A Gathering of Crows

“Damn straight,” Gus agreed, staring at his brother’s corpse. “We ain’t gone through all of this just to leave you behind, Axel. That wouldn’t be very neighborly. Wouldn’t be very Christian, either.”

Donny turned to Levi. His eyes were pleading. “There has to be something you can do. We can make a stand here.”

Levi glanced back at their foes and sighed long and mournfully. Then he turned back to them. His expression was grave.

“Take me to the woman and her child.”

“And?”

“And then do exactly as I say.”

Axel shut the door behind them and led the group back through the house and down into the basement. A lone candle burned. A young, pretty woman and a young boy who looked exactly like her sat huddled in the corner. The woman was stroking the boy’s hair and whispering in his ear. They looked up as the men entered, and stared at Levi in confusion.

“You can call him Levi Stoltzfus,” Donny said. “He’s here to help. Levi, this is Jean and Bobby Sullivan.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jean said. Then she turned to Donny. “And I’m sorry about your mom. I haven’t had a chance to see you since you came back.”

“Yeah,” Donny said. “Hell of a homecoming.”

“That it is, hon. That it is.”

“You lit a candle?” Paul pointed.

“I had to,” Jean explained. “Bobby was scared. I figured one wouldn’t hurt.”

Levi focused on their surroundings, studying the layout of the cellar and quickly inventorying its contents. He talked as he walked around the room.

“The universe is a lot bigger—and a lot more complex—than any of you know. Consider for a moment that the universe is infinite. Then consider the number of planets that infinite space must contain. Staggering, yes? And yet, that is only a very small part of what makes up the universe. There are other dimensions and other realities, and each of them are infinite, as well.”

He paused in front of a door and peeked inside. It opened into a shallow closet, inside of which were three shelves overflowing with old board games and forgotten winter clothing. He closed the door and continued.

“There is a way to move between all of these different worlds in all of these various dimensions and realities. It’s called the Labyrinth. Think of it as a dimensional shortcut of sorts. It weaves through time and space, nowhere and yet everywhere all at once. It connects to everything. Everything. Many supernatural beings—creatures beyond mankind’s knowledge—use it to travel between worlds and traverse dimensions. Some humans have traveled though it, as well. Sadly, for them, such an endeavor usually leads to tragedy. Normally, the only time we’re meant to see the Labyrinth is when our spirit has departed our body and we travel to the realms of existence beyond this one. But there are ways to pass though it while still alive. Safe ways. All it takes is the knowledge of how to open one of the doorways.”

“Sounds like an episode of Doctor Who,” Donny said.

Levi frowned. “I’ve never heard of it. I don’t watch much television.”

“I hadn’t heard of it either until I went to Iraq. A buddy of mine used to watch it on his laptop. Guy flies around in a phone booth and goes to different worlds and stuff.”

“A friend of mine,” Levi said, “a reporter named Maria, told me that scientists call this string theory— different dimensions stacked up against each other like membranes. They are partially right. It sounds like this doctor program is partially right, as well.”

“Not for nothing,” Paul said, “but how does any of this help us?”

Levi pulled out his compass and studied it. To his dismay, the needle simply spun in a circle, not settling on any one point. He wondered if this could be some sort of residual effect of the soul cage, or if the compass was simply faulty. He put it back in his vest pocket and turned to Axel.

“You wouldn’t happen to own a compass, would you Mr. Perry, or anything else that I could use to determine direction?”

“No,” Axel replied, “but if you need to know which direction is which, I can help you there. If you turn round, back to that broom closet you were just snooping in, you’ll be facing due north.”

“Excellent.” Levi glanced at the ceiling. “And there are no eaves or decorations over our heads. Were it not for everything else, this would be absolutely perfect.”

Donny shook his head. “Everything else?”

“Normally, I would fast before attempting this working. Also, I’m missing some of the ingredients. Understand, I’m not a novice. I can do this without them. It just makes me uncomfortable—uneasy—to do so. These are forces that it’s better not to tamper with.”

“I don’t have a fucking clue what you just said.”

Levi chuckled. “That’s okay, Donny. It’s probably better that you don’t.”

“Just do whatever it is you’ve got to do,” Paul said.

“I need a minute to myself.”

“Do we have another minute?” Gus asked. “Will those things stay stuck outside that long?”

“Let us hope so. Could one of you snuff out the candle?”

Paul did as he’d asked. Levi fell silent. He stood in front of the closet door, bowed his head, folded his hands in front of him and then closed his eyes. His breathing grew shallow. He remained like that for a moment, feeling their gaze upon him.

“The hell is he doing?” Gus whispered.

“I don’t know,” Paul said. “Heck of a time for a nap.”

“Maybe he’s praying,” Jean said.

“Leave him alone, guys.” Donny’s tone was stern.

“I’ve seen him do things tonight that . . . well, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you, even with everything that’s happened.”

“None of this seems very Christian,” Gus said. “I thought Amish folks were Christians.”

Donny groaned. “You sound like Esther. She gave him shit earlier about that.”

“Oh,” Gus replied, “I ain’t saying there’s anything wrong with it. It just surprised me, is all. As for Esther, well . . . she’s old. Old folks are like that. Set in their ways.”

“Hey,” Axel said. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No offense. I didn’t mean nothing by it.”

Levi opened his eyes again, and the others fell silent.

His arm was no longer numb. His senses were once again sharp and alert. Without speaking, he walked over to the couch, pulled off the red blanket that had been draped over the back of it, and returned to the closet door. The blanket smelled of dust and disuse, and he idly wondered how often Mr. Perry used this basement before tonight. He spread the blanket out in front of the door and smoothed it out with his hands. Then he reached into his pockets and pulled out the rest of the salt. He poured this on the floor in a circle around the blanket. Finished, he motioned them over.

“I need you all to stand together, as close as possible. It’s very important that you be on the blanket from this point on. Whatever happens—even if our enemies break in here—do not go beyond this circle of salt. Don’t reach beyond it for anything. Don’t stretch beyond it, not even an elbow or the tip of your toe. If we are attacked, stand where you are. Don’t flee. If you have to sneeze, cover your mouth. Don’t even spit beyond the circle.”

Paul stared at him, clearly puzzled. “Why not?”

“Because nothing must break the circle. Do all of you understand?”

One by one, they nodded.

“In a moment,” Levi said, “I’m going to tell all of you to close your eyes. When I do that, you’ll need to keep them closed until I tell you to open them again. I can’t stress this enough. It’s even more important than not breaking the circle. We’ll walk together, hand in hand. I’ll lead you. It will be very quick, but it might not seem that way to you. You may hear things. Smell things. Even feel things. Ignore them. Whatever happens, do not open your eyes.”

“What happens if we do?” Gus asked.

“Remember how I said that traveling through the Labyrinth has adverse effects on people?”

Gus nodded.

“Keep your eyes closed and you won’t find out why. Now come. I sense our attackers are almost free.”

They moved onto the blanket and huddled together, jostling one another in order to fit. Jean picked up Bobby and held him. Levi checked the floor, making sure all of their feet were within the circle. Then he collected four candles from across the room and sat them down beyond the edge of the line of salt at different positions—north, south, east and west. The wax was still warm and pliable. He pulled a lighter from his pocket and relit them.

“Don’t do that,” Paul cautioned. “The dark men will see the light.”

“In a moment, that won’t matter. This procedure requires candles. Technically, they should be red, like the blanket, but I think I can make do.”

“But you just had me snuff one out.”

“Correct. And now I need some that are lit.”

He stepped into the circle, and they had to crowd together even tighter in order to make room for him on the blanket.

“Don’t anybody fart,” Gus said.

Bobby giggled at this until Jean shushed him.

Levi stuck his thumb in his mouth and bit down hard until he tasted blood. The others gasped and groaned, but held their positions. Taking his thumb from his mouth, Levi held his hand out over the blanket and squeezed out three drops of blood. As each drop fell, he repeated the same phrase.

“Ia unay vobism Huitzilopochtli. Ia dom tergo Ha thor.”

“If that don’t beat all,” Gus whispered. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

“Quiet,” Donny said.

Levi bowed his head and pressed his thumb against his pants leg until the bleeding stopped. When he spoke again, it was in a strong, authoritative yet apologetic tone.

