When questioned, Lieutenant Sanders declined to discuss either investigation, insisting the cases in Lost Maples and Austin are unrelated and purely coincidental. Special Agent Paul Kelson did confirm, however, that the FBI is not ruling out any similarities.
“I have been informed by Mayor Hollingsworth that the Lost Maples County Sheriff’s Department does have one person of interest in custody at an undisclosed location,” Kelson stated in an interview after the press conference which ended abruptly after Bernice Slavic took her own life. “We believe the three murders in Lost Maples have specific ties to one another. I do want to stress that we are confident that this is not a serial case. Still, we ask that the people of Lost Maples [and Austin] remain cautious, but continue to go about their daily lives.”
Don tossed the newspaper on the bed and yelled for the guard. When nobody came, he stood with his hands on the bars and yelled again. A corrections officer arrived within a minute of the inmate’s calling.
“What is it, Luther?”
“I need to talk to the warden.”
“About what?” the corrections officer rested one hand on his nightstick. “The warden is busy.”
“I need to meet with Aaron Sanders.”
“Write him a letter.” The guard walked away. “I’ll get you the address.”
“There’s no time for that. I must speak with him soon, before it’s too late.”
The guard turned around. “Too late for what?”
“Please, Earl. It’s a matter of life and death.”
The guard laughed. “Yeah, like I haven’t heard that one before.“ He grabbed his night stick and pointed. “Go sit down, old man.” He looked into the man’s desperate eyes and shook his head. He stepped up to Don’s cell and whispered. “All right, Luther, I’ll pass the message along to the warden. But you’re going to trade this favor for some extra work in the laundry room.”
“Thank you, Earl. You’re a good man.”
“Yeah, yeah.” The guard raised and then slammed his night stick against the bars and raised his voice. “Now sit your ass down, old man, before I put you in solitary.”
Don formed a subtle smile and returned to his bed. He lay on his back and continued reading the newspaper, beginning with the obituaries section.
†
Maria sliced tomatoes in the kitchen while Samantha sat on the couch watching American Idol on television. Aaron leaned back in his recliner with his eyes focused on his smartphone. His forehead was wrinkled with furrowed eyebrows, his head resting against his hand and two fingers pressed against his temple. He read the cover story in the Austin American Statesman about the incident at Lee Hauser Middle School.
“Aaron, do you want cucumbers in your chef salad?” Maria asked from the kitchen. When Aaron didn’t respond, she suggested he put his phone away and help her in the kitchen.
Someone knocked on the front door.
“Sam, would you get that? Aaron’s in his zone.”
“But Riley Beckman is about to sing,” Samantha whined.
“Oh, you’re not going to miss anything.”
Samantha grunted and got up from the couch. “Fine.” She gasped when she opened the front door.
“Hello, Samantha.” Cody formed a mischievous grin and revealed a curved dagger. Grabbing her neck with one hand, he pushed her back into the living room. Maria continued to cut vegetables in the kitchen, while Aaron remained focused on his phone.
Heavy metal music blared from the television speakers, as Riley Beckman sang “Just Another Nightmare,” by Shadows Fall. Cody’s grip around Samantha’s neck prevented her from screaming, but it didn’t stop her from scratching his face with one hand and beating him on the side of his head with the other.
“Bitch!” He shoved her into the hallway.
Samantha ran to her room, screaming for her mother and Aaron to help her. Cody ran up the hall and placed one leg inside the room before she could shut the door. He forced it open, knocking Samantha onto the floor, and slammed it behind him. She scurried backwards until she hit her dresser, crying for Cody not to hurt her. He lifted her by one arm, threw her across the floor, and licked his lips as he approached her with the dagger held out to his side.
Aaron and Maria watched Riley Beckman’s performance on the television in the living room. On stage, the video screens showed Samantha throwing a lamp at Cody. Maria grabbed the remote. “Ugh! I can’t stand heavy metal music.” She changed the channel. The screen showed Charlie Brown running towards a football. He fell flat on his back as Lucy Van Pelt pulled the ball away. “Oh, I love The Peanuts gang. This is much better.”
