The Evil

  They kissed and he opened the door and climbed out.

  Latrell made his way into the building and punched in.

  “Good to see you man. Sorry about your accident.” Enrique said. He was a chubby Mexican guy who was a good friend of of his.

  “Thanks Enrique. How have things been since I been gone?” Latrell asked walking next to him down the hallway to the production floor.

  “You know Steele’s fool. They always are busy.” Enrique patted him on the back.

  Busy they were. It was always something to do there.

  Latrell unplugged his forklift and set his crutches on the back of it. He climbed up and drove to the pallet area and picked up pallets of parts.

  Nothing like being at work after missing almost a week, he thought to himself.

  After moving a few pallets he noticed his boss Mr. Harrison walking up to him. “Hey Latrell good to have you back. I was starting to worry.” He said.

  Mr. Harrison was an older balding man. He was short with a big gap in his front teeth.

  “It feels good to be back sir.” Latrell said smiling.

  “I thought I would have to replace your sorry ass.” Mr. Harrison joked.

  Latrell chuckled. “I missed your humor sir.”

  Mr. Harrison smiled. “I’ve missed giving it to you. You know I can’t get rid of one of my best workers.”

  Latrell and Mr. Harrison talked and cracked jokes a few minutes before Mr. Harrison walked away and started messing with another employee. Latrell had grown to like his daily chats and joking around with the boss.

  The plant was a couple football fields big. There were about a hundred employees on every shift between the production line and the office areas.

  Latrell moved pallets from one area to the the other before heading back and grabbing more.

  This isn’t so bad today, he thought. This is kind of relaxing here on this forklift.

  Enrique was down taking inventory of the parts walking around with a clipboard and a blue hard hat.

  Latrell looked at his phone. It was already noon. Four hours had zoomed by already. Time for lunch.

  He drove the forklift back to the charging area and hopped off. He made his way to the vending machine area and bought him a sandwich and a bag of chips. He sat down on a picnic table across from a few other employees who were chatting up a storm.

  Latrell didn’t pay them any attention and just ate his sandwich.

  The next few hours passed by quickly and it was three PM before he knew it.

  Just another hour and I’m outta here, he thought.

  Latrell drove his forklift around picking up more pallets of parts and bringing them to the production area. He thought he saw something. Something behind the Enrique when he was walking around the aisles taking inventory.

  It looked like a dark shadow was following close behind him.

  Latrell slowed down his forklift and took another look.

  He didn’t see anything now. Maybe my eyes are just tired, he figured.

  Latrell picked up another pallet and dropped it off by Enrique who had his back turned to him in front of a tall shelf. Enrique was counting the items with his fingers, pointing at them.

  Latrell stopped the forklift. There was something next to Enrique. It was that cloud. That dark cloud he had seen in the forest. Now it was following him around at work.

  It swirled around Enrique and entered his body.

  “What the hell?” Latrell said out loud.

  The cloud now was gone. Inside of Enrique now. Enrique turned around, his eyes pitch white. He started mindlessly walking towards Latrell.

  “Hey you okay buddy?” Latrell asked him.

  He didn’t answer just kept walking towards him.

  “Hey man, watch out!” Latrell yelled as Enrique walked into the forklift lane. A forklift had a pallet flying down the aisle at full speed towards him.

  “Latrell.” Enrique said before jumping in front of the forklift.

  The forklifts forks plunged into Enrique’s stomach impaling him. The driver slammed on his brakes and his face was frozen in horror.

  Enrique just hung from the edge of the forks looking back at Latrell smiling. Blood poured from his body on to the floor.

  I can’t believe this is happening, Latrell thought. I can’t believe he just walked right out in front of that forklift.

  The cloud now left Enrique and floated above his head before disappearing into thin air.

  The forklift operator, Matt, jumped down and ran to the front of the forklift. He tried pulling Enrique off but Enrique started to yell.

