Damned

by Lynda O'Rourke

  Jude stepped forward, and plonking himself down on a chair beside Quint, said, “Of course he knew. He played along with my deception because he knew he would get more out of me. He knew I would have more persuasion over you all than he would. I never really wanted to come here – did I? But it was because of what was happening to you – your veins and the thought that it was slowly killing you – that changed my mind. It was that small hope of Langstone being able to remove VA20 that I clung on to.” Jude stared up at me and continued to speak. “After all, what would this all have been for? The escape – on the run – watching your backs – trying to stay one step ahead of Doshia – the Cleaners – it would have all been for nothing if you all died from VA20. I’d only hoped that Langstone would keep quiet when we arrived, but I see now how fucking stupid I’ve been.”

  “Yes,” said Langstone. “Eras has always been on the soppy side – a soft touch, so to speak. Has fancied himself living and believed he could be just like one of you – wanted to be your friend. That’s why when I offered to show you all the photos yesterday, Eras here got rather angry and didn’t want you to see the pictures of him with Middleton. It would have blown his cover. I knew if I pushed the right buttons that I could get Eras to agree to go back to Strangers Hill with you all and do as I asked – even if it did mean having to destroy himself in the process.” Langstone sniggered at Jude and continued. “Poor Eras – he really didn’t want any of you to think badly of him. He’d sooner die and save you all than confess what he truly is.”

  I glanced over at Jude, who sat with his arms crossed tightly, jaw locked in a grimace. His eyes dropped from Langstone and fell to the floor. Never had I seen Jude look so downcast. I felt my heart slump. A feeling of guilt rushed over me and I suddenly wanted to throw my arms around him. It seemed that Jude’s actions, however misguided or wrong – evil even, had been because he truly wanted friendship and to live amongst the living. The hatred I had felt for him after he had told me about my parents had started to melt but I looked away. I didn’t want to have any forgiving feelings and I felt angry at myself for having such views.

  Cutting through my thoughts, Quint spoke up and said, “Vectis, we both know that I will not allow my body to be destroyed and you should know that I won’t allow you to keep the volunteers. I…”

  Langstone suddenly stood up, his chair knocking over, and said, “You should know, Quint, that I will have my way. I think the volunteers will be more than happy to destroy you, Middleton, and the others – at least they will do it for the last missing volunteer.”

  Langstone turned and smiled at us, his burnt skin splitting at the corners of his mouth. He turned away and opened the door behind him, stepping out into the hallway. The room turned icy-cold as the wind rushed down the staircase from the third floor causing the candle flames to jump and flicker.

  Quint stood up and followed Langstone out into the hall. I strained to hear what they were saying but they spoke in whispers that got drowned in the wind.

  Max came and stood beside me, hands clasped tightly together and said, “I’ll do it. I’ll go back and destroy those bodies if it means getting Robert back. I don’t care – why should I?” He glanced over at Jude and then back at me. “These demons don’t care about us – only that we’re pawns in their fucked up game. I want my brother – that’s all that matters to me.”

  “I know,” I said nodding my head, “but let’s just see if there’s another way.” I looked back at the doorway out into the hall, my heart racing. I could feel myself tense up. Never before had I hoped so much that there was another way. I wanted Max to get his brother back and if I was being truthful to myself, I didn’t want Jude or Ben to die.

  I glanced nervously around the room. Max paced back and forth – Raven stood quiet, shoulders rounded forward. Jude stared out into the hallway, expression blank, and Sylvia rocked on her heels mumbling to herself. I felt sick. I looked again at Quint and Langstone. Would they come up with some kind of agreement? If not, where would that leave us?

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Ben

  I was hanging on. Still here. I’d pushed and pushed to stay awake and not let Quint cloud my head. And although I could hear and see what was happening, I’d lost the use of my limbs and my voice. Quint had taken over that much but not enough to silence my voice deep within me. I knew Quint could hear me talk to him even though he had chosen to ignore me. I knew it because I could feel him push my voice back each time I spoke. But now in the hallway, with the cold wind rushing down the stairs, I fell silent and listened.

