The Keeper of the Crows

by Kyle Alexander Romines

  “This isn’t over,” the Keeper hissed. “There are dozens more of my children roaming Gray Hollow. I will have blood.” The red fire was reflected in the Keeper’s black eyes. “There is no way out.”

  Thomas didn’t stick around to argue with the thing that was once Salem Alistair. There wasn’t time. The wall of flame wouldn’t protect them forever, and he was sure of one thing: more scarecrows were coming.

  We’re not finished yet, Thomas thought. There was still the chance that Percy Durer might be able to help them, although there wasn’t time to pursue that lead at the moment.

  At least they were alive, albeit temporarily. Eve looked worried, but she was unharmed and reasonably self-possessed. Jezebel, on the other hand, was stunned. The fierceness about her he had long admired was shattered.

  “Make sure she keeps going,” Thomas said to Eve. Eve nodded and wrapped an arm around Jezebel’s shoulders. She continued glancing back as they retreated farther into the heart of the town. They ran through the park, which was fortunately devoid of scarecrows. The unnatural darkness spread across almost the whole city and was on the verge of covering Gray Hollow completely.

  “The courthouse!” Thomas shouted. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him. In the very center of the town, it would be the perfect place to regroup and make a temporary shelter.

  “Thomas!” Eve yelled when they had almost reached the courthouse.

  A new cloud of crows swarmed toward them, easily passing over the wall of flame.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Abandoning any pretext of shooting at the storm of crows quickly approaching, Thomas raced over to the park trail leading to the courthouse. He could hear his heartbeat echo over the sound of the storm. By the time the three neared the doors of the courthouse, the birds were almost upon them.

  He wrenched the doors open and made sure Eve and Jezebel got through safely before pulling them shut. A screeching sound reverberated outside when the wave of crows broke against the building. The thick glass doors mercifully remained intact.

  “I think the doors are bulletproof,” Eve said. She tapped against the thick glass with her fist. “Thank God. I didn’t think this small town would have that kind of security.” Eve’s arm was wrapped around Jezebel, who remained in a trance.

  “The birds are leaving,” Thomas muttered. He backed away and kept his eyes on the front door. They passed through a second set of doors and walked carefully into the quiet building. The lights were shut off. Thomas suspected the power was out across Gray Hollow.

  They were safe for now. He didn’t know how much longer that would last. The gleam of light above the courthouse was fading fast. Despite making it to safety, Thomas couldn’t help feeling a sense of defeat.

  The trio stood quietly for a moment, unsure of what to do next. Thomas stared outside.

  “Come on,” he said. “We need to reload.”

  “This can’t be happening,” Eve whispered. “Thomas, what happened to the all people running through the streets?” Distant screams had given way to an eerie lull.

  “Maybe some of them found refuge,” Thomas said doubtfully. “The scarecrows can’t be everywhere.”

  “We’re practically still out in the open,” Eve replied. “Those things are all over the place. What are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Jezebel, do you still want to make a run for Durer’s shop?”

  Jezebel didn’t respond. Instead she slumped against the wall and sank to the floor.

  Eve pulled him aside. “Let her be. She needs time.”

  “We may not have time,” Thomas said. “Every second we wait the darkness grows closer to this building.” Thomas inspected the area, searching for any trace of life. His footsteps echoed loudly in the silent hallway. He clutched the gun in his hand, ready to use it.

  Eve followed behind him. “If we’re running out of time, there’s something I want to tell you,” she said.

  Thomas was unable to see her face clearly in the shadowy recesses of the room. “Are you sure this is the best time?” he asked. Jezebel was already in a state of shock; he wasn’t sure he could handle a new revelation from Eve.

  “There might not be another chance,” she said. “I just wanted to tell you that you were right.”

  “About what?”

  “About everything that happened between us,” she replied.

  “What?”

  “When your sources were exposed, the fallout was too much for me to handle. I didn’t want to deal with it. Leaving you gave me an out.”

  Thomas wanted to tell her that such details didn’t matter when their lives were in jeopardy, but he couldn’t say the words. If she had stayed by his side, he might have never come to Gray Hollow.

