by B. Groves
“I have to clean that fucking basement,” Kyle said running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get that smell out of there.”
“It’ll fade in time,” Alison said. “The demon is gone. Unfortunately, the stench lingers.”
“Seriously. How did you do that?” Kyle asked turning back to her.
Alison shrugged. “It’s not always that easy. The more the demon integrates into the body the harder it is for me to get it out unless it wants to leave.”
She heard another rumble of thunder and said, “I better go.”
“Are you sure you want to drive home through this? The mountain roads will be slippery,” Kyle said.
Alison shrugged. She wanted to drive back to Charlotte and continue her mundane routine. She liked her routine. It was familiar and cozy. It gave her a sense of normalcy.
“I’ll be fine, thanks,” she said.
Alison turned with Simon beside her to gather her bag from the basement and hit the road. She felt Kyle’s presence behind her, but she kept her mouth shut.
She cringed when the thunder became louder behind her. No, she didn’t want to drive in this weather, but she didn’t want to stay in this town either. There was an old evil here. She could feel down into the darkest depths of her soul, and she didn’t want to deal with it. Let someone else do the eventual dirty work, she told her herself. She would email John—her old team leader— this week and let him know they might need to visit this touristy town in the Smoky Mountains.
Alison walked down the steps to the basement and wrinkled her nose at the leftover stench.
She spotted her bag and made sure it was secure before throwing it over her shoulder. She turned to face Kyle who was frowning at the bed.
“Well, there goes my plans on having guests for a while,” he quipped.
“I would burn that thing if I were you, and get this place fumigated,” Alison said.
She reached into her bag and found the card she was looking for. She handed it to Kyle and said, “These guys can point you in the right direction. You might have to slip them a few extra bucks not to question the smell, but I heard they do a good job.”
Kyle took the card into his hand and turned it over. He chuckled and said, “Is there anything you’re not prepared for?”
“Nope.”
“Didn’t think so.”
Alison adjusted her bag on her shoulder while Kyle went to pet Simon. She smiled as her dog wagged his tail at Reverend Ellis.
“He likes you,” she said.
“That’s a good thing,” Kyle said.
“It is.”
Just as Alison said that the rain came full force from the skies. The drops were flowing through the open basement doors. Kyle walked over to close them.
Alison sighed and asked, “What’s the best hotel around here?”
Kyle took a step forward and said, “You can stay here. I have plenty of room—”
Alison didn’t want to burst out laughing when the realization hit the Reverend’s face. She should have been horrified that he would say something so bold, but she wasn’t. Instead, she lifted an eyebrow.
Kyle shook his head and said, “I don’t know what came over me. That was creepy and stupid. I apologize.”
Alison gave him a smile and she could see the relief on his face. “It’s okay, Reverend. I know what you meant. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
Kyle laughed and rubbed his forehead. “You can say that again. Anyway, there are a few hotels off of 49th street and close to the exit onto I-40.”
“I thought I saw them coming in. Thanks.”
Alison made her way up the stairs and groaned when she heard a loud clap of thunder. Simon always became restless in storms, and she had to coax him a few times as they passed through the house.
The living room had a modern entertainment system sitting in front of a microfiber sofa, loveseat, and recliner.
Alison had spotted trophies and pictures scattered across the living room. One wall contained a beautiful wooden cross that had been hand-carved from what Alison could see.
Alison walked up to the door and talked to Simon as he whined about going outside in the rain.
“He doesn’t like storms?” Kyle asked as the lightning flickered throughout the house.
“He’s acting like a big baby,” Alison answered, trying to convince Simon they needed to leave. She didn’t want to spend any more time in this town than she had to, and she didn’t want to stay here either.
Simon peeked his head through the open door and turned to look up at Alison as if to say, “I’m not going anywhere.” He then backed away from the door and planted himself on the floor.
Alison could have dragged him outside if she really wanted to, but she knew that would not happen as the rain came down in sheets and her car was barely visible in the driveway.
She sighed again, thinking it wouldn’t be so bad. It was only a few hours and she was tired. She could leave early in the morning and be home in time to crash in her own bed for the rest of the day.
“Does your offer still stand?” She asked turning back to the Reverend in defeat.
Kyle grinned and asked, “Do you like whiskey?”
Alison backed away from the door and gave Simon a death stare.
“Dogs are smart,” Kyle said, closing the front door behind Alison.
Alison shook her head. “He’s too smart for his own good and yes, I’ll have some whiskey.”
“Good. I need a drink.”
