Horror In The Clouds

by Scott Shoyer

  Earth would become a literal living Hell, and N’Xabez would be the architect and orchestrator of that new world.

  Sheriff Landry didn’t fully understand why Howard was excited to help usher in this future Hell. Even Landry knew that the Ancient One would have no allegiances to any human beings. That would be like humanity forming a pact with ants. Once ‘The One in the Clouds’ was in their world, Howard would become like the rest of humanity—slaves or food.

  But how does someone not even in the Order stop what is coming? Landry thought. He knew this was a question that had no answer.

  He continued on through the woods.

  25

  The High One drove back into town and gathered up the remaining bloodline patriarchs. The four remaining members of the Order of N’Xabez were terrified to leave their homes, but they also dared not defy the High One, especially when he came personally knocking on their doors.

  After the High One had picked up the last of the members, Levi Hargrove, Howard drove toward the sacred location where they had performed The Circle of R’lyeh ceremony countless times. Part of the ceremony was the process of walking through the streets of Derleth in the middle of the night with only torchlight to guide them. As the bloodline patriarchs did this, it signaled to ‘The One in the Clouds’ that the ceremony would soon begin. But, as Howard told the others, everything had changed since the last time the ceremony was performed.

  “What do you mean ‘changed?’” George Lindquist asked from the back seat of the car. “You know my devotion to the Order is unwavering, Howard, but why are we headed out to the sacred spot in the middle of the day in our full robes?” The others in the car mumbled in agreement.

  “I understand your concerns and even your fears, gentlemen,” Howard explained. “I had the same questions as you all did but a few hours ago. In fact, during a visit from N’Xabez, I was just inches away from complete madness from the things It showed me. But I was brought back from the brink of madness, and I realized that my bloodline had not been shunned by the Ancient One. N’Xabez does not realize it, but It needs our help.”

  “Did It contact you?” asked Michael Angus as he leaned forward in the back seat.

  “Yes, It did,” Howard said. “You all know that my ancestors were the ones who originally made contact with ‘The One in the Clouds.’ They summoned It and made it aware of this realm through sacred and what were believed to be lost words. N’Xabez finally opened Itself up to me and showed me what It had planned, why the others had to die, and what was to come.”

  A palpable silence was felt in the car as the patriarchs waited for Howard to continue. Instead, the High One kept driving to the location where he’d left Sheriff Landry not too long ago. “We have a very important task before us,” Howard finally said as he broke the silence. “Two outsiders are running through the woods. Sheriff Landry is on their trail and might even have them by now, but if he doesn’t, it is of the utmost importance to find the father and son who are in the woods.”

  “I thought there was three of them?” Thomas Harkshore said, but Howard’s silence answered for him.

  “High One—Howard,” Levi said as he wrapped his hands around the headrest of Howard’s seat. “What the hell is going on?”

  After a few seconds of silence, Howard finally answered. “The world is about to go through the most dramatic change it has ever seen, gentlemen. We are the remaining bloodlines and are instrumental in bringing about these changes.”

  “What exactly will these changes be?” Thomas asked.

  “N’Xabez,” Howard said. “The Ancient One, will soon break through into our world and will bring with It a new era of darkness and madness that will spread to every corner of the globe.”

  None of the patriarchs said anything. What could one say when told you would be one of the architects of the upcoming apocalypse?

  26

  “Damien… Brandon!” Sheriff Landry shouted. “Come on out! You’re only delaying the inevitable! You don’t know these woods. They are dangerous. The others will be here soon, and then it’ll be no time before we find you.”

  Landry slowly walked into a small clearing and looked for signs of the Squires. They had definitely been here, but it was difficult to determine how long ago. He saw the path they’d taken out of the clearing. Footprints in the dirt and trampled flowers and shrubs gave the Squires away.

  “I’m sorry about what happened to your wife, Damien!” Landry shouted. “I truly am. I thought that was a rash and dumb thing to do. But the High One needs you—he needs you both. If I could go back and stop him from killing your wife I would.”

