by S A Jacobs
Gordon stood up and snapped the laptop shut.
“What happened to your father was an accident,” he growled. “It wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“But it did happen! And what did you do to stop it?”
“If I had known what was going to happen, I would’ve. Your father had been down there probably a thousand times, just like you, and nothing ever happened. Why would I think for a second that it would have been any different that day?”
Gordon’s eyes began to water. He stood there pacing the room. His giant, chubby hands were incessantly fidgeting.
“Look, I can’t go down there. I can go to the old shelter but no further. I have only known two people to ever go down there and return. You and your dad. I’ve been there before with your dad. I’ve heard him talk to that woman. He was protected by that coin. What I didn’t know was that he had given that coin to you. If I knew, I would’ve never let him go into that woods that day.”
I’d made this realization already, but hearing it from Gordon cemented it. He knew. He knew that I was the reason my dad died. I looked at Gordon. He appeared more like a giant teddy bear in that moment than the overgrown troll I usually saw him as. He looked at me with this, ‘Yeah, I know and it sucks’ stare.
I was completely defeated in that moment. Everything I felt like I knew had been ripped away. Even Melanie was apparently conspiring against me. With a thousand horrible images going through my head, one took root. All of my anger, pain, and frustration blossomed into one single point: the resolve to end Spearfinger. I realized that it wouldn’t change things with Melanie, or much at all really, but the chance to avenge the death of my father became my sole goal and focus.
“How do I end her?” I asked Gordon.
“End her?”
“Spearfinger. Her time ends now, with me. How do I end this once and for all?”
Gordon’s eyes grew wide with fear and shock.
“You don’t end her. You stay the hell away from her!” he pleaded.
“No! You said it yourself, talking about this fucking clock!” I stood pointing to it. “My father spent his whole damn life catering to Robert Mason’s cause. Where did it get him? In a fucking grave like everyone else. I’m done. This ends now! Are you gonna help me or just sit there and be completely useless?”
I glared at Gordon, admonishing him to help. My face was wet with a combination of sweat and tears.
“I swore on your father’s grave that I would protect you and keep you safe. If you think I will stand by while you walk into a suicide mission, you’re crazy.”
“Then it sounds like you are with me.”
Gordon looked at me for a moment. His eyes were red. His mustache bristled, and then he gave me a silent nod. “If I can’t stop you, I’ll help.”
We stood there in a silent and uncomfortable agreement.
“What about Melanie?” I said, breaking the silence. “I don’t even know what to think about her.”
“I don’t know either, All I can say is that her little stunt in the forest was certainly not what it seemed. I would suggest that you continue to act as if you didn’t see that video. See where her allegiances really are.”
“Speaking of allegiances… since you are now helping me, I need to understand something. You speak about my dad as if he was doing everything in his power to protect this cache.”
“That’s right.”
“Is it though?”
Gordon ran this question through his head, biting the inside of his lip, before responding. “Of course it is. You know that.”
“I’m not sure I do. One thing I do know is that Spearfinger is only drawn to those who enter the forest seeking the cache. She doesn’t strike me as someone who would turn on her protector. So. before we go any further in this whole thing, I need to know why Spearfinger killed my father.”
“I… I don’t understand.”
“Oh bullshit! It’s a simple question, and I’m sure you know the answer. Was there a point where my father stopped protecting and opted to simply find the treasure for himself?”
“David, I’m afraid that question isn’t as simple as you believe. Yes, he died because he was seeking the treasure. If that’s what you want me to say, there you have it. But there is more to the story than that.”
“Well if I’m supposed to trust you, now would be a good time to fill me in.”
“Things were different then. The path had only recently been closed off, and people were hanging around there constantly. There was also a string of disappearances. It had gotten to the point where it was simply a danger to everyone. Your dad met with Austin’s dad who, as you know, spent his lifetime seeking that treasure. Your dad pleaded with him to stop, but Glen wasn’t exactly a trusting fellow. He believed your dad was trying to get the treasure for himself and that it was all a ploy. There’s one thing you need to understand about your father. Yes, he was dedicated to the cause of protecting the cache, but something else overshadowed that dedication in him.”
“What was that?”
“Protecting people. Every victim of that beast lay heavily upon his shoulders. He felt personally responsible for each of those deaths. It’s exactly why he did things like petition to reroute the trail away from there. Glen’s insatiable lust for the treasure forced your father's hand. With Glen steadfastly focused on continuing to search, your dad believed the only way to protect people from Spearfinger was to eliminate what Spearfinger protected. In essence, get rid of the treasure, and with nothing to protect, Spearfinger would move on.”
“So you’re saying the protector became the hunter?”
“It wasn’t that black and white, but yeah. He spent years trying to keep Glen at bay, and even struck a bargain with him, a bargain he never intended to keep. He told Glen he was safe from the beast, protected. Glen shared the location of the cache and your father vowed to retrieve it. He never intended to follow through on that vow. He kept pushing Glen off with obstacles he encountered and such. It worked for a while, until Glen did pretty much the same thing Austin did to you. Held him at gunpoint and demanded the treasure.”