Chapter 11
Journal Entry August 8, Mid-2000s
I look at my hands in awe. I didn’t know I had this power within me. Brady and I were on one of our cases when he pulled me over to the person. He told me to put my hands on their head. I struggled for a few minutes to do it.
The strangest feeling came over me. I can only describe it as an explosion inside me. Not like dropping a nuclear bomb. No, nothing like that. All I saw was a golden light. My brain froze, and my insides shook violently.
Then… then I was inside the person’s head. I was running down a dark path. I heard her screaming for help. I followed the voice and I yelled that I was coming for them.
All I can tell you is that they were trapped in some kind of cage and I was the only one who could free them. Only I had the power to open the door. It had been the most shocking experience of my life when I freed them and the demon left his body.
I’m accepting my fate a little more each day.
I’m still not sure who or what chose me, but I have more answers now.
Chapter 12
Kyle sat down across from Alison at the dining room table. With their glasses in hand, they saluted their success and swallowed the whiskey.
The amber liquid burned Kyle’s throat, but it was the good burn and one that reminded him of his success with little Olivia.
When he was pouring the drinks, Miguel texted him to tell him that Olivia woke up and was asking for her mother. Miguel told her the bad news but did not tell Olivia how she died, only that they’d both been sick, and Olivia was the one who was getting better.
Miguel had an upset little girl to deal with, and Kyle told him to bring her in for counseling on Monday.
Kyle mentioned the conversation to Alison as she typed away on her laptop while Simon was eating his dinner.
“The doctor’s name I gave him will help Olivia if she needs it,” Alison said.
“Do you think she’ll ever remember what she did?” Kyle asked.
Alison looked up from her laptop. Kyle could tell she was tired. Her emerald green eyes were bloodshot and her lids were drooping.
It was now 1:30 AM and both of them needed some sleep. Kyle had his first service at 9 AM and Alison had a three-hour drive home.
He watched Simon plop down on a dog bed in the living room. The poor dog was as exhausted as they were.
Alison shook her head and said, “It’s hard to tell. Some remember, some don’t. It might take years
or days for memories to surface. I hope she never remembers after what happened to her mother. No kid should have to live with that.”
“You’re right,” Kyle said, swirling his bit of whiskey around in his glass. He and Alison also had an impromptu meal of leftover spaghetti that Kyle made the night before.
“Do you ever cook?” He asked her as he heated it up.
“I keep telling myself to make my meals ahead for the week. Sometimes it works, and sometimes the little corner Chinese takeout calls my name,” Alison said as she watched Kyle reheat their meal.
Kyle laughed and found he was enjoying the company. Alison wasn’t a bad person. She admitted that she left her hunting life for personal reasons but didn’t say what they were.
Kyle had so many questions, but Alison didn’t seem like she wanted to answer them right then and he doubted he’d ever find out all the answers.
“May I ask what you’re writing?”
Alison sat back and downed the rest of her whiskey in one swallow. She made a face and set the glass on the table. “I like to keep a journal of my cases. It helps me remember if there’s a recurrence.”
“Has that ever happened?”
“Not in any of my cases, but it’s happened,” Alison said, sitting back in the chair.
“How many cases have you had?” Kyle asked.
Alison put a finger over her lip in thought. “Too many to count now.” She then looked up at him. “If you had told me I’d be doing this 11 years ago, I would have laughed at you. I didn’t know how many roamed the Earth until this happened to me.” She shook her head. “I often wonder what they really are.” Before Kyle could speak up and quote the Bible, she continued. “Are they fallen angels or blackened souls who lived terrible lives?”
“Have you ever asked one?” He asked, curious.
“I have and they told me they’ve only known the darkness,” Alison said with a shrug. “I guess we better turn in, huh?”
Kyle took the hint to end the conversation. He hated talking about Iraq and he didn’t know why he mentioned his experience to Alison earlier. He just met her. It was a time in his life he didn’t enjoy reliving. His experiences were personal and he preferred to keep them that way.
Alison got up from the table and turned to the window behind her. Outside another storm was ready to hit the area.
“Thanks for letting me stay. You were right, the mountains roads would have been nasty to drive on,” Alison said.
Kyle shook his head as he gathered the empty shot glasses in his hands. “Not at all. I can’t thank you enough for coming out.”
“Don’t thank me. I did it for the girl.”
Kyle smiled and said, “I’m grateful.”
Kyle’s spare bed sat in the basement and smelling rank. He placed the glasses in the sink and took a deep breath. He was exhausted but he knew this fight wasn’t over. He gripped the edge of the sink remembering the other times he tried to expel demons from one of his parishioners and wondered if he failed.
