The Taking

by Becky Johnson

  Easy.

  Right?

  The Taker reached the base of the steps and paused. There was a small movement within its black hood like its head turned. Sarah held her breath, afraid to move in any way. She worried that somehow even her heartbeat would give her away. She foresaw a horrible outcome where the Taker never even went inside but just took her, right then. She wondered briefly if Matt or the others would even realize what happened to her.

  Then the tension broke, and the Taker glided up the stairs and through the open door.

  10:41 p.m.

  Matt waited in a crouch. The wait seemed forever. Then things happened quickly. Henry screamed and then raced through the living room. As he ran past a look came over his face that said that he wanted to stay, but Matt sent him on his way with a quick glare.

  Henry and Ruth went out the front. Matt heard the back door shut.

  Matt thumbed the lighter once. Nothing.

  Again.

  Nothing.

  Come on, come on.

  Matt thumbed the lighter again.

  Nothing.

  The Taker moved from the kitchen and into the living room, but Matt didn’t have the flame needed for their plan.

  10:42 p.m.

  Sarah scurried to the door, wrapped the bungee cord in a figure eight from the doorknob to the railing on the side. Her fingers trembled, but her hands kept moving. She pulled the cord as hard as she could until it was secured. Then she was done. She leaped off the steps and ran fast, circling the house to meet with Henry and Ruth.

  Before she cut through the yards, she took a glance back for the glow of fire through the windows. The dark block of glass looked back at her.

  Sarah stopped and waited. Part of her wanted to run as quick as she could to the truck and relative safety. Another part of her wanted to go to Matt. Something felt wrong.

  It’d only been seconds since she left the porch, but Sarah felt, in her gut, her best friend was in danger. Something was wrong in the house. She glanced in the direction she was supposed to be running, but turned, taking a step back toward Matt when she heard a gunshot from the house.

  That wasn’t supposed to happen. Heart racing, feet pounding on the ground, she ran back toward Matt and the Taker.

  10:43 p.m.

  The Taker by Matt’s truck was facing away from them, focused on the vehicle to which they were trying to get.

  Ruth wrapped her hand tighter around Henry’s arm, pulling him toward the shadow of the house they just rounded.

  She surveyed the street. Getting to the truck was out of the question now. There was no way they could do it safely. If it was just her, Ruth would have turned around and headed in the opposite direction. But Ruth was acutely aware of young Henry at her side. It had been a long time since she’d had someone for whom she was responsible. She wasn’t taking any chances with the boy.

  She scanned the area looking for something that would distract the Taker, make it move away from the truck, giving them a chance to get away.

  Next to her, Henry tugged her arm. She looked down at him. For one brief second, his trusting expression reminded Ruth of her own son’s face. She shook her head. She needed to stay in the here and now.

  “What do we do?”

  Henry’s whisper barely traveled to her ears.

  Ruth crouched and felt her right knee twinge. Her body wasn’t up to running anymore. “Right now, we wait. Let’s see if they move or become distracted by what Matt is doing.”

  Henry stared. “Is Matt going to be ok?”

  Ruth was about to reassure him when a gunshot broke the silence.

  10:43 p.m.

  Sarah burst through the back door. Matt was backing toward the front door pointing a gun at the Taker that was still moving through the living room, but the one shot he already fired didn’t seem to slow the hooded creature down. Matt took another step backward with the Taker moving closer. His gun stayed held up in front of him.

  “Sarah, get of out here!”

  Sarah looked around for something, anything that would help. The Taker would be on Matt in seconds. Sarah had to do something to help. She watched Matt pull the trigger again. Heard the gun boom. Nothing changed. The bullet appeared to hit, but the Taker acted as if nothing happened.

  Sarah quickly scanned the room and saw the lighter laying on the floor just behind the Taker. This was it their last chance. Sarah dove for the lighter. With it in her hand, she flicked it once, twice and was gratified to see a flame burst to life. Now she just needed something to light on fire.

  “Sarah!”

