A Voyage in the Near Distance 1: From Here to Nearly There

by Alec Merta

  “What’s our plan?”

  Allie replied, “You’re being generous. Anyway, you should ask her.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m the expert,” Dana said.

  “Seriously? A demon expert?”

  “Among other things. It goes with the territory.”

  “And that would be what exactly?”

  “A certain subset of weird things. There’s a story that’s been playing out for a very long time. Demons are part of the story. I’m an expert on the story. So, it goes with the territory.”

  “Is this story written down anywhere?”

  “It’s written everywhere. Every culture. But they rarely use the same words, and not much has happened for the past few centuries. So it’s obscure. It’s taken a lifetime to learn what I know, and that isn’t a whole lot in the grand scheme.”

  “But you’re the expert on demons.”

  “I’m the closest thing to an expert in this car.”

  I closed my eyes for a few seconds.

  “So what’s your expert opinion? How do we handle this? And why don’t we let someone else worry about it?”

  The car was one of those sporty crossover types, but even so the terrain gave us a few bumps. Eventually we made it onto a gravel road that led toward the village.

  “Demons are very particular. When they make a demand, you have to be very careful. Normally, you just say ‘no.’ That pisses them off, and they put on a great big show. But sometimes they really hurt people.”

  “So he can do it? He can kill her?”

  “Yes, definitely.”

  “So we restrain her. Send in a dozen strong men and tie her up.”

  “That wouldn’t work. At least not if you’re objective is saving the girl. He could just hold her breath until she died.”

  I listened to the sound of gravel and let that notion settle in. Soon, I began to see the village ahead. It was still dark, although I saw one or two small lights in windows.

  “So, no plan.” I said.

  “Yeah, there’s a plan,” Allie said. “We wing it.”

  We left the gravel road and crossed the last quarter mile on tarmac. Dana maneuvered us into a parking space beside a large SUV. I saw the Earl standing beside this, his arms crossed.

  Before we alighted, Allie handed something to me.

  “What is this?”

  “It’s like a cell phone. Just put in on your wrist. If we get separated, I’ll call for you. Just press the blue button when it lights up.”

  This gave me no comfort. I was certain that, if we became separated, one or all of us would be beyond rescue.

  After exiting the car, the Earl approached us. I noticed that behind him lay two lifeless shapes, both covered in cloth. The dead men and, so far, only victims of the demon.

  “I don’t suppose I have a say in this,” the Earl began.

  “Nailed it,” Allie said. “Where is he?”

  “Still inside. It’s been mostly quiet. There was some laughter about five minutes ago, but nothing more. I’ve told all the residents to go inside and lock the doors. But I’m sure there’s no danger to them. Just to that poor girl.”

  Allie turned to look at the tower.

  “So what now?” I said.

  As if on cue, the double doors that stood as entrance to the tower opened wide.

  “I guess we go in,” Allie said. I looked and made as to speak, but I said nothing. She was shaking like a leaf; truly trembling.

  “We can turn back,” I told her.

  She began walking away, toward the tower.

  Dana and I followed until we caught up. We crossed the commons shoulder-to-shoulder.

  “I don’t want to beat a dead horse,” I said, “but if we don’t have a plan, can we at least have an objective? Other than not being killed, I mean?”

  Dana said, “We have to get information. This is a rare opportunity, and we can’t pass it up.”

  “Are you kidding?” I replied in disbelief, “This isn’t a mountain gorilla. It’s something from another world.”

  “That’s actually debatable. And I understand the situation. But we still have to find out more about this thing. What it is. Why it’s doing this.”

  A thought occurred to me.

  “Can this thing possess one of us? I mean, leave the girl and climb into us?”

  “No. That takes time. They have to lay groundwork. The idea that they can fly around like a puff of smoke and hop into your mouth is retarded. It’s a skill.”

  “But I thought you said this came out of nowhere?”

  “It manifested out of nowhere. Somehow this demon was able to whittle that girl down over weeks or months without anyone noticing. That’s the amazing part. Trust me, if anyone had really bothered to look, they would have seen a girl suffering in silence. To get you or me, they would have to do the same thing.”

  This was good news to me. I never suffered silently.

  When we reached the open doors, we stopped. Each of us stood and listened for some demonic sound. We heard nothing but the sounds of the night. I think that each of us was waiting for another to take the first step inside.

  I was consumed by fear of the unknown. Every atom in my body oriented itself away from the tower and back to perceived safety. I knew Allie felt the same way, and I suspected as much about Dana. Nevertheless, there we stood as though waiting to be invited inside.

  As it happened, we were invited.

  “You brought friends?” It was the girl’s voice made masculine. From the sound of it, she was calling down from high up within the tower. “Whatever, just get inside. I’m a busy man.”

  I saw Allie close her eyes and clinch her jaw. I put out a hand to place upon her shoulder. She took a step and moved away before I made contact.

  We followed her inside.

  The internal layout of the tower was spartan. A staircase rounded up above us and was attached to each wall. There was a landing above with a small hatch that lay open. There would be a few of these landings before we made it to the top level. What horrible things were there laying in wait?

  We went up the stairs in single file.

