Vintage Misery: Part Four (rough draft)

Neil sat beside me in the cell, and that was pretty much the only thing I was registering. I had pretty much shut off everything else. There was no point in wasting energy on such things. I was here, I’d stay here, I’d probably rot here.

“I’m sad to think that I may never have a burrito again,” Neil sighed. He slouched back against the wall and slid a bit against the seat. “That last one was so good too. They really had something special with that salsa.” He kicked his feet back and forth. “This would have really been something to tell your parents too.”

I started to grimace.

“Vampires?” He scoffed. “That would have blown their minds. You think they would have believed that?”

I sat back up on the bench seat and continued to scowl.

“I still don’t even believe it, and I was put onto a cross with so much peyote in my system I-” Someone walked into the room just then. They stood in front of the bars and placed their hands upon their hips.

“Al,” Neil said urgently.

“What do you want?” I grumbled, thinking it was Officer Pitbull.

“You were under my house,” a man said. His voice was wheezy and choked, sputtering almost.

I furrowed my brow and looked back up as the man came through the bars. “Who are you?” I asked.

The ghost stood before me, thick arms, barrel chest, and a rope hung around his neck. “Louis Hervé, ma’am.”

“Oh! You’re that butcher guy!” Neil announced loudly.

I shushed Neil then stood, approaching the domineering ghost of Louis Hervé. “I was under what used to be your house, that’s correct. How did you know?”

“I heard the commotion.” He turned and pointed down the hallway. “This place was built over the old holding cells and gallows where I died.”

I hadn’t been looking or paying attention either time I came to the station. I’m not surprised I missed feeling any ghosts here. “What made you stay here?”

“I was innocent,” Louis’ voice strains. “I never killed anything except livestock. I was just as shocked by what happened under my house as you are.”

“If you didn’t, then who did?” Neil asked.

“My sisters in law,” Louis answered, a timid look upon their face. “They controlled everything about the house, my wife, my business. All I did was work and do what they asked. I never knew what they had me selling was-” He stopped, his breath coming out more constricted than before.

“It’s okay, Louis, calm down.” I reached out, taking the ghostly rope off his neck. The bruising there began to vanish as the rope dissolved in my hand. “Go ahead.”

Louis touched his neck then nodded at me. “Thank you,” he said clearly. “My sisters in law came almost immediately after the wedding. They took over, claiming my wife’s illness was the reason. But they were like a swarm of locust. They took and they devoured everything I held dear. I barely saw my wife; they often made me stay down in the shop, working.”

“How did you find out what they were doing?” I asked.

“I went home one day, I just wanted to see her. I missed her so much and we’d barely spent any time together since her sisters came. But when I got into the house, I saw-” He stopped and shook his head. “Next thing I knew, I was being called a murderer.”

“But what did you see, man?” Neil’s voice quivered.

“They were eating someone.” Louis’ voice started sounding strained again.

“Ew,” Neil whispered.

I sat back down upon the bench and clutched my hands together. “So it was vampires.”

“You doubted that? After what I said?” Neil snapped at me.

“You died high, your judgment is always going to be a touch impaired,” I grumbled. “I wasn’t sure but-” I pressed my mouth into a firm line.

Neil took a pompous stance and grinned. “Say I’m right!”

I glared at him, but just as I was about to say something, a commotion went on outside. I heard yelling and screaming, radios buzzing all over. Outside, sirens were blasting as most of the station took off. I went to the bars of the cell, looking out as best I could.

“What’s happening out there?” I asked.

Neil went out, going into the chaos as more officers began speeding away in their cars. Neil returned a moment later with a confused look upon his face. “Something happened at that house again.”

“Shit.” I went back into the cell. “Well, I’m here. That’s at least good.” I plopped back down. “Although, I wouldn’t put it past Officer Pitbull to blame it on me somehow. Say I’m a witch and summoned a demon or some shit.” I chewed on my bottom lip while I tried to think.