Something banged against the wall, shaking the television. Samantha screamed, pleading for Cody to stop. Something shattered. “Will you settle down in there?” Aaron yelled. “We’re trying to watch TV in here!”
More banging on the wall prompted Aaron to raise the volume on the television. Moments later, the banging and screaming stopped.
“Finally, some peace and quiet.” Aaron pressed a button on the remote and adjusted the volume to a lower level.
A few minutes later, Cody stepped out of the hallway. He was covered in blood.
†
Cody’s eyes shot open.
“Bad dream?” A Hispanic teenager said, just inches from Cody’s face.
“What the heck? Get out of my face.”
The teenager laughed. “What? Scared? Need your mommy?”
Cody got up and pushed his cellmate aside. “You’re a real jerk, Fernando. You know that?”
Fernando laughed even louder, and sat on the edge of Cody’s bed. “Just messing with you. Don’t get all pissed about it.”
Cody peered out into the common area from the small window in his cell.
“Hey, you still ain’t told me what you’re in here for, amigo.” Fernando lay back in the bed with his hands rested behind his head. “You ain’t from San Antonio, verdad?”
“No.” Cody jerked his thumb back. When his cellmate got out of the bed, Cody laid back down.
“That’s it?” Fernando stood next to the bunk bed with his hands holding the bar on the top bunk. “That’s all you gonna say? Hell, I’ll tell you what I’m in for. Got busted for possession. Ounce of rock. Shit wasn’t even mine.”
Cody smiled and nodded. “Sure, it wasn’t.”
“No, man.” Fernando placed one foot on Cody’s bed and pulled himself onto the top bunk. “I was holding it for my cuz.”
Cody smirked. “Tell me that wasn’t your defense.”
“No lie, man. I didn’t say I ain’t ever smoked it, though. Shit gave me one hell of a high, man. You ever do crack, vato?”
“Uh, no. I don’t do drugs. That stuff will rot your brain.”
Fernando giggled. “Shit, you’re prolly right.” He popped his head down from the top bunk, his hair hanging six inches from the top of his skull. “So, if it ain’t drugs, why you here? Come on, man, tell me.”
Cody rolled over on his side, his back facing Fernando. “You don’t want to know.”
†
Aaron waited twenty minutes for a corrections officer to escort Donald Luther into a private visitor’s room at Huntsville prison. The warden never specifically told him why Don had wanted to meet him again. All he said was that it had something to do with the case in Lost Maples.
“Is that necessary?” Don asked, while the guard secured restraints to a chair bolted to the ground. “I’m not going to attack the man.”
“Sorry, Luther, but you know the drill.” The guard turned his attention to Aaron and pointed to a button on the wall next to the door. “Just hit that buzzer when you’re done.”
Aaron thanked the corrections officer and rested his arms on the metal table across from Don. “So, you want to tell me why I drove five hours to meet with you?”
“Did you find what you were looking for at Saint Hedwig?” Before Aaron could respond, Don added, “I warned you about staying away from there.”
�
��How do you know if I—”
“Call it a hunch, Aaron. I read the newspaper and watch the news. It’s obvious. I know what you’re dealing with.” Don ran his hand over his balding head. “The chimera was the least of your problems, my friend. You went back to Saint Hedwig, and something went terribly wrong while you were there, didn’t it?”
“That fleabag from hell is gone. So, I’d say it wasn’t a total failure.”
“But you’ve released something far worse. You don’t have to say anything. I can see it in your eyes. You know what I’m talking about.” Without saying anything, Aaron nodded. How did Don know about that grotesque humanoid creature that he’d encountered deep underneath the ruins of Saint Hedwig?
