A Night without Stars

by Sabrina Albis

  She was curled up under a knitted blanket, trying to fight off the terrible feeling she had since the day began.

  She read from her favorite books, revisited emails from her mom, anything to keep her mind from wandering. It was no use. Her thoughts were relentless.

  They went around and around inside her head like a twisted, defunct Merry-go-round.

  It was a trap, an endless circle.

  Would they succeed in banishing the demons and most importantly would they survive?

  She knew the future couldn’t be foretold.

  She could only pray that tonight was the night that they entered the caves and destroyed the demons inside forever.

  Autumn looked over at her friends.

  She observed them, made random notes in her head, looking for any semblance of fear like the kind she had nestled deep inside the pit of her belly.

  Eric was packing his items into his brown suede satchel. He was wearing the amulet and an expression of rigid determination. Arabella was upstairs readying the scrying bowl. Mandy was changing into her Kevlar armor.

  Everyone else was suited up, Autumn included.

  Rick and Nathaniel, looking light as feathers as usual, were packing up the arsenal.

  Autumn felt useless, like a flat tire on a car.

  She wanted to help, to do something, but all she could do was let the fear encompass her and swallow her whole.

  She closed her eyes and tried to think positive. Everything would be alright. Things would go smoothly.

  The negative thoughts were pushed aside and ignored. Everyone dead, the world overrun by monsters commanded by a demon queen ringleader.

  Autumn barely heard Rick when he spoke to her. She looked up at him, only after he touched her stiff shoulders.

  “Aut, we are leaving soon babe.”

  “Alright,” she said her voice listless.

  Rick moved in front of her, kneeling, his eyes meeting hers. They were filled with unease, probing her for answers she didn’t really have.

  “You don’t need to do this Autumn. The last thing I want is you going out there when your mind is elsewhere.”

  Despite her despair, Autumn never once considered backing down. She was going to see this through, for everyone. Especially Eric.

  “I am going,” she said firmly. “But it’s dangerous Rick. Going into the caves is new ground. We need to be extra careful.”

  “We will,” Rick said reassuringly, taking her hand into his. And again he was her beautiful anchor, pulling her back from the depths.

  “Nothing will hurt you on my watch,” Rick said, his smile haughty.

  Autumn didn’t like his arrogance. Arrogance blinded people.

  It tricked people into thinking they needed nobody and nothing to survive.

  The truth was, life was fleeting. One minute you grasped it tightly in your palms, the next you’ve lost it, shattering it on the ground like broken glass.

  “I don’t fear for my life,” Autumn whispered. “It’s the rest of you. The least of my worries is me.”

  Rick kissed Autumn’s hand gently.

  “Nothing is going to happen to any of us Aut. I promise you.”

  Autumn sighed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.

  She never liked promises.

  As everyone headed out to the van, Autumn felt significantly better. Just talking to Rick helped her relax. She didn’t need anyone worrying about her tonight. If they did, they might end up distracted and that could mean the difference between life and death.

  After the van was packed up with supplies, everyone gathered around Eric. Tonight he was the leader, and they were following his instructions. The first thing he did was hand them each a vial. He instructed them to drink from it, telling them it was an anti-possession elixir. It only lasted a day, but it prevented any demons from taking over their bodies. Autumn downed it, but not fast enough. It tasted awful. The others seemed to agree, cringing as they drank the liquid back. Eric assured them it was worth the horrible taste to be immune to possession.

  “Alright guys listen up. The plan is, I set up my items and do the ritual and you guys fend off the demons,” Eric reached into his pocket and began handing out more vials. “This healing juice took months to create. I had some in store. If you get hurt, drink the whole vial. You each have two. Failing that, my sister will be able to heal you. However, the concoction in the vial works faster and is more potent.”

  “I hope this tastes better than the last one,” Nathaniel muttered.

  “Tonight is the night,” Eric went on. “We need to keep our eye on the prize.”

  “As soon as I start the ritual those monsters will come for me, no doubt,” Eric said warningly. “Those demons killed my family. I want them dead. Show no one mercy in those caves.”

  Autumn looked into Eric’s cold, dark eyes and saw the hatred behind them. She had never seen him so vindictive and blood-thirsty. It was frightening.

  Autumn had a horrible epiphany. What if Eric’s cousins weren’t dead? What if they were alive or worse, possessed by demons?

  “Eric?” Autumn said and he looked at her, his lips twitching into a small smile.

  “Aut, what is it?”

  She ran a hand through her hair nervously. “What if we see Renee or Caleb?”

  For a split-second, Eric’s face betrayed him. His smile melted away. His jaw tightened. His whole body tensed. He took a long, deep breath. The tension disappeared, and he morphed into tranquil Eric again.

  Eric looked into Autumn’s eyes and spoke in a flat, emotionless tone.

  “If they are still in that cave, they aren’t human anymore. They are demons. Put them out of their misery.”

  It was after midnight when they finally arrived at their destination.

  As they pulled into the parking lot, Autumn noticed the wind had picked up immensely, an ominous sign. It whistled outside the windows of the van, rattling it to the point where Autumn thought it might topple sideways.