Kyle didn’t want to bother Alison anymore. It took a lot for her to come out and she seemed eager to head back home and go on with her life.
On Monday, he would log back into The Network and ask someone else for help with his suspicions.
“You all right, Reverend?” Alison asked from behind him.
Kyle turned and tried to smile. “Yeah, just tired.”
“I’ll be out of your way early in the morning,” Alison said.
“No worries, and I’ll take the couch,” Kyle said. “And please call me Kyle.”
“Oh, no, Rev, I can sleep on the couch. No big deal,” Alison argued. “I’ve slept in worse places.”
“So have I,” Kyle shot back with a smile.
Alison nodded and grinned. “Touché. I am fine on the couch. Besides, you have services in the morning.”
Kyle laughed when he thought they could stay up the rest of the night arguing about who would sleep where.
Kyle walked out of the kitchen into the hallway. He stored the blankets and pillows from the spare bedroom in a hall closet.
He pulled them out and placed them on the couch. “Are you sure?” He asked.
“It’s fine. I’ll be out of your hair in no time,” Alison said.
Both of them stood there awkwardly until Alison pulled her bag off the floor and said, “I need the bathroom for a few minutes.”
“Sure. The guest bathroom is down the hall on the right. I have my own,” Kyle said.
“Great! Be right out,” Alison said as she gave a quick pat on the head to a sleeping Simon and walked down the hall.
Kyle heard the door to the bathroom close and let out a breath. He ran a hand through his hair thinking about how crazy he was. Why didn’t he send Alison Stark to a hotel?
Kyle sighed and did his bedtime ritual and tried to ignore the pretty blonde hunter spending the night in his house.
Kyle hurried into his own bathroom in his bedroom and changed into shorts and a T-shirt.
He brushed his teeth and came out of the bathroom to say goodnight and ask if Alison needed anything else.
He wanted to think he’d be relieved when the hunter left in the morning, but he found he liked the company. Alison was sharp, smart, and funny when she opened up more and talked.
She had her secrets, but that's none of Kyle’s business. He only knew her for a day.
Kyle returned to the living room and sat next to Simon, who was dozing on the floor beside his entertainment center.
The dog lifted his head slightly.
“You’re a brave guy,” Kyle said.
Kyle withdrew his hand when Alison came out of the bathroom also dressed in pajama shorts and a t-shirt.
“He’s getting better with people,” Alison commented placing her bag in the recliner.
Thunder rumbled outside making Simon open his eyes and lift his head to look around.
“Oh, yeah? Wasn’t he good before?”
Alison sat on the couch and said, “I adopted him when he was a year old. His former owners abused him. It took years before he trusted people again after training him.”
“You did good,” Kyle said standing up.
“Thanks. He’s my best friend.”
Kyle gave one last look to Simon when something clicked behind him. He turned around, his muscles tensing from the familiar noise.
Kyle watched as Alison slipped the pistol underneath the pillow. She looked up and her eyes widened when she saw the look on Kyle’s face.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have warned you first.”
“Yes, you should have,” Kyle said trying to calm his pounding heart.
She looked genuinely sorry for scaring him like that. “I’m used to being alone. Again, I’m sorry.”
“Do you always do that?” Kyle asked.
“Yes, because demons have sought revenge for exorcising one of their own,” Alison explained. “I saw your nice gun collection, I would suggest unlocking that cabinet.”
“They do?”
“They sure do,” Alison said, as she adjusted and laid down on the couch.
Simon was snoring away opposite of Alison and Kyle looked at the clock and sighed. It would be a long day in church but he could sleep in the afternoon.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Well… goodnight Alison,” Kyle said.
“Goodnight, Reverend,” Alison answered.
Kyle turned off the lights in the living room and jumped when a huge crack of thunder rumbled over the house.
“I love storms,” Alison said with a sigh. “The power of nature.”
Kyle turned around as his eyes adjusted to the darkness with only a nightlight in the corner. He tried to ignore the woman sleeping in his house and how her legs were smooth and tan from when she was sitting up on the couch.
He didn’t want to think any more about Alison Stark, and he hoped she would leave town as soon as possible.
Kyle walked into his bedroom and shut the door behind him.
He took a deep breath and glanced at the cross above his bed wondering why God brought this woman into his life and why he was chosen to battle the demons that were infesting this town.
Kyle walked over to his bed and removed his t-shirt and placed his glasses on the nightstand. He rubbed his eyes from the stress of the last three weeks. His job was not finished. It was far from over. He wanted Alison Stark to leave, but part of him hoped she would stay and help him.