Beneath the Veil Read online

Fear shot through Doc. Did one of the children leave the house?

  “Cover me.” He walked off the porch towards the tree line with Jackson following him.

  “Stay back, Jackson.”

  “I got this.” Jackson raised his revolver.

  The two men approached Willow. She was on the ground, unconscious.

  “Thank goodness it wasn’t one of ours,” Doc said. He turned and walked toward the cabin.

  “Doc? We can’t leave her like this.”

  He stopped and turned towards Jackson. “There’s no choice, we can’t risk bringing one of them inside.”

  Jackson tucked his gun in his belt, knelt down and picked up the girl.

  “Put her down, Jackson.”

  “Please,” he pleaded. “She saved Jen’s life.”

  Doc looked at the small creature in Jackson’s arms. “Alright, get her to the porch. I’ll take a look, but I doubt there’s anything I can do.”

  Jackson placed her down gently, and then Doc knelt beside her. Her pulse was wildly fast, not unlike the other creature he examined. Suddenly, she rose to a seated position unfazed by the gunshot to her stomach. Startled, Doc scrambled backwards towards the others.

  “I mean you no harm. I must speak with Jen.”

  “About what?” Bobby realized he had never spoken to one of the creatures before.

  “The celebration is coming. They will sacrifice one of you tonight. I came here to warn you.”

  Jackson ducked his head inside and called for Jen. She stepped onto the porch and the door was bolted shut behind her.

  “Willow. What are you doing here?” she asked. “Where’s Barry?”

  “Evangeline is coming for one of you. She intends to hold a sacrifice tonight. Your brother would not listen and would not come.”

  Jen noticed the injured girl and rushed to her side.

  “What happened?”

  “I will be fine,” Willow answered.

  Jen glared at the men and put her arm around the girl.

  “What the hell do you think you are doing?” Bobby snapped.

  “We need to get her inside. You heard her, those things are coming.”

  “Lady, you must be out of your mind.” Bobby moved in front of the door, blocking her way.

  “He’s right,” Doc agreed. “She should stay out here. We can keep an eye on her.”

  Jen started to speak, but Willow grabbed her hand.

  “I will be fine.” she said, looking up at her with liquid black eyes. Jen let go of her and walked over to Doc.

  “I am staying too, give me a gun.”

  “No way,” Jackson said. He grabbed her arm and walked her to the door. “You’ve never shot a gun in your life.”

  He opened the door and gestured towards it. Defeated, Jen walked into the cabin and slammed the door behind her.

  “I can help you kill them,” Willow said, stepping towards the men. “I know how. I have seen Evangeline do it.”

  The four armed men retreated as the child approached. But she was no child anymore.

  Doc pushed his fears aside and stepped towards her. “How’s it done, then?”

  She walked up and reached for his hand. Doc reluctantly let her place it on the back of her neck under a mane of matted hair. At the base of her skull was a circle of hardened skin. He picked up his lantern and then lifted up her hair to examine the area. A brand, similar to the engravings scattered throughout town, was burnt into the girl’s skin. It was black and crusted, surrounded by porcelain white skin.

  “How’d you get this?” Doc asked.

  “It happened many years ago. Before any of you were born,” she answered. “My family lived on a farm nearby. One by one, they all got the sickness. I was the last, and by that time I had run away from them. They all turned and I was afraid of what they would do to me. One morning I woke with this on my neck. I went into the woods to hide, but by that night, I changed like the others.”

  “But, how come you’re not like them?” Doc asked.

  “I am not sure. I think it may be the feast. I have never eaten the things they grow on the graves, nor drunk the wine. The others eat and drink it every night. Evangeline says it feeds their souls.”

  Doc finished examining the girl and let her hair fall back in place. For the first time, he realized that he and the others were not the only victims in Auraria.

  “If you shoot them back here, you can kill them,” she said, touching the brand. “I have seen Evangeline kill them this way when she feeds on them.”

  “Damn, they are eatin’ us and she’s eatin’ them?” Bobby exclaimed.

