The Evil

  If his leg wasn’t broken at the hospital he would have done anything to get him away from Trisha. Even if that meant hurting him badly.

  Latrell shook his head. I can’t think like that! Just be glad you didn’t have to hurt him and everyone is okay now.

  Latrell turned to Trisha watching her seem completely out of it listening to Adam talk. The stories really did a number on her.

  Latrell slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. He kissed her forehead.

  “I used to have a wife.” Adam said lowly. The music had stopped for a moment. Someone was picking another song from the jukebox.

  Latrell kept his arms wrapped tightly around Trisha and rubbed the back of her arm with his hand. “Oh yeah? What happened to her?”

  Please don’t tell me you killed her too! I don’t know if I can deal with hearing about anyone else dying.

  “She left me. She took our two kids and just walked out on me after I told her about the forest. She thought I completely lost it. It didn’t make anything better when she heard about Darren. She said I killed him. Can you believe that shit? Like I’d kill my own brother for no fuckin’ reason!” Adam started sliding the shot glass back and forth on the counter in front of him.

  He lost his brother, his wife and, his kids because of the evil in that forest and yet no one still believes him.

  “Hang on to your lady friend. Never let her go. If I could get another chance to see my wife I’d let her know how much I love her. I’d kiss her and hold her tight. My kids think I’m bat shit crazy. They think I drink too much and I make up all this stuff in my head. But they haven’t seen what I seen. No one has. No one can judge me until what happened to me happens to them.” Adam finally raised the shot glass to his lips. “I’m a fuckin’ survivor.” He slammed the shot, burped and, slammed the shot glass on the counter.

  Latrell thought about what he said. He was a survivor. He came out on the other end still alive. Sure he was severely broken and had issues but, he still was breathing. Still was pushing forward.

  Latrell kissed Trisha on the forehead again and let her go. “I watched that thing kill my friend Enrique.” He said softly. “I watched him jump right in front of a forklift after it called my name. It’s the craziest shit I’ve ever seen!”

  “It’s toying with you man. Like I said no one is safe. Not you, not her, not you family or , friends. You have to stay strong. Don’t let it get into your head. Don’t let it toy with your thoughts.” Adam told him.

  “I think I can do that. I think I can fight it. But what about my girlfriend or my friends?” Latrell asked.

  “They have to fight it too. If that thing comes back and gets inside of one of them again there’s no tellin’ if they make it out alive. That spirit needs a host. It feeds off you fear and worries. You have to keep all of that in the back of your mind because if you don’t it’ll exploit it and take over.” Adam warned.

  Maybe that’s why Malik got possessed. He was high and paranoid. Scared. And Kia’s always worrying about things. Worrying about Malik.

  It was starting to make more sense to Latrell now. He did feel good about coming there. He had most of his questions answered.

  “Hey babe do you think you can go see what Malik and Kia are doin’?” Latrell asked Trisha.

  Trisha nodded and slid off the bar stool and headed through the bar to the main entrance.

  Latrell took another sip of his beer and thought about all Adam had told him. He felt a little hope of getting the upper hand on this thing.

  “That’s all I’ve done is keep my deepest fears in the background. Don’t worry about shit and you should be okay.” Adam said.

  “I appreciate it man. Thanks for….” He was cut short by a pull on his arm.

  It was Trisha. The look in her eyes startled him.

  “Come outside. It’s Malik and Kia. They’re gone.” Trisha said.

  ________________

  Chapter 13

  Latrell stared at her strangely as if he didn’t understand what she was saying.

  “Trell! Come on! They’re gone!” She said excitedly.

  “I’ll be right back.” Latrell said to Adam. He grabbed his crutches leaning up against the bar counter and put his armpits on top of them. He stood next to Trisha. “What do you mean they’re gone? You mean Kia’s truck isn’t there?”