  As the Sheriff walked out of the clearing and onto the path the Squires had taken, the last thing he saw was a baseball bat-sized tree branch coming at him from the corner of his eye. Simultaneously, Landry put up his arm to protect his head and tried to duck. Neither action proved helpful. The branch slammed into his forearm and Landry felt his ulna shatter from the impact. He dropped to his knees, and when he looked up, saw the branch coming toward his forehead to finish the job.

  *****

  Damien stood over the Sheriff as he breathed hard and held the branch in a batter’s stance. He contemplated hitting the Sheriff again and again until his head split open, but Damien didn’t know if he was yet prepared to travel down the grim road of killing another man.

  “Is he…?” Brandon started as he stepped out from behind a nearby tree.

  “No, buddy,” Damien said as he was still catching his breath. “He’s not dead.”

  “You should fucking kill him,” Brandon said in a quiet, even tone.

  Damien looked up at his son. “I know it seems that might make you feel better, son,” Damien explained, “but we’re not murderers like they are.” Damien then handed the branch to Brandon and knelt down and took Sheriff Landry’s pistol from the holster. He held the .357 magnum in his hand. It was heavier than he thought it would be. Damien checked the cylinder and then tucked it into his waistband.

  “I thought we weren’t murderers, Dad?” Brandon asked.

  “Killing the Sheriff won’t bring your mother back,” Damien said, “but I will kill anyone who tries to hurt you.”

  Brandon looked his father in the eyes. “Are we going to make it, Dad?”

  “Yes, we are,” Damien said without hesitation. “Now let’s move out.”

  27

  The squamous Elder God felt everything coming together. It had taken so long to find them, and the fact that they’d came to Derleth of their own free will amused the stygian immortal. The Ancient One knew that the High One was gathering up the remaining patriarchs to perform the final ceremony that would bring Its reign to Earth. N’Xabez rolled around in the clouds as It anticipated Its impending rule.

  To have the entire planet bow down before It.

  To rule the mortals absolutely with a charnel darkness and a crushing madness never experienced before in their realm.

  N’Xabez’s wait would soon be over.

  28

  “Sheriff! Sheriff!” Howard called as he and the other bloodline patriarchs exited the car.

  “Where the hell is he?” Thomas Harkshore asked as he looked into the woods.

  “He’s out there,” Howard said as he nodded towards the woods, “fulfilling his role.” Howard started to walk. “Let’s go, everyone. We’ll walk to the ceremony site.”

  “Why the hell didn't we just drive there?” George Lindquist asked.

  The High One turned, his face distorted by rage. “You will all stop questioning me, NOW!” Howard shouted. “This is not a game we’re playing in the woods.” He looked at each of the patriarchs, then continued. “I know over the years your faiths have fluctuated. Some of you don’t even believe anymore, even after seeing the One in the Cloud’s tentacle shoot from the sky to claim Its sacrifice.” Howard walked closer to the men. “But you all need to know that this isn’t a game—it is not some fucking hobby that we do to kill some time.

&
nbsp; “N’Xabez is indeed real and has found a permanent way into this world from Its own realm. The sooner you all start accepting that, the better you’ll be.”

  “Well, I’m not going another step until you tell me exactly what is going to happen at tonight’s ceremony and then after that,” Lindquist said.

  “What’s going to happen?” Howard repeated. “You want to know what is going to happen? After tonight, N’Xabez will forever be in our domain, our world. It will bring a reign of darkness and chaos that It will rule over for the rest of time.” Howard looked at the faces of the patriarchs and knew they still didn’t completely believe him. “Either that, or we’re just going to perform another sacrifice to N’Xabez.”

  The others looked confused, but Howard turned and continued back into the woods. “Come on, patriarchs,” Howard said over his back. “It is time to get to the sacred place.”

