“Okay.” He takes yet another sip of his hot coffee, and I slurp my coke down just to annoy him. “Maverick, I’ve told you this before, I’m not the enemy here. The enemies are those damned beings that suck the souls out of us.”
I consider playing dumb and getting Ronald agitated, but he probably knows more about the BEKs than I do. Lisa had said something about the black-eyed kids taking people’s souls, so at least Ronald is being a straight-shooter with me so far.
I lean forward and decide to see just how much Ronald knows. “What do they do with our souls?”
Ronald stops and stares into my eyes for a moment before replying, “You got me, kid. There are dozens of theories. Some resemble vampire mythology. A couple of others are way out there. And I mean way out there. Nobody knows for sure, though. What I do know is that these BEKs need to kill. I think it’s how they stay alive. It’s like they feed off of our…essence, for lack of a better word.”
So there’s nothing definitive about why the black-eyed kids kill people. At the same time, what he’s saying does sort of make sense and matches up with what Lisa found. My mind works fast, trying to figure out how much to reveal to him.
“Listen, I don’t have the answers you want. I don’t know what to say to you,” I say.
He flashes me a look that he’s not buying it.
I want to learn more about him and his organization, so I turn the tables on him. “Why don’t you tell me how you found out about Tarick?”
Ronald looks as if he’s going to take yet another drink of his coffee, but he stares into the black liquid instead. “All right. I guess fair is fair. I’ll answer your questions, and you can answer mine.”
“If I can answer your questions,” I say.
I’m going to keep some stuff from him, as I’m pretty sure he will too. I wonder if this is what it’s like to play poker. Just a bunch of bluffing with some truth mixed in.
“Deal.” He smiles and inches forward. “There’s a group of us around the world who know about the existence of these evasive creatures. Many call them black-eyed kids, or BEKs. Like I said, we have our theories, but nothing concrete…yet. The government knows about them, too, but they cover up any and all information they collect.”
Okay, so Ronald and his club are a bunch of weirdo conspiracy freaks. Marcus would have a field day with this guy. I keep my mouth shut and let him continue.
“We are fortunate to have very dedicated people in my group who also happen to be in several key positions throughout the country, such as law enforcement. One of our contacts heard your story from a local police officer. You talked about kids with black eyes coming to Tarick’s door. That’s exactly the same story we hear from all over the world. Witness testimony comes from here in the US of A, Europe, and Asia.”
My memory of that night is shoddy at best, but what Ronald says seems somewhat plausible, I guess.
Ronald grimaces when he takes another drink from his mug. “We have a network of everyday normal people who want to know the truth about these BEKs. Some are witnesses just like yourself, and that experience changes their lives forever. Usually, they become obsessed with learning about the black-eyed kids.”
“Obsessed?" I push aside my plate. “Like you?”
He pauses for a long time before saying, “We all have a story, don’t we, Maverick?”
Maybe this guy isn’t so stupid after all. Or maybe I’m not very good at hiding my emotions, and he’s reading me like a wide open book. Either way, I suddenly want to get out of here.
Ronald continues, “We will find out who, or what they are, and what they want with us. That’s why witnesses like you are so vital. You are another piece of a very complex puzzle.”
I’m no professional interrogator, but I can tell from Ronald’s intense eyes and his even voice that he’s leveling with me. I nod slowly, mulling over what he just revealed.
I try to imagine people all over the globe who are tracking, monitoring, and investigating all of these BEK events. It’s weird, because I feel like I’m pretty much alone right now, especially since Lisa wants me to just walk away from all of this. But now, I find some comfort in knowing that there’s tons of people out there who not only know about the BEKs, but who may have had an encounter.
“Your turn to answer a question,” Ronald says.
I’m pretty sure I know what he’s going to ask. “Fine.”
“As painful as it is, I need to know what happened that night. A key part of my investigation is to gather the details of your experience and compare them to all of the testimonies we currently have.”
