by Matthew Buza
“Not that I can remember. They put me in a room, but my memory is foggy after that. Time seemed to jump from the room to the ceremony. Lazarus, I don't want to end up like that girl on the table.”
“What girl?”
“From the séance at your place. The one where I…”
“Oh that, no, no. Don't worry about that. That was something different.”
Luke spoke. “What girl?”
“I had a job that involved that girl from Southcenter. She had been dead for a while and a rogue spirit had been using her to stay alive.”
“Jesus. What happened?”
“Well, the spirit is no longer there.”
“It was more than that!” Isaac jumped in.
“It got a little out of hand.”
Luke's eyes narrowed. “How out of hand?”
“This thing crawled out of her chest.” Isaac motioned with his hands.
Luke looked to Isaac. “That happens sometimes.”
Isaac was exasperated. “What?”
“It does. But Lazarus, how did it get out of hand?”
“I lost control and my focus dropped.”
“Did it get inside you?”
“No, I was fighting it. But Isaac saved the day and did what I told him to. Everything turned out fine. Listen this is not why we are here. Isaac, I need you to lay down on the table.”
Isaac paused as Luke unscrewed the drain cap. He lifted his hands up. “What are you going to do?”
“We are going to check you out and perform some tests,” said Lazarus.
“I'm sorry if I don't trust you on this.”
Lazarus motioned at Luke. “Any help?”
“Isaac, we are going to check to see how far along you are. These things take time and it looks like, from what you’ve said, it's only been a week or so.”
“Just don't let what happened to that girl happen to me.”
Luke put his hand against Isaac. “Trust me, it's not going to happen like that.”
Isaac nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
“We need you to get down to your shorts and then get onto the table.”
“You want me to get naked?”
“We are going to be running water on the table and we don't want to ruin your clothes.”
Isaac reluctantly stripped down to his underwear and slowly lowered himself onto the table. He felt the arms flex under his weight and small pops sounded as he leaned back into the well of the table.
“Put your arms out,” Lazarus said.
“To mimic a cross?”
“Yeah, right here.”
Lazarus walked around and touched Isaac's temples. He leaned in and whispered a prayer. “For he is true and strong. Our savior will ever be in our hearts. Drop our eyes and ears at his presence. Amen.”
Isaac's eyes slowly rolled back and he drifted off to sleep. Lazarus looked up to Luke. “We've got about ten minutes before he wakes up.”
The two men moved quickly, opening drawers under the table. Luke pulled a black wrap and unrolled it across Isaac's chest. Inside were long flexible needles with hooks attached at the end. Lazarus pulled two needles placing one in his mouth and pressing the other gently into Isaac's shoulder, piercing the skin but drawing no blood. His skin flexed under the pressure and Lazarus let go. The needle bobbed and floated in the air. He continued placing fourteen additional needles across Isaac's body.
Luke followed behind Lazarus with a thin spool of wire. He tied each needle together like a spider weaving its web. The needles danced and shuttered in unison.
Lazarus placed the last needle. “How's it going?”
Luke's fingers moved quickly. “Almost done.”
Luke tied off the last needle and pulled out a small black metal box with a dial on the top. He pressed the wire lead into the box and connected a clip to the table. He pulled the power plug and connected it to the wall. There was a low hum emanating from the box and a white bulb lit up on the side.
“We're ready,” Luke said clutching the box in his arms.
Both men stepped back from the table.
“Give him an easy start,” said Lazarus.
Luke clicked the dial on the box and the crude display shook as the electricity slowly moved through the connections and out over Isaac's body. The hairs on his chest slowly lifted and his muscles twitched and pulsed.
“Give him more,” Lazarus said.
The hum grew louder as Isaac's body tightened against the base of the table.
“Again.”
“He isn't lifting yet.”
“I know he's a big guy, hit him again.”
Luke clicked the dial and Isaac's arms shook and lifted off the table. Small blue arcs died into the table as he slowly floated above the table.
“One more time and that should be enough.”
Luke clicked the dial and set the box down on a pull-out wooden stand. Isaac's body was locked in the cross position and slowly floated above the table.
Lazarus reached out to Luke. “Give me the knife.”
Luke handed the silver blade as Lazarus wedged himself on the table. He pressed the tip into Isaac’s back and depressed the skin. The blade pressed further and there was a pop as it gave way. A thick stream of red and black liquid fell down over the handle and onto Lazarus's arm. The stream continued to pour out into the table forming a small pool in the wood grain. Lazarus brushed his hands with a towel and pulled out a box of matches. He ignited the sulfur tip and tossed the match into the black liquid. The tar reacted and separated as if alive. The match fell harmlessly to the wood table. It burned slowly and the tar liquid reformed.
“Holy water,” Lazarus asked.
Luke passed a small glass vial and Lazarus poured it on the table and watched it slowly flow towards the tar. Tiny ripples danced along the edge of the liquid as it lifted up in a terrified form. The holy water struck the edge and boiled instantly.
“Get it out of here.”
Luke pulled a metal scrape and drove the black tar into the drain and dumped the remainder of the holy water in after it.