  *****

  Damien was feeling his age and needed to stop and rest. Damien was never a runner and was sucking air noisily into his lungs. Brandon, in contrast, was barely worn out. His cross-country running had obviously benefited him.

  “Is it safe to rest, Dad?” Brandon asked.

  “I don’t know, buddy. But if I don’t catch my breath, these psycho-townies will be the least of my worries,” Damien said as he shot his son a smile. “Besides, we have a weapon now.” He held up the Sheriff’s pistol. Looking around, Damien continued. “If my sense of direction is right, then that sightseeing spot with the large stone structures should be maybe another mile ahead of us.”

  Brandon looked into the woods. “I’ll be right back, Dad,” he said as he ran into the dense trees.

  “Brandon!” Damien called, but was too late. Brandon was already out of ear shot.

  Damien had never spent a lot of time in the woods and couldn’t tell a rose bush from poison ivy. As he stood against the tree, he felt his breathing come under control and was ready to get moving again. “Brandon!” Damien whisper-shouted into the woods. Come on son, he thought as he heard something rustling about fifty feet in front of him. Damien held the gun at arm’s length and pulled the hammer back.

  “Don’t shoot,” Brandon said as he held his hands up as he emerged from the bushes. “It’s me, Dad.”

  Damien immediately lowered the gun and carefully dropped the hammer down.

  “You were right, Dad,” Brandon said excitedly as he ran toward his father. “The sightseeing spot is less than a mile dead ahead of us.”

  “Did you see any other tourists there?” Damien asked.

  “I didn’t get that close,” Brandon said. “I saw one of the huge structures by the tree line and came straight back for you.”

  “Nice job, buddy,” Damien said. “But remember: when we get to the stone structures, we aren’t out of danger yet.”

  Brandon nodded.

  As father and son ran toward the sightseeing spot, Damien hoped there were more tourists there.

  29

  “Wake up, Kane,” Howard said as he nudged the unconscious man on the ground. “Come on Landry. Get your ass up.”

  As Sheriff Landry slowly regained consciousness, he saw the men standing over him. “What… what the hell is going on?”

  “What’s going on is that you fucked up,” Michael Angus said. “How the hell did he get the jump on you?”

  Landry sat up as he felt the large bump on his head. His eyes widened as he felt the blood all over his face and neck, and winced as he cradled his shattered arm.

  “Don’t worry,” Howard said. “The blood was from your head wound, but it is no longer bleeding.” Howard looked around to see if he could pick up the visitor’s trail. “Did you at least see which direction they went?”

  “They are headed towards the Lost City,” Landry said as he made a sling for his busted arm out of his jacket. ‘Lost City’ was the name the locals gave to the site with the large stone structures. They all imagined the location was once home to a race of giants who lived in the stone houses.

  “Well, let’s go,” Thomas said. “What are you waiting for?”

  “We need to be careful,” Landry said. “They took my sidearm.”

  “Yeah, well, this isn’t our first rodeo,” Howard said. “We brought our own insurance.” Howard held up his shotgun while Levi Hargrove raised his Glock 9. “Levi,” Howard said, “give Landry your pistol.” Levi looked surprised at the request.

  Sheriff Landry stood, took the Glock from Levi, and checked to make sure it was loaded. “We go straight ahead,” Landry said as he walked before the others.

  Landry was dizzy as he walked through the woods and his shattered arm throbbed, but he wouldn’t let the others know. He knew something big was going down, and that the father and son in the woods were the key. He would lead the others to them, but he still didn’t know what he would do once he located them. His gut told him he should just shoot the father and son dead on sight. The story Howard had told him still echoed in his head, and he wasn’t sure what parts of the story, if any, were true. But even if only five percent of Howard’s tale was fact, Landry didn’t know if he could be a part of what was coming.

  Landry led the others deeper into the woods.

  30

  “According to the map, there’s a cool sightseeing spot right ahead of us,” Judith said as she attempted to fold the map back up. “It is supposed to be an old site full of huge, stone structures that not even the experts can explain.”

