by Amy Cross
“Electro-shock,” Emma explained. “Electricity to the brain! They diagnosed all these crazy things that they thought were wrong with me, and my delightful father had told them to do whatever it took to set me straight, so they tried juicing me up to the nines and, like, blowing my goddamn brains out! Twice a week, Monday and Thursday mornings, they wheeled me in there and stuck a chunk of wood between my teeth, and then they zapped me!”
“That sounds awful,” Victoria stammered, “but I'm sure -”
“And all 'cause of that day in the church,” Emma added, before shaking her head as if she couldn't quite believe what had happened. “I suppose I should thank you, though. If you hadn't told everyone what I did, maybe I'd still be the same person I was back then. You really changed my life, do you know that? If I hadn't met you, Vicky, things sure would be different for me.”
“I'm sure I didn't have quite such a drastic effect,” Victoria replied. “After all, we only met once, and only for a few minutes. And it's Victoria, not Vicky, so -”
“And now here we are again, bumping into each other like this! It must be five, maybe six years since that day back at the church. Time really flies, huh?”
Victoria glanced over her shoulder and saw to her horror that Daniel was now talking to another girl.
“Anyway,” Emma continued, putting an arm around her shoulder, “I don't speak to my parents anymore. Dad was an asshole and Mom was just enabling him, so I cut that cord. It was dramatic and traumatic, but I've never felt better. Now I kick it out with some really cool and far-out people who see the world the way it was meant to be seen. Do you dig what I'm saying here, Vicky?”
Victoria turned to her. “Um, I don't know if -”
“I've been getting into some things that you wouldn't believe,” Emma added. “The straight world just goes along on rails, but there's all this other far-out shit that -”
“Watch your language, please!”
“Exactly!” Emma laughed. “You get it, Vicky! Really, you do! I've been turned on to all this stuff that's just, like, beyond the realm of the stiff mind's comprehension. That's the worst thing, having a stiff mind. You need to make your mind more...”
Her voice trailed off, as if she was searching for the right word.
“Floppy?” Victoria suggested finally.
“Kind of, yeah! The entire human race is on the verge of a new era of understanding. We're finally gonna figure out why we're here, and the world's gonna be divided into those who dig it, and those who get left behind. Trust me, you do not wanna be one of those last fools. You need to dig this shit.”
Victoria turned, but now there was no sign of Daniel at all. She looked all around, but it was as if he and the other girl had vanished into the night.
“Come on!”
Suddenly Emma grabbed her arm and got up, trying to make her follow.
“I'm gonna blow your mind, Vicky!”
“It's Victoria, and I think I'd rather -”
“Whatever. Don't live your life in a goddamn straitjacket, or you'll never really get a chance to open your thoughts to the cosmos! 'Cause the cosmos is waiting for you!”
“I'm not sure I want to open my -”
“Up you get!”
With that, Emma hauled Victoria up, leaving her with little option but to scramble to her feet.
“It's in the forest!”
“What is?” Victoria asked, but she was already being dragged away from the crowd and toward the darkness up ahead. “Where are we going?”
Tall pine trees loomed above the two girls as they made their way into the forest. Emma was dragging Victoria along, gripping her arm tight and offering no chance to hold back.
For her part, Victoria was barely able to keep up at all, and stumbled several times as her feet caught on tree roots. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the light of the campfire getting further and further away, and she felt the cold, humid forest air starting to chill her bones.
“Can you please tell me what all of this is about?” she stammered, turning back to Emma. “My shoes are -”
“Almost there!” Emma replied breathlessly, and from the sound of her voice it was clear she was having the time of her life. Laughing, she pulled Victoria toward a patch of moonlight, before finally stopping and staring wide-eyed at the trees ahead. It was as if she could see something, even though there was evidently nothing whatsoever to see.
