by Alexie Aaron
“Oh, that’s interesting. Did you hit your head?”
“My head was the least of my injuries, why?”
“Sometimes when people sustain an injury to the front of their head, they get a temporary pass into my crazy life.”
“No, it started when - I guess they call him - Steele appeared over me. It was just for a brief moment before Mike and Ted rescued me. What I’m asking is, is this forever? If so, I can deal with it, but it’s the not knowing,” Burt confessed, “that’s driving me nuts.”
“I don’t have much experience with anyone else but me. There are two other women that will be joining in on the search tomorrow. My aunt and a young woman named Sabine. Maybe they have an idea. I think it’s temporary, Burt. Don’t worry,” Mia tried to console the man.
“Mia, please listen. It wasn’t me that left Amber alone. She was with Mike one minute and then she wasn’t,” he explained. “When I realized she was missing, I ran to find her... too late.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you and went into the hollow with Mike and Ted. Beth was smart enough to stay away. I was mad and...”
“Don’t distress yourself. I don’t need explanations,” another lie.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I think you do need explanations and answers and people that you can trust. You have been kicking at waves all your life, and when a friend turns his back on you and scoffs at your warnings, it must...”
“Really piss me off,” she completed. “You’re not the only one. I have a control problem, that’s why I get so mad. I did really enjoy our time together. Let’s leave it at that. A wonderful afternoon to remember,” she said softly.
“I’m frightened about tomorrow.”
“Hell, I’m scared shitless. If I were you, I’d make sure that Father Santos or Angelo is close by you.”
“What is it about Angelo?”
“I thought he was God the first time I laid eyes on him,” Mia admitted.
“I think he’s an archangel. Perhaps Michael.”
“Wouldn’t that be cool,” Mia cooed.
“If I die tomorrow, I’ll look out for you,” Burt promised.
“You’ll be fine. But if I die tomorrow, I am so going to do Murphy.”
This unexpected admission made Burt laugh. “Mia, I’ve seen Murphy. You could do better.”
“But did you see the wood he was carrying?” Mia laughed.
“Come to think of it, you’re right. It was massive.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “Time for bed, Mia. Take care and thank you.”
“Goodnight, Burt. See you in the morning.” Mia clicked her phone shut. She didn’t feel so alone somehow. Still, she lined all her windows and doors with salt and said a double set of prayers before she shut her eyes and slept.
~
The farm was quiet. Murphy had found some soapstone and was running it along his blade while he waited. They had taken Chastity away, and he now could roam the inside of the farmhouse without feeling the evil she had wrapped herself in.
He missed the blonde girl that joked with him. He overheard the skinny boy recounting that Chastity had tried to kill the young woman, but she had survived. He should have married someone strong like Mia. His mother insisted on the match with Chastity. She wanted pretty grandchildren. She didn’t get one grandchild. All she got was an unfaithful daughter-in-law that conspired to kill her son.
He remembered the tree falling on him. The look of satisfaction on Morris Steele’s face as he stood over him and watched the light go out in his eyes. He wandered the woods, axe in hand, for so many days before Abraham Whitney found his body and laid it to rest in the icehouse. Murphy wasn’t stuck here as Chastity was. He was here by choice. He could not imagine any place more heavenly than his farm.
Before the men and women came with their cameras, the blonde girl was worried that there was an evil growing in the hollow. Murphy himself caught Steele trying to enter his home. One crack of an axe was all it took to send that blackguard back to his seething pit. Well, the evil once again was growing, and this time Murphy would be prepared to fight him. This time the tree wouldn’t fall on Murphy. This time the axe would fall on Steele.
Chapter Forty-five
By the time Mia pulled up at the crossroads, the narrow lanes were lined with cars, trucks and a hearse. She had woken up to nausea and spent the first hour of her morning with her head over the toilet. Fear had messed up more than her mind. Each muscle of her body was tense. Mia was in fright and flight mode.