After a deep sigh, I tell him a quick and dirty version. “A BEK in a hoodie knocked on Tarick’s door while we were playing video games. Tarick opened the door, even though I told him not to. The first thing I saw was the boy’s eyes. They were completely black. No pupil or any white at all. Just black. Then the kid knocked me out somehow…with just a touch of his hand. And then I awoke in that barn. I ran home after seeing Tarick’s body in the grass, but the police wouldn’t believe a word I said.”
Ronald looks unimpressed. “That’s it?”
“Yeah. I was totally out of it. I didn’t see the BEK suck Tarick’s soul, and I didn’t see that kid again.” This part was one-hundred percent true. “My friend’s body was gone when I brought the police to the exact spot...”
My mouth started to quiver, and I couldn’t talk anymore without the threat of totally losing it in front of Ronald overtaking me.
I’d probably kill that black-eyed demon if I ever had the chance. Kren is the BEK’s name. Kren. What kind of name is Kren anyway?
Ronald lowers his head onto his hands. “That’s so strange,” was all he could muster.
“Now, my turn again. You said that many of you had encounters with the black-eyed kids, too. Like what?”
“It’s extremely rare for anyone to survive an encounter, and it’s impossible to prove that they were even there to begin with,” Ronald replies.
He stops and squints his eyes at me. “Now, back to your story. What I meant by strange when you told me what happened is that you survived despite letting them into your house. That has never happened, Maverick. Witnesses often refuse to open the door because of that sudden, heavy feeling of dread when in the presence of a BEK.”
Ronald really does know a lot about these black-eyed kids. A part of me wants to tell him about Astid and how she spared me, but I just can’t trust him yet.
“The moment your friend opened his front door, you both were doomed. Yet, here you are.” Ronald leans back and watches for my reaction.
I’m trying to formulate my response, but I’m at a loss for the right words to string together. It could just as easily have been me that Kren had taken that night.
Ronald continues, “What we do know is that these creatures look like regular teenagers, obviously, except for their black eyes. They come to people’s houses or cars and always ask to be let in. They never just break in. For some unknown reason, they have to be allowed in by their victims.”
“That’s weird,” I finally say. “Why is that? They could easily just bust their way through a door or window.”
“Beats me.” Ronald shrugs his shoulders. “Again, all we’ve got is theories. Maybe something to do with the fact that opening the door and letting them in is similar to a victim dropping his guard. Maybe allowing them in your house or car is like allowing them into your brain. I don’t know. It boggles the mind.”
With all of Kren’s strength, why did he have to knock first? When I track down Astid, that will be one of my first questions to her.
Ronald continues, “Witnesses say that they experience an overwhelming feeling of dread right away. Not just a bad feeling. I’m talking about full on panic attack like they’re going to die—even before seeing their black eyes. It’s like these beings give off so much negative energy that we can sense it even from behind a closed door.”
This guy is almost right on, except what
he doesn’t know is that after a while, that dark feeling does go away. Or maybe that’s just Astid not pumping out as much negative energy. Who knows? But it sounds like no one has ever been around a BEK long enough to figure that one out, either.
“And when you let one in,” Ronald says, “they have some kind of power over our minds. They can incapacitate us, much like how you were knocked unconscious. After that, it’s pure speculation. Victims disappear, never to be heard from again. Except in your case.”
I saw Tarick’s body. I’m not sure of a lot of things about that night, but I know that it was his body out in the muddy grass. Ronald eyes me suspiciously, and I clear my throat.
I don’t forget that we’re trading questions, but ask another one anyway. “How do you know if it was a BEK for sure? People disappear all the time.”
“We rely on our network to communicate any witness accounts of a BEK being present in the area and correlate those reported sightings with any spike in disappearances in that particular area.”
“Yeah, but there’s some weird cult hanging around town,” I counter. “They say they recruit teenagers by kidnapping and brainwashing them.”