Don closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I regret everything I did in the past, and I still consider you a friend.” He opened his eyes again. “That is why I called for you. I want to help you before it’s too late. It may already be too late, but you must listen to me.”
“Why should I trust you? You just going to feed me more of that apocalyptic bullshit about sacrificing Cody?”
“You ignored my warnings, Aaron. I told you to get rid of that key and not return to Saint Hedwig. And I was right. You know I was right. Now, more death is haunting your little town. And haunting your family.”
Aaron leaned forward. “What exactly do you know about this… thing I saw at Saint Hedwig? What is it?”
“You know what it is. It’s a demon. Now tell me about these deaths in Lost Maples.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Then I can’t help you.”
Aaron shook his head and got up. “Waste of my time. Just tell me what’s on your mind, Don. Enough of the bull—”
“You and Cody aren’t the only ones cursed with these nightmares.”
Aaron narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“The devil’s nightmare. I’m cursed, and I’ve seen things.” Aaron sat back down. “Seen what? About me and my family? About what’s been going on in Lost Maples?”
“Yes.”
Aaron leaned back with his arms crossed over his chest. “I’m listening.”
“We’ll start with that man at the lake. You and I both know that was no boating accident. Alligators didn’t kill him and his girlfriend.” Aaron didn’t say anything. “And that family that died in the fire?”
“What about them?”
Don waited a moment, narrowing his eyes slightly. “What do you believe really happened there?”
“It was ruled an accidental fire.”
Don laughed. “Right. And a mountain lion killed the father. You know that’s horseshit. It was the chimera that killed Cody’s parents, and the kids at Memorial Park Cemetery, and it was the chimera that killed that family in Lost Maples.”
“Get to the point, Don. I didn’t drive all the way out here to listen to you state the obvious. And what I know and what I can prove are two different things. Besides, that thing isn’t an issue anymore, unless you think it’s still killing people in my town.”
“If only it were that simple, Aaron.” Don grimaced and grabbed his left arm. “Damn restraints.”
Aaron moved his chair within a few feet of Don and leaned forward. “You said you were cursed, just like Cody and me, with this devil’s nightmare thing. What exactly did you mean by that?”
“Ever since you left here last time, I’ve been having nightmares… dreams that I now believe were premonitions.”
Aaron raised his right brow slightly. “Premonitions? Like what?”
“Visions of things that happen after I’ve dreamt them.” Don leaned forward. “I saw a boy murdered in cold blood in a park. I saw everything.”
Aaron’s eyes were focused and his breathing steady, but his palms were getting sweaty. Maybe Don wasn’t full of shit after all.
“I believed it was simply dreams that haunted me for my past sins, but when I read the article in the paper about that kid at Lee Hauser Middle School, I knew I was cursed.” Don broke eye contact and said, “I know who killed him and the boy at the park… and the young man at the apartment complex.”
Aaron swallowed and hesitated before he asked, “What did you see, Don?”
He turned his head and faced Aaron. “I’m afraid you already know.”
“He couldn’t have done it. I was with him at the time of the school murder.”
“I saw him kill those people, Aaron, but I don’t believe he actually did. Yet the evidence says otherwise.”
Aaron rested his elbows on the desk and held his head with both hands. He closed his eyes and said. “I don’t know if I’m going crazy, or what, Don.”
“Where is Cody now?”
Aaron sat back in the chair and rubbed his forehead. “He, um.
He’s in a juvenile detention center.”
“So, I presume he either confessed to these murders or you have him in custody based on evidence found at the crime scenes. I know you can’t confirm any of this, but if what I believe is true, nothing will stop this demon from continuing its wrath until Cody is dead.”
“Son of a…” Aaron got up and walked towards the door. “You know what, Don? You are full of shit.”
“It has control of him now, Aaron. You have to end it before it’s too late.”
“By killing him?” Aaron placed his hand next to the button on the wall. “Is that your answer to everything? Blood sacrifices and—”
“Do you know what astral projection is? Because I believe that is how these murders happened.”