She took a deep breath and pulled her truck in behind the PEEPs SUV, giving both vehicles plenty of room if they needed to leave in a hurry. She wore solid work boots on her feet, warm layers and her christening cross swinging from a long silver chain. In her pockets was a small arsenal of salt containers.
She approached the assembled group timidly. She knew everyone with the exception of Tom’s and Whit’s boss. Sheriff John Ryan was a tall man with a military haircut. His fifty-some years were evident in the lines that enhanced his face but not anywhere else. He caught her looking at him, and he nodded his head in greeting. She knew at that moment, he knew who she was. “Here comes the town crazy,” Mia thought.
He excused himself and walked over towards her. “We haven’t met, but Father Santos and Deputy Braverman have spoken about you. I’m John Ryan.” He extended a hand.
Mia took his hand. “Mia Cooper.” His grasp was firm, and she could tell he softened it a bit, taking into account her gender and size. “Strange place to meet for the first time.”
“I don’t get out much.”
“Me either.”
“Mia, could I ask you something?”
Mia’s mind screamed, “Don’t ask me about the fire. Don’t ask me about the library. Don’t ask me about Whit.” She smiled and lied, “Sure, go ahead.”
“You sure you want to be here?”
“Nope, but sometimes you have to take a stand. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to find the other seeing-eye-dogs.” Mia wandered over to where she heard her aunt’s laugh. She observed the small crowd that had gathered around the life of the party. Tom, Whit and two other deputies were mesmerized by the vivacious woman.
“And so I told the bartender to step aside and watch and learn.” She looked over and saw Mia. “Come over here, girl, we have been waiting on you.”
Mia glanced at her watch. “It’s not ten yet,” she notified her aunt, determined not to let dead Bev get under her skin.
“You’re still the last to arrive,” she pointed out acidly. “Sabine got sick upon arrival, and so there’s just the two of us.”
“I’m sorry. I hope she’ll be alright,” Mia said, distracted as she fought the nausea that wanted to rise in her throat. Searching coils of fear were swirling around her brain, something old trying to tell... no, offer her something.
“Have you met these gentlemen?” Bev asked, trying to pull Mia out of her head.
“Yes, thank you. I went to school with Whit, Kyle and Dave, and I know Tom,” she said, noticing the awkward set to Whit’s shoulders. “So who’s in charge of this dog and pony show?”
“That would be I,” Gerald Shem said, encircling an arm around Mia. “Can I talk to you privately?”
She allowed him to draw her away. The pressure in her head was overwhelming. She fought to breathe slowly. A small trickle of blood oozed from her ear.
“How do you feel?” Gerald asked.
“Like bait,” Mia said and sat down on the ground. “He’s trying to get into my head. I’m pushing him out.”
“How? Sabine couldn’t do it.”
“I have more at stake. Steele is making me promises. Trying to lure me. Oh, God.” Mia felt as if her gut twisted, and she doubled over in pain.
Shem was pushed out of the way, and large arms picked up Mia and moved her away from the crowd. She expected Whit to come to her rescue, but it wasn’t him. It was Burt who carried he
r to the PEEPs van. All the while, he cooed soothing words, “Come on, baby, Burt’s here.”
Mia started crying, “I can’t do this... it hurts. I’m so afraid.”
Burt put his mouth to her ear. “There’s someone special here to help us.” He opened the back of the van, and there in all his glory stood Murphy. “I saw him walking on the side of the road heading here. I stopped and gave him a lift. Thought that axe was slowing him down.”
“Oh, Burt... I...”
“I know, we’ll talk later. I’m going to leave you here with Murphy. I’ll be right back.”
Mia looked at her ghostly friend and sighed. “You don’t know how happy you make me. I think I’m going to die here. Steele just is too strong.” Mia felt the tears roll down her face.
Murphy reached out and grabbed her face. The sensation was horrible and wonderful at the same time. Murphy looked into her eyes and said, “Tough shit.”
“I wait fifteen years for you to speak, and all you can say is...”