Gordon paused and sat back down. His eyes were glassed over. I didn’t speak and waited for him to continue.
“You know kid, I’ll never know what was going through his mind that day. I’ve spent every day since then wishin’ I stepped in. I know he wanted to protect people and end this all… Aw hell, he chose to give his life for Glen’s. He had to know he’d be her next victim. I dunno, maybe he thought he could get away with it. All I know is, that’s the choice he made.”
I was speechless.
“You wanted to know what happened to your dad, and now you do. Damn good man, he was.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this until now?”
“Like I said when you came to my office that day, if you choose to follow in his footsteps, that is a choice you need to make on your own. I’m not gonna force you into it, even if there is a whole family legacy behind it. I’ve lost too much to that beast already.”
The grandfather clock continued to tick in its steady rhythm as Gordon and I sat there, both emotionally exhausted.
“You think it would’ve worked?” I asked with hesitation. “You know, removing the treasure. That is, had he not given me the coin.”
“Aw kid, don’t you go blaming yourself for this!”
“That’s not what I’m asking. Would it have worked? If Glen or anyone else found that treasure, would she be gone?”
“That’s the part that has bugged me about it. I don’t really know. It sounded like a good theory back then. Truth is, we never knew. We always saw Spearfinger as being contained in the forest. What we didn’t know is if she was confined to one location… or if it was all based on proximity to the treasure. Say Glen got the treasure. Who’s to say she wouldn’t have followed him, killed him, and then been loose in town? I’ve always assumed your dad realized it wouldn’t work, and that’s why he gave you the coin.”
“I’m not following.”
“If you had the coin, no one would be protected, no one would be able to get in there. Giving you that coin allowed your dad to keep the treasure safe.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose trying to get a grip on all of this.
“You know, I talked to Robert.” I said.
“Robert Mason?” He picked up his head giving me all of his attention. “You mean like on the TV show, the whole ghost thing?”
“Yeah, something like that. At Melanie’s place. Hell, that’s how all this started. Anyway, he told me that my role had changed, and that I needed to put an end to Spearfinger.”
“Did he tell you how to do it?”
“I wish. All I know is the legend of how she was vanquished by the Cherokee.”
“And I s’pose you think it can be done the same way now?”
“No, I don’t. I’m still working on how. Point is, it’s time to put an end to this once and for all.”
“What do you need from me?”
I thought about that question for a moment. I hadn’t even figured out a plan, let alone Gordon’s role in it.
“For now, answer my calls, and let me know the second anyone sets foot on that trail. Right now, I gotta deal with Melanie.”
I left the substation and mentally pushed aside as much of that conversation as I could. I needed to deal with Melanie and try to pretend I never saw the video he’d showed me. It sucked. If there is one thing I’d never had, it was a poker face. I knew Gordon was right in being vigilant around her and acting like nothing had changed, but I had my doubts as to whether I could pull it off.
As I was driving off, worrying about how to play this, the full weight of her betrayal hit me, and my heart sank. Before that moment, I don’t know that I had even stepped back far enough to realize just how much I cared about her. I pulled over and tried to compose myself. I was not going to make the same mistake my father had. I would not protect Austin.
As I sat there fuming, I started to form a vengeful plan. Yes, I would play dumb to Melanie. I would play dumb so that I could ensure that Austin was on the front line against Spearfinger.
I arrived back at her house just before sunset. As I parked, I couldn’t help but to look out at Zeke’s place. I thought about him talking to me in the forest. The person I’d spoken with was certainly Spearfinger taking the form of Zeke, but did that mean Zeke was still there, still alive while Spearfinger used his body? I believed the answer was no. I knew in my gut he was dead, but part of me wanted to believe that there was a chance to save him as well.
I quietly walked into the house. Melanie looked as if she hadn’t moved. My note was still on the counter. I balled it up and threw it away. I looked over at Melanie sleeping there. She was so peaceful, so beautiful. The woman lying there couldn’t have betrayed me. I loved her. Despite the video Gordon had showed me, I felt there was more to the story. Throughout my life, she’d caused me a lot of heartache. More than everyone else combined, but none of it had been malicious.
With her sleeping soundly, I chose to turn my attention to the other person in that house that I needed to speak with… Robert.
I gingerly walked up to the loft and opened the attic door. I knelt in its opening and peered into the darkness. It was completely still. I turned on my phone’s flashlight and examined the timbers to find the spot I’d used my coin the last time. I gently rubbed my fingers across the area and took a deep breath. Robert had always come to me. I had never summoned him directly. I hoped I was not making a mistake.
I pulled out my coin and squeezed it tight in my hand. Swallowing hard, I pressed it into the wood timber. As I did, the lights went out, and I was thrown into complete darkness. The general feeling of space was changed. I couldn’t see anything, but I felt like I was falling. The air was sucked from my lungs as I tumbled into emptiness. I squeezed my eyes shut and gritted my teeth, praying for the out of control feeling to stop. Then it did.
