by Ted Hill
Bunched together, the little group crossed the street and started up the walkway when a groan, followed by a scratching sound, brought them to a quick halt. A shambling form paced in the dim shadows covering Ginger’s front porch. The tall person’s head drooped, touching its chest as if it were looking for something on the wooden planks. This looming figure rattled the doorknob, which failed to turn, and then it sniffed the air like it caught a familiar scent. The person turned slowly.
Caught in the open, the group stood with nowhere to hide.
“Who are you?” Jimmy called.
The person groaned and moved into the yard. Jimmy’s heart stopped. His trembling knees threatened to buckle. Ginger screamed and little James began to cry.
Jimmy’s corpse, buried these past five months, groaned again. His eyes were pale orbs and his gray mottled skin hung in loose folds. The shirt he wore was torn and dirty, as were his tattered jeans, but the boots looked to be in pretty decent shape.
Jimmy, the one occupying Billy, noticed that his dead body didn’t wear a hat. That was something at least. “Ginger, Vanessa, I need you to run. I’ll hold him off.”
“I’ll help you,” Henry said.
Jimmy nodded. “Luis, you go with them.”
“We can all out run this thing,” Vanessa said.
“You get a head start. We’ll be right behind you.”
“Sophie, you have to let go of my hand,” Henry said. “Don’t worry, I’ll be all right. Help them with their babies.”
Jimmy didn’t hear any complaints from the girl. He was too busy watching his dead body sniff the air and stare at them with those pale eyes. The thing opened its mouth, snapping it shut over and over like it wanted to talk, but the action only produced groans and small clouds of dust.
Ginger, Vanessa, and the rest backed slowly away to the street.
Dead Jimmy’s eyes followed the flight of a butterfly as it flittered past his nose and down over the empty flowerbed. The corpse groaned once more and shambled in that direction like he wanted to chase the butterfly to pull its wings off. The group’s slapping feet on pavement distracted him from the insect and his attention returned to them. When they began to leave, he groaned in great desperation.
Why had his corpse returned to Ginger’s house? What would be controlling his body if his soul was inside Billy? Did his dead brain contain memories of his previous life? Whatever the deceased’s intentions, Jimmy had news—Ginger and the baby were off limits.
The thing shifted his gangling walk towards the retreating mothers and their babies. Jimmy cut off his dead body’s pursuit like a crossing guard halting traffic. The corpse towered two feet over him. Jimmy gagged and his eyes watered from the stench of his own rotten flesh. He breathed in through his mouth and balled his fists.
The creature stretched out an arm toward Ginger, and Jimmy felt an instant of sorrow for his body. Then the corpse looked down on Jimmy with those pale eyes. Like dirty motor oil in a pool of milk, the paleness turned black. The thing’s mouth dropped open, releasing a hollow screech that split down the middle of Billy’s little spine.
Jimmy covered his ears. The creature swung and clubbed him in the head. A stunned Jimmy dropped and shook the fuzziness away. Henry cried out, and then the creature fell beside Jimmy with Henry clinging to the corpse’s knees. Jimmy rolled over and pushed up off the ground. His corpse groaned, twisted and swiped at Henry. After he kicked his body, Jimmy pulled Henry to his feet. The two boys backed away from the animated dead that wobbled like a turtle trapped in its shell.
They hustled to catch up with Ginger and the others at the end of the block. All around, screams echoed from Main Street. A crowd of kids ran towards them, chased by a couple of bat wielding boys that had been turned into pawns for Famine. Jimmy searched the sky for angels or lightning bolts—any sign that they weren’t alone in the fight for their lives.
“Where should we go?” Vanessa asked.
Jimmy turned in a tight circle of panic and focused on the white steeple rising out of the neighborhood. “Let’s go to the church.”
They hurried and others joined their progress—Emma and some of the girls from town, along with some of the Cozad kids. Emma introduced Wesley and Carissa to those in the group who hadn’t met them yet.
“What’s happening back there?” Jimmy asked them.
Emma spoke first. “Hunter is fighting the big ugly kid with help from that new girl.”
