“I can’t even call home to let anyone know--,” I suddenly realized my mistake, “I asked them not to answer the phone after dark, no matter what.”
“Then we’ll all just have to bunk down and hope for the best, because I can tell you right now--,” He peered out and into the tall dark pines that bordered the steeply sloping highway, “This rig will roll through just about anything—but if we get caught in a slide or drift—they won’t find us until the spring thaw.”
“There’s a small Catholic church in Hedley--,” I remembered, “We can find Tim and spend the night there. It’s at the edge of town and near the highway.”
“I don’t mean to be a wet blanket--,” He seemed optimistic, but I was quickly feeling the growing tension as he spoke, “But what makes you so sure that your friend is alright?”
“Call it a gut feeling--,” I swallowed hard, praying that we would not be too late, “If we can get to him before the darkness comes—we still have a chance.”
5:15 p.m.
Darkness was settling on the little town as we had pulled into the Versailles Funeral Parlor. The wind was wailing like a Banshee and the flurries came in a blinding torrent. Parking before the main entrance, I rushed out while Raymond waited in the running vehicle. Stumbling out and trying the door handle, I was dismayed to find it locked! As pounding furiously, I shouted above the storm while calling my friend’s name. My nerves screamed as the darkness crept closer and the icy wind cried out, the frozen gusts casting snow drifts from off the roof and showering me in a blinding and bitter cold veil! I battered desperately against the door! Caught in the headlights of the truck, I fearfully looked back. I could barely see anything through the wind and snow, but, squinting, saw Raymond as he now frantically waved through the windshield, tapping at his watch and pointing into the night.
“Michael—what a wonderful surprise--,” Tim had suddenly opened the door, shouting gleefully as he pulled me forward in a friendly embrace, “Merry Christmas, old buddy!” He thought for a moment, and looking around, asked, “But what are you doing all the way out here in this weather—and where is everyone else?” He had noticed Raymond in the truck, and shielding his eyes with a hand from the headlights, happily waved!
“I don’t have time to explain, but we need to get out of here, right now!” I had grabbed at his arm, as halting me, he motioned back into the parlor, “But Father Alistair and Mrs. Laramie are here and we were just about to sit down to dinner—what’s going on?”
“Oh My God--,” I rushed into the house, smelling the Christmas dinner and panicking, looked to my friend, “Get everybody out of here—we need to go! Tim please, we need to get out of here, right now!” Knowing from previous experience that I had never been one to panic without good reason, he became visibly frightened. Raising his hands before him in a gesture of calming, he said, “Alright—just give me a minute here.”
“Oh my—what seems to be the trouble?” Father Brian Alistair came from out of the hallway, as wearing his Sunday best and carrying a cup of tea, appeared utterly shocked. He was short, stout, white-haired and balding. His big blue eyes were wide and inquiring as he looked between us, “Has something happened?”
From behind the elderly priest now peered Jeanne Laramie. I had recognized the elderly woman immediately. She had lost her husband several years before, and had taken to spending Christmas and other holidays with the kindly old priest. She was tall and thin and still wearing black as though forever mourning. She had said nothing, but anxiously clutched at the crucifix about her neck while watching from behind the befuddled old man.
“We have a situation here, and it’s of the greatest importance that we all get out of here, right now--,” I had attempted to explain, interrupted as the sudden explosion of gun-fire echoed from the parking lot behind us! I knew that it was Raymond without a doubt! I spun toward the large kitchen window, seeing the brilliant flashes of the weapon firing from just outside!
Tim had run to the window, parting the drapes, and gasped in utter terror as the glass suddenly exploded inward! Raymond rolled across the floor in a bloodied trail, as scrambling to his feet, he stared aghast, “Everyone—run for your lives!”
We had all instinctively turned and made for the hallway. The window frame behind us erupted in a shower of splintering wood and broken glass, an enormous and fur-covered claw ripping away at the broken and battered framework, tearing away the torn and broken structure as it now forced its way into the house!