  “Yawww!” Enrique’s yelled filled the plant.

  All Latrell could do was watch. He was too scared to get down. Too scared to move.

  Blood. So much blood filled Enrique’s shirt and the floor beneath him. Latrell had never seen that much blood coming from one person before.

  Mr. Harrison rushed over to the drama. “Got dammit!” He barked. “Somebody call an ambulance!”

  Other employees gathered around Enrique and watched him as he yelled and tried to pull his body off of the forks. They watched as blood poured from his body to the forks and then dripped down to the floor.

  This is unreal, Latrell thought. This is just unreal.

  About fifteen minutes later the ambulance arrived along with a police officer and a couple firemen. They were able to get Enrique down from the forks and stop the bleeding after a few times of trying. Enrique had passed out as soon as they pulled his body from the forks. The pain must have been too much for him.

  Latrell stood there while the EMS workers wheeled Enrique away on a stretcher. The sheet covering him was already getting soaked in blood.

  Mr. Harrison walked over to Latrell. “What the hell happened? How did he get stuck by the forks like that?” Mr. Harrison’s face was bright red.

  Latrell couldn’t tell him about the cloud that circled around him. Couldn’t tell him how Enrique’s eyes were pitch white and then he walked right in front of the forklift.

  “I don’t know sir. I was over there.” Latrell pointed to the area. “I was grabbing a pallet when I heard screaming. I drive the forklift over here and that’s when I saw him.” Latrell knew he was lying but what else could he tell his boss?

  “I hope he pulls through. He lost a lot of blood. I’m gonna go to the hospital to check on him.” Mr. Harrison said.

  Latrell nodded. “Let me know if he’s okay.”

  Mr. Harrison jogged towards the office area.

  Latrell looked at his phone. It was four fifteen. He had three texts and two missed calls from Trisha.

  Damnit! He thought. She’s probably been outside wondering what happened to me.

  Latrell parked the forklift in the charging are and hopped down. He grabbed his crutches and started walking towards the punch in clock. He passed by the area where Enrique was impaled. Still a lot of blood there. A big red pool of blood.

  Latrell shook his head. He had to think of something else. He couldn’t let the crazy things happening around him take control.

  Once outside he saw Trisha’s van. He walked over to it and pulled the passenger door open.

  “Baby what the hell happened? I’ve been calling you and texting you. Why was there an ambulance, a firetruck and, police?” Her voice sounded worried. She looked anxious when he finally climbed into the van and sat down.

  Latrell sighed. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know anymore.” He looked at her his eyes shiny.

  “You can tell me babe.” She put her hand on his leg and looked at him. Her gaze was comforting. Her eyes seemed to soothe his frayed nerves.

  “It’s that thing from the forest. I saw it here today.” He said. “It wrapped itself around Enrique just like it did Malik. It called my name from Enrique’s body. It looked at me as it made Enrique jump in front of a forklift.”

  Trisha’s mouth dropped open. “Not Enrique. He’s good people.”

  “I saw the whole th
ing. It was like a bad dream. That thing said my name just like in my dreams and then possessed him and tried to kill him. It’s after me, I know it.”.

  “This is all too much. Do you think you guys released something in that forest?”

  “We did something. Malik is suffering because of it and now Enrique is gonna be fighting for his life.”

  Trisha looked down towards his legs. Like what she was hearing sounded impossible. Her boyfriend’s leg was broken, Malik was in a Asylum and. Now Enrique was impaled by a forklift.

  Latrell couldn’t believe all this was happening either. He was barely getting over his own ordeal with Malik and the cloud in the forest. Now he had to deal with it following him to his job and attacking his co-workers.

  Trisha looked at Latrell one more time before driving off out of the parking lot.

  The AC was on so the windows were rolled up. Latrell leaned his head up against the window. He was tired. Not from working but, from all the things that had been happening around him lately.