“Barbie,” Wesley said.
Emma frowned at him. “Don’t interrupt me.” She turned back to Jimmy and rolled her eyes before continuing, “Catherine and Molly have been doing something to Scout, Samuel and Mark. They’re glowing. They’re trying to stop the other boys and put out the fire. Everyone else is running for their lives.”
“All right,” Jimmy yelled over the confusion of the growing group of frightened kids. “Everybody, get inside the church.”
They followed Vanessa and Ginger through the doors. A lot of the kids gave Jimmy a funny look in passing. He wondered why before remembering whose body he inhabited.
Henry waited outside, helping Jimmy hold the doors open. “What now?”
Jimmy stared back at the billowing black smoke where orange flames licked the tops of the buildings at the other end of town. He saw the possessed boys fighting with Samuel, Scout, and Mark. Dylan was there too. The bats were gone and now they fought toe to toe with fists. The good side appeared to be winning.
“Go inside and lock the doors. Have someone guard every window and entryway. I’m going to see if I can help.”
“You should stay here with us.”
Henry probably thought Billy was too small to enter a fight. Jimmy reached up and patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll be all right. This isn’t my first rodeo. It won’t be my last.”
“What’s a rodeo?”
“I’ll tell you about it later.”
Henry nodded and closed the door.
Jimmy left the churchyard and ran in a straight path for Main Street. He closed on Scout and Dylan as they finished knocking one of the kids unconscious. Catherine hustled over and began disrupting whatever controlled the enchanted boy.
Something heavy fell on him and drove him to the ground. Grass and dirt filled Jimmy’s mouth and the taste of blood seeped out from his busted lip. Something grabbed his hair. His hat laid on the ground in front of him. He turned his head and looked over his shoulder, since the hand holding him by the hair allowed it. Jimmy’s corpse held him tight, sitting on his back. The corpse groaned and then drove Jimmy’s head into the ground, again and again, until the groaning ceased.
* * *
Jimmy floated out of Billy’s tiny body. Billy’s head didn’t look right, but neither did the creature that lifted it one more time and smashed it into the ground.
Instead of floating away, Jimmy held himself together, familiar with the prospect of being a ghost.
“Hello, Jimmy,” a voice said behind him.
Jimmy turned and found Billy’s transparent spirit smiling at him.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found you were inside my body. How cool is that?”
Jimmy shook his head, but smiled anyways. “Not very, but thanks for letting me borrow it for a while. Where’ve you been?”
“I’ve been hanging around. Catherine told me to wait because she was sure something would happen soon and I might get my body back.”
Jimmy watched his own dead body move off of Billy’s little dead one, lying face down in the bloody green grass. Jimmy’s corpse stared down at the body and then looked around. For what, Jimmy had no idea.
“Sorry, Billy, I think I just killed you. This is really weird.”
“Yeah, but hey, have you walked through a wall yet? That’s pretty cool. The first couple of times I thought I was going to get stuck and that freaked me out a bit, but then you kind of get sucked out the other side and its okay.”
Jimmy smiled. “I don’t really enjoy it that much.”
“Uh oh, lo
oks like you’re on the move.”
Jimmy’s corpse shambled over to where Scout and Dylan stood protectively over Catherine, unaware of the approaching danger. Jimmy grabbed Billy’s arm, afraid to lose his little spirit friend.
“Catherine! Look out!”
The little girl lifted her head from her finished work and assessed the situation. “Scout, Dylan!” She pointed at Jimmy’s corpse.
“What the hell?” Scout said.
“Jimmy?” Dylan said, with equal disbelief lighting on both of their faces.
“Famine must have raised Jimmy’s corpse,” Catherine stated the obvious. The two boys snapped out of their confusion, returning to fight mode.
“Why the hell would he do that?” Dylan asked.
Scout circled the walking dead body. Jimmy’s corpse watched his progress as Scout came around behind him.
“Who knows,” Catherine said. “He probably just wanted to scare us.”
“I’m pretty freaking scared right now,” Scout said.
“Me too,” Dylan said.
