The Lurking Season

by Kristopher Rufty

  “Who?” said Chad. “The guy?”

  “It’s Piper!”

  Chad turned to Heather. “Pop the trunk.”

  “Ch—”

  “Do it!”

  Heather turned away from him and struggled up the hill, her feet slipping in the snow. She reached the top of the ridge. She looked at Chad over her shoulder. “Where’s the release?”

  “Under the dash!”

  “We’ve got to get out of here!” cried Brooke.

  Ignoring her, Heather went to the door. Opened it. She leaned in, searching under the dash for the trunk release. Her finger snagged it. There was a thunk when it opened. She heard Chad telling Brooke to get in the trunk as she leaned out from inside the car.

  Brooke shook her head, pulling her bent arms against her breasts.

  “Trust me,” he said. “I’ll hide you.”

  “He’ll kill you anyway!” Brooke shouted.

  Chad seemed to consider this a moment, then said, “Just get in.” He lifted the trunk lid.

  Heather noticed the dancing patterns of light around them from headlights approaching. The engine was getting louder. Faint at first, it loudened as the light became brighter.

  Definitely another car…

  Brooke whined as she hobbled down into the ditch, almost prancing with her arms beside her head. Heather came down, easier now that she’d already made a runnel through the snow. She reached the back of the car as Brooke started to climb in. She plopped down on the carpet, pulled her legs close. Heather caught a flash between her legs and saw she wasn’t wearing underwear. She was sure Chad got a view of it as well, but he acted as if he hadn’t noticed.

  He leaned over the trunk, helped Brooke lie flush against the carpet and pulled down the lid. Just as it slammed shut, Heather winced at the blaring light coming from a pair of headlights. Though she should be overjoyed another car was coming, she felt an anxious knot in her belly.

  Brooke

  The lid pounded shut, throwing heavy darkness down on her. A few moments later, the car shut off. Though she could still hear sounds from outside, they were muffled and a bit faint. She heard Heather say something to Chad, but couldn’t quite make it out. Something about whether or not this would work.

  She understood Chad clearly. “I hope so.”

  Piper’s engine was louder. Sounded as if it was right beside the car. It steadied for a bit before going away entirely when the engine shut off.

  There was a pregnant pause, then the soft thump of a door closing. She heard the quiet crunches of footsteps coming closer.

  It’s him. I know it is. I know it is!

  “Have a mishap?” he asked.

  I knew it!

  Brooke tensed, her fingernails digging into the carpet. Her bladder suddenly filled, pushing against her stomach and making her nauseated. It was Piper, all right.

  Please let Heather and Chad be all right.

  Inside the trunk felt constricting, as if it were squeezing the air from her lungs.

  “Yes,” said Chad. “I think we might be able to get it out, though. Thank God you showed up, Officer. You can help us…”

  “Sheriff.”

  “What?”

  “I’m the sheriff.”

  “Oh…I’m sorry…”

  Playing dumb.

  That was good. Hopefully Piper would buy it.

  “No harm,” said Piper. “You’re lucky. I wouldn’t have even been out this way, but I’m looking for somebody.”

  Brooke felt herself go squirmy inside. What if they told him she was in here?

  They wouldn’t.

  To save themselves, they might.

  No. They wouldn’t have put me in here.

  “I actually want to ask if you’ve seen her. Been driving around all day?”

  “Some of the day,” said Chad.

  “Before your mishap?”

  A pause, then Chad said, “That’s right. Think you might be able to help me push the car while Heather tries to drive it out?”

  “One thing at a time, please,” said Piper. “Answer my question first.”

  “Your question?”

  Piper sighed.

  Even locked away inside the trunk, Brooke could hear it clearly. She felt a grin tugging the corners of her mouth. Chad was doing a great job of playing the clueless role.

  “She’s eighteen, blonde—blondish. She was heading in this direction. Probably wearing a white gown? And a heavy coat?”

