by S. C. Alban
The doorway was empty.
Carol’s heart exploded from her chest. Her chest heaved with the deep breath for which her lungs screamed. She reached her leg out toward the door and kicked it shut. The frame rattled in the wall, a small bit of plaster fell to the floor. Carol threw her body on the door and locked it.
“Please no. Please don’t be real,” Carol whispered. She sat on the floor of the bathroom and wedged herself in between the toilet and the wall. She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them.
Carol’s mind was frantic. Who was it? What did he want? Was it the same man from before? She tried to convince herself she was just imagining him, but her gut turned each time she did.
She knew what she saw was real. He was standing right there… in the doorway, just feet from where she stood... watching her... waiting. Bile rose in the back of her throat. She hadn’t imagined him. Tired or not, she did not hallucinate a man in her bedroom.
And now, she was trapped.
There was nowhere to run, trapped in her bathroom with no way to reach the front door. Carol’s inner lawyer took control.
Get your phone. Call 911!
Her hand went obediently to her pocket to retrieve her cell. She nearly got sick when her fingers slid into the empty fold. She had left it on the blanket in the bedroom.
With him.
Carol’s face paled. She looked around the small bathroom and tried to come up with a plan.
“Get ahold of yourself, girl,” she chastised. “Losing it won’t get you out of this. Calm your ass down and think.”
She took several deep breaths. She tilted her head to the side and listened to the room outside the bathroom. Silence. Was he in there waiting? Or did he have a plan to get in? Whatever the case, Carol did not want to find out. She stood up. Moving in silence, her bare feet shuffling on the cool bathroom tile, she made her way to the window.
Please let there be a tree or something I can climb down. If not, I can jump. It’s only a two-story. Anything is better than seeing what his plans for me are.
With a painstaking movement, she carefully unlocked the window. The latch released with a click and Carol froze. She held her breath and listened for any sign of the man in her bedroom.
No movement was heard from the other side. Resuming her escape plan, Carol took a slow, shaky breath and turned her attention back to the window.
Please let there be a goddam tree!
Tiny beads of sweat collected along her brow and she wiped them away with her forearm. She steadied her grip on the window and she slid it open, centimeter by centimeter, hoping the man would not hear her.
The window was opened about two feet when Carol pressed her face against the screen. The temperature had fallen quickly as evening turned to night, and the cool breeze reminded her of the ocean. If only the stench of soured cow manure were absent. Carol nearly choked as she took a breath in.
“Caw! Caw!”
Carol screamed. A massive black crow hovered near the opening and looked her straight in the eyes from the other side of the mesh. Its beak opened wide, trying to peck through the thin barrier. It poked through the screen and hit Carol in the forehead.
“Go away!” she yelled at the bird. “Go away!”
She fell back onto the floor and scooted into a corner. Her hand touched the spot where the bird had pecked her. She felt a sticky wetness. She brought her hand back down to inspect her fingers. Smears of red colored her fingertips.
“Why are you doing this? What do you want?” Carol yelled into the night at the demon crow. She curled herself into a tight ball and leaned up against the wall. Burying her face into her knees, Carol began to cry with heavy tears, not so silently falling, staining her jeans, and choking her with fear.
Chapter Seven
A Murder of Crows
The soft knock on the door brought Carol out of her cocoon. The bird had long since flown away, but Carol was sure it was just outside her vision, waiting to corral her back at her next attempt at escape. The bird sent fear through her body. The knock, however, sent icicles of terror. It was the deliberate sound of a knuckle hitting the wooden panel three times.
Silence.
“This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.”
Again, three raps on the door. This time there was no ignoring it. Carol swallowed hard. She tried to speak, but her voice was lost. Three more knocks.
“Open the door, Carol.” The voice was deep, too deep to come from human vocal chords. The low guttural roll sounded like something only existent in the depths of Hell. It sent a deep vibration through her ears tingling her entire ear canal.