  Matt was still backing away from the Taker keeping the pistol aimed, but his other hand pointed to the can of aerosol hairspray laying on the floor a few feet to her left and directly across from the Taker.

  Sarah pushed up to her hands and knees and scrambled toward the aerosol can. One heartbeat. Two. It was in her hands. In one move she rolled over and hit the nozzle while keeping the lighter in front of the spray, sending a wave of flames straight toward the Taker.

  A high-pitched whine filled the house as the fire overtook the creature, igniting its entire cloak and body. The air in the room seemed to pulse. The pressure increased. Then with a loud electric crack, the Taker vanished. They were alone.

  10:45 p.m.

  Henry pressed his shoulder blades into the side of the house. His stomach flip-flopped. How were they going to get passed the Taker? Next to him, Ruth kept an eye on the street and the creature stationed there. But so far, it wasn’t moving, so neither were they.

  It had been barely five minutes since Henry had screamed to get the attention of the Taker, but to his thundering heart, it felt like hours. They had heard two loud pops from a gun coming from the direction of his home and so far, hadn’t seen any sign of Sarah or Matt.

  He felt sick and more than ever he wished he was an adult. Adults always had an answer. Even if they didn’t make sense to Henry, at least they had an answer. Right now, Henry really wanted solutions. He really wanted someone to step in and take control, make this nightmare end. Although she was an adult, Ruth was old. He didn’t know how old, but her hair was white. She had to be ancient. In Henry’s limited experience old meant a little weird and slow. He didn’t think he could rely on her.

  Henry’s ears popped. He swallowed to relieve it, and they popped again as the tension built. It was the same feeling he’d felt when Takers surrounded him on the street before Matt had saved him. Now Henry wasn’t sure Matt didn’t need saving.

  There was a snap of energy in the air. Then the tension broke. Ruth grabbed Henry’s shoulder and tugged at him. “Come on.”

  Ruth darted around the corner of the house with Henry on her heels. The Taker in the street was gone. Together, they ran toward the truck. Ruth’s run might have been a little slower, but they were both moving.

  When they reached the truck, they stopped.

  They were alone.

  Ruth ran to the driver’s side door and opened it. Just like Matt had said, the keys were still in the ignition.

  “We can’t leave without Sarah and Matt,” Henry yelled.

  “We won’t.”

  “We can’t.”

  Ruth turned and made eye contact. “We’re waiting for them. But get in. We may have to leave quickly.”

  Henry looked around again. He didn’t want to get in the truck. He wanted to find Matt and Sarah.

  “Come on Sweetie, get in.”

  Henry took a step towards the truck, then looked back towards his house where he hoped to see Matt and Sarah run this way any second now. He stepped in that direction. He heard Ruth shout his name and looked back to see her rounding the truck and coming toward him. Henry wasn’t going anywhere until he saw Matt and Sarah.

  He had only made it a few steps when Matt and Sarah burst through the bushes between two houses and raced straight for them.

  “Get in the truck!” Matt yelled.

  Henry reversed direction and scrambled for the truck. It w
as only one bench seat, so they were going to be a little cramped. Matt dove into the driver’s seat and Sarah scooted across to the middle while Ruth climbed into the passenger seat. Henry jumped in and ended up half in the footwell and half on Ruth’s lap.

  Matt turned the key, and the truck engine sputtered. He cursed under his breath while Sarah whispered, “come on.”

  He tried again. This time the starter only clicked.

  “Shit!”

  Ruth pointed. “Look.”

  Three pairs of eyes swung up to follow her finger. A line of Takers stretched across the street, all standing in front of the truck.

  They were trapped.

  10:49 p.m.

  The vote was done now. Paul heard the relieved murmur of a crowd released from their duty. He wouldn’t have to wait long now. He felt sure he would be sacrificed but hoped his neighbors would surprise him.