  Trisha looked him directly in the eyes. Her eyes looked scared and glossy. “No her truck is there but they weren’t inside of it and I didn’t see them anywhere outside.”

  Latrell started walking towards the entrance. He had to see for himself.

  Outside the cool night air rushed past him as he opened the door. Stars were speckled here in there in the sky as the dark clouds moved over the sky. The air felt moist.

  It still hasn’t rained yet, Latrell realized.

  He made his way over to the SUV and looked inside.

  Empty.

  He turned and looked around him.

  Just a bunch of cars and motorcycles. A couple of guys leaned up against the wall smoking cigarettes.

  “Where did they go?” Latrell asked out loud still staring around the parking lot.

  “I don’t know but it’s starting to creep me out.” Trisha said in a nervous voice.

  It was weird. Kia and Malik were just outside talking before they went inside the bar. Now it seemed like they disappeared into thin air.

  The forest started about fifty feet behind the bar.

  Please don’t tell me they went into that damn forest, Latrell thought. I don’t know what I would be able to do in this condition.

  Crazy thoughts raced through Latrell’s mind. Thoughts of Kia and Malik laying dead inside the forest. The evil getting them and not letting go.

  “I’m gonna take a look around the back.” Latrell said.

  Trisha nodded and followed his lead.

  Nothing around the back either except for a large metal dumpster.

  Where are they? They couldn’t have just disappeared. Maybe the evil got them. Took them inside the forest.

  Latrell started getting the chills being outside that close to the forest. It seemed so dark inside of it. All he could heard was the hoot of an owl which made him feel even more uncomfortable.

  A couple of raindrops fell on top of his forehead. “I think we should go back inside.” He said wiping his forehead.

  Trisha crossed her arms in front of her chest. She looked cold and scared. “How are we supposed to get home?”

  “We can call a cab or something.” Latrell said.

  They walked back around to the front of the bar and walked through the entrance.

  Back inside this noisy bar, latrell thought.

  The floor was vibrating from the music.

  They made their way across the bar and to their surprise they saw Kia and Malik sitting at the bar counter.

  How did we miss them? Latrell wondered.

  He walked up behind Malik who was taking a shot.

  “Hey man where were you guys?” Latrell asked irritated.

  Malik seemed startled. He spun around quickly and seemed relieved it was Latrell. “We were using the bathroom after we came in.” He pointed to the far back right corner.

  Latrell looked over to where he was pointing to. It makes sense, he thought. That’s why we didn’t see them.

  Latrell sat down next to Malik and Trisha sat on the empty bar stool next to Kia. He felt relieved to have found them back inside the bar. If they did disappear he didn’t know how he would feel having to tell Malik’s mom what happened.

  “Why did you guys take so long out there?” Latrell asked. “We found out some good information about the forest. I only wish you could have heard the guy speak.” Latrell looked down the counter to see if he could see Adam but he didn’t see him. He turned and looked around the bar. He didn’t see him there either.

  Great, he thought. Now Adam’s gone. I need for him to tell Malik what he told me.

  “What did y
ou hear?” Malik asked. He called Bill over for a refill.

  “This guy I met, Adam, he said that the evil spirit feeds off of fear and worry and that it wouldn’t stop until it gets what it wants from us. He said that the spirit has killed dozens of people over the last twenty years.”

  Malik raised his eyebrows. “You sure this guy wasn’t just talking outta his ass? I mean this is a bar and you know that the average drunk can tell a good story.” He turned to his drink on the counter and slammed the shot down.

  “No! You have to listen to me. This guy knows something man. I could feel it. What he went through and what we’re going through is the same thing. He said he’s been warning people not to go to that forest but everyone thinks he’s just a crazy drunk.”

  Malik smiled and shrugged. “My point exactly.”

  Why is’nt he listening? Does he think this is a joke?

  Latrell frowned angrily at Malik. He couldn’t understand why he wasn’t giving this new information a chance. Especially after what it made him do to Trisha.