“I stand, rather than sit in the appropriate and required manner, but I am safe inside a circle of protection, and I humbly ask that you not molest me. I come with great humility. I cannot pay proper homage, for my enemies are beset against me, yet I pray I do not offend. I come here to open a gate. Despite my meager offerings, I come with awe and respect. I come seeking passage. I call upon the Gatekeeper, who gave to us the Nomos, which is the Law. I call upon the Doorman, who is the Burning Bush and the Hand That Writes and the Watchman and the Sleepwalker. I call upon the voice of the Tetragrammaton. I call upon him who is called Huitzilopochtli and Ahtu; him who is called Nephrit-ansa and Sopdu; him who is called Hathor and Nyarlathotep. I call upon him whose real name is Amun. And thus, by naming thee and offering my blood thrice, I humbly request an opening. Those with me in the circle are under my protection. By following the Law to the best of my abilities and with limited resources, and by naming thee, I humbly ask that you grant us safe passage from this place. I humbly ask that you protect us, and that we not be harmed or molested by those who dwell between the walls or within the halls, or the denizens of Heaven nor hell, or the realms between them, or the Thirteen, or the things that live in the wastes beyond the levels. I humbly ask that you guide us so that we do not end up wandering and lost in that realm beyond the Labyrinth, the lost level, in which there are no exits save death. I beg of thee, and hope that so shall it be.”

Levi paused, aware that the others were holding their breath. Outside, the revenants howled, free of the binding spell.

“Okay,” Levi said. “I’ll need to get to the door, so make a little room for me—without breaking the circle. Everyone hold hands and close your eyes. Stay together. Don’t let go of each other and whatever you do, don’t open your eyes until I tell you it’s okay. I’ll lead the way. Donny, you’ll bring up the rear.”

Donny nodded. “That’s better than taking point.”

“Can you shut the door behind us? Remember, you can’t open your eyes, so you’ll have to do it by feel.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

Jean put Bobby down beside her and held his hand tightly. He reached up and took Axel’s hand. Axel smiled down at him.

“I forgot the Mrs. Chickenbaum stick, Mr. Perry. I’m sorry. Maybe we could go back and get it?”

“That’s okay, Bobby. I think Levi might have some better magic of his own.”

They carefully changed positions until Levi was closest to the door. Outside, the sounds of fury increased. Levi grasped Jean’s hand. Axel took Paul’s. Paul grabbed on to Gus’s hand and Gus took Donny’s.

“Won’t they be able to follow us?” Donny asked.

“No,” Levi said. “They can’t cross the circle.”

“But we can’t either.”

“We’ll be walking through a door. We’ll only step out of the circle for an instant. Now, everyone close their eyes. We have company.”

Upstairs, the front door crashed open, followed by the sound of breaking glass. Gus moaned and Bobby whimpered. To Levi, it sounded as if every window in the home had just imploded. Making sure that their eyes were indeed closed, Levi grasped the doorknob and opened the door. Gone were the shelves and the games and the winter gear. The door no longer led into a closet. Instead, it opened into a long, straight hallway that seemingly had no end. Each side of the corridor was lined with doors as endless as the hall itself.

“Now we have you, little magus! No more games.” The door at the top of the basement stairs was wrenched from its hinges by a powerful blow. Footsteps pounded down the stairs. Levi felt Jean squeeze his hand, hard.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the circle and led them forward.

***

“Somebody’s coming.”

Marsha’s eyes snapped open. She was amazed that despite their predicament, she’d almost dozed off on the couch. She’d been thinking about Donny— how angry she was with him for going with Levi, and how indicative it was of their entire relationship, and how she hoped, despite everything, that he was okay. Then her brother’s voice had roused her. She sat up quickly. Randy, Myrtle and Esther sat in the darkness. Randy was next to her on the couch. Esther and Myrtle occupied high-backed chairs across from them. Outside, the street was quiet.

“What do you mean, dear?” Esther leaned forward in her seat, staring at Randy intently.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “It’s just a feeling I’ve got all of the sudden. Someone is coming.”

“The killers?” Marsha reached out, took his hand and squeezed it.

Randy squeezed back. “I don’t know. Never mind. I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about . . . Oops. Sorry, Mrs. Laudry. Didn’t mean to curse.”

“It’s okay.”

“You could be right,” Myrtle said. “Perhaps you’re sensitive to these things. Levi seemed to think that you had hidden abilities.”

Esther rolled her eyes. “The boy would be much better off without Levi’s influence.”

Myrtle ignored her. “Did you ever notice anything before tonight, Randy?”

“Like what?”

“Feelings? Intuition? Maybe you knew what the questions were going to be on a test at school before you took it? Or maybe someone in your family lost or misplaced something, and you were able to tell them where to look?”

Randy stared at her as if she were crazy. “No. I’m just . . . me, you know? I don’t believe in that stuff.”

“It doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not. It’s still real.”

“I’m not special. That Amish dude is smoking crack or something. I’m just a normal kid. Brinkley Springs is my home.”

Myrtle pressed on. “But maybe you—”

“I’m not special!”

Marsha jumped, startled by her brother’s tone.

He released her hand and sprang to his feet.

“If I was fucking magic, then my mom and dad would still be alive. Sam and Steph . . . oh my God, Steph. You guys didn’t see her. She . . .”

He trailed off, unable to finish. Marsha stood and tried to comfort him, but Randy pushed her away. For a moment, she thought he was going to burst into tears again, but instead, her brother ran for the bathroom. They heard him bumping around in the darkness. A moment later, the toilet lid slammed against the tank and they heard him vomiting.

Marsha glared at Myrtle. “I think that will be enough, Mrs. Danbury.”

“I’m sorry, Marsha. I didn’t mean any harm.”

“I know you didn’t, but my brother has been through enough tonight. We all have. I don’t want you upsetting him anymore than he already is.”

“Of course, dear. Of course. I’m sorry about that. I just . . .”

“What?”

“Well, if Levi is right about your brother, then maybe Randy can help us. Maybe he can safeguard us, just in case Donny and Levi don’t return.”

Marsha fought to keep her emotions in check. She wanted to race across the room and pull the old woman from her chair and scream at her.

“Donny will come back.” She was aware of how cold and clipped she sounded, but at that moment, Marsha didn’t care. “He’ll be back.”

“I’m sure he will, dear.”

Marsha assumed that Myrtle was aware she’d hit a nerve, because she fell silent again after that. Esther hummed tunelessly and rocked back and forth. Her hands fretted with the hem of her blouse. Myrtle stared at the floor. Marsha sat back down again. The couch springs squeaked beneath her. After another minute, they heard Randy leave the bathroom and begin making his way through the dark.

“Are you okay?” Marsha called.

“Yeah, I’ll be alright. I just . . . Hey. What’s this light in the kitchen?”

The women glanced at each other, puzzled. Frowning, Esther stood up.

“What light is that, Randy?”

“Right here.” His voice grew muffled as he moved toward the kitchen. “It’s coming from inside your pantry. Did you leave a light on?”

“No. The power is still out.”

Esther, Myrtle and Marsha made their way to the kitchen. Randy was standing next to the refrigerator. He pointed as they entered.

“See?”

Sure enough, a yellow-white light was shining beneath the pantry door. It was bright enough to illuminate the linoleum floor beneath their feet.

“My word,” Esther said. “What in the world is that?”

The four looked at each other in concern. Esther took a step toward the pantry door but Marsha pulled her back, put a finger to her lips and shook her head.

“Don’t,” she mouthed.

They turned back to the pantry and stared at the light. As they watched, it grew brighter, creeping out from beneath the door and spreading across the kitchen floor like a miniature sunrise. Marsha noticed that she could see the others clearly now. The illumination was enough for her to notice the dark circles under her brother’s eyes and the dried blood on his skin. The light continued to grow, glinting off the appliances and the collectible-spoon rack hanging above the dining table.

Then they heard the footsteps—quiet at first, but growing steadily louder. Impossibly, they sounded as if they were coming from inside the pantry. Esther began to tremble. Whimpering, Myrtle reached out and took her friend by the arm. Behind them, Randy and Marsha clustered close together. None of them spoke.

