Alone

by Eric Clay

  "It's Taylor, Roy's girlfriend."

  As if I hadn't heard, Matt whispered, "It's your girlfriend. What do you want me to tell her?"

  I thought for a second. "Go ahead and open the door."

  Matt opened the door still holding the bat.

  "Are you going to hit me with that?" Taylor asked, seemingly unconcerned.

  Matt replied, "No, sorry." He lowered the bat. "Come on in."

  I stood up from the couch waiting for Taylor. She ran over and wrapped her arms around me. I had a difficult time staying mad at her.

  "Roy, why didn't you come to my house? I've been worried sick."

  "I think I should be asking the questions here. Do you have something you want to tell me?"

  "Yes. I told the sheriff where you were going. I couldn't stand the thought of you getting hurt. I'm sorry, Roy." Tears pooled in her eyes and my anger vanished.

  Matt stood beside us shifting from foot to foot. At that moment, I felt the warmth of friendship radiating from these two. I placed my arm around Taylor and smiled at Matt.

  Suddenly and unexpectedly I left my body and stood watching the emotional scene. Again, I felt comfortable being outside my body, like it was a natural thing for me. I also realized that I enjoyed leaving my body. I walked around the living room still watching all of us. We were moving, talking, and appeared perfectly normal. It was surreal watching my body talk when I wasn't in it. Wow! My mind was blown away.

  I walked into Matt's room and saw a magazine on his floor, and then I returned to the living room to reenter my body. In the blink of an eye, I was holding Taylor to my side and grinning at Matt, again feeling the warmth of friendship. I pulled away, and said, "Matt, I can prove I just had an out-of-body experience. There's a June 1974 issue of Playboy on the floor next to your bed."

  Matt's face flushed bright pink.

  "How could you know that, Roy?"

  "I told you; I have these experiences where I leave my body."

  Matt stared incredulously at me. We all walked into his room and saw the magazine.

  I asked, "So, now do you believe me?"

  "I do, even though I'm having a hard time accepting it. This is just too weird."

  Chapter 16: Story

  Matt said, "Roy, after hearing your story, I have to tell you what my mother revealed about this town." He walked over to his bedroom curtain, cracked it, and peeked outside. Turning to face me, he continued, "There's a secret in this town that my mom said no one ever talks about. I never gave it much credence until now."

  I had never seen Matt so serious. He sat on the arm of the chair in his room. "My mother said she wanted me to know because she figured someday I would find out and get caught talking about it."

  I sat on Matt's bed while my heart rate accelerated. "What kind of secret?"

  Taylor walked from the doorway and sat next to me on the bed, her eyes wide.

  Matt took a deep breath. "Roy, you and Taylor have to promise you'll never talk to anyone about this."

  Solemnly, I said, "I promise, Matt."

  Taylor bobbed her head. "I promise, too."

  I could see fear in Matt's body language as he got up to peek out the window again.

  What can be so terrible that it scares Matt?

  He closed the curtain and began his story. "Before we were born there was a woman born and raised here named Rose, and everyone knew her. My mom said she was beautiful. After graduating from high school, she was supposed to go back east to attend college, but she met a guy not long after graduation and they fell in love. His name was Murdoch." Matt paused.

  I tried to swallow my shock.

  Matt said, "He'd moved here from a city in Idaho. He was a few years older than Rose—old enough to buy liquor. It was suspected they drank a lot. Rose gave up her future for Murdoch. After they married they rented a house on Hailey Street. At first, everything seemed fine."

  Matt peeked out the window yet again. He closed the curtain and whispered loudly, "But then strange things started happening in Fairview."

  I swallowed again. Taylor leaned forward. She said, "What kind of strange things?"

  "The first thing that happened is a local man named Ronald Meyers went missing. His wife contacted Sheriff Tanner. A few days went by and he still didn't show up until a hunter found him dead in the woods. He had been strangled. Immediately, the sheriff started questioning the townsfolk and looking for clues. Nothing was discovered. Just days after Ronald was found, another person went missing. His name was Joseph Keller. The sheriff began an immediate search. They found him in the woods too, strangled.

