Fast Fears #1: Bats in the Attic

by M.D. Stephens

further investigate the room. He came upon some books about vampire bats. Vampire bats? He hadn’t seen one bigger than his hand, and as far as he knew, vampire bats were about as big as a dog and only dwelled in caves. In fact, have any even been discovered in the United States?

  He kept searching in a frenzy because the racket upstairs was not dying down, rather the opposite, it seemed to be heightening. He found a box of lighters, matches, some lighter fluid, road flares, and tiny crucifix charms.

  Steve had no clue of what to make of all this. All he did know was that it seemed they were in a great deal of more trouble than he ever expected. He silently beat himself up for bringing his family into this mess. If he had time, he might have even expressed his emotions aloud, but now was not the time. They needed to find a way out of this and fast.

  Smashing glass echoed from upstairs. They heard the tiny shards scatter across the kitchen floor. Thuds and flapping noises were now even louder. The bats had made it into the house. Steve thought to himself that he must be crazy as he forced Cheryl and Alley to hold one of the homemade crosses. He stuffed his pockets with matches and shoved a tin can of lighter fluid in the belt of his jeans. He hadn’t the slightest clue of what his next move would be, but the horrified eyes of his family told him he had to do something quick. Heading for the stairs, he was about to tell Cheryl and the kids to stay put, and he was going to head up and check it out, but then a flash of headlight beams shot through a small well window on the wall. Running fast, he peeked through the dust filled window and saw a car parked outside. Had someone come to help? If they did, he hoped they didn’t get carried away by the army of bats.

  The Starks gathered around the window as a stranger exited his car and ran for the front door of the house. The man, or woman, was wearing a hooded coat and was pulling the hood tight over his face with both hands as he sprinted through the wall of bats.

  The front door burst open and heavy footsteps pounded over their heads.

  “Hello?” A man’s voice hollered.

  “Down here.” Steve shouted.

  They heard the footsteps proceed to the basement door. The door opened and shut quickly. The man eased down the creaky steps. At first, there was still no telling who this stranger was because his face was a shadow under the hood. When he took the hood off, Steve was surprised to see that it was the old man Henry from the hardware store. It was amazing how fast he could move for such an old geezer.

  16

  The old man took a quick survey of the room, glanced at Steve and his family, then turned away as if afraid to look at them. He stood firm at the bottom of the steps acting afraid to move. Behind a shielding hand he said, “Put those foolish things down!”

  Steve could see the old man’s legs shaking like a leaf. It could be because of his old age, or maybe just a reaction from running through a cloud of bats, but one thing was for sure, he was trembling like a man standing naked in a blizzard.

  Feeling stupid and embarrassed, Steve set his cross on the table. Cheryl and Alley did the same. The old man immediately stopped trembling and moved forward. He ran his wrinkly hand over Alley’s hair and smiled.

  “It’s okay darling.” He told her, “They’re not going to hurt you.”

  Steve yelled, “Oh yeah, look at what one of the little devils did to my hand.” He ripped off the band-aid and showed the old man his bite mark. “And now there are hundreds of them and what about the skeleton hanging out in the corner? He doesn’t look quite so alright.”

  “I thought you said it was a cut from unpacking?” Cheryl said. “Are you telling me you knew there were bats in the attic the whole time?”

  Steve knew he screwed up. He didn’t get a look like this from his wife very often, but when he did, he knew it was instant trouble.

  “I’m sorry honey. I didn’t want to freak you and the kids out.”

  “Well, I’d have to say we’re pretty freaked out now.” She turned and began the always famous silent treatment. Steve didn’t have time to argue his case. He wanted to find out what the old man had for a suggestion to get out of this mess.

  “What are we gonna do?” Steve asked.

  “Wait.” Henry simply said.

  “Wait?” Steve argued. “For what? The bats to find a way down here and eat us alive?”

  “They’ll be gone by sunrise.” Henry assured them. “That’s about five hours from now. So we wait.”