The footsteps came closer, and now they heard a murmured voice. It sounded as if it were coming from a great distance away, perhaps out in the street or from one of the neighboring houses. Marsha held her breath and listened harder. No, the speaker wasn’t outside. The voice was coming from inside the pantry. Soon she realized that there were other voices with it.

And one of them was screaming.

The footsteps were now right on the other side of the door. The light grew brighter still.

“Get back,” Randy said. He stepped in front of them, placing himself between the women and the door. “They’re coming!”

The doorknob turned. The breathless screams grew louder. The door rattled. Marsha, Esther and Myrtle clung to one another. Randy stood with his fists clenched, but Marsha saw his knees shaking. The door opened, crashing against the wall with a thud and flooding the kitchen with a dazzling, blinding light. Marsha threw a hand over her eyes and squinted. There were figures in the middle of the light and a long hallway behind them.

Myrtle shrieked.

Levi stepped out of the open door, followed by a group of people. Squinting, Marsha looked for Donny. She didn’t see him. She was surprised to see others with Levi instead. Jean Sullivan came first, followed by her son, Bobby, who was followed by old Axel Perry and Paul Crowley. They were all holding hands, and all of them had their eyes closed. Paul’s arm trailed behind him, as if he was holding someone else’s hand.

“Where’s Donny?”

If Levi heard her, he gave no indication. Instead, he turned and faced the new arrivals. “Hurry. Jean, Bobby and Axel, you can all open your eyes. Paul, just a few steps more and then you can, too.”

“I can’t,” Paul said. “He ain’t moving.”

“Levi,” Marsha called. “Where is Donny?”

“Marsha?”

She squealed when she heard him call her name, but she still didn’t see him. His voice sounded muffled and far away.

“Gus,” Levi shouted, “you have to keep moving. Come on!”

Marsha realized that it was Gus Pheasant who was screaming. She glimpsed him right behind Paul, on his knees and clinging to the mountain man’s hand. His other arm was outstretched behind him, as if holding someone else’s hand, as well, but the light was too bright for Marsha to see who that person might be.

“Donny?” She stepped closer.

“Gus,” Levi urged. “Come on!”

“They aren’t doors,” Gus screamed. “They’re windows on worlds. Windows on goddamn worlds!”

“Goddamn it, Gus!” Paul faced straight ahead, his eyes squeezed shut. “I’m very sorry about what happened to your brother, but we don’t have time for this shit. Quit fucking around and get a move on!”

Levi brushed past Jean and Bobby, who rushed over to Esther and Myrtle and embraced them. Randy shoved forward, trying to help Levi as he grabbed onto Paul and pulled.

“Don’t let go of him, Paul.”

The fear in Levi’s voice filled Marsha with dread.

“I won’t. What do you want me to do?”

“Look toward the sound of my voice,” Levi told Paul. “You can open your eyes now, as long as you don’t turn around. Just don’t let go of Gus.”

Paul did as Levi commanded. His face was pale and sweaty. He looked exhausted.

“Levi,” Donny yelled from inside the light. “Something’s coming up behind me. I think they got through.”

“It’s not them, Donny. They can’t come through this way.”

“Then what the hell is it? It’s growling.”

“Just hang on a moment longer.”

“I saw a city,” Gus ranted as Paul teetered forward.

Gus’s eyes were wide open and blood leaked from the corners of them and ran down his cheeks. “I saw a big city with tall, silver buildings. The city covered an entire planet. There were robots living there instead of people. And there was another city, a different city, and it was made out of light.”

“Levi.” Donny’s voice was tinged with panic. “It’s getting closer. Do something, damn it!”

Levi turned to Randy. “Help me with him. Just don’t look directly into the light, okay? It’s like staring into the sun.”

Randy nodded, his mouth agape. Together, they grabbed Gus and dragged him forward. He reached for them with both hands. Levi gasped.

“Levi,” Donny shouted. “I lost my grip on Gus!”

“It’s okay. Don’t panic, Donny. You’re close now. Just walk straight ahead.”

Randy and Levi pulled the struggling auto mechanic out of the hallway. A moment later, Donny emerged from the light. Marsha ran to him and flung her arms around him as he stepped out of the pantry. His eyes popped open and he stared at her in disbelief.

“Marsha? Where . . . where are we?”

“Esther’s kitchen,” she said. “What happened? How did you . . . ?”

“We took a shortcut,” Levi said, and reached for the door. As he did, the light faded. The corridor was still visible, but now it seemed to be superimposed over Esther’s pantry. Shelves of canned goods lined the walls, but they seemed transparent, as if both locations—the corridor and the pantry—were occupying the same space at the same time.

“There were zombies.” Gus rocked back and forth on the kitchen floor. “Zombies, just like in the movies. Zombies and clowns and dinosaurs. And there was something in the middle of it all. Something dark, like tar, except that it didn’t have any shape.”

Levi slammed the door and said, “Ut nemo in sense tentat, descendere nemo. At precedenti spectaur mantica tergo. Ia Amun traust nodrog. Amun, Amun, Amun.”

The light vanished. To Marsha, it felt as if a great, invisible weight had been lifted off all of them. Her skin tingled. She looked down at her arms and saw goose bumps. Then Donny put his arm around her and she forgot all about them.

“You left,” she whispered. “Just like before. Goddamn it, Donny. You left again.”

“I know, but I came back. This is where I belong, Marsha. With you. You’re my home. Levi helped me see that. And I promise you that I won’t leave again. Not ever.”

She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. She wasn’t sure how long they remained like that, but eventually, she became aware that the others were looking at them.

Randy grinned. “So are you two back together or what?”

Gus’s rambling litany continued. “Goat men and lizard men and snake men and elephant men. There were creatures made out of fire who lived in the sun, and a whirlpool in space and a giant monster with a fucking squid for a goddamn head.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Axel asked. “Is he . . . crazy?”

Panting, Levi leaned against the wall, removed his hat and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “He opened his eyes and saw beyond the doors.”

“Everything is connected,” Gus moaned. “All of it. It’s like this big old puzzle, and everything is a piece. I was on a beach and these things crawled out of the ocean and they were part crab and part lobster, but they had scorpion tails.”

“Hey, buddy.” Paul knelt next to Gus and squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “Settle down, okay? It’s all over. We’re safe now. Levi got us out.”

“The moon blinked. We were in there a long time, you know? We walked and walked and it watched us the whole time.”

“What?”

Gus leaned close, his face inches from Paul’s.

“The moon. It blinked at me. It’s an eyeball. It was watching us.”

Paul looked up at Levi. “Is he going to be okay?”

“I honestly don’t know. In truth, probably not. His mind has snapped.”

“How? What happened to him in there?”

“There are some things that aren’t meant to be seen. He opened his eyes and saw them. That was why I cautioned all of you before we left.”

“What is all this?” Esther raised her voice. “Where did you all come from? How in the world did you get inside my pantry? Is it all over? Where are the killers?”

Levi sighed. “If I had to guess, I’d say they’re tearing the town apart looking for us.”

“But they can’t find us, right?” Donny asked.

“This place is safe.”

“Correct. As long as the wards I drew earlier are still in place, we remain hidden from them as long as we’re inside the bed-and-breakfast.”

Paul stood up. “So what happens now?”

“Now?” Levi put his hat back on his head. “Now, you pray the dawn arrives, while I prepare to make a last stand.”

ELEVEN

Donny didn’t want to move. Marsha felt good against him, warm and soft. She felt right. But when Levi urged them all back into the living room, he didn’t argue. Most of the others went quietly, too stunned and confused to question their unlikely champion. Only Gus remained behind, sitting on the floor, scratching at the linoleum with his fingernails and babbling about sea monsters that were part crab, part lobster and part scorpion. Paul and Randy pulled him to his feet and helped him along behind the others.

Levi put his hand on Donny’s shoulder and motioned for him to come closer. When the rest of the survivors were out of earshot, he leaned close.

“I’ll need your help.”

“You’ve got it,” Donny said. “Just tell me what you want me to do.”

“First, we need to get everyone upstairs. The wards and glyphs will protect them, but I need them all in one place, so that they don’t get in my way.”

“I don’t think anyone will argue with that.”

“I don’t either.”

“What happens after that? What’s the plan?”

“Let’s get them upstairs first.”

Donny followed Levi back into the living room.