  I needed you, he wanted to say. And you gave up on me. Thomas shook his head. “I can’t do this right now.” He turned back toward the center of the room.

  “You have to know,” Eve replied. She caught up with him. “I tried to tell myself that it was your fault. It was easy to think you couldn’t get over the past. I made myself believe that you became too bitter after you were fired. In the end, I just didn’t want to be with someone who was in disgrace. I wanted to make sure that my career stayed on track. So I tried to cut you out and get on with my life.”

  “Eve—”

  “It didn’t work, Thomas. No one else could help me forget you, not even for a second. Suddenly, my career didn’t seem as important either. When you called me, I wanted to block you out, but I couldn’t. That’s why I followed you here.”

  Thomas hadn’t expected this. “Eve, I—”

  He heard footsteps approaching, bent down, and looked around the corner. There wasn’t a hint of movement in the corridor. Thomas glanced up at Eve.

  “Wasn’t that door shut a few seconds ago?” he whispered.

  Eve nodded. “Someone followed us here.” The words hung in the air.

  “Get Jezebel up the stairs,” he whispered to Eve. “I’ll be right behind you.” He reloaded the revolver, looked for a trace of anyone in the hallway, and then scurried up the staircase after the two women. As he made it to the top, he saw Logan Randall emerge from the shadows. Logan’s uniform was covered in blood. The two men made eye contact, and a cruel grin spread over the deputy’s face.

  ***

  “I told you that you would regret getting in my way,” Logan said. He knew he was becoming unhinged. The filth covering him gnawed at his mind like a rabid animal.

  Logan had followed Jezebel and the others from the station, watching from the safety of the back alleys while they fought for survival against the scarecrows.

  When Thomas turned and ran, Logan continued moving at a constant pace. There was nowhere for him to go.

  Scarecrows, he thought, unable to believe what he saw. They were the creatures that killed Jeffrey Daniels, Rick Pepper, and Paul Morris. Gary was telling the truth all along, and Logan had killed him for it. The world had gone mad. Salem’s scarecrows always disgusted him, but he never imagined in his wildest fears that they would rise to life. Logan had also heard the words of the thing claiming to be Salem Alistair.

  Why couldn’t the freak stay dead? Logan thought as he advanced up the stairs. The deputy would just have to put him back in the ground after he took care of Jezebel and the others. With all the chaos, there would be no way anyone would be able to tie the murders back to him.

  ***

  Thomas tried opening a door at the top of the stairs. It was locked. Spotting the open door to Judge Underhill’s office, he led the other two inside. Logan’s footsteps echoed against the stairs.

  “It’s Logan Randall,” he whispered to the others. “He’s coming.” At the mention of the deputy’s name, Jezebel seemed to snap to life.

  “Logan?” she asked. “Here?” Her anger overrode the impact of Salem’s haunting words, and she grabbed the revolver at her side.

  “Yes,” Thomas whispered. “Are you OK?”

  “No,” the sh
eriff replied. “I keep hearing Salem’s voice inside my head. It’s all I can think about.”

  “You saw that thing for yourself. Whoever the Keeper of the Crows is, he’s not your friend.”

  “Salem is in there somewhere. This thing has twisted him into something evil.”

  “Forget about your friend,” Eve said. “There are too many of those monsters for us to fight. We don’t even know if Durer can help us. Maybe we should just try to leave. The sun has to come out eventually. If we can get out of Gray Hollow, the scarecrows may not be able to follow us.”

  “You heard that thing,” Thomas replied, his eyes searching for a sign of movement. The sound of footsteps stopped. “There’s no way out.”

  “Don’t move,” a dry voice ordered. Logan Randall crept out of the darkness and pointed his gun at Eve. “Drop your weapons,” he said to Jezebel and Thomas.

  “Don’t do it, Thomas,” Jezebel said. She kept her gun trained on the deputy. “He’ll kill her anyway, and us too.”

  Thomas couldn’t take that chance. He saw the fear in Eve’s eyes, and the madness in Logan’s. He released his grip on the gun. The weapon clattered to the floor. Now Randall pointed his gun at Thomas.

