“We’re not in on the details, Jan,” Mike replied. “Don’t let Connie get into any extended conversations with the parentals, okay?”
“I won’t. Let’s stick together. I’m trippin’ too.”
The guys finished off their beers while Janis and Connie waited, giving them a kick every few seconds to hurry them up. Mike helped Gail to her feet before bending down to stroke Demon’s head.
“You hang back, D. Keep up with the Joanie/Brad connection if you see them head out on their own. I’ll bag a couple more hot dogs for you.”
“Arf!”
Gail leaned into Mike with her arm wrapped around his waist. “Is half the stuff I’ve heard tonight true?”
“All of it is except I don’t know for sure if Demon came through a dimensional rift or from outer space. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
Gail giggled, pulling away from Mike and slapping his arm. “Hey, did you ever see that old Sci-Fi classic with Don Johnson when he was really young called ‘A Boy and His Dog’?”
Mike nodded his head, grinning over at Gail. “Yeah, I saw it. The girlfriend doesn’t fare too well at the end. We all watched it together when Stan brought over a copy. The girls did not like it at all. Laura was with us then. Janis and Connie enjoyed warning Laura about getting eaten by me and Demon. Are you worried about getting eaten?”
“Let me get back to you on that.” Gail moved in close to Mike again. “Do you miss her?”
“Since we’re just getting to know each other could we leave Laura out of it?”
“Works for me. How do you like me so far?”
“Just fine. Were you nervous about tonight?”
Gail sighed. “You mean because I did a brownie? I don’t know. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I didn’t anticipate that parking lot throw down though.”
“I might as well let you know now - I’m one of the tin foil hat paranoids when it comes to expecting the worst.”
“Good to know. Maybe I can change that. Are you going to intro me to your sister?”
“Heading that way right now.” Mike led Gail over to where Brad and Joanie were standing by a table, picking at the food they’d gathered. Once the pleasantries had been exchanged Mike and Gail walked away toward the campfire where Stan and Jerry were diligently keeping Connie and Janis in the background.
“Did you notice how Brad reacted to me?”
“Thanks for that, Gail. Joanie noticed too. The player can’t help himself. You outed him better than I ever could. Demon might have an easy night of it after all.”
“I was just being my irresistible self. I figured by the way your friends were kidding you about it Joanie thought she was golden in Brad’s eyes and the rest of you knew better. You don’t seem to be under my spell yet though, Dempsey.”
“I think you’ve underestimated your powers. Besides, since you did take a magic brownie I have to wonder whether that’s the source of the attraction for me. I did admit to being a paranoid, right?”
Gail grabbed Mike by the throat, shaking him with comic exaggeration. “Magic brownies make chili dogs more attractive… not people.”
“My bad, Princess.”
“Get him, Gail,” Stan urged. “Dempsey’s out of control. He needs an attitude adjustment. Quit grab assin’ and get over here. The first story teller is on tap.”
The next couple of hours were highlighted with urban legends both old and new. Surroundings played a big part as the darkness away from the main campgrounds and flickering campfire light enhanced each tale no matter how silly or old hat. A costume attired Jason leaped into the firelight to appropriate screams along with a later appearance by ‘The Hook’. As the storytelling wound down, Mike noticed Brad and Joanie were no longer standing where they had been. He glanced quickly back at their campsite where Mike had left a small battery operated lantern to indicate where their site was and grinned as he could see Demon was no longer on the blanket. One of the teens stood in as a DJ, taking music requests on a portable sound system.
“I’m going swimming before it gets any colder.” Gail tugged on Mike’s arm. “Come with me.”
“Didn’t you get enough time in the water today?”
“Hardly any. I want to take on the lake legend. C’mon, Mike, the brownie wore off an hour ago. Don’t you want to find out if I’m still attracted to you now?”
The thought of their first kiss in the parking lot rattled back into Mike’s mind with a vengeance. He could nearly feel her hand running over his thigh and the tingling urgency Gail provoked in him when the simple kiss had evolved into passion. Mike framed Gail’s face with his hands.
“I don’t need to be convinced by a swim in the darkness.”
Gail moved against him. “Hummmmm… someone could use a cooling dip I think. Whose being forward now, Dempsey?”