  “Yes. She eats them,” Willow answered. “Sometimes she tells Ezra to thin the herd. She’s not like them, they were all people once.” She looked down at her fingers, tipped with jagged nails.

  “We oughta take that bitch out, then,” Bobby said loudly. “Shotgun blast to the back of the neck should fix her up real good.”

  “Sure Bobby, you waltz on out and ask her to turn around for you,” Sully said.

  Doc shared a nervous laugh with Sully.

  Willow shook her head. “She’s not marked. You can’t kill her that way.”

  “How’s Ezra figure into all this?” Sully asked. “I know he brought her back here, from overseas the story goes.”

  “That was the story he told many years ago when things were still normal here. But the town always doubted his story. Some of the prospectors said he found her deep in the ground in one of the mines.”

  “Where are these mines, Willow?” Doc asked.

  “Up the mountain, past Mills Creek,” she answered.

  “I know that area,” Sully said. “You can’t get up there due to rockslides. The whole area is unstable.”

  “That’s what the old signs say,” Willow said. “But that was just to scare people away. Ezra didn’t want anyone going up there.”

  “Now, why would that be?” Doc asked.

  “Quiet!” Jimmy said. “Something’s out there.”

  The porch fell silent. The flickering torches illuminated the shadows near the tree line. There was a sudden rush of crunching leaves as something moved towards them. Bobby grabbed his shotgun.

  “Get your trigger fingers warmed up, boys.” He ran out close to the tree line.

  “Bobby, git your ass back here,” Sully whispered.

  He ignored Sully and trained the shotgun on the black void of the woods. A dozen creatures swarmed out, each with its actions synchronized. Bobby ran between the sharp stakes lining the ground, then turned and fired. Creatures fell to the ground, then quickly regained their feet. He turned and ran towards the road, leading the pack away from the cabin.

  “Bobby, you crazy bastard!” Doc yelled. He raised his rifle and shot a creature in the back of the neck. This time it went down and stayed down. “Aim for the back of their necks!”

  The creatures were all facing away from them following Bobby. They began to fire and the beasts fell one after another. Bobby fired three more blasts, using up the last of his shells. He tried to run, but one of the creatures knocked him to the ground. Sully jumped from the porch, firing his pistol as he ran. He reached Bobby and put the gun to the back of the creature’s neck and fired. Bobby frantically wiped his face trying to clear blood splatter from his eyes.

  A creature jumped on Sully, biting him on the throat. He whirled around trying to free himself, then dropped his revolver when another tore into his arm. Bobby scrambled for the gun and shot one of the beasts. It fell back, impaled on a stake. He then placed a precise shot to the back of the second creature’s neck and it collapsed on the ground. Sully fell to his knees covered in his own blood.

  “Don’t let em take me, Bobby. I ain’t going out like that.”

  Shots rang out around them as the others held their attackers at bay. Bobby grabbed Sully and dragged him towards the porch, firing at anything that moved. He reached an impasse and couldn’t get Sully over the barricades.

  “Hang on. I need
to git us some help.”

  He handed Sully the pistol and ran back to the porch while the others fired wildly at another flock of creatures emerging from the forest.

  “I need help gettin’ Sully back.”

  “I’ll go.” Jimmy stood and pulled a pistol from the pocket of his jacket.

  They ran from the porch and found Sully struggling with three creatures.

  “No!” Bobby screamed.

  When they got to him, he was already dead with injured creatures writhing on the ground near his body. Bobby plunged his knife into each creature’s neck until it stopped moving. He then ran to the woods and dispatched injured creatures while Jimmy covered him with rifle fire. Whenever one fell, Bobby’s blade was there to finish it off. Before long, the assault was over and dead creatures covered the ground, close to fifty in all. Rays of sunlight peaked through the mountains as Willow walked among the bodies checking for survivors.

  C H A P T E R F I F T Y - S E V E N

  “That oughta do it,” Jimmy said.