It ended suddenly with my body slamming against the earth. After a moment of shock, I realized I wasn’t in Melanie’s house. I felt grass against my face and arms. I moved to my knees and opened my eyes. I was in a clearing in the forest. The moon shone brightly through a gap in the trees. As I took a deep breath, my lungs filled with the acrid smoke of a fire nearby. I stood and walked towards the smoke. Just beyond the clearing was a holler. I could see the orange glow of a campfire through the trees. Sitting on a log next to the fire was Robert.
22
“I see you’ve returned for my help,” Robert said. “It’s all right, come closer. Sit with me by the fire.”
I cautiously stepped into the holler and approached Robert. Despite the surroundings, he was still dressed formally, wearing the same suit he was the last time I’d seen him. The only thing that had changed was the addition of a fedora on his head.
“I appreciate you calling on me.” He stood and extended his hand in greeting. “I admit, after having dealt with my brother Samuel, I expected a certain degree of apprehension and caution from you.”
“Samuel wanted to kill me.” I reached for his hand and shook it. “You, at least from what I’ve been exposed to, want the opposite.”
“I suppose that’s true. While we were united within the KGC, we were indeed very different people. I realize though, you have not called upon me to talk about Samuel. So why have you come?”
“I need to destroy Spearfinger. You are the only one who knows how.”
“Yes indeed. I’m sure you are aware that when we brought her out of retirement, we also instilled a few restrictions. Most notably, the protection granted to anyone with that coin. In addition, I made sure that she could also be destroyed should the proper circumstances arise.”
“And what are those circumstances?” I asked as I took a seat on a log.
“Spearfinger is an extremely dangerous entity. With that, she has proven to be the perfect form of protection for that cache. What has changed is the purpose of saving that cache.
I have been trapped here for an entire lifetime. Able to observe the changes in the world. The KGC and our work was simply misguided. It was fueled by lust and ego. We created an entire army to preserve and fight for our way of life. My time here has shown me how wrong we truly were. How wrong I was. Putting an end to Spearfinger is my final act of atonement.
The original intent was to preserve that for the time when the KGC could rise again. I fear that will never happen and should never happen. If the cache is not being preserved any longer for the KGC, what purpose is there in keeping it protected? At this point, her very existence poses a huge danger to innocent people. Too many lives have been lost protecting the cache. You are correct. The time has come for it to end.”
“So, how does one vanquish her?”
“I’m afraid that is the difficult part. You must understand, when she was conjured, loyalty to the KGC superseded everything to our members. With that in mind, I felt that in order to ensure that she was only vanquished at the correct moment, it can only be done by the most loyal of members.”
“So the coin? Because I have the coin, only I can vanquish her?”
“Yes, but there is more. The coin is only part of the equation. In an action of true loyalty, there must be a sacrifice to her. She will often take the form of her victims. This is an in-between time for her. In order to take that form, she also becomes more vulnerable. In fact, when she has taken the human form, she can be killed as easily as a human. So yes, it requires the coin in order to get close enough to her to kill her, but it also requires the sacrifice of a person whose form she can take.”
“She is already in human form. I spoke with her today in the form of Melanie’s neighbor. No one else will have to die!”
“David, she will only appear in each human form once. In addition to making her vulnerable, it also requires a large amount of her energy. If you spoke to her in human form already, you will never see her in human form again until she has a new victim.”
“How is this an act of loyalty? It is right now, just because I have the coin. But had anyone else gotten the coin they could accomplish the same thing without any loyalty.”
“You are very correct. There certainly is more to it than what I’ve stated. She can only be vanquished by the act of sacrifice. However, accessing the cache, well that is another story for another day I’m afraid.
“So that’s it. I must make sure she kills someone else to stop her? There are no loopholes to this rule?”
“I’m afraid not. As I said, I needed to ensure the decision to vanquish her was not stepped into lightly. I’m sorry for this, but it is the only way.”
“That’s really some shit! This is your atonement? I have to sacrifice someone so you can move on? Can’t you sacrifice yourself?”
“I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way. It’s true, I will be released from this earth. No longer bound to the hotel and this forest. Moving on is not always a good thing. I’m afraid that what awaits me beyond this earth will be anything but pleasant. My fate was set in stone long ago. There is no use avoiding it any longer. However, you are not ending her for my benefit. You are ending her because I cannot, and she needs to be stopped.” He stood up and walked up to me. He looked me straight in the eyes and continued to speak. “David, I’m afraid this needs to happen quickly. She is hungry. The longer you wait, the more victims she will have. I trust you to follow through with this.”
After he spoke those words, he turned and walked into the forest. As his body passed through the brush and he could no longer be seen, the flames of the small campfire began to grow. The heat on my face was extreme. I stood up and took a step backward. The flames were now at least three feet tall and continued to grow. As the tower of flames grew ever taller, it started to push out wider as well. I continued to step backward until my body was stopped by something. I turned to look, and the holler was enclosed in a rock wall on all sides.