by Alexie Aaron
Wes turned to Dieter and said, “Your mom is unflappable.”
“She’s been through a few conflicts before,” Dieter said proudly. “She survived a tornado by crawling in a culvert with my dad and a friend.”
“It’s true. I helped pull her out of the ditch. She’s one unstoppable lady,” Mark said, walking over.
“How come she didn’t take charge then?” the mouthy friend of Wes asked.
“Because she knows Clench is the best one for the job,” Mark said.
Cid maneuvered around the last obstacle, and as the truck cleared the wind-shredded forest preserve, the clouds broke and let the late afternoon light through. Below them, the deep scars of the two tornadoes cut into and flattened the green fields. Cid slowed the truck to get his bearings and looked for the best route to take to get to what was left of the climbing center. From their vantage point, the old depot appeared to be bisected by a large corrugated-steel grain silo. The flashing lights of the emergency vehicles made them easy to spot. Unfortunately, they were still a few miles away. Cid sped up and pushed the truck to arrive as soon as was safely possible.
Ted hadn’t said a word yet. He seemed to be calculating the odds of his family’s survival over and over again. Murphy left the truck and headed over the field to get to Mia as fast as he could.
Mia smoothed out the last of the silver tape. She gave Clench a thumbs-up, and the teens started to climb the walls. Nev and Cliff attached the top of the shed-like roof of the awning to the same bolts that kept the climbing walls attached to the sides of the building. Dieter and Mark waited a few beats before climbing up to attach the lower end, making it as taut as they could. Soon, the makeshift roof was moving the light rainfall away from the survivors.
Mia walked over to where Brian had fallen asleep in the stroller. Lena had dried the surface with some towels, and Wes had offered to watch the tot so Mia could continue to work on the tarp.
A ripple in the ether announced Murphy’s arrival. Mia knew he was there before he put a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked into his silver eyes and sighed. “You’re here!”
“Ted and Cid are behind me in the truck.”
“Thank God!”
“How did everyone fair?”
“A few injuries. I’m so glad that they built this thing strong. It was bad, but it could have been worse. As you can see, we’re trapped in here. Dieter, Mark and Brian are fine. I administered first aid to a few folks. See if Ted can find a way to get some communication inside here. I’d feel better if I could speak with a medic,” she said quietly. She took Murphy’s hand and squeezed it.
“I know, Mia, I know,” he said and left her.
Dieter saw Murphy stop and look back at Mia. He felt like he was witnessing something very private and telling.
“Dieter!” Mark called over. “Pull more on your end.”
Dieter focused on the task at hand and forced his concern for his foster mother and his friend to the back of his mind.
Murphy entered the cab telling them his good news. He also delivered Mia’s request for communication. As they neared the tall building, the question of how to get it to Mia filled both men’s minds.
The parking lot looked more like a scrapyard. Only the vehicles that were parked on the edges of the lot had survived the double tornadoes. The owner of the center waved the EMTs over to the injured. Later they would find out that he was the one who had engineered the tennis ball communication, using the tennis abilities of one of the coaches sheltering with his group.
Mia moved around with a lighter step. The knowledge that her husband was outside and working on helping them, gave her a confidence she wasn’t feeling before now. Mark and Dieter helped her find whatever they could to make the group comfortable while they waited to be rescued. The teens needed dry clothing, and they all could use a few blankets to keep the chill of the approaching night off their shoulders. Mia placed a light disc in the center of the shelter, one at the entrance to the bathrooms, and another in the kitchen.
“These should last the night,” she told Lena.
“I hope we don’t have to spend the night,” Lena said.
“Me too. I’m not a camping kind of gal,” Mia admitted.
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired. It’s a bit rough doing all this bending with this baby weighing me down.”
“How far along are you?”
“A lot less than you’d think by the size of me. This is going to be a humongous child. I’m going to start charging it rent soon.”
“What’s that!” screamed one of the emerging cellar-hogging girls.
Mia’s eyes followed her outstretched, shaking arm and smiled. “Don’t be afraid. Help has arrived. Come here, Curly!” Mia said as she ran over to meet the little robot. It was lugging behind it a pack with several sets of wheels attached to it. “Ted, you’re one smart guy,” she said. No matter how the pack would be twisted or landed, Curly would be able to pull it. “Bravo!”
She disconnected the pouch and opened it. Mia pulled out a satellite phone. She pushed the tiny ghost key and was connected to Ted.
“You said you’d only be gone a few hours,” Ted complained.
“Well, I got delayed,” she said.
“I’m going to hand this over to the chief of the Evening Star Fire Department soon, but I wanted to remind you of how much you all mean to me and that I love you.”
“We love you too!” Mia said.
Curly crawled up the table and sat there filming in four spectrums and 365 degrees.
“Mrs. Martin, can you tell me about the situation inside?” the brusque voice of the fire chief asked her.
“I’m going to hand this to the person in charge, but I would like to confer with a medical professional about a few of the injured when you’re through.”
“I have an EMT standing by.”
Mia handed the phone to Clench. “Face that robot so that the chief can see you,” she instructed before walking away.