Was it his imagination, or did the magus seem taller? Certainly his voice was more grim than it had been before. Even his stride seemed to have become stronger. His boots clomped on the wooden floor, despite the thick carpeting and rugs.

“Okay,” Levi addressed the group. “With luck, and God’s help, this will all be over soon.”

“God isn’t there,” Gus interrupted. “He’s been split in three, and one part of him is stuck in a loop. He is born again. And again and again and again, over and over. Poor guy.”

“Hush.” Paul ruffled Gus’s hair as if he were one of the mountain man’s beloved bear hounds.

“Can you stop them?” Marsha asked.

Levi nodded. “I believe so, yes. But again, I’ll need all of you to do exactly as I say. Otherwise . . .”

He didn’t have to finish, Donny noted to himself. They’d each seen enough horror for one night, and they had Gus as a living example of what could happen.

“I need all of you to go upstairs,” Levi continued. “Trust me when I tell you that you’ll be safe there. Certainly safer than you would be down here. Remember, our enemies can’t find you as long as you remain within this house. I want you to stay there until it’s safe to come back down.”

“And how will we know that?” Myrtle asked.

“Because I’ll still be alive. Donny is going to stay down here and help me—”

“No,” Marsha said.

Levi held up his hand. “He won’t be here the whole time, and he won’t be in any immediate danger. The same safeguards that protect the rest of you will be protecting him, as well. But I’ll need him to do something for me before he can join you upstairs. It’s something important. Indeed, without his help, my plan will fail.”

“I can help.” Randy stepped forward.

“No, you can’t.” Marsha grabbed her brother’s arm. “So can I,” Myrtle said. “Don’t forget, I know about this stuff, too. Tell me what you need me to do, and I’ll do it.”

“I appreciate your offers, but that won’t be necessary.”

“Bullshit,” Randy said. “Those fuckers killed my parents and my friends, yo. If you’re gonna kick their ass, then I want a piece, too.”

“The best thing you can do for your loved ones,” Levi said, “is to stay alive. That’s what they’d want. That’s all that matters now.”

“He’s right,” Donny told Randy. “Think about your sister, dude. You’ve both lost enough people tonight. She doesn’t need to lose you, too.”

Randy sneered. “Says the guy who keeps running out on her.”

Marsha gasped, and Randy shrugged her off. Donny opened his mouth to respond, but then thought better of it. In truth, the kid was right. He’d deserved that.

Gus took advantage of the momentary silence. He turned to Paul and said, “You know that Teddy Garnett fella? Old boy who lives up in Punkin Center?”

Paul nodded.

“I saw him. While we were in there. He passed by us in the hall. Except that it wasn’t him. It was a different him.”

Paul looked like he was ready to cry. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse with emotion.

“I reckon you had a bad dream is all, Gus. You’ll be okay. Just quiet down.”

“No, it wasn’t a bad dream. I’m not stupid, Paul. I know what I saw. It was Teddy, but it wasn’t. He had some other folks with him, too, but I didn’t recognize any of them. A real pretty black girl and some young guy dressed up like a mobster in one of those Tarantino movies and a fella our age. Looked like a farmer, maybe? He reminded me of Levi a little bit.”

Donny noticed Levi twitch at this, as if startled.

“Did they speak to you?” Levi asked. “Did this man give you his name?”

Gus turned to Levi and smiled. A thin line of drool hung from the corner of his mouth. “What?”

“This man. This farmer who reminded you of me. Did he give you his name? Was it Nelson LeHorn?”

Gus suddenly glanced down at his feet with a look of concern. “I want my Spider-Man slippers. Where did my Spider-Man slippers go?”

“Who’s Nelson LeHorn?” Donny asked.

“Someone from my past who disappeared a long time ago.” Levi shook his head. “Never mind that. It’s not important right now. I think we should begin. I’m anxious to end this, and I’m sure all of you are, as well.”

“You’re damn right,” Paul muttered.

“I can’t go anywhere without my Spider-Man slippers!”

Talking among themselves, the group headed upstairs. Marsha stopped halfway up and looked back at Donny. Her eyes shone in the darkness.

“I’ll be okay,” he said, trying his best to smile. “You’d better be.” She started to turn away.

“Marsha?”

She paused. “Yeah?”

“I love you. I always loved you. I know that now.”

“I love you too, you asshole.”

Marsha grinned. Donny grinned back. Then she turned and was gone.

“You should hold on to that one,” Levi said. “You’re meant to be together.”

“Did you read that in some tea leaves or tarot cards?”

“No. I read it in your eyes. And in hers. You’re soul mates.”

“I never believed in that stuff before.”

“I haven’t,” Levi said. “Not in soul mates, at least. Not in a long time.”

“So what changed your mind?”

“The two of you did. Now, let’s get started. We’ve got a lot to prepare.”

Levi returned to the kitchen. Donny followed him. When they got there, Levi stood facing the front door. He seemed to be studying the layout of the first floor. Donny remained silent while he did. The kitchen and front door were connected by a short hallway. One side of the dark hallway led to the living room. The other side led to the stairway, as well as the first-floor bathroom and a small bedroom. Apparently satisfied by what he saw, Levi turned and looked behind them, studying the rear door on the far side of the kitchen. He walked to it, parted the curtains and peered outside.

“Good. Only two entrances on this floor. I thought that was what I remembered from before, but we were pressed for time earlier, and I needed to make sure.”

“What do you need me to do?” Donny asked.

“Check the cupboards. I need bowls, coffee mugs—anything that I can burn sage in.”

While Donny did this, Levi opened the pantry door. Donny froze, half expecting to see the dark men leap out, but instead, the space was filled with shelves of dry and canned goods. Levi hunted around inside until he found a large canister of salt. He pulled it from the pantry and closed the door again. Then he grabbed the salt shaker from the counter and unscrewed the top of it. Thus armed, he began sprinkling lines of salt in front of the kitchen window and the back door. Donny grabbed an armload of blue ceramic bowls from the cupboard and sat them on the counter. Levi looked up and nodded.

“Those will be fine.”

“I don’t think Mrs. Laudry will be too happy with us. These are nice bowls.”

“I think she’d be even less fond of the alternative.” Levi reached in his vest pocket and pulled out the two dried bundles of sage. He tossed it to Donny. Donny caught it with one hand. “Put some of that in each bowl.”

“How much should I use?”

“All of it, but in even amounts, if possible.”

Donny spread the bowls out on the counter and began dividing up the sage. The smell was not unpleasant. He found it strangely soothing. While he did this, Levi left the room. Donny finished just as he returned.

“What now?”

Levi picked up two bowls. “We place these around the first floor and light them.”

He placed one bowl beneath the kitchen window and another next to the back door. Then he picked up two more. Donny did the same and followed along behind him. They put the bowls all over the house, and Donny noticed that Levi had salted most of the house. All of the doors and windows had a line of salt beneath them. The only areas that didn’t were the front door and the stairwell.

“Don’t we need salt there, too?” Donny nodded toward the front door.

“Not yet. Remember, I placed a ward above the door before we left earlier.”

Squinting, Donny looked above the door. Sure enough, the words were still there, written in black Magic Marker and almost unnoticeable in the gloom.

“What about the stairs?” he asked.

“That comes next. Listen carefully. They’ll be coming soon.”

“Wait—I thought you said they couldn’t find us as long as we’re in the house.”

“They couldn’t,” Levi said. “But now I want them to.”

“So you’re using us as fucking bait?”

Levi didn’t respond. “I’ll remove the ward over the front door. When I do that, they’ll be able to sense our presence. I imagine they’ll waste no time in coming here. The rest of the house will remain sealed, so they’ll have no choice but to enter through the front door.”

“And kill every one of us. This plan sucks, Levi.”

“They won’t hurt the others. It’s me they want most of all, and perhaps Randy.”

“All the more reason not to lead them here. We’re sitting ducks. Talk about a fucking ambush!”

“It is an ambush,” Levi agreed, “but we’re the ones ambushing them. They’ll go after me first. Trust me on this.”

“But there’s no salt in front of the stairs. What’s to stop them from going up there first and slaughtering everybody?”

“You. You’re stopping them.”

“How?”