  The Mayor started to speak again in the main room. “Thank you. I know this wasn’t an easy task, but you, as a town, have spoken and I, as your leader, will follow through. This is a difficult night. Wait here. I will handle things from now on. You have done your part, spoken as one for our town. While I deal with my duties as your Mayor, please pray for me and our beautiful town. It is the most important thing you can do.”

  If Paul didn’t have tape over his mouth, he would have laughed. Pray. What could prayer do except keep the people occupied?

  A door clicked open and shut, and then heavy footsteps brought the Mayor to stand in front of Paul.

  “The people have spoken. You are going to help save us.” He crouched down until he was face to face with Paul. “My men and I will take you outside and give you to the Takers. They will immediately disappear, and I will be the savior of this town. The next generation will realize the importance of the rules and Heritage will continue. But don’t worry, Paul. I’ll make sure that your sacrifice is remembered. I already have my speech planned for tomorrow. I think I’ll even shed a tear or two.” He grinned.

  The Mayor stood and motioned to his men. Paul’s chair lurched as the four picked it up and started for the door leading outside.

  Paul was running out of time.

  10:49 p.m.

  “Matt,” Sarah’s voice was a mix of warning and fear.

  “I know. I know,” Frantic now, Matt pumped the gas and turned the key again, willing the engine to turn over. It clicked.

  “They are doing it. It’s them.” Henry’s voice trembled. “They aren’t letting us go.”

  Matt’s hand stilled on the keys as he stared out the windshield at the Takers who formed a semi-circle around the truck. “Okay then. Sarah do you still have the lighter and hairspray?”

  Sarah twisted to grab her backpack and pulled them both out. She held them up as an answer. Matt and Sarah locked eyes. “Okay then.”

  Matt looked across Sarah to Ruth. “Sarah and I will try to distract them. Ruth, get Henry out of here.”

  Ruth and Henry said no in unison and then glanced at each other. “We’ll all do better if we stay together.”

  Ruth’s reply was calm. Henry, on the other hand, sounded panicked. “You can’t leave me.”

  Sarah grabbed Henry’s hand. “Okay, but we do have something important for you to do. Whatever they do to slow us down, it doesn’t seem to work for long periods of time. We’ll drive them back with the fire. Maybe stop one of them and hopefully that will let us start the truck. Henry, your job is to stay in the truck and keep trying to start it. As soon as it starts we all come back and get out of here.”

  They nodded their agreement. Sarah carried the hairspray and lighter. Matt gave Ruth the gun while he grabbed a baseball bat.

  The three climbed out of the truck while Henry scooted over to sit behind the wheel and slid forward in the seat, so his shorter legs could reach the gas pedal.

  In front of them, the Takers stood in an unmoving line.

  Ruth stood in front of the truck with the gun while Sarah and Matt moved forward in a reverse triangle. Sarah flicked the lighter and depressed the aerosol can, letting a flame launch out while Matt lifted his baseball bat. Together they stepped toward the Takers.

  10:51 p.m.

  Ruth’s palm was sweaty on the grip of the handgun as she stood in front of the truck and watched Matt and Sarah advance toward the Takers.

  Her knees ached, and exhaustion threatened to pull her tired body to the ground. Matt and Sarah had been careful to put her in the back. She knew they were trying to protect her, but she felt the weight of her years pressing on her. The pressure of who she should be settled heavy on her shoulders. She stepped outside tonight because she wanted to die. She wanted to sacrifice herself to protect someone else, partially because she was tired of living without Sam, also because she wanted to atone for the years that she kept quiet over how wrong everything about Heritage was. She stayed a follower, meek and silent, just to keep the life she wanted, to keep her husband and son.

  The irony was that she had denied her own sense of right and wrong, her own moral compass, everything she believed to be true to protect that lifestyle. Instead, Heritage took everything from her. Now she was in the company of three young people, their whole lives waiting ahead of them. Especially Henry. Ruth didn’t want to see their lives lost to Heritage.

