Love Lies Dying

by Steve Gerlach

  “That’s up to you, Johnny,” she said in a small voice as her eyes fell to the ground. “Everything you’re looking for is here and back at the church. Everything. You have no idea how close you were to your wife in the past few days. So very close.”

  The rain fell heavily on the roof.

  “And I have everything I need,” she continued. “All the evidence to tie it all to you. It’s all back at the church, Johnny. The rest of your life is back at the church. Freedom or captivity, it’s up to you to choose. It’s all back at the church.”

  Zoe turned from him and walked away towards the hay bales at the back of the barn.

  Thunder rolled across the wet, cold night.

  “It’s your game now,” she said over her shoulder. “Your turn to choose.”

  Sixty-eight

  John ran blindly.

  He couldn’t think of anything other than getting back to Sherrie and getting out of this madness.

  Gotta run. Gotta go. Go gogogogo!

  He had turned around and opened the barn door slowly as Zoe walked away from him. He fully expected her to try and stop him. He was braced for an attack of some sort, for her to change the rules again.

  But she hadn’t.

  He’d stepped out into the cold night; his breath fogged and the rain pelted down on him. He felt colder than ever before, even colder than the night he spent chained to the X-frame at the church.

  But he didn’t care. He had to run.

  Sherrie.

  He had to get back to her and set her free.

  They had to leave, to get away from all this.

  And soon…

  We have a lot of work to do.

  Lightning lit up the sky as he ran towards the farmhouse. His feet squelched in the wet grass, splashing through puddles and sliding in mud. He stumbled at one stage, his left foot sliding to the side. He fell forward, his body stretched out, arms reaching for something to grab, and landed heavily on the grass. He slid through a puddle for a couple of feet, dirt and water splashing into his eyes and mouth.

  Slowly, almost exhaustedly, he climbed back up and kept on running. The wind blew its chill through his chest and legs. His wet clothes felt like a coating of ice.

  Blood continued trickling down his arm.

  Fear crawled inside him as he ran closer. Thoughts ran through his mind faster than he could catch them.

  Helen, oh my God, Helen. How could she? How could Zoe do that to you? Oh my God, she’s mad, fucking crazy! And now she’s after Sherrie and me! No, nonononono!

  He reached the farmhouse.

  Finally!

  Running up the steps, he came to a halt on the deck.

  Thunder joined the ringing in his ears from the gunshot back at the barn.

  He turned and looked back into the night. The barn stood large and imposing in the semi-darkness.

  No sign of Zoe.

  That can’t be right.

  It’s too easy.

  Why would she just walk away?

  “It’s your game now,” she had said. “Your turn to choose.”

  It’s all so fucking crazy!

  He leaned against one of the pine trunks propping up the verandah, trying to get his breathing under control.

  Keep calm, don’t let Sherrie see you like this. You can’t panic her!

  The trunk moved slightly under his weight and the verandah shook in protest.

  Don’t think about that now. Get Sherrie out of there before this whole shack falls in on itself!

  Carefully, he reached out for the doorframe and took a step inside.

  His eyes slowly adjusted to the extra darkness.

  “Sherrie?”

  No answer.

  “Sherrie?” he said again, louder.

  The wind howled in the night.

  Still no answer.

  No! Please, no!

  Lightning double-flashed above them.

  He saw Sherrie’s body, lying on her side, her head thrown back.

  NO! Please no! Oh shit, don’t let it be. Please…

  He knelt by her as he reached her side.

  “Sherrie?” he said in a small voice, his eyes beginning to fill with tears. “Please? Sherrie?”

  He shook her shoulder.

  She jumped with fright, letting out a high-pitched cry.

  John fell backwards, his heart pumping triple-time.

  “Shit,” she turned to face him. “Don’t do that! You scared me half to death!”

  John rested on his elbows, allowing his breathing to get back under control. His heart felt as if it was going to break out of his chest.

  Yes! Yes yes yes. Thank you, yes. She’s still alive!

  “I thought you were…” he began but stopped quickly.

  “Frozen to death?” she finished for him.

  Not quite, he thought to himself.

  “I could’ve been,” she continued. “You took so long! What the hell kept you?”

  “It’s a long story,” John muttered, looking out past the metal sheets that were the far wall. His eyes focussed back towards the barn.

  What’s she doing now?

  “It always a long story with you, John,” Sherrie replied.

  Silence fell between them as the rain continued its heavy beat, pooling in the puddles around them.

  “Did you find anything?” she asked finally.

  “Huh?” he replied, turning back to face her and clearing his thoughts.

  “You know,” she pointed to the floorboards around her. “A crowbar or something. Anything to get me out?”

  John stared at her.

  What do I tell her?

  The truth?

  How can I?

  I don’t even know the whole story. There are pieces still missing. Where can I begin?

  “No,” he heard himself say. “The barn was empty.”

  “Shit!” she muttered. “What are we going to do?”

  The terror in her voice was rising. He could hear it.

  “Keep calm,” he said as he crawled to her.

