by Gina Ranalli
"Feel this."
Tess did as directed and was mystified by what she felt. Small lumps beneath the carpet, as though pebbles had been scattered beneath it. Her eyes met Speck's. The girl was no longer crying. She looked scared, but also pleased and maybe a little excited.
"Feel them?" Speck asked.
"Yes, but..."
"They move."
And they did move. Tess could feel one of the lumps shift under her fingertips and she yanked her hand away.
This was it then.
The realization almost brought relief. She almost laughed. Instead, she muttered, "How?"
"Not sure, but the carpet has to be loose somewhere. Along the wall, probably."
They exchanged another glance and, seeming reading each other's minds, broke apart, each taking one side of the hallway, using their fingers to find the right spot along the baseboards.
Tess was filled with dread, almost not wanting to find it. Maybe they were mistaken. Surely they were both in shock...
When neither of them could find any place where the carpet was not flush up against the wall, Tess moved aside the telephone table and there they saw it.
The edge of the carpeting looked as though it had been chewed. Ragged and frayed, with tendrils of fiber sticking up in all directions, the gnawed section of carpet-previously cream-colored-was now mostly black.
"Jesus," Tess whispered.
As they stood looking down, a single fly crept out from under the carpet and paused before reversing direction and going back the way it had come, disappearing from sight.
"I don't understand," Tess said. "How can they be alive under there? Shouldn't they be crushed?"
Crinkling her nose, Speck said, "I guess there's only one way to find out."
Reluctantly, Tess agreed. Bending over, she grasped the ragged edge of the carpet. It felt grimy, the blackness something akin to tar, sticky and grainy to the touch. She grimaced, feeling bile rise in her throat. She swallowed it back down and pulled the carpet's edge back, using her weight as leverage.
It wasn't easy, but soon the carpet tore back, the tacks popping out as it came up to reveal that the underlay beneath the carpet had been systematically shredded. Eaten, by the looks of it.
Only little bits of fluff remained of the pad and squirming among those bits were sluggish flies of varying sizes. Some were almost too small to see while others were as large as Tess's thumbnail.
Even worse was the maggots. Dozens of them, wriggling around as the flies crawled back and forth over them.
"This is not good," Speck said absently.
They both tore their eyes away from the disgusting sight to take in the rest of the hallway. Approximately fifteen by five feet, there was a lot of space for the flies and maggots to be hiding. The area of floor that Tess had exposed was not more than a foot-probably less.
"Maybe it's not as bad as it seems," Speck said, putting a hand on Tess's arm. "I mean, it could be a fluke that some of them traveled further away from this spot."
"Help me," Tess said.
They each grabbed an edge of the torn carpet and pulled, stepping back slowly.
It was no fluke.
Beneath the carpet was another carpet.
One that was alive.
CHAPTER 30
"We have to get out of here," Tess said, dropping her section of the carpet. "Right now."
Speck crouched down to examine the flies and maggots, disgusted but also fascinated. How had the insects survived without being crushed?
The more she looked, though, the more she saw that some of them-a very few, but still some-hadn't survived after all. There were both flies and maggots that were clearly dead. They didn't appear to have been trampled, but they were dead nevertheless.
"Speck, come on," Tess said. "Let's go. I don't think I can stand to be here another second."
"But, why aren't they flying around?" Speck asked without looking up. "I mean, don't you think that's weird? They seem drugged or something."
"I don't give a shit." Tess reached down and grasped Speck's upper arm, trying to pull her up, but Speck resisted.
"Wait a second," she said. "Do you see that?"
Tess released her arm with an exasperated sigh. "I don't want to see anymore."
"I know, but just look. Right there." Speck pointed at one of the smaller maggots. "Holy fuck!"
Right before her eyes, the tiny creature was growing-elongating, thickening. As she watched, it was quickly morphing into what it was destined to be: a new fly.
Darkening, sprouting legs and wings, the maggot, which was no longer a maggot at all, began to slowly crawl around with its other companions.
Speck swallowed back a cry. "These are not regular flies."
"Really? What was your first clue? Now, come on!"
Finally giving in to Tess's demands, Speck stood and they both hurried down the stairs and out of the house. "Where are we going?" she asked.
"I'll take you back to the city," Tess said as she climbed into the front seat of her car.
Not sure if that's what she wanted or not, Speck knew it was probably the right thing. There was still Dobie to think about. He was probably wondering just what the hell was going on, curious as to what was taking her and Mick so long in suburbia.
Her belly coiled with dread. Her life had always been sad and scary to one degree or another and she had expected it to remain that way for as long as she lived, but now it was entering the realms of devastating and horrifying events that she never could have predicted.
Once the car was on the road, Tess pulled out her cell phone. Speck could hear some sort of music playing and then the sound of the standard voicemail message recording. Tess snapped the phone closed and angrily dropped it into the center console.
"Goddamn him," she hissed. To Speck she said, "I'm almost tempted to drive to my husband's-I mean, ex-husband's-place right now."