“That hurt!” Victoria hissed, pulling her hand free and examining her wrist, expecting to find a bruise. “I don't know if this is your idea of fun, but I'd really rather -”
Before she could finish, she heard a faint rustling sound nearby. Turning, she looked toward the dark trees and waited, and a moment later the rustling sound returned. Somewhere out of sight, something was stirring.
And coming closer.
“Somebody's here,” she whispered, feeling a burst of fear in her chest. “We -”
“Damn straight,” Emma replied, her eyes wide with anticipation. “I want you to meet someone, Vicky. Someone who saved my life. Well, after you saved it, I mean. You set me on the path to meet this guy, and then he took hold of me and made me someone else. Between the pair of you, you're responsible for who I am today.”
“I'm really not sure that's true,” Victoria said, taking a step back as she heard the rustling sound getting even closer. “This might be fun for you, but -”
Suddenly she saw a hint of movement in the distance. Something dark flitted between two trees, as if it was trying to keep out of sight.
“Who's that?” she gasped.
“Oh, he likes to play games,” Emma said with a grin. “Don't worry. You'll get used to it.”
“Get used to what?”
“His way of doing things.”
“I shouldn't have come out here. I think I'd rather -”
“No, stay!”
“This is the future,” Emma continued. “You're about to have a foggy layer peeled away from your mind. How do you dig that, huh?”
“I don't like this,” Victoria replied, taking another step back. “I'm going back to the others.”
“And miss out on meeting the greatest guy in the world?” Emma asked. “Don't be a dork, Vicky. I met him at the camp my father sent me to. He slipped into my room every night and showed me how life really works, and what we're really supposed to do during our time on this crumby little rock. He knows so much, and he's willing to share some of it. In return, he just asks for a little loyalty now and again. And some proof of our love.”
Rolling up the right sleeve of her jacket, she showed Victoria a scarred and damaged arm, with twisted knots of flesh running from wrist to elbow.
“This is a mark of my devotion,” Emma continued. “You'll have to do it too, if you want him to accept you. I know you've lived a sheltered life, Vicky, but that's all about to change. Tonight you're gonna become a woman, and you're gonna feel the true bliss of existence moving through your soul. You do have a soul, you know, even if it's buried deep and stuffed into a part of your heart where you can barely feel it. Tonight, you're gonna see the universe in a new way.”
“I'd really rather go back to the others,” Victoria stammered, watching as the dark shape slipped between two more trees.
Still edging closer.
“You changed my life six years ago,” Emma replied, “and now I'm just returning the favor. Hold on tight, Vicky, and wait for the world to come rushing at you.”
She turned and winked.
“I hope you brought clean underwear.”
Ahead, a dark figure continued to slip closer between the trees. Too scared to move, or to cry out, Victoria nevertheless felt overwhelmed by a growing fear that the visitor was the Devil. All around, the air seemed to be crackling with a heightened sense of anticipation, and the trees themselves were buzzing. Although she tried to remain calm and rational, she was certain that some inhuman form of evil was already reaching out to her, and she tried to summon the strength to run. Finally, as she heard a very f
aint growling sound rumbling through the darkness, she turned and bolted, racing between the tress in a desperate attempt to get back to the campfire.
“Hey, Vicky!” Emma shouted. “Stop! What the hell are you so scared of?”
Racing between the trees, Victoria felt certain she was being chased. She could already hear a force crashing through the undergrowth, and she was terrified that at any minute she'd feel huge curled claws slicing into her back. She could hear something snorting, too, as if her pursuer was breathless but determined. Stumbling a couple of times and letting out faint gasps, she started bumping against some of the trees, feeling their broken branches tearing the sleeves of her dress.
And still the creature came closer, until she could feel its hot breath on the back of her neck.
Finally, just as she felt she was about to be clawed back, she tumbled back out into the light of the campfire, breathless and terrified. She searched frantically for Marsha, before miraculously finding Daniel and collapsing into his arms. He scooped her up and mumbled something about taking her home, and then he began to carry her toward his car in his strong, manly arms.
Part Three
June 23rd, 1982
“Mommy, can I go out and play?”