  As they moved, Sarah and Matt slowed like a force was pushing them back. Sarah’s lighter went out. She struggled to flick it again. The Takers took a step forward in unison. Ruth wanted to do something. Anything. Matt was leaning forward like he was walking against a strong wind, but he wasn’t making any progress. Sarah was stuck, unmoving.

  A Taker stepped forward from the others. One step, two. It was right in front of Sarah. The whole world stopped, locked in time.

  Ruth had to act. If something was going to happen, it had to happen now.

  10:51 p.m.

  Sarah couldn’t move, her body locked in an invisible grip. The lighter was out, and she could no longer even move her thumb to flick it. She couldn’t turn her head, but out of the corner of her eye to her left, she could see Matt straining to move, pushing against whatever magic the Takers used to stop them, to keep them in place.

  The Taker in front of her took a step closer. Terror was a living thing; an invisible claw wrapped tight around her throat. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move. The only thing in her ears was her own heartbeat.

  They say before death that your life flashes before your eyes. That didn’t happen to Sarah. The only thing she could see was the Taker. It took up her whole vision. Her whole world was claimed and controlled by its presence.

  Suddenly, a body hurdled into her side, and she was free.

  Sarah fell to the ground. She and Matt were free. Whatever strange magic had held her captive was gone. Matt’s hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her to her feet. Behind them, the truck engine roared to life, and Henry’s prepubescent voice yelled at them to move.

  With Matt providing a boost, Sarah jumped to her feet but stumbled. Strong arms caught her. Propped against Matt, she registered the horror of what was happening in front of her.

  Ruth stood with her hands still outstretched from pushing Sarah out of the way. Behind Ruth stood a Taker, the one that had been a second away from grabbing Sarah. The creature dropped a black-clad hand onto Ruth’s shoulder.

  Ruth’s wide eyes met Sarah’s, and she whispered, “Run.”

  The Takers and Ruth disappeared with a lightning crack.

  10:57 p.m.

  The chair Paul was tied to rocked back and forth as the men, led by the Mayor, carried him away from Town Hall. He could hear the panting of their breath and the occasional grunt of effort, but he kept his gaze fixed up on the stars. That way he could pretend he was somewhere else.

  Paul and the chair he was tied to were dropped without ceremony onto the ground. The chair rocked to the side and almost dumped him over. One of the four goons that had carried him out reached out and righted the chair. Paul looked around and registere
d where he was, the woods on the far east of town looking down on Town Hall and Heritage.

  The Mayor stood in front of him looking down on Heritage from the top of their hill. With an impatient wave of his hand, he dismissed his four men. They walked away. Then it was just Paul and the Mayor sitting together, viewing the quiet, dark town. It would have looked peaceful if Paul didn’t know the truth about what was happening.

  When he spoke the Mayor’s voice was a soft murmur. “Now we wait. It won’t be long. They just need to round up the others.”

  He looked back over his shoulder and smiled at Paul. “We’re going to solve all of our problems at once.”

  10:57 p.m.

  “Ruth… oh, my God… Ruth!”

  Sarah’s voice cracked. It couldn’t be real. It couldn’t.

  “No, no, no, no.”

  “Sarah,” Matt twisted her around and grabbed her shoulders, giving her a shake. “Sarah, we have to go. They could come back.”

  Sarah’s dark eyes met the chocolate brown of Matt’s and saw the same horror and fear lurking there that she felt inside.

  “Come on. We have to go. We need to get Henry out of here.”

  Henry. Sarah turned and met Henry’s tear-filled gaze over the truck’s steering wheel.

  “Ok, ok, ok, ok.” Sarah didn’t even realize she was saying it out loud until Matt interrupted her.

  “Come on, Sarah, get in.” Matt opened the driver’s door while Sarah pulled herself up into the passenger seat. The minute she shut the door behind her Henry launched himself across the bench and wrapped his arms around her tight. They didn’t say anything. They held each other as the truck rocked and Matt climbed into the driver’s seat.

  “Why did she do that?” Sarah’s voice was thick with tears. “Why would she sacrifice herself for me?”