There Is No Happily Ever Afters - A collection of short stories

You Never Know Your Neighbors

My hand touched the icy cold handle of the muted yellow filing cabinet. Dust flies off the top of the drawer and the rusted gears creek as they are being opened. My hand reaches in and grabs out the manilla folder labeled disappearance of Samatha Amin. I walked over to the mahogany desk and turned on the desk lamp beside it. I set down the small glass of whiskey that's in my left hand and then the folder which is in my right. When opening the folder there are pictures of the brown haired girl, the silky hair that flows in the breeze, and caramel colored skin radiates the positive energy she was filled with. In this picture she was smiling. That smile is what made that summer of 1988 the most life changing. The next picture in there is my brother, Sammy, and myself. The police used this picture when interrogating what happened to us that night, but we still continue to be the only ones that know the truth. That Sammy never went missing and she wasn't this troubled like her grandma made her out to be, yet sometimes I wonder what life would be if Sammy had just run away like everyone said she did.
Sunny Northville Tennessee. It was the name of a small town that's reputation was for its outstanding wheat industry. Rows, and rows of wheat, all of it was owned by the mayor, who was the richest man in a 50 mile radius. He turned this town into what some would say is more "elegant" or a more "respectable place". However there are people that hate the way the mayor has monopolized this town and uses the poor people to his advantage. Take me for example. William White, but everyone calls me Will. If I recall correctly everything began in late summer, almost fall. The trees were starting to change from their juvenile green and dewy leaves to various shades of yellow and maple brown that will crunch under your feet. The type of weather that it's too cold if you don't wear a jacket and the breeze brushes against you, but too hot if you stand in a sunny spot and let the rays fester into your skin. I was horsing around with my older brother Timmy, whom I admired. I wanted to be just like him, the way his dark hair sat perfectly atop his head, how he towered above most boys his age by three or four inches, had an sunkissed tan, and the fact that his arms which were huge, could carry loads some grown men needed help with from all the time Timmy spent working on the farm. He was fifteen and a son any father could be proud of. The exact opposite of me. I was thirteen at the time, and there wasn't much to me. I was fairly pale, and my freckles showed through all year round. I stood almost a whole foot below my brother, and could barely lift one sack of grain. Even if me and my father weren't close, my mother loved and adored me, coming into my room at night to tell me stories or sing me a lullaby. She told me she didn't care I wasn't strong or big like Tim, she just knew I'd do something great by the way my hazel eyes sparkled. I felt like I couldn't do anything though. It took me time to adjust to our new house, way longer than my parents or brother. It wasn't fair we were forced to move off our small farm all because the mayor needed some more property for his wheat, and we can't out buy the mayor, we'd need my parents yearly salary ten times over. Everytime I looked at these beige colored walls, my vision turned red, and it felt as if smoke fogged my brain.
"This is so stuipd!" I hollered out, while chucking the rubber ball with all my might, against the sturdy trunk of a tree.
"Well you better get used to it, we don't have a choice." Timmy replied back calmly watching my outburst. I hated how calm he could be in every situation.
"I hate this town! And I hate the mayor!" My throws began to come even harder to the tree as my tantum countined.
"You aren't the only one to think that. Everybody does." He said condescendingly, just like it was a simple fact that everyone was aware of.
I didn't think of a rebuttal to Tim's comment. I just went off throwing the red rubber ball again, before I threw it I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. Just in my field of peripheral vision I saw a girl. The house next-door had big windows covered by white lace curtains that usually stayed closed at all hours of the day; however this time a girl was peeking through them. She looks to be maybe a year or two older than me. She had dark brown hair like Tim, except way curlier and reached at least below her shoulders with side pieces framing her face, and green eyes that had a glint of, I don't really know, wonder maybe. The sun shined off her olive colored skin. As soon as the girl appeared, she was gone again.
"Oh I heard mama talking about her! She is Sammy, I heard mamma say she was trouble which is why she is living with her grandmother. I reckon we should find out if she's allowed to come out." Tim said, breaking me from a trance.
Just from the few weeks I've been living in this new house, I learned right away that Miss Backstrom was not a lady who enjoyed anyone knocking at her door; even the Jevorah Witnesses's skip her house when they come asking if we need help finding God, maybe they think God can't help her. I don't blame them. She is probably older than this town itself, her skin running away from her body, as if she's outlived her life three times already. She reminds me of that old dog that everyone knows that's blind, is missing a leg, has no teeth, and probably older than Tim but for some reason it just won't die. I remember my first encounter with her; it was to give her mail that was accidentally delivered to the wrong house. When I brought myself to go to her step I cautiously trudged up the steps of her porch, and she came out wearing a pink fuzzy bathrobe that showed more wrinkly skin than I ever wanted to see, I couldn't stop myself from staring at the long white hair on her chin, then she yelled.
"What do you want, you conniving brat! Don't you know it's rude to pester a lady while she's trying to relax before her midday nap!"
"I'm s-sorry, it's just that there was a mix up with the mail, and I wanted to return your's as soon as possible, just in case it was important, and it's your mail so I'm sure you want it, and..." I rambled out, trailing off taking in the view of the lady in front of me. I swear that hair was growing right before my eyes and I thought it was going to reach out and touch me.
