The Pit in the Woods: A Mercy Falls Mythos

by Nathaniel Reed

  “But I don’t understand!” Dan pleaded.

  “I know, I know,” Staci said, “and I can’t explain it. Only that it’s something I have to do.”

  “With old friends from high school? Is it a reunion? Why such short notice? You’re scaring me Staci!”

  She hugged him. “I’m so sorry honey. I don’t want to scare you. I’ll explain everything when I get back, if I can.”

  “Mommy?” Shelley said, rubbing her eyes as she walked in the room. Brad was behind her. “Are you and Dad fighting?”

  “No baby,” Staci said, “Everything’s fine. Go back to sleep.”

  “It’s all right,” Brad said, for once playing the older, protective brother. This was different somehow, and he knew it. He took her by the shoulder. “Let’s go back to bed.”

  “Everything is not fine!” Dan whispered loudly after they left, actually frightening her. He never acted like this before. He knew that something was wrong.

  “I’m sorry Dan, I love you. You know that. But I have to go.”

  “How long?”

  “What?” For one crazy moment she thought he was going to ask her how long she’d been cheating on him.

  Instead he said, “How long will you be gone?”

  “I don’t know. Could be days, weeks.”

  “Weeks?!”

  “I just don’t know.”

  “You’ve got to give me something more to go on Stace!”

  “I can’t.” She picked up her suitcase. “You wouldn’t believe me.” She kissed him. “But believe me when I say I love you. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’ll call you when I get there.”

  Dan cried. She’d rarely seen him cry. “At least say goodbye to the kids.”

  Staci nodded. “I will.”

  4

  For Myron Powers it was like going up against the bullies all over again. And, of course, he always lost. But this wasn’t his fight alone anymore. It was all of theirs. He reminded himself of that as he boarded the plane. It didn’t make things any easier, but he was looking forward to seeing his friends again.

  He took the coward’s way out, however, packing his suitcase when the family wasn’t around. He left the task of telling his family to his associate April, at work. He’d caught her in the break room, hitting the books as usual; studying for her classes at Manatee Community College in Bradenton. Myron asked her to tell his wife and kids he’d be gone, for possibly a week or so, and that it was about the phone call from his friend in Mercy Falls, and it was important. That was all he would have her tell Donna, and he was leaving after work. He doubted he’d have a job when he came back. Unlike Jeremy he’d used up all his vacation time on that Disney expedition.

  April was worried. She heard the seriousness in his voice and noticed the somber expression on his face. “Are you going to be all right?” she asked.

  “I think so,” Myron said. “I hope so. Can you just do me one more favor?”

  “Of course, what is it?”

  “Can you check up on them every now and then, make sure they’re doing okay?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  For a girl in her twenties April had a good head on her shoulders, and most of all he trusted her.

  “Thank you,” he said. “You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”

  “Yeah well,” she said, pointing at him, “You owe me for this.”

  “I sure do.”

  “And this better not be some affair or I’m not covering your ass.”

  That made him laugh. “Aww, geeze, you’re bad. I really wish it were that simple.”

  He headed back to work for his last few hours.

  5

  Outside the window, the runway was a blur, the plane picking up speed. Tony wished he hadn’t left things the way he had with Iris. But what was done was done. There was no turning back now. If he couldn’t fix things when he got home then there was no use in trying. Then there was the matter of Eric. He’d left him high and dry too. Maybe he’d give him a call when he got into town, see how he was doing back in Chicago. It was the least he could do. He’d confided in Tony. Hell, he’d freakin’ bawled over the phone about his cheating wife. Tony owed him that much.

  Right now his focus was on the creepy crawly bloodsuckers. He’d had more than a few nightmares about them, but this was the point where the nightmares became reality and slapped you in the face.

  IV

  July 2014

  1

  It was the fourth night, and she was showing signs of destabilizing. The hunger was getting to her. She was talking gibberish, nonsense.

  “Eve, you have to drink,” Blake told her.

  She shifted uncomfortably in the bed.

  “Okay,” she finally gave in. Blake brought the jar to her mouth as she sat up.

  She winced as it went down her throat. Eve started to gag. The blood had an odd texture.

  “What the…?” she coughed.

  “Sorry,” Blake said, “Should have warned you. I put some beef bits in to help the taste.”

  “Yeah, well next time don’t do me any favors. It’s bad enough drinking pig’s blood from a mason jar. It just tastes like blood with chunks.” She shivered.

  “Are you cold?” Blake asked.

  “No, just disgusted.”

  “Right,” Blake smacked his head, “You can’t feel cold.”

  “How long have you been in this game?” Eve asked him.

  “What game?”

  “Killing vampires.”

  “I’m not here to kill you,” Blake assured her.

  She held up the jar of blood. “Yeah, you could have fooled me.”

  “It’s good to see you keeping a sense of humor about this.”

  “How long until I change?”

  “It’s already started. For some it’s a longer process, for others quicker. It all depends on your level of resistance or acceptance of your… circumstances.”

  “Will I try to kill you?”

