The Evil

by J N Tensley

  Latrell began to choke. He wrapped his hands around his throat and started coughing hard.

  “Kill her now!” Latrell could hear the voices in his head say. He could feel the cold dark energy under his skin.

  “Trell? What’s wrong?” Trisha asked moving back away from him on the couch.

  Latrell’s eyes turned pinkish red. It was hard for him to breathe. Everything looked a hazy gray through his eyes.

  “The evil l, it’s inside me! You have to get away from me.” Latrell told her.

  “What are you talking about?” Trisha looked confused.

  He looked down to the ground and didn’t see any smoke. He then raised his eyes up and there wasn’t any up in the air either.

  Did I imagine the whole thing, he wondered. Is my eyes playing tricks on me? No I definitely saw something go inside me. It was up in the air.

  Latrell bent over and picked up his phone from the floor. He studied it. Flipping through his last text message.

  It was just a message from Tracy. “I can’t stop thinking about you.” The text read.

  Latrell turned his screen off. He didn’t want Trisha seeing that. He didn’t want to respond to the text either.

  “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Trisha looked at him really worried. Her eyes pierced into his.

  He looked around the room. He didn’t see anything. No smoke. No cloud. Just his living room.

  Maybe I did imagine the whole thing? Or maybe I’m seeing visions of what’s gonna happen to me?

  “I think so. I just feel weird.” He said his eyes still darting around the room wildly.

  “You look anxious.” Trisha noticed.

  If you only knew, he thought. I feel like jumping outta my skin and running away from here. I would rather that happen then that evil making me do something to hurt you.

  Trisha stood up and walked into the kitchen. She grabbed two beers and returned and sat back down next to him.

  Why do I feel this way, he wondered. Why do I keep feeling something bad is gonna happen to one of us?

  Trisha opened her beer and took a sip, she slid the other one in front of Latrell. “You just probably had a long day.” Trisha suggested.

  “Probably. Or maybe I’m losing my mind. I could have sworn I saw something.” Latrell grabbed his beer can and stared at it in his hand.

  “What exactly did you see?” Trisha asked curiously.

  Latrell kept his eyes on the beer can. “I saw the evil in this room. It rose up to the ceiling and swooped down and entered me. I could feel its energy fill my body. I could hear the voices in my head.”

  “Voices? What kind of voices? What did they say?” Trisha looked really into the conversation now. Her face looked so bright. So curious.

  Should I tell her? Should she know that I’ve been hearing voices telling me to kill her?

  Latrell thought about it for a moment.

  “Trell?” Trisha said shaking his arm. “Tell me. What kind of voices?”

  “Trisha, for the last week or so, I’ve been hearing things.” He said looking at her seriously.

  “What kind of things Trell?”

  “I’ve been hearing whispering in the apartment. Voices telling me to hurt you. To kill you.” His eyes looked down as he said the last part.

  Trisha raised her eyebrows. “Damn, for real?”

  “Yeah. I don’t know why either. But they’ve been torturing me. Harassing me at every turn. I don’t know why I keep hearing it. I want to believe it’s all in my head but, then I have to ask myself. Why am I thinking about hurting you?” He kept his eyes away from hers.

  There was silence between the two of them. Trisha kept looking at Latrell like she was surprised he said something like that. Latrell kept avoiding eye contact with her.

  “It can’t be your imagination.” Trisha finally broke the silence and said.

  Latrell looked up at her. His eyes met hers. “Why?”

  “Because look what the evil did to Malik. Look what it did to Kia. It made them want to hurt me. Now you’re hearing it. You’re feeling it and it wants you to do the same thing.” Trisha said. She grabbed his hand and intertwined her fingers with his.

  “Doesn’t that scare you? Doesn’t that make you want to ask why?” Latrell asked.

  “It obviously has something against me. Maybe it just doesn’t like me? Or maybe it’s some sort of spell somebody set on me?” Her eyes were shiny.

  Latrell thought about it. Spell? Who would want to set a spell on Trisha? She was the nicest person.

