Demonspawn (10 page)

“Wow,” Jenny said.

“Yeah, I know,” Dave said. “Awesome. Alex,
give me a hand?”

I helped him unload groceries. He turned the
radio on. The women walked around a little, just exploring.
Apparently the cabin was completely empty except for an old wood
stove. I would have brought some wood if I knew that was the case.
Nothing beats the smell of an old wood stove.

Dave fired up a lantern he kept in the truck
and started cooking some burgers on the grill he left there. It
felt like a mini camp-out. Dave certainly found a gem when it came
to fun and relaxing spots to hang out. It was exactly what he
promised.

Dave and I sat in the back of the truck while
the women danced to the music. They laughed and carried on,
bragging about who the better dancer was. Dave took a bite of a
burger and leaned closer to me.

“We gotta get more light on them.”

I smiled. Dave's subtle way of suggesting
Tina, Jenny, and Cindy dancing was entertainment all by itself. I
couldn't argue with him there.

I always thought it was funny how women could
dance together, and no one blinked an eye. But look out if two guys
were caught dancing together.

Dave leaned over again. “Is it just me, or is
Tina hot?”

I actually think Cindy's got her beat. Of
course I'm not gonna tell Dave that.

“Watch me start some trouble. Hey,
Jenny!”

She didn't stop dancing. She cast Dave a
look. “What?”

“Stop staring at me. I caught you
staring.”

“Uh, no,” she said with a smile.

“Don't try to hide it. You want some of the
Dave.”

His own girlfriend was the first to
laugh.

“Please. You think
everyone
wants a
piece of the Dave.”

“Well, they do, don't they?”

Tina stopped dancing. “Ha. A
tiny
piece was enough for me. I think I'm ready to move on. Jenny, you
can have him if you want.”

Jenny stopped dancing too and pretended to
study Dave. “Eh, no thanks. He probably couldn't handle me.
Besides, I don't date white guys. I only hang out with you guys
cause I'm bored.”

“Hey now,” Cindy said. She grabbed a soda and
leaned against the truck next to me. “What's wrong with white
guys?”

“Nothing. It's just they're so...white.”

I laughed at that. Jenny didn't joke much,
which made her jokes more funny.

Cindy pointed at Dave. “Survey time. Would
you date a black woman?”

“I'd like to. But Tina won't let me.”

Cindy looked at Tina, but dismissed her with
a wave. “We already know you'll date anyone, as shown by exhibit
A.” She pointed at Dave.

“Damn, that's harsh,” he said.

“Alex, would you date a black woman?”

“I'll date anyone that looks at me twice
without turning away.”

Tina laughed at that one. Dave just nodded
approval.

“Nah, I'm serious. Would you go out with a
black woman?”

The answer was yes. This is the twenty-first
century. If a woman was attractive, funny, and intelligent, it
didn't matter what the color of her skin was. But I thought I'd
play with Cindy some more.

“Depends on who it is. Hell, what does she
look like? Beyonce? Gabrielle Union?”

Cindy shrugged. “I don't know. Like me. Would
you date a black woman who looked like me?”

I heard Dave cough a little next to me. It
was guy code, but I couldn't understand it. I hung out with Cindy
and Alicia too much.

“Well, yeah, I would.”

“What about you?” Jenny asked. “Would you
date a white guy?”

“I have before. Race doesn't matter to
me.”

“Ah ha. You say that, but you're single now,
aren't you? White guys are the devil.”

We shared a laugh.

Jenny started staring at something behind me.
I turned my head to see what she saw. I could only see trees and
shadows.

“Jenny? What's up?”

“What is that back there?”

Dave turned around too. “That's just an old
house. All tore up. No one lives there.”

Cindy shook her head. “What are you talking
about? I don't see anything.”

“It's there. Look just above the tree line.
You can see part of the roof.”

He was right. I'm sure it was easier to see
during the day. But I could see what looked to be a roof through
the tops of the trees.

“Holy shit,” Jenny said. “Is that the McEllen
house?”

Tina frowned. “The
what
?”

“I heard there was supposed to be an old
house in the woods somewhere that was haunted.”

