Evil Heights, Book IV: In the Pit

by Michael Swanson

  "It's nothing special.” Lee's voice was soft, as if he was embarrassed. “I found it years ago. But I want you to have it, so you'll remember me."

  "That's so sweet.” Holding out her right hand, he slipped it on her ring finger.

  Phoebe held out her hand, her fingers splayed. In the gloom, the silvery ring that Lee had once found in a Cracker Jack box looked almost real. The glass “Stone” looked as good as any real gem.

  Phoebe leaned in touching her shoulder to his and turned slightly. “You're so sweet."

  Lee swallowed hard. He had to think of something to say. All he could come up with was the truth. “You look pretty, Phoebe."

  "You can't even see me,” she whispered.

  He put his hand up to touch her cheek. “Yes, I can."

  With his heart absolutely pounding and at a loss for anything else to say, he moved towards her and kissed her.

  The ice was broken.

  She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

  The world dropped away, with it the wind outside and even the room around them. Their first tentative kisses quickly grew into real passion embellished by the overwhelming excitement of youth.

  Maybe it was Phoebe who initiated it, or maybe it was Lee, but they both began to lean back until they were lying across the bed.

  Phoebe twisted, and the heavy spearhead fell off her skirt and clunked loudly on the floor.

  Lee started. “What's that?"

  Phoebe was breathless. “The spearhead, I think it fell down."

  Lee sat up, looking down on the floor. He saw it glimmering near the back leg. “Hang on, let me put it away.” He got down on the floor on his knees, retrieving it from where it lay.

  When he got up, Phoebe had gotten to her feet and had turned her back to him, lifting up her hair. “Would you like to unzip me?"

  That brass jumped back into his mouth again.

  "Uh, where do you want me to put it?” he asked.

  She came back questioningly. “Put what?"

  "The spearhead."

  Reacting, Phoebe snatched it from his hand with her free hand and leaned over to put it down on the desk's top. “There'll be fine."

  That done, she again lifted her hair and turned her back to him once again.

  Lee, his fingers shaking, reached up and pulled the zipper down, the white strap of her bra shown out in the dark as his hand drew down and the dress opened up. From here, there was no turning back.

  "Thanks,” she smiled as she turned back around. “Do you want to help me out of this? It's awful hot in here."

  Lee couldn't agree more; he was slick and wet.

  He reached back up and caught the corners of Phoebe's dress above her shoulders helping it off her arms and then down until she stepped out of it.

  He handed it back to her, offering a nervous, “That's a pretty dress."

  Phoebe didn't say anything, she just draped it over the chair. Then, now wearing only her panties and bra she moved in closer. “Here, let me help."

  She took hold of the front of his blue jeans and popped open the snap, then holding the top, she pulled the zipper down. Finally, with both hands she tugged his t-shirt up and pulled it straight up until he raised his arms and it was off.

  A moment ago, he'd felt so hot, and now he felt hotter still.

  Before he knew it, she hooked her thumbs in his jeans and squatting down, pulled them to his ankles. They were stuck now, as they would never go over his shoes.

  Lee had to sit down on the edge of the bed. “Hang on.” Quickly, he tore them off one at a time and threw them somewhere.

  Phoebe, still squatting down, pulled the legs, socks and all right off.

  She stood back up, and reached behind her back. “Do you want me to take the rest off, or do you want to do it?"

  "Let me,” Lee whispered.

  Phoebe put her arms down and took a half step forward to lightly fall down on top of him.

  Instantly they were kissing. For a while, she was on top, but they had changed positions and were both now on the bed lying on their sides, face-to-face.

  The taste of her was incredible. Her breath, and how she smelled close up, was as arousing as any other part of what he was experiencing. He worked and fumbled, and at last had the hooks on the back of the bra undone. It came away loosely, and fell off somewhere, as though it had simply disappeared.

  They were sweating. The covers had been torn away and were in wads somewhere with the rest of their clothes. He didn't even remember how she'd gotten his underwear off, or what had happened to hers. All he knew was he was now on top and she was below. And as he made up his mind he was going to cross that threshold and press in, his excitement was already beginning to peak.