  Blake nodded. “Yes, I’m sure you will.”

  “What will you do then?”

  He pointed. “Look behind you.”

  She turned. There were manacles and chains on the bedposts that hadn’t been there the night before. Of course, she’d slept through the day.

  “They probably won’t hold you for long,” Blake continued, “But long enough for me to… to…”

  “Stake me right? Why don’t you go ahead and say it? I’m evil and you’re going to have to kill me.”

  “Evil is measured by actions my dear and so far you haven’t shown any signs.”

  “You never did answer my question. How long have you been doing this?”

  “Oh yes,” Blake said, remembering, “Killing vampires for over thirty years I’d say. Helping them…” He looked into her eyes. “You’d be the first.”

  2

  Night five

  She yawned as she stretched and Blake saw the first glimpse of pointed teeth. He brought up the cross.

  “Ah, Blake, what the hell?!”

  “I, I thought you were…”

  “Getting ready to attack you?”

  “Well, yes. Does this affect you?”

  “What, the cross? Well, when you shove it in my face like that, yeah.”

  “Right, sorry,” Blake said, putting it away. “Um, good morning.”

  “Yeah, and a good morning to you too.”

  “I guess I should say good evening, but I suppose this is your morning now. Hungry?”

  “You mean thirsty?” Eve corrected.

  “Yes.”

  “A little,” she said, unsure.

  “I know. The taste will get better with time. At least your tolerance to it will. It’s funny. Well, not funny I suppose, at all, how much more quickly they adapt to human blood.”

  “Are you trying to creep me out?”

  “No Eve, I’m sorry.”

  “Lighten up man; I’m just messing with you. God, why do I

  feel like I haven’
t been laid in ages?”

  Blake looked away.

  “Oh jeeze, I just blurted that out didn’t I? My God, but I’m really horny.”

  “Yes, that happens.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “What? Like a side effect?”

  “Yes, I suppose you could say that. Or more in direct relation to. It affects people at different intensities.”

  “Hmm,” she pondered. “I’m actually feeling a lot better. Stronger.”

  “Perhaps I should put the chains on,” Blake said.

  “Please, just let me get up out of bed for a moment, walk around.”

  “Of course,” he said, apprehensive.

  “I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m still me Blake.”

  “A little less so I presume.”

  She went to the refrigerator. Her walk was slightly more agile, both feline and feminine. She seduced him wearing only his T-shirt and boxers, slightly too large and loose on her, just by walking past him. They were new; as a gentleman he wouldn’t have her wear his used underwear.

  Eve took the jar of blood and began to gulp it down. She seemed less bothered by it although she still grimaced. A line ran out from between the corners of her lips and ran down her chin. She sensed Blake looking at her. She turned.

  “What?”

  He motioned with his hand for her to wipe her mouth. She swabbed it with the back of her hand too late to stop the drop that fell on the white tee.

  “They’ll be coming for you,” Blake said.

  “Who?”

  “The rest of them. Coming to claim you.”

  “How would they know where I am?”

  “Your condition, for lack of a better word, is like a virus. Once

  it starts to get stronger, the other infected can hone in on it. They can

  always find one of their own.”

  She stared at the jar of blood in her hands and looked disgusted. She placed it back in the fridge.

  “God, Blake, I don’t want to become one of them.”

  He nodded. “We’ll have to fight them. Be prepared. They have powers of persuasion. They’ll try to hypnotize you into believing you should go with them. Once you do there’s no turning back.”

  “All right; then tell me what to do.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  3

  “Your first line of defense: Crosses. This will keep most of them away.” Blake was applying strips of tape across the windows, vertically and horizontally. “Keep all windows shut, and never invite one of them in.”

  “Okay,” Eve said.

  “If one of them should get in, or you encounter one elsewhere, the stake…” He took one out, “Is your friend.”

  He opened a briefcase of sorts. To Eve it looked more like one of those travel chests you saw in old movies where people went on archaeological expeditions.

  “As are holy water, fire, guns…”

  There were little vials of holy water inset into a molded case inside the briefcase’s lining, as well as an acetylene torch, a silver plated handgun, and a larger cannon shaped device she assumed could only be a flamethrower.

  “Guns?” she said.

  “Yes, I know what you’re thinking. They can’t kill vampires, and you’re right, but the bullets will slow them down, and still hurt like hell. When there’s nothing else around, having a gun handy will do in a pinch.” He opened the closet door, and pulled something down from the top shelf.

  “Then there’s this.”

  “A crossbow,” she mused.

  “Quickest way to the heart, without having to get up close and personal. The arrows, as long as they’re made of wood, are really just miniature stakes. Not practical to carry around, but for home defense they work great. Unless you’re staking a vampire in his sleep, or forced into a hand to hand combat situation, you want to keep your distance from a vampire, because they’re a lot stronger than you.”

  “But I am a vampire,” Eve said.

  “Yes, I’m fully aware, and I hope that we can use that to our advantage and not theirs.”

