Crypt Keeper, page 5
As I started up the steps to the front porch the outdoor light came on. Then the door flew open and my twelve-year-old brother came out, crossing his arms. God, he looked so much like Dad now.
“Hey Tommy, you’ve grown.” I held out my arms to him.
He made no move to come to me. “Yeah, that’s what happens when three years go by.” He was bitter and obviously angry with me.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I’ve been busy.”
“Apparently you’re too busy to call, text or email me.”
Cringing, I apologized. “I’m so sorry Tommy—I’ll do better, I promise.” I went to him and gave him a one armed hug and bent down to kiss his cheek.
He shrugged me off. “You’re wet.”
“Yeah, sorry. It started raining a few minutes before I got here.”
He looked around. “Where’s your car?”
“Oh um, it’s in the shop. A friend dropped me off.”
He stepped back inside. “You better come in and change.” The old hardwood floors creaked under my weight like they always had as I walked into the foyer. Nothing had changed; it still smelled of flowers that almost covered the infamous funeral home smell. The same tired red and tan rug carpeted the hallways. The first floor was still used for viewing and comforting grieving families. That would soon change.
“Mom’s already asleep. She took a Valium and went to bed about a half hour ago. All the funerals have been canceled and sent to Morrison’s Funeral Home over in the next town. Except for Dad’s.” His voice drifted off.
“Hey.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “After I change I’ll listen if you want to talk.”
“Nah.” He shrugged my hand off again. “He didn’t love me like he did you. I don’t know why I give a fuck.”
“Thomas! Language,” I scolded as my father would have done.
He snorted, wrapping his arms around himself, “Whatever. God it’s cold in this dump.” He walked down the hall. “It’s always so cold.”
Feeling lousy, I walked up the large staircase that led to the family living quarters. It was equipped with everything one’s family would need. We had a kitchen. It wasn’t as large as the communal kitchen on the first floor used to feed the grieving while they were sitting with their dead loved ones but it was sufficient enough; we also had dining and living room plus four decent sized bedrooms. The only complaint I had with the setup was that we all had to share the one and only bathroom, a real pain for a teenage girl. I took a left at the top of the stairs and opened the door to my old bedroom. I wasn’t sure what to expect. They could have done anything with the room while I was away. When I flipped on the light I was surprised to see that it was pretty much the same as I left it.
Opening my bag I pulled out my clothes that were damp but not wet. This gave me hope that my computer made it. Taking it out next, I wiped off the dampness with my t-shirt and powered it up. Relief washed over me when it seemed to be in perfect working order. Closing it, I set it on the white desk that I’d used to do homework as a child. Kicking off my shoes, I pulled off my socks, shucked my shirt and peeled my wet jeans from my body. “Damn,” I whispered as I pilfered through the lump of clothes on my bed. I’d forgotten to pack another bra and mine was soaking wet. Padding across the room I took a chance and opened the top of the dresser. Nothing. I wasn’t that surprised. Why would my Step Monster keep my underwear around? After searching the rest of the drawers I moved to the closet. There I found several pairs of jeans since that was basically all I ever wore, then and now. A couple of faded out shirts and a pair of black Converse. Score. I would just have to go braless until my only bra dried.
Shivering, I shimmied into the jeans and pulled a shirt over my head, then slipped on the shoes without socks. It was weird being back here after all these years. Part of me expected my dad to knock on my bedroom door any minute. He would always come by my room every night to say goodnight. He never said much more than that to me on a daily basis and I always wondered why he bothered to do that much. Something about me repelled him after his mom died. I never could figure it out. I had vague memories of before my mom left when he’d pick me up onto his lap and read to me in front of the fireplace. He’d been so loving then. Sighing, I pushed the memories aside. My dad was fine, moved on to another dimension and was probably happy as a lark. And here I was dealing with the shit that was left behind.
Glancing out my bedroom window that was positioned above the wall seat where I’d read for hours throughout my life, it was dark out now and Levi was nearby. I could feel his energy, although he wouldn’t be able to enter the house unless I summoned him. None of us could ever figure out why that was. The dead could go anywhere and everywhere else they wanted, except this house, with the exception of Jewels. She could pop in anytime. Why? Who knew? I really wished my Gran had hung around a while longer. She would know the answers to the plethora of questions that were constantly roaming inside my head. The shutters banged against the window, causing me to jump, followed by the lights flickering a few times as the thunder clapped and we lost power.
This was getting out of hand. And as much as I hated to I had to go out back. I certainly wasn’t about to summon him inside in his current state. For one thing, the more I used my abilities the stronger they got, and for the second, there was no telling the destruction he may cause inside. He wasn’t a danger to me, never had been. But to others that was a different matter all together and I wasn’t about to risk something happening to my brother. Not that Levi would intentionally hurt him, he just lost it sometimes and with that came massive destruction.
Opening the door to the bedroom, I crept down the stairs and past several viewing rooms and through the communal kitchen that led to the mudroom before reaching the back door. Looking around, I saw no sign of Tommy. This was my chance. I’d snuck out this way hundreds of times and was only caught a few of those times.