  Phoebe screamed.

  Lee could see her face clearly. She had her eyes open but wasn't looking up at him; she was looking outside.

  Lee frantically followed her gaze.

  There was somebody at the window.

  "There you are you little shit!” Ridley Ballard hissed, his face against the screen.

  Phoebe screamed again.

  Lee could hear a noise come from down the hall.

  Someone was coming.

  He was in a panic. He looked down to Phoebe, then back at the window. Ridley Ballard was gone.

  Lee's door burst open. The hall light was on. It was his dad.

  "Damn!” his dad hollered out, skidding on the floor.

  Phoebe screamed again.

  "Ted, what is it?” Lee heard Maggie say.

  His dad was frozen. He was wearing only his underwear and had the pistol in his right fist.

  "Wait!” he called out to the hall.

  It was too late. Maggie crowded into the room, pulling her robe around her, and flicked on the light switch.

  Maggie let go of her robe and collapsed against the doorframe. She covered her mouth, then cried out through her fingers, “Sweet Jesus!"

  The four of them, Maggie and his dad, Lee and Phoebe, heard the next terrifying sound at the same instant

  "Mama!” It was Patty, her feet padding as she ran down the hall. “Mama, I'm scared."

  Maggie almost said something, but what came out of her eyes in that one glance to Lee really said it all. Backing out of the door she caught Patty just before she could come into the room.

  Lee heard Maggie say, “It's all right baby. Don't worry."

  "Is Lee okay?” Patty's fright was so real. “It didn't get him, did it?"

  "Yes, Lee's fine,” Maggie lied. “He had a bad dream is all. Let's get you back to bed."

  Ted was still just inside the doorway, having yet to move or take his eyes off the two.

  Lee couldn't remain like this. He rolled off of Phoebe and stood up.

  "Dad ... I...” Suddenly he remembered he was naked. He brought his hands together between his legs.

  The most surprising thing happened; his dad shook his head and smiled.

  Phoebe, who hadn't moved since she'd last screamed, finally brought an arm over to cover her breasts and put the other hand between her legs. “Excuse me, Mr. Coombs, sir."

  "Oh yeah, right,” Ted suddenly came back to life. “Uh, yeah. I tell you what. Why don't y'all get dressed and come on out to the family room. We're gonna need to talk."

  With that grin still on his face, Lee's dad backed out and closed the door.

  Phoebe rolled up to a sitting position, while Lee began searching around on the floor for their clothes.

  She reached down and touched Lee on the shoulder. “Who was that in the window?"

  Lee had found his underwear and as well handed Phoebe her bra and panties. “That's the man I had a fight with this morning, Ridley Ballard."

  Phoebe accepted back the undergarments but made no move as yet to get dressed. “What was he doin’ peepin’ in your window? He about scared me to death."

  Lee stood up and stepped into his briefs. “I think he's got something to do with Evie and the other missing girls
. He caught me in the little house today, and I had to fight to get away.” He touched his eye. “He's the one who gave me this."

  Phoebe got to her feet, but still had made no attempt to get dressed. She touched Lee on the shoulder again and said softly, “I can't believe we got caught. It's all my fault for screaming."

  "I can't believe I forgot to lock the door.” Lee was pulling his t-shirt down over his head. “So it's really my fault."

  Lee tucked in his t-shirt and then zipped up his pants.

  Phoebe had unfolded her bra and attached it about her waist, then pulled it up exactly the same as Lee had seen Betty do at the dress shop. Lee watched, again mesmerized.

  Phoebe didn't seem to notice he was so enthralled. But once she had it on she touched him on the shoulder and said sympathetically, “But you're the one who's going to get into trouble. And I'm sorry for that."

  It was Lee's turn to grab Phoebe by the shoulders. “Don't say you're sorry. There isn't anything they can do to me that won't be worth it. My only regret is that we didn't get to finish what we started.” He kissed her. “Come on, get dressed, we've got to go face Maggie's music."

  Phoebe stepped into her panties, holding onto Lee to balance. “I could always go back out through the window."