"It's okay with me," Speck told her. Anything to delay seeing Dobie was fine by her. She didn't want to think about Mick. Thinking about a carpet of flies and maggots was preferable. Even thinking about those things being somehow supernatural-growing at accelerated rates-was a better thought than remembering Mick dead. How she had looked, laying there at the bottom of the stairs, broken and bleeding, her face becoming rigid even as Speck watched, as if she'd been turning into a plastic doll.
"No," Tess said. "I'll take you back. You've been through enough already. I'm sure you'd like to be back with your friends right now."
Speck didn't say that she didn't have any friends, not really, except for maybe Gizmo and even he just wanted to get in her pants. Dobie only put up with her because of Mick. They'd never spent any time alone with each other, ever.
They drove in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
What would happen, now that Mick was gone? Speck wondered. Not only had she lost the one person she'd felt connected to, but she also wasn't sure she'd be able to survive on the streets alone.
But maybe that was the answer right there. Maybe she should do what she could to try to get her shit together. Willow House offered a GED program. Maybe they could also help her find a job and eventually, a place. Hell, maybe two jobs, if necessary. She thought a small studio apartment might be affordable if she worked her ass off.
Is that what Mick would have wanted? For her to forge a normal life for herself? Probably. They had talked about doing these same things many times before, but had never gotten around to it. It was easier to just party the days and nights away, relishing having no responsibilities whatsoever.
Yes, she thought these ideas were things that Mick would have gotten behind. However, she probably would have insisted on getting to the bottom of this weird shit with Tess too, before anything else.
Speck was beginning to suspect that Mick had been right all along: someone had put a curse on Tess and the flies were either familiars or...or what? Assassins?
She mulled this over for a while. It helped that she had
a puzzle to ponder instead of wallowing in the loss of her friend. The wound was far too new-she needed to distance herself from it. She hoped she'd be able to find Gizmo and that he'd have some weed or pills or booze to numb herself with. Get numb and fall asleep. That sounded like heaven to her right now.
"Where would you like to be dropped off?" Tess asked, startling her.
Looking around, Speck saw they were already downtown. "Can you take me to the park? I'm pretty sure that's where Dobie will be."
"Okay."
They drove through the city streets for a few more minutes and when Tess finally found a space near the park, she pulled into it and cut the engine. Turning to Speck, she said, "I can't tell you how sorry I am about Mick. I feel completely responsible."
"It wasn't your fault."
"Of course it was my fault. If I had never met you three in the library-if I had never spoken to you guys, talked to you about this-she would be alive right now."
Speck gazed out the passenger side window, the sudden urge to cry again almost overpowering. She jumped a little when Tess reached over and took her hand. Her first instinct was to pull away, but one look back at Tess and that feeling disappeared.
Fuck. She was so beautiful.
And straight. Don't forget that part.
But, maybe not. Maybe she was bi.
Even if she is bi-highly unlikely-but even if, you're seventeen. She's what? Thirty-something? You're way too young for her. Not to mention that you're a loser street punk and she teaches college. Or did you forget that little tidbit of information?
Cheeks burning with embarrassment and shame, Speck said, "Mick wanted to help you. She lived for this kind of stuff."
Tess said, "That doesn't matter now. I don't even know what to say except how sorry I am. This whole thing becomes more and more of a nightmare every minute. I never should have involved you guys."
"You didn't know," Speck insisted.
There was something strange about trying to comfort Tess, Speck realized. Somehow, it eased your own pain. Just a little, but it was true. It made her feel slightly better. She gave Tess a weak smile.
Tess didn't smile back. "Do you want me to go with you? To talk to Dobie?"
"I..." Dobie's name brought the horror crashing down again and Speck pulled her hand free, looking down into her lap once more. Did she want Tess with her? She felt as though she might puke again, her nerves completely shot. "Yeah," she said. "Do you mind?"
"Of course not."
They both exited the car, Speck feeling like the child she had once been, about to get a beating from her enraged father. Every step towards the subway entrance where she knew Dobie most probably was, was an exercise in bravery. Bravery she wasn't sure she possessed. And yet her feet still moved, one in front of the other.
"You fucking dyke!"
Speck, cocooned in dread and sorrow barely heard the shout, only registering it fully when it came a second time.
She looked up to see Kathy marching towards her with purpose, her fists clenched at her sides and her cheeks blazing pink. When she saw that she had Speck's attention, she pointed a chubby finger at her and snarled, "I told you I never want to see you around here again!"
Speck stopped, Tess beside her. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Why did Kathy hate her so much? She'd never done anything to her.
Kathy reached the spot where Speck stood and, without warning, shot a meaty fist into Speck's mouth, splitting her lower lip as her head rocked back.
Speck was dimly aware of Tess shouting, "What the hell?" but she was too dazed to have much of a reaction. She remembered she had to tell Dobie something, moved around Kathy and began walking again.
"Don't fucking walk away from me!" Kathy yelled and another punch hit Speck in the jaw, spinning her sideways.
"Whassa matter?" Kathy taunted. "I thought dykes could fight. Why you walking away?"
She jumped into Speck's path and swung again, but this time Speck turned her body and threw up an arm to block the blow. It connected with her forearm.
"Come on, dyke! Fight me!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Tess demanded angrily. "Leave her alone!"