Ted watched his wife walk over to their sleeping son and cover him up with her sweater. Dieter and Mark walked over, and Mia started to distribute the things Ted had packed in the pouch for them. Mia smelled Ted’s scent on the hoodie and was comforted by it as she pulled it over her head. In the pocket of the hoodie, she found Ted’s latest charm to attach to her necklace. Mia knew that the device would send Ted information, such as her and the baby’s heartbeat. She turned, looking over at Curly, and put her hand on her heart and smiled.
“She looks rather calm,” Cid said, putting his hand on Ted’s shoulder. “She’s going to be fine.”
“I want to call my mother!” one of the girls demanded. “I want to go home!”
“I’m sure, as soon as the injured are taken care of, you will be able to have a short conversation,” Mia said.
“Who put you in charge?” she spat.
“I’m not, but that’s my phone,” Mia growled. “I suggest you start to pull your weight here. You’re giving womankind a bad name.”
“You’re a bitch,” the brat said and stomped off. “Come on, Lucy!”
Lucy looked around her and decided that she’d rather stay and help out instead of sitting in the dark cellar with her bossy friend. “Mrs. Martin, what can I do?”
“Lena is trying to put together a meal. She could use a hand.”
“I’d like to call my parents to tell them I’m safe.”
“I’m sure you will be able to soon.”
“Mrs. Martin,” Clench called.
Mia walked over and picked up Curly who curled around her midriff. She walked over to where Zip was lying down. She described to the paramedic the young man’s condition when she found him, what she did – except for the magic healing – and how he was progressing. She listened to the medic and took some notes on concussion protocol.
Clench gathered the rest of the group together and told them the situation. “Things are pretty bad out there. The chief has a call in to get a crane
and a few people out here who can cut through that steel. But they can’t do anything in the rain. So the earliest we can anticipate getting out of here is tomorrow sometime.”
This information was greeted with groans from the teens.
“I know. This isn’t how I want to spend the last days of summer either. But we’re here, we’re all capable, and we’ll get through this together.”
“Can we call our folks?” Cliff asked.
“Yes, each of you will be able to make a short phone call. We’re using Mrs. Martin’s satellite phone, so please be courteous.”
Mia handed the phone to Zip to call home. She walked back and sat down next to Brian. Curly moved down Mia’s body and curled into a circle so Ted and Cid could get a better look at the construction of the shelter.
Murphy moved around the perimeter of the buildings. He didn’t like the feeling he was getting. Either it was all the stone and no greenery, or something deeper that he found disturbing. He moved through the thick concrete, taking care not to manifest. Mia and Brian would be able to see him, and perhaps, Dieter could see his soul, but to Mark and the rest, he would be invisible.
He listened in on a powwow between the strangely dressed males of the group. They wore clothing very similar to that in the Spider-Man movie he’d watched with Cid.
“We could climb over the walls,” Nev offered. “And bring back some blankets.”
“I’m sure they’ll be coming. I don’t want you climbing down the outside of the building. The rain has made the stone slick, and it’s a hell of a drop. Please understand, I know that each of you can do it, but I need you here. Zip is out of commission, and Wes and I can’t maintain this fort alone.”
“Some fort,” Wes’s friend commented.
“Son, what’s your name?” Clench asked.
“Don.”
“Are you one of my climbers?”
“No. I came to watch Wes.”
“I see. Well, you’re not familiar with how we do things here. There is one leader, the most experienced, who, unfortunately, is me. If I call this a fort or a pagoda, that’s its name. It’s our shelter until the fire department can cut us out of here. We have bathrooms. The water still seems to be running, and we have more than enough food to carry us through. But we aren’t out of danger. There is a hell of a series of thunderstorms heading through here. Lightning strikes the highest thing around. That’s us. We have injured and inexperienced campers. Not to mention a pregnant woman with a young child. They are our priority. We keep them safe.”
“I don’t have to listen to you. My father will sue your ass.”
“Don, shut up,” Wes said.
Murphy moved on. He put Don on his watchlist. One troublemaker could damage the morale of the group. He moved by the busy Hispanic young woman, who was organizing what was left of the kitchen, and over to the stairs. He followed them down to the shelter he assumed Mia and the others had sought when the tornados were bearing down on them.
Two young women had dragged down some cushions and were bent over a game of some kind. He listened for the sound of dice, and when he didn’t hear it, he moved closer. What he saw horrified him. He flew out of there at his top speed and over to Mia.
“The girls have a witch board!”
“A witch board?” Mia confirmed. “I thought I was feeling the dark corners moving in. How could they be so foolish?”
“What?” Dieter asked, walking over.
“Murph says those girls are playing around with a Ouija board downstairs.”
“Where would they have gotten one from?” he asked.
“Most people consider it a game. It probably was with the other games in the storeroom,” Mia reasoned.
“You have to stop them,” Murphy insisted.
“On my way. Mark, would you watch Brian? I’m a little worried. He hasn’t woken up from his nap yet.”
“I’ll stay by his side,” Mark promised.
Dieter and Mia rushed through the kitchen and down the stairs.
“What are you doing?” Mia asked, staring at the board and then around them.
“Get the fuck out of here, bitch!” Lucy’s friend snarled. “Go upstairs and play mommy with the other losers.”
