Hands of Lucifer

by John Tigges

  Jesus is coming!

  Armageddon is closer than you think! One final battle and Reverend Eddie John’s prediction will come true. He will be directly in contact with Almighty Jesus and the world will be Reverend Eddie John’s.

  The piercing cry burrowed into Nicole’s brain. Why didn’t she just fall over and die? It would be so much more simple. So much more painless. No more Stacey to preach to her. No more siren wail. No more—Myles?

  She threw her hands over her ears, rocking back and forth.

  “Well, if you don’t want to hear the truth, I won’t try to force it on you,” Stacey said, standing.

  The door to the hall opened and Myles peered in. “How are you two getting along?” he asked, forcing a note of cheer into his voice.

  Instantly, the sound stopped and Nicole fainted.

  14

  Saturday, December 6, 1986 12.-07 A.M.

  “I think your cab is here,” Myles said, dropping the curtains and turning back to face Stacey.

  “I’m not sure if I should leave. I’m worried about Nicole.” Reluctantly slipping into her coat, Stacey turned to Nicole, who sat on the couch staring into space.

  Snapping out of her daze, she said, “Don’t worry, Stacey. I’m fine. I really am. I guess I was just too tired or something. I should have gone to bed hours ago.”

  “If you’re certain,” Stacey said, confronting Myles with a quizzical expression.

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine … or is fine, right now. Nicole?” He waited for Nicole to confirm his diagnosis. When she nodded, he smiled broadly, crossing the room to Stacey’s side. Taking her arm, he escorted her to the door and opened it.

  “Cab’s waiting,” he said lightly.

  “I’ll call later in the morning. All right?” she asked, stopping in the hall for another endless second of waiting.

  “Do that, Stacey,” Myles said, closing the door. When he heard the sound of her footsteps diminishing down the hall, he slipped the chain lock in place and turned to face Nicole. “What really happened?”

  By now he had accepted the idea, as preposterous as it sounded, that something unusual-something strange and eerie—had entered their lives. Not for a moment had he bought the story Nicole had mumbled about not having eaten and merely fainting from lack of food. Positive she had made that up for Stacey’s benefit, he waited for her to say something.

  “It was weird. I goofed when it came to subject matter for our conversation and accidentally set Stacey off on a tirade about Jesus and such. Then I heard it.”

  “It?” He looked at her, cocking an eyebrow.

  “A peculiar sound.”

  He waited, studying Nicole’s face as it screwed up in consternation.

  “It sounded at first like a … a … siren of some sort. But the pitch was lower, not quite so shrill. At least it wasn’t shrill at first. That came later. And it grew in volume. It was so God-awful loud. Why Stacey didn’t react is beyond me.” She looked up into his face, thankful to find concern instead of disbelief, worry instead of ridicule.

  “Maybe,” he said slowly, softly, “just maybe, Stacey didn’t hear it.”

  Nicole stood. Walking to the window overlooking the front of the building, she peered out. The cab was gone and she could see no one three stories below. “Why wouldn’t she have heard it? That’s a little silly, Myles. My God, the noise was frightful. I think it was getting loud enough to make me pass out.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m not a fainter. I didn’t feel dizzy until I heard that noise. I wasn’t upset in my stomach nor did I feel the least bit sick.”

  “The noise made you pass out? Is that what you’re saying?”

  She nodded.

  “Well,” he said quietly after several seconds, “that might explain why Stacey didn’t react. If it was in your head she probably didn’t hear it. She probably couldn’t hear it. I know I didn’t hear anything. But then, I was only here for a moment before you passed out.” When he looked at her, he found Nicole glaring at him. “What’s the matter?”

  “Are you saying that all of this was in my head? That I imagined it?”

  Myles waited before answering. At first he had doubted some of the things she had told him. Then little by little, as he experienced some of the phenomena himself, he began accepting her story. But then, she began echoing Father Gorkland’s explanation that all of it was the product of hers and then Myles’ and her combined imaginations. Now she was back to wanting him to believe, reacting strongly to the suggestion that it had been in her head. He hadn’t meant that at all.

  “Look, Nicole,” he said, moving across the room to her, “what I meant by that was you were the only one to hear it. I’m not implying that you’re imagining it.”

  Tempering her attitude, she said, “How could that be possible?”

  He shrugged. “There have been some pretty strange things that have happened here recently. Who’s to say that something like that couldn’t happen?”

  “What are we going to do, Myles? We’ve talked to a priest who won’t believe anything we say, and we’ve seen some pretty peculiar things. How do we adjust to something like this? Are we supposed to go through the rest of our lives, being tormented and teased like this?”

  “You’ve just hit on something. We’ve never been actually threatened, have we? Neither one of us.”

  Puckering her forehead in thought, Nicole slowly shook her head. “What do you mean by threatened?”

  “I don’t think we’ve actually been in danger. Do you?” He looked at her but continued without giving her a chance to respond. “What I mean is this. It’s as though there’s a shield around you and me. Maybe whatever it is isn’t able to touch us.”