Glancing over her shoulder, Victoria saw that Isobel was already waiting patiently by the door, anticipating permission. Still, deep down some inner instinct stirred in Victoria's chest, and she immediately realized that her daughter – usually so innocent and care-free – appeared to be hiding something.
“What's in your hand, honey?”
“Nothing,” the little girl said quickly.
Too quickly.
“Your right hand,” Victoria continued. “You're keeping something hidden from me.”
Isobel shook her head.
“Oh yes you are.”
“I'm not, Mommy. I promise.”
“You're a very bad liar, sweetheart,” Victoria said, setting the pan aside and heading over to her daughter. “That's nothing to be ashamed of, but I want to see what's in your hand. You've been acting a little off since lunch.”
She could already see the discomfort in the girl's eyes, so she reached around and gently took hold of her wrist, before guiding her right hand back around and watching as the fingers opened to reveal three candy bars.
“They're not for me!” Isobel immediately blurted out.
“They're not?”
“They're for -”
Isobel stopped suddenly, as if she'd been about to say something she shouldn't.
“Let me guess,” Victoria muttered, “you have an imaginary friend? Honey, aren't you a little old for that now? You're eight, so -”
“They're for Suzie.”
Victoria frowned. “Who?”
“Suzie,” Isobel continued. “You mustn't get mad, Mommy, but...” She paused, scowling slightly as if she was having trouble explaining herself. “Suzie doesn't have much food. She's not lucky like me. She doesn't have a Daddy, and her Mommy doesn't earn very much money, so Suzie has old clothes and she has to borrow food from me sometimes at school.”
“She does?” Victoria asked. “You've never mentioned this Suzie girl to me before.”
“I only started talking to her last week. Until then, I... Well, everyone says she's weird and she smells bad, so I avoided her. And she does smell bad, but I feel sorry for her, and I thought it might be okay if I take her some candy. But I didn't steal the candy, because it's out of the candy you let me have, so I'm just giving her some of my own. Isn't that allowed, Mommy? Please don't be mad at me.”
“I -”
Victoria stared at her daughter for a moment, trying to work out just what was going through the little girl's mind.
“Okay,” she said finally, as she started to untie her apron. “Isobel, sweetheart, how about you take me to meet your new friend, huh? Can you do that?”
***
“She lives here?” Victoria asked as she and Isobel reached the end of the forest path. Ahead, a rundown and very rusty old camper van had been parked at the edge of the trees, and camping equipment was spread out across the ground. “Isobel, this -”
Before she could finish, she heard a faint bumping sound coming from the camper. Suddenly very aware that she'd brought no means of defense, she placed a hand on Isobel's shoulder just as the camper's door swung open, and then she watched as a disheveled little girl emerged wearing nothing but dirty underwear. The sight struck Victoria as being rather bizarre, yet the strange girl seemed rather nonchalant about her slovenly appearance.
“Suzie!” Isobel called out, waving to the girl. “Over here!”
The girl turned to them, and for a moment her wild eyes were filled with fear. After a few seconds, however, she began to step closer.
“Oh, the poor thing...” Victoria whispered, feeling desperately sorry for the child. “Is she living all alone out here?”
“I brought you some candy,” Isobel said, stepping forward and holding the bars out.
“Thanks,” Suzie muttered, taking the candy and staring at the wrappers for a moment. “Do you mind if I save them for later? It's not time for dinner yet.”
“Where are your parents?” Victoria asked, before realizing that she might be sounding a little harsh and mean. “I mean... Your name's Suzie, isn't it?”
The girl nodded.
“And do you live here, Suzie?”
Another nod.
“And where are -”
Suddenly she flinched as she heard a louder banging sound coming from the camper.
“Suzie!” a shrill voice yelled. “Suzie, what are you doing out there? Get your ass back here this instant, girl! I didn't tell you to go anywhere, did I?”