  The Dyers were on their way back home to Louisiana. They were on the final leg of a two-week road trip that had taken them to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Roswell, New Mexico, and Carlsbad Caverns. Since leaving the Grand Canyon, Daniel, the father, had decided to take a more scenic route through Arizona.

  “That sounds pretty interesting,” Daniel said. “Doesn’t it guys?” He looked in the rearview mirror and saw his kids, Sam and Kristin, looking out the side windows in the backseat.

  “Does the place have a toilet?” Kristin asked without taking her eyes away from the side window. Kristin, at fifteen years old, was still trying to determine if spending time with her family was lame or not. Her brother, Sam, was two years younger and loved the adventure.

  “Yes, sweetie,” Judith said. “There are bathrooms there.”

  “So, what do you guys say?” Daniel asked enthusiastically. “Should we check out one more sightseeing spot?”

  Kristin just shrugged as if to say, ’Whatever,’ while Sam gave an enthusiastic “Yeah!” from the backseat.

  “All right,” Daniel said. “We should be there in about five miles.”

  *****

  Brandon and Damien hid behind a tree as they scanned the area around the large stone structures.

  “I don’t see anyone,” Brandon said.

  Damien didn’t answer his son, but instead kept darting his eyes around the site, looking for anything that might indicate the Sheriff or that other whack-job were there.

  Finally, Damien spoke. “I don’t see anyone either, but that doesn’t mean no one is out there. Remember, Brandon, the Sheriff has the advantage here. He and the others know the woods better than we do. I’m sure they’ve figured out we were heading back to this spot.”

  “So then what should we do?” Brandon asked.

  Before Damien could say anything, he and Brandon watched as a Volkswagen SportWagen pulled into the parking area of the tourist attraction.

  “Do I need to tell you what we’re going to do?” Damien asked his son.

  “Just hide that thing before we go out there,” Brandon said as he nodded to the gun in his father’s hand.

  *****

  The Dyers got out the car and stretched their legs as they looked at the structures.

  “That map definitely didn’t do this place justice,” Judith said. “Those things are huge. I can’t believe no one has any idea how they got here.”

  “It was probably aliens,” Sam said seriously.

  “Not everything you don’t understand is done b
y aliens, you dweeb,” Kristin said. “If that were the case, then aliens would be responsible for you.”

  “Well, maybe they are, you jerk,” Sam fired back at his sister.

  “Knock it off you two,” Daniel said.

  “Come on, sweetie,” Judith said as she put her arm around Kristin’s shoulders. “The bathrooms are over this way.”

  As Judith and Kristin walked toward the bathrooms, Daniel and Sam explored the structure closest to them. Just as Daniel was about to comment on the size of the individual stones, he saw two people emerge from the woods and run towards he and Sam.

  Daniel turned to meet the two newcomers. “Hey, are you guys all right?” Daniel asked when he saw the panic in the approaching figure’s eyes.

  “No,” the man said. “No, we’re not. We got lost in the woods and have no idea where we are,” he said. He decided that was a better approach than yelling out that some local psychos killed his wife by stabbing her through the head.

  “Where is your car parked?” Daniel asked.

  “I think it is about eight miles that way,” Damien said as he pointed behind him.

  “What were you doing out in the woods?” Daniel asked as Sam looked at the two strangers.

  “We were told there was another tourist area back there,” Damien lied. “I guess we got disoriented,” he said as he smiled.

  “Is it just the two of you?” Daniel asked.

  “And my mom,” Brandon said before Damien could answer.

  “Your mom?” Daniel asked. “Where is she now?”

  “She,” Brandon started to say as he looked at his father. “She twisted her ankle and is still out there,” he said as a tear rolled down his cheek.

  Daniel looked between the two strangers and knew they weren’t telling him something.

  “Hi there,” Daniel heard Judith say as she and Kristin approached.