A Gathering of Crows

by Brian Keene

  “Marsha? Where . . . where are we?”

  “Esther’s kitchen,” she said. “What happened? How did you . . . ?”

  “We took a shortcut,” Levi said, and reached for the door. As he did, the light faded. The corridor was still visible, but now it seemed to be superimposed over Esther’s pantry. Shelves of canned goods lined the walls, but they seemed transparent, as if both locations—the corridor and the pantry—were occupying the same space at the same time.

  “There were zombies.” Gus rocked back and forth on the kitchen floor. “Zombies, just like in the movies. Zombies and clowns and dinosaurs. And there was something in the middle of it all. Something dark, like tar, except that it didn’t have any shape.”

  Levi slammed the door and said, “Ut nemo in sense tentat, descendere nemo. At precedenti spectaur mantica tergo. Ia Amun traust nodrog. Amun, Amun, Amun.”

  The light vanished. To Marsha, it felt as if a great, invisible weight had been lifted off all of them. Her skin tingled. She looked down at her arms and saw goose bumps. Then Donny put his arm around her and she forgot all about them.

  “You left,” she whispered. “Just like before. Goddamn it, Donny. You left again.”

  “I know, but I came back. This is where I belong, Marsha. With you. You’re my home. Levi helped me see that. And I promise you that I won’t leave again. Not ever.”

  She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. She wasn’t sure how long they remained like that, but eventually, she became aware that the others were looking at them.

  Randy grinned. “So are you two back together or what?”

  Gus’s rambling litany continued. “Goat men and lizard men and snake men and elephant men. There were creatures made out of fire who lived in the sun, and a whirlpool in space and a giant monster with a fucking squid for a goddamn head.”

  “What’s wrong with him?” Axel asked. “Is he . . . crazy?”

  Panting, Levi leaned against the wall, removed his hat and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “He opened his eyes and saw beyond the doors.”

  “Everything is connected,” Gus moaned. “All of it. It’s like this big old puzzle, and everything is a piece. I was on a beach and these things crawled out of the ocean and they were part crab and part lobster, but they had scorpion tails.”

  “Hey, buddy.” Paul knelt next to Gus and squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “Settle down, okay? It’s all over. We’re safe now. Levi got us out.”

  “The moon blinked. We were in there a long time, you know? We walked and walked and it watched us the whole time.”

  “What?”

  Gus leaned close, his face inches from Paul’s.

  “The moon. It blinked at me. It’s an eyeball. It was watching us.”

  Paul looked up at Levi. “Is he going to be okay?”

  “I honestly don’t know. In truth, probably not. His mind has snapped.”

  “How? What happened to him in there?”

  “There are some things that aren’t meant to be seen. He opened his eyes and saw them. That was why I cautioned all of you before we left.”

  “What is all this?” Esther raised her voice. “Where did you all come from? How in the world did you get inside my pantry? Is it all over? Where are the killers?”

  Levi sighed. “If I had to guess, I’d say they’re tearing the town apart looking for us.”

  “But they can’t find us, right?” Donny asked.

  “This place is safe.”

  “Correct. As long as the wards I drew earlier are still in place, we remain hidden from them as long as we’re inside the bed-and-breakfast.”

  Paul stood up. “So what happens now?”

  “Now?” Levi put his hat back on his head. “Now, you pray the dawn arrives, while I prepare to make a last stand.”

  ELEVEN

  Donny didn’t want to move. Marsha felt good against him, warm and soft. She felt right. But when Levi urged them all back into the living room, he didn’t argue. Most of the others went quietly, too stunned and confused to question their unlikely champion. Only Gus remained behind, sitting on the floor, scratching at the linoleum with his fingernails and babbling about sea monsters that were part crab, part lobster and part scorpion. Paul and Randy pulled him to his feet and helped him along behind the others.

  Levi put his hand on Donny’s shoulder and motioned for him to come closer. When the rest of the survivors were out of earshot, he leaned close.

  “I’ll need your help.”

