Johann and Robert glanced at each other for a moment, the unspoken “What the hell?” lingering in the air between them, then they turned their attention back to the woman.
“Excuse me,” Johann said, as he tried to get her attention. He waited a moment, as she continued to make the noise. “Excuse me, Ma'am,” he said again, this time a little louder, “Are you okay?”
Without any change to her body position, the woman raised her head, then turned it almost ninety degrees to look directly at Johann. The hair on the back of Johann's neck bristled at the sight of her face. Her skin was the pallor of someone who was either extremely ill or had recently passed. Her dark, dead eyes peered through Johann more than at him, and the utterly unnatural way she turned her head raised a red flag in his mind.
Johann sat, motionless, and stared at her. He almost felt as though he had fallen into a trance. He could feel his skin as it began to crawl, and the hackles on the back of his neck began to stand. He was in full readiness now, as he clenched his fists on his lap under the table in preparation for what he thought would be an attack. Recognizing his friend was now in attack mode, Robert began to prepare himself. He, too, thought a fight was imminent.
The sound of shattered glasses and stoneware plates mixed with the metallic sound of the utensils that joined them, as they crashed to the ceramic tile floor in the kitchen, and momentarily took Johann and Robert's attention away from the woman. They turned toward the sound. Johann almost smiled as the voice of the chef bellowed at the clumsy waiter who dropped the tray echoed from the kitchen. They brought their attention back to the woman a moment later, only to find she was gone. A movement outside the window caught Johann's attention. He cursed under his breath when a Raven took flight away from the eatery.
“Son of a -,” Johann said, as he got up from the table, “Come on, Bob. We gotta stop that thing.” Robert began to stand up.
The server came to the table and asked: “You two ready to order?” She feared that she was about to lose two customers. Johann fumbled for a moment. He didn't want to embarrass the young lady.
“No. Sorry. Something just came up. We gotta go,” he said. He and Robert then headed for the door as quick as they could.
“It went toward the damned hotel,” Johann shouted as the two ran across the parking lot to Johann's car.
“Gee, I wonder why,” Robert said, his voice etched with a touch of irony. They reached the car and got in. Johann started the automobile, put it in gear, and dumped the clutch. The tires squealed and belched smoke as the car pulled on to the street. At the same time they left, so did another car - a black, late model Dodge Challenger that had plagued Johann ever since he started hunting demons.
Johann wanted to return to the hotel as soon as possible, so he drove as though in a race. He and Robert were pushed back into their seats, and the car lurched forward when Johann stepped down hard on the gas pedal.
They came to an intersection, and the light changed from green to yellow. Johann urged the car to go a little faster, so as not to be stopped by a red light. Johann turned the wheel to the right as the auto entered the cross-way. The back of the car lost traction just a little. This caused oncoming vehicles to move to the side, to allow him safe passage. All the while, the lights of the Dodge Challenger glared, tauntingly, in Johann's rear-view mirror.
“This ain't the Indy five hundred,” Robert said, as he clutched at the dashboard to steady himself in his seat. Johann's driving caused Robert to slide from side to side in his seat, and this made him very uncomfortable.
“Maybe not,” said Johann, as he glanced up at the mirror, “But we sure as hell gotta stay in front of that guy.” Robert turned and peeked out the back window. He saw a set of familiar headlights behind them. A sight he hoped never to lay eyes on again, after the experience he had with them in Bucktown. He turned forward, and let out a sigh.
“You gotta be kiddin' me,” Robert said, as he turned to face Johann.
“I kid you not. I knew that bastard would show up sooner or later. He always does,” he looked at Robert, “Only this time, I'm gonna find out who the hell drives that car.”
“How ya gonna do that,” asked Robert.
“By wreckin' it,” Johann answered.
“Yeah. Exactly what I was afraid of.”