“Of course that crossed our minds too,” Ronald says. “But I was only a couple hours away, and it was convenient for me to come here and investigate anyway. After talking with you, it’s clear to me that you had a real encounter with a BEK.”
My heart slams against my ribs.
Ronald’s face becomes grim. “There seems to be a pattern emerging when it comes to victim selection. Ninety percent of victims are young adults. Under twenty years old.”
I shake the horror film image I have of Kren taking Tarick’s life energy. “Why?”
“Once again, nobody knows for sure. We just have educated guesses. If they are feeding on the energy of our souls, then it would make sense that they would target younger people. Stronger, more vibrant energy.”
That did make a lot of sense to me. Ronald’s information sinks in, and I try to connect all the dots. Astid didn’t say anything about targeting young people; then again, she didn’t have time to say much at all.
“The BEKs are smart, though,” Ronald says. “After they’ve taken a few lives, they move on. Find another location to hunt. There’s no geographical rhyme or reason to their methodology. One week we’ll hear of a few cases here in Florida, and next week we’ll get chatter coming in from England. They seem to travel in small groups. We call them pods. The BEKs travel mostly in pairs, sometimes two pairs. Makes tracking them so much harder.”
We’re both silent for a few moments, absorbing the new revelations we’ve had from showing our cards. I just have to be careful not to tip my hand too much.
“Now, it’s my turn.” Ronald takes one final drink of his coffee and nearly spits it out. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the reason you weren’t killed.” He bites his lower lip. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say it that way.”
I nod, and Ronald fumbles for the right words.
“But why did the BEK put you in a barn? That makes no sense.” Ronald stops and scratches his head. “I mean, I’m glad you escaped, obviously. You know what I’m getting at.”
I force myself to look into his eyes and keep a steady voice as I prepare my lie. “I don’t know. All I know is that when I woke up, I found myself tied up in the barn. I have no clue why he brought me there.”
I stop there, replaying what I had just said, and that sinking feeling that I just messed up makes my face turn hot. I don’t think I mentioned to the police about Astid freeing me from the barn either.
Hard to keep all these secrets straight.
Ronald nearly jumps out of his seat. “Tied up? How did you untie yourself?”
I slipped. I would so suck at poker. I’m such a terrible liar, and I do my best to piece my story together. “I, uh, it wasn’t tied too tightly. I wiggled out of the ropes and ran out into the rain, tripped over Tarick’s body. Ran home and told the cops everything that happened.”
“Are you telling me the truth?” He narrows his eyes. “What is it you’re not telling me, kid?”
I try to act surprised but not defensive. “Of course I am. Why would I lie? Everyone thought I was crazy after my outburst about the black-eyed kids. My mom freaked. I have to see a therapist, and I know she thinks I’m crazy, too.”
“Okay.” Ronald backs off, but I hope he’s convinced that I’m truthful.
I don’t like being in the hot seat. Ronald’s asking me personal questions, so I decide to see how he likes it. “My turn. Why are you so interested in them?”
Ronald’s mouth twists into a slight grin. Maybe he’s not such a buffoon. “I see what you’re getting at, Maverick.” He points his finger at me.
I decide to keep pushing. “I’m spilling my guts about what happened with me, and yet I don’t know anything about you. So tell me, why are you one of the dedicated watchers of the BEKs?”
“You’re asking if I’ve had an encounter.” He rubs his temples. “That’s what you’re getting at, isn’t it?”
“Have you?” My curiosity gets the better of me and it’s nice to see Ronald squirming.
“Yes. My wife. She died suddenly. Unexpectedly.”
I wasn’t expecting that. Ronald now has a faraway look on his face, and now I regret opening an old wound.
“But what made you think it was a black-eyed kid?” I ask.
“I just know they did it, all right?” He tilts his head to the right and left, making his neck crack. “Just know that you’re not the only one who has lost a loved one to these monsters. That’s why I do what I do. So that someday we will know what these BEKs are and we can make sure that no one else has to suffer.”
