Mark Tufo - The End Has Come and Gone

Justin seemed to have had better accommodations than us. He was sitting on the couch, a half-eaten sandwich and a small bag of chips off to his side on an end table. He even had some comic books on his lap and a blanket wrapped around his legs.

"Comfortable?" I asked him, relieved to see that he was alright.

"Not so bad,” he said with a sincere smile. I could still see a sense of nervousness etched in his features, but he was unharmed and that was a good way to be.

Easter came in through another door that attached to the cafeteria. “Welcome,” he said as he spread his arms. "Please sit. That will be all Talisker, thank you.” Talisker nodded once and walked out. He did not go far, however. I could see his shadow in the frosted windowpane.

“Ah, Mr. Talbot, I can almost see the wheels spinning in your head. You're wondering if you should overpower me and tie me up, or take me as a hostage until such time that you can safely let me go.” He caught me off guard but I recovered quickly. “Well, you pretty much got everything right until the part where we 'safely' let you go, as you put it.” "I feel that I should almost be intimidated,” Easter said with a jovial laugh. “Perhaps a few months ago I would have believed you.” "What changed, Easter?" I asked, truly wanting an answer.

"I can tell you before the End of Times came I was not a religious man. I had perhaps been in a church a dozen or so times in the last twenty years and those times were either for weddings or funerals. I did not see much sense in worshipping a deity I could neither see nor understand, I guess would be the correct phrasing. An omnipotent being that was threaded through all of our lives absolutely made no sense to me. I understood the comfort others got from His perceived presence, but that was as far as it went. Something happened the night the zombies came. It altered me in ways that I have not come to understand quite yet. That there is a God is no longer of doubt to me, that He is not the kind forgiving God of the King James version I find troubling, but I do not question His will.” "So you are merely a vessel? So if my son is not deemed to be 'saved' you will rid him of his life as you will ours?" I asked angrily.

"You were given the opportunity to leave of your own accord when you found that you were traveling with one that is marked. When you chose not to go, I believed that as free beings you wanted to be with him. Evil can be blinding in its own right.” I was livid. “Justin is not evil!" I spat.

"Sit, Michael,” Easter said calmly. “I know this, but he has evil in him.” I could not argue with that. I was well aware of that fact.

"If the boy were evil, we would not be having this conversation,” he said, his back to me as he poured a cup of tea. “Head still churning with thoughts of escape I see,” he said as he turned back around.

"Busted,” I told him. “And how do you know my name?”

"Easily,” he said without hesitation or doubt. “It is stamped on your soul. Shall we begin?"

"And if what you are doing here should fail, do you think I will idly stand by as you prepare to do harm to my son or the rest of us?" I asked him openly.

"I am trying to help you,” he said as he walked over to the sink. I watched as he applied a liberal amount of disinfectant soap to his hands before he scrubbed them vigorously and washed off the residue in a small flood of water. “I wouldn't want anything untoward to get on the boy.” "So much for the poison theory,” Travis said.

"One final time I will ask you Michael,” Easter said.

"What about my son and my brother?"

"Their will is theirs to do with as they wish… right now.”

"Not a chance, Mike,” Gary said.

Travis had a look of steel set in his eyes. “No, Dad.”

I turned to Easter. “If Travis leaves this room?"

"He would be welcome to stay or leave at any time he saw fit,” Easter said as he pulled up a chair next to the couch Justin had been reclining on since the conversation started. “There was a mild sedative in the milk I gave him, whichever way this goes it will not be pleasant for him,” Easter explained as he pulled the blanket up from Justin's legs and covered his chest.

"Alright, one more scenario,” I stated. Easter waited patiently. “Travis leaves the room, this thing with Justin does not go well. Gary and I fight our way out of here. Maybe we make it, maybe we don't.” "Yes, yes Mike, Travis would still be welcome.”

"Dad, I'd rather take my chances with you,” Travis pleaded.

"But your leaving is not a chance, Travis. I believe Easter, no matter his inner convictions, to be an honorable man and would do as he said here.” "Thank you, I think,” Easter replied mildly.

"Dad, he's my brother.”

"And he's my son, as are you. I cannot, I will not put the both of you in harm's way if it can be avoided. If this does not work out, do not do anything. Do you understand me? I can tell you’re listening but the set of your jaw is telling me a different story.” "I will do what I can,” Travis promised, but in which direction did the promise lie?

He shut the door slowly. With one final glance back, he looked at me like I had just told him Santa wasn't real AND that the fat man that played him at the mall had earlier that day also pissed in his cheerios. It was a withering assault; his mother had taught him well.

"Go!" I yelled through the door when I didn’t hear his footfalls echoing down the hallway. I heard a fairly good attempt at deception steps. “Not bad, now do it for real.” "I'm telling Mom,” he muttered.

"God, please, I hope that you do,” I said in a soft prayer.

"Didn’t make you to be a believer,” Easter said.

"When I perceive it to be for my benefit, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt,” I told him.

"Then you might want to start praying now,” Easter said as he placed both his hands on Justin's chest.

I did, too. Hypocritical? Sure, but when you're playing Texas Hold'em and all you’re holding is a ten high, what can it hurt?

Easter looked over at me, fat droplets of sweat beginning to form on his forehead. His mouth became a thin line, almost imperceptible as it got lost in his white beard, as he began to speak: “The evil within this boy will relinquish its right upon his being.” "Have you done this before?" I asked Easter. His forearms rippled from the strain he was feeling.

"This darkness has a strong hold. And I know Talisker told you what I used to do before. I've seen vomit that looked possessed and children that probably had small demons inside them, but I have never before tried to exorcise a demon. I never had much reason to believe in the men of the cloth, although I played one on television.” "Seriously!?" I asked.

"No, boy!" Easter said sternly. "Did your momma drop you on your head? Now stop asking me questions while I'm trying to work.” "I think I actually saw her do it on more than one occasion,” Gary said.

"What?" I mouthed, not wanting to disturb Easter.

"Drop you on your head. I think I saw her do it more than once,” Gary finished.

"Do… you… mind!" Easter said under some heavy duress.

Gary and I both pointed to each other like third graders in trouble but at least neither of us spoke this time.

"Come forth!" Easter shouted, "so that I may see who I cast aside!"

I was thinking that wasn't such a good idea. Better to just kick her out before she had a chance to realize what was happening.

"Who dares to tinker with my pet?" came out of Justin's mouth but it was not his voice. I had heard the same arrogant tone once before coming out of Durgan's mouth.

The locket hung around my neck. The chain stayed relatively body temperature, but the skin where the locket made contact with my chest began to burn from the cold.