  “I will not back down on what I want, Quint,” wheezed Langstone. “Everyone has to die and your turn is soon.”

  “You first,” said Quint, moving closer to Langstone.

  “Step away,” sneered Langstone. “We both know that demons can’t kill demons. At least, not when they’re from the same group. You can’t kill me and I can’t kill you. That’s where the volunteers come into play.”

  Langstone turned and stared back into the room where Kassidy and the others waited. Quint followed his stare and I could see Kassidy, her face worn and scared. I wanted to go to her. I wanted to take her away from all this shit but I knew I couldn’t. I was stuck.

  Shuffling forward so he stood just in the doorway, Langstone whispered, “But we can kill humans, and although the volunteers are our bargaining chips for each and every one of us demons – it wouldn’t hurt to dispose of one – just to show I mean business. What does it matter? There’s always more from where they came. It matters very little to me where the Cleaners get their hosts… but it does matter to Middleton and Wright, and more so to Doshia. While I hold the volunteers, I hold onto my life long enough to allow a couple of the volunteers to get back to strangers Hill. As for Eras… well… he’s a waste of a demon – has his head stuck in the clouds. Of course, he wouldn’t want any harm to come to his new friends, so I have that bargaining tool with him, and Eras knows it.”

  Alarm bells started to ring in my ears. Langstone’s talk of disposing of one of the volunteers had my heart racing. I spoke to Quint and said, “We need to get them out of here. One of them is going to be Langstone’s example of following through with his threats.” But Quint ignored my warning.

  Doctor Langstone coughed and gripped the doorframe to steady himself. It was obvious that the fire had taken its toll on Langstone’s body and I wondered how much longer it would hold out for him. But he seemed rather attached to it even though the flesh was hanging loose, bleeding in places and infected.

  Scowling, Langstone continued to talk and said, “What of you, Quint? What do I have up my sleeve to bargain with you about?” Langstone narrowed his eyes, smiled and said, “Coffin seven – your lost love? How would that make you feel to see Etta’s coffin and corpse destroyed once and for all? All these years wasted, looking – searching, only to have that possibility wiped away forever?”

  Quint didn’t answer. But I felt him flinch. Felt him recoil inside of me. His rage at Langstone’s threats filled me with anger and hate, so much so that I wanted to burst through Quint and kill this fucking demon myself.

  “You really think you can destroy me and Etta? You believe that these weak volunteers will go all the way back to Strangers Hill for you..?” sneered Quint.

  Taking a step forward, Doctor Langstone re-entered the room. Quint followed close behind. My eyes fell on Kassidy as she too stared back at me. In fact, as I stared about the room, I realised that all of them were looking at me – looking at Quint – hoping for a way out.

  “Please, Quint,” I begged, my voice echoed inside my head, “Do something – anything! Help them.”

  As if in slow motion, my head turned and I focused on Langstone. His arms started to shake and his eyes rolled back in their sockets. Finding my voice I yelled out, “Stop… don’t do it!” But it was too late. Langstone was leaving his body.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Kassidy

  The sudden yell of Ben�
��s voice and Langstone shaking in the room had us all on our feet. Sylvia snatched hold of me, her body trembling.

  “We’re gonna die – we’re gonna die!” she kept repeating over and over.

  I looked at Ben. His eyes were cloudy and I knew that he hadn’t fully come back, that Quint was still lingering. “What’s going on – why’s he shaking like that?” I asked, looking from Quint to Mr. Shackleton. He hadn’t moved once since we’d entered the room. Taking a step back, I dragged Sylvia with me.

  “Get out!” ordered Ben. Then staring at Jude, he yelled, “Get them out of here now!”

  I watched, hesitant. The room was suddenly filled with chaos. We ran toward the door. Raven smacked into me in her haste to escape, knocking me to the floor.

  “It’s fucking locked!” I heard Jude yell.

  Clambering to my feet, I stumbled over to the door. I checked over my shoulder. Langstone was still shaking. Shackleton was as still as a statue. Looking at Jude, I shouted, “Open it – open the fucking door!”

  “I can’t, it’s locked!” he shouted, twisting the handle back and forth.

