The Piper

by Lynn Hightower

  ‘There didn’t use to be barbed wire. Let’s hope there’s not now. Don’t look like that, Olivia. This is a huge place, we’ll find a way in. Just like your brother did, twenty-five years ago.’

  ‘Yeah, but I never really got it till now. How incredibly big this place really is. What part of the sanatorium should we concentrate on? Does it matter? Will one of the outbuildings do?’

  ‘We’re going where your brother went, Olivia.’

  ‘The Death Tunnel?’

  ‘Or you could call it the Body Chute. I’m not sure which is worse.’

  Olivia sat forward, looking out the windshield at the grounds. ‘We’ll never find it in all this maze.’

  ‘It’s easier than you think. Come on, turn off the engine. I’ve got my cell phone, you got yours? In case . . . I don’t know, we get separated or we need to call somebody.’

  ‘Let’s not get separated, okay?’

  ‘Yeah, okay. Come on, Olivia. If we’re going let’s go.’

  ‘But how will we ever find the Body Chute in the dark like this?’

  ‘Easy enough. We’ll go in through one of the vent shafts. They come up about every one hundred feet. Look for a big concrete cylinder, two by three. They’ll stick up about two feet above the ground. I hope you don’t have claustrophobia,’ Ack said.

  It was chilly out, with patches of fog drifting along the leaf covered ground. The only sweater Olivia had was Hugh’s black cashmere, and she put it on with a muttered apology. Ack wore a sweatshirt and jeans and her usual pirate boots. She took a rubber band out of the pocket of her jeans, and pulled her long blonde hair into a ponytail. Olivia looked at her and shivered, thinking of Decan Ludde.

  A half moon gave them just enough light to make their way, with the pig light ready when needed. In the end they did not even have to climb. They walked along the side of the chain link fence and found a weak spot that bowed inward along the ground. They went under instead of over, smearing their bellies with grass stains and dirt. Olivia’s sweater caught on the fence, ripping a flap in the back. She asked Hugh in a whisper not to mind.

  After that, Ack took the lead, wandering for so long at the edge of the woods that Olivia began to suspect she was losing her nerve. But then Ack stopped, and Olivia saw the concrete opening that was swallowed up by ground. A vent shaft, right into the Body Chute. Ack went forward and looked down into the hole, then glanced over her shoulder at Olivia.

  ‘Decision time. You really want to do this? Once we’re down there, I’m not exactly sure how we’re going to get back out. With any luck, we can follow the tunnel into the main building.’

  ‘And get arrested for trespassing.’

  ‘Maybe. Maybe not, if we’re smart.’

  ‘I’m up for murder, that’s the least of my worries now. And you’re a well known psychic. You can talk your way out.’

  Ack shrugged. Took a breath. Swung her legs over the ledge. ‘I’ll go first. Wish me luck,’ she said, and jumped.

  Ack disappeared, and Olivia heard the thud of her feet hitting the ground beneath, and her shout that yes, she was okay, not to worry, it was no more than a ten foot drop.

  Olivia stood very still. Somehow she’d thought she’d be the one going first, that she’d be talking a reluctant Ack in. But once Ack’s head disappeared down the hole, it dawned on her that it was one thing to trek through the woods, and another to go into a tunnel. Underground. Into a place called the Death Tunnel, or, worse still, the Body Chute.

  Was it possible that Teddy was in a place like this? Teddy could be anywhere, and there were limitless possibilities of bad. Maybe Teddy was in a dark place. Maybe Teddy would be in a dark place till Olivia found her.

  Olivia went to the edge of the concrete and flashed the little pig light. ‘Ack? Where are you? You okay?’

  The blonde head appeared beneath the halo of light and the pig light made grunting noises. ‘Don’t shine that thing in my eyes, dammit. You coming? Because quite honestly I don’t think I can climb back up and this would be a hell of a crap time for you to change your mind.’

  ‘I’m coming,’ Olivia said. She swung her legs over the side of the concrete lip, slid as far down as she could on her butt, then jumped, landing on her feet but rolling sideways on the packed dirt floor.

  ‘Shit shit shit,’ Olivia said.

  Ack bent over her. Olivia could smell the coffee breath.

  ‘You okay?’

  ‘Bruises and a banged up ego.’ Even when she whispered, Olivia’s voice echoed, and it was cold down in the tunnel, she could almost see her breath. ‘I think I have to go to the bathroom.’

