“Nope,” Eric said as he poured the liquid around the beast in a circle. “Although if I ever need any, I’ll be sure to ask you Nate.”
Nathaniel’s face went red with embarrassment.
“I’m not a virgin!” he snapped.
“Thou doth protest too much,” Eric said apathetically as he continued dispersing the liquid around the monster.
All four of them surrounded Eric, watching him intently.
As far as Autumn could tell, Eric had definitely done this before. The thought both frightened and intrigued her.
“What is he doing?” Rick whispered to Autumn. She shrugged her shoulders. She wasn’t too concerned. After what they had just been through, the night couldn’t get any freakier.
When Eric was finished pouring the liquid, he stepped into the circle he created and began speaking in Latin.
He said the words slowly and precisely, as to not make a mistake.
“Creatura of nox noctis iam pulvis!” he exclaimed. “Vestri somes mos melt!”
Autumn’s hair blew around her face, as the wind picked up rapidly. Eric went on with the incantation, repeating it over and over.
Autumn watched as the creature began to melt away, disappearing into the ground like dirt absorbing rain drops. When Eric was done, there was nothing left but the memory of its hideous body lying there.
Autumn was rendered speechless. What had Eric just done? Whatever he did, it seemed impossible. Though after tonight, she knew anything was possible.
Rick stared in awe at Eric. “You are like some kind of wizard King!”
“Yeah dude! That was wicked! It almost makes up for all your other bad qualities,” Nathaniel said, astounded.
Mandy, who seemed to have had enough surprises for one night, plopped onto the ground, placing her hands under her chin.
“I don’t think this night can get any weirder,” she muttered.
Autumn knew Eric had secrets. Didn’t everyone?
However, this was something she hadn’t expected, despite all the tales about Eric circulating at school.
She looked at him, her brow furrowed.
“What was that Eric?” she asked, unsure if she really wanted to know.
Eric placed the empty vial back into his pocket.
“I told you I’d explain later, and I will,” he said firmly. “Right now, we need to get the hell out of here.”
Not needing any coaxing, the group of them headed back to the parking lot.
It was still empty, other than Eric’s stunning red Camaro and Nathaniel’s van.
As they stood around getting ready to leave, Eric assured them he would meet everyone at his house tomorrow to discuss what happened.
Everyone was far too tired to argue. Eric’s promise seemed to mollify them, for the moment, even though everyone had many unanswered questions.
Everyone piled into the white van but before Autumn got in, Eric accosted her.
“Are you alright?” he whispered. He looked at her wounds and gently traced the ones on her arm with his fingers.
His brown eyes stared into her green ones, telling her what she already knew.
He was worried about her.
He still cared.
Autumn smiled gratefully. “I’m fine. It clawed me, but nothing too serious.”
Eric ran his hands through her hair, tucking a stray strand behind her ear.
“I’m tremendously relieved to see you are relatively unscathed.”
He leaned down to her forehead, kissing it gently.
She sighed softly. “Does this mean my fib is forgiven?”
“We all have our secrets. So yes, I suppose we can call it even.” He grinned at her.
“When you get home, clean the wounds out thoroughly with this,” he said, handing her a vial. “It will sting like you wouldn’t believe at first, but it will flush out any infection and speed up the healing process.”
Autumn took the vial. “Thank you Eric. For everything.”
The car ride home was silent and tense. Everyone was weary, and in shock and so many questions had been left unanswered. What was the creature? Why did Eric show up and how did he dispose of the dead body? Autumn couldn’t help but wonder, who was Eric King?
When they finally arrived home, Autumn was both relieved and exhausted.
“We will all meet before going to Eric’s,” Rick suggested as the van pulled up to his house. “My parents are away so you guys can come here.”
“Tomorrow is good,” Mandy agreed.
“Yeah. It’s been a long night. I’m not sure my brain can process much more,” Autumn admitted as they opened the van door.
“Alright guys. I have to get Mandy home,” Nathaniel said. “See you both tomorrow.” He looked over at Autumn meaningfully. “You get some rest Auttie.”
“Later,” Mandy said, waving from the passenger seat. “Rick, help Aut with those cuts!”
When Rick and Autumn were safe inside, he helped her apply the liquid Eric had given her onto her injuries. Autumn screamed in agony as the liquid seeped into the cuts, burning like her skin was on fire.
Rick cringed at having to hurt her.
“It will be over soon Aut,” he assured her. When he was finished, Autumn went to take a shower, then she slipped on a tank top and yoga pants and went into her bedroom.
She hopped into bed and as soon as her head hit the pillow she nodded off.
She awoke to find herself in a grassy field. The sky above her was on fire. She was alone and she sensed danger, thick in the air, so she fled.
She sprinted, trying to get back to the parking lot, to some semblance of safety, but before she could get there, she was surrounded.
Four hideously deformed monsters encircled her, bellowing their deafening, animalistic cries.
She glanced above her at the once inflamed sky. It was black now and when she looked back down, the creatures descended on her.
She let out one sharp scream and sprang awake.