Carol brought her hands up to the sides of her head. She couldn’t stand the sound. It made her want to scratch her eyes out. “Who are you? What do you want?” She wanted to sound brave and commanding, but her voice shook and cracked under the fear.
The demon-voice answered. “Carol it’s no use hiding. I’ve been waiting too long for someone to come here. Years,” the voice replied, sending a spasm of terror throughout Carol’s consciousness.
This is pre-meditated. He’s been waiting for a victim.
Carol tried to negotiate, her words tripping over each other. She clenched her fists and felt the slick sweat on the flesh of her palms. “I’m… I’m a lawyer. I have friends in the police department. This isn’t going to end well for you. If you just go away and leave me alone, I won’t say a word.” Carol spoke, the tears flowing freely now, her tone rising higher and higher turning to the hysterical. “I have some friends coming over. They’ll be here any minute.”
The deep voice chuckled. “We both know there isn’t anyone coming, Carol. Stop lying or I’ll think you don’t like me.”
Trembling uncontrollably, snot running from her nose, she screamed, “Leave me alone!”
The voice continued. “We both know you won’t be missed. Who’s gonna miss you… your new employer? You’ll be replaced in a minute. Maybe our good friend, Sue? No, I know where her loyalties lie. How about John? He’ll be the first to come and find you, right? Since he cares so much about you.”
“Shut up! Shut the fuck up!” Tears streamed down her cheeks. Carol closed her eyes. An image of the man flashed in her mind. The grotesque creature smiled. The skin at the corners of its beak stretched tight. Carol’s heart stopped a beat.
The Birdman.
“And, no one will catch me, Carol.” The low, voice rumbled in her chest. “No. They’d have to believe I existed before they could catch me.”
Carol stiffened. She shook her head in disbelief. “No, no, no, no, no, no…” Images of a young Gina Graham flashed through her mind like a slideshow.
“I’ve been alone for too long in this house... far too long. And, I’m hungry.”
Carol tried to ignore the suggestions seeping into her brain.
Stand up. Stand up and open the door.
Her body moved to stand despite her fight to remain huddled in her corner.
“No! Please,” she babbled. “Please go away. Leave me alone.”
She was standing now. She demanded her feet stay planted on the tile floor, but even as she willed herself to stay put, the compulsions flashed in her head.
Come to me. Come to the door, Carol. Open it.
“Leaving you alone isn’t an option,” the voice replied with the intensity of a branding iron.
Open the door.
This time the words came with an icy power leaching through the door and wrapping its tentacles around Carol’s body. It pulled her forward with ease.
Carol struggled against the compulsion. It was no use. Her eyes wide as saucers as her feet took one step in front of the other, closing in on the bathroom door. She couldn’t imagine what would reveal itself beyond the door. Carol only knew it was pure evil.
Yes, the same evil that took the Graham’s daughter away from them. The deep voice teased her with its soundless words.
A somber realization finally
hit Carol.
Gina Graham was not mad! She was pushed into madness!
The thought flitted through her head like a bloodthirsty mosquito. Her throat was as dry as sand and she couldn’t swallow. The only sound audible was the shallow, squeaking breath escaping her lips.
She fought against the compulsion.
No, no, no, no.
Her eyes blurred her vision with tears, horror settling in as her hand reached forward and found the lock on the door. With a quick twist, the door was unlocked. Carol shook in terror as she gripped the handle and pulled the door open.
Chapter Eight
Nevermore
There was no sound as Carol stood face to face with the dark figure. She opened her mouth to scream as beady black eyes peered into her soul, the twisted mouth shaped like a beak opened wide exposing a pointed pink tongue dripping with saliva, but no sound escaped.
She stumbled back into the bathroom and landed on her backside.
“What are you? What do you want?” she said when she found her voice.