  “You’ve got it,” Donny said. “Just tell me what you want me to do.”

  “First, we need to get everyone upstairs. The wards and glyphs will protect them, but I need them all in one place, so that they don’t get in my way.”

  “I don’t think anyone will argue with that.”

  “I don’t either.”

  “What happens after that? What’s the plan?”

  “Let’s get them upstairs first.”

  Donny followed Levi back into the living room.

  Was it his imagination, or did the magus seem taller? Certainly his voice was more grim than it had been before. Even his stride seemed to have become stronger. His boots clomped on the wooden floor, despite the thick carpeting and rugs.

  “Okay,” Levi addressed the group. “With luck, and God’s help, this will all be over soon.”

  “God isn’t there,” Gus interrupted. “He’s been split in three, and one part of him is stuck in a loop. He is born again. And again and again and again, over and over. Poor guy.”

  “Hush.” Paul ruffled Gus’s hair as if he were one of the mountain man’s beloved bear hounds.

  “Can you stop them?” Marsha asked.

  Levi nodded. “I believe so, yes. But again, I’ll need all of you to do exactly as I say. Otherwise . . .”

  He didn’t have to finish, Donny noted to himself. They’d each seen enough horror for one night, and they had Gus as a living example of what could happen.

  “I need all of you to go upstairs,” Levi continued. “Trust me when I tell you that you’ll be safe there. Certainly safer than you would be down here. Remember, our enemies can’t find you as long as you remain within this house. I want you to stay there until it’s safe to come back down.”

  “And how will we know that?” Myrtle asked.

  “Because I’ll still be alive. Donny is going to stay down here and help me—”

  “No,” Marsha said.

  Levi held up his hand. “He won’t be here the whole time, and he won’t be in any immediate danger. The same safeguards that protect the rest of you will be protecting him, as well. But I’ll need him to do something for me before he can join you upstairs. It’s something important. Indeed, without his help, my plan will fail.”

  “I can help.” Randy stepped forward.

  “No, you can’t.” Marsha grabbed her brother’s arm. “So can I,” Myrtle said. “Don’t forget, I know about this stuff, too. Tell me what you need me to do, and I’ll do it.”

  “I appreciate your offers, but that won’t be necessary.”

  “Bullshit,” Randy said. “Those fuckers killed my parents and my friends, yo. If you’re gonna kick their ass, then I want a piece, too.”

  “The best thing you can do for your loved ones,” Levi said, “is to stay alive. That’s what they’d want. That’s all that matters now.”

  “He’s right,” Donny told Randy. “Think about your sister, dude. You’ve both lost enough people tonight. She doesn’t need to lose you, too.”

  Randy sneered. “Says the guy who keeps running out on her.”

  Marsha gasped, and Randy shrugged her off. Donny opened his mouth to respond, but then thought better of it. In truth, the kid was right. He’d deserved that.

  Gus took advantage of the momentary silence. He turned to Paul and said, “You know that Teddy Garnett fella? Old boy who lives up in Punkin Center?”

  Paul nodded.

  “I saw him. While we were in there. He passed by
us in the hall. Except that it wasn’t him. It was a different him.”

  Paul looked like he was ready to cry. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse with emotion.

  “I reckon you had a bad dream is all, Gus. You’ll be okay. Just quiet down.”

  “No, it wasn’t a bad dream. I’m not stupid, Paul. I know what I saw. It was Teddy, but it wasn’t. He had some other folks with him, too, but I didn’t recognize any of them. A real pretty black girl and some young guy dressed up like a mobster in one of those Tarantino movies and a fella our age. Looked like a farmer, maybe? He reminded me of Levi a little bit.”

  Donny noticed Levi twitch at this, as if startled.

  “Did they speak to you?” Levi asked. “Did this man give you his name?”

  Gus turned to Levi and smiled. A thin line of drool hung from the corner of his mouth. “What?”

  “This man. This farmer who reminded you of me. Did he give you his name? Was it Nelson LeHorn?”

