Eye Bleach

by Paul E. Creasy

  “—You said you got a call at your office, right?” Hector said.

  “Yes.”

  “You don’t have to get too involved. When you get to work tomorrow, maybe you can look it up on the caller ID? Let me know the number. It might give me a lead or something.”

  “You have no faith in our friends in blue?” Sylvia asked.

  Hector rolled his eyes.

  “Yeah, me either,” Sylvia said. She smiled and added, “I do want to help Alyssa, and, after this lovely dinner you bought for me, how can I not help you?”

  Hector nodded and said, “see, my evil scheme has been revealed. Churros always make a compelling case.”

  “That they do!” Sylvia said. “Give me your card and, first thing tomorrow morning, once I get to work, I will call you with the number. Hopefully, you will find out this whole thing turns out to be nothing but a big misunderstanding.”

  Hector’s face darkened as he reached into his sports coat, pulled out his card and handed it to her. “I hope so, but I doubt it. I am quite worried about Alyssa, and I just hope she has not submitted to the forces of evil.”

  “There you go again,” Sylvia said as she took his card and shook her head. “You sound so sensible most of the time and then…. Look, it has been my experience most problems in life are either caused by mental disorders or, just random meaningless accidents. There is no reason to conjure up some sort of dark forces to account for everything. Evil is a human constructed concept.”

  Hector frowned and said, “You are wrong, Sylvia. Dead wrong. Whether you want to believe it or not, evil exists. You can count on it. Evil is a force and has a name, and most definitely exists.”

  Chapter 20

  April 30th, 1976 - Pikeville, Kentucky - 8:20 PM

  The white box was the source of endless fascination for all the children playing in the backyard, especially, Davy Johnson. From the moment Father Ted had directed the men to lower the crate onto the ground, it had been the subject of intense juvenile speculation and debate. What do you think is inside? Why is it locked? Why such a big deal about a simple box? The special way the grownups treated it only heightened their curiosity: gently placing it onto the ground, lovingly caressing the sides as it settled onto the earth, mouthing unheard words to the sky as they finished their task. It was all so mysterious. By the end of the afternoon the kids were in an uproar over it; their tiny minds bubbling at the possibilities within.

  It had been a long day, too. Full of pent up energy, they were ripe for excitement. The rambunctious and rowdy bunch agreed on little, but they did agree on this — Circle was a bore. It was a monthly slog of complete and utter tedium. This was something their parents dragged them to against their wills, something to be endured. But today, with this mysterious box in their midst, things were different for a change. Something new was happening. Each could not help eyeing the enticing crate all afternoon, just waiting for them like a wrapped present sitting under the Christmas tree. All they needed to do was get someone to crawl under that tree and pull off the bows, ribbons, and paper, and that person was naturally, Davy Johnson.

  The adults eventually walked around the house to the front yard, and now the coast was clear. Davy saw his opportunity. For the first time all day, the box was unattended. The other kids mobbed around him as he knelt in front of it. His eyes narrowed as he studied the lid, the hinge, the sides; his mouth growing dry as he felt a dozen curious eyes boring into him.

  He reached out with his chubby right hand towards the lid. His hand shook as he felt across the top for the latch. When he found it, he gritted his teeth and clasped his fingers around the metal knob, slowly turning it and releasing the lock. He needed to be quiet. This was a wuppin-worthy offense, but, he was committed now. He was too close to the finish to turn back.

  Sweat beaded on his forehead as Davy lifted the small door on top of the crate. A grinding metallic creak groaned from the rusty hinge. He glanced up the hill, afraid one of the parents may have heard. Luckily, they had not, and he turned back to the box. He slowly lowered his hand into the opening. Hot, acidic bile burned in his throat as his fingers sank into the dark interior.

  He stopped as an electric tingle danced up his spine. He heard something shift inside. It was a quiet sound, but distinct. Something writhed. In a flash, he ripped his arm out of the opening. In his desperation to free his arm, he hit the side of the crate, and the door on top slammed shut with a loud bang. As the clang echoed through the still, late afternoon air, he winced.

  “Chicken!” Bobby Hollister hooted. “I knew you were a chicken! You just talk a big game, little baby Davy. Little Baby Davy! Little Baby Davy!”

