The Pit in the Woods: A Mercy Falls Mythos

by Nathaniel Reed

  Powers, ha! She’d never thought of her abilities as powers. They were more of a curse.

  They saved you and your friends more than once, another voice informed her.

  “Shut up,” she informed the voice, and yanked the phone out of its cradle. The pounding in her head subsided as she began to punch numbers.

  “Yes, may I speak with Dan?”

  “Dan Summers or Dan White?” the receptionist asked.

  “Summers, please.”

  “Yes, one moment, I’ll connect you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Have a good day.”

  Why is everyone wishing me a good day? Do they know I’m having a bad one?

  “Yes, hello? This is Dan.”

  “Hey, it’s Staci.”

  “Staci, hey! What’s up honey? Is something wrong?”

  “Noooo, can’t I call you at work to tell you I love you?”

  “Sure Stace, I love you too. So what’s wrong?”

  She let out an exasperated breath.

  “Nothing,” she repeated.

  “Honey, if you have something that’s bothering you that much, I think you should tell me.”

  “Forget it. I can’t. It’s not that bad. I’ll… I’ll talk to you later.”

  “No, wait! Don’t hang up!”

  She hung up. Of course, she knew what would happen. Right away he’d call back. But she wasn’t going to answer.

  Yes, Dan was her best friend. But he wouldn’t understand. He didn’t know about her particular talent. He didn’t know the things that had awakened them that fall in 1985. Dan didn’t know anything about her before her college years. He knew of her friends and a few select things she’d told to appease him, but the Staci who had fought with her friends against evil- he didn’t know that side of her. That Staci would have sent him running for cover. And she didn’t like to think that. Because that evoked other thoughts, like that her marriage was a sham, a lie. It was a fairy tale ending that she chose so she could believe that her life was actually normal.

  6

  The sight and sound of the buzz saw meant freedom. Of course it also meant weeks, if not months of rehabilitation, but the cast was finally coming off. It was great to watch it split down the middle, revealing the leg underneath. She almost expected that it wouldn’t be there anymore. It sure felt like it sometimes, until she’d accidentally bang it against a wall or a table.

  “Okay, you are free,” the doctor said. “Use the crutches until you are told otherwise.”

  She tried not to laugh. The doctor was Czech or Bulgarian, or something like that, a middle aged man with a grey wiry mustache. It came out, “You are vree,” and “Until you are told othervise.”

  Then he started to stutter, and she almost lost it for real. “Make an appointment with the visical therapee with the vre….vre…”

  He was trying to say receptionist. “With Linda,” he said. “For

  next veek.”

  Staci smiled and gritted her teeth. “And remember X-vays tomorrow.”

  “Thank you doctor.”

  “Velcome. Hafe a good day.”

  A little snicker escaped her. “Um, you as well.” The doctor looked confused. Sally looked over at her. She knew that look. You are bad, it said. Staci shrugged.

  “Staci!” she said, once they were outside.

  “Couldn’t be helped really.”

  “Um hum,” Sally nodded.

  “That was sooo cute. Thanks for the ride.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. I’ve still gotta get you home. I know you’re not walking back, especially with those crutches.”

  “Silly me.”

  “Are you all right?” Sally asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Staci said, “Why?”

  “I don’t know. You just haven’t seemed yourself the last few days.”

  “No, I’m myself. Just temporarily displaced.”

  Now Sally had her Huh? look.

  “Never mind, it’s nothing major.”

  “Well, if you need to talk…” Sally started.

  “I know, I know. You’ll be there.”

  “Okay,” Sally said, unconvinced, “As long as you know that.”

  “I do Sally. I really do. Thank you.”

  7

  “You’re progressing well Staci. Give me five more leg lifts and we’ll call it a day.”

  “I can do ten,” Staci said, raising the weights. The reason she

  was progressing well, she knew, was because she had to. She had a

  responsibility to those kids.

  “Don’t strain that leg too much. You don’t want to push your limits, or you might cause another break,” Rhoda told her.

  “Yes ma’am,” Staci said politely. She liked her physical therapist, but frankly had no idea what her own limits were. Still she stopped at eight, heeding her therapist’s advice.

  “All right,” Rhoda said, “Good job. We’ll do a little more walking without the crutches tomorrow.”

  “Okay, see ya then.”

  “Bye Staci.”

  Yes, she would do a little more walking without the crutches

  tomorrow, and a little more tonight as well. She kept telling herself it was for the kids. Of course, they were her priority, but there was something else. Something she couldn’t define. She knew it was important that she got better very soon.

  8

  Dan looked at her as if he were in pain. “Honey, are you sure you should be walking so much?”

  “Just to the bathroom.”

  “What if you can’t…um, you know, get back up?”

  “I’ll be fine.” Keep telling yourself that Staci. Baby steps. You can make it. Limp a little if you have to, but not too much.

  “All right,” Dan said doubtfully, from the edge of the bed. “Call me if you need help.”

  You would help me by not being negative, she thought, but couldn’t say. He was only being cautious.

  “Get back in bed,” she said, “I’m fine.”

  “Yes honey.” He rolled his eyes.

