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by Charles W Jones

  “Ma’am?” he asked with a quivering voice. “You down here?”

  He pulled the second of the double doors open to enhance the light. The boiler rumbled into life, heating the water cooling in its tank. Beyond it, in the murky air, the woman stood, arms stretched to either side, head tilted back.

  They glanced to the other asking if they wanted to cross the uneasy space to her, and again, their minds asked what she was doing down here, leaving them only the option of finding out.

  As they walked around the boiler to the left, the tunnel blasted frigid air on them from the opening. They picked up their pace to not be stuck in the icy grip for long.

  The other side of the boiler seemed more extensive than it should. Stars of light poked through the painted over the window, next to the outside access door, like tiny spotlights glowing on a stage.

  A rancorous smell filled the space which hadn’t been present when they had entered. They walked shoulder-to-shoulder, wishing they hadn’t ventured from the bright safety of the lobby, but too late to turn back now.

  If she heard them approach, she made no sign of acknowledgment. Her mouth gaped open filled with darkness. Her body was stiff as though she was stuck in rigor. No breaths caused her chest to expand. A milky film covered her eyes and bands of black coiled around her legs and abdomen. Tendrils whipped around her feet, snapping toward them. The color mimicked the darkness of the floor, so the pair wasn’t dissuaded from being so close.

  Intrepidly, Jen’s hand reached out. The touch filled her with nausea. Her body convulsed. Bile and breakfast sprayed out of her mouth. Pieces of ill-chewed food splatted on the floor; the tentacles swiftly reached for the morsels.

  Seeing her response to the touch, Cody had no desire to do the same, and wanted nothing more than to turn on his heel and run and forget the experience.

  He pulled Jen into his arms, her vomit mixing with the putridness sloughing from the woman’s body gagged him. They backed away, feeling the heat of the boiler feebly attempting to warm their chilled skin. As they turned, their hands intertwined, they trotted to the solace of the washroom.

  “She’s Lisa,” he said after the doors to the unwelcoming room were closed. “I didn’t know she’d stayed the night.”

  Jen’s lower lip twitched. Moisture found its way down her cheeks. “She checked in late. I didn’t know I had a room left, but the key to three was in the basket.” She sucked in a ragged breath. “What was…?” She didn’t finish her question as there were answers she never wanted to hear.

  “How can you stand it down here?” Hector asked. Cody glanced at her standing near the sink. “It’s gross and cold, which I think is a big tip-off.” Her lids lowered, and her lips jutted out.”

  Jen screamed seeing the chubby, red-haired woman at the sink.

  “She’s got a set of lungs on her, she does. I’m just glad you didn’t scream when you found poor Lisa being devoured by his child. Which, by the way, was the same one that attacked you the other day.”

  “What are you talking about? Nothing…” A vague memory of being in the basement a few days before came to mind. The details of the adventure, however, were limited to being in there and Jen startling him. “He can’t create,” Cody barked.

  Another scream rushed from Jen, and her tears had stopped. “Where’d she…? Who?”

  His head twisted toward Jen. “You can see her?”

  “Of course, she sees me. She can see most things and has no idea she shouldn’t. You, on the other hand, I understand seeing them. Surprised you didn’t see the gnarly beast of his. Good thing though, you wouldn’t sleep ever again. I think it’s in the larval stage. Wonder what it will look like?” Her babbling ended abruptly. Green light focused on the doors. “I think we should get upstairs. You’ve caught its attention, and it’s still hungry.”

  Without another word of encouragement to leave the dank basement, Jen and Cody scurried out of the washroom and upstairs.

  “Told you it wasn’t nice down there,” Bill said, coming out of the Men’s Room. “Heard you screamin’ up here. Thought I was gonna have to come to get you.”

  Cody spun toward him, his face pale from the experience. Words failed to form in his mouth to respond to the old man. He stared at them with a smirk, then shaking his head returned to his room. A thump from the stairs behind the door caught their attention, followed by another, telling them it was in a hurry to reach the top of the stairs.

  “Where’s the key?” Cody forced from his mouth.

  Jen scurried across the lobby and through the apartment door. Three more thumps came from behind the door. Cody’s heart raced.

  Running across the lobby with a brass Skelton key in hand, she returned as quickly as she had departed. Her shaking hand fumbled, placing the key in the hole. With a deep breath, she inserted it, turning it toward the lobby. The door creaked with the beast pressing itself against the door.

  Outside popped into their minds simultaneously. Leaving the key in the door, they raced to the front door and continued for two blocks to the west in silence. Jen’s body revolted, not wanting to go any further.

  Becki stared at the door with a frown. The thing down there was nasty and became more disgusting as it grew. Her attention darted to the key still in the confines of the door.