“Officer Pitbull?” Louis asked.

“Gradings,” I scoffed. “The guy who threw me in here.”

Louis nodded slowly. “I never had a good feeling about him. He took over after the last sheriff had an accident.”

“Not surprised,” I grunted. “Neil, is there anyone here at all? Or is everyone gone?”

“There’s someone still at the front answering phones,” he said. “Should I go and watch them?”

“Just try to find out what’s going on,” I huffed. “See if you can get anything at all. I’d like to know what’s up.”

“You can’t assume from already having been there?” Neil shrugged. “Alright.” He went through the wall.

I looked back at Louis. “Tell me more about your sisters in law, if you can.”

Louis sighed. “Strange women. My wife’s family wasn't from here, mind you. But even my wife seemed normal compared to them. The three of them seemed like they only worked together. Like one mind in three bodies.”

“There were three of them,” I murmured.

“Miltrud, Adelgunde, and Yvonne,” he sighed. “Even still, had I known about them before I married my wife, I still would have married her. She was an angel. I knew she was sick, I knew we could never have a family, but I just wanted her. It didn’t matter what happened. I wanted to make her happy and give her a good life while I could.”

“That’s very admirable, Louis. I’m sorry they ruined it for you.” For some reason, that made me think of Beth. I hoped she was alright, I hoped Mercy was safe too. Those ‘sisters’ of Beth could very well be the ‘sisters’ of Louis’ wife too.

Neil came back with a strange look on his face. “Okay, so, they found the cavern.”

I rolled my eyes. “And?”

“And of course it’s bad,” he said with a shrug. “But then that officer Martin guy got scooped.”

“Scooped?”

“Right up into the air,” Neil pointed to the ceiling. “And then only his legs came back down.”

“Not again,” Louis breathed.

“Not much was left of Perkins when they arrived either. They’re closing off roads and stuff right now.” He then held up the keys to the cell. “You sure you don’t want me getting you out of here?”

“They’re closing off the roads, Neil. Where would I go? I’m staying right here. Pitbull won’t be able to blame this on me since there are witnesses now. He’ll have to give it up.” I sat back down and crossed my arms. “I just have to wait, that’s all.”

“Aren’t you worried about Mercy? He should have been back by now,” Neil argued.

“He’s probably responded to the same call as all the other officers.” I didn’t sound convinced, of course I was worried.

“I don’t think you’d want to be alone with Gradings,” Louis’ voice was becoming a whisper and he was starting to fade away. He probably couldn’t be too far from his resting place for too long. “I don’t think he cares for-” He vanished.

“Damn, I remember when I couldn’t last that long,” Neil sighed.

“Go put those keys back,” I told him.

“But you heard Louis,” he tried to argue.

I gave him a look. “I’m not getting caught with my hand in the cookie jar either. Go put the keys back this instant.”

Neil frowned but did as told.

I sat back down, looking at my hands. Once, when I was fifteen, I was locked inside a room by some ghostly nanny. She had drowned both children in hopes of luring away their father. Instead, he shot her and left the place untouched. At least, at the time, I thought it was the nanny who trapped me, but it turned out to be the two children. I had tried escaping the room, but they stabbed my hand with the key, leaving a pretty nasty scar. My mother told me not to try and leave a locked room again, and that she would always find me.

Well, I don’t think anyone is finding me now. It was growing late, and barely anybody had returned to the station except a handful that passed through intermittently. I was nearly asleep in the cell when someone came into the room.

“Ms. Young, are you okay?”

I blinked through my sleepiness, sitting up to see a small figure in the dark. “Beth?” I murmured. “What are you doing here?”

“Officer Mercy came and told me what had happened. I couldn’t get away until now. I’m so sorry! I never intended such a thing to happen.” Beth sounded near tears.

“You didn’t need to come down here,” I huffed as I sat up. “It’s fine. I just have to wait all this out. Once they all get back, I’m sure I’ll be let out of this cell.”