  Then it hit him like a ton of bricks.

  Tracy! It all started making sense. The evil. Malik attacking Trisha at the hospital. Kia attacking her in the SUV. The voices he had been hearing the last week. It all started when Tracy came into Shadow Point.

  “I moved here a couple months ago.” Latrell could her Tracy say. Her voice echoing in his head.

  But how did she do it? How did she have the power to control the evil and only make it attack Trisha?

  None of it made any sense but, the pieces of the puzzle did start to fit together more with Tracy being the one behind it all.

  Latrell decided to keep his theory to himself for now. He didn’t want to bring Trisha into it until he was sure it was Tracy behind it all.

  “How do you feel when you hear the voices telling you to hurt me?” Trisha asked.

  He looked directly into her eyes. “I felt horrible.” He answered honestly. “I could never hurt you. And something telling me to hurt you makes me feel horrible. You’re my world. My sweet little angel.”

  “Awww baby.” Trisha scooted close to him and gave him a hug. “I believe you.”

  “But Trisha, I don’t think it’s safe for us to be alone together until this thing is taken care of.” Latrell said.

  Trisha pushed herself back from him. “Nothing’s gonna keep me away from you. I’m not scared of no punk ass evil cloud.” She smiled.

  “I can’t take that risk sugar. I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you. I think it’ll be safer for you to be away from me until this thing is over. I’m gonna go to the forest tonight. Hopefully I’ll be able to figure out what’s going on.” He grabbed her hands and looked at her passionately in the eyes.

  She shook her head. “No! I’m going with you. I’m not letting you go there alone.”

  “I won’t be going alone. Malik is coming with me. We will figure out what is going on with that forest and then find some way to destroy the evil once and for all.” Latrell said seriously.

  Trisha looked disappointed. She liked spending all her free time with him. She like being next to him, in his arms, feeling his gentle touch against her skin.

  “I just don’t wanna risk it. You saw what almost happened at the hospital and, then in Kia’s truck. Both times I was powerless to do anything. Can you imagine if the evil got inside me? And let’s not forget what happened at that bar.” Latrell tried to explain to her.

  “Fine but, as soon as it’s over it’s me and you again.” She pouted and squeezed his hands.

  At least she understands. I don’t want anything to happen to her, he thought. She’s my whole world. So sweet, so caring. She’s always looking out for me. Now it’s my turn to look out for her.

  He pulled out his phone and started texting Malik. “Hey I’m about to head to the forest. You commin’ right?”

  About five minutes went by before Malik responded. “Yeah I’m with you bro. I still think it’s a bad idea but I’ll be damned if I let you go there by urself.”

  Latrell looked at the time on his phone. It read six thirty. “How about go there around eight? Either you can pick me up or I can pick you up.”

  “You drive this time bro. I don’t want a repeat of last time.” Malik texted.

  “Alright see you around eight. Be ready.” Latrell stuffed his phone into his pocket.

  Trisha sat with her legs crossed next to him shaking them anxiously. She also had her arms crossed over her chest. “
I still think it’d be better for me and you to go.” She said looking at the coffee table biting her bottom lip.

  Latrell had a feeling she would keep persisting on going with him. “Why do you think that? Especially after everything’s that happened to you because of that forest.”

  “You know what happened to Malik last time. He got possessed and tried to kill you and you broke your leg. What if the same thing happens this time but instead of breaking something. You wind up getting yourself killed?” She turned her head to him and had a worried expression on her face.

  “I won’t let that happen.” Latrell said. “If I even see anything resembling a cloud I’m bailing. I just want to know where this thing comes from. And if I can find that out maybe I can figure out how to stop it.”

  “The only person who probably knows that is that guy at the bar. But you’re not going back there are you?”

  Latrell nodded. “That’s my plan. I was gonna stop there first and see if I could get him to come along. Maybe he knows something else?”