“Go people, move! It’s busting its way into the parlor!” Raymond cried out, forcing everyone onward as the overhead lights exploded in a shower of sparks from behind us! Something in the darkness of the corridor emitted a hideous and gurgling roar! The sound was terrifying, unearthly and drawn out into a high-pitched and squealing shriek!
We had stumbled and struggled from out of the hall and into the back of the parlor, the thing pursuing us as the boards splintered beneath its immense weight. As it tore at the walls, the heavy antique furniture was being cast aside like toys and smashed into splinters as it followed in a mindless rage!
“This way—follow me!” Tim had wailed. Throwing open the basement door, he switched on the light and hurriedly led everyone down the narrow wooden stairs.
Raymond had slammed and locked the door behind him, crying out as something smashed against the splintering framework from the other side. Losing his balance, he had toppled head-long down the stairs! I had caught him near the top of the steps as we both tumbled back, catching the handrails not a moment too soon! His eyes were huge, filled with an unspeakable horror, as he looked to me in utter disbelief, and gasped, “It came out of nowhere—I emptied both revolvers into it—but it didn’t even slow the damn thing down!”
“What on earth is happening here—and what is that thing?” The terror reflected eerily in Tim’s dark eyes, “For the love of God. Please, tell me that it isn’t those things that came out of the mine in ‘72….”
Raymond had just turned to me in question, as Tim had revealed a nightmare enshrouded in mystery and personal doubt. But maintaining what little composure remained to me, I looked back to Tim, and said, “This is something far worse. There really isn’t time to try to explain—we need to find a way out of here, and fast!”
“But we’re on the edge of town and caught in a winter storm--,” He gasped, looking around the little group, and said, “Where on earth could we go?”
The thunderous efforts of the monstrous thing at the top of the stairs forced us ever inward.
Shielding Mrs. Laramie, Tim had gently escorted the woman to where she promptly took shelter behind father Alistair at the end of the hall.
“I think--,” Raymond fought to catch his breath while pressing a hand to a nasty gash on his left brow, “That it used to be a grizzly—but it’s hard to tell…”
“Used to be?” Tim spun toward me, his expression becoming desperate as he gazed with wide eyes, “What does he mean—used to be a grizzly?” Looking to Raymond, his features expressed utter confusion and complete terror. Frantically gesturing toward his breast and motioning with his hands, he said, “It has other things—heads, parts, coming out from everywhere.”
Tim had just stared at me as though damned and silently awaiting the end.
“We’re being hunted by some kind of malevolent force--,” I fell back against the wall as the thing at the top of the stairs roared, and I said, “It seems to have some kind of influence over the spirits of the lost—and be able to reanimate the dead!” My attention had drifted past the Father and terrified woman to the door directly behind them. It was the entrance into the Morgue and Crematorium. “Tim—I need to know right now.” Desperation now took me within panic, “Do you have any bodies in there?”
With eyes flashing dark fear, he had swiftly looked between me and the door, stuttering as he said, “No—things have been fairly quiet. I managed to handle all the previous arrangements before the holidays.”
The door frame spl
intered and exploded inward as the beast uttered a horrendous and guttural roar! The sound of the accompanying shrieking resounding with victory as it now crashed down the old wooden stairs, intending to rush through the door and into the adjoining room. For reasons beyond explanation we had all faltered to look back! As witnessing the monster while shoving its enormous head and shoulders through and into the small entranceway, we all choked as the entire corridor began filling with the sickly sour and sweet stench of rotting flesh, and stared in morbid fascination and shock upon the nightmare…. The frozen and decaying flesh was now thawing. Oozing, it was running into putrid puddles that blackened the tiled floor! The thick fur was matted and greasy with unspeakable filth, and torn away in great and filthy clumps, the peeling skin revealed maggots which still lingered in great masses beneath! But the true horror now appeared as I lowered my eyes. As seemingly sprouting from out of that rotting thing were the putrid and decaying forms of other animals! And though vague, I thought to have seen the remains of several wolves, coyotes and a puma. Hideously conjoined, they were a ghastly accumulation of the corpses of all manner of woodland creature! But as they moved, they altered and changed, becoming indistinguishable horrors never before seen! The limbs and claws thrashing as the heads, turning toward us with some strange awareness, snapped and wailed as the horror moved! As it forced its way into the dark corridor, I clearly saw the head of the thing: A grizzly, but far larger than any other living member of the species! The skull revealing tendon and muscle, as only the flesh seemed to have slipped away. And from out of the liquid putrefaction, the blackness where once eyes had been, a pale and burning hatred stared back!