“It’s not safe,” she whispered. “Not now that you know.”

I stood up and walked towards the bars where she stood. “You should leave. Get out of this town, get away from your sisters. If they even are your sisters.”

“But this is all my fault,” she whimpered. “Had I just let you go when you wanted, none of this would have happened.”

“No, but all these disappearances, the murders, they would have kept happening. And maybe it’s a good thing people know about it now.”

“If I leave, will you go with me?” She asked pitifully. “Please. I need help. I can’t do it alone.”

I felt bad for her. She was so beautiful and so helpless. “I’m no good, Beth. I just move around from place to place. I don’t know what I could provide for-”

“Please,” she cried. “I don’t care where we go or what we do. I just want to get out of here. I just want to be with someone I know I can depend on.”

I wanted to help her, I really did. “What happened to officer Mercy?” I asked. “After he talked with you, where did he go?”

“I think he went home,” she replied.

“Young lady, no visitors.” Officer Pitbull strutted into the room, placing his hand upon Beth’s shoulder. “You need to leave.”

“No,” her voice warbled. “She’s my friend. She’s innocent. You can’t just-” Pitbull shoved her, pushing her to the door where she almost tripped over her crutches.

“Hey!” I slammed my hands into the bars. “Don’t you touch her!”

Pitbull turned back to the bars and grinned at me. “I bet you’re real happy with how things have turned out.” He closed the door and I could hear Beth struggling with the handle then bang upon the wood.

I scowled and backed away from the bars.

“Bet you’re real pleased with yourself.” He took the keys off his belt and went to the lock. He opened the cell door and stepped inside.

“Hey buddy, fuck off!” Neil placed himself between Pitbull and me. “Leave the girl alone. You want to get in trouble?” Pitbull passed through him.

“It’s time for you to go.” Pitbull reached out for me, but I evaded him. He lunged, trying to grab me but I dodged him again. I almost made it to the door but he tackled me and pinned me against the bars. He slammed his forearm against my neck, making my head hit against the bars. I felt dizzy, especially when he started pressing down upon my windpipe. I gagged and choked, clawing at his arm, kicking and trying to fight back against him. He just grinned, nearly slobbering all over himself.

Something struck Pitbull from behind, dropping him like a sack of bricks. I held myself up, gasping for breath as Neil dropped the bench he had ripped away from the wall. I fell to my knees, holding my hand around my throat.

“I got ya, Al.” Neil came up to me. “I got ya.”

“You saved me,” I whimpered.

A soft smile appeared on Neil’s face. He gave me a nonchalant shrug. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

The door opened and Beth came rushing in as fast as she could. “Are you okay?” She cried. “No one would help me!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” I choked. I reached up for her, letting her help me off the ground. “You’re right, let's get out of here.”

Beth smiled brightly at me then it faded. She touched the side of my neck. “Your poor neck. It’s bruising already.”

“Doesn’t matter, I’ll wear a scarf. I just want to get out of this place.” I led the way through the station, but that’s when I noticed something odd. The whole place was empty, quiet. Phones were hanging off the hook, dangling over desks while making that incessant beeping noise. There was no sound of life anywhere in the place. I looked around, knowing there had been people here just moments before.

“Al?” Neil whispered.

“What’s the matter?” Beth turned to look back at me. “Let’s get out of here while we still can!”

“No, wait-” I held my breath, hoping I could hear something. But it felt like the place had instantly been abandoned. Even Officer Pitbull didn’t have that sort of power to force an entire police station outside. “Don’t you notice something strange about this place?” I asked her. “Doesn’t it feel kind of...abandoned?”

She stared up at me with a strange gaze. “Alice, let’s go. Now.” She seemed to be commanding me, rather than urging me.

I furrowed my brow as I continued to try and piece this all together. “Was it this quiet when he closed the door?” It was strange that Officer Pitbull tried to attack me. I was surprised but it still felt a bit off.