Johann drove past the hotel and proceeded on the main road that brought them into town. They left the town limits, the black auto still behind them. The two cars made their way through a curvy part of the road, and, at long last, came to a relatively straight section of roadway. The full moon made everything almost as bright as daylight, so the metal of the guardrail shone in the moonlight. Johann let up on the gas pedal for just a moment, which caused his car to slow a little. This allowed the vehicle that chased them, to close in before he pressed on the gas again.
“What're you doing,” Robert asked, panic in his voice.
“Convincing that son of a bitch to pull over,” Johann answered, as he pulled his pistol out of his shoulder holster, and rolled down his window, “When I tell you, brace yourself, and put the gear shift into neutral.” Robert nodded with a worried expression on his face. He didn't want to wait for the last moment, so he braced himself with one hand, and placed the other on the shift knob.
“Now,” Johann yelled, as he hammered one foot down on the clutch, and took the other one off the throttle.
In one movement, as though it had been rehearsed, Robert put the gear shift into neutral, and Johann slammed his foot on the brake while turning the steering wheel to the left. The Mustang's tires screamed and smoked. The car lunged sideways on the road. With one hand, Johann steered into the slide, to prevent the vehicle from completely spinning out. Robert and Johann both struggled to remain sitting upright, while G-forces pulled them to the right. Johann aimed his weapon out his window at the oncoming vehicle.
The car with the two demon hunters slid on the road, with the driver's door presented to the approaching machine. The oncoming vehicle turned left to go around them, with its tires also belching smoke. Johann fired a few shots at the attacking car, puncturing one of the rear tires as it passed. As the demon hunter fired his weapon, he couldn't help but wonder why the other driver didn't hit him but chose to drive around him.
The punctured tire exploded, and the car careened head-on into the guardrail on the side of the road. It bounced off, spun, and came to a stop a short distance later, facing Johann and Robert. Johann put his car back in gear, drove to the side of the road. He stopped in front of the now badly crashed Challenger.
“Well, look at that,” Johann said, “Looks like it can be damaged, after all.”
Johann and Robert waited a moment to make sure the Challenger didn't start moving again. Johann turned off the Mustang, and he and Robert stepped out into the now quiet night. The only sound was from a few nearby crickets and the fluids which dripped from the wrecked black car. A hissing sound came from under its hood, and the odor of burnt antifreeze permeated the night air, as the liquid streamed out of the radiator, struck the hot engine block and boiled into steam.
The driver side of the crumpled vehicle was up against the guardrail. On the other side of the barrier was a sheer drop, so the two demon hunters cautiously approached the passenger side of the mangled car. Johann kept his gun up, in case he needed it. They reached the door, and could not open it. Johann used his pistol and smashed the window so that they could see into the car.
The driver turned to the two men, as they peered into his car. He was a large man that appeared to be possibly about the same age as Johann. His hair was short, and he wore a suit and tie, as though he were a businessman. He gave Johann a very sarcastic smile.
“Happy now,” he asked, “You finally get to see who's been chasing you all this time.”
“Who the hell are you,” Johann shouted as he pointed the weapon at the man's head.
“Oh, please. You can't hurt me with that, priest.”
“Johann,” Robert shouted, a
s he grabbed at his friend, who lunged, as he tried to climb in the window.
“I oughta take your God damned head off,” Johann said, as he stared menacingly at the man in the driver seat.
“You could if you want,” the man said, calmly, “but that wouldn't get you any closer to Theresa, would it?” Johann stared at him, half in disgust, and half in a fury.
“If you know where my sister is, you slimeball, you better tell me now, or I swear to God, I'll remove your head and use it for a bowling ball,” Johann said, he aimed his weapon at his adversary's head.
“You really don't know who I am, do you,” the man asked, seemingly not bothered by the gun aimed at his head. In a show of determination, Johann released the safety from his weapon. The pistol made an audible click, as the safety came off. The man maintained eye contact with Johann and made a small facial gesture. “Does the name Malphas mean anything to you,” he asked.