  "There's no way I'd let you do that.” Lee was adamant. “Ridley's out there. I'm sure he's waiting. When you cross that street, I'm gonna be with you.” To illustrate his point he stepped away and shut the window then latched it.

  Her panties back in place, Phoebe ran her fingers around through the elastic waistband. She then pressed up against Lee and kissed him. And when she pulled back she said, “I feel safe with you, Lee. I really do."

  They heard Maggie as she came up and rapped on Lee's door. “You two,” she hissed as she tried to keep her voice down, probably so that Patty wouldn't hear. “You two better be dressed and out of there in two seconds. I'm serious! You hear!"

  "I'm tellin’ you, Ted,” she hissed, “I've never been so angry in all my born days. Here in my house! You saw what they were doing. And here in my house!"

  Phoebe shimmied into her dress, which for the first time, Lee could see really was blue. She turned her back to him again. “Zip me up?"

  Once dressed, she took a moment to use the comb Lee had provided. And then, holding hands they opened his door and walked down the hall to the family room.

  Maggie was on the couch, her summer robe drawn tight around her, and a Kool in her fingers. Ted had put on a pair of shorts and an old ripped t-shirt and was sitting at the dinner table drumming his fingers.

  Lee and Phoebe walked up and stood just in back of the recliners.

  No one spoke at first, so Lee said the only thing he could think of. “I guess y'all remember Phoebe?"

  Lee knew instantly that this had not been the right thing to say. But of course, considering the severity of the tightness of the line Maggie's lips had become there surely was no right thing to say in this situation.

  Just as Maggie was ready to erupt, a blast of rain hurled by the wind slammed into the front window causing everyone to start and look outside.

  Lee checked the clock. It was almost one.

  Maggie finally found her voice.

  "Lee Coombs. If you were a little bit older, I'd order you out of my house this very night. How dare you!” She waived her bandaged hand threateningly. “How dare you!"

  Ted was rubbing his eyes. His hair had come down in strands and was hanging to either side of his face. “Maggie, just settle down."

  Maggie stood bolt upright. “Don't you say a word. Do you hear me? He's your son.” She pressed her bandage to her chest, and waved her Kool through the air with her other hand. “He's definitely not mine. Not mine by a long shot. And to think everything I've done for you, Lee."

  "Mrs. Coombs,” Phoebe took a step forward. “It's really my fault. Don't get angry with Lee. I talked him into it—"

  "You are a filthy slut.” She whirled on Phoebe. “You're nothing but a whore. Slinking over to a boy's house in the middle of the night.” Maggie sputtered, with little drops of spit flying from her lips. “Get out! You're not welcome here. You get out of my house this instant!"

  Patty appeared out of the hall. “Mama, why are you yelling?” She rubbed her eyes and looked around. “Phoebe?” She seemed very confused. “Mama, Phoebe's here? What are you doin’ here, Phoebe?” Suddenly her eyes brightened and she asked, “Did they find Evie?"

  Maggie ignored Patty and stormed over to the front door. She had to put her Kool in her lips and was fumbling with the locks since she could only use one hand. “Phoebe's leaving,” Maggie mumbled. “That's what she's doing.

  Finally, using both hands, Maggie got the deadbolt turned and twisted the doorknob. A bolt of wind flung the door open and rain flew in as though someone had been standing there in the dark, waiting with a fire hose. Maggie screamed, slipped, and fell down.

  Lee and his dad both rushed over. Lee closed the door while Ted helped Maggie get to her feet. And Lee noticed her Kool was a sodden mess on the floor.

  If she had been angry before, getting wet and falling down had not helped the situation.

  "Let me go!” she screamed, twisting out of Ted's grip. “Get your damn hands off me!"

  "Mama!” Patty was plainly startled. “You said a—"

  "You!” She pointed as she glared hatefully at Patty. “You're supposed to be in bed!"

  Maggie took a threatening step toward Patty, who ran over and tucked herself into her father's leg. “Mama, you're scaring me."