  As the vehicle slowed to a halt, Autumn looked at Eric. She wondered if he was scared.

  Did he fear history repeating?

  That he was leading his friends to their deaths?

  The same gruesome death his parents were led to so many years ago.

  Autumn could feel the pressure of what she had to do weighing on her. She could only imagine how much pressure Eric felt preforming the spell itself.

  Mandy, as per usual, looked relaxed and calm. She had her small legs stretched out in front of her, arms behind her head, lounging out. Rick’s knee was jiggling excitedly and for a moment, she wished she had just a little of their confidence.

  As they geared up for battle, Autumn felt like she was watching another person, not herself, as she grabbed her scythe and double-checked her body armor. It was surreal and dreamlike, gathering their artillery and heading through the field in the gusting wind.

  Rick had Autumn’s hand wrapped tightly in his own as they walked.

  She took a moment to glance at Eric. He was stoic as he moved through the tall grass, satchel in hand.

  “Rick, I need to talk to Eric for a minute,” Autumn began cautiously.

  “Alright, we can do that,” Rick said, unruffled.

  Autumn shook her head. “No. Rick, I need to talk to him alone, please.”

  Autumn expected Rick to be jealous but instead, he just smiled indulgently and relinquished her hand.

  “Take your time sweetie,” he said then he kissed her softly on the cheek and went to join Mandy and Nathaniel, who were lagging behind.

  Autumn headed over to Eric. He was dressed like he always was. In a long black trench coat and jeans, his dark waves falling into his face. Eric told her he always wore something black. He said it was to remind him of two things. That he was still in mourning and that he had a missi
on to fulfil.

  Looking out into the blank night sky, the one without stars, the one brimming with possibilities good and bad, he seemed deep in thought.

  “Eric,” she said, feeling almost guilty pulling him from his contemplation.

  He looked over at her, the usual warm smile on his handsome face.

  “Is everything alright Autumn?”

  “Eric,” she began, walking in step with him. “I’m not going to sugar-coat this. You look like shit.”

  “Shit?” Eric said, smirking slightly. “I hope this isn’t your way of flirting.”

  “I am just saying. You want us to believe in this cause, that we will win this battle but your body language says we are already in body bags.”

  Eric averted his eyes. He said nothing, just kept his pace, slow and deliberate, avoiding her gaze.

  “What is going on?” she asked quietly.

  Eric never held back. Even when the truth stung like salt sprinkled on a fresh wound, he said what was on his mind. She needed to do the same with him.

  “What aren’t you telling me Eric?”

  Eric’s eyes met her own.

  “From the comfort of my house this all seemed like a great idea but now, being out here, in the moment, I just realized something. I shouldn’t have dragged you guys into this. This is mine and Arabella’s revenge to take. You guys shouldn’t have to risk your lives for people you didn’t even know.”

  Autumn reached out and grabbed Eric’s forearm gently.

  “We know you Eric. What kind of friends would we be if we weren’t willing to fight off a few demon beasts for you?” she said, trying her best to lighten the mood.

  Eric chuckled slightly. “This goes above and beyond friendship, especially when the friend is the so-called prince of darkness.”

  “I never thought you were the prince of darkness,” she said, squeezing his arm gently. “Maybe a court jester,” she trailed off.

  Eric rolled his eyes but still grinned. “Very droll Autumn.”

  “All joking aside, we want to help you. Though selfishly, I think Mandy and Rick just enjoy fighting things,” Autumn said, as she looked up at the sky.

  The moon was shining, vibrant and full against the pitch-black sky. The wind hadn’t relented and it whipped in Autumn’s face violently, making her tear up.

  “My parents wanted to save this town and look where it got them,” Eric said bitterly. “And they were far more powerful than me. I am an amateur.” He paused and smirked. “And I’m arrogant. To believe a sorcerer like me can pull this off.”

  “Like you said Eric, I didn’t know your parents,” Autumn said, choosing her words carefully. “But I do know we believe in you, and we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t.”

  “People aren’t safe in Whitan as long as those demons are lurking,” she went on. “As long as people explore those caves, everyone is at risk. And if that demon queen has her way, the evil will spread like a virus. First here, then the next city, then the next. Personally, I think a world ruled by a demon queen and her loyal cronies, sounds mighty terrifying.”

  Eric reached out and took her hand into his.

  His hands were ice cold.

  Cold hands warm heart, her mother always said.

  “Autumn you don’t have to do this,” he said finally.

  “Do what?” Autumn asked.

  “You don’t have to pretend you want to go into those dark, dank caves and possibly never come back out. You don’t need to embrace death like it’s a long-lost friend.”

  When Eric said this, a vicious shiver crept down her spine. It wasn’t breaking news to her. All night, all day, she had felt death near her, like it was breathing down her neck, like it could reach out and grab her at any moment.

  “I’m not scared to die,” she said, her voice quavering.

  “I’m scared I’m going to live and everyone else will die.”

  Eric shook his head in disbelief. “You are always thinking of other people Autumn. Just promise me one thing,” he said. “That you will fight until the very end, no matter what happens tonight.”