Cindy looked at me. I didn't say a word, but
I had a sinking feeling I knew where this was all leading.

Dave shook his head. “Nah. I went there with
some buddies last time I was here during the day. There's nothing
in there. Creepy though, I'll say that. But nothing jumped out at
me.”

“How was it creepy?”

“Just was. There were books and shit all over
the ground. There were still plates on the dining room table. It
was freaky.”

“What happened there?” Tina asked.

I tried not to groan.

“Supposedly the McEllens lived there and some
people tried to rob their house. They were a rich family. All of
them were killed. That was like twenty years ago.”

Jenny's face lit up. “Let's check it
out?”

Dave shrugged. “Sure. I've got a flashlight
or two behind the seats. But there's nothing up there.”

“Tina? You in?”

She pointed at Dave. “You'd better hold my
hand.”

“I'll do more than hold your
hand
.”

“Cindy?”

She didn't hesitate. “No. I'll pass.”

“You're no fun. Alex?”

I shook my head. “Not a good idea, guys. If
that house is haunted, you don't want to go anywhere near it.”

“You watch too many movies. Haunted houses
aren't real,” Jenny said.

“I was in a haunted house once. Scariest
thing that ever happened to me.”

I didn't elaborate. I saw Cindy get ready to
say something, probably back me up. But I shot her a look that told
her otherwise. I didn't want everyone to think she was crazy along
with me.

“Oh, come on. Like Dave said, there's nothing
up there. I just want to see it. We're not gonna go inside and call
up the dead or anything.”

They started to leave. I stared at Cindy and
shook my head.

I didn't want to go at all. Five-year-old
memories rushed back to me. Tammy's freezing house. Watching
Richard raise a knife repeatedly over his head and thrust it into
his wife. That creepy, genderless voice that cost me many nights
sleep. The look on Tammy's face after she was struck by an
invisible hand.

But these were my friends. Dave was probably
right. There was nothing there. But if somehow, some way, my
friends got hurt, I would never forgive myself.

“Wait up.”

Cindy looked at me. “Alex.”

I could read her face. She was only concerned
for me.

“But I'm not feeling too good,” I added. “Is
it alright if we make it quick?”

Jenny was excited. “Yeah, we won't stay long.
It'll be fun though. Like a haunted house ride at the theme
park.”

Cindy took a breath. “I'm right behind
you.”

“Cindy-”

“You said the next haunted house we'd hit
together.”

I grinned. I'm surprised she remembered
that.

Dave knew the way, so he led us. Everyone
chatted quietly as we hiked through the woods, like we'd disturb
someone if we weren't quiet. Cindy casually fell back next to me in
the back of the group.

“What are we doing?” she asked. “This is just
stupid.”

“I know. But it's probably nothing. And
someone needs to keep an eye on everyone.”

“Don't you step six inches away from me.”

“You wuss.”

“I mean you. I'm watching out for
you
.”

I was touched. “Thanks.”

It took us about five minutes to reach the
house. Nature had started to claim it a long time ago. Trees and
bushes nearly surrounded the place. Some even grew into the
windows, where there was no glass. The front door hung on by a
single hinge. It looked like it came right out of a horror movie.
Dave was right. It definitely had a creepy vibe to it. But any old
house is creepy to me.

“Wow! Isn't it awesome?” Jenny said.

“So a family died in here?” Tina asked.

“Supposedly,” Dave answered.

Cindy and I kept quiet.

“We going inside?”

“Yes! Man I should have brought my
camera.”

We slowly walked up the grown-over path and
to the front door. The smell was the first thing I noticed. It
smelled like a musty old basement, just the scent of age.

There was a couch turned over on its side in
the living room. I couldn't help but wonder if that happened during
the family's last night alive, assuming all of that was true. The
carpet was soaked with rain water from a leaky roof. We made
squishy noises as we filed into the living room.

I'm sure they noticed more than I did. Like
the paintings that were ruined and still hanging on the walls. Were
they just random paintings, or pictures of the house's old owners?
A stairwell that was missing a few steps led to a second floor. I
could make out the dining room and see the table Dave talked
about.