  “When I saw the emergency vehicles outside of your work I thought something happened to you. I tried texting you and then calling you but you never responded.” Trisha said gripping the steering wheel hard.

  “I’m sorry baby. I didn’t even know you called me until I was ready to punch out. Everything happened so quick in there. It didn’t seem real. I’m sorry I put you through that.” Latrell grabbed her hand from the steering wheel and rubbed the back of it.

  I bet she was really scared, he thought. My first day back to work and the ambulance was there? But it wasn’t for me. It was for Enrique. Poor Enrique. He’s a good guy. Always works hard, never misses a day. And now this happens to him?

  Latrell let her hand go and looked out the window. Such a beautiful afternoon for all this to be going on.

  He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out. It was a call from Mr. Harrison.

  “I’ve got some bad news.” Mr. Harrison said as Latrell answered the phone in a soft voice.

  Latrell’s heart began to race.

  “Enrique didn’t pull through. He’s dead.”

  ________________

  Chapter 8

  Something felt like it was stuck in Latrell’s throat. He wanted to say something but couldn’t.

  “He was fighting for his life but, he lost the battle.” Mr. Harrison continued. “I don’t know how his wife is gonna take it. She’s on her way down here right now. She doesn’t even know he’s dead yet.”

  “That’s messed up sir.” Latrell finally said quietly.

  It was really messed up. One minute he was talking to Enrique the next he’s watching him get impaled by a forklift. One mine he’s there the next he’s hanging off the end of two big forks.

  Trisha looked over at Latrell, seeming interested in what he was talking about. She turned onto Lincoln Ave and proceeded to his apartment building.

  “This whole thing is just fucked up Latrell.” Mr. Harrison said. “I don’t know how I’m ever gonna find a replacement for Enrique. You and him were my best workers. It kind of feels like something is after you guys.”

  “What do you mean sir?” Latrell asked.

  Does he know? Does he now about the evil chasing me, he wondered.

  “Well first you break your leg and miss almost a week of work. Then Enrique gets killed on the job.”

  Latrell knew now why Mr. Harrison would come to that conclusion. He sighed relieved. “Yeah sir. It is unfortunate.” He felt like telling him what he really saw. Enrique jumping out in front of the forklift but. He knew how crazy that sounded. But it wouldn’t sound so crazy if something made him do it.

  If he told him about the thing in the forest he didn’t know if he would believe him or think he’s nuts. He decided to keep it to himself.

  “Well I guess I’ll see you at work tomorrow Latrell. I’m gonna stay down here until his wife comes. She’s gonna be devastated to say the least.”

  “Okay sir. Send her my condolences.” Latrell hung up the phone.

  Trisha was now parked in the parking lot of the apartment building. She turned the ignition off and faced Latrell. “Who was that?”

  Latrell kept his head down. He didn’t know if he could muster up the courage to tell her. Everything was falling to pieces all around him. What Mr. Harrison said did make sense but he didn’t even know the half of what was going on.

  Latrell slowly raised his eyes to meet Trisha’s.

  “What’s wrong babe? Tell me!” Trisha sounded really worried now. Her face had a serious look on it.

  “Enrique’s dead. He didn’t make it.” Latrell finally said softly. His eye lowered as he said it.

  “What?” Trisha said in a shocked voice. “That’s terrible! His poor wife and kids.” Trisha reached over and grabbed Latrell’s hand. She intertwined her fingers with his.

  “His wife doesn’t even know about yet. She’s on her way to the hospital as we speak.”

  “That’s horrible. She’s gonna flip the fuck out!” Trisha said emotionally.

  As she should. She just lost her husband. Latrell could only imagine how loud she would be screaming down there once she found out. How angry she would be.

  Trisha brought his hand up to her lips and kissed it. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m not liking any of this. First I get hit and break my leg. Then Malik gets locked up in an Asylum and now, Enrique gets killed. All because of that fuckin’ thing I saw in the forest.” Latrell couldn’t even look at her in the eyes now. He felt like all of this was his fault. If he would have just told Malik no, everything would be alright.