  “This is what I’m talking about!” The voice said. “A proper royal. You don’t smell nearly as bad as that pantywaist Baron.” It began to laugh. “You smell bad, don’t get me wrong. But it’s more my kind of stink. You’ve earned it.”

  Step after step. Each pace became more an effort of will as the voice mocked us.

  “I like your friend. The soft, dainty one. And I don’t mean the bitch.” It laughed again. “What’s your name darling?”

  When we made no answer, “Oh, okay. That’s how it is. I invite you up to my playroom and you don’t even tell me your name. Doesn’t matter. You smell boring.”

  I heard the sounds of dramatic sniffs. This demon had the deportment of a fifth-rate stage actor.

  “That other one. She smells interesting. Tragic. Doomed. I like it. They should bottle your stench, Dana.”

  Dana’s hand gripped the rail. She stopped walking. Allie turned back to look at her. She whispered, “Dana. It’s screwing with you.”

  “I know. I know that’s all. I’ve read about it.”

  We heard a series of sudden and violent booms from above. The demon was either striking the floor or stomping its feet.

  “Come on! I told you I’m a busy man!”

  It is impossible for me to describe the unspeakable nature of that voice. An innocent girl shouting like a beastly old man. The tantrum it now threw was a horrible blending of a child’s peevishness with angry senility.

  We resumed our ascent.

  We passed above the first landing. Nothing awaited us. We each turned our heads looking for the demon. I heard behind me a scuttling sound and nearly jumped from my skin. The sound, and presumably the monster that made it, had gone up the stairs to the next landing.

  This was the pattern for our journey high into the tower. Each time we made it to a landing
, we would inspect our surroundings. Each time, a shadowy form ran up the stairs to lead us on.

  Finally, we ran out of stairs to climb. We made it to the top level. It was the same as the others, save for the presence of a door that led out to the small observation platform.

  We paid this little mind, for as we entered the room, we stood before the demon.

  The body it possessed was still quite obviously a human female of comparative youthfulness. She was dressed in a long skirt and blouse. These were ripped to shreds and showed her body beneath in a most immodest way. Her hair was tussled and out of sorts. Her hands were bloody.

  “Well,” it said with a cocked head. “So nice to finally meet you.” It gave a broad grin. It was an evil rictus smile; sardonic and mocking.

  “I’d offer you a drink, but this is a fucking clock tower.” It opened its mouth wide and laughed. “Nothing? Fine. We’ll get down to business.”

  “We have no business with you, demon.” It was Allie who spoke.

  “Oh, Your Majesty, we do. We have important business. That is why we parlay. Shall we sit?” No reply came from us. “Fine, stand. Whatever. Here’s the deal. You want me to go and to leave this little tart alone so she can get back to drinking her benefits money. I’m open to that. And, I’m even open to leaving this whole stinking planet for good. Me and my associates. Now, that sounds good doesn’t it?”

  I looked sidelong at Dana. Her brow was furrowed as though she stood deep in thought. Allie spoke.

  “In return for what? What do you things want?”

  “Things? You’re a thing. She’s a thing. We’re all things, you silly bitch. Start showing me some respect.” The humor drained away with the last sentence.

  “Is that what you want?” Allie said, “Respect? Worship? You want us to bow down to you?”

  “You’re joking,” it said. “You think I’ve gone through all of this for all these years just to get a bunch of stinking humans to worship me? Why?”

  “Ego.” Dana said.

  “Well, you got me there, sister. I do have an ego. It’s my greatest fault. That and homicide. But six of one…” It chuckled before continuing. “No, I do not want you to worship me. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the offer. But I’m looking for something else.” As it spoke, the body of the girl now ruled by this abomination walked close to us. It stopped only inches from Allie.

  “I want to know the answer to the question.”

  “What?” Allie said.

  “Where is she?”

  I heard a small gasp emit from Dana.

  “Who?” Allie said.

  It sighed and closed its eyes in feigned exhaustion.

  “Oh, come on. It’s a simple question. Answer it, and you get rid of us for good. And you don’t get skinned alive or anything. It’s more than fair.”

  Allie was really shaking now, but she managed to remain composed enough to speak in a clear voice.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who is she?’”

  It stepped back a couple of paces.

  “So, we do it this way. Fine. More fun for me. Any idea why I got you idiots to come up here?”

  I did not say anything about hurling us to our doom.

  “Why does anyone go up high? For the view!” He pointed his finger to the space behind us. We turned and looked toward the exterior platform. The doors opened of their own accord, and we were given a view of the world outside.

  In the distance, I could see small lights. At first I thought the triangle craft had returned, but this was not so. These lights were on the ground. They were distant, and they bobbed up and down slightly. Like people carrying torches.

  “Nice little village. One main road. Logical place for your friend to station a few goons.”

  The natural din of night was broken by the rapport of gunshots.

  Allie turned to the demon.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Me? I’m not doing anything. My friends, on the other hand, are killing people. How many people they kill is up to you.”

  We ran out to the platform. In every direction, we saw tiny spots of light. I knew each represented a person. But did they each represent a possessed individual?

  “Dana, this is impossible,” Allie said.