Lazarus let out a loud sigh. “It’s a demon.”
“You knew that,” Luke said.
“I was still hoping it might have been something else.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Get him down.”
Luke turned the dial to the off position and Isaac's body slowly descended to the table. The men made quick work removing the wires and needles. Lazarus touched Isaac's forehead and he slowly woke from his sleep.
Instinctively Isaac's arms tried to brush off his chest as if he were covered with ants. He rose up and looked at the two men. “What…what?”
“Just rest. Your nerves are waking back up. That's why you’re itchy.”
“What happened?” Luke and Lazarus were quiet and fought against making eye contact. “Do you guys know what's wrong?”
Lazarus asked, “Isaac, can you get us a body?”
“What? A body?”
“From school? Can you get a cadaver?”
“Why?”
“We need it.”
“For what?” Isaac asked.
“For you.”
Body Snatchers
James and Isaac pressed themselves up against the cold wall of the university building. Long shadows stretched down the halls and their footsteps echoed against the concrete block.
“I still can't believe we’re doing this,” said James.
Isaac was glad James was there with him. He knew it was an unreasonable request, but somehow James said yes.
“I appreciate it anyways.”
“You’re crazy, and this is just stupid, but I know where you are at right now. So I’m here for you. But I want it on the record that I think this is insane.”
“Noted.”
The exit light at the end of the hall flickered as the two men carefully stepped down the hall and turned the corner. At the end was the anatomy room, where they stored the stud
ent cadavers. James imagined the weight of the body and the cold flesh pressed against his arms. There was a hesitation and he put his hand on Isaac's shoulder, “Isaac, are you sure you want to do this?”
James could see the strain on Isaac's face.
“I don't know anymore, man. It feels like I'm running in circles. They said they needed a body to get rid of this thing.” He paused as his shoulders rested against the wall. “I see this thing multiple times a day. Luke said it takes time to settle in so his talk is just that. But if it goes any longer, I don't know. I mean you know what that woman did right?”
“Zinn?”
“Yeah, if this thing was in her and made her kill her kids, what am I capable of? What will happen to me? I just don't know what to do anymore. They said they needed a body, so I'm going to get them a body.”
“I hear you.”
“I just want this over with. If you don't want to be here then go, but I'm going through with it. I won't hold it against you if you leave.”
James smiled and stood up tall. “I'm here for you bud. Let's just get that body and get out of here as fast as possible.”
They reached the room and carefully opened the door. They had been in class less than a week ago dissecting arteries in the arm. In his mind, Isaac could still see the skin flayed open as James picked his way through the muscle and tissue to find the thin red ribbons tucked behind tendon and bone. They had received top marks for their work. It had been the first time that Isaac had felt success in nearly two months. Since he first met Lazarus, he had been more focused and able to avoid common distractions that diverted him from his studies. He had told himself only a week before that it seemed to be a blessing in disguise. He wondered if this was a side effect of the job. He remembered Lazarus talking about extended life spans, but what about improved cognitive abilities? He would file that away and ask Father Luke later.
The room was sterile and smelled of cheap ammonia-based cleaners.
“Piss man,” James said.
“I know, it always smells like piss.”
“It’s like they don't give a shit. Just use bleach.”
The door closed behind them as the latch clicked. They walked carefully as their shoes squeaked against the floor. Their cadaver was in the far locker. They pulled against the latch and the table slid out revealing the black body bag zipped shut. A cold fog fell to the ground like a waterfall and spread out covering their shoes. Goosebumps erupted under their jeans and covered their calves and feet.
“Jesus it’s cold,” Isaac said.
“How do you want to get this out of here? He's got to weigh over two hundred pounds.”
“I know. I was thinking we take him under our arms.”
“Like a stack of wood?”
“Yeah, sort of.”
“Let's put him on our shoulders.”
“But…” Isaac hesitated.
“I'm not that short. You take the chest and I'll take the legs.”
A door shut in the hallway startling both men. There was a firm click of shoes walking down the hall towards the room.
“Who the fuck is that?” James asked.
“I don't know, but there's nowhere to hide, man.”
“Fuck, just put him back in the freezer.”
They shoved the body back into the hold. James pulled against the neighboring freezer and slid out the empty table. He looked up at Isaac. “Dude, get in that freezer, just don't shut the door all the way.”
“Are you kidding me?”
It was too late as James jumped onto the table and pulled himself in. He carefully closed the door not allowing the latch to click.
Isaac looked back as the footsteps grew louder. He pulled open the door and slid out the table. It groaned under his weight. He pulled against the side walls as his shoulders struggled to clear the edge. He reached back and pulled the fridge door closed with a loud click. He was trapped in the storage box and it was pitch black. The chill quickly ran up his body and he began to breathe heavily as panic set in.
The door to the anatomy room opened. Professor Foley entered the room with the janitor behind him. He clutched a dirty rag and a bottle of cleaner.
“Henry, I know you clean this room every day, but you are missing some areas around the tables.”
“Sir, I’m sorry if there might be something I’m missing.”