“An out-of-body experience? Your theories have gone from insane to—” Aaron stopped himself and sat back in the chair next to Don. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Think about it, Aaron. In Japanese mythology it’s known as an ikiryō, a manifestation of someone’s spirit leaving his body and appearing somewhere else. There are many accounts of people claiming to have physically seen a loved one bid a final farewell to them moments before the person dies.”
Aaron nodded. “I’ve heard stories, but that’s not quite the same as hacking someone up with an axe and dumping the pieces in a trash can.”
“An ikiryō can also be used to do harm. According to Japanese belief, it could also be a way to project one’s spirit in order to do physical harm to others.”
“But that’s just a mythological belief. And it’s never been scientifically proven.”
“The chimera is a part of Greek mythology. Was that also just a myth to you? Do you need a scientific study to prove its existence?”
Aaron took a deep breath and placed his face in his hands.
“As much as I blame Cody for foolishly summoning a demon that started this curse, I believe he’s innocent of the recent deaths.” He pointed at Aaron. “I blame you for that.”
“Because I didn’t listen to your warnings.”
“I’m sorry, my friend, but I know of only one true way to end this curse. Until then, this demon will continue to use Cody as a vessel to kill indiscriminately.”
Aaron glared at Don.
“If there is another way, I don’t know what it is, but I honestly hope you will figure it out.”
Aaron pursed his lips and gazed at the table for a moment. “If he’s being possessed by a demon, then what about exorcism?”
“If this was a demonic possession, exorcism would be the weapon of choice, but this demon isn’t possessing him… It’s influencing him on a subconscious level.”
“So, what’s the difference?”
Don explained if the demon had possessed Cody, he would have physically committed the crimes. “But he didn’t do it. I believe this demon oppresses him when he sleeps and manifests a doppelganger to seek out the blood it craves, but it feeds off of Cody’s fears and hatred toward the people it chooses.”
Aaron widened his eyes and rubbed his hand over his face. “Jesus, Don, this is a hell of a lot to take in. That kid that was killed at Cody’s school was bullying him.”
<
br /> “Fueling the rage for the demon to take hold of Cody’s sub- conscious.”
Aaron lowered his brow. “How do you know all of this?”
Don sighed. “Call it another curse, my friend. I’ve been around the occult far too long. Tell me about this bully.”
Aaron blew out a breath of air. “He was a real asshole, from what I’ve gathered, a nasty bully at that. I’m not saying he deserved to die, but Cody is better off now that he’s gone.”
Don shook his head with a sympathetic look on his face. “He would have seen everything in his sleep. He’s not better off, Aaron. I can assure you that. This will traumatize him in ways you cannot imagine.”
“How do I stop it?”
“You can’t. Not without…” Don sighed. “Without a suitable sacrifice, this demon will continue its wrath and eventually hit home. It’s being calculated in how it chooses its victims.”
“What about the church? Maybe a priest can help figure this out.”
The guard banged on the door. “Five more minutes.”
“Seeking counsel from the church will be a waste of time. They can’t help you.”
“Then what the hell else am I supposed to do?” Aaron stood and slammed the chair against the table. “Goddammit!”
“I don’t know. I wish I could tell you more.” He started to say something else, but then stopped.
“What?”
“There is one more thing. Something else you should know.”
“And what is that?”
“Your eyes will deceive you. Be vigilant, my friend.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Lucky
A pack of coyotes howled in the distance under a full moon while Aaron pressed his foot on the shovel. Lightning scattered across the sky while he dug. He tossed dirt and grass aside in the field near his home, tears filling his eyes as the hole grew deeper. When the depth of the hole reached his waist, he tossed the shovel onto the mound of dirt and pulled himself out. The skies opened up as he stared at the body wrapped in black plastic. A crackle of thunder got him moving again.
Devil's Nightmare: Premonitions (Devil's Nightmare, Book 2) Page 33