  They tossed the last creature’s body onto a bonfire, stepped back and removed handkerchiefs wrapping their faces. It had taken three trips to move all the bodies. The location was good with plenty of kindling and far enough away that the smoke wouldn’t drift back to the cabin. Earlier that morning, they buried Sully’s body and marked his grave with a pile of rocks. Doc said a few words but kept it short, as Sully wasn’t one for ceremony. Bobby and Jackson leaned against the fender of the flatbed drinking water from a canteen.

  “So that’s it,” Jackson said. “What now? How many of those things do you think are left?”

  “According to the girl, there’s no more than fifty,” Doc answered.

  “We can handle another fifty,” Bobby said, taking a drag from a cigarette.

  “Fifty plus them other two,” Jimmy said. “Don’t forget Ezra and Evangeline.”

  Doc climbed behind the wheel of the truck while Jimmy and Bobby climbed on the back, careful to avoid the drying blood on its wooden planks. Jackson slid in the passenger side and they drove back in silence. They knew the hiding was over for them and it was time to make a stand. Doc turned onto the narrow dirt road that led to the cabin. Wild grasses grew in patches on the road and a creek trickled nearby. When they pulled to a stop, Marie was busy sweeping the porch.

  “Hey,” she said with a wave. “We’re out of milk for the children. Any chance you could go back to the camp and milk the cows? They’re probably due for it anyhow.”

  “Sure, Marie,” Doc replied. “Let us get cleaned up and we’ll go over.”

  “Thanks.” Five years ago, Marie and her children were trapped in Auraria during a road trip. The creatures ambushed their van, attacked her husband and took him away. She and the children hid in the woods until daybreak and by chance, Doc and the others happened upon them and brought them to safety.

  Nearby, Willow picked wildflowers with Jen and the children. They were frightened of her at first, but soon accepted the way she looked. It had been a lifetime since she enjoyed a carefree day like this one. She looked fondly at the children and remembered her own siblings lost so long ago.

  “Alright guys, I think we have enough.” Jen held a large bunch of flowers. “Let’s get back and have some lunch.”

  The kids walked beside her with Willow moving silently behind them.

  “Is everything okay?” Tonya slowed to walk next to her.

  “Oh, yes. Thank you for walking with me. I think the others are still a little frightened.”

  Jackson waved when he saw them in the field of chest high goldenrod.

  “Hey there,” Jen said. She reached the porch and gave him a kiss.

  “How’s the babysitting going?”

  “Good. How’d you make out?”

  “No problems,” he answered. “I just need to get cleaned up.”

  “Yes, you do.” She looked at his filthy clothes. “We need to soak those in the creek.”

  “Bobby said he had some extra clothes stored inside. Let me go see what I can find.”

  Jimmy walked up with a backpack over his shoulder and a rifle in his hand.

  “Will you folks be alright for a couple of hours?”

  “Sure, what’s up?” Jackson asked.

  “We’re heading to the quarry to pick up supplies.”

  “You need me?” Jackson asked.

  “Nah, we got it. It’s better if you stay here.”

  C H A P T E R F I F T Y - E I G H T

  The surface of the water in the quarry was covered with a fuel slick and dead fish. The livestock was gone, the crops burned, and the storage buildings emptied.

  “Hell, if this don’t beat all,” Bobby said. He stood on the rim of the quarry next to Doc and Jimmy. “There ain’t nothin’ left for us here now.”

  “There’s one last thing to do,” Doc said. “Help me fetch Owen’s body so we can give him a proper burial.”

  After finishing the unpleasant task of retrieving Owen Bigsby’s corpse from the mine, they loaded it on to the back of the truck, then huddled inside with the windows closed.

  “No disrespect to old Owen, but he sure looks like hell,” Jimmy said.

  Bobby turned and looked out the truck’s rear window. “Hell couldn’t look that bad.”

  Doc glanced out the rearview mirror as they drove away from the quarry. The camp had been a home to them for decades and now it was truly gone.

  “What’s the plan, Doc?” Jimmy asked.

  “We need to finish off the rest of those things. While we still can.”