  “Keep calm?” she replied. “You’re not the one sitting stuck under these floorboards. You’re not the one sitting in a fucking pool of water! You’re also not the one who was left here in the middle of the fucking night while your lover goes off to find something to get you out with. You’re not the one who had to sit and wait in the darkness, thinking about Zoe and this Fox guy and wondering if they’ll get me first!”

  Thunder rolled down the valley.

  Sherrie sighed.

  “You were gone so long, honey,” she said.

  “I’m sorry,” he replied, bending down and kissing her on the cheek. “I searched for anything I could use, but there wasn’t anything. I had to check thoroughly.”

  She nodded, “I know. I guess time just seemed to drag. It was like you were gone forever. I called for you a few times, but I guess you couldn’t hear me.”

  He shook his head, “No, I couldn’t.”

  “I must’ve fallen asleep or slipped into shock or something,” she continued. “I didn’t mean to scare you when you came back.”

  “That’s okay,” he smiled. “I didn’t mean to scare you either.”

  Wind howled through the house. The verandah creaked loudly.

  This place sounds like it could collapse at any second!

  “We’ll work out something to get you free,” he said.

  “Well, thinking caps on, bucko. Let’s think fast!”

  “Can I try pulling you out again?” he asked.

  She nodded, “You can, but I don’t think anything’s changed. Of course, I could’ve lost some weight while I was sitting here. It’s not like I had a three course meal or anything to pass the time while you were gone.”

  “Ha ha,” John replied. “Very amusing.”

  “Think it’ll work this time?” her eyes pleaded for a yes.

  “Worth a try,” was all he could say in reply.

  “Anything’s worth a try right now,” she agr
eed.

  She lifted her arms high. He reached around her and waited for her to wrap her arms around his neck.

  “Here goes,” he said as he steadied and then pulled upwards.

  Sherrie lifted, further this time. He was sure of it.

  “John?” she said in a small voice as he pulled harder. “It hurts.”

  He gritted his teeth and pulled one last time.

  Sherrie let out a growing moan.

  Shit. Damn it. Fuck.

  He eased her back to the ground.

  “Jesus,” Sherrie said, reaching down and feeling her side. “I think I may have broken something.”

  “Well, you’re the nurse.”

  She smiled at him through the pain. “Never a nurse, John. Just a humble personal assistant.”

  “And a damn sexy one,” he smiled at her.

  She let out a short laugh, “Oh yeah, I’d be the girl-in-a-hole pin up for September, that’s for sure!”

  “Couldn’t think of one finer,” he replied.

  Zoe…

  What are you doing now?

  He stood and looked back out into the night, across the field to the barn.

  “It’s your game now,” she’d said. “Your turn to choose.”

  Then why don’t I believe her?

  Why do I feel she’s still in control?

  “…me out?”

  He turned back to face her.

  “Huh?”

  “I said, there’s nothing from around here you can use to get me out?”

  John shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “It’s just with all this wood and stuff just lying around, I thought you could use some of it.”

  “There’s nothing strong enough or long enough.” He turned around, looking at the house once more.

  Lightning flashed around them.

  “I need something long and sturdy to lever the crossbeam off you.”

  The rain fell harder in the night.

  The noise echoed loudly around them as it fell on the metal sheets on the verandah.

  The verandah creaked.

  The verandah…

  Those two old pine trunks aren’t going to support that verandah forever.

  And then it hit him.

  The trunks!

  Strong and long and sturdy and hard…it just might work!

  Jesus, it has to!

  “Stay here,” he said to her.

  “Ha ha! Very funny, Mr. Comedian,” Sherrie replied.

  He turned and walked out the door.

  “Where are you going?” she called after him.

  “Not far.”

  “Don’t leave me again!”

  “I’m not,” he replied as he walked over to the closest trunk. It was cut just to the right length and ran from the decking up to the corner of the verandah. It was wedged into the corner of the verandah, but didn’t seem to be nailed or held there in any way. Only the weight of the verandah’s roof was holding it in place.

  “Just cover your head and your ears. This could be loud and messy.”

  “I hope you know what you’re doing!” she called.

  So do I, he thought as he reached out to the trunk and pulled on it.

  It moved slowly at first.

  He pulled again, with more force.

  And then it came towards him.

  He pulled harder.

  Thunder rolled down towards them.

  The trunk came away in his hands and the verandah lurched forward with a loud high-pitched squeal of twisting metal.

  The second trunk in the other corner stayed firm for a few seconds before it slipped to the side, giving the verandah no support at all.

  The front of the house shook as the verandah tore from its rusted old attachments and nose-dived into the decking. Falling in on itself, the verandah sent metal and wood and rain flying in all directions. It twisted in a spiral, squealing as if in pain.

  When the commotion ended, the far end of the front of the house was completely blocked off with the debris. But the area near the doorway was free of rubble.

  Yes!

  “It’s my game now,” John said to himself as he balanced the long trunk in his hands. He turned to look at the barn. “My turn to choose.”