  “It’s…It could be. I don’t think it’s ever happened before.”

  “Actually, we did it once. Long time ago in France. They wrote it off to ergotism.” He shrugged his shoulders. “But, you don’t do this job to get your name in lights; kinda noble that way.”

  Allie turned back to him.

  “Stop this. Stop this, you bastard. We don’t know what you’re asking!”

  “Where is she?” The voice was louder now, more insistent.

  “I don’t know!”

  “You know,” it said with an instant return to lightness and humor, “I’m wasting your time. That’s another fault of mine. I get going on something, and I forget my manners. We’re all kind of like that. Just look at them.”

  They had reached the outermost buildings. Torches began to lower. Some were tossed. Soon the fires began. And then screaming. The occupants, finding their homes alight, raced outside. They were met by killers and did not survive long.

  The demon walked onto the platform with us.

  “See, rude. They get so” he balled his hands, “wrapped-up in their work. Hey!” He shouted, “Lighten up!” He cupped a hand to his ear and feigned wonder that his fellows did not hear him. It was all just too much. I was more angry than I thought possible. Rage came up through my throat and burned me. I stood dumb and listened to the killing; I watched the burning.

  “Where is she?”

  “Damn you! I don’t know!” Allie shouted.

  It made a half-shrug. “Maybe not.” It turned to look at Dana. She shrank from him.

  “What about you, the repressed librarian? You know what I’m talking about.” She shrank further. “Oh, Dana, if only you had a clue what this means for you. The pain you can avoid if you just answer the question. All the people who don’t have to die because of your pride. I can save them. Save them from your arrogance. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ Your time is coming, Dana.”

  She wept. Tears streamed down her face, and she fell to her knees. I knelt beside her, this woman who was all but a stranger to me. She was inconsolable.

  “Okay, okay,” it said. “Have it your way. Just so we both understand each other.”

  Voices came from outside. I glanced up and saw a line of people processing into the village. About half of them carried a torch. The sounds of gunshots and screaming filled the air.

  “So,” it said, “stalemate. Except I get to burn this little tourist attraction to the ground and kill everyone in it.”

  More shouts were heard then; different shouts. In an instant, a gun battle broke out on the commons below. The Earl was leading a counter-insurgency.

  “Fuck you,” Allie said. “We have help coming.”

  “Yawn. Seriously, you think I didn’t see that coming? More bodies, that’s all. And they won’t stop me from torching the place.”

  It looked down at Dana, still weeping on the floor.

  “See, my dear? It’s already starting. How many people die tonight because you won’t tell me what I want to know?”

  Fires rose and spread outside. More gunshots were heard. More screaming came to my ears. From below us, I heard the sounds of people rushing into the tower. I soon heard their footfalls on the stairs.

  It went on speaking, “You’re powerless. This is the future. This is what your world is like until we get what we want. Where is she?”

  I felt it then. Or, rather, I became aware of something that I did not feel. I was not afraid. For long seconds I probed this sensation mentally. I felt the edges of where fear should have been and found only void. My fear was gone. For some
reason I thought of the mysterious figure who had thwarted the triangle craft and all of its serpentine lights.

  I strode up to the demon and grabbed it by the shoulders. I turned it around and stared into its eyes. The girl had blue eyes. They must have been quite fetching once.

  “Who are you talking about!” I shouted.

  To my amazement, it stared back at me and said nothing.

  “Carver?” Allie said. She must have been as surprised by my rash action as the demon.

  “I am not scared of you,” I said in an even voice.

  It chortled slightly and said, “No, I can see you’re not. Any idea why that is, Nicholas Carver?”

  To hear my name spoken by a demonic voice was more singularly unsettling than anything else that had happened to me that day. Yet still I did not fear.

  “It’s been very nice to meet you,” said the demon.

  It reached its hands up and removed mine from his shoulders. It took a step back and spoke.

  “You’re gonna go last, librarian. You get to hear these two die.”

  We heard wood splintering from below. I knew this meant the possessed would soon be upon us.

  “Sounds like they’re in the mood for a party. This is going to be a lot of fun. Really entertaining. Dana, want to bet on which one dies first?”

  I became puzzled at that moment. I had expected the demon to go on taunting us, but instead it fell silent. The eyes it had stolen became calm and fixed. Slowly, the chin began to drop as though the human body had gone to sleep.

  The sound of the gunshot must have been masked by the sound of a possessed smashing wood below. I had not heard anything. Nor, to my surprise, had I noticed the small hole appear in the girl’s chest. Tiny, and certainly mortal. The round had pierced the tragic heart of an innocent victim. And yet I had heard no sound.

  A moment later, sound was all I could think of. The crashing sounds below reached a crescendo as wood splintered all around us. The possessed were with us.

  The demon lifted the head of that mortally wounded girl. It smiled and began to walk toward us.

  By this time, reader, you and I have shared quite a bit. There is a connection now, and I feel much more at ease bringing you into confidence than when I began to write this tale. So, it is easy for me to share with you a troubling fact. You see, my evenings were never filled with nightmares before that night. I have always slept soundly. Now, my evenings are often rent by dreams that are mere replays of what I saw at that moment.