  She was almost there. She could feel his eyes still watching her. “Go to sleep.”

  Staci made it all right. Although getting up was a bit difficult,

  opening the door again to get out proved harder. It was a delicate

  balancing act.

  Please God don’t let me fall. Don’t let them be right. Keeping most of her weight on her good leg while turning the knob, she swung the door open and almost toppled through.

  “Got ya,” Dan said.

  And he did, in practically a death grip.

  “Couldn’t trust me, could you?” Staci said.

  Dan could not hide his guilty grin. “Well, you did almost fall. And I know how stubborn you can be.”

  “Honey, why are you pushing yourself so hard?”

  “I have to.”

  “Here,” Dan said. He picked up the crutches which he’d propped up beside the door. “At least use these to get back. For me?”

  “All right,” she conceded.

  “Thank you.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” She kissed him lightly on the lips. “I love how you worry about me.”

  “Yeah, well, I love you.”

  “Whatever,” she said, turning her head. “Go away.”

  Dan grinned. “See you in bed.”

  She winked. “You bet.”

  9

  The recovery was almost over. Two more physical therapy appointments. She had a slight limp but didn’t need the crutches anymore. Dan was at work and the kids were in school. This was her alone time, again. She couldn’t wait to get back to coaching the kids. She’d even be able to go out trick or treating with her own kids. Halloween was only three days away. It was roughly two p.m. She was sitting on the edge of the sofa, putting on her sneakers to step out on to the porch. She thought she’d bring her iPod, and listen to some music. That was when the phone rang.

  Her heart pounded. Droplets of sweat appeared on her />
  forehead. She swallowed hard. This was it. Whatever this was, the

  danger she’d sensed before was here. Staci finished tying her other

  sneaker and got up. She limped over cautiously, looking across the room at the phone the whole time. She approached with an ever increasing sense of dread.

  How long had it been ringing? Three, four rings? She was pretty sure she hadn’t set the answering machine. Hell, she wasn’t going anywhere. Still, when she reached it, her hand hovered over the phone, wavering. Just pick it up Staci. Don’t be stupid.

  The phone rang and rang, its persistence unnerving. Her hand

  descended slowly, finally gripping the receiver. It lingered there a few seconds before she slowly lifted it to her ear, preparing herself for whatever was on the other side.

  “Hello?” she said.

  SARASOTA, FLORIDA

  1

  She kissed him. “Thank you for this.”

  Myron grinned. It was the kid’s first trip to Disney World, and he’d been planning it for years. Finally he had enough money to afford it. Not that he made much money as a bank teller, but he’d saved a good chunk for this week’s stay at Disney World.

  As much as he loved the beautiful Sarasota area beaches, particularly Siesta Key, with its white sands and beautiful sunsets, he was glad to be leaving it this morning. He positioned the last suitcase in the car trunk and shut it.

  “All right kids, we’re off to Disney!”

  “Yay!!” the three shouted, jumping up and down excitedly. They methodically got in the car, Donna placing the two small boys in their booster seats. They were five and six and had outgrown the baby seats, but Florida buckling laws had gotten tougher in recent years and she wasn’t taking any chances. Karen, the older sister, of eight years sat between them with just the seatbelt. She loved her two brothers to death, always hugging and kissing them to the point where they got annoyed. Donna always wondered if she thought of them as big old teddy bears instead of children. Myron knew her love for them was true and unconditional. She would do anything for them, including protecting them from older kids if it ever came to that. He hoped she would feel the same when they became immature teens.

  He took one look at himself in the rearview mirror, and liked what he saw. It took many years for him to feel that way. His limp hair had formed some natural waves, and he’d finally grown into his nose. His complexion was much better, and though he still wore glasses (he’d tried contact lenses for a week, but they burned his eyes each time he put them in) he’d replaced the old owl-rimmed glasses for thinner, lighter frames, thanks to advances in lenses that let him wear thinner ones despite his severe myopia. In a week he’d be getting Lasik surgery to correct it. He wasn’t Brad Pitt, but he was a decent looking fellow. Myron noticed the kids smiling at him in the mirror.

  “Whatcha looking at Daddy?” five year old Jesse asked.

  Myron smiled back, “My perfect life.” And he meant that. Though he never got to be the scientist he wanted, he had a beautiful wife and kids he wouldn’t trade for the world. Donna kissed him on the cheek. Myron put the car in gear, and they were soon on University Parkway, taking I75. He glanced at the GPS. Yes, I75 North to I4 East.

  “This is exciting,” Donna said. God, he loved that smile, her rounded blonde hair, forming a halo around her; her blue inquisitive eyes.

  “I love you,” he said. Sometimes it was hard not to say it. He never thought he’d find anyone like her, let alone anybody. He still burned for her.

  “I love you too,” Donna said, this time giving him a peck on the lips. The two boys went “Whoooo!” Karen giggled.

  “You better be careful and let me drive,” Myron said. Donna

  turned her head toward the back seat. “Settle down boys, it’s just a kiss.”

  “Yeah, the same thing we did as consenting adults leading to the creation of the two of you,” Myron said.

  The boys looked at each other confused.

  Karen kept giggling. “He’s talking about S-E-X.”