  Gus suddenly glanced down at his feet with a look of concern. “I want my Spider-Man slippers. Where did my Spider-Man slippers go?”

  “Who’s Nelson LeHorn?” Donny asked.

  “Someone from my past who disappeared a long time ago.” Levi shook his head. “Never mind that. It’s not important right now. I think we should begin. I’m anxious to end this, and I’m sure all of you are, as well.”

  “You’re damn right,” Paul muttered.

  “I can’t go anywhere without my Spider-Man slippers!”

  Talking among themselves, the group headed upstairs. Marsha stopped halfway up and looked back at Donny. Her eyes shone in the darkness.

  “I’ll be okay,” he said, trying his best to smile. “You’d better be.” She started to turn away.

  “Marsha?”

  She paused. “Yeah?”

  “I love you. I always loved you. I know that now.”

  “I love you too, you asshole.”

  Marsha grinned. Donny grinned back. Then she turned and was gone.

  “You should hold on to that one,” Levi said. “You’re meant to be together.”

  “Did you read that in some tea leaves or tarot cards?”

  “No. I read it in your eyes. And in hers. You’re soul mates.”

  “I never believed in that stuff before.”

  “I haven’t,” Levi said. “Not in soul mates, at least. Not in a long time.”

  “So what changed your mind?”

  “The two of you did. Now, let’s get started. We’ve got a lot to prepare.”

  Levi returned to the kitchen. Donny followed him. When they got there, Levi stood facing the front door. He seemed to be studying the layout of the first floor. Donny remained silent while he did. The kitchen and front door were connected by a short hallway. One side of the dark hallway led to the living room. The other side led to the stairway, as well as the first-floor bathroom and a small bedroom. Apparently satisfied by what he saw, Levi turned and looked behind them, studying the rear door on the far side of the kitchen. He walked to it, parted the curtains and peered outside.

  “Good. Only two entrances on this floor. I thought that was what I remembered from before, but we were pressed for time earlier, and I needed to make sure.”

  “What do you need me to do?” Donny asked.

  “Check the cupboards. I need bowls, coffee mugs—anything that I can burn sage in.”

  While Donny did this, Levi opened the pantry door. Donny froze, half expecting to see the dark men leap out, but instead, the space was filled with shelves of dry and canned goods. Levi hunted around inside until he found a large canister of salt. He pulled it from the pantry and closed the door again. Then he grabbed the salt shaker from the counter and unscrewed the top of it. Thus armed, he began sprinkling lines of salt in front of the kitchen window and the back door. Donny grabbed an armload of blue ceramic bowls from the cupboard and sat them on the counter. Levi looked up and nodded.

  “Those will be fine.”

  “I don’t think Mrs. Laudry will be too happy with us. These are nice bowls.”

  “I think she’d be even less fond of the alternative.” Levi reached in his vest pocket and pulled out the two dried bundles of sage. He tossed it to Donny. Donny caught it with one hand. “Put some of that in each bowl.”

  “How much should I use?”

  “All of it, but in even amounts, if possible.”

  Donny spread the bowls out on the counter and began dividing up the sage. The smell was not unpleasant. He found it strangely soothing. While he did this, Levi left the room. Donny finished just as he returned.

  “What now?”

  Levi picked up two bowls. “We place these around the first floor and light them.”

  He placed one bowl beneath the kitchen window and another next to the back door. Then he picked up two more. Donny did the same and followed along behind him. They put the bowls all over the house, and Donny noticed that Levi had salted most of the house. All of the doors and windows had a line of salt beneath them. The only areas that didn’t were the front door and the stairwell.

  “Don’t we need salt there, too?” Donny nodded toward the front door.

  “Not yet. Remember, I placed a ward above the door before we left earlier.”

  Squinting, Donny looked above the door. Sure enough, the words were still there, written in black Magic Marker and almost unnoticeable in the gloom.

  “What about the stairs?” he asked.

  “That comes next. Listen carefully. They’ll be coming soon.”

  “Wait—I thought you said they couldn’t find us as long as we’re in the house.”