I grew very cold. I had trouble
concentrating.

Jenny waved one of Dave's flashlights
around.

“Wow. This shit fascinates me. This is like
walking through history right here.”

Tina didn't look impressed. “Yeah. Smelly,
dirty history.”

“Come on, Tina. Isn't the mystery cool? I
mean, what happened here? Who lived here? What were they like?” She
picked up a piece of paper from the ground. It nearly fell apart in
her hand. “This is a bill from the eighties!”

“Christ. They could have at least paid their
bills,” Dave said.

Jenny shot him a look. “Let's look
around.”

The next stop was the dining room. I could
feel goosebumps all over me. Cindy was nearly stuck on me. She
walked right with me, but just far enough not to touch and bother
each other.

I froze when we went into the dining room. My
eyes fell on the corner of the room. Dave, Tina, and Jenny spread
out and looked around. The lantern and flashlights threw shadows
everywhere.

“You were right, Dave. Damn, I bet this mush
on the table is old food. That's just crazy. I wonder what happened
here.”

“It's definitely got the eerie thing going,”
Dave said. “I was actually disappointed the first time I came here.
I was hoping a chair would move or something. But there's no ghosts
here or anything.”

“Yes there is.”

Everyone looked at me. I kept my eyes locked
on the corner. There was something there, just like in Tammy's
kitchen, standing there watching us.

Cindy grabbed my arm.

“What are you talking about?” Tina asked.

“There's something there.”

Dave moved near the corner and held up his
lantern. “You mean right here?”

“Yeah.”

“Come on, man. That's not funny,” Jenny said.
The smile disappeared from her face.

I frowned. I wish I knew
how
I knew.
But I can't explain it. All I could see was a dark corner. But I
could feel a set of eyes watching us.

Strangely though, I wasn't afraid like I was
five years ago.

“I don't think it's evil or anything.
Just...curious.”

“Alex. Come on. Stop that shit. Don't be a
dick.”

It was quiet for a moment. Dave, Tina, and
Jenny all traded looks. Jenny shook her head, obviously a little
mad at me.

“Come on guys, let's go check out the
upstairs. Alex can play down here with his ghost.”

Cindy opened her mouth to defend me while our
friends walked back to the living room. I grabbed her hand and
shook my head. The further away the three of them were, the better.
I wish Cindy wasn't with me either, but she was too stubborn. I
looked at her as we heard their footsteps going upstairs.

“They'll never believe me anyway.”

“Well, I do.”

Suddenly a man stepped out of the corner. He
was nicely dressed with a shirt and tie. Starting to go bald a
little.

“You can see me?”

I flinched. I stood in front of Cindy.

“You
can
see me, can't you?”

It took me another moment to find my voice.
“I-I couldn't see you till just now. But I knew you were
there.”

Cindy gripped my arm a little tighter. “Alex?
What's going on?”

I didn't answer. The new arrival had my
complete attention.

“Wow,” he said with a smile. “I've had a lot
of visitors over the years. Thrill-seekers, homeless people looking
for a place to stay, but none have ever been able to see me.”

I didn't respond. I was too stunned.

He started to walk
through
the dining
room table. I backed up another step. He emerged and stood in front
of me.

“Wow, who's this young lady with you? She's
cute.”

He reached out to touch Cindy. I put a hand
on his chest and shoved him back. Cindy jumped next to me and got
behind me slightly.

“Don't touch her.”

The man didn't look angry, but surprised.

“You
pushed
me?”

“Well, don't go reaching for my friend.”

He ignored me. “You...can reach into where I
am? I wonder if that means-”

He reached out and grabbed my arm. His hands
were warm and coarse. He pulled me forward until I braced myself
with a foot on the floor.

“Hey!”

I heard Cindy suck in a breath behind me.

“Alex!”

“Yeah, Cindy. I'm okay.”

“Where are you?”

I turned around. “Huh? Right here.”

I reached out to grab her shoulder. My
fingers sank into her clothes, like they were made of water. I
pulled them back quickly. She turned and kept calling my name. Her
face was full of panic.