My dad’s slicker still hung in the mudroom. I thought about wearing it, but as my hand touched the sleeve I was overcome with emotion and simply couldn’t do it. When thunder nearly shook the house again I took in a shaky breath and walked out into the stormy night.
Slowly I made my way down the hill and across the backyard to where nothing but a small chain-link fence separated the cemetery from the yard I grew up playing in. The gate was stuck when I tried to open it; I had to really shove it hard to move it past the mud that had built up from the water flowing down the hill. The pine trees swayed overhead as a gust of wind nearly knocked me over. “Dammit, Levi! Enough already!” I screamed, but my voice was lost to the sound of the thunder.
Battling the wind I walked carefully through the cemetery, hoping not to be spotted by lurkers as I tried to avoid walking directly on anyone’s grave. Hurrying was out of the question in this type of downpour. I was soaking wet again, and as the chill set in I longed for Dad’s yellow slicker.
“Hello, you there!” Someone called out to me. Glancing over to my left I saw an old woman walking barefoot in the rain, dressed in nothing but one of the standard hospital gowns I’d seen a million times. I’d not been back an hour and it was already starting. I couldn’t run; once she had me in her sight she would follow me everywhere. Ignoring her now wasn’t an option.
Lifting my hand to wave to her, the stinging rain pelted down hard onto my face. I had to at least get out of the elements. “Follow me over here!” I called out and pointed to my family crypt. She seemed a bit confused so I pointed several more times. She finally understood and began scurrying toward the direction I’d instructed her to.
As I reached the entrance and my hand touched the gate, it opened instantly for me, it always had. Why, I didn’t know. It was just the way it had always been. I’d scrounged up the courage to ask my dad about it once. He’d grimaced and patted my head before proceeding to tell me it was my imagination. He’d walk away even as I continued to argue that it wasn’t and I’d show him.
Out of breath, I leaned against one of the stone walls and waited, thankful to be out of the elements. The old woman was seconds behind me. “Hello!” she called out in a desperate tone. Her face brightened slightly when she spied me inside.
The poor thing looked a little worse for wear. “Hi, I’m Molly. What’s your name?”
She hurried toward me, throwing her arms around me as she began to sob. “I don’t know. I’m lost—I can’t find my way back home and lights are out at eight o’clock. Lights are out at exactly eight o’clock. They’re going to put me in solitary.” Wrapping my arms around the old woman, I felt her pain just as if it were my own. I seemed to always have great empathy for the hurting patients of the asylum.
Rubbing her back, I attempted to calm her. “No, no one is going to put you in solitary ever again. Everything is all better now—you’re going to go and live at a place that is warm and happy with all the food you can eat.” They were always hungry in the asylum. That’s what I’d been told by so many of the patients over the years.
She sniffed, leaning back to look at my face. “Really?”
I smiled, wiping the tears from her face. “Yes, really. You believe me, don’t you? It is very important that you believe what I’m telling you is true.”
She smiled. “Yes, I believe you. You are so beautiful—you glow all over. You must be an angel.” Her eyes were glazed over as she took the sight of me in.
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not an angel. I’m just a friend that can help you to your new home. Do you want to go?”
She nodded her head like a small child would. “Oh yes!”
“Then go.” I closed my eyes and sought her essence. It was there just in front of me and I gave it a tiny push. When I opened my eyes she was gone and I was left with a feeling of happiness.
Lighting struck overhead and I heard a loud pop. The happiness dissolved, leaving resentment in its stead. Stomping out of the crypt I didn’t think, I only reacted. Opening my mouth I shouted, “Levi! I summon you!” My voice sounded different, deeper and strong as it echoed around the night. A moment later a dark fog swirled around my body, blowing my hair around my face. If he thought to intimidate me he was in for a rude awakening. I was livid. “Appear before me. Now.”
The fog darkened and began to take the shape of a man. A second later it was gone and Levi stood before me. His eyes filled with fury. “Appear before me! You order me?”
“You bet your ass I did! Look at what you’re doing!” I shouted at him, pointing to the sky. “Don’t I have enough to fucking deal with without having to chase your ass down and make sure you are behaving?”
“Do you fear nothing?” he growled and took an advancing step forward.
“Oh, I fear a lot of things but you aren’t one of them. I should kick your ass for this childish display,” I growled back.
He was on me before I could blink, his mouth hot and demanding on mine as he lifted me in his arms. I fought him, shoving against his chest; however he didn’t relent. The clanging of iron was heard, then my back hit against something cold and hard, and I was able to instantly identify where we were. He’d taken me deep into the crypt, locking out any others that might come looking for me. “Stop it!” I cried in his ear when he began nipping at my jaw, then moved down to my neck.
“You don’t mean it,” he said breathlessly. “I’m a prisoner and you are my captor. Forever will I be yours to command.” His words made my flesh quiver under his touch. “Your body says one thing, your mouth another. I can always tell when your need for me grows. It calls to me so strongly there isn’t anywhere you could go that I wouldn’t feel it. It summons me as strongly as you did tonight.”