  He rose his hand up for the bartender.

  Bill walked over. “What can I get you?”

  “I need something strong.” Latrell said. ” A shot of whiskey or something please.”

  Bill nodded and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. He filled the shot glass all the way to the top. “I hope you didn’t pay Adam too much mind.” He said. “He does the same thing every night until I cut him off then, he just leaves. That guy has some serious issues. Don’t believe anything he said.”

  “But it all makes sense.” Latrell protested. “Everything he said that happened to him. Everything that’s happened to us. It all adds up.”

  “Don’t tell me you fell for it?” Bill asked leaning forward towards them, his hands on the counter.

  Latrell looked at Bill. He didn’t have time to explain why he believed Adam. All he knew was what Adam said made sense. It all added up. “Yeah I kinda do. I’ve seen some weird shit in that forest. None of it makes sense. But what Adam said it does.”

  “What did you see?” Bill asked curiously.

  “Let’s just say it defies logic. It was something out of a horror movie.” Latrell explained.

  “Let me guess you went to the forest to smoke some weed?” Bill asked.

  Latrell looked shocked he knew. He didn’t answer just stared at him with a strange face.

  Bill shook his head. “I know you probably did. You guys are young. It happens all the time around here. Then these kids come back talking about all the crazy shit they done seen.” He opened his eyes wide. “Well you were high goddamn it! Of course you saw something crazy.” Bill chuckled.

  Latrell was getting irritated with Bill.

  I know what I saw! I know I saw that thing possessing Malik and then chasing me through the forest and, it wasn’t because I was high.

  Bill’s eyes narrowed on Latrell. “Take my advice. Don’t let what that crazy son of a bitch said get to you. If there was something really going on in that forest don’t you think as many times as the cops have been there they would’ve said something by now?” Bill threw his hands up. “But believe whatever you want to believe.” He turned around and began filling a glass with beer from the tap.

  “You heard him. There’s nothing out there.” Malik said.

  Bill slid the glass of beer over to Malik. “That’s right. Somebody gets it. This one’s on the house buddy.”

  Latrell shook his head frustrated.

  Malik took a big gulp of the beer and set it back down in the counter.

  “Malik you mean to tell me after everything that has happened to you, you still don’t believe?” Latrell asked him.

  Malik turned to Latrell and looked at him sternly. “I don’t know what happened to me in that forest. All I know is something is fuckin’with my life.”

  “That’s what this thing does. It ruins people’s lives. Adam had to kill his own brother.” Latrell said.

  Malik looked surprised to hear that. “What do you mean?”

  “The evil got into his brother. His brother attacked him and wouldn’t stop. He had to protect himself so he shot him a few times.” Latrell explained.

  Malik looked heavy in thought. Latrell could only guess what he was thinking that maybe, that could have been him. That maybe he could have gotten killed when he was attacking Trisha and that nurse at the hospital.

  “This is real man. We have to stay strong or it’s gonna come back and, next time we might not get so lucky.” Latrell warned.

  Malik just took another gulp of his beer like he didn’t want to hear what Latrell was talking about.

  So loud in here, Latrell thought. Too loud!

  Latrell shifted uncomfortably in his stool. He wanted to get out of there. Being that close to the forest really rattled his nerves. He was glad that he ran into Adam though. Glad Adam told him all that he did. He didn’t think he was crazy.

  He’s probably the most sane person here. Everyone else is crazy for not listening to him all these years.

  Malik finished his beer and set the beer back on the counter. He wiped around his mouth.

  Maybe the alcohol is making Malik be stubborn? He has to listen to me. I can’t take another episode of him attack someone else. Especially Trisha.

  Latrell looked behind himself again. Sitting there not knowing who might walk up behind him at any moment was really bothering him. He saw a middle aged white man walk into the bar with a biker vest on and jeans. That’s not what stood out to him. What stood out was the dark gray cloud hovering behind the guy close to the floor.