  Autumn looked at Eric’s grave expression.

  “Eric, what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying,” Eric said without hesitation. “If anything happens to me or anyone else in there, tell me you will keep fighting. You will get the hell out of those caves, and you will never look back.”

  Autumn fought back the tears that threatened release.

  She wasn’t going to cry. She refused. There was nothing to cry over yet, she would save her tears for now.

  “Nothing is going to happen to you or anyone else Eric King,” she said firmly.

  “We are a team. We are going in together, and we are leaving together. There is no other way.”

  When Eric and Autumn were done talking, they rejoined the others and continued their trek towards the caves.

  When the caves appeared, looming and murky, a thick fog began to envelope them. It was the kind of fog that made the world look surreal, and made everything hard to see.

  Rick grabbed Autumn by the hand, guiding her along.

  “Stay close guys,” Rick instructed. “This fog is dense.”

  As they moved closer to the cave mouth, the fog began to thin out and eventually it dissipated. Autumn looked at it, taking it all in. The terror-inducing cave. She was finally face-to-face with it. It looked different than the last time she had seen it.

  The jagged rocks of the cave were interlaced with rotting vines and lifeless plants. From the mouth of the cave seeped a foul, rust-colored liquid onto the arid, patchy, russet grass that surrounded it. Coating the caves edge was a thick, black, tar-like substance.

  “Okay, it’s go time,” Rick said and the wind seemed to die down a little as they began gearing up.

  Eric had his satchel. Rick pulled out his sword. Autumn had her scythe in hand, Mandy was lightly swinging her nunchucks and Nathaniel was baring a handgun.

  “Everyone, just remember to be safe and watch out for each other,” Rick said. “If you need help you holler. No playing the action hero in there.”

  “And above all else, keep the monsters away from Eric. If they get to him, the ritual will be ruined.”

  “Alright! Let’s do this!” Nathaniel said, his gun-free hand pumping in the air.

  “I’m ready,” Mandy said, her eyes bursting with excitement.

  Autumn could feel her blood pumping and her heart thudding in her chest. The adrenaline was pulsing through her, urging her to begin, like a race runner awaiting the shotgun start.

  It may not have been her parents who died in the caves, but this cave had stolen people’s families and friends. This cave was the reaper. This cave was the demise of lives.

  The demons had to die.

  “Alright, so a summary of the plan,” Eric said as he began examining a vile in his hand. “I set up the items and you guys take a position to guard me. Everyone watches each other’s backs and when you see something, no hesitation. You kill it.”

  “And remember, be precise. We want those monsters down for the count as quick as possible,” Rick added. “That way if there are a lot in there, we won’t get overwhelmed.”

  “Aim for the head, heart or other vitals because this is the nest. I expect there to be loads of beasts inside.”

  “So, are we good to go now dude?” Nathaniel asked, looking to Eric, who was readying his vials for the spell.

  “As ready as we’ll ever be. Let’s get in there,” Eric said.

  So the five of them headed towards the cave mouth, into the dark, into the unknown, unsure of what exactly was waiting for them, on the other side.

  24

  It was pitch-black inside the entrance to the cave, and Autumn felt she was being devoured by a mammoth beast. The pungent smell of blood, filth and
moss overwhelmed her nostrils as she slipped on her night vision goggles. Everyone had to wear them. The cave yielded no light, and they had to be able to see where they were going and what was coming.

  “It stinks in here,” Mandy declared as they moved through the cave gingerly. The many ridges and rocks that made up the cave floor made quick movements difficult. That and not knowing the layout of the cave held them back. Autumn didn’t mind. She was in no rush to dance with death.

  “Demons live here,” Nathaniel said bluntly. “Were you expecting it to smell like roses?”

  Mandy sighed and looked at Eric. “How deep do we have to be?”

  “There’s no specific depth,” Eric replied. “But I would rather be further from the opening in case someone comes by.”

  “Funny that, I feel more comfortable near the opening,” Mandy quipped.

  Autumn looked around her, observing her surroundings, committing everything she saw to memory. She investigated every nook and cranny in sight, though she wasn’t sure exactly what she was looking for.

  Demons? Dead, rotting corpses? Renee and Caleb’s lifeless forms?

  The thought had crossed her mind.

  Instead, all she saw were pieces of scrap wood, crinkled, withered leaves, mud and other random litter that had found its way inside.

  The further they ventured into the cave, the worse the smell of rot and decay plagued her. She fought the urge to throw up, her stomach squirming in protest.

  Be strong, she chided herself. There is no turning back.

  Minutes passed before Eric found a suitable and stable location. He began inspecting a small alcove in the cave. He looked around, examining the area thoroughly before turning back to them, appearing pleased.

  “This is as good a place as any,” he said and he kneeled on the ground and began unpacking his items.

  “I should scout ahead,” Rick said to the rest of them. “See what’s shaking.”

  Nathaniel stepped next to him, his handgun at the ready.

  “Not without backup buddy.”

  “Nathaniel is right. This cave has many passages and hidden areas. You could get lost,” Eric said, sounding mildly distracted. “Go together.”