  “I’ll kill him,” he said to Jezebel. “You know I will.”

  Jezebel weighed her options carefully. “How could you do it, Logan? Salem was just a defenseless boy. He never harmed anyone in his life.”

  “We didn’t mean to kill the little freak,” Logan spat. “It was a prank. By the time we figured out he was dead, it was too late. That’s why I had to kill Gary. He was going to tell everyone what had happened. You think I wanted to kill him? Gary was my friend.”

  “Some friend,” Thomas muttered.

  Logan snarled. “I wasn’t about to spend the rest of my life in prison because Gary suddenly grew a conscience. I’m a survivor. That’s what separates me from people like you and Salem Alistair. You wouldn’t understand that, city boy.”

  “Stop,” Eve pleaded. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “Oh, but I do. In fact, I’m looking forward to it. If it weren’t for this stupid reporter sticking his nose where it didn’t belong, I wouldn’t even be in this position right now. You deserve what’s coming. Now put down the gun, Jezebel.”

  Suddenly, an explosion rocked the room. Logan Randall stumbled forward, a red hole in his shoulder. Behind him, Judge Underhill stood at his desk, a gun in his hand.

  “You?” Logan questioned with wide eyes. He tried to raise the gun again at Thomas, and Jezebel ran at him and pushed him through the window. Shattered glass flew everywhere. Logan Randall landed on the ground two stories below with a thud.

  The judge walked to the window, where the deputy was moaning weakly below.

  “He’s alive,” Eve said.

  “Not for long,” Thomas responded. He knew what was coming, and he suspected Logan did, too. “Not once the Keeper gets here.”

  “Who?” Judge Underhill asked.

  “The creature responsible for this chaos,” Jezebel said. “Salem Alistair.”

  “Salem Alistair?” The judge’s eyes grew wide. “That’s impossible—he’s dead.”

  “Have you seen what’s going on out there?” Thomas asked. “Those scarecrows are his handiwork.”

  “I heard some reports on the radio before the power went out, but it sounded unbelievable. You can’t seriously expect me to believe that inanimate objects have suddenly come to life.”

  “Up until a little while ago, I wouldn’t have believed it either,” Eve said.

  “Not to change the subject,” Thomas interrupted. He looked at the judge suspiciously. “But what are you doing here? The rest of the building is deserted.”

  “I was hiding when you came in. While you were talking, I saw Logan Randall approaching with a gun. As it so happens, I’m a strong believer in the Second Amendment.”

  “We need to get out of here before Salem returns,” Jezebel said. She glanced out the broken window. “We can’t cover the distance on foot.”

  “We don’t have to,” Judge Underhill replied. He brandished a set of keys.

  “Let’s go,” Jezebel said, and the group hurried down the stairs. Outside, the final shred of light succumbed to the darkness. Two scarecrows lumbered through the parking lot, searching for prey.

  Thomas threw open the courthouse doors.

  “Now!” he shouted. They raced through the parking lot. The scarecrows quickly followed, moving with inhuman speed. As Judge Underhill tossed the keys to Jezebel, Thomas and Eve fired at the monsters repeatedly. Each shot missed, and the creatures grew closer to the group.

  “Get in!” Jezebel yelled. The engine roared to life.

  ***

  From the ground, Logan Randall watched the car speed away, its lights tearing through the night. The scarecrows chased after it but proved unable to catch the vehicle. As he crawled across the ground, the deputy fought to stay conscious. His gun lay just out of reach, not that it would do him any good now.

  Blood poured from his bullet wound, mixing with blood splattered over his uniform from killing the two men at the station. The wound didn’t seem to be fatal. Maybe there was still a chance he could make it out of this yet, if he could find a way to stop the blood loss. He pulled himself along, grunting from the pain of his injuries. Logan couldn’t bring himself to look at them. Near the back of the courthouse, he spotted the parking lot. Logan told himself that if he could just get to a vehicle, maybe he could wait out the crisis until the next morning.