  It shouldn’t be there, a friendly voice said in her mind. Someone might unlock it and let the thing out. Without consideration, she removed it and shoved it into her pocket. Hopping up the stairs, she hummed a tune which had played in her thoughts.

  “Where are we going?” Jen asked, slowing her pace.

  “Where I know it’s safe.” He looked at her over his shoulder. “Come on. It’s not far.”

  Happy Cody was breaking free of Belphegor’s spell of proximity, Hector squeezed Cason’s hand enthusiastically; at least he wasn’t filled with one of the nasty’s the Fallen Angel controlled.

  Do it, Cason, touch her.

  He shook his head not wanting to overstep his duties.

  Her lips pressed together, and her eyes narrowed. Do it! She glared at him, and he conceded, placing his hand on Jen.

  Laughter rung from Jen. Cody stopped, the grin on his face faded fast as he turned. A strange man with a hand resting on her shoulder stood uncomfortably close behind on her.

  She didn’t seem to notice his touch but continued her wails of happiness. Her head tilted back, mouth wide and body shaking from the fit.

  Dark mist twisted from her mouth and was gone before Cody had been sure he’d seen it. The laughter stopped, echoing against the walls of the convenience store.

  “Well let’s get going before the asshole upstairs notices we’re out for more than Sunday stroll.” She continued west, and said, “It’s this way I assume.”

  People in their yards waved happily to them as they went by, others watched them from their windows or doors.

  They slowed their pace when a group of boys, riding their bikes, asked who they were; none were impressed and rode off.

  By the time they reached Maple Street, sweat had trickled across them. The walk had been invigorating, and the midday sun was warm and bright. Jen hadn’t felt this good since she arrived in Shoshoni.

  Cody, on the other hand, wasn’t sure what to do once they’d arrived at Nathan and Leona’s house; except the apparent apology.

  The old truck sat on the street, giving him hope they were home, though the door was closed and the blinds were drawn. He scanned the park for any sign of them as they walked to the door.

  Jen had asked him few questions on their trek across town; most of her conversation had been with Cason, who she discovered was her Watcher.

  He knocked on the door, staring at it expectantly. Relief came when he heard Nathan call out he was coming.

  The door opened a fraction. Nathan’s silver eye peered out at them. Seeing who was at his door, it widened. Cody didn’t expect any sort of welcome, and then the door swung open. Bergen pushed in front of Nathan, unlatching the stor
m door.

  “Hold on, honey.”

  “They are clear, father,” the child proclaimed sweetly. Jen blushed at the sharp eyes searching her. “Her Watcher rid her of her passenger; poor soul.” Jen wondered whether the last part was referring to her or whatever had been subduing her. “And he didn’t need any sort of treatment. They’ve been connected for too long for his trick to work on him for long. He needs to be close for his desires overrule his mind.”

  Cody grimaced.

  “Come on in, Boogla Ba. I knew it was a matter of time before you came crawling back.” He slapped Cody on the shoulder as they entered, then grabbed him, hugging him tightly, looking outside. “Where’s Tyler?”

  Cody’s stomach flipped. In their desire to be away from the Shanley, they had forgotten his brother.

  “He’ll be fine for now,” Bergen said, pushing the door closed behind them.

  “Cody!” Leona exclaimed, squeezing him maybe tighter than Nathan had. “I was worried we’d never see you again. You seemed so determined last night to do what he wanted.”

  Jen didn’t know what she meant. “Wait, what does he want you to do?”

  “Help him return Heaven.” Cody moved his gaze to the floor. He was embarrassed he’d gone through with it, and his red face proved it.

  "Seriously!? Has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” His consideration returned to Jen with hurt filling him as she continued, “You said we should be honest with each other all the time.”

  “How did you get involved in all this?” Leona asked.

  “I was with Tyler the night he was summoned.”

  “Knew he was still a dawg,” Nathan piped in with a smirk, then his face turned stone serious. “What are you planning to do? We’ll help any way possible.” He glanced at Bergen who nodded in agreement. “And Eli—“

  “Eli, the chef?” Cody asked.

  “The same. He’s a fine one to have on your side. His dad filled him in on most of it before he died.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spoke to the Master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.”

  Judges 19:22, KJV

  The lobby was empty and quiet with the door to the apartment open. Tyler paid little attention to the fact as Jen often left it open when she was running between the laundry room and upstairs in her morning duties.

  A song had stuck in his mind. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he hummed its chords as he lithely went to the laundry room.

  No washing machines chugged their rhythmic beat, no dryers whirred monotonously, and no Jen.

  Frigid air seeped from the space between the floor and basement door. His brow furrowed. A wet sloughing sound, like raw meat rubbing together, came with the cold. His hand took the doorknob, determined to open it, but for some reason, the door was locked.

  “Jen!?” he called out, then waited for a response which never came. The closed-door near the apartment squeaked open. “Hey, Bill. Have you seen Jen?”