Johann stared almost blankly at the man after he heard the name. A name which caught him, very much, by surprise. It most certainly did mean something to him. He knew that Malphas was a Great Prince of Hell, second in command to Satan himself. If he and Earl Raum were both here on earth, then something unspeakable must surely be in the works. Johann refocused his attention on the man in front of him.
“Johann,” Robert said, as he placed his hand on Johann's shoulder, “This ain't good.”
“This is worse than 'not good,' ” Johann said to Robert, without taking his eyes off the man, “Try 'deadly.' ” He turned his attention back to the man in the Challenger.
“Malphas huh? Prove it,” Johann said.
“I don't need to do any such thing. You already saw my tower. You already know of the depression in the stinkin' mortals in the town. Who do you think took away all their self-esteem?”
Johann thought, and holstered his weapon. He decided to try a different approach.
“So, what do you want from me,” he asked.
“Want,” the man almost chuckled, “I don't 'want' anything. I only came here to do a job. To grant the whole world its wish.”
“What wish,” Johann asked, puzzled.
“Come now. You must have heard people say 'this whole world is going to hell'? I'm here to make sure it does.”
The man began to laugh. His apparent sarcasm and arrogance enraged Johann, who again lunged in the window, and swiped at the man. Robert moved fast and grabbed his friend.
“You stinking son of a bitch,” Johann said, as he swung at the man's face, but missed, “You're trying to kill this whole town.”
The man laughed, and waved his finger back and forth in the air, tauntingly.
“My dear Padre,” Malphas said, as his laughter stopped, “If you think I only want this one town, and the few pitiful souls it possesses, your stupidity must be greater than I estimated. I see something bigger on the horizon. Much bigger.” He gave Johann an expression that dripped with condescension. “And, if I were you, I'd stay out of the way, because it's gonna run you over.”
Johann and Malphas stared at each other for a moment in a stand-off. Without any warning, and in one movement, Johann broke free of Robert's hold and dove through the broken car window. The demon hunter landed in the seat next to the driver. He grabbed Malphas by the hair and pulled him toward himself.
With his jaw taught in anger, Johann almost spat, as he spoke.
“Listen, you cesspool from hell,” Johann said, “You have just five seconds to tell me where my sister is. After that, your fucking head's coming right off your poorly dressed shoulders, and even your boss ain't gonna help you.”
Johann again reached for his weapon, and Malphas broke free of his grip. He gave Johann a smug smile.
“You have a more immediate problem coming, and he'll be here in a minute. As for me, I have to go.”
The moment Malphas finished talking, he and his car instantly vanished, and the scene became as though they were never there. The rumple in the guardrail disappeared, and the two demon hunters suddenly found themselves alone on the side of the road. While they contemplated what just happened, they became aware of a sound in the air that grew louder by the second. The sound of a police siren.
They turned their attention in the direction the sound was coming from. The red and blue strobes lighting the trees signaled the presence of an approaching police car. The patrol car stopped behind Johann's Mustang, bathing the area in flashing red and blue. After a moment, the officer got out of the car. Johann glanced at Robert when he realized who it was.
“Oh great. Him again,” Johann said when he recognized officer Phil. The lawman put his thumbs in the top of his trousers as he walked to the two demon hunters.
“Now, why am I not surprised to see you boys,” Phil asked, sarcastically.
“Just lucky, I guess,” answered Johann, as he matched the officer's sarcasm.
“Hold your tongue, boy,” the policeman said, angered by Johann's attitude, " It seems that every time there was trouble the last few days, I found you two there. If I was to do my job, I should run the two of you in on suspicion."
“Suspicion of what,” asked Robert. Officer Phil had begun to get on his nerves, too. Phil's eyes seemed to burn through him for a moment, which made Robert feel uneasy. It felt like a long time before the lawman answered.