  “I…, I’ll do it. Just give me a second,” Davy said as he scanned the crowd of kids surrounding him. He felt their horrified yet judging stares. He would not fail again.

  “I was just warming up,” Davy said. He paused and then started to lower his hand into the box again.

  “Davy Johnson! You stop that right now, or I’ll tell!”

  He quickly pulled his hand out again and spun around to confront his accuser. He smirked when he saw her.

  “Mind your own beeswax, Sylvia,” he said. “This is none of your business.”

  “It is my business,” Sylvia said. “Father Ted doesn’t want anyone messing around with his stuff. You know that! You should —”

  “—Why don’t you shut up, Buttface!” he said. “You think your Queen of the World just because Father Ted talked to you today!”

  “Yeah, Sylvia,” Doris McLane said. “I’ve seen what you been doing. You’ve been all lovey-dovey with Father Ted all afternoon. Maybe you are going to marry him!”

  “Shut up, Doris,” Sylvia said. “You don’t know what you are talking about. You are just a baby!”

  “Oh, I know plenty,” Doris said. “And I am not a baby! I will be seven next month! And I know all about your boyfriend, Father Ted. I hear what my Mommy and my Aunts say about him when they think I am not listening.”

  “What do they say?”

  “Oh, all kinds of things,” Doris said. “They LOOOVE Father Ted. They think he is a hooty, and I bet you think he is a hooty, too.”

  “Hooty?” Sylvia said.

  “She means Hottie,” Davy said as he shook his head. He turned to Doris and said, “You are such a retard.”

  “Am not!” Doris said. “I know what they said, and they said Hooty!”

  “Well, hooty hottie, it doesn’t matter,” Sylvia said. “If you guys don’t leave Father Ted’s box alone, I am going to go tell. He won’t like you messing with it.”

  “Tattle Tale! Tattle Tale!” the others cried in unison.

  “I’ll do it,” Sylvia said. “Don’t think I won’t!”

  “You ain’t going to do nothing,” Davy said. “I know you want to know what is in this box as much as we do. You aren’t fooling anyone.”

  “I…, I…,” Sylvia stuttered as she felt her eyes drawn to the box. Davy’s words struck her like a cinderblock slamming into her gut. He was right. She did want to know, and her mind reeled. What was in there? Was it another…, no, it couldn’t be that, could it?

  She inhaled sharply and said, “OK…, but…, hurry up, will you? If you are quick, I promise I won’t tell. I can’t stay long. I know Maw Maw will be calling everyone in soon. It is almost dark, and she told me to go inside and get ready.”

  “Get ready for what?”

  “Circle, silly,” Sylvia said.

  “You’re too young for Circle,” Doris said. “You know it is just for grownups. They never let us kids stay outside for that.”

  “Well, shows what you know. I guess I am all grown up now,” Sylvia crowed. “Father Ted chose me to lead the procession tonight!”

  “Well then, maybe you should go get ready for your wedding procession to your b-o-y-f-r-i-e-n-d!” Bobby said. He then sang, “Father Ted and Sylvia, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First, comes love, then comes marriage then comes Sylvia with a baby car
riage!”

  “Shut up, Bobby! You don’t understand. You don’t know anything about anything!”

  The others pointed and laughed and then joined in, singing, “Father Ted and Sylvia, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First, comes love, then comes marriage then comes Sylvia with a baby carriage!”

  “I am not staying around for this! Do what you want with the box, I don’t care,” Sylvia shouted. “I have to go get ready, so go ahead and play your baby games!” She turned and ran back up the hill to the house, leaving Davy Johnson and the other children alone.

  Once Sylvia was gone, Davy’s face fell as he knelt back down into the dirt again. The moment of truth had arrived. Scanning the circle of his peers, he felt every eye on him. He couldn’t back down now.

  “Go ahead, big shot,” Bobby cackled. “Or are you too scared?” he added, dragging out the syllables as his words pounded through the air like buckshot.

  “Back up,” Davy barked as he ordered everyone to move away. “I need room.”

  “Don’t choke, Davy,” Bobby taunted as Davy lowered his hand into the box again.