  It found us, latrell thought. It’s here and we can’t escape.

  The cloud stayed close by the man’s feet as he slowly made his way across the bar.

  Latrell tapped Malik on the shoulder. “That thing is here.” He said excitedly.

  Malik looked at him confused. His eyes were shiny and he looked buzzed from the alcohol.

  Latrell looked back at the guy who was walking towards them. The cloud slipped under his ankles and slid up through his jeans and then shirt. He could then see it enter through his mouth and nose like cigarette smoke.

  The man stopped and bent over and started coughing.

  “We need to get the fuck outta here!” Latrell said loudly.

  “What’s wrong Trell?” Trisha asked looking over at him.

  Before he could answer the man grabbed someone that was walking by him by the shirt and punched him in the face. The man he punched head flew back and he landed on the ground hard.

  “Hey man what’s your fuckin’problem?” Another heavyset man stood up and pushed the possessed man.

  Trisha and Kia watched in horror as a brawl began to break out around them.

  “It’s here!” Latrell told them. “The evil is here!”

  The possessed man picked the heavy set man up with one hand by the throat.

  “Hey!” Bill yelled. “Put him down! If you wanna fight, take it outside!”

  The possessed man squeezed his neck tighter.

  The heavyset man’s face was bright red. His eyes rolled back into the back of his head. He grabbed the possessed man’s hand with both of his hands trying to pry it away from his neck with no luck.

  This can’t be happening, Latrell thought.

  The possessed man snapped the heavy set man’s neck. A loud sickening snap rippled through the air over the music.

  Everyone’s face twisted in horror. Trisha covered her mouth with her hand.

  He dropped the heavyset man to the ground like a bag of garbage.

  Bill bent over and grabbed something from behind the counter. A shotgun. He cocked it and pointed it at the possessed man who was now walking towards Latrell and his friends again.

  “Stop!” Bill yelled. “I’ll blow your motherfuckin’ head off you son of a bitch!”

  The possessed man didn’t listen. His eyes were pure white. His face was scrunched up in anger.

  The face of pure evil! It’s here for us n
ow. It’s here to finish us off.

  Another medium sized man in a leather jacket stood up from his table and threw his arms around the possessed man’s waist. He picked him up and slammed him to the floor hard.

  Bill kept the shotgun pointed towards the possessed man. He was shaking, still looking at the dead body on the floor.

  “Get that motherfucker!” Another guy yelled.

  The possessed man broke free from his grip and pushed himself up quickly. He turned around and kicked the man on the ground in the face.

  The man flew back his head hit the ground.

  The possessed man stood over him and rose his foot up and stomped down smashing his head like a pumpkin.

  Brains and blood splattered everywhere on the floor.

  A loud gunshot riddled through the air. Bill had seen enough.

  The possessed man flew back landing on top of a table.

  “We need to get the fuck outta here!” Latrell said. He grabbed his crutches.

  Trisha, Kia and , Malik stood up. They all walked around the far side of the bar trying to stay as far away from the possessed man as possible.

  The possessed man started getting up from the table. He turned towards Latrell and stared at him menacingly.

  Fuck! He sees us.

  Bill fired another shot at him. The blast went straight through his body. Blood splattered on the people around him.

  Latrell and his friends ran straight out the door and hopped into the SUV as soon as Kia unlocked it.

  “Let’s get outta here!” Latrell said loudly.

  Kia fired up the engine and put the truck into reverse.

  Latrell could see the door of the bar fly open. He could see the possessed man standing in the entrance.

  “Go! Go! Go!” Latrell said excitedly.

  The possessed man screamed at the top of his lungs. It sounded like a big angry growl. He started chasing behind the SUV.

  Kia slammed down on the gas and quickly picked up speed. She was on the road now.

  The possessed man ran quickly behind the truck almost matching it’s speed.

  “That’s impossible!” Latrell said looking out the back window.