  A hiss sounded nearby. Suddenly, Logan felt a presence behind him. He cocked his head and searched for the source. When he reached out for the gun, he found himself staring into the demented face of the Keeper of the Crows.

  “Stay back!” he screamed. Logan pointed the gun at the Keeper. The black eyes carved into the pumpkin lit up with fire. The monster took a step toward him. Logan fired directly into the Keeper’s chest. A black substance like blood oozed from the Keeper’s rotten flesh onto the stained patchwork of cloth and straw.

  “Logan,” the monster hissed, continuing to walk in his direction. “I’ve waited so long for this moment.”

  The deputy noticed a long scythe in the monster’s hands.

  “Get away from me!” Logan shouted. He fired again and again into the Keeper’s chest. More black blood leaked outward, failing to deter the thing that was once Salem Alistair.

  “You reap what you sow, Logan.”

  Moments before the jagged metal severed his head from his body, Logan thought he could see the pumpkin’s carved smile widen.

  “Bury him in the ground,” the Keeper hissed, sending the crows to pick the flesh from Logan’s body. “As he once buried me.” It was a fitting end for Logan. His body would spend eternity in dirt.

  There were two lives left to take. Then the Keeper would raze the town to the ground with fire and death.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Stay quiet,” Jezebel whispered. She focused the beam from her flashlight across the deserted walkway. “Old Main Street was always tranquil,” she muttered. “But now it’s practically a ghost town.” She knocked as loudly as she dared on the door of the novelty store. There was no response from inside. Like all the other buildings across Gray Hollow, it was pitch black inside.

  Thomas wondered how many people were hiding within those dark buildings, praying the scarecrows wouldn’t come for them.

  When Jezebel was confident Percy Durer would not answer the door, she smashed through the display window with her shotgun.

  Thomas cringed at the sound. He half expected to hear the rustling of wings behind them.

  “Follow me,” Jezebel said before stepping deftly into the store. “Make sure to reload your guns. Be careful with your ammo. It won’t be long before we start to run out.”

  Thomas watched Judge Underhill, who was staring intently at Jezebel.

  Under the circumstances it shouldn’t have been surprising, but Thomas found
something about the judge’s demeanor unsettling. Why hadn’t Underhill shown himself earlier in the courthouse? More disturbing was the way Logan Randall looked when Underhill shot him. Thomas knew a look of betrayal when he saw it. Still, he kept his suspicions to himself. Now was not the time for accusation—not when there were scarecrows on every block looking for them.

  “Wow,” Eve muttered. “This place is almost as eerie as the scarecrows.” She brushed a cobweb from the wall. “Who is this Durer guy anyway?”

  “He’s been around for longer than I can remember,” Jezebel said. “He was pretty old even then. To tell you the truth, Durer always frightened me a little. When I asked him about the scarecrows earlier, he almost seemed glad to hear of them. Like he’d been expecting the news.” She flashed her light over dusty bookshelves in an effort to find the storekeeper.

  “He obviously has issues with décor,” Eve replied. She held up a skull-shaped candleholder. “I’m guessing he didn’t sell children’s books.”

  Thomas nodded. “You’re definitely right about that. Look at some of the books on these shelves. This is some pretty dark stuff.”

  “We don’t have time for this,” Judge Underhill said. “You told me Durer was the one who could stop this. You all should be focused on finding him.”

  “That’s what we’re doing,” Jezebel replied with a frown. “And I said the old man might be able to help. No guarantees. Luckily for us, Salem seems to be out for revenge first and foremost, so that ought to buy us some time.”

  The judge didn’t respond. The wary expression remained on his face. The four people split apart and began searching the expansive store individually. They inspected deserted aisles, bookshelves, and rows of antiques.

  “What’s up here?” Eve asked, pointing to a flight of stairs.

  “That’s where Durer sleeps,” Jezebel answered.

  ***

  Eve looked shocked. “He actually lives in this place? Creepy.” She walked up the staircase while Thomas followed Jezebel into the back of the store. Eve wasn’t sure if it was primarily out of jealousy or fear, but she wished Thomas had followed her. She eased the creaky door handle open to the storekeeper’s room.