  I grabbed hold of his arm, dug my nails into his flesh and screamed, “You can open it – you can – do it – fucking open the door, Eras!”

  I watched Jude fluster at the mention of his real name. His reluctance to be what he truly was made him hesitant.

  “If you want to be my friend – you’ll do it! Be Eras and get us the hell out of here!” I shoved him hard in the back, peered over my shoulder, and grabbed hold of Max pulling him close. Raven, in her fright to get away, clawed at the door.

  I focused back on Jude. He stepped away from the door, eyes black. He lifted his arm up and like something had just vacated his body, a cloudy mass seemed to cover us all and the door unlocked.

  Spinning around, I screamed for everyone to follow but where was Sylvia? I could feel my heart sprinting. My veins pulsed and bubbled around my body like a conveyer belt.

  “Sylvia!” I called. I pushed through Max and Raven, who had squashed themselves up close behind me.

  “Where is she… where’s she gone?” hissed Raven. “We need her!”

  “Under the table,” shouted Max, turning away from the door, his face frantic. “We can’t leave her!”

  My eyes fell on Ben who was down on his knees, half under the table. He had taken hold of Sylvia who now cowered underneath it for protection. Throwing myself forward, I fell to my knees and climbed under for her. My eyes locked with Ben’s for the briefest of moments and then together we yanked Sylvia out, pulling her to her feet.

  Turning on our heels, my eyes widened at a dark shadow that now separated us from my friends. It stretched from one side of the room to the other. I could see Jude clawing at it – trying to break through. His eyes had disappeared leaving what looked like two black holes. Eras had come forward but it wasn’t enough. I took hold of Sylvia’s arm while Ben snatched the other.

  Nodding his head at me, he shouted, “Go – run!”

  Urging Sylvia forward, she dug her heels in and brought me and Ben to a stop.

  “No!” she cried. “No… he’s going to kill me – no – he’s waiting –he’s there – he’s...!”

  I gasped, my breath caught up in my throat. I was suddenly hurled off my feet. As I flew through the air, Ben hit the far wall – the dark shadow engulfed him. I cried out – hit the window – shards of glass rained down on me, piercing my skin like nails.

  “Ben,” I called out, staggering to my feet. I stared at his body as it stayed fixed to the wall. He couldn’t move – pinned like a stuffed trophy. His eyes blinked and I followed his stare.

  “Sylvia!” I gasped, stumbling forward and falling to my knees in front of her. “Sylvia… can you…” I stopped. Sylvia peered up at me from under her hair – eyes watery – mouth hung open.

  “I want to go back…” she gasped, throwing her hands to her head. “I want to go back to the asylum.” She screamed and smacked her head over and over again. “It hurts, Kassidy. Please tell him to stop… please!” Her screams filled my head as I spun around on my knees and faced Langstone, whose body stood in the same spot, eyes rolled back.

  I jumped up – ran at him – hurled myself into his burnt body and yelled, “Stop it – stop whatever it is you’re doing – you win – you win!” I smashed my fists down onto his chest, panic rushing through me as I turned back to Sylvia and realised that it was too late.

  Sylvia was consumed. I watched – sickened as her body seemed to expand – stretch – bloat – rip. Her eyes peered up at me. Blood trickled – gushed – ran from her body like she had a thousand taps attached to her and they’d all been turned on at once. She became a bloody mass – her white coat disappearing under the eruption of thick, red innards. I turned away as what sounded like a water balloon bursting all over the floor filled my ears. I fell to the floor and cradled my head in my arms.

  A low, guttural laugh filled the room. I turned my head slowly. My eyes avoided Doctor Langstone and went straight to Ben. He was alive, back on his feet and I peered around skipping the spot where Sylvia had been and stared at my friends. They hadn’t escaped the room. They stood still – pale and shaken. Max turned away and threw up. Jude clambered to his feet – dazed. Raven held onto the wall unsteady on her feet. I turned back and stared up at Langstone. He had returned to his rancid body, rolling his shoulders back, bones cracking into place.

  Glancing at Ben, or was it Quint, I couldn’t tell, Doctor Langstone wheezed, “Do you still question whether these volunteers would go back to Strangers Hill for me?”