  “Wrong,” Nicole said, throwing her one hand up like a traffic cop. “Remember when you came home and found me in the shower? You got in with me?” She waited for him to recall. When he did with a nod, she continued. “I didn’t tell you but the shower and I were getting pretty friendly.”

  “What?” Both eyebrows shot up in surprise and he stared at her.

  “First of all, I lost all track of time. I thought I had only been in for a few minutes. In fact, I went in right after Gorkland left. I wanted to shower and be able to watch you on TV. It was about ten forty-five. Before I knew it, you were opening the door, standing there naked as a jaybird and wanting a little R and R yourself.”

  “I don’t understand. Are you saying that because you lost track of time while enjoying a hot shower that that in itself is significant?”

  Shaking her head, she said, “No. The water. The water felt different somehow.”

  “How do you mean ‘different’?”

  “Don’t think I’m going crazy, but it felt as if hands were pawing me.”

  An ominous silence filled the room for several seconds before Myles coughed and said hoarsely, “Pawing you?”

  She nodded but said nothing.

  “I didn’t feel anything.”

  “Maybe you weren’t supposed to.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I was the one who performed the ritual. I’m the one who conjured up a spirit or demon or whatever it is that’s been hanging around here.”

  “Are you saying that it’s got something going for you? Sexually?”

  She forced a short, bitter laugh. “What else?”

  “I think you’re jumping to conclusions. One incident does not make an affair of the heart.”

  “Funny, Myles. That’s not what I mean. Suppose that whatever is bothering us really came about because of the thing I did. Wouldn’t that mean it was really unholy. Maybe Father Gorkland didn’t catch the full significance of what we’re telling him.”

  “Maybe we didn’t either, if what you say is true. But why now? Why so long after the fact? You performed the rite quite a while ago. Right?”

  She nodded. “It’s well over two months ago. In September.”

  “Why did it wait so long to make a move on
you?”

  She shrugged.

  “I can’t believe we’re saying some of the things we’re saying, Nicole. Do you realize what you’re suggesting is that an unseen thing, or whatever you want to call it, made a pass at you … and I’m going along with it as though some guy got fresh with you at a party? The whole thing is crazy beyond belief.”

  “You’re probably right,” she said. “None of it makes too much logical sense, does it?”

  Myles crossed the room to the television set and reached up, taking down the small book. “Show me. Show me where the ritual is that you performed. I’m assuming it’s in this book.”

  Nodding, she went to his side, taking the book from him. “Promise you won’t laugh or poke fun at me?” Flipping through the pages, she looked up once she found the correct page, waiting for his answer.

  “I’m not about to make fun of anything or anybody,” he said, taking the book when she offered it to him.

  Nicole sat back on the couch while he read. When he looked up, she said, “Why didn’t you ask to see it sooner?”

  A puzzled expression froze on his face. “I … I don’t know. It never occurred to me. I guess I thought, because I was back, that it didn’t make much difference what the circumstances were that brought us together or what you might have done to help things along.”

  “You do believe me, then, don’t you?”

  “I guess so. But the point now is, are you in danger? This thing that I just read sounds like so much double-talk. I don’t see much significance in anything that’s included, but that doesn’t mean that it might not work.”

  “What are we going to do? I’m frightened.”

  “Let’s not panic. Tomorrow, we’ll begin a search for another priest or minister. This time, we’ll go in without hesitating about any of the facts.”

  “And in the meantime, what do we do?”

  “Go to bed. We can’t afford to lose a night’s sleep. We’ll have to be sharp if we’re going to be talking to a lot of religious people tomorrow.”

  “A lot?” she echoed. “What about your birthday? That’s an awful way to celebrate.”

  “We can celebrate another time. This is more important. I don’t think we’ll be so lucky as to find a priest who’ll believe our story the first time we try. Do you?” He returned the book to the shelf over the television set.

  “You’re probably right.” The shower incident came back to mind, bringing with it the sensation of the rough, calloused hands that had fondled her breasts and genitals. “Myles,” she cried, running to him from the couch, “hold me.”

  “Hey, take it easy. We’ll be all right. Nothing has happened yet. I doubt if it will. And if it does … well, whatever it is had better damned well watch out.” He held her tight to his body, realizing how upset she really was by the way she trembled. “Come on, let’s hit the hay. We’ll probably laugh at it in the morning.”

  “But we are going to find another minister, aren’t we?”

  “You bet we are,” he said, leading her to the bedroom.

  As they undressed, he watched her. Why her beauty, her nudity, her movements would arouse him now, considering the circumstances, escaped him. But when his penis jerked to life, he stepped closer to her.

  Enfolding her in his arms, he kissed her, relieved to find her open to his unspoken suggestion. He lowered her to the bed, holding her close, their nakedness joining as one. He propped himself up on one elbow, continuing to kiss her mouth at the same time. His tongue darted in and out, being welcomed by hers. Both slipped in and out of each other’s mouth, caressing, exploring, arousing.

  He trailed one hand down her side then back up to her breasts. Fondling them in a gentle, soothing way, he felt her fingertips run across his own back and shoulders. Her touch, exquisitely sexual, continued its restrained massage. His free hand roamed over her body, exciting her to a fevered pitch when it rested on her hairy triangle. Reacting instantly, she thrust her hips upward, in an offering, giving gesture. When he felt her hot fingers touching his pulsating erection, he raised himself over her.