  A cough, then the gravelly voice replied, “She and your brother left a bit ago. And before you ask, I don’t know where they went.”

  The door clicked shut. It didn’t make any sense, people were coming into town to hear Cody speak, and there wasn’t time for them to take a break now.

  To be sure Bill hadn’t missed her returning, he made his way upstairs. Mr. Bel’s door, as always, was closed, and more than likely, he stood in his usual place at the window watching the awakening town.

  A door at the far end of the hall in the opposite direction was open, drawing him to it.

  His thoughts wandered to the near future as he made his way to the other end of the floor. For what he expected in the next few weeks, he knew the rooms upstairs weren’t going to be enough for people who had started flocking here, and since Jen refused to sell the rooms in the basement, he had to expand.

  Fortunately, the apartment in the adjoining building had ample space to convert into rooms, (and the next building, if needed), all he had to do was open a doorway in the short hall outside Mr. Bel’s suite.

  Peering into the room, he expected to find Jen tucking the sheets tightly on the bed, but she wasn’t there, confirming what Bill had said.

  Where could she have? He glanced through the window of the door leading to the fire escape. The small yard across the alley was green and lush. A gentle breeze shook the leaves on their branches, shimmering chartreuse, and bolder green. A pair of sparrows tittered on the ground, then burst into the air. Movement in the room caught his eye, forcing him to look back inside.

  A shapely woman stood at the window facing the small yard. At first, he was surprised by her presence, but his heart didn’t race too hard as he rationalized she had stood near the dresser hidden by the open door.

  Her long auburn hair swooped below her shoulder blades in a gentle arc, gleaming in the light pouring in from the south-facing window.

  The hourglass of her torso accentuated by the tailored white, silk blouse and black skirt both with buttons holding the clothing to her, invited his scrutiny to devour her.

  He thought to apologize for the intrusion and be on his way, but he didn’t move from the doorway nor spoke as he fought his urge to rush in and take her, only allowing him to drink in her beauty with desire.

  Her large brown eyes gave no indication she was upset with his gawking when she moved her head to look back at him.

  Full-red lips tried to give the impression of a pout and had it not been for her coy smirk, might have succeeded. She was glad someone came to visit her. She didn’t know the last time she’d had a courter, only that it had been a long time. Her pale skin brightened as she turned from the window.

  “Good day,” she said with a British accent, winning Tyler over even more. “I shall be staying on another night. Would you be so kind as to have my train ticket changed to tomorrow?”

  Tyler cocked his eyebrow. Was she serious? Or was she play acting like the woman from a few weeks ago? Another unique experience.

  The woman had come into the bathroom going on about how she’d lost her brother and father to the savage Indians near Sand Creek, and she’d been waiting for the next Wells Fargo Coach to take her to Kansas City—the more news got out about what was happening in Shoshoni, the more weirdos came to relive history.

  The woman proved to be quite the provocateur. And not even the cooling water of the tub culled her appetite. Now, here was another.

  “Yes ma’am,” he replied. “I believe the first train leaves at seven in the morning, the next eleven.” He winked, hinting he was into whatever game she wanted to play.

  “Thank you. Seven will be fine.”

  “Anything else I can do for you.”

  “Oh, well, yes there is.” She turned the window, batting her lashes, enticing him more. “The radiator made quite the racket last night.”

  “I’ll be happy to take a look,” he said, entering the room, knowing the heat had been turned off.

  Tapping the bell valve, he knew she watched him. His fingers twisted the adjustment screw. Tingles ran across his back with the cool caress of fingers brushing the surface of his shirt. Her hands began rubbing his shoulders causing a stir in his groin.

  Standing, he turned into her, popping up on his toes to allow his mouth to find hers. Her hands found the hem of his shirt and pushed up through the coarse hair on his abdomen and chest, finally, pulling it over his head and allowing it to plummet to the floor.

  Her cool breaths tantalized his skin. Her tongue set a fire within him. He flung his arms around her, fingers nimbly popping each button from under her hair and down her back, racing to reach the next holding her skin from him.

  With the third button of the skirt released from its prison, it freed the smooth cloth, allowing it to slide down her hips then legs to pool arou
nd her feet.

  Tyler moved away a fraction, his deft hands removed the silk covering her torso, revealing firm breasts pointing toward him.

  As skillful as his hands had been, hers were equally clever; rather than taking the time to undo each button individually, they pulled his fly apart.

  A Cheshire grin took his mouth before she pressed his face into her breast. A chance for him to step out of his jeans was not given, leaving them wrapped around his thick thighs.

  An icy hand checked his arousal. Satisfied he was ready, she lie back onto the bed, inviting him in by opening her legs.

  Looking at her porcelain skin with soft, pink nipples, he noted the similarities in coloring to the woman who helped him with his bath, making his blood race harder in his veins.