“Tough shit.” Murphy’s eyes were piercing into her brain. “Get mad,” he said and let her face go.
“I think you’re right. And I’m pissed. But is it enough?”
Murphy just shrugged his shoulders.
~
“Is she going to be alright?” Gerald asked Burt.
“She’s with a friend now. I think so. Steele is so interested in Mia, in hurting Mia, I’m afraid for her,” Burt said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“We don’t have a lot of options here. There’s her and Bev. There’s no one else who can see what they see,” Gerald insisted.
“What about me and Angelo?”
“You could use lose yours in a microsecond. Angelo’s sight is selective. Sorry, we need Mia.”
“Burt, I’m okay,” Mia’s soft voice drifted over before she slipped her hand in his. “Murphy gave me some advice. I’ll be fine.”
He looked down at her. “You sure?”
“Yes. Time’s a wasting, Gerald,” Mia said, looking at Shem.
He took a deep breath and clapped his hands. “Could I have everyone over here?”
The group started to congregate, forming a half circle around Gerald. Mia tried to push to the back of the group but met with a wall of resistance, namely Angelo. He put a large hand on her shoulder and bent forward and whispered, “You’re stronger than you think.”
“Let’s hope you’re right,” she said in awe of his sensitivity. She looked over at Whit, and he acted as if she didn’t exist. This rejection puzzled Mia and, yes, it hurt.
“Not the right man,” Angelo said and squeezed her shoulder.
She wanted to ask him more, but Gerald had his hand up to silence the group.
“Look around you. Memorize these faces. Leave no one behind.” He waited until the group took the time to identify each person. Whit, Tom, Dave, Kyle and Sheriff Ryan stood across from Mia. Burt and Angelo on either side of her. Beth, Mike, Ted and Bev stood in the center. Father Santos stood just to the right of Gerald.
“Our aim today is to find and recover what may be left of the Hell Fire Club. The deputies will be in charge of keeping the ladders safe. Beth and Ted will ferry the stretchers to us once we find the remains. Once found, they will get them with all due speed to the graveyard adjacent to the church. This is consecrated ground. Being on consecrated ground should have a temporary effect of slowing down any spirit attached to the remains.”
“The rest of us will be split into two groups. Mia and Bev will draw away Steele and his acolytes. Angelo and Burt will stay with them. The rest of us will be searching out the ruins and, hopefully, finding the remains.” Gerald waited once more for all of this to sink in. “Are there any questions?”
“What if we are attacked? How do we defend ourselves?” Kyle asked.
“Swallow a power pellet and eat the ghosts,” Beth said to Ted. This caused Mia to snicker at the PAC-MAN reference.
“No seriously,” Kyle insisted.
“What are your beliefs son, your religious beliefs?”
“Lutheran, the holy trinity.”
“Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Onward Christian Soldiers. Keep the things that make you one of God’s warriors in the forefront. If you wear a cross, take it out now. If it’s a star of David, it’s time to show your might.”
“Gerald, may I?” Sheriff Ryan asked. He waited for his permission before continuing. “I have taken the precaution of loading rock salt into your 12 gauge shotguns, deputies. Father Santos has blessed the water in the bottles over there.” He pointed to a stack of squirt bottles. “Don’t fire a shot at a human being, you will injure if not kill them. Instead, squirt a little holy water on them if you are in doubt that they are under the influence of Steele or his gang.”
“I know that for some of you this is unbelievable,” Father Santos spoke up. “Tales spread at campfires, fodder for good television and bad, maybe. All I and a few others can tell you is that the threat is real but not insurmountable. Walls come down with trumpet blasts, giants fall with a single stone, and we will do this. And for Beth and Ted, there will be a photo op after the operation is completed.” He smiled indulgently at the young people.
“We’re going to be famous,” the techies said in unison.
“Cut it out, be professional,” Mike growled.
Mia felt the hands pulling at her again. “Angelo, it’s time. They’re here.”
“Do you see anyone?”