  "Sheriff Tanner called for a town meeting hoping to flush out the killer. He leaked information that a witness had come forward. Everyone in town showed up for the meeting except Murdoch and Rose. After the gathering, the sheriff went to their house and found Rose suffocated in her bed. It was surmised by the bruises on her arms that she had fought the assailant. Murdoch was nowhere in the house. When the townspeople learned of another crime, they were terrified. Sheriff Tanner told everyone that Murdoch was the suspected killer of Rose and the other two men. He said he would hunt him down and bring him to justice, and he did. There was a trial and Murdoch was sentenced to life. But he escaped before he was transported to prison. Over the years a few people have "supposedly" left town and never been seen again—like Miss King. My mom told me to never say anything about the crimes because word might get back to Murdoch and he was crazy."

  Taylor and I sat speechless. I wasn't sure what this had to do with me, but I knew there had to be more to the story. I wondered if Miss King had disappeared because she knew something about Murdoch.

  I had to talk to him.

  I said, "If Murdoch is a killer, why would he hang around here?"

  "Maybe he's twisted and wants revenge," replied Matt.

  "Maybe, but that doesn't explain how Murdoch knows about my out-of-body experiences." I exhaled loudly and said with determination, "I'm going to get to the bottom of this!"

  Matt left the window and walked over to me. "Roy, promise me that you won't tell anyone what I just told you. I don't know why Murdoch wants to talk to you or how he knows about your gift, but my mother was terrified when she confided in me."

  "I promise I won't say anything."

  Chapter 17: Out-of-Body

  The next day I woke to see my dad standing in my doorway staring at me.

  "Good morning, son."

  Stretching and yawning, I said, "Morning, Dad."

  "I just got off the phone with the sheriff."

  That captured my attention. "Yeah? What were you talking about?"

  Instead of answering my question, he said, "Is there something you're not telling me, Roy?"

  "No, I don't think so." I wondered how much he knew.

  "The sheriff said that you were seen communicating with a known murderer. Is it true?"

  I pretended ignorance with my response. "How does the sheriff know he's a murderer?"

  My father walked over and sat on the foot of my bed. I scooted up and leaned against the headboard.

  "Roy, I never told you this, but years ago there were tragic killings in this town. It's important that you allow the sheriff to do his job. The man in custody was tried for murder and convicted. Now I don't know exactly what happened between you and the sheriff, but I've known Robert Tanner for years, and if he says Murdoch is guilty, then he's guilty."

  "How did you know his name is Murdoch?"

  My father glanced sideways. "Well, the sheriff told me when I spoke with him, but I also remembered his name."

  I could tell my dad was hiding something. I played along, careful not to reveal everything I knew.

  My dad asked, "Roy, where did you meet Murdoch?"

  "He left a note on the trail saying he was a friend and we should meet at the wrecking yard."

  "Do you still have the note?"

  "No, I tore it up and flushed it down the toilet," I lied.

  Frowning, my
dad questioned, "What did you talk about at the wrecking yard before the sheriff found you?"

  "Not much. He just said his name was Murdoch and then the authorities appeared."

  "That's it? Nothing else?"

  "Nothing else, Dad."

  "You're lucky he didn't hurt you, Roy. I can't bare the thought of losing another family member." He patted my knee and left the room.

  While I leaned against the headboard, I thought about everything that had happened during the past two days. My instinct told me that my father knew a lot more than he was revealing. I also knew I had a special gift that I needed to learn to control. I pondered my out-of-body experiences. They seemed to happen when I was very emotional. Did my emotions activate the experience? If so, could I learn to harness those feelings to control my gift?

  I closed my eyes and thought back to the time I'd seen myself in the movie theater, and also when I'd broken into the high school, and later to Matt's revelation about Murdoch. Finally, I contemplated the dead man in the woods. A mixture of emotions flooded me and like a light switch being flipped, I was out of my body. I stood beside my bed staring at myself leaning against the headboard with closed eyes. I felt like I had been reborn. I felt terrific.

