her, temporarily freezing her muscles, but it vanished quickly. That was the first noise the dog had made and it hadn’t come out yet, so maybe it was tied up somewhere. Surely Coach wouldn’t let a large dog roam free if it posed a danger to people. Besides, Theonus was in here and she didn’t think a friend of Doyle’s would let his dog attack a stranger.
Quasimodo? The hunchback? Something like that, yes.
“Well, I don’t care. I want to see you.” Ellie looked around, but still could not detect anything, not even a hint of movement. “So are you going to show yourself?”
Theonus still sounded uneasy. I really don’t think I should. Doyle might get mad.
Ellie stamped her foot like a little girl. “Well, I’m starting to get mad and I’m a teenage girl, so I’m ten times worse than Coach Doyle!”
Theonus chuckled again. The growling came again, briefly, but Ellie tuned it out. Point taken. Are you sure you want to see me?
“Yes, I’m sure. Come out here into the light where I can see you.” Ellie opened the other barn door, thankful for how easily it moved, pushing it as far as she could in an effort to let some light into the barn, but nothing happened. The darkness remained where it was, but as she watched, it began falling away, sunlight replacing it. An even darker shape rose out of the shadows and started walking towards her, dwarfing her with its vastness. A memory came back to her: the hole in her bedroom wall, a large dark shape outside of it and then later, the same thing covering her and Doyle as they lay on the grass.
Ellie watched, stumbling backwards, her heart rate increasing to worrisome levels, breathing rapidly, as the inky blackness fully fell away and Theonus came into the light. As she saw him, she heard a scream. It took her a moment to realize she was the one screaming.
Chapter Twelve
Kira watched as her brother chopped more wood with the axe, grimacing in pain as he did so. She started to speak, but thought better of it. She could feel his frustration and anger, and knew if he did not take it out on something, it would fester inside him. A piece of wood seemed a much better target for him at the moment.
The axe bit into another small log, easily splitting it. Alistair swept the pieces aside and put another chunk on the chopping block. He hefted the axe, again slicing through the wood easily. He grabbed at his ribs, but let go when he saw Kira looking at him. Again, he put another log on the block.
That is enough. Kira stepped over and gently placed her hand on his forearm, stopping him. “Alistair,” she said quietly. “Talk to me. Please.”
He dropped the axe onto the ground and looked away. She could sense his emotions were all jumbled right now. He had never been very good at dealing with his feelings. He always tried to lock them away instead of processing them.
“Surely you are not blaming yourself again, are you?” she asked him, quirking an eyebrow.
“I should have rooted them out after the first time,” Alistair said quietly, staring off into the distance. “They wore the sigil. I knew there was something going on, but I was too blind to see it. Another damn fool mistake.”
“See what?” Kira asked calmly. At least Alistair was talking, which was good.
“The sheriff found firetaim at Jen’s house,” he said.
Kira’s hand went to her mouth. “Chiami?” she asked quietly. “But why?”
He shrugged. “Why else? Somebody paid them.”
Kira considered this for a moment, smoothing her skirt down. Would he tell her the truth, finally? Time to find out.
“But why would they go after Jen?” she asked, as casually as possible.
Her brother looked tired. “I don’t know,” he replied.
The lie flowed so easily out of him. Kira felt her face tighten in anger. Did he truly think she had been fooled? She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, but a scream echoed over the property, startling them.
Kira knew instantly what must have happened, and judging by the resignation on his face, so did Alistair. “Oh, Theonus,” groaned Alistair, taking his foot off the log he’d been leaning against. “That’s all I need right now.”
“I warned her, but I should have known she would go to the barn. Poor thing.” Kira shaded her eyes and looked across the property, the red building seeming small in the distance.
“Elowyn or Theonus?” Alistair inquired, eyebrow quirked.
Kira glared at him. “Elowyn, of course. Why would I feel bad for Theonus?”
Alistair laughed. “Because deep down, despite his more...ferocious... attributes, he’s a big softie around young people and you know it.”
Kira smiled in agreement. “Fair point. You need to rest, Alistair. I will take care of her.”
�
�No, I’ll go.” He ran his hand through his hair. “It will probably be better if I tell her myself.” Kira frowned. “I’ll be fine, Kira. I promise I won’t do anything stupid. You know me.” He lifted his index finger and placed it against his lips as she glanced down at the axe by their feet. “Hold that thought. You know Theonus wouldn’t let me do anything risky anyhow. He’s almost as bossy as you when it comes to my health.” Kira gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Fine. Take care of yourself. I will go visit Jen for a while.” She glanced back towards the barn; the screaming had faded. “You had best hurry, Alistair. I fear she might have fainted.” Alistair blew her a kiss and took off jogging, holding his arm against his ribs. Kira briefly looked towards the forest, just a few feet behind her, then back at her brother. Even though he should have only been a short distance away, easily visible on the flat land, he was gone from sight. She smiled slightly and then walked back to the house.
ELLIE sat on the ground, staring at the creature in front of her. At first glance, it seemed to be a Rottweiler, but it was unlike any Rottweiler she had ever seen. For starters, it was at least the same size as the elephants she’d seen at the zoo, although it looked like it might be even larger than them; its paws were three or four feet in diameter, at a bare minimum. Its head had ducked to pass through the barn doors, while its monstrous body had barely gotten through. The creature was at least twenty feet long from nose to tail, and half as wide.
The glossy black fur gleamed in the sunlight, and the deep brown eyes watched her, filled with intelligence and concern. None of this mattered to Ellie, though. Her attention was locked on the pair of long fangs protruding from its mouth, making it look like a saber-toothed tiger. Ellie couldn’t say anything, and she was shocked when the deep voice came from the animal.
I’m sorry, it said, sounding contrite. I tried to warn you.
Ellie struggled to find her words. “What...how...”
“Theonus, what did you do to poor Elowyn?” called Doyle, jogging up from behind, his face contorting in pain. He gave the creature an affectionate pat on its leg and leaned against it, catching his breath, one hand pressed against his ribs.