  ‘You went at the Pilot station,’ Ack told her. ‘It’s just nerves. Come on.’ Ack gave her a hand up.

  ‘What now?’ Olivia said.

  ‘Hell if I know. Let’s walk.’

  ‘Which way?’

  ‘That way,’ Ack said. ‘Toward the main entrance. Look, see the tracks there? That’s how the rail car came through. Bringing the supplies in.’

  ‘And the bodies out,’ Olivia said.

  ‘Yeah, well, I wouldn’t dwell on that.’

  They hugged the left side of the tunnel, single file, with Ack going first. The rails took up the entire right side. Ack told Olivia to keep the light going, and to point it just ahead at their feet.

  They walked for about a hundred yards. The farther they went, the darker it got, until they were close beneath another shaft, which let in blessed fresh air and moonlight. The tunnel was an oblong, tube shape, their footsteps raising little puffs of dust on the dirt floor. There were things written on the walls sometimes. Olivia saw ALICE then help then decided not to shine the light on the walls anymore.

  Their footsteps made muted echoes, and Ack moved steadily for another hundred yards before she gasped, and took a step back, running into Olivia, who was too close behind.

  ‘What?’ Olivia said, shining the light.

  ‘Shine it over there,’ Ack said, pointing. ‘Okay. There. And there. Okay. Okay, it’s gone.’

  ‘What was it?’ Olivia’s heart was thumping hard. ‘I don’t see anything.’

  ‘I just . . . I felt it. Someone took my hand.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Don’t forget who I am, Olivia, or what I do. It wasn’t . . . unfriendly. Just lonely, I think. There’s a lot going on down here, remember. It isn’t all—’

  ‘Don’t say it,’ Olivia said. ‘Please. Don’t say his name.’

  Ack laughed softly, in the dark. ‘You do know, don’t you, Olivia, that there are plans to turn this place into a four star hotel?’ She turned and headed forward down the chute, and Olivia hesitated for only a second before she followed. She was glad she was not here alone. But she wasn’t sure she was glad the person with her was Ack.

  And as they continued to walk, Ack began to whisper. ‘Livie? Keep walking, but listen. Are you listening?’

  Olivia nodded her head, then realized that Ack could not see her. ‘Yes,’ Olivia whispered. Her throat was going dry.

  ‘I want you to keep the light just ahead like you’re doing, okay? Just like that. But also, do you see ahead of us, on the right near the rail track? About ten feet up ahead. Keep walking, don’t stop.’

  Olivia kept walking, and kept the light just ahead of Ack’s steps, and looked onto the right, up ahead, straining to see what Ack saw, in the dark.

  ‘No, I don’t see anything, I just – oh. God. What is that?’

  ‘What do you see? Keep going, Olivia, keep walking.’

  ‘It’s weird looking. Like a mist with something dark inside. It’s moving. It looks like . . .’

  ‘What, Olivia? Because to me, it kind of looks like . . . shadow legs.’

  Olivia took a breath, and stopped. ‘Yes. It looks like that to me too.’

  ‘Keep going, Olivia.’

  ‘I don’t—’ Olivia felt the start of tears in her eyes. ‘I don’t want to follow that thing.’

  ‘You have to.’

&nbs
p; ‘Why?’

  ‘Because there’s something just like it behind us.’

  Olivia gasped and made a noise deep in her chest, and Ack took her hand. ‘Keep moving, keep moving. Come on.’

  ‘We can’t go back,’ Olivia said.

  ‘No. We can’t go back.’

  ‘What is it?’ Olivia whispered.

  ‘Maybe it’s just . . . an escort. Maybe it means we’re going the right way.’

  ‘I want out of here,’ Olivia said. ‘I’m sorry, Ack, but I want out.’

  ‘I don’t think getting out is an option for you, Olivia.’

  ‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’

  ‘I’ve been thinking about this, and it occurs to me, that maybe this entity, whatever it is, maybe it’s after you.’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘Because it’s all around you, Olivia. Think about it. Everything that’s happened, it always seems to connect back to you.’

  ‘I don’t think I’m that important, Ackerman.’

  ‘But you’re always on the sidelines, aren’t you? Meanwhile your sister disappears, your brother wrestles with this thing his whole life.’

