Keene Brian - A Gathering of Crows

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.”