  “Let’s go inside.” Trisha told him.

  Latrell nodded and hopped out the passenger seat. He grabbed his crutches from the backseat.

  They made their way across the parking lot towards the apartment building.

  The warm sun rays felt good against Latrell’s skin. It was a beautiful evening. It was just sad because of what happened to Enrique.

  They made their way to the elevator and to his floor. The apartment building was cool inside. Almost too cool.

  Once inside the apartment Latrell headed straight to the fridge and pulled out a beer. He opened it and took a big gulp.

  “Baby don’t you think you should slow down?” Trisha asked him setting her purse down on the coffee table in the living room.

  Latrell shook his head. “This is all too crazy for me. I don’t know what I’m gonna do if someone else gets hurt.” He took another big gulp of the beer.

  Trisha walked over to him and grabbed the beer from his hands and set it down on the counter. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. “Whatever you decide I’ll be right here with you.”

  Latrell hugged her back. She felt warm against his body.

  They stood there hugging for a few minutes in silence listening to each other’s deep breaths. Trisha then let him go and kissed him on the lips. A soft kiss. Her lips were so soft.

  Latrell smiled. He needed that. To feel her love. To feel her compassion. He was just so upset from hearing about Enrique.

  Trisha smiled at him then walked towards the hallway. “I’m gonna take a shower.” She said.

  Latrell nodded, grabbed his beer and took another sip.

  He couldn’t get that face out of his head. The way Enrique called his name. The way he smiled at him before jumping in front of the forklift. That thing inside Enrique knew that he was in the forest that night and had been after him every since.

  Latrell finished his beer and set the empty bottle under the sink. He then grabbed him another beer before heading to go sit down in the living room.

  It did feel good to be home. It was just a messed up feeling knowing he would never see Enrique again. For him to be taken just like that meant that spirit was more powerful than he imagined.

  I wish we never went into that stupid forest, he thought. That evil dark forest.

  He leaned his head back, sighed and, closed his e
yes.

  He started to feel cold. Like something cold was pressing against his skin.

  He shivered.

  This leg is taking forever to heal. I need to get to the bottom of this before someone else gets hurt.

  Latrell didn’t see the black smoke creeping under the front door. Thick cloudy smoke swept into the room.

  They only thing he felt was cold. The more smoke that entered the room the colder he got.

  The smoke was all the way into the apartment now. It hovered by the door a second before heading towards Latrell. It swirled around his face and neck.

  Latrell opened his eyes just in time before the smoke started choking him. He reached his hands up and tried fanning the smoke away but it didn’t work. He then tried leaning forward but, the smoke followed him and stayed around his face.

  Latrell started coughing. He couldn’t breathe. So much smoke.

  A moment later Trisha came out the bathroom with a white towel wrapped around her body. “She gasped and ran over to Latrell. “Latrell? Are you okay?”

  Her voice sounded muffled to him behind the smoke.

  She grabbed his arms and pulled them to her.

  Latrell was close to passing out. He had already given up trying to get the smoke away from his face.

  Trisha was able to get him to stand up. The smoke moved away from his face and headed back to the door. It disappeared under it.

  “Trell, you okay?” Trisha asked him again. She started shaking him.

  Latrell was out of it. His mind was cloudy. He was dizzy. His eyes darted around the room. He blinked his eyes several times not really sure if he was there or if he was sleeping.

  “Trell?” Trisha repeated again. This time she slapped him across the face hard.

  He blinked a couple more times and his eyes started to focus on her. His head seemed to stopped spinning now. Like he was finally coming back to reality.

  He held his cheek were she slapped him at. “Owww.” He pouted.

  She put her arms around him. “Baby I’m sorry, you weren’t answering me. I had to slap you to make sure you were alright.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “It’s okay. I’m not even sure I remember what happened.”