  ‘This thing is Chris’s fault. He’s the one who brought it back. He brought it back from here.’

  ‘Very possible. And also possible that this was an opportunity while it was hunting you.’

  Olivia stopped, but Ackerman pushed her along.

  ‘I know you’re scared, Olivia, and I’m not trying to make it worse, I just want you to be prepared. To be strong if you get . . . targeted. You can’t just stand on the sidelines with these things. Keep going, come on, the only way out is forward, there isn’t any other way. Think of your little girl, and keep walking, Olivia. Keep walking, okay?’

  ‘What’s that up ahead?’ Olivia whispered.

  ‘I think we’re almost to the entrance to the sanatorium. We’ve been going uphill for a while now. It looks like – wood doors. I can’t see from here but—’

  Olivia shined the light up ahead. Double doors, heavy wood, with metal braces across in three places. Bolted tight.

  ‘We’re trapped,’ Olivia said. Her breath was coming faster. It was getting hard to breathe. ‘Look at it. Look at that . . . that thing.’

  Because the legs were taking shape now, taking form, still hard to make out but there seemed to be a head, and a torso and legs, only the torso was bent, as if the thing was traveling on all fours, instead of two.

  ‘Olivia, you have got to calm down,’ Ack said.

  ‘I can’t help it. I’m scared, dammit.’ Olivia stopped, and Ack held her hand and Olivia held the light and they watched the thing solidify as it moved in the dark.

  Once it got to the doors, it paused for a long moment. Olivia felt her heart beat harder still, and it was hard to catch her breath. It stood, finally, upright at last, and turned as if to face them, growing very tall. And more distinct. More detailed. Like focusing a camera lens. Long blond ponytail, lamblike demeanor, chubby, soft fleshy hands.

  The man Olivia had met in Bennington Murphy’s house. The man-thing Teddy called Duncan Lee.

  ‘Hello, Olivia.’ A singsong in its voice. Sounding breathy and kind. ‘I see you took my advice.’

  ‘It’s you,’ Olivia whispered.

  It held out a hand. ‘It’s me. I’ve been with you off and on for such a long time. Did you know that Teddy could see me, looking over your shoulder? Teddy. Three fifteen.’ He smiled. ‘I don’t think I ever told you my name. Teddy likes to call me Duncan Lee.’

  ‘I’m sure you have a whole host of names,’ Ack said. She wasn’t whispering. Her voice was strong. Somehow she managed not to sound afraid.

  ‘Ah, Ackerman. Always so brave. I thought I had you then, fifteen years ago.’

  ‘Not brave. Just lucky. Live or die by a quirk of fate.’ Ack held a hand out. ‘I’ve come to see you home, Mr Lee.’

  ‘Such ego, dear Patsy.’ It spoke to her softly. ‘But I am home. I am home in the tunnel, I am home in your studio when I whisper to your bird. I am home in the little stone cottage where Teddy and Olivia live.’

  ‘You could spend all night spinning lies,’ Ack said. ‘Playing on all our fears. But aren’t you tired, of being so alone? Aren’t you tired, of living in the dark? Do you have any memory, any feeling at all, about letting go of all your pain, and closing your eyes—’

  ‘To die? Only humans let go like that. Only humans get so scared they can’t live. Do I look human to you?’

  ‘I’m just offering you peace,’ Ackerman said.

  ‘You offering me peace? My, what an ego it has. And you?’ Decan Ludde seemed to grow taller. He held out a soft white hand. Solid. Solid as any man. ‘Take my hand, Olivia. That’s all you have to do, you know, such an easy easy thing. Take my hand and say yes, I want Teddy home safe. And she will be. Home safe. Do you love your little girl? You have to make your mind up now, Olivia, three fifteen, three fifteen. Time to take my hand, and this will all be over.’ He tilted his head, seeming to sway sideways.

  Olivia lifted her hand. And the noises started. Snuffling and moans, and someone wailing her name. Olivia. Olivia. Then mommy coming from the other side of the door. Ackerman was talking to her, but it was hard to hear.

  ‘Is that her?’ Olivia said. ‘Is that Teddy, on the other side of the door?’

  Decan Ludde looked at her and smiled. ‘I keep my promises, Olivia. If you ever want to see Teddy alive and well, you need to take my hand.’