“I don’t remember, I was so scared!” She whined in a petulant way. She came back close to me and took my hand. “Alice, we need to leave.” The commanding edge was getting harder and harder to ignore.

I pulled my hand back away from her. “Something isn’t right. Something here isn’t normal. I can feel it.” That included here. Where she had been so sweet and charming before, now, I felt myself unnerved by her.

“Alice,” Beth insisted.

Something crawled up and along my skin. It made me itch all over, caused my jaw to clench and ache along the back teeth. I’ve felt this feeling many times when there was something ominous afoot. I had felt it in many haunted houses, many graveyards. I felt it in that teddy bear that once belonged to me but now sat behind a glass case. I looked down at Beth, and while her face showed nothing, her eyes radiated hatred and anger. I stepped back from her.

“Where is Mercy?” I asked again. I kept my voice stern and even, hoping to catch her off guard this time.

Her soft lips pressed into a hard, firm line. “I told you, I don’t know.”

“You said he went home,” I stated. “But where is he really, Beth? You know where he is, right?”

Beth scoffed and her brows tilted into an angered angle. “What’s wrong? Why the sudden change of heart? Don’t you want to leave with me? Forget about him, he was just part of the problem here anyways. Right?”

I swallowed and took a step around her. “You’re right,” I sighed. “I just got scared after what happened. I’m nervous.” I gave her a soft smile. I had to work fast, my mind had to work even faster. “Stay right here, okay. It’s at least safe in here.” I motioned to a chair. “I got Officer Pitbull’s keys. Let me find his car, see what’s happening outside, then we can go. I don’t want to run the risk of running out there and you getting hurt.”

Beth's smile returned. “Oh, yes, of course. It’s okay, Alice, I understand.”

I then took a policeman’s baton from a desk. “Just in case,” I forced a laugh.

Her expression relaxed a bit more. “Oh, good.” She went to sit down while I stepped outside. I then slid the baton through the handles of the door. Instantly, Beth was at the door, staring at me with sad puppy dog eyes.

“Alice, what are you doing?”

“Yeah, Al, what are you doing?” Neil huffed.

I glared at Beth. “I don’t know what you want with me, but I’m not going to follow along with you. You and your sisters have done enough damage here.”

Beth tilted her head slowly to the side. “What do you mean, Alice?”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “You’re a vampire too.”

Neil gasped. “What? Her? No!”

“You played this game before, didn’t you? With Louis Hervé. You played the innocent, helpless victim then too. Allowing your sisters to overrun and terrorize everybody here! You killed in the caverns below the house. You used him! Same way you were probably going to use me! And let me guess, Officer Pitbull was under your spell too!”

Beth slammed herself against the glass. “Let me out of here!”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” I snapped.

Beth rammed herself hard enough against the glass doors to make them crack. “You ignorant little bitch!” Her eyes looked malicious, almost red. She hissed at me, showing the fangs that hid beneath those perfect lips. “Let me out this instant!”

I started walking away.

“You come back here!”

“Fuck you!” I hurried down the street, running and swiftly turning around a corner. I kept walking, hoping to make some distance before she was able to breach herself out of there.

“What was that? How did you figure it out?” Neil was flabbergasted.

“No time for that.” I took the car keys that I did lift off Officer Pitbull. His car was parked in a handicapped space in the parking lot. I got inside and cranked the car. “I have a feeling Mercy is still at that house.”

“You’re going back there?” He snapped.

“It’s my fault he’s there. And for some reason, Beth and the others want me. If they wanted to, they could have killed me that night, and she could have killed me just now.” I drive away, speeding down the dark empty street. I crashed through a roadblock and kept going.

“You’re crazy!”

“Probably.” I came upon a twenty-four hour gas station and pulled in. I got a tank of gas, lighters, an armful of newspapers, and a couple of cans of hairspray.