  My rules. My game.

  Time for the attack.

  Sixty-nine

  “You ready?” he asked her.

  “Is this going to work?” she sounded worried.

  “It should,” he replied. “Trust me, I’m the engineer, right?”

  “Okay,” she nodded. “If you say so!”

  “Just remember to pull yourself up as soon as you can.”

  She nodded in the darkness, “Ready when you are.”

  John stepped behind her and took up his position.

  It hadn’t taken him long to prepare it all.

  He just hoped it would work.

  The pine trunks from the verandah looked strong enough, but he worried that if they’d been standing outside as posts for too long, weathered and drying out, they might just snap in two like twigs once some pressure was placed on them.

  Not going to happen, he told himself. It can’t! Please, just let this work for us.

  The first trunk was wedged down beside Sherrie.

  There wasn’t much space to use, but with Sherrie moving to one side and guiding him, he managed to place the end of the trunk as far under the floorboards as possible. He just hoped it was pushed far enough under to lift the crossbeam. The trunk stuck out of the hole at an angle, rising to John’s shoulder in height.

  The other trunk he placed on the floorboards behind Sherrie, using it as a brace for his wooden lever.

  This has to work…

  “Ready?” he asked again.

  “Like you wouldn’t believe,” Sherrie replied.

  “I’ll take it nice and slow. Let me know how you’re coming along and whether you can get out.”

  He watched the back of her head as she nodded.

  “Here goes!”

  He placed his feet on the trunk that was the brace, stopping it from moving or sliding away. He grabbed hold of his makeshift lever and pulled down on it, slowly at first.

  After a few seconds, the floorboards moaned and moved slightly.

  John’s eyes darted from the floorboards to the lever and across to Sherrie.

  She had both arms by her sides, pulling herself upwards, shaking side to side as if she were trying to work her way out like a cork in a champagne bottle.

  The trunk was bending already as John pulled down on it more.

  Keep it steady.

  The floorboards moved slowly higher.

  Yes, just a bit more!

  The wind blew through the night and all around them.

  John pulled down harder, his arms straining as the load increased.

  The boards creaked and rose higher.

  “It’s working,” Sherrie said as she pulled herself further. “I can feel the crossbeam lifting!”

  The rain fell harder.

  John needed to wipe the rain or sweat from his eyes, but he didn’t have the time. The lever moved closer to the ground. He pulled it to his side, turned around and leaned on it now, pushing it further down, putting all his weight against it.

  It inched closer to the ground.

  Closer…closer…

  The trunk rubbed against the claw marks on his chest. He eyed the bloodstain on his shirt and hoped Zoe’s bite hadn’t done too much damage to his stitches. But now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

  I’ll get to Zoe next…

  The floorboards lifted more.

  A grating sound filled the air.

  Thunder struck at the same moment, drowning the noise.

  John pushed down harder.

  And with a crack, the lever gave way.

  Shit!

  He heard Sherrie cry out!

  No!

  The log slammed into the floor with John on top of it. It gouged into his side, kicking th
e breath from his lungs and sending pain along his damaged arm and shoulder and through his body. His head hit the floor hard. Stars scattered through his vision.

  He lay there in the silence.

  No! Damn it, no! NO! That was our only hope!

  He closed his eyes tight. His hands balled into fists.

  The rain continued to fall.

  What are we going to do now? There’s nothing else left to try. She’s beaten us. She’s won!

  “Are you okay, John?”

  It was Sherrie. She was whispering to him.

  By his side.

  He opened his eyes and turned to look above him.

  She was staring down at him, a look of concern on her face.

  He stared back.

  “You okay?” she said again.

  “Yeah,” he mumbled. “You’re…”

  “Yep,” she nodded and smiled at him. “I’m out.”

  He rolled off the log and sat up to look at the floor.

  The trunk hadn’t snapped at all.

  The crossbeam had.

  From where he sat, he could make out the hole in the floor where Sherrie had been. It was bigger now, a large pile of floorboards strewn all around, and sitting in the middle of the pile, like a broken jagged knife, was the snapped crossbeam.

  Yes! It worked!

  John brushed himself off as Sherrie held out her hand to him.

  He smiled, took her hand, and stood up. He turned to face her and kissed her lightly on the lips.

  “How are you?” he asked.

  “I’ll live,” she smiled back.

  “That’s good to know.”

  “I’m just glad to be out of that hole.”

  “I’m glad you are too.”

  They hugged in the entranceway for a short while as the lightning lit up the night.

  “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear.

  He looked into her green eyes.

  “I wasn’t about to leave you here, you know.”

  She smiled as she bent over, wiping the moss and splinters from her legs. “I know, I just wanted to say thanks. It was horrible down there. Wet and yucky and really disgusting.”

  He nodded. “I love you, you know that. I’d do anything for you.”

  She snuggled into his shoulder. “I know,” she replied. “That’s why I love you so much.”

  They stood silent as the thunder rolled on by.

  “But we have to see this through to the end, don’t we?” she asked.