  “What made you even get the notion to come out here?”

  “I like to take midnight drives. At my age, sometime it’s hard to sleep at night. I was driving by and saw the swarm of bats circling the house. I remember you telling me at the store about the few you encountered in the attic, and I have to be honest, I feared this might happen. It sure isn’t the first time.”

  “What? You knew there was a possibility we could be held hostage by bats and you didn’t tell me? Why?” Steve felt like punching the old man in the face.

  “It’s a long story really. Maybe we should have a seat and I’ll explain.”

  With the sound of bats flying around and knocking things over upstairs, and the thought of the little creatures crawling all over their stuff, the last thing Steve wanted to do was relax and have story time. Regardless, they all took a seat on the cool pavement and listened as Henry began his tale.

  17

  “It’s been going on since way before my time.” Henry began. “The town of Hope had always been a small community out here all by its lonesome. It’s almost as if the town reflects people from gathering around it. People used to think it was because of the dry desert and the heat, but now we know that it’s because of an entirely different reason. It seems that Hope has a bit of a curse.”

  Henry paused to look over the family. Bobby had stopped crying but he looked to be in a traumatized state with staring eyes that held no particular object. Alley sat with her arms wrapped around her mother’s waist, her eyes bloodshot and fearful. Cheryl looked to be somewhere between mad and scared, and Steve just looked plain angry. When no one asked a question, the old man continued.

  “For reasons unknown, these bats have chosen this place as a breeding ground. What we’re dealing with up there are really just baby versions of a much larger breed of bats. Things aren’t as bad as they could get, and if you’re patient, it won’t get bad at all.”

  “I just don’t understand. How in the world could they put a place that’s infested with bats up for sale? Hasn’t anyone ever heard of inspectors?” Steve said.

  “Well, that’s what surprised me. No one’s lived here for twenty years or more. The last man just disappeared. I have a feeling he’s Mr. Bones over there. So when you told me you moved out here, I was shocked, but I figured you had done your research, or at least did a walk through before you bought it. Once people take one look at this place, they usually turn it down before they even get through the door.”

  “Let me get this straight.” Steve said, “The man that previously owned this place suddenly disappears and there is no investigation from the police or search for him?”

  “No, no. There was, and you’re gonna find this to be even weirder, but that skeleton was not here before. I’m not sure when it arrived here, but it sure wasn’t here when the police searched the place and removed the man’s belongings.”

  “Just how big are these bigger bats that you spoke of?” Cheryl asked, joining in on the conversation.

  “We can only hope you don’t have to find out.” Henry reached over and patted her shoulder.

  “Why would you continue to live here knowing about all this?” Steve asked.

  “The funny part is that they don’t seem to venture into town. They pretty much stick to the hills and this place for some reason.”

  “Why haven’t you demolished this place if you know they’re breeding here or whatever?” Cheryl asked.

  “Well…” Henry was cut off by a flying menace swooping over their heads.
A bat had found its way into the basement. Steve sprung to his feet. Henry slowly got up as well. The bat swooped and dived, swooped and dived. It seemed to be aiming straight for Steve’s face. He dodged it twice and then snatched a piece of 2x4 from a nearby table.

  “Take it easy now.” Henry warned, but with the skills of a major league hitter, Steve swung and connected with the bat dead on. The flying rodent went sailing through the air and landed lifeless in a corner. Steve wiped his sweaty brow in relief, but when he turned to look at Henry, something had changed in the old man. His forehead had wrinkled in rage, and his eyes had turned as black as charcoal. When the man opened his mouth in a snarl, his teeth had formed into tiny jagged spikes. Not believing what he was seeing, Steve closed his eyes and opened them again. Henry still had the looks of a creature out of a horror movie. Steve got the idea of what he meant when he said, “Bigger bats.”

  18

  Frozen from the sight of Henry turning into something much more than an old man, Steve could only wave his hand for Cheryl, Alley, and Bobby to get off the ground. Once they were on their feet, Steve guided them behind him and