  I glanced around my room. I could see every detail with perfect clarity. I circled the room, examining its contents. Stopping at the window, I flipped the latch and pushed on it. I was amazed that it actually opened. I was out of my body and yet had the ability to manipulate objects. I could even feel the warm breeze blowing against me. I walked to my bedroom door and tried to step through it without opening it, but I was unable to do so. I settled for opening the door and went into the living room. My father and sister were watching TV. I waved a hand in front of Serena's face. She didn't flinch. I blew on her bangs. She brushed her hand over her forehead. I continued blowing on her bangs. It was hilarious.

  My dad got out of his chair and asked Serena if she wanted something to drink.

  "Yeah, Dad, a coke please."

  My dad went to the kitchen.

  I wanted to walk outside, but I knew if I opened the front door it would freak Serena out, so I returned to my room and stood at my window. There was someone dressed in black standing at the tree line watching my house. Was it Murdoch? No, it couldn't be. He was in jail. Who was this other person? Fear snaked through me.

  I wanted to return to my body and with that thought, I was immediately there. I got up and walked to the window. I didn't see the stranger. I dressed and went to the living room.

  My dad and Serena were watching television. Serena started brushing her bangs. My father stood and asked if we wanted something to drink.

  "Yeah, Dad, a coke, please," Serena responded.

  "Roy, do you want anything."

  "No thanks." I was amazed. It was as if time had reversed. The only thing that had changed in the scenario was me.

  I decided I had an amazing gift. Returning to my room, I stared out the window, waiting to see if the stranger made another appearance. He didn't.

  Chapter 18: Murder

  All day, the same question replayed itself in my mind. How does Murdoch know so much about me?

  Determined to find the answer, I knew I had to see Murdoch again. But how? He was in jail. I didn't think the sheriff would allow me to visit him, but I decided to try anyway. I jumped on my bike and rode to the jail located on Third Street, a block away from the Sheriff's Office on Second Street. A deputy saw me through the window and stepped outside before I could enter. "Stop right there, Roy Clawson!"

  The sheriff and another deputy followed him outside. "What are you doing here, Roy?" Sheriff Tanner asked.

  Slowly, I pedaled forward. "Could I have a word with you alone, Sheriff?"

  "Sure, Roy." He glanced at his deputies and they walked back inside the building. I leaned my bike against the block wall of the jail and sat on the metal bench the sheriff motioned toward.

  "So, Roy, what is it you want to discuss?"

  "Well, sir, I wanted to thank you for watching out for my safety and I'm sorry about the trouble I've caused you."

  "Thanks, son for telling me that. I hope you understand my job as sheriff is to keep people like Murdoch off the streets. He's dangerous and you're lucky I showed up."

  "If you don’t mind my asking, who did Murdoch murder?" I feigned ignorance.

  "That doesn't concern you, Roy. Let's just say he's facing life in prison without parole."

  "When will he go to trial?" I asked as if I didn't know the answer.

  "Trial? Why, he's already been tried. I'm transporting him to the state penitentiary first thing in the morning. We can't take chances of him escaping again."

  "But sheriff, doesn't he get to see his family and his lawyer?"

  "Roy, he has no family. He made sure of that, years ago. This man is a brutal killer and I'll do everything in my power to make sure justice is served."

  "Sheriff, may I talk with him before he leaves?"

  "ABSOLUTELY NOT! Why would you want to talk to him, anyway? What did he tell you? You sure are curious about something that has nothing to do with you."

  "Sir, I've never talked to a real murderer and I'm intrigued, that's all." I knew the sheriff suspected I was feeding him a crock of bull.

  "Roy, count your blessings and go home. This will all be over tomorrow."

  Frustrated, I hated the thought of not being able to confront perhaps the only person with answers to my strange life. I had to see Murdoch! Riding my bike back home that hot summer day I replayed the events surrounding Murdoch. If he truly was a killer he could have taken my life long ago. Nothing made sense.

