Brian Keene - Ghost Walk

Adam frowned. “You said murders. Plural. But Nelson LeHorn only killed his wife.”

Maria paused. “Well, as I’m sure you know, there are other murders connected to the hollow.”

“So you’re writing about me, too? Me and Tara?”

“I…” Maria turned her eyes to the ground.

“You’re just another scavenger,” Adam accused. “Trying to make a buck from someone else’s pain and suffering.”

“No,” Maria insisted. “It’s not like that.”

“Please,” Levi said. “We can discuss all of this later, after we’ve gotten clear of the area. If they find us now, we’re all in trouble. We’ve got more important things to worry about.”

He turned to Adam.

“You said you wanted our help. We can give you that. Others can only imagine the pain you’re feeling. The things you’ve been through. But I don’t have to imagine them. I move in that world every day. Let me help you.”

“You said you needed my help, too.”

“I do,” Levi agreed. “Hylinus and the tree-spirits weren’t the only dangers in LeHorn’s Hollow. Something else is there now—an entity more powerful than either of those. It’s forcing its way into our world and if we don’t stop it by tomorrow night, then the horrors you faced will pale in comparison to what will happen to all life on this planet.”

“Jesus…” Adam rubbed his shaved head. “What can I do? I don’t have any special abilities. I don’t know any magic. Not anything useful, at least. All I did was fool around with those books we took from LeHorn’s house.”

“That’s how you can help,” Levi said. “The police never obtained LeHorn’s copy of The Long Lost Friend . It was still in your possession at the time of your arrest, but it was never logged into evidence, nor was it found by the family who moved into your old home since then.”

“A-another family lives there now?” Adam’s voice cracked.

“I’m sorry,” Levi apologized. “You hid the book, didn’t you?”

Adam nodded, his mouth working soundlessly.

“And these loose pages you mentioned—do you remember if some of them were inside the book?”

“Yeah,” Adam sighed. “About a half dozen of them, actually.”

Levi arched his eyebrows, surprised at this revelation, but he stayed quiet.

“They weren’t part of the book,” Adam continued, “but I kept them anyway. Didn’t understand a word of them, but they were sort of interesting to look at. There were some pretty gruesome drawings on them. That’s why I recognized that thing you did with the fire.”

“Thank you, Lord,” Levi whispered. “Your name be praised.”

“Excuse me?” Adam blinked.

“Do you remember where you hid the book?”

“Sure.”

“I need those pages, Mr. Senft.”

“Call me Adam. And that’s it? That’s all you need—the papers? That’s all I need to do to help?”

“Yes, Adam,” Levi said. “Just that, and one other thing.”

“What’s that?”

If Levi heard him, he gave no indication. Instead, he began leading them out of the underbrush and into the field. Maria heard him muttering to himself.

“A necessary evil…”

“Levi,” she called. “Wait up.”

They followed the magus into the field, stepping out into the night.

It was almost midnight when the last of the Ghost Walk’s volunteers drove away. Ken, Terry, and Tom McNally stood in the center of the field, watching the taillights fade as the departing workers pulled out onto the road. The wide-open area now seemed very empty. The sudden silence was unsettling. In the darkness, it was easier to understand why the forest spooked some people.

“There’s still no sign of Cecil,” Tom said. “Unless he was here and I didn’t see him?”

Terry and Ken looked at each other and then shook their heads.

“I didn’t see him,” Terry said. “How about you?”

“Me either,” Ken agreed. “Although, with the spotlights and everything, it was kind of hard for me to pick people out of the crowd. You’re sure he didn’t tell you where he was going, Tom?”

“Nope. And his truck is still here. Don’t know how else he would have gotten home. Guess he could have caught a ride with someone else. But it seems like he would have at least told me first.”

All three of them glanced toward the parking area. Sure enough, Cecil’s old pickup truck was still sitting in the same spot, alongside Tom’s Dodge Charger, Terry’s Jeep, Ken’s truck, and Russ and Tina’s SUV. The thin moonlight reflected off the vehicles.

“Russ and Tina’s Chevy is still here, too,” Ken observed. “Anybody seen them?”

Terry frowned. “Now that you mention it, no. What the hell is going on? First Sam and Rhonda. Now this.”

Ken shook his head. He had a sinking feeling in his gut. The ground started to spin, so he closed his eyes. He had never been wearier.

“Maybe they’re still in the woods,” Tom suggested. “We should look. I keep imagining Cecil lying out there after having a heart attack or something. Last time I saw him, he was going off into the woods to piss.”

“Yeah,” Ken agreed, looking up again. “Terry, go grab some flashlights. We’re not leaving here until we find them. Tom, while he’s doing that, call their houses. See if they’re home, just in case they got a ride with someone else. And call Tina’s cell phone, too.”

“If she’s in the woods, it won’t work.”

“Call it anyway. It’s worth a try.”

“Whatever you say, Ken.”

“Hold on a minute,” Terry said. “Look, Ken. You’ve been up for how many hours?”

“I don’t know.”

“I do. You look like death warmed over, man. We’ve got a big day tomorrow and an even longer night, and you’re gonna have to be on top of your game. An operation this size—there’s going to be a million little things that need your attention tomorrow night. You need some rest, before shit starts catching up with you.”

“Like what?”

“Like that cop, for instance. Did you remember to call him back?”

“I did. Got his voice mail and left him a message.”

“And when did you finally remember?”

Ken paused. “After the walk-through tonight.”

“That’s my point. You’re tired, Ken, and you’re starting to slip. Now, I know you’re worried about Cecil. We all are. And we’re concerned about Russ and Tina, too, although I’m willing to bet they’re okay. It’s this place. These woods, and all the bullshit history that goes with them. It just has us a little spooked. Chances are they’re fine. But just in case, Tom and I will go look for them. You go home and get some sleep. You need it worse than we do.”

“Screw that,” Ken said. “I’m not going anywhere until we know what—”

“Go home and get some fucking sleep,” Terry ordered, raising his voice. Then he softened it again. “If we find anything—if something bad really has happened—I’ll call you right away. I promise. But as worn out as you are, you’ll be helping everybody a lot more if you just get some rest. We need you sharp, man. This is your show. Tom and me can handle this.”

“Damn straight,” Tom agreed. “In truth, I’m betting old Cecil is just lying up against some tree, drunk as a skunk or passed out. He’s always carrying that flask around with him. Drinking that frigging cheap-ass gin. Hell, could be Russ and Tina are out there with him.”

Ken rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

“Go home,” Terry urged him. “Please? You’re exhausted. We’ve got this.”

Ken hesitated. “You promise you’ll call me if something’s wrong?”

“I promise.” Terry nodded. “Have I ever lied to you?”