The silence over the next few minutes is heavy, and I’m thinking that maybe it’s time to leave. But before I can even scoot my butt out of the seat, Ronald says, “Now what?”
“Now you’re going to leave me alone.” I sit back and match his stare.
“Kid, do you know how frustrating it is to feel so helpless? We are being hunted by real supernatural beings, and no one knows about them.” Ronald’s cheeks redden, and he looks pissed off. “We need to have enough hard information so that we can educate the people about this serious threat to the human race.”
Ronald’s pulling out the heavy dramatics to get the truth out of me. So I play the dumb teenager. “Human race? Look, man, I’m seventeen years old. School started today. I’m a senior, I think I might have a girlfriend, I’m still dealing with my parents’ divorce…I’ve got all the normal problems on top of still dealing with the death of my best friend. And now all of this black-eyed kids stuff? I can’t worry about the whole human race right now. Like I said, my mom already thinks I’m crazy.”
“I’m not asking you to get in my car and help me kill these BEKs. I just want you to be totally honest with me because I’ve got a hunch that you’re withholding something...something important that can help me unlock this mystery.”
My mouth drops open, and I’m about to lose it. Damnit I suck at lying. “I’ve told you everything I know. So now you leave me alone.”
“You’re a special case, Maverick. No one has ever reported to have had such close contact with a BEK and lived to tell about it,” Ronald says, his tone almost pleading now. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”
“I’ve told you the whole story,” I say a little too loudly. A young couple nearby stares at us. “I bet you’ve somehow read the police report, right? You should know this. I told you all I know.”
“Are you sure? For example, are you positive that there was only one BEK?” Ronald asks.
“What?” I’m so stupid. I should have just said no. Now he’ll know I’m lying.
“They usually travel in pairs. Witnesses say there was either a pair or trio of kids. Ninety-two percent of witnesses report seeing two of them together.”
I stand my ground to protect Astid. “Only one, sorry.”
“A
ren’t you angry about what that BEK did to your friend?” Ronald asks.
“Yes, of course I am,” I reply. “But there is nothing I can do about it now.”
I put my trash together on the plate and rise out of my seat.
“So, that’s it. You give up, just like that?” Ronald pushes my buttons, trying to get me to reveal what I’ve been keeping, but I know better.
“Just like that. I hope you find the black-eyed kid that killed Tarick. But I’ve told you all that I know. I’m sorry if it’s not enough.”
“You can’t just walk away from this, knowing all that you do.” He gets up as I move to the edge of the booth. “Please help me. Tell me everything. I’ve been investigating BEKs for a very long time, and a lot of what you’re saying just doesn’t jive with the thousands of reports we have. You’re hiding something from me.”
My phone chimes. I take it out of my pocket. It’s a text from Lisa. I’m sorry Maverick. I’ll help you.
I type up a reply: You’re the best. Be there soon.
“I gotta go.” I turn to leave, but Ronald grabs my arm.
“Maverick, please.” A tear falls down his red cheek. “They also took my son.”
23
ASTID
THE NIGHT SINGS to me. An owl hoots in the distance, the crickets call to one another, and I’m thankful to have them as my company. I feel no sign of Kren or any of the others. Regret weighs heavy on my heart, and I hope that the danger has passed for Maverick and his friends. If Kren, Avion, or Garn return to Maverick’s, they will know instantly that I’m not there and begin searching elsewhere.
At least, that is my hope.
But, what if I’m mistaken? What if they decide to take their anger out on him for my desertion? They may kill him, his friends, and his mother just to cover up the knowledge that Maverick now holds. They may kill him as retribution.
I grew up hating humans. We only saw their cruelty and hate. For so long, the people at Level 6 represented the entire human race. But now, I know better. The world was also filled with people like Maverick. Good people.
Black-Eyed Kids: The Complete Series Page 12