Jimmy led Billy over to Catherine. “That thing just killed me. I mean it just killed Billy.”
“I figured that out on my own. I’m glad you two found each other.”
“Who are you talking to?” Scout asked in a shrill, un-Scout-like voice.
“Shush!” Catherine returned her attention to Jimmy, “Now, go get Margaret for me. She’s over there finishing up with the last of the enchanted boys. I’m going to need her if we’re going to put you two back where you belong.”
“What do you mean?” Jimmy asked. “I don’t want to be dead again.”
She stood and wiped dirt off her knees. “You won’t be dead, silly. This is all part of the plan.”
“What plan?”
She tilted her head at him like he was simple. “You never pay attention, do you? Hurry and get Margaret.”
The two spirits flew off. They heard Catherine order Scout and Dylan to take down Jimmy’s corpse without killing it.
“Isn’t he already dead?” Scout yelled.
Samuel and Mark were protectively sheltering Margaret when they found them. Like Catherine said, Margaret had just finished with the last of the enchanted boys.
“Margaret, Catherine needs your help.”
Margaret looked up in shock and then understanding. “Oh, Jimmy, what happened?”
“Jimmy?” Samuel said, looking around.
Margaret waved him silent.
“Catherine says Famine raised my body from the dead. It just killed me. I mean Billy. I mean…”
Margaret stood and wiped dirt from her knees just like Catherine had done. “Show me.” She waved Samuel and Mark to follow. “Boys, Catherine needs me. Come on.”
“What about Hunter and Barbie?” Samuel said.
“What about the fire?” Mark asked.
Margaret smiled at them, grabbed each of their hands, and started pulling them along. “Everything is going according to plan.”
Jimmy shook his head as he led the way back to his body. He glanced down Main Street before leaving and saw nothing but flames and dark smoke on either side. Hunter was nowhere in sight. Jimmy succumbed to the plan. Especially if it meant he might get to be alive in his own body again. Hopefully that meant without the mottled skin and pale eyes.
Forty
Hunter
Hunter burst through the door onto Main Street underneath overcast skies. He hoped his silent partner was about to swoop in for the rescue. Fifteen minutes later, he was still alone, fighting for his life.
Everybody paired off like a hoedown, leaving Hunter partnered up with the tall ugly guy at the dance. Scout and Dylan took one side of the street, glowing like light bulbs with help from Catherine. Samuel and Mark worked the other side, equally bright, with Molly backing them up with her new powers. The rest of the town scattered like ants after the log had been flipped over.
“We’re having some fun now, huh?” Tommy swiped at Hunter with his deadly black talons. “You’re going to watch your town burn as I spill your guts in the street.”
Hunter jumped and dodged, wishing Tommy would shut up and fight. He’d tell him so if he could find the time to catch his breath. Barbie protected Hunter’s back and helped guide kids away from the burning buildings. Tommy sliced open two kids who ran close by in the confusion. Hunter stepped inside Tommy’s reach and head butted him in the nose, sending the perv reeling backwards. Barbie healed the injured kids quickly and moved them along. It appeared the three saints had an abundant supply of their miracle stuff working overtime, because none of them had passed out. Sure would have been nice if someone would get off his angelic butt and mop this place up.
Tommy returned, holding his nose with one hand, springing forward and clawing Hunter across the chest with the other.
Hunter gasped from the jagged rip and rolled away from Tommy’s second attempt. He scrambled on hands and knees until he was able to regain his feet. His shirt hung in bloody shreds, but his wounds closed mere seconds later.
Tommy stalked him with slow determination. “You’re not getting away. You’re all alone. Nobody will help you.”
Hunter searched his surroundings, verifying his solo role against the horseman. Smoke rolled through the streets, separating him from the others. Barbie had disappeared in the chaos of the fight. Survival mode kicked in and Hunter decided the only option was to flee. The wall of smoke would provide the needed cover for escape. But then what? Who else was trapped here on the street with this monster? Where would Tommy turn next if he wasn’t focused on Hunter? Who else would Tommy pervert into his little band of monsters?
