Evil in Me, page 27
“Alright, man. No problem. They’re off playing a gig.”
I set the knife against his neck. “Where?”
“Cool it, man. Just cool it! The Metroplex. Alright?”
“One of them punk rock clubs?”
“Yeah.”
“Is it nearby?”
“Not far. Over by Marietta Street, near the projects.”
I slid the knife across his throat. Didn’t need to really, could’ve of just tied him up, but I didn’t like his stupid earring. He clutched his neck, gagging and gurgling, flopped about on the couch for a few minutes, then died.
I felt nothing.
I found his room, found a well-worn leather trench coat. Put it on and flipped up the collar to hide my bandage. Checked myself out in the mirror. Not enough. I went into the bathroom, found some scissors, and carefully, doing my best to avoid my lump, chopped my thinning hair down to the scalp. That was better—might not stand out like a sore thumb at the freak club if I was a freak too. But there was still a fifty-two-year-old man staring back at me with scratches and black eyes. I found some makeup, pale, ghostly stuff. I wiped it on my face, then applied mascara around my eyes. Now there was a ghoul staring back at me. A weird grin on his face.
“Peachy keen,” I said, and left.
* * *
Eduardo drove into the parking lot.
“Is this it? Can’t be.”
He pulled into a parking spot, plucked up the flyer, and even though the name, Metroplex, was written in huge letters along the side of the building, he checked the address again.
“What a dump.”
The club—an old two-story industrial building, covered in layers of graffiti—appeared ready to cave in. There were only two entrances, the front and the back. The windows were either boarded up or barred. Luckily, he didn’t plan to step foot in the place. From where he was parked—facing out toward the road for a quick getaway—he could keep tabs on people coming and going. The plan was simple, the moment Ruby stepped out of the car, he’d rush up, flash his badge—it was only a bondsman badge, but these dipshits wouldn’t know the difference—slap on the cuffs, and cart her off. If anyone got in his way, he’d deal with them appropriately.
He double-checked his firearm, the large can of pepper spray, handcuffs, and his pair of brass knuckles.
The flyer said the show started at eight. He checked his watch, it was seven-thirty.
Where is she? Don’t these jokers do sound checks? He thought about how shitty this punk rock crap sounded and figured they didn’t.
More cars arrived and people started gathering out front, cutting up, laughing.
“Degenerates,” he said, and found himself actually hoping a few of these rejects got in his way, so he could crack some heads.
Eduardo sipped of his coffee, turned on the radio, and began drumming the steering wheel along to Willie Nelson. He was surprised that he was so excited, thought for sure he’d be nervous, even a little scared. But no, he was jacked, ready to go, like a kid about to go out for recess. All he could think about was everyone’s faces down at the station when he brought in a wanted fugitive. But more than that, to finally have a story to share with his dad and brother. God, ain’t that gonna feel good. Finally be able to hold my head up again. Not to mention that he’ll be a hero in Martha’s eyes. Bringing back her baby and all. Word would get around town, as it always did, folks down at Baily’s Bonds be calling him before too long.
He checked his watch again; it was five till eight.
Eduardo clutched his cross, bowed his head. “Lord Jesus, thank you for looking over me, for giving me the chance, the opportunity to better myself. I am your soldier. Please give me the strength I need to save Ruby Tucker, to rescue the misguided woman from the evil that is around her. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
* * *
Ruby switched lanes, passing the slower traffic as she sped down Ponce de Leon Avenue.
Vutto was awake now, staring out the window, shaking and twitching, snarling at people on the sidewalk. Ruby glanced in the rearview, caught the demon’s face twisting into something sinister for a moment. A flash of Vutto tearing Tina’s neck open came to her. She bit her lip at the thought of having to see her best friend eaten alive by a demon, just like Josh. One more person she loved dead because of her.
“Beel, the spell that removes the ring, it also removes the taint, right?”
Beel didn’t answer.
“Beel?”
I do not know.
“You don’t know?”
No. I am sorry. I do not know.
“But there’s a chance, right?”