“No, but it feels like hands pulling me downward.” Mia started to walk away from the group. She walked towards the brown house. She knew it was special to Steele, and it was where she would lead him.
Bev appeared at her side. “You have a lot of pluck for a Cooper.”
“You look remarkable for a dead person.”
“I guess I should. Oh damn, did you feel that?” Bev turned around and kicked something off her leg. “It’s like being on a reunion cruise with the fifth fleet.”
Mia laughed in spite of herself. She turned around and saw that Burt and Angelo still shadowed them. Murphy shadowed Angelo.
Mia passed Daisy Sprigs who showed concern by waving her hanky.
“Who’s that?” Bev asked.
“Daisy Sprigs.”
“Oh, the deflowered girl. Poor thing. At least she was buried on consecrated ground.”
“How long have you been doing this?” Mia asked as she pulled out some salt and flicked it at her feet. It stopped the snakelike arm that was moving near her jean leg.
“That work? Hand me one of those. I think I may lose my shoe any moment.” Bev took the shaker and shook it on her clothing. “Ah, better. Oh, what were we talking about? Ah, yes. I’ve been seeing things all my life.”
“Did my father know?”
Bev wrinkled up her face. “If he did, he never mentioned it. He was into his books and a dozen years older than I. As if that excused him. Nope, I had to find my way all by my lonesome. It’s really better that way. Look at Sabine. She’s been nurtured, mentored, and at the first sign of evil, she pukes.”
“That’s mean.”
“Actually, she’s more of a seer than a viewer. She’s the one that ratted your crush on Whitney Martin to Angelo and me.”
“How did she know? I only met her recently. She could get in my head that quickly?” Mia asked, slowing her steps, not wanting to reach the house too soon.
“Don’t know. She just came up with the information over breakfast this morning.”
“He was just the guy in high school that never really saw me. Sure, we hung out together but never really together, if you get my meaning. I was always weird Mia, and although he looked out for me, it wasn’t much more than that. Now if he were mean then I would have moved on, but he was nice and I’m stupid. I didn’t realize I still cared until he lost Sherry.”
“He’s a cute guy, but not the one for you. Isn’t there someone else, maybe a few feet back?” She looked at Mia coloring. “You little slut. Poor thing, you take after your
auntie.” Bev smiled.
“If I don’t make it, look after him,” Mia said quietly before she stepped on the porch and waited for Steele.
Chapter Forty-six
Mike accepted the shotgun with a little trepidation. He had never fired a weapon before. Sensing his fear, Whit said, “Just pump-it, point-it, shoot-it, repeat. Then reload.”
Father Santos and Gerald led the group down the ladders. After them came Whit and Mike. Tom and Sheriff Ryan brought up the rear. The sheriff did periodic checks of the microphones the deeper they went.
Mike stopped the group. “This is where Burt fell.”
“How deep?”
“It looks deeper, but I think it was eight feet at the point where we found him. The ladder must have fallen in after our escape.”
“Dave, bring one of those ladders down here,” the sheriff ordered.
In a few moments, the deputy appeared with a ladder. Before Father Santos descended, he drew a salt circle around the deputy and told him not to move outside of the protection ring.
The group climbed down and began looking for the possibility of more rooms underground.
Mike remembered the slippery moss and urged caution to the group. He turned on his flashlight and began to move into each dark space, the light barely cutting into the darkness.
Whit took a piece of wood and probed into every crevice, seeking a hole big enough to contain a secret latch.
“Whit, come here,” Tom requested. “I thought I felt this slab move.” Tom was bent over a large rectangle of cut stone. “See what I mean?” He pushed at the top right corner, and it slid away from him slightly.
Whit pushed at the bottom right corner at the same time as Tom. The slab moved three feet. “Well, I’ll be,” Whit exclaimed. He picked up a stone and cast it down into the dark opening. It clacked once and seemed to tumble down as several more clacks sounded after the first one, each one growing more distant until the sounds stopped. “I think we have a staircase here.”
Gerald put a hand on Whit’s shoulder. “Good job.”