  Quint, his black eyes more apparent, stepped forward and answered, “I don’t have to question anything – they won’t be going.”

  Pulling his dressing gown tight about him, Langstone raised his eyebrows and muttered, “Do we lose another volunteer then? I can spare another. Is that what you want?”

  I stood up, legs shaky and said, “I’ll do it – I’ll go back.” I glanced at Quint, who stared back at me.

  “No you won’t,” ordered Quint. “None of you will be going back.”

  “Very well,” said Langstone, his eyes narrowed as he took his time to look at each and every one of us. “Which one should I pick this time?”

  “No one!” I shouted. “I said I’ll go back – you don’t have to kill anyone else.” I stared round at my friends – fearful for all of them.

  “How about Robert?” suggested Langstone, glaring at Max. “You all came here to get Robert – shall I dispose of him? Will that change your mind, Quint? Can you bear to lose another volunteer?”

  Wiping his mouth with the back of his arm, Max stepped forward, and shouted, “No – no! You leave my brother alone – don’t touch him. I’ll go back with Kassidy – I’ll do anything!” Max turned to Quint and pleaded, “Just let us go – if you care anything about Kassidy you won’t let her die – you’ll let her go!”

  Quint spun around, smashing his fists along a shelf filled with bottles. They tumbled to the floor, shattering as his rage engulfed him.

  I looked away. I knew Quint didn’t want to let me go. He knew that if I went back to Strangers Hill I would be expected to dispose of his body somehow and that would be the end of him, but it also meant the end of Ben. But if Quint refused to let us leave, then another one of my friends or maybe I would be killed. Another thought entered my head. What about Etta? I would be expected to get rid of her body too. Quint would never stand for that – would he?

  “I want to see Robert,” said Max. “I want to make sure that he is all right before I leave.”

  Doctor Langstone wobbled on his feet, grabbed the edge of the table, and coughed. “You can’t see him. He’s locked away. When you come back with my body then you can see him.”

  “I think that’s a reasonable request from Max,” piped in Jude, brushing the dust off from the knees of his trousers. “Let him see his brother.”

  “No!” screamed Langstone. “I’ve had enough of t
his!” Then picking on Max, he stared hard at him.

  Max tumbled to the floor, head in his hands, and cried out.

  I turned to rush at Langstone but the door suddenly flew open, the wind blasting through the room scattering papers. Langstone’s dressing gown flapped open and he stared wide-eyed at the young man who now stood in the doorway.

  “Who the hell are you?” demanded Doctor Langstone, breaking the hold he had over Max.

  “You don’t need to go back to Strangers Hill – you don’t need to wait for Langstone to show you Robert – it was all lies – blackmail – to get you all to do what he wants. I’m Robert!”

  Max stumbled to his feet – stunned. “It’s you – Robert – it’s my brother!” He flung his arms about Robert and sobbed.

  Robert looked just like Max, only taller. His beige coat was filthy and zipped up tight under his chin. The blue jeans he wore were ripped at the knees.

  “It’s okay, Max,” whispered Robert, hugging him back. He peered over Max’s shoulder at Langstone and then his eyes fell upon the bloody pile of what was left of Sylvia. Pushing Max aside, Robert stared at each of us and then glared at Langstone. “You killed Sylvia? You sick, fucked-up animal!”

  Langstone wavered on his feet, eyes wide – shocked at the appearance of Robert. Turning to look at Mr. Shackleton, he screamed, “Get rid of him, Shackleton – kill him!”

  I stepped back, as Mr. Shackleton came forward. Producing an axe from under his cloak, lantern still swinging in his other hand, he raised the weapon. Langstone laughed.

  As Max stepped forward to protect his brother, the axe came down. I gasped. Nearly losing my footing on the broken shards of glass, I stumbled back as another blow of the axe swung past like a scythe. Blood splattered my face. It sprayed out across the room and pebble-dashed the walls. The head came clean off, fell to the floor, and rolled under the table. I stared – shocked as Doctor Langstone’s body crumpled to the floor, disintegrating to nothing more than a pile of ash.