There is a chance, Beel said, but he didn’t sound very sure to Ruby.
Ruby’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. I’m never getting out of this. She glanced again in the mirror at Vutto, caught him staring hungrily at the back of her neck. I’m just fooling myself. None of this is gonna work. Her hands began to tremble; she found it harder and harder to breathe.
Stop it, she thought. Just stop it.
She concentrated, focused on calming herself, began to breathe again, slow deep breaths, and with each breath she felt more and more centered. Her hands stopped trembling, and for the first time since her father had died, she felt some control over herself. And again, she felt grateful for what Beel had done, or undone, understood that this must be what it feels like to be whole.
Good, Ruby thought. Good. Hold it together. If you ever want to see your mother again, you will hold it together.
And she did want to see her mother again—more, she was looking forward to it, to a second chance at their relationship. She could see now how so many of her troubles, not just with her mother, but plenty of other folks, could’ve been avoided with just a little bit of empathy and understanding on her part. God, she thought. If I can just get through this, there’re so many people I’d like a second chance with.
A slow, melodic song drifted from the radio, touching the sadness deep within her. Her grief for Josh snuck up on her and she sucked in a deep breath. I need to talk to Pam. Have to. Can’t do this ’til I do.
She hit her turn signal and pulled into a gas station.
“What’re you doing?” Tina asked. “We got plenty of gas.”
“Gotta call someone.”
“What? No. We already missed sound check. Now c’mon. Whatever it is, it can wait.”
“No, it can’t,” Ruby said, and thought, because there might not ever be another chance.
She parked, got out, entered the phonebooth, and dialed. The phone rang and rang. “C’mon, Pam, pick up.” Ruby started to hang up when she heard Pam’s voice.
“Hello.” She sounded slightly out of breath.
Ruby started to reply, found herself without words.
“Hello … anyone in there?”
“Pam,” Ruby said, in little more than a whisper.
“Hello?”
“Pam,” Ruby said a little louder, “I … I—”
“Ruby? Ruby is that you?”
“Pam, I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“Ruby, where are you? Tell me. I’ll come get you straight away.”
“Pam, I’m so sorry … your dad, he’s—”
“He’s dead,” Pam put in, her voice somber. “The police called me this morning. Told me about the fire.”
“I’m so sorry. It’s not like it seems. There’s this ring. I just—”
“Ruby, stop. Listen to me. This is my fault. Do you hear me? It’s my fault. I knew about the ring. Dad had warned me about it for years. I … I just didn’t believe him. Thought it was all nonsense. God, it’s such a relief to hear your voice. I was so afraid you’d died in that fire.”
“How’d you know I had the ring?”
“Dad left a note. He blamed himself, only himself. You hear me … you did nothing wrong.”
Ruby didn’t know what to say.
“The ring … is it.… did you get it off?”
Ruby didn’t answer.
“Where are you, Ruby? I’m coming to get you. We’ll get help. Someone has to be able to help you. Just tell me where you are.”
“Pam … I think I’ll be okay. There are some folks helping me. Just needed to tell you about your dad. That’s all.”
“Ruby, I—”
“Gotta go. I’ll be home soon. I know it. We’ll work through this together. If you see my momma, tell her I love her.”
“Ruby, just—”
Ruby hung up.
* * *
Lord Sheelbeth sat on her stone throne, her eye, the one in her head, closed as she concentrated, focused. The worms sang, filling the chamber with their song, with her song, calling to Vutto, trying to break through.
Her eye, the one on the ring, opened. “There,” Sheelbeth whispered as blurry light bloomed before her. It took her a moment to realize that the ring was partially covered by a rag or perhaps a glove. When Ruby moved her hand, Sheelbeth could catch quick glimpses of the world above. The blood was so thin now, she could hear the women as though she was in the car with them.
“They will try to use the spell again,” Sheelbeth said to her worms. “It is time to put a stop to this madness, to bring Beel home.”
When Ruby rested her hand on the side of the seat, Lord Sheelbeth spotted Vutto, could see the scar was almost gone.
“Vutto,” she called, trying to reach into his mind.