Levi pulled out his copy of The Long Lost Friend and handed it to him. “All you have to do is stand firm. They can’t hurt you as long as you have this. If they go for you first—and understand, that is unlikely—then you’ll only need to stall them long enough for me to get their attention. But I don’t think that will happen. I think they’ll come in the front door, see me and let their anger and hatred consume them. In fact, I’m counting on it.”

“But without the book, they’ll rip you to pieces.”

Levi smiled. “They didn’t get me back at Axel’s house, and I’m confident that they won’t get me here. I still have a few other tricks up my sleeve. And again, that’s where you come in. I need you to hide on the stairwell. When they come in, wait until all five have gone past you. Then, I need you to sneak down the stairs behind them and salt both the front door and the bottom of the stairwell. Do the door first. Then the stairs.”

“And they won’t be able to get upstairs.”

“Exactly. Nor will they be able to leave.”

Donny shook his head. “I don’t know, Levi. This sounds like suicide to me.”

“I need to have them all in one spot. This is the only way to do that.”

“What happens after you’ve got them in here? What are you going to do? A big magic battle?”

“Hardly. Nothing so cinematic. That only happens in Harry Potter. The truth is, I still don’t know how to fight them.”

Donny’s heart sank. He gaped at Levi, speechless. After a moment, he ran a hand across his head, feeling his scalp tingle beneath his buzz cut.

“So . . . all of this is what? A bluff? A lie? Something just to make the others feel safe? Are we gonna die?”

“No.” Levi’s paused, and then softened his tone. “No, not if I can help it. I don’t know how to defeat them for good, but I do know how to make them someone else’s problem. If my plan goes accordingly, they won’t trouble our world again. They’re revenants, but of a type previously unknown to me. When we’re done, I can search for their physical forms— probably buried in a grave somewhere near the original Roanoke Colony. Usually, if you destroy a revenant’s physical remains, you destroy its spiritual form, as well. I’m hoping that rule will apply to our adversaries.”

“It damn well better.”

Levi leaned against the wall. His shoulders sagged. He seemed tired. When he looked at Donny again, he seemed ten years older.

“Go upstairs,” Levi said. “Join the others. But be ready. After you’ve completed your task, do not cross the lines of salt—for any reason—until you hear from me again. Now, I must pray for God’s guidance and strength. When I’m done, I’ll let them know where we are.”

Donny nodded. He started to leave and then hesitated. Turning, he thrust out his hand. Levi shook it.

“Good luck,” Donny whispered.

“May the Lord protect us all,” Levi answered.

Then Donny went upstairs and waited for Levi to ring the dinner bell.

***

After Donny was gone, Levi quickly went to the pantry door. He placed his forehead and palms against it, closed his eyes and murmured a prayer in a language not spoken on Earth. Slowly, the light returned and began to creep out from beneath the door again. Then the light changed color, first turning red and then pale blue, before settling on a sickly grayish hue. When Levi straightened up again and pulled his hands away from the door, they were shaking. His forehead was bathed in sweat. He placed his hand on the doorknob. It was warm and wet. He turned it, opening the door just an inch. More light leaked through.

He pulled out his cigarette lighter and, one by one, lit the bowls of sage. The thick, pleasant aroma quickly filled the house. Levi breathed deep, drawing strength from it. His aches and pains vanished. His mind was soothed. He patted his vest pockets and discovered that at some point during the night’s battles, he’d lost his knife. With no time to mourn the loss, he selected a steak knife from one of Esther’s kitchen drawers and stood beneath the front door. Gritting his teeth, he turned his right-hand palm upward and sliced it open with the knife, moaning slightly from the pain and hoping the others wouldn’t hear him. Then he made another cut, forming an X pattern in his flesh. Blood flowed over his hand and splattered onto the floor. It streamed down his wrist and crept beneath his shirtsleeve. Grimacing, Levi held up his red right hand and smeared blood over the words written above the door. He did this three times, moving from left to right, as if he were painting. Then, he stood back and surveyed his handiwork. Satisfied that the words were obscured, Levi opened the front door.

“Get ready,” he called to Donny as he hurried back to the kitchen. “They’ll be coming now.”

As if in confirmation, the creatures’ cries echoed across the town. Levi sat cross-legged in front of the pantry door, lit by the glow coming from the other side, and squeezed his wrist, hoping to stanch the flow of blood.

He did not have to wait long. His foes arrived within minutes. They made no attempt to mask their approach. Their cries and threats preceded their arrival. Even so, he felt their presence long before they reached the house. The sensation filled him with loathing . . .

. . . and terror. A terror he hadn’t felt in quite some time. He focused on his breathing and tried not to panic. He needed to keep his thoughts clear and his will strong. Was it his imagination, or was the scent of the sage fading?

“Your will be done, Lord.”

Shadows moved in the open doorway. There was a sibilant hiss, and then all five entities appeared. They paused, standing at the threshold. One of them sniffed the air.

“Sage, and salt. And blood. We know these ingredients. What paltry trick do you cling to now, Levi, son of Amos?”

“No trickery,” he called. “The way is open to you. Enter freely and of your own will. I give you my word that I will not harm you in this place.”

The creatures hesitated for another moment. Levi worried that they might not take the bait. Then, one by one, they entered the home.

The tallest pointed. “The remainders are clustered upstairs. See to them, that our work here might be done.”

Levi’s pulse increased. “Why? Are you afraid to face me instead?”

“Do not try our patience, bearded one.”

“I seek not to offend, but I must admit that I’m perplexed. The others cannot harm you, and yet you focus on them first. I would think that instead, you would wish to deal with me first. After all, I’m the real threat.”

The five shadowed figures crept closer, nearing the stairs. Levi held his breath, hoping they wouldn’t divert, and hoping Donny could hold his ground if they did.

“Your arrogance will be your undoing, little magus.”

“And your self-assuredness will be yours. It always is for your kind. Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.”

“He has forsaken you. He has forsaken all of you.”

“He has done no such thing.”

That’s it, Levi thought. Keep coming. Just a few more steps . . .

The creatures halted at the stairs. Two of them glanced up, sniffing the air. One licked his lips.

“My God is stronger than yours,” Levi taunted. “You know this to be true. I serve the one true God.”

“Your God has no power over us, and neither do you.”

“If that’s true, then face me, cowards.”

That did it. Levi grinned.

Snarling, the revenants forgot about the humans upstairs and stalked toward him. Their eyes and teeth flashed in the darkness. The air grew colder and the gloom seemed to deepen. Levi shivered. Beyond them, he saw a figure sneak down the stairs, moving silently, and dart toward the front door.

Thank you, Lord. Just a moment longer.

The dark men entered the kitchen. Levi remained still, projecting calm. His legs were still crossed. He held out his hands, palms up.

“Now,” he said, smiling up at them. “I guess you’re wondering why I’ve called you here.”

One of the figures raked its talons along the wall. “Enough of this. You’ve stalled long enough. Now you die.”

“Go ahead, Levi,” Donny shouted.

The revenants turned at the sound of his voice, just as Donny fled up the stairs. Two of them raced over to the stairwell, but halted when they reached the salt.

“What is this?”

“It’s salt.” Levi stood up again. He was still grinning.

“You’ll note that it now covers all entrances and exits from this place. I know it’s not really a sphere, but according to the Law, it still counts as a circle.”

The figure closest to Levi smiled. “Very good, little magus. This was unexpected.”

“Thank you. I like to think on my feet.”

“Of course, it is a futile gesture. There is one thing you didn’t consider, Levi, son of Amos. There is one crucial flaw in this pitiful attempt to defeat us.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“You are trapped in the circle with us.”

“No.” Levi’s smile vanished. “It’s you who are trapped in here with me.”

Levi sprang to his feet as they charged toward him. Everything now came down to timing and placement. He had to be exact, had to make it look natural, or all of his efforts would be for naught. He would die here, in this broken circle, and Meeble’s minions would win.

He darted to the left and ran toward the slightly open door, seemingly attempting to evade his attackers and get behind them. The ruse worked. They slammed into him in front of the pantry. Their talons and teeth slashed at him, ripping and tearing. Levi howled in pain as his blood began to flow. The creatures howled with him, shouting angry curses in a language not their own. Levi let his knees go weak, allowing their combined weight and the force of their attack to drive him backward. He prayed they’d come with him, and his prayer was answered. They clung tightly, their claws sinking deeper into his flesh. Half-blind from pain, Levi crashed into the pantry door and tumbled through to the other side. The revenants fell with him. They toppled to the ground together, but his opponents were too enraged to notice that their surroundings had changed. Biting his lip to stifle his screams, Levi lashed out with his foot and kicked the door shut.