The Birdman stood in the doorway and filled the frame with his wide torso. The grotesque bird-like head sat atop a set of broad shoulders. The body of a man dressed in all black held up the semblance of human until Carol glanced at the creature’s feet. Long curved talons poked out from three hooked toes. Carol scooted further into the bathroom to create space between the demon and herself.
The creature held out his hand to Carol. She saw small dark feathers growing from his arms. She reached into her pocket and found the odd-looking feather from downstairs. Her heart dropped in her stomach. It was his feather. He had been here all along.
A noise at the window snapped Carol from her thoughts.
“Caw! Caw!”
“You did well, my pet,” the demon spoke to the large crow outside the window. “For your service, you shall have her organs. Go. Tell the others you will feast.”
Vomit rose in Carol’s throat and soured her mouth. She puckered her face and forced herself to swallow it.
“Gina wasn’t crazy. It was you. The whole time, it was you.”
The Birdman cocked his head to the side and considered Carol’s accusation. She shivered as it twitched from one side to the other like the bastards in the tree out front.
“It was me. I have had Gina… and many, many others.”
“Wh… why?” Carol whispered.
The birdman crouched down to look Carol in the eye. His glassy black eyes were lifeless as he stared at her. He remained silent as he examined her face. Carol’s heart was raging in her chest. She clawed at her shirt desperate to rip it out of her body.
“Because, I’m hungry,” he whispered.
The birdman crawled towards Carol in his squat position. Each advance he made, she slid back until she trapped herself under the pedestal sink against the wall.
“There is nowhere to go.” His beak opened and closed with a clicking sound Carol felt in every cell in her body.
Outside, the sound of birds cawing and screeching grew louder and louder. Carol shook her head and closed her eyes tight.
She held her breath as a set of hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled her forward. She felt the hardness of his beak as he slid it into her mouth and pried it open. Carol tried to scream, but his tongue shot out and pushed down her throat into her esophagus.
Carol’s eyes snapped open in horror. She felt his tongue inside her stomach. She felt the sides of her mouth tear to make room for the beak now penetrating her. Her eyes flicked to the window. Thousands of shiny black eyes pressed against the screen and glinted in the night. They watched her. They all watched her. They had been watching her the entire time. Carol could sense their excitement as the birdman fed.
Carol’s vision became blurred as he went deeper and deeper and deeper. Her heart began to slow. Her muscles relaxed. And, the sound of cawing faded in the distance.
Epilogue
As the Crow Flies
Sue Thompson stood in front of 696 Walnut Avenue waiting for the Smith’s to arrive. It was their first appointment, but Sue had a feeling it would be the only one needed. She’d met people like the Smith’s before, hungry to buy. She reached into her pocket and took out the key. A silver Prius pulled into the driveway.
Rob and Mary Smith got out. Sue reviewed their dossier in her mind. Rob, an independent tech analyst wore a bow tie, mustache, and worked from home. Mary majored in cultural anthropology and minored in Women’s Studies. Recently hired as the receptionist at Oak Valley Law Firm, she wore red lipstick. Old man Morrigan hired her on the spot. Now to settle down and start a family, another item to be checked off their life list.
Sue eyed the modern hipster couple and smiled her most polished smile as they approached her. This would be too easy.
“I’m so glad you could meet me here today,” Sue began. “This place just recently went on the market, and if you ask me, it is quite the steal.”
“We noticed it was listed below market value,” Rob said.
“Yes,” Sue interrupted. “It’s a bank owned property and, honestly, they just want to be done with it. I told them I’d handle everything if they agreed to a lowered price.”
“But, why?” Mary asked. “The house is absolutely charming... from the outside, at least. I mean, look at that gorgeous old oak.”
Sue shifted her weight. She was itching to show the couple around the home, get them to fall in love with it, and seal the deal.
“Full disclosure?” Sue looked from Rob to Mary. They both nodded.