“Vutto,” the worms sang.
“Kill her, kill Ruby. Her blood, it will cure all your pain. Do it, Vutto. Do it now!”
The demon groaned, shook his head, and mumbled. “No … no, they are my friends. I not kill my friends.”
She wondered how this idiot demon could be so stubborn. “They are not your friends. They hate you. They plan to kill you, Vutto.”
He shook his head. “No. They are my friends.”
“Kill Ruby,” she sang, and the worms sang along, sang to the heavens, sang to the hells.
Vutto slowly began to nod along. “Kill Ruby,” he whispered. “Kill her.”
Lord Sheelbeth smiled and spoke to the worms. “Our nightmare is almost over. The magic book has burned, the last of the Baalei Shem are dead, and soon, very soon, Beel will be ours again. Our time has come at last. We need but gather enough souls and we are free.”
She wondered how many souls it would take. A hundred? Five hundred? A thousand perhaps? Did it matter? No, she thought. For I will never quit, not until I am free.
REDEMPTION
Eduardo watched the black Cadillac turn into the parking lot, spotted Ruby right away. The car pulled into a spot near the back of the building.
“I am a warrior for Jesus,” Eduardo said, and touched the plastic crucifix hanging from his rearview before getting out of the truck. He shoved his handgun into its shoulder holster, tugged out his badge, and headed toward Ruby. He had a swagger in his step, like some lone sheriff about to bring in the bandits.
Ruby and another woman, a tall Asian gal with long hair, got out of the car. It took him a moment to realize it was Ruby’s friend from school; he thought her name was Tina.
Ruby had her back to Eduardo as he approached. The plan was already going better than he’d hoped; there was almost no one else back here.
“Time to go home, Ruby,” he said, with as much gravel as he could muster.
Ruby jerked around and he got his first good look at her, and what he saw shocked him. Gone was the awkward, dorky gal living in her mother’s basement, the woman before him appeared hard, intense, ready for a scrap.
Upon seeing him, a look of surprise crossed Ruby’s face. Eduardo liked that—intimidate and overwhelm. He expected her surprise to turn to shock and confusion and then fear, but it didn’t. Instead, he saw, what … anger? No. He saw confidence. She was looking at him like he was just some annoying kid and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Got a warrant on you, Ruby.” He flashed his badge. “Time to go home.”
“Not going anywhere with you, fuckhead.”
He pulled out his handcuffs. “Easy or hard. You’re choice. Either way, you’re coming with me.”
Ruby didn’t run, didn’t even flinch, just held his eyes with a steady glare.
Tina stepped up beside her. “Beat it, asshole.”
“This is official police business, sweetie. I got the law on my side. You better hear me unless you wanna end up broke in two.”
The back door to the Cadillac opened and some creepy-looking kid in sunglasses poked his head out.
“Stay back, Vutto,” Ruby commanded.
Eduardo didn’t like the way this was going. He couldn’t see the kid’s hands. Didn’t like the look on Ruby’s face—like she was the one in charge. Suddenly, Eduardo just wanted to have Ruby in the truck and be on his way. He pulled out his gun, leveled it at the kid in the car. “Like I said, I got the law on my side. Things get out of hand and someone’s gonna end up full of holes.”
Eduardo tossed the cuffs on the ground in front of Ruby. “Put ’em on.”
“And then what, Eduardo?”
“Huh?”
“After you take me home. Then what?”
“Gonna hand you over to the sheriff. Get you some help.”
“Yeah, and then what?”
“What the hell are you going on about? Are you drunk … on drugs?”
Ruby’s eyes burned into him. “I’ll tell you how this’ll go, Eduardo,” she said in a calm, stern voice. “You’ll bring me back. I’ll go to county for maybe six months, a year tops, but at some point … I will be released. And where do you think I’ll end up when I am?”
He knew, but didn’t say.
“Think about it. I’ll be coming home to live at my mom’s house. The same house you live in. The same house you sleep in.”
He shrugged. “Yeah … so.”