“Fine. You got me. I’ll go, but don’t get too crazy in the water.”
Gail pulled Mike by the hand toward the pier in the distance. “Define crazy.”
* * *
Brad’s left hand moved down over Joanie’s hip, his body pressing against her on the towel he had brought for them to sit on – supposedly to star gaze from. They were halfway along a path between the teens’ site and the boy-scout encampment. Darkness and dense foliage hid them from sight. A confusing jumble of new emotions streaked through Joanie, her anger at Brad’s reaction to Mike’s date fading quickly, an awakening heat flowing wherever Brad touched her. She pushed at him weakly, mumbling no but unwilling to force him away.
Joanie felt Brad’s hand move inward from her hip, startling her. Guilt at wanting more and distrust of Brad’s actual feelings for her resulted in a firm push away. “I said no, Brad.”
“C’mon, Joanie. Don’t be like that.” Brad again returned to stroking his hand down along Joanie’s side to her thigh and back again. “You know how much I care for you, baby.”
Confusion more than belief allowed Brad to move back over Joanie, lips and tongue working in fevered unison with his hands. Joanie gasped, her body betraying an attraction she had never experienced before. The thought of her Dad suddenly standing near them jolted Joanie into a near panic as Brad had deftly undone the clasp on her shorts. Joanie began struggling.
“Hold still, I…” it was then Brad felt a wet pointed vice clamping down on his roving hand. He tried to pull it away to no avail and looked into the glowing eyes of Demon. The low rumbling growl vibrating against the skin of his hand shocked the young man into frozen terror. “Jo…Joanie?”
Joanie squirmed out from under Brad, fixing her clothes hurriedly. She knelt down next to Demon, her hand stroking his head. “Let him go, D. He didn’t mean me any harm. I’m okay now.”
Demon released Brad’s hand, sitting and placing a paw on Joanie’s knee. For his part, the moment Demon let go, Brad had shot up off the towel as if launched on a rocket. He rubbed his hand, anger rapidly replacing fear.
* * *
“This water’s freezing!”
“Swim Mike, you big baby.” Gail laughed. She used an easy breast stroke to glide out further into the water while keeping her head up to instruct the reluctant Mike. “You’ll warm up if you keep moving. Now where’s the ghost?”
“I don’t know.” Mike caught up to Gail, pacing along beside her. “It’s not nice to taunt them you know.”
“Boy… you got it bad.” Gail began clucking like a chicken. “Watch this Chicken Little.”
Gail dove underwater. Mike swam in small circles, mentally counting the seconds, his heart racing not from swimming exertion, but from vivid memories of past experiences. He could hear the music and laughter from the teen camp. It sounded far away when compared to the silence in the dark water. Gail’s head popped up after nearly a minute. A gasping forlorn cry burst from her lips before she plunged out of sight again. Mike dove. To his credit, Mike’s dive took him directly to Gail in the jet black water. She momentarily flailed against him as he dragged her to the surface. They broke
the water together with Mike tugging Gail toward the distant pier.
“Wait! Mike… stop, damn it! I was just playin’.”
Mike twisted in the water, rage and relief battling across his features. “That’s not funny… ever! You’re a friggin’ lifeguard. You know better than to pull something like that!”
“Calm down, will you?” Gail seemed genuinely surprised at Mike’s reaction. “It… it was just a joke.”
“I’m going in.” Mike swam toward the pier. He almost missed hearing Gail’s scream. Turning around to vent his anger, Mike saw Gail’s panicked hands just before they disappeared below the surface. An eerie yellowish glow marked the spot where she went under. “Oh… shit.”
* * *
“You little bitch! You… you brought the damn dog!”
“Don’t call me that. I don’t like it. He watches out for me.” Brad’s words and vehemence cooled the fever in Joanie as if she had plunged into an ice water bath. “Demon didn’t hurt you. He just held you.”
“We’re through! I don’t need this crap from some little tease. You came onto me, skank! Remember that!”
Joanie stood up, fists knotted at her sides. “Go away, Brad, before I do something I’ll regret.”
Brad glanced down at Demon, who panted happily next to Joanie, his eyes never wavering from her face. Disdain stupidly flowed over Brad in a rush. “What the hell you gonna do, bitch? I ought to kick your dog’s teeth down its throat. Maybe then I’ll-”
“Demon!” Joanie cut him off. “Please escort Brad part way back to camp please.”