Mrs. Laramie had screamed, falling backward and into the Father’s arms as we all turned and raced for the basement door! The monster tore its way through the doorway, its mass too large to pass through as it was mangled even further, the fur, flesh and fat being ripped away as it pulled itself through the narrow stairwell! Leaving a trail of putrid filth within passing, it roared as it charged after us!
“Into the bay—it has steel-enforced frames and metal doors!” Tim hurried us down the corridor and into the adjoining room. He switched on the lights as we all raced inside, desperately slamming and drawing the long metal bolt on the door!
“How are we going to get out of here—and what in God’s name is that thing!” Father Alistair almost pleaded as he fearfully looked between us. The sounds of the enraged beast pounding from behind the door was sending us all back with each increased and devastating attempt! As the metal door slowly bent inward, the stone of the foundation began crumbling and falling away from around the reinforced steel frame!
Raymond had frantically slid cabinets and shelving against the door. Falling with his back against the wall, he desperately gasped, “I need to make it back out to the truck.”
“We have no idea of what else might be out there?” I argued, “Who knows what might be waiting outside of these doors?”
“It’s our only chance--,” He choked while wiping blood from his eyes with a sleeve. Pointing toward the rear bay doors, he said, “While that thing is stuck in the corridor—I’ll bring the truck around and pick everyone up!”
“You’re hurt and bleeding bad.” Tim rushed to the first aid cabinet, and grabbing supplies, attended to Raymond, “You won’t make it far in this condition. You’ll get light-headed from loss of blood. Please—sit down for a moment!”
In all the excitement Raymond had lost sight of his sense, staring wildly about! With the monster steadily breaking its way through the door, I forced my friend to listen. Pushing him toward the chair, I pleaded, “Raymond—you’re not going to do yourself or anyone else any good, if you bleed to death out there! Please—just let Tim help you so that we can all get the hell out of here!”
Raymond had slowly conceded, sliding down into the chair. Tim gestured for a tall standing lamp. Mrs. Laramie had swiftly retrieved and dragged the light over, adjusting it accordingly, and said. “I was a nurse in my younger years--,” She explained while struggling with trembling hands, “But I’m afraid that I’m not what I used to be.”
“It’s alright, Mrs. Laramie. I can assist him with the bandaging.” Father Alistair spoke softly while gently guiding her aside. The old priest was visibly shaken and shuddering terribly, but still attempted to remain calm.
I hadn’t realized the extent and severity of Raymond’s wounds until watching as they now cared for the man. Through the chaos, I had failed to remember that he had previously been thrown through a plate-glass window, and, wincing while noticing his tattered and bloodied clothing, realized that he was still bleeding from several terrible gashes upon his legs and arms.
“None of us are going to get out of here alive--,” Raymond choked, cursing as Tim carefully stitched up a terrible wound on his shoulder, and he said, “If we don’t do something soon.”
“Well, you’re not going to get much further if you don’t let me finish.” Tim insisted, while hurriedly cleaning and bandaging Raymond’s wounds, “You were very fortunate that none of these injuries came near any arteries. So, we can at least be thankful for that!”
Assisting Tim with cutting the bandage and tape, Father Alistair watched the doorway as the horror roared from behind, the entire building shaking with the horrific bellowing and deafening screams!