“You an arsonist?” the cashier chortled from behind the desk. The way he looked, he could have been Neil’s cousin.

“Sure, why not?” I paid for my things and loaded them all back into the car. In the trunk I found a flare gun and a few other interesting supplies.

“What are you going to do?” Neil asked.

“When we get to the house, I want you to search and see if you can find Officer Mercy inside. Once you can confirm his whereabouts, come back and get this can of gas.”

Neil looked at me with a strange expression. “You’re burning it down?”

“Probably.” I said with a shrug. “You know a better way to kill a vampire?”

Neil shook his head.

“Didn’t think so.” I drove back out of the parking lot, heading to the Harvey sister’s house.

“How did you figure it out?” Neil asked. “That Beth was a vampire and everything? I didn’t even catch on.”

“I let my guard down around her. The same thing that happened with Louis. I thought because of how she looked that she was a victim in all this. But that’s what predators do sometimes. They make you think they’re blameless. So when Officer Pitbull attacked me, I knew something was strange. She either wanted me unconscious, or wanted me to go along with her willingly.”

“But why?” Neil asked. “Why you? I thought vampires just ate people and didn’t care.”

“I’m not sure,” I said with a shake of my head. “For whatever reason, she and her sisters want me. Like I said, they could have killed me at any point, yet I’m still standing. Which is why I think they have Mercy.”

“Like a hostage?” Neil asked.

“Exactly like a hostage. He’s the only one here I have any connection with. He’s innocent, so they probably know they can hang him over my head.” I pulled up along the street, just a little down the way from the Harvey sisters’ home. The lights were out and there was no sign of life around the place. “Okay, you know what to do.”

“What if he’s hurt, or dead?” Neil asked.

I sighed. “Then come back for the gas.”

He looked shocked for a second but he left the car. I leaned back in the seat, taking a deep, long breath. I hadn’t said my prayers since I left home, but for some reason, I felt like saying them to myself now.

“This has been the strangest few days of my life, so it makes sense I would be doing this now,” I muttered. “Ever since I left home, ever since I gave up on my family, I’ve never felt the need or the call to do this. I used to think of you as like an all powerful imaginary friend. At least that’s how my dad made you sound.” I suddenly wished my dad was here. “I’m scared,” I confessed into the ether. “I am terrified and so close to just ripping out my hair and running into the woods. I need to know what to do.” My chest felt heavy, my throat felt thick and it still hurt. “I need a sign. I need something-” I clutched my hands around my face, rubbing at it while I began to cry. “I’m lost, lord. I’m terrified! I’m in the whale. I’m in the lion’s den. I don’t know what to do.” I sniffled and stayed hunkered there like that, wishing all the more my father would suddenly show up by my side and tell me it was okay. My mom said she would always find me, but where was she? Why hadn’t she found me yet?

“I’m sorry, God,” I whimpered. “I just don’t know where else to turn!” I wept into my hands, feeling the hot sting fade away into a sort of mild relief. I took a deep breath, throwing my head back and crying out. I looked out the window, far into the sky where I saw the stars shining so bright. How did the south have so many stars? Where did they get more than the rest of the world? I wiped my face off and shuddered.

“You got this,” I whispered.

I heard glass shattering at the Harvey house. Looking up, I saw someone running to the car. They threw open the passenger side door and threw themselves in. “Drive! Drive! Drive!”

I punched the car into reverse, swooping the car around and speeding off into the night, all without lights on. I turned them on as the house faded behind us, and I saw it was Mercy in the seat beside me.

“Are you okay?” I gasped. “What happened?”

“I found him unconscious!” Neil’s voice came out of Mercy. “So I just swooped in and took him.”

“How? You shouldn’t be able to possess anybody?” I gasped.

“Well, since Mercy could kind of hear me sometimes, I figured he might be sensitive. And ta-da! He is!” He then smacks his lips together. “Man, I forgot what being sober felt like. Can we go and get some beer?”

“No! You fucking idiot!”