“What…” Brad was again cut off. Demon barreled into Brad, sweeping him yelping to the ground where the dog immediately set about herding the scrambling Brad toward camp with a combination of teeth, snarls, and yanks.
Nearly halfway to camp Demon broke off from his mission, watching the young man lurch to his feet and run for the music and campfire light. Demon padded back to Joanie, waiting for her to fold the towel before prancing along on point in order to guide his charge along the darkened path. As they reached the outskirts of tents and campfire, Joanie saw Demon tense. He then streaked toward the water. Joanie ran after him. Demon raced out onto the pier and dived into the water. Joanie stopped where she saw Demon leap and began screaming for help.
* * *
Mike stroked out to where the glow reached the surface and dove again. Beneath the water’s surface, hellish light illuminated the murky water. In an instant he saw Gail’s arms grabbing helplessly at the water above, her face a mask of twisted horror. He grabbed hold of her hands as Gail mouthed his name in silent agony. Mike pulled, his feet and legs stroking powerfully. He purposely avoided the smiling haunt he had seen dragging at Gail’s legs. Mike felt a give as the popping in his ears lessened, only to have the ghastly face weave up next to his. Jerking Gail backwards, Mike witnessed the drowned teen’s likeness transform into something from the seventh level of hell. Elongated hollow eyed death skull with snapping fangs, floating over disembodied talons, reached out for him in cold fury. Mike twisted Gail behind him just before another set of fangs ripped into the monstrous apparition’s skeletal neck, tearing until the thing faded within Demon’s slashing jaws. The glow faded and Mike broke the surface. Cries and flashlight beams washed over him as he hauled the choking Gail to the pier with Demon paddling next to them. A myriad of hands reached down to help Mike pass Gail up onto the pier.
Stan’s face bent down toward him. “You okay, Mikey? What the hell was that glow in the water?”
“The trouble magnet… working once again.” Before Mike could get up on the crowded pier, Demon had already raced toward shore and then up around onto the pier again. Stan and Jerry gave Mike a hand up and threw a towel around his shoulders. Demon sat down next to him.
Mike looked at Demon with more than the usual awe. “How’d you know, D?”
“Arf!” Demon answered with his usual one syllable confidence.
“Yeah, okay… I get it.” Mike hugged his paranormal dog. He looked up at Joanie and his friends. The other teens and parents were escorting Gail back to the campfire. “Where’d all of you come from?”
“I ran after Demon,” Joanie answered.
“Then she started wailing like a banshee,” Stan added.
“And here we are,” Janis finished, snapping her fingers. “Another damn night of ghost huntin’. I never thought I’d say this… but I need a beer. I think Demon ought to join me.”
“Arf!” Demon agreed.
Chapter 6
Paranormal Gig
Mike changed clothes in the shuttle while his friends waited with Demon and Joanie. As they returned to the camp, pausing by their tents, they heard Gail explaining in hushed tones what had happened in the water. Her audience hung on every word with a parent adding a log to their campfire the moment it burned down even a little. Gail clutched a blanket around her shoulders although she had changed already.
“Gail sounds like she’s hitting all the high points,” Connie whispered.
“What’re you whisperin’ for, giggles?” Janis fished out a beer from the ice chest and handed it to her friend. She then pulled another beer out, dumped Demon’s water dish, and filled it with beer. “Want a beer, Dempsey?”
Stan reached under the flap of his pack and produced a pint bottle of Canadian Crest Whiskey. “I think our trouble magnet needs something a little more potent.”
Mike hesitated for a moment and then took the proffered bottle. He uncapped it and took a long pull. The whiskey burned all the way down, causing Mike’s eyes to water. Pausing only a moment, Mike took another heavy swig and passed it back to Stan. Mike felt his heartbeat slow from the pounding rhythm since exiting the water, along with the stark image of the water haunt fading. He nodded his head at Stan appreciatively.
“Thanks.”
Stan slipped the bottle into his jacket pocket and accepted a beer from Janis as she passed them out. “Want a beer chaser, Mike?”