A moment later, a woman stumbled out of the van wearing nothing but a tattered red dressing gown, which was loosely tied around her waist while still falling open enough to reveal a fair part of her chest. The woman seemed drunk, or high, or maybe both, maybe even a little crazy, and she looked around the clearing for a few seconds before she finally noticed that visitors had arrived.
“Hi!” Victoria said nervously, just as she spotted several empty vodka bottles strewn across the muddy ground. “Um, I'm sorry to disturb you, but -”
“Vicky?” the woman screeched.
Victoria opened her mouth to reply, but she already had a horrible feeling that she recognized the voice.
“Vicky!” the woman shouted excitedly, stumbling closer and almost stepping straight on one of the bottles. “What the actual fuck? I never thought I'd see your ugly mug again!”
“Emma?” Victoria whispered, stunned by the stench of stale, spilled alcohol as the woman reached her.
“This is fucking fantastic!” Emma said, taking a black band from her dressing gown pocket and using it to tie her unruly hair back, revealing puffy eyes with old make-up still stained around the edges. “Of all the people I ever thought would come bumbling out this way, you are just about the last face I expected. How are you doing, old girl? How's life been treating you?”
“I...”
“What's wrong?” Emma added. “Cat got your fucking tongue?”
“Language!” Victoria hissed, placing her hands over Isobel's ears. “Please, not in front of the children!”
“Huh?”
Reaching into her pocket again, Emma pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Once the cigarette was burning, she took a long, deep drag and then blew a thick cloud of smoke into the air.
“Do you live here?” Victoria asked.
“Not bad, is it?” Emma muttered, blowing out more smoke. “I mean, it's not a palace, but it's not bad for a single mother struggling to make ends meet. And the guys I bring back aren't too fussy. Most of 'em like to get things done in town, anyway. You know, the alley behind the bar, that sorta thing. A quick, simple transaction. So most of the time it's just me and the kid here. Although every so often, she has to make herself scarce when I bring a customer home for the night, if you know what I
mean.”
“I beg your pardon?” Victoria stammered, shocked by what she was hearing. “Are you -”
“A woman's gotta make money however she can,” Emma said with a grin. “We all have certain skills and assets, and we've gotta make the most of 'em. Like you, Vicky. You look pretty damn good. Let me guess... Married with kids, right? All the middle class bullshit that people like to buy into? I bet you even -”
Suddenly she burst into a coughing fit, spluttering and barely managing to keep hold of her cigarette. Bending over, she continued to cough even as Suzie started patting her back. The young girl was clearly used to looking after her mother.
“Mummy,” Isobel whispered, tugging on Victoria's sleeve, “I don't like it here. I don't like the things in the trees.”
Looking up, Victoria saw for the first time that the trees all around the camper van were festooned with tatty ribbons and pieces of broken, dangling glass.
“You should've stayed with me that night,” Emma gasped, standing up straight again and taking another drag from her cigarette. “That night in the forest, when you ran away... That was a hell of a night, I can tell you. I mean, I don't know if you've ever gone to, like, an orgy or a cult kinda thing, but if you haven't, you're really missing out.” She took another drag, before sighing. “Then again, it didn't end up so good in the end. The old guy in charge turned out to be a little crazy, so after a few years we all kinda drifted away. I didn't really get anything out of it all, except for little Suzie here.”
Grabbing the little girl, she pulled her close for a hug that Suzie seemed not to enjoy.
“You've gotta love it all, though,” Emma continued. “Life, I mean. Without that crazy group of people, I wouldn't have squeezed out my little ray of sunshine here. And I mean, who needs a man, anyway? I don't think having a Daddy would've made a spit of difference to my little princess. The kid's alright, and I'm raising her so she knows how to deal with the knocks.”
She took another puff from the cigarette.
“Hey Vicky,” she added finally, “how about you and your little one come inside, and we can talk about the old days! Remember that time in the church, when I hid that goddamn fucking spoon and you ratted me out? Sometimes I think that's what set my whole life on this track.”