“To be frank, the previous owner went a bit… mad,” Sue replied shaking her head. “It was odd because when I was selling her the house, she appeared... functional. But, no sooner had she moved in than her behavior became... odd... erratic. Honestly, from the first night, we all suspected something was… off with the woman.
“I suppose with all the stress between the divorce and moving to new city and starting from square one again, it was just too overwhelming. A nervous breakdown... of sorts. Kept trying to tell us some birdman was after her… trying to eat her soul. Was here only a few weeks. So sad, really. Such a shame taking her own life the way she did.”
Sue eyed the couple. “How long have you two been together?”
“Six years,” Mary answered.
“Don’t you mean six wonderful years?” Rob teased. He took Mary’s hand in his and pressed his lips to the back of it.
“Of course, my love,” Mary blushed. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
Sue smiled at the two lovebirds. This couple was just what the home needed. They seemed like they stood on a solid foundation and their love for each other was evident.
Yes. Sue thought. This is exactly what the home needs, a fresh start with loving people. Lots of heart, lots of soul, this would surely earn her some good grace.
Sue glanced up at the second story window and nodded ever so slightly. The curtain shifted and she focused in on the couple. Her smiled spread wider. A bird cawed in the distance.
“Oh, I love birds! Rob, do you think there’s nest over there? In the Oak tree?”
“Maybe if we’re lucky.” Rob laughed. “God, I must love you if I have to put up with your strange bird-watching obsession.”
Mary playfully elbowed Rob in the ribs. He grunted and grabbed her hand.
“C’mon, let’s go check out our new home.”
Sue ushered the couple up the front walk toward the door explaining about the recent upgrades to the exterior and the newly landscaped yard.
Rob and Mary walked just behind her, hand in hand, the excitement of becoming homeowners radiated around them. They approached the steps to the porch and Rob bounded up them passing Sue. Mary hung back for a moment.
“What was that?” she asked pointing to the upstairs window.
Sue stood at the young woman’s side and looked up. She noticed the slight shift and tussle of the curtain inside. She placed her hand on Mary’s shoulder.
“These homes
tend to be a bit drafty. Probably just a slip of wind sneaking in. Nothing to worry about.” She adjusted the small brooch on her lapel. “Now, how about we go see the inside? You’re just gonna love the master suite. Did I mention it’s also partly furnished?”
Mary looked once more at the window, her brow furrowed. Sue’s heart raced. There was no way she could let these two get away.
“Did I mention how Oakcrest made the list of the Top 10 Towns in the Central Valley to raise a family in?”
Mary’s attention snapped back to Sue. “Really?”
“Yes,” Sue lied, her voice as smooth as velvet. She forced herself to breathe easy. If she could just hook these two, perhaps the Morrigans would finally leave her be. “Oakcrest is such a wonderful community. Imagine what you could do with this property. A swimming pool. A play structure. Perfect for a growing family.”
Sue reached over, tucked a wayward strand of Mary’s hair behind the young woman’s ear, and smiled. The realtor recognized the eagerness and desire in the woman’s eyes.
Yes, the couple would make a hearty offering. Sue swallowed hard behind her smile. She pushed her sunglasses up on her nose and tried to ignore the twisty knots gathering in her stomach. This was it. The last one, she couldn’t do it anymore.
While she waited for Mary to respond, she calculated how long it would take to pack her belongings and skip town after the deal was done. Hopefully, the Morrigans would be distracted enough to let her slip away. Sudden guilt replaced the spot in her chest where panic had been moments before. They will be devoured, like Gina, like Carol, like the many others those Morrigans used up and spat out.
Well, better them than me.
Again, Sue adjusted her brooch double-checking the clasp on the back.
Mustn’t lose you. You’re the only thing standing between me and becoming their next meal. Thank goodness for family heirlooms.
She passed her fingers over the gleaming bauble, and beamed.
“Come on, slow poke,” Rob yelled from the front door. The two women looked up at the porch. “You gotta see this entry.”