Esther’s pantry vanished, taking the rest of the world with it.

Slowly, their attack ceased. One by one, they withdrew from him and stood, staring speechless at their new surroundings. Levi did the same. The overcast sky was filled with grayish-yellow clouds of mist so impressive in size that they almost appeared to be floating landmasses. The soft ground was spongy and slick. White, fibrous strands of what looked like peach fuzz sprouted from the surface. Moisture seeped through Levi’s clothing and when he pulled his hands away, his palms were wet. His skin felt slimy, as if he’d been grasping earthworms or slugs. The landscape was featureless, save for a variety of sickly gray and white toadstools, mushrooms and other fungi. Some were miniscule. Others were as tall as redwood trees. The air was thick with the smell of mildew. Far off in the distance, a black river of what looked like tar wound its way through the fungus. It was spanned by a cyclopean bridge made entirely of mold. Beyond that, on the horizon, great gray mountains towered into the poison sky. They were dreary looking and somehow obscene, and the sight of their peaks filled Levi with dread. A city composed of windowless black towers stood in their shadow. Atop the tallest mountain sat a giant geometric sculpture, a shining trapezoid that spilled light onto the valley below. Despite his immediate danger, Levi was awestruck by its size. He’d read of the monolith before, but to see it like this, to actually view the shining trapezoid . . . No written account did it justice.

The shadows stirred.

“What trickery is this, little magus?”

Groaning, Levi stumbled to his feet. Blood ran from both of his arms as well as his back, chest and face. He’d broken the index finger of his right hand, and he was pretty sure that his right wrist was sprained, too. The flesh was already beginning to swell, and the pain made him nauseous.

“No trickery. I promised you that I wouldn’t harm you in Esther’s place, and I have honored my word. I have brought you elsewhere.”

“You speak in riddles.”

“No, I don’t. Welcome to your new home, gentlemen.”

They turned on him, growling. Their elongated talons had shrunk back into their fingers, and their clothes and faces weren’t so dark anymore.

“Don’t bother trying to shape-shift,” Levi continued. “You can’t anymore. In fact, if I’m correct—and I suspect that I am—you’ll find that you’re all quite powerless here.”

“Meeble’s strength follows us wherever we go. It is within us.”

“Back on Earth, perhaps, but not here. Not in this place. You see, this is not your master’s domain.”

Grunting, the tallest of the five made a dismissive gesture with his hand and pulled himself up to his full height. “After all your boasts, you have merely delayed the inevitable, Levi, son of Amos. You may be able to walk the paths of the Labyrinth, but bringing us here will not save you. What do my brothers and I care for worlds? We will lay waste to this one, just as we laid waste to your own. This world’s populace shall know of our master’s power, and we will feed here just as well.”

“Go ahead, then. Leave your mark. Carve Croatoan in the trunk of one of those great mushrooms. Carve your master’s name here, in the domain of Behemoth!”

They gaped at him. The fear on their faces was palpable, and Levi couldn’t help but laugh. After all of the terror they’d caused the people of Brinkley Springs, not to mention countless other human beings going all the way back to the original Roanoke settlement, it felt good to see them scared and to know that he was the source of their fear. He forced himself to ignore the twinge of pride.

“I see by your expressions that you understand now. That’s correct. We stand beneath the noxious skies of Yuggoth, home of Behemoth, the Great Worm and one of the Thirteen, who is the equal of your master.”

“You lie.”

Levi shook his head. “You know that I don’t. According to the Law, you are forbidden to do your working here, lest you risk a war between the Great Worm and your master—a conflict which would ultimately anger He Who Shall Not Be Named. I don’t think Meeble would appreciate such insolence.”

His opponents began to tremble. Whether from fear or rage, Levi couldn’t be certain. Perhaps both. Either way, they were still dangerous, even without their powers.

“Open the door,” the shortest one said. “Return us to our world and we will let you live. On this you have our word.”

Levi shook his head. “Not a chance.”

“Then you have doomed yourself, as well, little magus.” The tallest of the five stepped closer. “If you know of Yuggoth, then you know what grows here. Even as we speak, you are breathing the poisoned spores into your lungs. You are inhaling Behemoth’s seeds. They will take root in your body and begin to grow, ultimately transforming you—if the wounds we inflicted do not kill you first.”

“I’ve had worse,” Levi bluffed. In truth, his legs felt wobbly and he was growing weaker with every moment. He needed to stop the bleeding and attend to his injuries. His wrist continued to swell, and the skin around it felt hot to the touch and had turned an angry shade of red. His finger, bent and swollen, throbbed painfully with each beat of his heart. He took a deep breath. The air was sweltering and thick, and coated his tongue. Levi grimaced. It was like breathing hot soup. He smacked his lips and tasted mildew in the back of his throat.

“This will be the end of you, bearded one.”

“Perhaps,” Levi said, “but I’d rather succumb to the white fuzz than return you to my world. Better to turn into a mushroom than to allow you to continue your work.”

As he talked, Levi pressed his left hand to the wound on his chest. It was bleeding profusely. He cupped his palm and his hand filled with warmth.

“Open the door,” the shortest one repeated. This time, his voice had a pleading tone. “We promise to return to our place of rest and bother you and those under your protection no more. Again, you have our word.”

“And what of next time?” Levi asked. “What happens when you come out of hibernation and murder another town? What about all the others you’ll kill? No, I’ll not have that on my conscience. There’s enough blood on my hands.”

“Dead men don’t have consciences.” The revenant who said this glanced at his brothers and laughed.

Blood dripped through Levi’s fingers. “I’m not dead yet.”

“Then let us rectify that,” the tall one said. “Powerless or not, there are five of us and one of you. You are outnumbered and you are wounded.”

They moved toward him in a half circle. The two on the ends tried to flank him on either side. Levi flung a fistful of his blood at the one on the left, spattering his face and clothing.

“By His blood I bind thee. By His blood I command thee. By His blood, which was shed for me, do I trod on thee.”

Shrieking, the dark man recoiled, clawing at his face. Smoke rose from his clothing and skin. He collapsed to the ground and lay writhing and kicking as the smoke grew thicker.

“The power and the glory forever, amen.”

The others hesitated, glancing down at their brother in confusion and panic. Levi cupped his hand to his breast and gathered more of his blood.

“Now there are four of you,” he said. “Did I mention that without your abilities, my powwow works on you?”

They charged him all at once, rushing forward. Levi splashed a fistful of blood in the face of the closest attacker. The dark figure reeled backward. The other three slammed into Levi, pushing him to the ground. He struck the surface hard, yelping as his wounds were opened afresh. The ground itself yielded, seeming to suck him deeper. A flurry of blows rained down upon him. Their fists battered his face and chest. A punch to his stomach forced the air from his lungs. He gasped, breathing in more of the noxious, musty air and tasting mildew and blood. His stomach lurched. The pounding continued. Levi closed his bruised and swelling eyes and exhaled.

“He loses consciousness already, brothers.”

“He does, indeed. Stay awake, little magus.”

“We have only just started with you. We do not need our powers to rend the flesh from your bones or show you your insides. We can do it with our bare hands.”

Levi ignored the rough, chattering voices and focused on himself. The pain faded until he no longer felt the blows and punches, even though they continued to fall upon him. He could no longer hear his attackers, no longer feel their crushing weight. Gone, too, was the cloying, potent stench of the planet’s atmosphere and the wet, slimy touch of the ground. There was only Levi, floating above himself. He looked down at his body, watched with a sense of detachment as one of his attackers wrapped their hands around his throat and squeezed. Summoning all of his strength, Levi found his center and then returned to his body.

He forced what little air remained in his lungs through his nose and simultaneously pushed with his mind. His shoulders stiffened and his body trembled as he shoved harder, visualizing his will as a physical bludgeon. Then his eyes snapped open and all three of his attackers were shoved backward as if they’d been struck. They flew through the air like rag dolls, soaring away from him before ultimately slamming into the fibrous, fungal surface.