  Another blast of rain slammed into the widow, and the wind fairly howled, screaming through the trees. An even harder blast lashed up again, making the whole house creak, and something big outside snapped and fell with a straining groan.

  The lights flickered twice and went out.

  Patty screamed. “Daddy! Don't let it get me, Daddy!"

  "You're okay, baby,” Ted replied in the dark. “Daddy's got you."

  Lightening flashed again and again, as though the devil was outside taking snapshots. Looking out through the window they were all treated to a frozen, frame by frame view of the startling violence in the night. An oak had come crashing down and was lying sideways across the drive, having just narrowly missed crushing the car.

  Lightening flashed again, the long forked streak was captured in the picture window's glass as it pulsed twice, then disappeared. The cry of the wind seemed to wrap itself around the house in a continuous ghostly moan.

  "I'll get the lanterns lit,” Ted said.

  "I'll get the flashlight,” Lee offered. “I know where it is."

  Lee stumbled into Phoebe as he attempted to cross the dark room. He held onto her and moved around carefully. “Stay there,” he said, letting her go and stretching out his hands, feeling for any other obstacles in his way. He banged into a chair as for a moment the lightening seemed to have deserted them. Finally, he had worked his way around the table and retrieved the flashlight from the hutch, where he'd put it back this afternoon.

  Lee switched it on and instantly felt better. He went around with his dad to each of the four kerosene lamps on the walls and held the flashlight and glass globes while his dad lit the wicks and adjusted the flame.

  "Everybody come and sit down,” Ted ordered, fitting the last globe back in its wire holder.

  Maggie was still standing at the door. “Did anyone hear me?” She pointed at Phoebe. “I said I want that whore out of my house."

  Ed came back softly. “Maggie, I don't think anybody is going anywhere right now."

  Something slammed into the door making Maggie jump back.

  Maggie whirled, glaring suspiciously at the door as if it had done that on purpose.

  "Come Magnolia,” Ted walked over and took her elbow. “Come sit on the couch and calm down."

  She wrenched her arm away. “Don't you tell me what to do!” Then imperiously, folding her robe up around her, she stomped over to the couch and sat in the c
orner by herself. Almost immediately she lashed out and snatched up her pack of cigarettes of the table and lit one up.

  Ted came back around by the table and took Patty's hand. “Why don't you come sit with Daddy?” He led her around to the recliner, and sat down, then picked Patty up and put her on his lap, wrapping his arms around her.

  The rain was lashing the house, coming in waves and sheets, the water streaming off the windows. The sound of it was tremendous and more than a little daunting considering this house was built to withstand just about anything.

  And minute by minute the storm continued to increase. A moment ago, Lee had been sure it couldn't possibly rain any harder, but it picked it up a notch and then again. The force of it spattering the front widow was such it reminded him of what it was like to sit inside the car when they went down the line at the automatic car wash: the spray pelting the widows, the roar of the pressure washers blasting the roof, water coming from every direction and angle at once. This storm was doing the same thing to the house and more. If it rained any harder they might just as well be under Niagara Falls.

  The yellow light from the lanterns was warm if not particularly bright. Dark shadows hid and flickered throughout the room, and the dim glow washed out the color along with the reality, making the interior of the house appear as though it had fallen back in time, to the world of the past in the sepia-toned photographs on the walls.

  Phoebe was standing all alone where Lee left her, one arm straight down and the other wrapped around her hand gripping her elbow.

  Almost reflexively Lee stood the flashlight up on the dining table and came over, wrapping his arms around Phoebe. He whispered into her ear, “It'll be okay."

  Before Maggie could say something about Lee's tender display, Ted turned around, shifting Patty on his lap. He patted the couch. “Why don't y'all two come around and sit down over here?"

  The wind screamed even louder, followed by another loud groan and a gigantic crash from outside. Patty turned in to snuggle her face into her father's chest, hanging on and hugging him around the neck.

  Lee let Phoebe go. “Come on, let's go sit down."

  Four bright flashes crashed in a row, the explosions so loud the windows rattled.

  Maggie yelped reflexively and pulled her robe around even more tightly.