  “I’m just scared. What if you don’t come back? What if it gets inside you and you kill Malik? What if it gets inside that crazy guy at the bar and he kills you and Malik?” Trisha looked more concerned than ever.

  Latrell thought about it for a moment. Seeing Adam get possessed with the evil and attacking them in the forest. Even though there would be two of them, they still wouldn’t be a match for the evil. Adam would be too strong.

  “I’ll be careful.” Latrell promised.

  Latrell still didn’t feel right about the whole Tracy incident. His gut was telling him that she could have something to do with the evil chasing them. Things just didn’t add up.

  Why did it seem to start when she got into Shadow Point? Him and Malik had driven past the forest several times before and never noticed anything sinister about it.

  But how did she get the evil to attack them? That’s something he didn’t understand.

  Maybe she isn’t behind it? Maybe it’s just a theory that’s running wild in my mind?

  Latrell didn’t know anymore. All he knew was he needed to get to that forest. He needed to go back to where it all started. That would be the only thing that could help clear his mind of all those wild theories.

  It was now seven pm. Trisha had been sitting there shaking her legs anxiously for half an hour. He knew it really bothered her that he didn’t want her to come but, it was for her own good.

  I’m doing this for you Trisha, he told her in his mind. I won’t let anything happen to you.

  “So where do you want me to go until this blows over?” Trisha finally said.

  “I think it’s best if you just go to your place. I don’t trust any of us alone around you. Not me, not Malik, not Kia. So being at home by yourself is probably the safest place for you to be. At least you know nobody can hurt you there. Just watch out for my text. I’ll text you when we leave there and let you know if it’s safe or not.” Latrell told her.

  Trisha nodded.

  Latrell pushed himself off the couch and grabbed Trisha’s hand. He pulled her up towards him. He put his hands on her waist and kissed her on the lips.

  She closed her eyes and kissed him back.

  Her lips are so soft, he thought. Like cotton candy.

  Trisha laid her head on his chest. “I’m gonna be worried sick about you. Be careful out there. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  Latrell rubbed her back with his hand. “I promise babe. If things even seem to go left then I’ll leave.” He said honestly.

  They stood there hugging for a few minutes before Trisha grabbed her purse and slung the strap over her shoulder. Her eyes looked sad as she headed to the door.

  Latrell walked behind her. “I’ll call or text you as soon as I’m done.” He told her.

  She turned back to him and pouted. “Don’t keep me waiting too long. I’m gonna go crazy if I don’t hear from you soon.” She leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  Trisha opened the door and disappeared down the hall.

  Latrell locked the door and leaned up against it.

  She’ll be safe now, he told himself. The farther she is from people the less likely the evil can get to her.

  Latrell walked to his bedroom and started getting things ready. He grabbed a flashlight and a pocket knife.

  At ten to eight he decided to leave to go pick up Malik. He pulled up in front of his place at three minutes after eight.

  “I’m outside.” Latrell texted Malik.

  A few minutes later Malik was climbing into the van. “What’s up man?” He said slamming the door behind him.

  Latrell shrugged. “Nothing much. I just want to get this thing done and over with.”

  Latrell could see Kia standing at the door of the townhouse. A worried look on her face.

  “Seems like we got both our women worried about us.” Latrell noticed.

  “Yeah tell me about it. Kia wanted to come but, I told her that wasn’t a good idea.” Malik said.

  “Yeah, Trisha wanted to do the same thing but, I’m not putting her at risk again.” Latrell pulled away from the curb and headed to the forest.

  “What do you think we’ll find up there?” Malik asked.

  “Hopefully the truth. I just want to know how to stop it.” Latrell said.

  “Yeah me too. I’m getting sick of this shit.”

  About fifteen minutes later they were pulling up at the bar.

  “Why are we stopping here?” Malik asked looking at the bar surprised.

  “I need to talk to Adam. If he’s here then maybe I can get him to come along with. We need all the help we can get.” Latrell pulled the van up close by the bar and turned the engine off.