  “They couldn’t,” Levi said. “But now I want them to.”

  “So you’re using us as fucking bait?”

  Levi didn’t respond. “I’ll remove the ward over the front door. When I do that, they’ll be able to sense our presence. I imagine they’ll waste no time in coming here. The rest of the house will remain sealed, so they’ll have no choice but to enter through the front door.”

  “And kill every one of us. This plan sucks, Levi.”

  “They won’t hurt the others. It’s me they want most of all, and perhaps Randy.”

  “All the more reason not to lead them here. We’re sitting ducks. Talk about a fucking ambush!”

  “It is an ambush,” Levi agreed, “but we’re the ones ambushing them. They’ll go after me first. Trust me on this.”

  “But there’s no salt in front of the stairs. What’s to stop them from going up there first and slaughtering everybody?”

  “You. You’re stopping them.”

  “How?”

  Levi pulled out his copy of The Long Lost Friend and handed it to him. “All you have to do is stand firm. They can’t hurt you as long as you have this. If they go for you first—and understand, that is unlikely—then you’ll only need to stall them long enough for me to get their attention. But I don’t think that will happen. I think they’ll come in the front door, see me and let their anger and hatred consume them. In fact, I’m counting on it.”

  “But without the book, they’ll rip you to pieces.”

  Levi smiled. “They didn’t get me back at Axel’s house, and I’m confident that they won’t get me here. I still have a few other tricks up my sleeve. And again, that’s where you come in. I need you to hide on the stairwell. When they come in, wait until all five have gone past you. Then, I need you to sneak down the stairs behind them and salt both the front door and the bottom of the stairwell. Do the door first. Then the stairs.”

  “And they won’t be able to get upstairs.”

  “Exactly. Nor will they be able to leave.”

  Donny shook his head. “I don’t know, Levi. This sounds like suicide to me.”

  “I need to have them all in one spot. This is the only way to do that.”

  “What happens after you’ve got them in here? What are you going to do? A big magic battle?”

  “Hardly. Nothing so cinematic. That only happens
in Harry Potter. The truth is, I still don’t know how to fight them.”

  Donny’s heart sank. He gaped at Levi, speechless. After a moment, he ran a hand across his head, feeling his scalp tingle beneath his buzz cut.

  “So . . . all of this is what? A bluff? A lie? Something just to make the others feel safe? Are we gonna die?”

  “No.” Levi’s paused, and then softened his tone. “No, not if I can help it. I don’t know how to defeat them for good, but I do know how to make them someone else’s problem. If my plan goes accordingly, they won’t trouble our world again. They’re revenants, but of a type previously unknown to me. When we’re done, I can search for their physical forms— probably buried in a grave somewhere near the original Roanoke Colony. Usually, if you destroy a revenant’s physical remains, you destroy its spiritual form, as well. I’m hoping that rule will apply to our adversaries.”

  “It damn well better.”

  Levi leaned against the wall. His shoulders sagged. He seemed tired. When he looked at Donny again, he seemed ten years older.

  “Go upstairs,” Levi said. “Join the others. But be ready. After you’ve completed your task, do not cross the lines of salt—for any reason—until you hear from me again. Now, I must pray for God’s guidance and strength. When I’m done, I’ll let them know where we are.”

  Donny nodded. He started to leave and then hesitated. Turning, he thrust out his hand. Levi shook it.

  “Good luck,” Donny whispered.

  “May the Lord protect us all,” Levi answered.

  Then Donny went upstairs and waited for Levi to ring the dinner bell.

  ***

  After Donny was gone, Levi quickly went to the pantry door. He placed his forehead and palms against it, closed his eyes and murmured a prayer in a language not spoken on Earth. Slowly, the light returned and began to creep out from beneath the door again. Then the light changed color, first turning red and then pale blue, before settling on a sickly grayish hue. When Levi straightened up again and pulled his hands away from the door, they were shaking. His forehead was bathed in sweat. He placed his hand on the doorknob. It was warm and wet. He turned it, opening the door just an inch. More light leaked through.