“Suspicion of whatever I want to be suspicious of you for. You two been nothing but trouble since the day you got to town. I don't know what you're up to, but I'm watching you two real close, and not likin' what I'm seein'.”
He glanced at the road as though he were looking for something.
“We got a call from someone who lives out here. They said they heard tires squealing, then gunshots, and a crash. You wouldn't. by any chance, know anything about that, would you?”
Johann and Robert noticed that the skid marks from the Dodge Challenger had vanished. The only marks now were the ones from their car. Johann was pleased about that. To him, it was one less thing to try and explain to Officer Phil.
“I don't know what you mean. Do you see any tire marks on the road, or a wrecked car,” said Johann, “The only marks are ours, where we swerved to avoid hitting a deer.” Officer Phil studied him for a moment as though trying to intimidate him.
“You got a weapon in that shoulder holster you're wearin',” the officer asked, as he placed a hand on his own weapon.
“Of course, I do,” Johann answered. Phil put his hand out, indicating he wanted Johann to give him his pistol.
“Nice and easy, there, son,” the officer said, as Johann removed the weapon from his shoulder holster, and handed it to the police officer. Phil took the gun, placed the barrel under his nose. He gave the barrel a sniff, to detect the distinct odor of hot gunpowder. After a moment, he gave Johann what almost appeared to be a snarl.
“It ain't been fired,” he said, sounding disappointed. He gave the weapon back to Johann, who placed it back in his holster.
“I could've told you that,” Johann said, puzzled why the officer didn't smell the residue on the barrel from when he did fire it.
Phil glanced over at Johann's car, then down the road, and back at Johann. It was almost as though he was building the drama by letting the crickets be the only sound for a moment.
“You boys want some real good advice? You got your vehicle pointed in the right direction. I suggest strongly that you just keep going that way, and don't even think of coming back.”
He looked at the two for a moment and almost glared. As he turned to walk back to his car, Johann and Robert watched officer Phil; both tried to decide exactly what his intent was.
“Remember what I said, boys,” Phil said, as he got back into his patrol car, “Heed my warning, and get out of town.” He started his car, pulled out onto the road, and headed back the way he came.
“Think we oughta listen to the man,” asked Robert. He and Johann both knew the question was rhetorical.
“Yeah, right,” answered Johann. The two got back into Jo
hann's car and sat there a moment. Johann stared in the rear-view mirror until the tail lights from the police car were gone in the distance. He then started the car and headed back into town. Johann and Robert pull back onto the road, and Johann's cell phone rang.
-10-
The sound of the cell phone pierced the darkened passenger compartment of the car. The shrill sound rose over the low throb of the engine. Both Johann and Robert, deep in thought about what they, just experienced, jumped when it sounded.
“Jesus,” Johan said, as he took the noisy device out of his pocket and pressed the button to answer the call, “Scared the hell out of me.” Robert nodded in agreement.
“This is Johann,” he said, as he put the phone to his ear.
“Johann, this is Belinda Carstone,” the woman on the other end said. She sounded quite upset. A television set playing in the background and the absence of any other sounds told Johann she must be in her hotel room.
“Belinda, what's wrong? Are you okay,” asked Johann.
“Yes. No. Well; sort of. I need to meet with you as soon as possible.”
“You're staying at the same hotel we are. We should be there in a few minutes -,”
“No,” Belinda interrupted, almost shouting, “Not here. Dave and I will meet you at the gas station at the edge of the town. I think it's called 'The Food and Fuel,' or something like that.”
“Okay. We can be there soon,” Johann answered, and ended the call.
“Is everything okay,” Robert asked.
“She said yes, but I don't think so,” answered Johann, “She sounded pretty upset about something.” He pressed harder on the accelerator pedal, to get them to the meeting with Belinda that much faster.
“Seems to be par for the course in this town,” said Robert. Johann nodded.
Back at the hotel room, the reporter, and her cameraman prepared to leave their room.
The Raven Flies At Night Page 9