When her eyes adjusted, she realized she was in her room, panting and covered in sweat.
“Autumn!” Her door flung open and Rick was standing there, looking concerned.
Autumn fought to catch her breath, her heart pounding against her chest. After she had calmed down, she looked up at him embarrassedly.
“Rick, sorry to scare you. It was just a nightmare. I am still seriously freaked out.”
Rick ran a hand through his curls anxiously. “Yeah, that was pretty scary stuff,” he said.
Then he moved towards her bed and looked at her apprehensively. “May I?”
“Sure,” she replied shoving over.
Autumn was told that as you get older, your mind slips things out, replacing old memories with new ones, but she vividly remembered sleeping over at Rick’s when they were younger. Now, it was visceral and natural to sleep with him.
Back then, if she had a nightmare, she would crawl into bed with Rick, and he would tell her funny stories to make her forget her bad dreams.
Then he would say: “I’m going to stay awake until you fall asleep.” Autumn would ask him why.
“That way if anything bad comes, I’ll be awake to protect you,” he would say.
So Rick would watch over her, until she dozed off and only then would he fall asleep.
“Autumn,” Rick said, breaking into her reverie. His low voice soothed her, making her panic dissipate.
Autumn looked at him. “Yes.”
“Go to sleep, I’ll stay awake until you fall asleep,” he said, a small grin appearing on his face.
Autumn was amazed that Rick remembered.
For some reason, it made Autumn feel warm and tingly inside. They had a bond and it was unbreakable, even by time, a worthy adversary, to say the least.
He was he
r safe haven, and she prayed time would never change that.
“Thanks,” Autumn murmured, feeling her eyelids getting heavy already.
Rick said nothing more and turned out the bedside lamp. Autumn pulled her comforter up to her chin and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
12
Sunday morning drifted by dreamily, with Autumn and Rick sleeping well into the afternoon. Perhaps it was her exhaustion, or Rick’s soothing company but Autumn slept like a baby.
It was raining heavily and the sound of raindrops hitting the window and the warmth of her bed, made getting up a chore for Autumn.
When she finally stirred, she heard the soft sounds of Rick sleeping beside her. She rolled over and studied him. He looked so peaceful with his eyes closed and his curls sprawled on the pillow, just like when he was a little boy.
She could see him now. The same peaceful face, although smaller, his curls everywhere while lying beside her in his bed. She would look at him and watch him intently. She adored Rick. He would do anything for her, even then. He was only a kid, but he always protected Autumn, no matter what.
Nothing changed. She had seen him last night, his blue eyes filled with trepidation as a real monster held her in its clutches. He fought for her, risking his life. The only thing that had changed was they weren’t up against the neighborhood bully. This wasn’t just some kid trying to steal their bikes. They saw a monster last night, and she wouldn’t soon forget it.
Monsters. It seemed ridiculous when Autumn thought about it. She was half expecting Rick to wake up and tell her it really was just a nightmare but the fading nail marks on her arms and the aching of her body, told her otherwise. She shivered at the thought of this and pulled the covers up to her chin.
She marveled at the notion that the world wasn’t as it seemed. It was multifaceted and underneath the layers were creatures. Creatures beyond human, beyond animal and beyond the unfathomable.
The more she thought about the vastness of the world and the unknown yet to be discovered, the more it made sense. How arrogant were humans to assume they were the only beings walking the world?
Rick stirred, looking over at Autumn groggily and interrupting her contemplation.
“Morning,” he said smiling, as he turned on his side to face her.
“Morning,” Autumn said, returning his smile.
She was surprised that their smiles came so easily. After last night’s traumatic events, she assumed they would never be the same again.
Right now, she felt content. She was safe, warm and secure. It was the world beyond her walls that was in disarray.
“How are you?” he asked. “Did Eric’s medicine work?”
“I feel sore but the wounds are pretty much healed.” She held out her arms to Rick, who looked for the claw marks. They were barely visible on her skin. Rick held her arms in his hands, observing them, tracing a finger across the faded wounds.
“So last night wasn’t just a bad dream?” Rick frowned.
“I’m afraid not,” Autumn replied.
They stared at each other for a moment. Rick shifted upright in the bed.
“When that thing grabbed you,” Rick’s voice was soft. “I knew I would do anything to save you. I never thought I could kill anything, but for you, I could, and I did. I didn’t even think about it twice Aut, and that really scares me.”
Autumn grimaced. She knew Rick made the right decision. It was a do-or-die situation. Still, she couldn’t fathom the feeling of taking a life, even an evil one. Knowing your hands were capable of ending a life would change a person.
“You had no choice Rick. That monster was going to kill us all.” She sat up beside him.
“You saved everyone last night.”
Rick raked his hands through his hair anxiously.
“Mom always told me, there’s a difference between braveness and stupidity.”
“The only stupid thing we did was ignore Eric’s warnings,” Autumn said. “He said being near those caves is dangerous.”
She looked at Rick, who got up and began stretching. She got out of bed and stood in front of him, looking into his blue eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice quavering. “For being so brave and selfless.”