Levi struggled to sit up. Each movement was agony. One of his eyes had swollen completely shut and the other was only a slit. He strained, trying to find the spot where the doorway had been. If he couldn’t find it, he’d be trapped here with them. His opponents would never let him live long enough to open a second passage. Wincing, he turned his head. The three attackers lay still, apparently stunned by the force of his psychic defense. The other two—the ones he’d splashed with blood—were now just smoking piles of ash. He wondered where their spirits had gone. Here, or back to Earth, where their original bodies still lay buried?

One of the three remaining revenants twitched. Levi tried to stand up, but found that he couldn’t. The pain was too great. Resolving to try again, he bit his lip—and screamed aloud. It had been smashed and split by the beating he’d taken, but the pain helped him focus. It forced him on. Still, despite his best efforts, his body refused to obey his commands. Levi crawled forward on his hands, trailing his useless legs behind him. His feet carved shallow furrows in the ground, and his elbows made sucking sounds in the turf as he pulled himself along. Stagnant water pooled around him, welling up from below the surface. Levi was suddenly aware of being very thirsty, and for a brief moment, he considered drinking the loathsome liquid. Just a little bit, enough to quench his thirst.

“No . . .” He meant to shout it, but the utterance was barely a croak.

Whimpering, Levi focused on the terrain. He dragged himself through the ashes of his enemies, smearing them against his damp, bloody clothes, until he’d reached the spot where the door should be. The wind howled, racing across the gray-white plain. Levi raised one trembling hand and almost blacked out. His vision wavered. His ears roared. He forced himself to take another deep breath, inhaling more of the sickening air. It felt gritty, as if he’d breathed in sandpaper. The sensation passed, and his vision returned. Levi raised his hand again, stretching one quivering arm forward. When his broken finger brushed against the invisible door, he moaned. The crooked digit throbbed. His vision blurred again, and this time, it did not clear.

Running footsteps squelched behind him. Levi rolled over just as the tallest of the revenants flung itself at him. The attacker landed next to him, face first in the terrain. When he lifted his head, his cheeks and chin were covered with white fungus. Snarling, he bared his teeth. Despite his pain and delirium, Levi noticed how yellow they were now. They looked old and brittle, not at all the shining white fangs that had glinted in the darkness of Brinkley Springs.

Levi made a fist, grabbing a handful of the damp soil, and flung it into the dark man’s face. Then, using the last of his physical strength, he crawled forward and plunged both his middle finger and his broken index finger into the revenant’s eyes. There was a brief moment of resistance, as if he were pressing against a balloon, and then it vanished. His fingers slid into the sockets with ease. Jellied pulp squirted out around his knuckles. The revenant screamed.

“That’s it,” Levi whispered. “Scream. It’s better when you scream.”

His opponent shuddered and then lay still. Levi pulled his fingers from the ruined sockets and glanced over at the other two. Both were beginning to stir. The roaring grew louder in his ears and his vision blurred a third time. He tried reaching for the door again but for some reason, his arms no longer wanted to work. Like his legs, they had ultimately betrayed him.

He collapsed onto the spongy ground and stared through one slit at the empty space in front of him.

“Your will be done, Lord. On Yuggoth, as it is in Heaven.”

And then, a dark crack appeared in the air. Dim candlelight flickered inside of it. Levi heard voices— Randy’s and Marsha’s, followed a moment later by Donny’s.

“He said not to break the circle.” Donny sounded frantic.

“But he’s gone,” Randy said. “Let’s look in the pantry. Maybe he went back through that . . . other place, again.”

The crack grew wider. Moaning, Levi crawled toward it. Marsha and Randy stood in the doorway, gasping in surprise at the vista spread out before them.

“Don’t breathe,” Levi gasped. “Get back and don’t breathe it in.”

He heaved himself through the open door and tumbled onto Esther’s kitchen floor. The linoleum felt cool beneath his skin. Randy, Marsha and Donny hovered over him, their expressions concerned and alarmed.

“Jesus, Levi.” Donny scanned his wounds. “You look like you’ve been through a meat grinder.”

“We’ve got to get him to a hospital,” Marsha said. “No.” Levi shook his head weakly. “Must . . . close . . . door. Get rid . . . of . . . circle.”

“How?” Donny asked.

“The salt.” Randy stood up and then glanced down at Levi. “We’ve got to get rid of the salt, right?”

Levi nodded.

“How do you know that?” Marsha asked.

“I don’t know. I just do. He was fooling with salt earlier. I reckon it makes sense.”

The three of them brushed the lines of salt away from the doors and windows with their hands and feet. Slowly, the light beneath the pantry door faded. When they were finished, Donny returned. He knelt and pressed Levi’s copy of The Long Lost Friend into his hands. Levi couldn’t feel the book between his numb fingers, but knowing it was there made him feel better. He waited until Donny looked into his eyes again and then let his gaze fall upon the pantry door. Then he looked at Donny again.

“You want me to check?” the younger man asked.

“Yes . . .”

Slowly, Donny opened the door. He crouched as he did so, ready to leap out of the way should something charge through it. He relaxed when Esther’s canned goods stood revealed.

Levi smiled. He took one last shuddering breath, and then the darkness consumed him.

TWELVE

The first things Levi became aware of when he regained consciousness were the warm feel of sunlight on his face and the smell of incense. There were soft pillows beneath his head, and if he wasn’t mistaken, a feather comforter pulled over his body. He heard water dripping and then a moment later, a cold, wet cloth was placed on his forehead, chasing away the warmth from the sun. Levi opened his eyes. Myrtle stared down at him. Esther stood over her shoulder. He was lying in a bed. The room seemed strangely familiar. His finger was splinted with popsicle sticks and his wounds were bandaged with gauze.

“You’re awake,” Myrtle said. “Welcome back. How do you feel?”

“Much . . . much better, thank you. Where are we?”

“Your room,” Myrtle said. “We moved you up here after . . . well, after everything happened. We didn’t know what to do. The men folk said that you’d told them we couldn’t get out of town. So we brought you up here and I went home and got some of my things, and we’ve been caring for you as best we can.”

“The soul cage is most likely gone,” Levi said. “I would guess you’re all free to leave town again.”

“Is that what it was? That’s what was keeping us here? A soul cage?”

He nodded.

Myrtle frowned. “I’ve read about them. I thought they were tiny things.”

“Not this one. It took an incredible amount of power to construct, but it surely vanished when its creators left this level.”

“Level?”

“Level of reality. Plane of existence. When they left this world.”

“Will they be back?”

Levi paused before answering. He was keenly aware that both women were staring at him intensely.

“I don’t think so. In truth, there is still much I don’t know about them. But I don’t think they can return, and after I’ve finished my business in Virginia Beach, I’ll take measures that I think will insure they never bother anyone again. Their mortal remains—the remnants of what they once were before their transformation—must be located somewhere on Roanoke. All I have to do is find them and destroy them.”

“Do you think it’s safe to wait that long?” Myrtle asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, your injuries. I would imagine it will be several days at the very least before you’re up and about again.”

“I appreciate your concern, and everything you’ve done for me, but really, I’m fine.” After quickly verifying that he was dressed beneath the sheets, Levi pulled back the heavy feather comforter. Then he pulled up his shirt and peeled back the gauze, wincing as the medical tape pulled at his hair. The ragged slashes and tears that had crisscrossed his chest and abdomen only hours before were now closed. Only pink lines remained. He held up his splinted finger. While still puffy, it was no longer crooked. The bone had obviously been set.

“How . . . ?” Myrtle’s hand fluttered to her throat. “I’m a fast healer.” He took her hand and smiled.

“And I had you looking after me. I’m sure that helped, as well. You’re quite a capable woman, Myrtle. God has given you the talent of healing.”

He released her hand and Myrtle blushed. Beaming, she stood up and almost tripped over the chair. Esther turned around and Levi noticed she was hiding a grin behind her hand.

“Why don’t you be a dear, Myrtle, and run downstairs and get Mr. Stoltzfus some water? I’m sure he’s thirsty after his ordeal.”

Myrtle nodded, still blushing. “Yes, of course.”

She bustled out of the room and they heard her humming as she went down the stairs.

“You’re quite the flirt, Mr. Stoltzfus. I reckon Myrtle is quite smitten with you.”