  “A gown?” said Heather. “In this cold? Poor girl’s probably frozen somewhere.”

  Brooke recalled Heather’s jabs at Chad earlier, comparing him to Jack Nicholson in The Shining.

  “I’m willing to bet if I don’t find her soon enough, she will freeze. And I don’t want that. So if there’s any help you can offer me before that happens…”

  Another pause. Chad spoke first.

  “No,” said Chad. “We haven’t seen anyone like that at all.”

  “And you?” Piper asked, assumingly to Heather.

  “No. Sorry.”

  Thank you.

  Tears dotted the corners of her eyes. She felt her lip starting to quiver. These people really wanted to help her. Brooke couldn’t believe it. Running through those awful woods to avoid anybody, she’d come across these two. And they’d turned out to be decent people. Brooke felt blessed with relief.

  “You haven’t seen her at all? Nobody who fits that description I gave you?”

  “Listen,” said Chad. “We already told you no. Someone who looks like that would definitely stand out.”

  Careful, Chad. Don’t piss him off.

  Piper took a moment before answering. Brooke figured he was mentally calming himself. “Ah well. She’s not going to get too far in this weather, wearing what she is. Am I right?”

  That’s right, Piper. I’m in the woods, a frozen Brookesicle. Just get out of here.

  “I seriously doubt it,” said Chad. “Those woods and snow would be hell on her bare feet.”

  Brooke sucked in a gasp.

  Oh no…no.

  “Her feet?” said Piper.

  “Yeah,” said Chad. “If she’s not wearing any shoes, I don’t see how she can make it out there.”

  “That’s funny,” said Piper.

  Fuck, oh fuck!

  “I never said she was barefoot.”

  “Sure you did,” said Chad.

  “I thought I heard you say that too,” said Heather. The tone of her voice wouldn’t have convinced anyone of that.

  “I know I didn’t,” Piper fumed. “Want to tell me how you know she wasn’t wearing any shoes?”

  Although Brooke wasn’t as cold as she had been, and her sweat was causing her frozen hair to thaw, she still shivered. She wanted to do something, but had no idea what. All she’d do at this point was get them all killed.

  “All right,” said Heather. “We saw her.”

  “No shit?” said Piper. He laughed, though there was no humor to it. “Want to explain why you neglected to tell me that sooner?”

  “We saw her on the road…she’s why we got stuck in the ditch.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  “Yeah,” said Chad.

  What are they doing? Are they really telling him?

  They were trying to save their asses, of course they were telling him.

  Brooke felt betrayed. Alone. But mostly she felt stupid for trusting them to start with.

  Heather started talking. “We tried to help her, and she kept telling us the sheriff was after her. We asked her why and she kept trying to make us believe that he—you—had hurt her in some way.”

  “And you believed her?” asked Piper.

  “Well, no, we didn’t…”

  “But then you came pullin
g up,” said Chad.

  “Ah,” said Piper. “I see. You saw me coming and then began to wonder if maybe she wasn’t so crazy after all?”

  Chad sighed like a child confessing to a lie. “Something like that.”

  Brooke was confused. She had no idea what they were trying to pull.

  “The truth is…” said Heather.

  Brooke held her breath.

  “We just thought it was best to stay out of it. We thought she was a lunatic.”

  “A lunatic,” said Piper, then laughed.

  Brooke expelled her breath. Sounded like he believed them. Hopefully he wasn’t tricking them.

  “I appreciate you telling me the truth,” said Piper. “I wish you have told me sooner, though.”

  “Sorry,” said Heather.

  “Which way did she go?” There was a brief bout of silence, then Piper said, “Ah. I figured so. I know where she’s going. She won’t make it far.”

  Brooke’s bladder felt full and saggy. If she didn’t get to go soon, she might make a mess on the carpet.

  “All right, let’s get you guys out of that ditch,” said Piper.