It was finally sinking in how close they might have come to death. She didn’t think about death much. She was still too arrogant and naive to believe death could come at any time, for anyone. The foolishness of youth, her mother called it.
Last night, it was her first real encounter with the reaper, though his sickle missed her narrowly. She was certain that monster was going to tear her and her friend’s limb from limb, had it gotten the chance.
Rick pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him.
“I would never let anything happen to you Autumn. You are my best friend.”
Autumn was crying on his shoulder now, the tears flowing freely, her shoulders trembling.
“I know,” she said through sobs. “I knew you would save me.”
“Always,” he whispered.
And she believed him.
Before Mandy and Nathaniel arrived, Autumn went to get ready and Rick headed to the nearest restaurant to pick up some food. Autumn, decked out in dark jeans and a white dress shirt, her hair wavy and damp from the shower, came bounding down the stairs in time to see Rick in the kitchen setting up the takeaway. They ate quickly, with Autumn almost as ravenous as Rick.
The two of them had just finished, when they heard the doorbell ringing.
“I’ll get it,” Rick offered as Autumn began cleaning up. As she threw out the takeout containers, she heard Mandy and Nathaniel chattering in the hallway.
“That thing was a snake creature!” Mandy was saying, sounding frustrated. “Like a snake man!”
“No way Mandy! It was an iguana!” Nathaniel said firmly.
“What kind of iguana spit’s venom?” she asked sharply.
“Good afternoon you guys! I’m so glad you came together,” Autumn heard Rick say sardonically.
She just finished cleaning up, when the trio finally made their way toward the kitchen.
Nathaniel rushed over to Autumn and encompassed her in a tight hug.
“Oh Autumn,” he said melodramatically.
“Hey Nate,” Autumn said, patting his back awkwardly.
“How are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m sore but I’m fine,” Autumn said pulling away. “Thanks for the concern though.”
Nathaniel placed his hand on his chin thoughtfully. “I thought you might say that Autumn, so I planned ahead.”
Autumn arched an eyebrow. “Oh did you?”
“Yes. Just to be certain you are indeed, fine,” he made quotations with his fingers. “I think I should go upstairs, strip you down and have a good, long, look at you.”
Mandy rolled her brown eyes, a smirk spreading across her face.
Autumn fought the urge to smack Nathaniel and crossed her arms over her chest disapprovingly.
“Is that so?”
Rick looked at Nathaniel, frowning. “Dude, that was weak.”
“I ain’t no doctor,” Nathaniel said smugly. “But I can give her something to make her feel much better.”
He looked Autumn up and down appreciatively. “Anytime you’re ready sweetheart.”
“Ready,” Autumn smiled sweetly and quickly proceeded to punch Nathaniel in his arm hard.
“Ow, chick that stings!” he said, rubbing his arm sulkily.
“See? I’m one hundred percent better,” Autumn said matter-of-factly.
“Oh Nathaniel, you are like endless hours of free entertainment,” Mandy said through laughter.
Nathaniel continued to rub his arm and groan, as the four of them took seats around Rick’s kitchen table.
Once everyone was
seated, the carefree chatter died down and was replaced by ominous silence.
Now that they were all together and ready to discuss last night’s events, no one knew where to begin.
After a few minutes of dreadful quiet, Autumn finally had enough of the four-way staring contest.
“Alright,” she said banging her fist on the table dramatically.
Everyone stirred from their reveries and turned to look at her.
“A monster attacked us last night,” Autumn said firmly. “We need to discuss what happened. Staring at each other blankly isn’t going to help.”
“With all due respect Autumn, what is there to talk about?” Nathaniel asked mirthlessly. “No amount of conversation is getting us any answers about what exactly we saw last night. Only King can help us now.”
Mandy sighed. Up-close Autumn could see the bags beneath her eyes.
“Nathaniel, think of this as group therapy.”
Nathaniel blew a raspberry. “Great. So now I’m crazy? You all saw the thing too.”
“You aren’t crazy,” Mandy said, running a hand through her pixie cut. “Talking about it will make us all feel better.”
She looked at Autumn. “Although I should warn you, I’m not the best at expressing myself. My go-to emotion is usually anger.”
“Well that explains everything,” Nathaniel muttered.
“Alright so let’s discuss,” Rick said, as he pulled his chair closer to the table.
“Allow me to begin,” Nathaniel said, cracking his knuckles. “The monster appeared. It was unpleasant, and now it’s dead. We all lived, the end.” He grinned. “I feel better already.”
“It’s not that simple Nathaniel,” Autumn said, grimacing. “Eric said there are more of those things lurking around the caves.”
“That may be so,” Nathaniel said. “But why does that matter now? We went, we saw, we conquered.”
“Because we know the truth now,” Autumn began. “Are we going to be like everyone else? Are we just going to turn a blind eye?”
“That was the general plan,” Nathaniel admitted.
“Coward,” Mandy grumbled.
“Oh shut it pipsqueak!”
A Night without Stars Page 14