  Davy grimaced as his hand descended and he felt his fingers hit the bottom of the crate. The hairs on his arm were standing up straight, his whole body fighting back a collective shudder rapidly roiling up from his gut. The inside of the box was warm and wet, like a moist, dripping cave. It wasn’t at all what he expected. He heard something shift inside again, and he swallowed hard. He heard something move. It was very quiet, just the tiniest of noise. The sound grew clearer now, a gurgle…, a faint, sloppy, wet, gurgle.

  *****

  “What do you think, Father Ted?” Joe said as he lifted a large wooden cross and steadied it on the ground. “I have been working on it since last week. I sure hope you like it.”

  “Wow, Joe. It is impressive,” Father Ted said. “Very impressive. Is that oak?”

  “Yep,” Joe said. “Chopped the tree down myself, just as you instructed. You know, my granddaddy planted that tree, so I know how proud he would be to know it finally ended up being put to a good use.”

  “Oh yes,” Father Ted said as he took the cross in his hands and gently caressed the wood. “He would be most proud! This is a real work of art here, Joe. A real masterpiece. No plyboard here, no sir.” He studied the grain of the wood carefully, grinning as he observed the finely etched wood carvings on the sides and the fact that it was constructed of one solid piece. He said, “So…, how on earth did you get it so exact? I was expecting you would have to fasten the crossbeam together with rope.”

  “Oh, Father,” Joe said as he looked down at the ground and smiled. “I don’t mind telling you, it was a real ordeal. The trunk I selected was enormous — almost a hundred years old. That was why I chose it. It was the only way I could get it built without using any metal. You did say no metal, right?”

  Father Ted smiled and nodded. “That’s right, no metal. You are a good man, Joe. Everything is all natural, just as Spirit commands. Amazing job, simply amazing!” Father Ted said as he held the cross out straight in front of him. It was tall, well over eight feet, and felt heavy in his grip. Still, a doubt lingered. “Are you sure it will hold her weight?”

  “Hold her weight?” Joe said as he laughed. “Shit, Father, this could hold two or three! She ain’t that big, you know. It’ll get the job done, no problem. I guarantee it. A better question would be will the nails hold firm?”

  Father Ted grinned. He reached into his pocket and pulled out four stainless steel spikes. He lifted them up into the air. They glimmered and glinted in the fading sunset. At least eight inches long, and incredibly thick, they were more like railroad spikes than carpenter nails.

  Joe laughed and said, “Oh yeah, those’ll do. Those’ll do just fine!”

  *****

  Back in the house, Sylvia walked into her bedroom and stopped dead in her tracks. Draped on her bed was a long white gown. She smiled. It was beautiful. In the gathering gloom, a single ray of sunlight streamed in from the window in the hall and lit up the garment spread out on her bedspread. She reached down, lifted the hem into her fingers as her grin grew wider. It was so soft — pure silk. The fabric felt like tiny butterfly wings on her skin. It was thin too; more delicate than any garment she had ever felt in her life. The gown was translucent and glowing as the rays from the fading sunset danced across the fabric.

  “Put it on, Sylvia,” Maw Maw said.

  Sylvia jumped. “Oh, Maw Maw, you scared me!”

  “Sorry, dear,” Maw Maw said as she stepped forward out of the shadows. “I was up here waiting for you to come up and find your gown. This is a big night for you, you know.”

  “I do,” Sylvia said.

  “So…, go ahead and put it on,” Maw Maw said. “I want to see how it looks on you. I bet you’ll be pretty as a picture.”

  Sylvia lifted the gown off the bed and started to pull it over her head. Maw Maw reached out and stopped her.

  “What are you doing?” Maw Maw said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, why are you putting it on over your clothes?”

  “Oh…, I thought,” Sylvia said as she looked down at her hand. It was clearly visible through the material. “You mean you want me to—”

  “—Yes, Sylvia,” Maw Maw said. “You have to take off your clothes first.”

  “All of them?”

  “Yes!” Maw Maw said as she shook her head and added, “Don’t be such a silly girl. You know how to get dressed properly.”

  “Uh…, OK, Maw Maw,” Sylvia said. “Are you sure it will be OK?”

  “Of course! You want to be like the grownups, don’t you?”