  Brooke wanted to yelp in relief. She didn’t think he was going to go for it. But he did. Hell yes he did. He bought it!

  “I’ve been sheriff here in Doverton for a few years now, and I can’t say I’ve ever seen either one of you. New to the area?”

  “Yeah,” said Chad. “We bought a house out here. Going to turn it into a center for victims of abuse and violence.”

  Brooke could hear his smirk as Piper said, “One of those places, huh? Well, good for you, I guess. Seems there’s never a shortage of people who need to be helped, am I right? So, which house did you get? There’re plenty of empty ones out here, for sure.”

  “The Carlson estate?” said Chad.

  Brooke felt the unease of Chad’s answer seep into the trunk.

  “The farm?” said Piper.

  “Yuh-yeah,” said Chad, discomfort in his voice. “Is there a problem?”

  “Oh, you might say you stumbled into the lion’s den.”

  Brooke’s back felt like it was being clawed by icy nails. She felt a cold grip on the nape of her neck. Her hands absently tugged at her coat.

  “They had me in a cage at one point,” said Piper. “I got free, though. Somebody started the fire and I saw my opportunity to strike back. And I did. Killed a lot of them too. Started a few fires of my own. Burned their village up like that.” He snapped his fingers. “Scorched the hell out of the fuckers. But it wasn’t nearly enough to get them all.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?” asked Chad.

  “You know what irony is, man? And I mean real irony?”

  “Um…”

  “Irony is living through such implausible madness like that and then being pulled right back into it when you think you’ve gotten away from it for good. That’s my life. This is my hell. Vincent Carlson died in that fire; he was their Watcher. And now…it’s my duty. I can’t let you leave. They chose you, and I’m sorry about that, I truly am.”

  Chad grunted.

  Brooke heard a sharp, wet punch. Sloshing noises mixed with ripping fabric followed. There was a whistle of metal and what came after was drizzling sounds.

  “Chad?” said Heather, concern altering her voice.

  Heather screamed.

  “Come here!” Piper yelled.

  A sound like a heavy sack being thrown down in the snow hit right before the thudding of footsteps. Brooke detected softer ones moving beside her. The car bounced as heavier footfalls pounded the snow. Brooke fell onto her side, bumping her head against the hump above the tire.

  She heard Piper grunt, followed by Heather crying out.

  “Not so fast!” he yelled.

  “You killed Chad!” cried Heather.

  Brooke felt tight and sick inside, realizing the thump she’d heard must have been Chad’s body falling on the ground.

  Scuffling noises came from outside. Heather’s cries rose in volume. Hands slapped the side of the car. Brooke recognized the squeaking sounds as fingernails raking across.

  Brooke imagined Piper pulling Heather by a handful of hair. The noises she was hearing were most likely Heather pawing at the car, searching for something to grab on to.

  “Stop fighting me!” Piper demanded.

  Heather squealed as if he’d hurt her.

  “Shut up!”

  “Chad!”

  Brooke recognized the next sound as Heather being slapped. Her screams turned to sobs.

  It sounded as if he let her drop. Her body made a soft thump when it landed.

  What’s he going to do to her?

  She wondered if he’d take her back to the station.

  He doesn’t want her. It’s me he’s after.

  Most likely, Piper would take her to the Haunchies.

  “I know you’re out there somewhere!”

  Brooke flinched as Piper’s voice fired outside like a bullet. Her bladder nearly released the pee she was now squeezing her thighs together to hold in.

  “You couldn’t have gotten much farther on foot. There’s no way! Come out here! Now!”

  Though Piper’s voice was awfully loud, Brooke could tell he was facing away from the trunk, shouting in the direction of the woods on the other side of the road. Through it all, they’d managed to make him believe she’d run off.

  Realizing this brought more tears. Chad was dead because of her. Heather probably would be soon.

  It was the house that set him off. He was going to let them go until then!