“You enjoy a good night’s sleep, don’t you, Eduardo? Sure, you do. Who doesn’t? Well, better sleep while you can, because once I’m home, a good night sleep’s gonna be a thing of the past.”
“If you think I’m scared of you, you got—”
“Something you need to know. I’m in bed with the Devil. You hear me? Got a demon in me. He’s right here.” She thumped her chest and took a step forward.
Without even realizing it, Eduardo stepped back.
“I’m possessed.” She smiled wickedly. “Do you really want someone possessed by a demon living under the same roof as you?”
There was something about the way she said it that sent a chill down his spine. “Get that out of one of your ‘devils and dragons’ books?”
“Just trying to warn you, this demon, he makes me do things I don’t wanna do. Bad things, Eduardo. Any night, any night at all, he could make me sneak into your room and jab a pair of scissors in your eye.”
Eduardo flinched.
“Or maybe put rat poison in your Froot Loops. Throw battery acid in your face. Cut the brake line on your truck. You got eyes in the back of your head? You’re gonna wish you had. Because no telling when he might make me sneak up behind you … drive a screwdriver into your skull.”
“Shut up.”
Ruby shrugged. “Won’t be able to help myself, because I got evil in me. Could be the Devil, or could be I’m just plain psycho. Does it matter? Either way, you’ll end up with a pair of scissors in your brain.”
Eduardo licked his lips. “Bullshit. Bunch of bullshit. You’re off your medication, that’s all.”
A weird thing happened then. Another voice overlapped hers, a deep eerie voice, creating a warbly echo.
“You’re a God-fearing man, Eduardo, Eduardo, Eduardo,” their voices said. “I’m sure the Good Lord will keep you safe, safe, safe.”
Eduardo shook his head side to side, trying to clear away the weird sound.
“The Devil has many friends. You remember the woman in the woods, don’t you?”
“She wasn’t real. None of that was real.” But the nightmares had been real, no matter how much he tried to push the dead woman from his mind, she still plagued his dreams.
“Well, here’s another friend. Vutto, show Eduardo your face. Your true face.”
The kid in the car stood up.
Eduardo jabbed the gun at him. “Careful, asshole!”
The kid took off his sunglasses, his hat and wig, unbuttoned his coat and … and Eduardo fell back a step, then another.
The kid was deformed, his skin scaly, and as though that were not horrible enough, he began twisting, right there in front of Eduardo, growing mouths and eyes out of his stomach, sprouting horns. His eyes, all of them, began to smoke, then glow.
Eduardo blinked, rubbed his own eyes, yet the demon, it was still there! The pistol began to shake in his hand. “Stay back! Stay back!”
Ruby picked up the cuffs, held out her wrists. “Okay, Eduardo. You wanna put these on me, so we can get going? Gonna be a long ride home.”
Eduardo took a step back, another, then turned and hightailed it back to his truck.
* * *
Ruby followed Vutto up the back steps, her encounter with Eduardo leaving her heart drumming, but she was amazed that she wasn’t a trembling mess. If anything, she felt invigorated. Not only had she stood up to a bully, she’d stayed in control, not just of herself but of the situation. Something she couldn’t have done even a day ago. She’d seen him clearly for the broken man that he was. She wondered how this sad soul could’ve intimidated her for so long, actually felt sorry for him in a way.
“There you are!” someone called, a thin man with a shaved head and a big smile.
“Oh, hey, Dan,” Tina said. “Sorry we’re late, man. We’re here now and ready to kick up a fuss!”
“Good thing,” Dan said, ushering them down the hall. “You got an excited crowd waiting for you in there.”
The rumble of the crowd echoed down the narrow hall, and Ruby found their excitement contagious, found she couldn’t wait to play, to feel the magic again.
Vutto stumbled and to Ruby’s surprise, it was Tina who caught him. “I gotcha, devil boy.”
Tina reseated his hat and wig, covering his horns back up. They’d done a good job with Vutto’s costume this time, but still, you didn’t have to look too close to see he wasn’t human. Luckily, it was dark in the hall and Dan wasn’t paying attention anyway.