A small crowd was beginning to gather and Speck felt more embarrassed than afraid.
"Who the fuck are you?" Kathy asked Tess. "Her fucking sugar-mama?"
"Look at the size of her!" Tess shouted, stepping between Kathy and Speck. "She's tiny!"
"Get outta the fucking way unless you want a taste too!" Kathy bellowed.
But Tess refused to move, pulling her cell phone out of a pocket. Without a word, she dialed, simultaneously doing an odd dance, trying to keep herself between Speck and Kathy.
Speck was amazed. No one had ever tried to protect her before. Not even her own mother. There had never been any teachers or adults. She couldn't remember another single time when someone had stood between her and a fist.
The realization almost made her angry. Why, if no one else would do it, couldn't she just stand up for herself? Why was she such a coward? Why couldn't she fight back?
But, she was, as Tess said, tiny, and she was afraid. She was frozen, almost cowering behind Tess and she hated herself for it.
"Oh, you're calling the cops?" Kathy tried to snatch the phone out of Tess's hand, but Tess was a good deal taller and easily evaded the shorter girl. She put her back to Kathy and told Speck, "Let's go back to the car."
When Speck just stood there, staring stupidly at her, the taste of blood slipping down her throat, Tess shouted, "Come on!" and grabbed Speck's arm with her free hand, dragging her back in the direction they'd come from.
"Fuck you, you fucking dykes!" Kathy bellowed, though she made no move to follow them. "I told you to never come back to this park! If I see you again, I'll fucking kill you!"
Glancing over her shoulder, Tess said, "She's leaving." She snapped her phone closed. "Guess my bluff worked."
Speck was momentarily confused. Then she said, "You weren't really gonna call the cops?"
"Well, I was, if I had to. But I really don't have time to stand around and talk to cops again. I was hoping just the threat of the police would scare her away and it seems to have done the trick."
They'd reached the car and Tess opened the passenger door for Speck, guiding her in, before moving around to the other side and climbing inside herself.
After locking the vehicle, she looked at Speck, her brow furrowed. "She really popped you a good one." She reached across Speck into the glove box and pulled out a stack of tissues. "Here, hold these against your lip."
Speck did as she was told. Wincing, she let out a long, miserable sigh. She felt completely drained and humiliated.
"Is there someplace else I can take you?" Tess asked.
She shook her head.
Tess studied her for a long moment-so long that Speck began to wonder if this woman could read her mind.
"Well," Tess said as she started the engine. "I guess I'll just have to take you with me then. How do you feel about meeting my kid?"
Speck almost smiled, but the pain in her split lip nipped that in the bud. "Cool."
Checking the rearview mirror before pulling out into the street, Tess said, "Not sure if it'll be cool, but I doubt it will be dull. Wait till you hear about the new girlfriend."
Holding the bloodied tissues against her mouth, Speck did hear about the new girlfriend. She listened and she fell just a little bit more in love with this woman-her savior.
CHAPTER 31
Josh shrank back into the pillows, a whine of fear whirring in his throat.
A huge balloon face loomed above, staring down at him with blue dinner plate Anime eyes, so large it blocked out the rest of the room around him.
"No," he cried. "Stay away from me."
The balloon face spoke, but the words were so loud and distorted that Josh had no idea what the monster was trying to communicate. He clasped his hands over his ears and screamed.
Another fac
e appeared on his left, this one slightly more humanoid than the first. The head was misshapen, eyes still large, but black and a tiny slit of a mouth above a severely pointed chin. This one tilted its head back and forth, studying him intently, before turning to its companion. The slit-mouth opened, emitting the high-pitched wail of a siren.
Josh screamed again, doing his best to scramble backwards on the bed, but there was nowhere to go.
A white, spidery hand shot out and clamped over his face, obscuring his vision. So cold and clammy, the hand squeezed his head, the fingers impossibly strong and sharp, digging into his forehead and temples, drawing blood.
He thrashed his head back and forth, gripping the thing's wrist with both hands and trying to wrench it off him.
Miraculously, the hand released him and the two monsters conversed in their wailing siren voices for some unknowable stretch of time before retreating out of sight.
Panting, Josh almost wept with relief.
Attempting to sit up, he searched the room for some means of escape. Maybe a weapon, in case the creatures came back, but there was nothing. They had made sure of that.
Dizzy, he fell back once more, barely able to lift his sweat-soaked head. He had to think. Too weak to make a break for it, with no means of fighting back, he realized he would have to rely on his wits somehow. Could the monsters be reasoned with? What exactly did they want with him?
But there was no time to ponder this for long because the first monster-the one with the gigantic blue eyes-reappeared at his bedside once more, thrusting a glass of some sort of pale blue liquid in his face.
Josh slapped it away. How stupid did this thing think he was? He would not willingly poison himself!
The creature, however, was not dissuaded. It held the glass out of Josh's reach with one fish-belly white hand while offering a view of what lay in the palm of its other hand: three fat, writhing gray maggots.
Disgusted, Josh yelped and turned his face away.
The monster shrieked its protest until the second monster returned to assist.