  “Yes!”

  “Well…, this is what all of the women wear when they lead the procession for Circle. I wore this very gown myself, when I had the honor, as did your mother when she served.”

  “OK,” Sylvia said as she blushed. Reluctantly kicking off her shoes and pulling off her socks, she sat down on the bed. After a few moments, she had stripped off everything and put the gown on. It felt amazing against her bare skin. So light! The fabric even tickled her stomach as it clung tight against her flesh.

  “Oh, Sylvia! You look beautiful!” Maw Maw said. She grinned as she reached down to a paper bag at her feet and pulled something out. Sylvia squealed when she saw it.

  “Maw Maw, is that for me?”

  “Of course,” Maw Maw said as she stepped forward and placed it on her head. “Tonight, you are to be the Princess of Beltane…, and every princess needs a crown.”

  Sylvia vibrated with excitement as she felt the flowering crown slide over her forehead. It pinched a little, the thorns of some of the roses digging into her skin, but, she didn’t care. Once Maw Maw withdrew her hands, Sylvia raced across the room to her mirror and gazed at her reflection. It was perfect. The crown was made of numerous flowers: roses, gardenias, hydrangeas and most perfect of all, five big purple rhododendron blossoms spaced along the rim. All of the flowers were held together by a long strand of ivy interwoven with lady’s breath. She really did look like a Princess.

  “I am so glad it fits,” Maw Maw said as she bent down and kissed Sylvia’s forehead. “I made it myself this afternoon. You know, that big brain of yours takes up a lot more space in your head than mine did at your age.”

  “It is a little tight,” Sylvia said as she fiddled with the side.

  “That’s OK,” Maw Maw said. “It just means it won’t fly off during the ceremony. So…, do you like it?”

  “Like it? I love it! I love it so much!”

  “I am so glad,” Maw Maw said.

  Sylvia glanced back at the mirror again. Her smile disappeared, replaced by a look of horror. The fabric of her gown was so thin, she appeared nearly naked in the mirror. She looked up at Maw Maw and said, “But…, the boys…, Bobby and Davy…., they are going to see my—”

  “—Bobby and Davy aren’t going to see anything, Sylvia,” Maw Maw said. She glanced down a
t her watch and said, “they are children, and in fact, it is time to bring them inside. So, while they are inside with the other kids, you, the Princess of Beltane will be outside with the rest of the grownups celebrating Circle. They are going to be stuck in the house with the other kids watching the ABC Friday Night Movie.”

  “Yes,” Sylvia said as she self-consciously covered herself with her hands.

  “Now…., if you are still too bashful to wear your beautiful gown,” Maw Maw said, “I can just go ahead and tell Father Ted you aren’t grown up enough for Circle. Then you can stay inside with the other children and—”

  “No! I am ready! I am ready!” Sylvia said.

  Maw Maw smiled and nodded. “Good girl. I knew you would be.”

  *****

  “What’s in there?” Bobby cried. “What do you feel?”

  “Just give me a second,” Davy said as he squinted his left eye and wriggled his hand further into the box. His heart was pounding hard and fast in his chest, like a thousand drummers performing a riotous march. “I think…, I think I feel something. It feels like something is… Oh, God! What the…? What is it? What is it?” he screamed as he jerked his hand out of the box.

  “No! No!” Davy shrieked as he leaped up and down like he was on fire, his light tan khakis turning dark as hot urine flowed down his left leg in a thick gushing stream.

  “Davy peed his pants! Davy peed his pants!” Doris sang as she laughed and pointed at his shame.

  “What are you boys doing down there?” Maw Maw shouted from the top of the hill. “Are you all messing with Father Ted’s box?”

  “No Ma’am!” they shouted in unison.

  “You better not be,” Maw Maw said. “Now…, come on up here this instant. We are about to start Circle.”

  “Oh…., do we have to?” Bobby said.

  “Yes! But hey, I made brownies and y'all can stay up late and watch the movie on TV,” Maw Maw said.

  “Hooray!” Doris cried as she and the others leapt to their feet and clambered up the hill towards the house. Davy said nothing. He kept his head down and his hands in front of his urine-soaked pants as he trailed after them.