  Late that night while lying in bed, I stared at the poster of Amazing Man. The superhero feared nothing—nothing could stop him from a mission. I also had a power and I needed to use it. I thought about my mother's death, the dead man in the woods, my breaking into the school and hearing Murdoch's name mentioned. I thought about the secrets and lies, and my never ending frustration. In an instant, I was standing at the foot of my bed staring at my body. Leaving my body was becoming easier. I left my room and went into the living room. My father was whispering into the telephone. I stepped closer so I could hear what he was saying. Before I reached him, he hung up and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He looked distraught as he walked into the kitchen.

  Now was my chance to slip out the front door. Slowly, I opened the door just wide enough to squeeze through. I turned and ran down the hill toward town. I pretended I was Quantum Man, another superhero, who was the fastest man alive. I had no fear of falling or hurting myself. I arrived in town and rushed toward the jail. Through the window in the dimly lit interior, I could see a deputy sitting in a chair behind a desk. I waited on the sidewalk in the shadow of a tall Cypress. There appeared to be someone standing in a darkened corner of the room. The person was dressed in white and wearing a white, full-faced, beanie. The lawman seemed oblivious to any presence watching him. In fact, he looked utterly bored with his elbow on the desk and his chin resting in his palm. When he reached for a pen and started writing something, the person in hiding stepped forward and slowly approached head on. The deputy appeared not to see anyone.

  Suddenly, the stranger in white slipped behind the deputy and cast a rope around his neck. The terrified victim tried to fight what he couldn't see. After my initial shock, I started forward to save the man. The assailant looked through the window but continued strangling the deputy. I reached the door but it was locked and I couldn't see inside the building anymore.

  I felt helpless, yet intrigued. Was the killer even human? Unexpectedly, the door opened a crack.

  What the hell is going on?

  Terrified, I pushed the door gradually open and peered inside. The metal door across the room used to enter the cell block slammed shut and made me jump. I cautiously approached the deputy who was now lying on the floor and felt for a pulse. There was none. Stepping around the body, I walked to the cell block door and placed my
hand on the doorknob, slowly turning it. I cracked the door a little and peered around it. No one was visible. I opened it a little more. I saw no one. All of a sudden the door was pushed back in my face and I jumped backward in fear.

  Approaching car lights reflected through the front window, so I rushed to a darkened corner of the room. I supposed it was out of habit, because actually, no one could see me.

  Sheriff Tanner's police car pulled to the front of the jail. When he entered and saw his deputy down, he unholstered his gun and turned swiftly in every direction. Then he rushed over to the deputy, checking for a pulse with one hand, but keeping his gun readied. He returned to his car and radioed for backup. Within minutes the jail was surrounded by local enforcement officers. Cautiously, the sheriff reentered the building and opened the door leading into the incarceration area. Knowing that no one could see me, I walked in behind him. The cell blocks were empty. Murdoch had escaped and there was a terrible stench in the air from the dead deputy.

  Chapter 19: Escape

  I could see how confused Sheriff Tanner was about Murdoch's escape and his deputy's murder. Of one thing I was sure, however, Murdoch hadn't killed the deputy. The person I had seen was much smaller than Murdoch. Had the killer released Murdoch from his cell?

  Sheriff Tanner told his deputies, "I want the town notified about a mandatory meeting. I want the borders secured; no one comes in and no one goes out. I don't care about returning Murdoch now. Shoot him on sight. He cannot be allowed to talk to Roy. I'll visit the Clawsons and notify Roger of the situation. We all know what's at stake, and I don't want to take any chances. I want Murdoch dead!"

  I was totally in the dark as to why Murdoch couldn't talk to me, and I knew I had to get home. I ran the distance and jumped back into my body. After that, I walked into the front room just as my father was hanging up the phone. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and then looked at me. "I just got off of the phone with the sheriff and he told me the two of you had a good conversation this afternoon."

  "Where's the sheriff right now?"

  "He said he was going to the jail to check on Murdoch, why do you ask?

  "Because I want to tell the sheriff I don't think Murdoch is a murderer. I also want to know what you've been hiding from me all my life."