  But she’d brought Piper to them. If she wouldn’t have run out into the road like that to flag them down, they wouldn’t have wrecked.

  Oh they saw me all right. And now Chad’s dead.

  Her chest felt like a heavy rock had been placed on it and was now slowly crushing her.

  “Either come out here, or I’ll kill this woman!”

  Brooke’s stomach tightened. Her fingernails dug into the carpet. She’d hid while he’d butchered Chad, had done nothing to prevent it from happening.

  He’ll kill her too.

  “Run, Brooke! Keep going! Don’t come back here!”

  “Shut up,” said Piper. Another slap followed. Heather was bawling now.

  “You run and she dies! Come on, Brooke. Be the hero!”

  “He’ll kill me anyway!”

  “I told you already…”

  Brooke expected to hear another firm strike. It didn’t happen. Instead, Heather just huffed and groaned outside.

  “I changed my mind,” said Piper. “I won’t kill her. I’m going to take her to our friends. They could use her, I’m sure.”

  Brooke knew all along this would happen.

  “Last chance! She’ll be a Haunchy bitch, and it’s going to be your fault. Get out here, now.”

  If I go out there, he’ll kill her on the spot. If I don’t, he’ll give her to the Haunchies.

  She was conflicted, chewing the inside of her lip as she tried to decide what to do.

  “All right,” said Piper. “You had your chance. Come on, sweetheart, time to get you to your new home.”

  Heather’s cries started low on the ground and suddenly shot upward. He must have scooped her up off the ground. The cries started to move away, lowering in volume. Soon she could hardly hear them at all. Some things knocked around; then there was a bump that Brooke thought was Piper’s door being closed.

  Brooke was familiar with the backseat of his SUV. A cage separated it from the front and the doors couldn’t open from the inside. Heather was trapped back there.

  And I’m trapped in here now.

  Footfalls crunched toward the Mustang.

  “You did this,” he said. “Not me. You.”

&
nbsp; Brooke trembled all over. She began to sob. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she hugged her shins.

  After a few minutes of moving around outside, it sounded as if Piper had taken Chad’s body and thrown it in the back of his vehicle. When he was finished with the cleanup, he returned to the car. She heard the door open. Something jingled quietly. A moment later the door slammed shut.

  She heard another door, farther away, bang shut. Heard Piper’s engine crank, the clicking of the transmission. Then she heard the whirring of tires, snow sloshing as they rolled backward. The rumble of the engine faded, growing softer and softer until silence filled the air.

  He was going to the village. He’d probably guessed she was going back for Maggie and was planning to meet her there. Again, she felt conflicted on why she should go back. Maggie had made her decision. She’d picked the bloodthirsty munchkins over her own family.

  Even with all this in mind, she wasn’t ready to give up on her yet.

  Besides, Heather and Chad had been kinder to her than anyone in a long time. She owed it to them both to go back and help Heather.

  If I can even get out of here.

  Brooke squirmed around, bringing her face closer to the trunk lid. Last year all the girls in her grade had been forced to take a safety course. It hadn’t really offered them much advice, other than to carry mace, not to go anywhere alone, and if you had to meet an online friend in person, do so with a friend and in public. One bit of useful information she’d learned was that most cars since 2008 were, by law, required to install an internal trunk release. Great information, yes, but she still had no idea how it would help her now. She had no idea what year this car was built in, or even what the trunk release looked like. That would have been a great thing to cover in the class.

  She reached forward. Her hand stroked the lid’s smooth surface. She had no idea what she was looking for. Hopefully once she felt it, she would know it was what she needed.

  All her fingers tapped was cool flatness.

  She scraped around a little longer, coming up with the same results. Damn. She began to feel antsy, her throat tightening as tears threatened to start flowing again. Getting on her side, she kicked out, sliding her hip over the carpet. The thin gown did nothing to protect her skin from the burning it caused. As she tried to bring her legs up so she could reel her way higher up, her toes slid over something plastic.