“Give him the pendant—before you forget.” Raymond winced as Tim carefully extracted a large splinter from a wound on his leg, and the Father swiftly applied antiseptic.
Reaching inside and to where I had kept Tim’s gift in an inner pocket of my coat, I offered it to him. As placing down the bandages and tape, he had accepted and hurriedly opened the box. The priest had completed the bandaging of Raymond’s head wound as Tim held the amulet into the lamp light.
“That is an ancient sign.” Father Alistair noticed the pendent and made the symbol of the cross before his breast, “It was professed to have been protection against demons according to the book of Solomon, involving sacred symbols and angelic seals.”
“It seems to have some affect against this evil—but how much we’re not exactly sure?” Placing the talisman around my friend’s neck, I jumped as the horror now battered brutally against the metal door!
“It works on the shadows and invisible things--,” Raymond cursed as he moved from the chair, “But I doubt that it will do any good against that damn thing!”
“We have to call Harry!” Tim panicked as he suddenly turned and rushed toward the telephone. I had caught him by the sleeve, pulling him back, and slowly shaken my head, “I’m so sorry—but we lost him last night. That’s why we’re here now. We came here in the hope that you might still be alive.”
“Harry….” Tears welled in his eyes. Removing his glasses, he put a hand before his face, “But I just talked to him yesterday morning. He said that he was going to be here. What happened to him?”
“It’s a lot like what’s going to happen to all of us once that thing breaks down that door!” Raymond shouted, reloading his revolvers at the counter as he looked toward the rear bay doors, “I’m going out there to get the truck—you all get ready to make a run for it! We don’t have much time!”
Before anyone could argue he had run to the back of the bay. He glanced back briefly before slipping out through the door and vanishing into the storm. The door had slammed closed behind him with certain finality, and we all turned to the relentless pounding of the nightmare breaking its way through the metal door!
“We should go after him--,” Tim spun toward me, his expression desperate as he choked out the words, “Our chances are better out there than in here! That door isn’t going to hold out much longer! That thing will be through in just a few moments anyway!”
I looked to where the metal door bent inward, creasing and slowing ripping free of the frame, recoiling to the sounds of the beast’s roaring as it forced its rotting and bloated bulk against the door! Growing closer with every violent effort, enraged it began hammer
ing, bending the metal frame and morgue door!
“He’s right--,” Father Alistair wailed, “The beast is coming—we are no longer safe in this place and cannot stay another moment longer!” The decision having been mutually made, there was no longer any choice. As gathering together, we had all rushed between the old hearse and crematorium, and hurried to the back of the bay. Forming a tight group, and assisting the Father and Mrs. Laramie, we hurried out the door and into the raging storm!
Almost immediately blinded by the flurries and darkness, we huddled into a tight group and stumbled out into the night, the blizzard turning the desperate attempt into a blinding and bitter cold Hell! From the rear door there was a sloping driveway that, ascending steadily, curved sharply to the right. Stumbling and slipping through the wet snow and gale winds, we fought our way up the hill! It was just a short distance, but in the blackness and flurries might as well have been miles. Making our way slowly around, we ascended and moved into the rear parking area and back toward the main building again.
There were outer lights glowing, casting pale and shimmering veils from lamp posts which stood near the building and parking lot, but the blackness surrounding us seemed to swallow and utterly consume the light from just beyond a few yards! As bitter cold and blinded by the storm, we struggled along, and now dreaded what might dwell within that blackness, and from just beyond sight!
I could hear the horror behind us and knew that it had managed to gain access to the loading bay, the thunder of its blind fury ringing like madness as it battered against the heavy, electric steel gates!
“Hurry—it’s not much further!” Tim had rushed the elderly couple ahead, blindly fighting our way forward. The hammering and insidious howling still echoed from out of the storm. My heart was racing, nerves burning, as a raven called from out of the night! In the frozen blackness I heard the bay doors exploding as they came crashing down! The monster was loose!
Sanctum Arcanum Page 58