  “Karen!” Donna reprimanded. “Not in front of the B-O-Y-S.” She knew way too much for her age.

  “Okay, sorry,” she said. Donna nodded.

  “Who wants to see Mickey?” Myron quickly changed the topic.

  Of course they all said, “Me, me, me!” raising their hands as if they weren’t taking off from school for this trip.

  2

  They passed several signs going to Tampa until they finally found their exit. It was still only twelve, and they didn’t have to check in until three. Myron figured they’d exit at a rest stop and get lunch. The trip itself was only about two hours. It was strange not to see Armadillo corpses on the road, something he’d gotten used to. It was a bit of a Sarasota phenomenon. Maybe it was the combination of tropical and desert clime, living off the Gulf of Mexico. He’d seen so many strewn along Tamiami Trail since he’d moved down here six years ago, they seemed to be everywhere. Although, oddly enough, in all those years he’d never seen a live one.

  “Hey boys,” Myron said, “Did you need to pee?”

  Tyler shook his head. Jesse touched himself to check and said, “Nope.”

  “I do,” Karen said.

  “All right, I’ll pull into the next exit.”

  “Maybe we should get lunch now then,” Donna said.

  “Maybe. Anyone hungry?” Myron asked.

  “Yeah,” Tyler said, “Kind of.”

  Jesse touched his stomach. “A little bit.”

  “God, you’re so cute!” Karen said, and squeezed the life out of him.

  Jesse scrunched up his face.

  “Karen, don’t smother your brother,” Donna said. Not that she really minded. It was sweet and adorable how their big sister treated them.

  “McDonald’s okay everyone?” Myron asked. “I think I see one at the next stop.”

  “Yeah!” Jesse said excitedly, now that he was out of his

  sister’s death grip.

  “Sure,” Tyler said, noncommittal.

  “Okay,” Karen said, less than enthusiastic. She was getting kind of bored of it really.

  “Mickey D’s it is. Hey, I wonder if Mickey owns that,” Myron said.

  “That’s a lame joke Dad,” Karen informed him, “It’s Ronald McDonald’s, not Mickey Mouse’s.”

  “Right you are.”

  “That would be cool if Mickey owned it,” Tyler said.

  “Ronald McDonald’s not as cool as Mickey?” Myron asked, watching Tyler in the rear view mirror.

  “No way!” Tyler said, waving him away. Although the middle child he had definite opinions about things and wasn’t afraid to share them.

  Donna was grinning at them and their entirely inane, but entertaining conversation.

  Myron got off I4 and pulled into a Texaco. “May as well gas up while we’re here.”

  “Did you want to use the rest room here?” Donna asked Karen. Karen shook her head.

  “Good,” Myron said. “Wait to use the one at the McDonald’s. You always have to ask for a key at gas stations, and their restrooms are always filthy.” Made you wonder I actually asked to get into this place?

  “You’re silly,” Donna said. “You’ll fit right in at Disney World.”

  “Yes, the eighth dwarf Silly,” he agreed.

  Jesse giggled. “There’s no Silly.”

  “Yes there is,” Donna said, “You’re silly!” She tickled him. “Silly boy!”

  He laughed until he thought his sides would burst.

  3

  It was their third day at Walt Disney World. They were in the Animal Kingdom Park when the family was casually walking toward the line at Kilimanjaro Safaris. The kids noticed a handicapped boy whose leg was cruelly twisted and encased in metallic braces.

  Jess laughed, imitating the boy’s sideways walk, thinking perhaps, in a child’s way, that this would delight his parents. Though Tyler looked at him as if he were simply stupid, and Karen (who was old enough to know bet
ter) opened her mouth in shock, Myron’s response was abrupt and immediate. He yanked the boy by the arm and pulled him aside.

  “Jesse, that is not funny! We do not make fun of people who are different than us!” Myron shouted in his face. “Do you understand?”

  There was a moment of delay, a change in his expression that only children seem to be able to adopt that second before they realize something is wrong, before the waterworks start. This expression can break almost any parent’s heart, and weaken their resolve.

  The bawling began, and Myron ascertained softly, that “That is not funny,” as if he could not be dissuaded by tears.

  “Myron,” Donna said, “He doesn’t know any better.”

  “That’s why I’m teaching him.”

  Both Karen and Tyler were hugging the five year old now.

  “C’mon,” Donna said, taking Jesse’s hand. “Let’s talk about this.” They found a bench and Jesse stood in front of her while she explained softly and calmly why what he did was wrong, and the

  crying slowly subsided.

  “I’m sorry,” Myron told her afterward. He was. It was just that at that moment he relived every painful childhood memory: every taunt, every name, every fist used to ridicule and punish him for being different. He supposed he still wasn’t completely over it. You don’t get over years of that and simply move on. It stays with you, hidden.

  “I know,” Donna said, taking his hand. “I explained to him why

  you were angry, but maybe you should apologize anyway. I think you

  really scared him.”

  “Jesse,” Myron told him. “I’m sorry I yelled at you, but you understand why what you did was wrong?”

  “Yeah,” Jesse said, a single tear running down his cheek. “I’m sorry daddy. I’ll never do it again.”