Grabbing two fistfuls of hair, I jerked his head back up and his eyes met mine. “Listen to the mouth, asshole—it isn’t going to happen. I’m mad as hell at you and you’re not going to get out of it like this.”
Not happy with me, he set me down and began pacing. “You’re mad as hell at me? I’m not the one who banished you. Do you know how that feels to be torn away like that? No one has ever had that power over me.”
“It hurt me too! I didn’t want to do it! You know how much I hate to be torn away from you like that but you gave me no choice.”
He whirled on me, his teeth gritted in anger. “I gave you no choice? You banished me because you wanted to fuck that pussy of a man!” I flinched at his harsh words. “And mark my words—he will die because of it. I warned you that he would change things.”
“Are you a complete lunatic? You make me crazy! Sometimes I wish I had the courage to banish you for good.” I regretted the words the second they fell from my lips. His eyes filled with pain that changed into anger an instant later. “I didn’t mean that.” I closed the distance between us, placing my arms around his chest. He tried to pull me from him. “I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. I swear.” Grabbing his head I began placing kisses all over face. “Say you forgive me.”
He carefully peeled my arms from his body. “M, your words cut me as if they were a sharp knife.” He took a couple of steps back from me and I fell to my knees. “I’ll take my childish temper elsewhere and leave you in peace.”
“Please don’t go like this.” A sob broke from my lips as I watched him walk into the darkness. “Don’t leave me.”
“As if I ever could.” His words echoed off in the distance. Falling on my side onto the stone floor I wept like a child.
Chapter 5
“When life gives you lemons you make lemonade. Then find someone whose life has given them vodka and have a party!”
~ Ron White
It was the day of my dad’s funeral and I was totally shitfaced. I’d summoned Jewels after Levi left; she’d saved the night with a bottle of vodka, chips and good chocolate. We’d finished off the bottle and the last bag of chips at eight a.m. So yeah, I wasn’t really in any condition to be sitting here in the funeral arrangement room that doubled as my deceased father’s office with my Step Monster and brother, waiting on this slow ass lawyer to read his last will and testament. Feeling beyond pathetic sitting here in jeans and a black tank top, I did however manage to remember that I needed a black dress for the funeral. Well, I’d delegated the task to Jewels. She didn’t know it yet since I’d left her in my bed passed out and snoring so loud she could wake the dead, no pun intended. Luckily I found some sticky notes lying around upstairs and stuck a few to Jewels’ face. One just wasn’t enough. Five should cover it.
“Molly, could you please sit up straight in the chair? And for God’s sake, take off those ridiculous sunglasses. You act like you are the widow here instead of me,” Step Monster bellowed from the chair next to me.
“Oh, how dare I attempt to draw any attention away from you? FYI, there isn’t anyone here to draw attention from,” I grumbled under my breath.
“Don’t get smart with me, young lady,” she snapped. “And I know you’re not planning on embarrassing the family by wearing those ratty jeans of yours to the funeral. Think of someone other than yourself for once.” Her big bleached blonde hair didn’t budge as she buried her face in one of my father’s handkerchiefs. Struggling to sit up straight, I began to giggle as she raised her face to give me her eyebrow-raised stare. Since her last facelift her drawn on eyebrows were close enough to touch her bangs. She scowled, or at least attempted to. “I am so glad your father isn’t here to see this.”
“Me too,” I mumbled over a burp.
“Are you drunk?” She leaned over and sniffed me.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake! Let me be, will ya?” I thumped her in the head with my fingers.
“Ouch!” she nearly screamed. “You… you deranged lunatic.”
“Right back atcha.”
“Thomas—Thomas. am I bleeding?” My brother hadn’t been fazed in the least by our display. However I started to feel a bit ashamed of myself. What a poor example I was setting. That settled it; coming from this bag of nuts I certainly wouldn’t have the adequate parenting skills or genetics to spawn children. I would save the world a lot of heartache and never have any. My little handicap wasn’t something I ever wanted to pass along.
A quick knock at the office door broke into my pity party and an old man around sixty walked in. I assumed it was my father’s lawyer by the way Step Monster fussed with her pink tweed skirt and jacket. Already scoping out husband number three.
“I apologize for keeping you all waiting. There was a major accident on the interstate on my way over. Luckily everyone seemed to be without injury—from what I could tell anyway.” He took a deep breath and went around the desk to literally fall into my father’s leather chair and place his chubby hands on the desk. “Well, now that I’ve explained the reason for my tardiness, I’ll get right to it. I know this is a trying time for you all. I hope it brings you comfort from the knowledge that Charles has done his due diligence in securing the future of everyone he left behind.”
Step Monster perched on the edge of her seat. “As to everyone’s future, I’m assuming I am primary beneficiary? I’m sure I am. Charles told me for years that I had nothing to worry about if the unfortunate occurred.”
Tommy snorted. “God, Mom, you’re like a vulture circling a carcass. “ He stood to his feet. “I don’t need to be here.”