“Carmen, that’s not nice,” her friend scolded.
“Oh, Lucy, don’t even try to act nice. You’re so pathetic.”
“What have you done?” Mia asked, pulling off her glove and putting it on the witch board.
Mia’s eyes rolled back, but she fought the board’s hold on her. Mia found herself in a dimension of evil power. The girls had done more than ask if there were spirits around, they had summoned them. And Carmen had directed all her hate and insolence to bring forth a demon. The demon turned and looked at Mia.
“I, Aosoth, am coming. Prepare yourself,” she said and smiled.
Chapter Five
Murphy pulled Mia’s hand off the board. While she recovered, Dieter picked up the board and planchette. He looked around and found a large Ziploc bag. He ripped the board in four pieces and put it and the planchette in the bag. He next filled the bag with salt.
“What the hell are you doing?” Carmen asked, pulling on his strong arms. “That’s mine.”
“Why did you bring an Ouija board to a climbing center?” Mia asked, concerned. She quickly put on her glove and flexed her fingers.
“It tells me things,” Carmen said.
“How long have you been fooling around with this?” Mia asked.
“She bought the game a few months ago at the Toys “R” Us,” Lucy told them.
“This isn’t a game. Calling the dead isn’t right. Summoning a demon is more than foolhardy; it’s dangerous. Where did you get her name?”
“Demonpedia, online,” Carmen said smugly. “It was she that said I should come here today.”
“It’s true. I wanted to go to the mall, but Carmen said the board wanted us here. I thought this was all about her liking Don Galeford. He’s friends with Wes who had a climbing lesson here today.”
Mia turned to Murphy. “I need my sword.”
“I can’t carry it.”
“Tell Ted. He’ll find a way of getting it to me,” Mia said.
“Who are you talking to?” Carmen asked.
“Me,” Dieter lied. “She was talking to me.”
“Oh.”
“I think you two better come upstairs where I can keep an eye on you,” Mia said.
“No fucking way,” Carmen retorted and pushed Mia hard.
Dieter caught Mia before she fell. Mia stood up straight, walked over, and put a vice grip on Carmen’s arm. “You’re coming upstairs.”
“You’re hurting me! Oh goddess of night, come and save me. Aosoth, protect me!”
Mia smelled the type of sulfur that tended to cling to demons and let the girl go. “Come, Lucy, I can’t do anymore right now. You’re in danger. Aosoth eats virgins.”
“What? How did you know? Shit. Carmen, you bitch, you’re on your own,” Lucy said and ran up the steps.
Dieter and Mia moved swiftly behind her. When they reached the kitchen, Mia took time to look into all the cupboards. “Dieter, she will have an advance guard of twenty-one spirits. We can’t fight her, but we can keep the spirits from the others.” Mia found the salt stores. She handed Dieter a few cylinders, instructing, “Beginning with Brian and the injured, start a series of circles, each growing bigger by a yard or so.”
“We’re not going to have enough salt,” Dieter told her.
“Hopefully, more is coming.”
“Murphy can’t move salt,” Dieter said.
“No, but Ted will get it here. I have faith in him,” Mia said and ran to update Mark.
Ted watched the firemen load the generator in the small cage, securing it firmly before signaling the men above to start to pull it upwards. It bounced around in the wind as the edges of the cage snagged on the cement block exterior. It took a while, but the operation was a success. After a call of “heads up”, t
he thick rope was dropped. He wasn’t surprised when Murphy arrived, telling them that a demon had been called. It was too coincidental that two tornadoes would take the same path. Ted waited for the men to leave before he walked up and took hold of the rope. He ran his hands around the strong fiber and began to calculate.
Cid watched as Ted packed up the duffle. “That’s going to weigh a ton. Better to have two bags.”
“I can’t climb that building and carry two bags,” Ted said.
“What? You don’t climb, and it’s starting to rain. Tie the bag to the rope, and have them pull it up,” Cid insisted.
“The wind will bounce it around. I can’t take the chance that whomever Mia needs this sword and shield for will intercept the package. Besides, I have a feeling Mia needs me.”
“Mia needs you alive, dude.”
Ted ignored Cid’s protests and reached into the file marked Marvel Insects. He pulled on the Spider-Man climbing shoes Mia had bought him one Christmas, trying to lure him away from his Batman fixation. He tied them tight and pulled on the climbing gloves.
“You’re out of your mind. It’s straight up, three stories.”
“I climbed out of a well carrying Mia. Don’t tell me what I can’t do, Cid. Murphy will have my back. He can’t touch the bags, but he can catch me if I fall, which I won’t. Don’t worry, the rope, they just delivered the blankets and generator with, pulled up twice my weight. I have a traction pulley and a DMM Buddy to help me to make the vertical climb.”
The satellite phone rang. Mia had it tucked in beside Brian. He answered it sleepily. “Hello.”
“Brian, it’s Uncle Cid. Can you pass the phone to the nearest adult?”
“Yes. Mark, Cid’s on the phone.”
Mark grabbed the phone. “Yes?”
“Ted’s going to climb the building. Get someone up there to anchor the supply rope.”