“Listen, I’m not trying to harp on you, but these kids are working with these bodies and heaven forbid we have any flesh rot. I wouldn't hear the end of it from the department.”
They crossed the room towards the storage containers where James and Isaac hid. Professor Foley kneeled down and pointed to the aluminum flange under the dissection table.
“These kids are slobs with these bodies. I can’t guarantee they will actually listen to my directions during class. Can you see this?” He pointed to the dry liquid splatter.
“What is that?” Henry said.
“I imagine it is dried fluids from the cadavers. This fluid is not always filled with formaldehyde. If this just sits here, then there's risk. I know it is slim, but we’ve got to get this clean.”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
Professor Foley stepped back from the table and pointed to the floor. “Goddammit. Look at these footprints on the floor.”
“I don’t know where those came from. I cleaned the floors this afternoon.”
Professor Foley sighed. “I don’t have time to debate you, just clean it up.”
Henry nodded as the professor walked away. “Yes sir, I’ll get right on it.” The door clicked and Henry was left alone. “Stupid fucking asshole. Clean this my ass.”
Inside their frozen tombs, Isaac and James tried to stifle a chuckle.
“Yeah, I will get right on that. Fuck.”
Henry walked out of the anatomy lab towards the cleaning closet. James pushed himself out of the freezer. His hands shook uncontrollably. “I…saac, where are you?”
Isaac pounded the door with his head.
“Where?”
Again the pounding.
James pulled the lever and Isaac slid out of the fridge. He rolled off the table and let out a long moan. “Holy shit that’s cold.”
“We need to get the fuck out of here.”
“Let’s just grab the body and go.”
They opened the fridge and lifted the heavy corpse on their shoulders. Isaac could feel the man’s face pressing against his shoulder. Each step he bobbed up and down. James and Isaac stumbled their way through the halls, carefully listening for any footsteps walking down the hall.
They stopped just under the exit sign and Isaac kicked open the door. As they exited the building the janitor came around the corner pushing a rolling bucket and a mop. He saw James stepping through the door and the unmistakable image of a cadaver bag slung over his shoulder.
“Hey what the hell are you doing?” he shouted down the hall.
James shouted to Isaac, “We need to move buddy.”
Isaac hit the steps and pulled the body bag sending it careening down the railing and onto the asphalt floor. There was a loud crunch of bone as the bag settled at the rear of Isaac’s truck.
Isaac scurried after the body as James made his way down the steps. “Goddammit, James!”
“Just toss it in the back.”
Isaac pulled up at the midsection and heaved the body into the back of the truck. The shocks squealed as the weight settled. The feet of the cadaver poked out the corner of the bed. The two men scrambled around the truck. The janitor reached the door as the truck roared to life and its wheels squealed for a second before stalling out.
He stormed down the steps and reached out for the foot sticking out the back of the truck. Isaac could see Henry reaching for the cadaver. He started the truck again and slammed the gear into first. The wheels spun and quickly pulled away as Henry stumbled forward and crashed into a large puddle from that evening’s rain. The truck screamed down the back alley and turned onto the street. He
nry slowly stood, the water running like a river off his face.
Diving In
The smell of rain carried itself into the church, caught on the currents of two stumbling men. Their heavy breathing broke the silence as they passed underneath a wooden cross. On their shoulders, wrapped in black plastic, was the body of a stranger. They stumbled as exhaustion slowly took over. It was the first time in Isaac’s life where he understood the term deadweight.
The body dropped from their shoulders and hit the floor in the center of the church. A series of pews had been pushed aside to make way for the crude séance. Father Luke closed and locked the doors behind them.
“We’re officially closed for business,” Luke said.
Lazarus appeared from behind the altar, his hand clasped tightly on an open bottle of whiskey. He stepped down and walked up to Isaac and pressed the bottle into his chest. “Take a drink.”
Isaac could smell the whiskey on his breath. “Are you really drinking right now?”
“If I was drinking you’d know. Take a sip, you need to burn the edge off.”
James stared at the bottle in Isaac’s hand. He reached out. “Give me some of that.”
Lazarus blindly pointed at James as he walked around the body. “That guy knows what’s going on.”
Isaac pulled the bottle back from James and gulped down a mouthful. His lips curled back as the liquid burned its way down his throat. “Fuck. That’s like acid.”
“That’s how you know it’s good, and it’s working,” Lazarus said leaning down and pulling open the body bag. Even the drink couldn’t hide the trembling in his fingers and the excitement of the moment.
“So what are we doing?” Isaac asked.
“We need to get the séance prepped, body out, circles made of salt,” Luke said. “James come with me and help me with the supplies.”
“Well, it can’t get any weirder than it is now,” James said.
“Just wait,” Luke said walking across the church towards a series of cabinets.
Isaac kneeled down and helped Lazarus remove the body from the bag. They pulled the black plastic back and exposed the nude man to the floor. His right arm dangled unnaturally.
Lazarus looked at Isaac as he waved at the broken arm. “Chucking him in the truck like a side of beef?”