  “Eventually, I’ll be just like them, right? I mean, what’s the point in fighting it?”

  He shook her. “Never say that! Do you know what these creatures are capable of? Do you?!”

  “Hey, quit it already!” Eve said.

  Blake realized shaking a vampire probably wasn’t the best idea.

  “What’s your deal anyway?” she said. Eve saw his eyes and knew. “You lost someone, didn’t you? That’s why you do this.”

  He bowed his head. “Yes.”

  V

  1958

  “Vivien?” she asked.

  “Yes, how do you feel about that name?” Blake said.

  “Vivien,” she pondered. “Vivien Blake. I love it,” Samantha said.

  He kissed her. “I love you.

  She looked sad for a moment.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Are we doing the right thing? Should we be getting married,

  raising this baby on our own?”

  “Of course it’s the right thing.”

  “Even if our parents disapprove? We are only teenagers,” Samantha said.

  “Someone has to be responsible for our child, why not us? And we love each other, don’t we?”

  “Yes.”

  “So why not get married?”

  “I do love you, but…”

  “Shhh.” He placed a finger on her lips. “They’ll come around, you’ll see. Give it time. Right now we have to make the right decision for us, not them. I love you so much Samantha Stone.”

  She grinned, perking up. “And I love you Fulton Blake.” She gave him a peck on the lips and hugged him.

  “Everything will work out,” he said.

  VI

  1

  Although everything looked the same, things were fundamentally different somehow. Of course, the biggest change was the Rock Spot. It’d been turned into some sort of dance club. Blah. Mel’s Moviehouse, where they’d gone to see many movies was still there, although a lot worse for wear.

  The passage of time had left the town old and dingy. Where streets gleamed in childhood there was an unpleasant air of rot and decay. Everything looked grayer. The Pizza Palace still bore the same name although it no longer had a 50s look to it. It had been completely modernized to look as boring and dull as possible; not a palace at all, but a box of steel, concrete, and glass. Otherwise everything looked the same, which wasn’t saying much. The town had lost its soul, the things that made it vibrant and alive.

  As Jeremy continued walking the streets he noticed FOR SALE

  signs popping up every few blocks. Gee, I wonder why anyone would want to leave this place? he thought. Then he began to see the MISSING signs on trees and telephone poles, on the walls of deserted buildings. There was even one stapled onto a home’s FOR SALE sign. He wondered if that missing boy belonged to the house’s current owners.

  He thought of Betty, that poor girl. He blocked that from his mind with an almost physical shove. Jeremy Daniels made his way to the Radisson where he’d rent his room this afternoon, go out for a bite to eat a little later, and prepare for the meeting tomorrow. What am I expected to say? I asked them all down here. They’re going to have questions. They’re going to want answers. Do I even have a game plan?

  “Shut up,” he told himself.

  An elderly man passing him looked at him strangely, and then started muttering to himself as he walked off.

  “You too,” Jeremy muttered back. God, what have we gotten ourselves into?

  2

  The day Vivien was born had been a Godsend, which eventually became a curse, but he’d loved her with all his heart, loved her still. And now Blake lay on his deathbed, old by most people’s standards but maybe still too young to die. Most people retired from their jobs; his job had retired him. Now it was only a matter of waiting. Waiting for them to take over where he’d left off; waiting for their inevitable return.
/>   3

  She was no longer sure that this was the right thing to do. Having left them like that, without an explanation, had been horrible. The way Dan had pleaded; how could she do this to them? But it was

  too late to turn back now, she was here.

  Staci “Donavan” Summers stepped out of the cab in front of the Radisson. She tipped the cab driver and looked up at the building with wariness.

  “Just check in, grab some lunch, and then settle in. Most of them won’t be here ’til tomorrow.”

  Well, Jeremy’s here, she thought, for no apparent reason. No sooner had she thought it than she saw him. The moment she stepped into the hotel’s main lobby she looked left and saw him in the lounge reading a newspaper, most likely catching up on the events that had been happening. He was nearly three decades older but she recognized him. And she bolted.

  Staci was out the door, turning the corner, and fell against the wall, sobbing uncontrollably. I can’t see him. I can’t see him now. It’s too soon. She’d just gotten here, and still hadn’t had time to let it all sink in. Once the shaking and the waterworks stopped she walked on. I’ll check in later tonight. No need for him to know I’m here yet.

  4

  The first thing he did when he arrived was call Donna. He wasn’t quite sure what he was going to say yet.

  “Honey, it’s me,” he said, when she answered.

  “Myron, my God! What on earth are you doing, taking off like that…?”

  “I guess you got April’s message.”

  “Yes, I was lucky enough to get that, not that I’m not still worried sick.”

  “I know sweetie. I’m sorry. But I’m fine. It was very important for me to do this. I knew if I didn’t leave right after work you wouldn’t let me go, not without an explanation.”

  “You’re damn right Myron! Do this? Do what?!”

  He hated to hear her like this. She hardly ever got angry, much less raised her voice, but he supposed he deserved it.

  “So do you have one?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “An explanation.”