Levi chuckled. “Thank you, Mrs. Laudry. Thank you for letting me use your home. I’m sorry for what I brought into it. I know that my ways are not your own, and I respect that. I’ll be out of your hair within the hour.”

“No. I’m the one who is sorry. I was wrong about you, Levi. You saved us. I may not agree with your methods, and I darn sure don’t understand everything that happened here last night, but I do know one thing. God sent you here. God has his hand on you, and he placed you here in Brinkley Springs so that you could confront those demons.”

“Yes, I believe that He did.”

“This isn’t the first time such a thing has happened,either, is it?”

“No.”

Her expression turned sad. “That must be a very lonely existence.”

“No lonelier than Christ felt when he prayed in the garden the night before his crucifixion. I do what I’m called to do, Esther. It’s not like I have a choice.”

“Well, I thank God for you, Mr. Stoltzfus.”

“Thank you.” He paused. “Are you okay?”

Esther dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve. When she spoke again, her voice was thick with emotion.

“I don’t know. I lived here all my life, and now . . . it’s all gone. Brinkley Springs was dying before they came. I knew that. Another ten or fifteen years and this would have been a ghost town. But still, I never imagined it would die like this. Murdered. All those people, folks I’ve known for years. Still, it would have been worse had you not been here.”

Levi nodded, unsure of what to say. He doubted that any Bible verse or homily he could offer would comfort her.

“It really is amazing how quickly you healed.”

“In truth, it wasn’t my wounds that concerned me the most. It was the spores in my lungs.”

“Spores?”

“Yes. To rid us of our enemies, I had to transport them elsewhere—to a place where the very air will kill you.”

“Will you be okay?”

He nodded. “I will be. Had I not had the opportunity to meditate and clear my system, I might not be, though.”

“Meditate? We thought you’d passed out from blood loss.”

“And I had. Blood loss and shock. But even in that state, I was aware. I knew what I had to do. It’s really nothing more than another form of prayer.”

“But how did you—?”

The door opened. Myrtle entered the room, holding a bottle of spring water. Behind her were Donny, Marsha and Randy. All three stared at Levi in astonishment.

“There’s no way you should be awake, let alone sitting up,” Donny said. “But I reckon I’m not surprised.”

He stuck out his hand and Levi shook it firmly. “How is everyone?” Levi asked.

“About how you’d expect,” Donny said. “Jean Sullivan’sbeen crying a lot. Her son seems okay, though. Kids adapt quick, you know? Paul has been pretty quiet. I think he’s still in shock. He’s outside, surveying the damage.”

“His dogs?”

Donny shook his head. “They didn’t make it. That was the first place he went. He came back here, after. He didn’t say much, other than that they were dead. I got the impression that whatever happened to them, it wasn’t pretty.”

“No,” Levi said, “I don’t imagine it was.”

“We locked Gus in one of the bedrooms,” Donny continued. “He’s not violent or anything, but obviously, he’s not right in the head. We didn’t want him running off into the woods or anything.”

“I checked on him a little bit ago,” Marsha said.

“He was drawing mazes on a notepad. But at least he was calm.”

“And Mr. Perry?”

“He’s taking a nap downstairs on Esther’s sofa,” Donny said. “I think this experience wore him out.”

Levi nodded. “I think it wore us all out.”

“I want to do what you do,” Randy said, stepping forward. “I mean, the way you took care of those fuckers . . . I can do that, too, right?”

Levi glanced at Donny and Marsha, and then back to Randy.

“Is it true?” Randy persisted. “Can you teach me to do what you do?”

“No,” Levi lied, thinking back to when he was Randy’s age. “I can’t teach you. I was wrong.”

“But . . . but all that stuff you said about my aura and shit? I thought I was special.”

“I was mistaken. I was under a lot of stress. The truth is, you’re normal, Randy. You’re not magic. You don’t have the ability. You’re just normal. And trust me, that’s a very good thing to be. Don’t despair over it.”

Randy’s expression turned to confusion and disappointment. Levi hated that he’d lied to the teen, and hated even worse the pain he saw in Randy’s eyes. But that pain was much better than the pain a life like Levi’s would bring him. He glanced at Marsha and Donny again. Both nodded at him in silent understanding.

“You’re sure?” Randy asked. “You’re sure that I’m not like you?”

Levi nodded. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

***

Dee whinnied happily as Levi fastened her harness.

“I’m glad to see you, too, girl. You missed all the fun.”

The horse stomped her foot and snorted.

“Oh, don’t start that. Trust me, you were much better off down by the riverside. You lucked out this time.”

“She’s beautiful.”

Levi turned. Marsha and Donny were crossing

Esther’s yard. Marsha gazed at Dee lovingly.

“Can I pet her?”

“Of course,” Levi said. “I think she’d like that.”

Marsha stroked the horse’s flank, and Dee swished her tail and nodded her head.

“No traffic yet,” Donny said, looking down the street. “But they’ll be coming through soon—folks from other towns, passing through here on their way to work, and long-haul truckers on their way north or south.”

“Yes,” Levi said. “Are the phones or electric working again?”

“The power is still out. So are the land lines. But cell-phone service is back up again. Spotty as ever, but it was like that before they came.”

“Have any of you called the authorities yet?”

“No.” Donny ran a hand across his crew cut. “To be honest, Levi, we’re not sure just who the hell to call. I mean, who do you report something like this to? You got any ideas?”

Levi shrugged. “Start with the local authorities. It doesn’t matter, really. Once word gets out—and it will get out—everyone will descend upon this place. The state police. The National Guard. The FBI. Black Lodge. The cover-up will begin almost immediately. They’ll blame the events here on terrorists or something similar. Perhaps a biological incident. They’ll attempt to buy your silence and complicity. If they can’t do that, then they’ll discredit you.”

Donny raised his eyebrows. “Black Lodge? Those guys really exist?”

Levi shrugged again. “So I’m told. I’m surprised you know of them.”

“I heard some stuff when I was in the army.”

“Well, just be careful. If you’re still inclined to leave, Donny, I’d do it this morning, before word of what’s happened here gets out. I imagine the next few weeks will be very trying for everyone involved.”

Marsha stopped petting Dee and moved to Donny’s side. He put his arm around her and hugged her tight.

“I’m not leaving, Levi. I’ve decided to stick around. The town needs a defender, now that you’re moving on.”

Levi smiled. “That’s excellent, my friend. It sounds to me like you’ve come home for good.”

Donny kissed Marsha’s head. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I have.”

Still smiling, Levi climbed up into the wagon and reached out a hand. Donny shook it. His grip was still firm and strong.

“I hope,” he said, “that you can do the same one day, too, Levi. I hope you can go home for good.”

“Thank you, Donny. That would be nice, but I’m afraid I walk a different path, and I must go where it takes me.”

“Take care, Levi.”

“You, too, my friends. Good luck to you both.”

He took Dee’s reins in his hands and flicked them.

She began to trot, and the wagon rolled slowly behind her. The sun cleared the treetops, climbing into the sky. In the distance, Levi heard the sound of motors. He glanced back once as they rounded a corner. Marsha and Donny stood with their arms around each other, watching him leave. Levi raised his hand and waved. They returned the gesture. It occurred to him as he watched the young couple fade from view that maybe Brinkley Springs would live again. Maybe they were the seed that would spark new growth. Maybe the town would get a second chance at life.

His smile faded as he remembered Donny’s final words.

I hope you can go home for good.

“I hope so, too,” Levi whispered. “But I don’t know that I’m ready yet.”

Dee whinnied and tossed her head.

“Come on, girl.” He flicked the reins again. “We’ve still got a long way to travel before we even consider going home.”

BRIAN KEENE is the author of over twenty-five books, including Darkness on the Edge of Town, Urban Gothic, Castaways, Kill Whitey, Dark Hollow, Dead Sea, Ghoul and The Rising. He also writes comic books such as The Last Zombie, Doom Patrol and Dead of Night: Devil Slayer. His work has been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French and Taiwanese. Several of his novels and stories have been optioned for film, one of which, The Ties That Bind, premiered on DVD in 2009 as a critically-acclaimed independent short. Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. Keene lives in Central Pennsylvania. You can communicate with him online at www.BrianKeene.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Keene/189077221397 or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BrianKeene

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