  Nicole spread her legs, waiting for him to enter her, and gasped with pleasure when he took her. His thrusts were gentle at first, matching her own quiet pumping rhythm. Slowly growing in intensity, the natural animal instincts of both, aroused to the fullest, quickly agitated to a feverish pace. His legs tingled as his glands heightened their natural response to the stimulation of her slippery vaginal walls. He could feel her fingertips at the base of his neck, while her legs jerked spasmodically around his neck.

  His passion growing, he increased the rhythmic speed of his buttocks and found himself pumping more demandingly than he had ever done before with anyone—even Eunice. It was like a new experience. The sensation of hands on his buttocks, pressing in direct cadence with his own increased tempo, brought him closer to climax. She held his face with both hands, kissing him, thrusting her tongue in and out of his mouth.

  Myles stopped, frozen in position by the sudden realization that she was holding his face.

  Then who was pressing on his buttocks?

  At first, Nicole wasn’t aware that he had stopped, passion carrying her to the brink of her own climax. Realizing after a moment that he wasn’t moving, she asked huskily, “What’s the matter, darling?”

  When she freed his face, he turned his head as far as he could but saw nothing. The room was empty except for the two of them. He looked in the mirrors behind the bed—nothing. They were alone. Still, he could feel the pressure of two hands. Roughened hands. Calloused palms and fingers. Straining to one side, to see his rump better, he screamed when he made out the impressions of his own backside—five indentations half-surrounding a larger one where the palm of the hand should have rested on each cheek.

  “What is it? Myles? Speak to me!”

  Leaping from her, he grabbed her hand, roughly pulling her to her feet. “I … I could feel someone’s hands on me. Helping me. Pushing my rear end to enter you even farther.” Shuddering, he pulled back from her when she tried to embrace him.

  “Myles. It’ll be all right. Maybe you imagined it.”

  “Did you imagine the shower?” he snapped, reaching for his pants and slipping into them. “Get dressed. We’re getting out of here. Now.”

  Both rushed to the closet, pulling clothing out. But try as they might, they could not dress in a hurry. Buttons seemed to be uncooperative, popping open as soon as they were done. Zippers stuck.

  “Can you smell it?” she asked, throwing her bra aside when she could not get the hook to stay in place.

  Myles sniffed deeply. “Yeah. God, that’s awful.”

  The rancid stench continued to grow in intensity until it filled the room, pressing in on the fumbling couple. After what seemed an eternity, they stood facing each other, dressed but frantically apprehensive now that they were ready to leave.

  “Should we take a bag or something?”

  “No time. Grab your coat and let’s go,” he ordered.

  The cloth coat she pulled from the closet clung to its hanger, each button holding fast to the opposite side. Taking the time to open it, she tried to hurry but her fingers acted clumsily, not responding to her brain’s simple commands. While she struggled, he fought with the zipper of his jacket. Again, an eternity seemed to pass before they were able to don their wraps. When they turned to leave the bedroom, they discovered they could only walk slowly, despite their instincts of survival and their desire to run as fast as possible.

  “What’s wrong with us?” Nicole asked, her words slurred, running together as if she were intoxicated.

  “I … I don’t know. Take my hand,” Myles said, offering his and taking one of hers.

  Together, they made their way to the hall door. When they reached it, the latch turned sluggishly as if the lock had not been turned for years. Myles reached out for the knob once the lock had yielded, and both froze when they heard the laugh. Low, evil, hoarse, it came from the bedroom, coursing down th
e hall toward them. Growing louder and louder, it filled the living room, flowing into the kitchen until the whole apartment rang with obscene hilarity.

  Throwing their hands over their ears as the laughter stabbed at them threatening to break their eardrums, they half-fell, half-stepped into the hall. Instantly, the sound stopped and the door slammed shut of its own accord.

  Unable to control her emotions, Nicole wept, reaching out to Myles. “What … what’s going on? I … I don’t think I can stand much more of this sort of thing. Where’ll we go now? Who can we call? How …”

  “Whoa,” he said, leading her away from the door of the apartment. “One thing at a time. There’s an all night drugstore a couple .of blocks over on Syracuse Avenue. Let’s go there, and look up a church. There has to be one close by someplace.”

  “Then … then what?”

  “Then we’ll go there. I don’t think there’s a priest or minister who would not talk to a couple of people in trouble.”

  “Is … is that all there is to it? We’re merely in trouble of some kind?” Her voice rang bitterly as they waited for the elevator. When it finally bumped to a stop and the door slid open, they got on.

  “Call it what you will. I’m not quite certain as to what we should call our … our …”

  “Pre … predicament? Situation?” she finished for him. “What about Gorkland? Couldn’t we call him? He already …”

  “No way. I’ve had it with that sanctimonious frustrated ass. We’ll find someone else. And when we do find somebody who’s willing to listen, I don’t intend to hold back anything. And you had better not, either. Otherwise, who’ll believe us if we tend to downplay it?”