  C H A P T E R F I F T Y - N I N E

  A fire burned in the fireplace warming the cabin as nighttime approached. The survivors gathered for a meal of canned vegetables and creek water.

  “Tonight the three of us will be at the plantation for the feast.” Doc gestured at Jimmy and Bobby. “It’s the best time to ambush those things. Jackson, you stay back in case any of them show up here.”

  Willow moved towards Doc with her translucent skin shimmering in the firelight. “I can help you. I know places to hide in the mansion.”

  He thought for a moment, and then answered. “Yes that would be good.” The girl had proven herself to be genuine and earned his trust. “Jimmy, Bobby let’s arm up. We’ll take the Rover.”

  Outside, the men untied the ammo trunk from the back of the flatbed, careful not to disturb Owen’s body. Doc grabbed two canteens and placed them inside the cab. They drove down the mountain with the last traces of sunlight filtering through a dense forest of hemlock trees.

  When they reached the crossroads, Doc looked over at Jimmy. “Take a left.”

  “No,” Willow countered. “Go straight. Things have changed.”

  Jimmy looked at Doc for confirmation. “Straight it is,” Doc said.

  The girl was correct. Jimmy found the entrance to the plantation and steered the truck onto the gravel drive where the mansion came into view.

  “What if someone’s here?” Bobby asked.

  “They won’t be,” Willow said. “They all return to the remains of their homes during the day. I don’t know why. I guess it makes them feel like they used to feel.”

  “And you’re sure Evangeline and Ezra will be gone?” Doc looked at the specter of Willow in the rearview mirror.

  “Yes. I am sure. They go to ground everyday.”

  “Good,” Bobby said. “We can get in there, set up shop and then mow them things down.”

  Jimmy pulled the Rover near the front door of the great house. Bobby hopped out the back and helped Doc pull the trunk onto the ground. It was heavy and fully loaded with ammunition. They unpacked the guns and tied them on top, while Willow went to the house and peeked in the windows.

  “It looks empty,” she said.

  “I’m gonna hide the truck over there,” Jimmy said, pointing towards a stand of trees south of the house.

  “Alright, we’ll get the gear inside,” Doc replied.

  Bobby and Doc grabbed the
handles of the trunk and carried it into the foyer of the mansion. The walls were covered with vines and broken furniture was scattered around the room. The ornate staircase sagged with gold leaf peeling from its balusters.

  “Damn, this place is a shit hole.” Bobby stood in the center of the room surrounded by decayed opulence.

  “It changes at night,” Willow said. “Everything does.”

  Doc walked over to a torn portrait of a woman with long dark hair and an intense gaze. A man painted behind the woman stared up at her.

  “That’s them,” Willow said.

  Bobby joined Doc and looked up at the frightening image.

  “Got it hidden pretty well,” Jimmy’s voice broke the silence in the room startling both men.

  “Dammit to hell, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” Bobby said.

  Doc was equally shocked, but laughed it off. “You took a few years off my life as well.”

  You boys figured out your vantage point yet?”

  ‘No, we was waitin’ on you, Jimmy.” Bobby shot a last glance at the painting.

  “Follow me,” Willow said.

  The men followed her into a study. The room was intact with its walls covered in empty bookshelves.

  “Right here,” she said, pointing at a wooden wall panel.

  Doc walked forward and pushed on the panel which spun inwards. Behind it was a metal spiral staircase twisting up into the dark. He found a candle melted onto an old desk, lit it and entered the opening.

  “It goes to the attic,” Willow said.” I don’t think anyone knows about this entrance.”

  “You boys wait here a minute. We’ll go up and check it out.” Doc started up the stairs after Willow.

  “Alright, Doc.”

  After a few minutes, Doc called down to them.

  “Come on up, fellas.”

  The two men walked into the passage, closing the wall behind them. They picked up the trunk and started struggling up the staircase in the dim light of a lantern. When they reached the first landing, they found Doc and Willow near an octagonal window that overlooked the veranda.

  “Good place to take a shot, Jimmy,” Doc said.

  Jimmy lowered his end of the trunk and walked over to the window.