The buildings of Independents burned. The noise of the flames tearing through the heart of the town rose as roofs caved in and windows popped under the intense heat. Support beams gave way and whole buildings crumbled. Hunter coughed from the black smoke filling his lungs, created by the plumes that darkened the day.
What he wouldn’t give for some rain.
Thunder rolled and the answer to his silent prayer arrived. Fat drops pelted him from above, lifting Hunter’s spirits in the circle of smoke that kept him hidden from Tommy. Hunter pulled his shirt collar over his nose and ducked down as he sped in an arc around the monster stalking him. He needed a weapon. He had his lock blade in one pocket and his Zippo in the other. He pulled out the knife and flicked it open. He’d creep in close and hope Tommy didn’t spot him coming.
The rain drove down in a torrent. The smoke surrendered under the assault, replaced by a rank smelling fog. All around, the air steamed and hissed as the rainfall doused the flames. Hunter shuffled sideways, focused on where he thought Tommy stood in the swirling turmoil.
The smoke cleared, revealing Barbie with her arms stretched to the heavens. Her dark hair was plastered to her face and lightning crackled from her fingertips. She had called down the rain to save what remained of Main Street. Hunter couldn’t spot Tommy anywhere around.
The rain caused a different kind of hazy blindness. Shadows moved within the wall of water brought down from the clouds. Tommy slipped into view with a terrible lustful smile and raked his claws across Barbie’s back and the other over her stomach, ripping her open like an orange as bright blood shot out everywhere. Barbie dropped onto the wet brick pavement.
Hunter screamed, rushing forward. He stepped on a discarded aluminum baseball bat and skated across it until he landed on his face. His knife was knocked loose, clattering off, lost in the fog. He sucked in quick breaths. The bruises and painful scrapes on his face quickly started healing. He pushed up as a foot connected with his forehead, flipping him onto his back. His thoughts spun out of control and threatened to shut down production all together. He stared into the sky, wondering why the angel hadn’t come.
Tommy leaned over, with his deadly claws drumming a steady rhythm on his knee caps. He blocked the cool rain from Hunter like an unwanted umbrella. His horrible mouth of pointed teeth smiled down.
“She’s g
one, but don’t you worry. You’ll be following her shortly. I promise.”
Hunter rolled to one side and tried to stand.
Tommy grabbed his arm and forced him down. “You’re finished. What did you think was going to happen? You’re on the wrong side. This world is going to hell, but you won’t be around to see it.”
Why was this happening? Was there a plan or was all the crap about angels and saints for nothing? Why didn’t the angel come? Why didn’t Hunter get the chance to make all this right?
“Are you ready?” Tommy asked.
“You must be Tommy.”
A flash of silver swung through the storm and slammed into Tommy’s chest, knocking the horseman backwards. He fell to the ground, sitting there stunned with a goofy look on his hideous face.
A tall shadow wielding a baseball bat stepped over Hunter and hit Tommy again in the shoulder with a sickening thump.
Tommy howled in pain and fell all the way to the ground.
Hunter sat up, shaking his head in disbelief. It looked just like him, but the whole thing was impossible. The tall guy whacked Tommy two more times before Hunter put together the voice, the posture, the conviction. That’s my brother! Jimmy was alive and in his own body. The same body Hunter had buried months ago. Unbelievable joy swept over him, healing his spirits as whatever inside of him healed his body. By the time Hunter reached his feet and took a couple of breaths, he was fully revitalized and ready to finish the fight.
Screaming at the top of his lungs, Jimmy laid the aluminum bat into Tommy’s body over and over.
The kid that was Tommy the Perv twisted from the continuous rain of blows, crying out in torment. Jimmy was relentless. Finally, even Hunter had enough. He rushed over and grabbed Jimmy’s arms. His brother snarled and broke out of his grip.
Hunter backed away with his hands out, trying to calm his brother. “Jimmy, you got him. That’s enough. He’s not hurting anyone anymore.”
Jimmy panted as if possessed. “You’re right about that.” He turned his back on his brother and brought the bat high. “You will never hurt my family again.”