  Inside the bar it was noisy again. The lights were bright and the mess that the possessed man had mad last time they were there was all cleaned up.

  Latrell scanned the bar to see if he could spot Adam.

  People walked back in forth in front of him. A couple danced off to the left on the floor to the country music playing.

  Where is he? I don’t see him!

  Latrell squinted his eyes and moved closer to the bar counter. He looked down to the far left and saw Adam sitting there with a beer in front of him, his head hung low.

  “There he is.” Latrell said tapping Malik on the shoulder.

  “Good! We can get outta here now. I don’t want to wait around for that thing to come back here and fuck everybody up again.” Malik said.

  Latrell pushed his way forward past a couple of drunk bikers who were standing in the way slurring their words to each other. He plopped down on the stool next to Adam. “Hey buddy.”

  Adam rose his head up slowly. His eyes grew wide when he saw Latrell sitting next to him. “Hey man, how the hell are you?” He asked happily.

  Latrell looked around him and then leaned close to Adam. “I’m glad you’re here. Me and Malik were gonna go to the forest tonight. I need to know if maybe you want to come with us?”

  Malik sat down on the stool next to Latrell.

  Adam’s eyes seemed to open even wider. “Go with you? Didn’t you listen to anything I’ve been saying?”

  “Yeah I heard you man but, we’re trying to put an end to this thing. We can’t just sit around waiting for it to attack us again.” Latrell told him.

  Adam stared at him hard. “I heard what happened that night after I left. Now everyone wants to say it was just a drunk crazy guy. They still don’t want to believe that everything I’ve been telling them might be true. That was the evil from the forest. Here. Trying to get revenge on everybody.”

  “Yeah I know we were still here when it happened. That definitely wasn’t a crazy guy. He was too strong and too fast for that. We saw the evil enter him and then he went bat shit crazy.” Latrell agreed.

  “Man that was some crazy shit!” Malik exclaimed.

  “I knew it would come back here one day. It hasn’t bothered anyone for a long time. Someone had to
summon it up.” Adam said.

  “Yeah, it chased us down the highway. Jt almost got my girlfriend Trisha again.”

  “It seems like it’s after her. It’ll enter anybody to get to her. Even you. She’s not safe unless you can find out who summoned the evil up and tell them to make it stop.” Adam said, his eyes glassy.

  Tracy! Latrell thought. I knew she had to be behind this. I knew this was all her fault.

  “How does someone summon it up though?” Latrell asked curiously.

  “They come alone to the forest and make a pact with it. They tell the evil that if they kill so and so that they’ll let the evil use their body. Be a host to it basically.” Adam explained.

  They heard a gun cock. They turned their heads and saw a shotgun barrel pointing at them.

  Bill stood there holding the shotgun. A mean frown on his face.

  ________________

  Chapter 19

  Bill held the shotgun steadily at them.

  Why is he pointing that at us, Latrell wondered.

  Malik held up his hands. “Whoa! Calm down man, we didn’t even do anything.”

  “Yes you did!” Bill snapped. “The last time you guys were here talking about that nonsense, several people got hurt and a coupe people got killed. I don’t want to hear anything else about this fuckin’ evil. No more!” He pointed the shotgun at each of them as he talked.

  Latrell saw the tension and anger in Bill’s eyes. He really doesn’t want to believe what he saw does he? He would rather blame us then the evil that came in here and started causing all that chaos.

  The music was so loud. The only people who could see Bill pointing the shotgun at them was the few people at the bar counter and, most of them were either too drunk to care or messing with their phones.

  “As a matter of fact, you guys get the hell outta my bar. You guys are bad luck, especially you Adam. Now go on, get!” Bill pointed the shotgun directly at Adam now.

  “I make you a lot of money Bill. That’s fucked up.” Adam said disappointingly.

  Latrell tapped Adam’s arm with his hand. “I think we should just leave man. Let’s just go to the forest and take care of this.”

  Adam frowned and stood up. “You’re fucked up Bill. I can’t believe you would just kick me out like that.”