  But it was hard to hear the whisper of his voice. A noise like a freight train, coming behind them, then a voice, booming into the tunnels, like a recording from the 1920s, an old fashioned newsreel, as if they were taking a tour.

  ‘As you can see, these sanatoriums are real hospitals, with hundreds of beds,’ the voice said. ‘Modern medicine offers many new treatments, like UV Therapy. Meanwhile, while they heal, patients make crafts to pass the time. Look at those beautiful baskets!’

  And Olivia realized that Ackerman was no longer holding her hand. ‘Ackerman? Patsy? Are you there?’

  ‘Rest and relaxation in the sunlit solarium, and look, classes in typewriting.’

  ‘Take my hand,’ Decan Ludde said. ‘Take my hand and find Teddy. Take my hand before three fifteen.’

  ‘Children of patients are cared for here, and even have their own schoolroom.’

  Olivia heard it again. Mommy. So faint she could not be sure she really heard it. Maybe she only wanted to hear.

  ‘Up here on the roof, sick children are exercising in the sun and the fresh air. Playing while they heal.’

  ‘Is that where she is?’ Olivia said. ‘Is she in that children’s building? Is Teddy in there? Where is she, I have to know.’

  ‘Take my hand,’ Decan Ludde said. ‘If you want her home safe. They all come home eventually. Emily. Teddy. They come home one way or another. But if you want them home safe, you must do your part.’

  Olivia lifted her hand, but pulled it back when she heard running footsteps, and a scream that sounded like Ack. Then the little pig light went out. More snuffling noises, and dark. And something breathing on the back of Olivia’s neck and a whisper from Decan Ludde.

  ‘Take my hand, Olivia, take my hand.’

  She felt the oddest sense of recognition, like she’d known him all her life. Taking his hand would be such a relief. No struggling anymore. She had not understood how much she would want this, how good she knew it would feel.

  She was crying now. She had to do it. Make the deal. The only way to save her daughter. She opened her eyes and saw a light, and then a form, and then, her phone was ringing. Her phone was ringing, and she took it out of her pocket. Call From Teddy lit the screen.

  ‘Hello,’ Olivia said, in a whisper.

  ‘Mommy. Mommy. Mommy.’

  Not Teddy. Not Teddy’s voice. The timbre was masculine and slow, as if it were mocking her. Mocking her pain.

  ‘Mommy.’

  Then a hand, grabbing her arm.r />
  ‘Olivia?’

  ‘Patsy?’

  Patsy was pulling her away from the door, away from Decan Ludde, who was smiling, smiling, holding out a hand.

  Olivia felt warm breath on her neck and turned. Not Patsy, with that hand on her arm. Something dark with masses of hair. She jerked away, closed her eyes. Screamed.

  ‘Make the deal, Olivia. Say yes and Teddy can come home.’

  And that was all Olivia wanted, really. Just her own little Teddy, home safe.

  ‘Oh my dear.’ The voice was so gentle. So knowing. ‘Don’t you see it yet? We’ve wanted you for such a long time. We’ve had our eye on you since you were a very little girl. We had our eye on you since before you were even born. Think of all the people you love who are gone now, just because they thought they knew better. Because they tried to keep us out. All those people who got in the way because they were jealous. Because they weren’t the one.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Olivia whispered.

  But on some level she felt it. That she was the special one, she always had been, and there was something evocative about the feeling it gave her, knowing she was chosen. She felt the urge to accept, to give in, to take that hand that beckoned her on. If she gave in now it would be easier. She would find peace in her heart. Just the thought of it made her feel warm, bathed in relief.

  She took a hesitant step forward, thinking that Teddy would not have to be sacrificed, her little girl could be safe, feeling a sense of rightness about this, what other decision could a mother make? But then she stopped, an old image, a memory, alive in her mind. Teddy at the playground, wearing little pink denim overalls, she could not have been more than two or three. She had been coming down a circular slide on her belly and moving too fast to stop herself from landing sideways in a heap on the ground. Teddy scrambling to her feet, looking wildly around for her mother, and as soon as she saw Olivia, heading straight toward her, chubby little baby arms held out.

  Olivia had felt important then too, but it was nothing like this feeling. Then she had felt the tie between mother and child, but there had been no ego involved, only a sense of responsibility and love.

  And Olivia knew then, by instinct if nothing else, that whatever the piper offered would guarantee the worst possible outcome for Teddy. That there were things in the dark so much worse than death.