“No, I’m good. I’ll take a soda though. Soda for you too, Joanie.”
“I know… I know.” Joanie took the two soft drink cans from Janis and handed one to Mike. “Can we go over by the fire now?”
Demon belched as he had finished the bowl of beer, causing a moment of suppressed hilarity as the group tried not to attract attention away from Gail.
“Yeah, Demon’s ready. Where’s Brad?”
“Can we not go into that tonight, Mike?” Joanie pleaded.
“Sure. I’ll assume Demon interacted and all is well.” Mike stroked Demon’s head, feeling the whiskey’s effect.
Jerry motioned with his hand. “C’mon. I see the parentals glancing this way. Think they’ll make a scene about the beer?”
“I don’t care,” Mike replied as they walked.
“That’s the spirit.” Stan clapped Mike on the back. “A good old fashioned haunting is all it takes to breed a rebel.”
Gail saw the approaching teens. She pointed at Mike. “Mike and Demon dragged me out as you all saw from the pier. I don’t have an explanation for what happened but everyone on the pier saw the yellow glow. It wasn’t a reflection or a radioactive rock. It was that thing’s aura.”
The other parents and teens looked at Mike expectantly. When he didn’t elaborate on what Gail said, one of the parents prompted him. “Say something, Mike. Did your dog tear up a ghost in the water?”
“I know it’s tough to believe, Mr. Sykes, but that’s exactly what happened. Demon’s special. Most of you have heard the story about how Demon saved our butts at the aqueduct. Well, he did it again underwater tonight. The story won’t get any more believable if I tell it again.”
“It sounds like bullshit to me.” Brad moved up near the fire across from Mike’s crew, pointing at Demon. “That damn dog’s a menace.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you had been on the pier.” Mr. Sykes garnered numerous murmurs of agreement from the other parents and teens. “If what happened was fake I’d sure like to
know how they did it. As to Mike’s dog, I’ve seen no example of him being a menace. What makes you say that, Brad?”
“Yeah Brad,” Joanie spoke up through clenched teeth, “why don’t you give us an example of why Demon’s a menace.”
“I…I…” Brad realized he’d boxed himself in as the parents exchanged glances over Joanie’s tone. “It’s just that… ah-”
“I’ll take this one, Bradley.” Jerry stepped up to the campfire. “Player here thought Joanie was on the menu tonight. Demon convinced him otherwise. Ain’t that right, D?”
“Arf.” Demon’s one syllable lexicon was followed by another belch, drawing immediate laughter.
“Screw you, Clark!”
“Sorry… I don’t roll that way, Brad.”
More laughter.
“Let’s all calm down,” Mr. Sykes urged. “I think we’ve certainly had a pretty exciting Friday the 13th. Nobody got hurt. We have marshmallows. Do you all have the roasting sticks we gathered earlier?”
Enthusiastic cheers and scrambling teens looking for their marshmallow sticks answered Mr. Sykes’ question. Brad walked away from the fire toward his tent. Joanie joined her girlfriends and the others in their toasting marshmallow pursuit. Gail, still clutching the blanket around her shoulders walked over with the older teens. She took Mike’s hand.
“Thank you.”
“We’d both be toast if not for the Demon.”
“I should have listened to you.” Gail knelt next to Demon, putting an arm around him. “How in the world can he do that?”
“If you mean eat up ghosts like Rice Krispies,” Janis asked, “we don’t know and we don’t care. Real jerks like Brad and those guys at last Halloween’s rave don’t fare any better than the ghosts if D decides to scatter them. We’re just glad he’s on our side. Want another beer, D? You’ve earned it.”
“Arf!” Demon belched again, his lower jaw quivering through a long one, causing pandemonium for a moment.
* * *
Gail and Mike lay next to each other on their rolled out sleeping bags looking up at the pristine sky, carpeted with pinpoints of light in varying shapes and sizes. Neither one spoke - not to point out starry dippers, nor to call attention to brighter clusters. Demon snorted occasionally in beer aided sleep at their feet, which neither teen could resist chuckling at. The main campfire nearby still entertained a large number of teen campers as they traded horror movie comments and stories at the eleventh hour. Gail sat up suddenly, propping herself up to face the still reclining Mike.
Demon (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 1) Page 8