"What are you looking at, you little pervert! You better scram before you get a size eight up your-" and with her screaming, I dropped the mail and ran back into my house as fast as I could. I think my legs started to move before I even knew what was going on.
"Ya know maybe we shouldn't bother Miss Backstrom she can tend to be a little explosive, if you know what I mean." I told Tim.
"Oh nonsense, don't get your panties in a twist, it will be fine." He says and strolled out the gate to the yard owned by a reincarnation of a cobra, ready to strike at weaker prey.
Tim, with his puffed out chest, tall stance, and arrogant look, doesn't even hesitate when walking up the porch steps. He knocks on the door and puts on the politest smile he could muster, the devil answers.
"Why good morning miss, don't you look awfully lovely today! I heard your granddaughter Sammy just moved in with you, and I was wondering if she could come out. Me and Willy were just about to go downtown and I'd love to show her around." Tim said, with the fakest voice I've ever heard.
"Aww well thank you darling, and I appreciate the offer, but I don't want a boy like you hanging around with my granddaughter, she'll cause you nothing but trouble, and you're such a sweet boy. This one will probably only run around with some little perverts in this town." I could feel the nasty glare she was giving me. It was like a hole was burning in the back of my head.
"Why don't you just run along dear, ok? Here are some dollars to buy yourself a drink from uptown. I know it's hot helping your daddy all day with the new house, tell him I said hi. Have fun Tim." She said,
"Alright then, have a good rest of your day Miss Backstrom." He said, and she closed the door.
Tim sauntered back down the steps and back into our yard. Are you serious? Even Miss Backstrom liked Tim, and I didn't think she liked anybody! I could not believe this, but I also could, because Tim is a golden child, that's perfect and everyone loves. He is gonna one day leave me in the dust.
"Well that didn't work out as planned, but hey at least I got a few bucks from it, so wanna get some soda from town?" Tim asked.
"Yeah, let's go." I responded and we started walking down the side of the road to head to the nice convenient store downtown. I watched the few cars ride down the road, as we walked. Most of the cars I could identify as someone I knew. Even the sheriff passed us. The world around us was so loud, but my thoughts tuned it out, and it was all a daze as I watched a squirrel scurry around the ground and up a tall maple tree it looked like a common fox squirrel or the fattest gray squirrel I've ever seen, since it doesn't get that cold in the winter, they stay out all year round. Its bushy tail swayed as it hunted up the tree for nuts and small bugs to eat. We learned all about different animal identifications from my father in past years, what they look like, natural prey and predators, and how to get rid of the pest if need be. One year he took both me and Tim out to go hunt the rodents, because as father said any squirrel on our property is better dead. He didn't want them getting into the grain needed for the animals and for sale, or even worse, have them in the house to scare poor mama to death. It was around this time of year when we went out with our 22's, the squirrels had already made their way through two sacks of grain. I remember Tim pointed out the first squirrel, and father told us it was an eastern gray. Tim was antsy with excitement, he was shaking and you could hear his voice jump up in pitch.
"Oh father can I shoot it please, I was the one to point it out." He begged in a whisper.
However for some reason that day, he told Tim no. He looked over at me and I felt my heart race. I was enjoying spending time with my father, but I didn't think he'd actually let me do anything, I assumed Tim would steal the light like always.
"Let Will shoot one ok, I promise you can have the next." He said with a smile.
His smile was probably the most prominent feature he had. It gave a softness to him, but that was in the olden days. Now his smile never comes out. His face is stuck like the face carved in a marble statue. Jaw clenched and tight, looking like the next sentence that comes out of his mouth will be venomous. I wanted to make my father proud of me more than anything, but over and over again I pursued on being the disappointment, the son they sweep under the rug and pretend was never born. This was the first time I'd ever shown to my father that I have little worth.
I spotted the squirrel about twelve feet away from me, sitting so still it could almost be mistaken as a decoy. I held up my gun and looked down the bottom barrel and placed my pointer finger on the trigger. In about ten seconds, this squirrel is gonna be dead. That's what I kept saying to myself, but then ten seconds passed. I tried again to aim at the creature, but the harder I looked the more I saw. It was moving, breathing, living. I realized I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill something that was breathing just the same as me. It had a life, some could even argue more valuable than mine. Reality came back to me as the loud explosion rang through. Tim let the beast inside the gun escape. The squirrel was dead. He told dad that I wasn't going to be able to kill it, that I was taking too long to get the perfect shot. My chest yearned for that to be the reason I didn't shoot. I laughed it off with Tim and said that I was taking too long, and next time it'd be all mine. However father looked at me like he knew, and I saw the same dead cold stare I see everyday. There never was a next time after that day.
My thoughts were interrupted by a tap on my shoulder. I spun around to say something to Tim, but it wasn't him. He was a few yards ahead, walking for him with his long legs at my pace is a slight jog. The girl from earlier was standing face to face with me. I could see all her features in detail, that her eyes are green, and also have little stains of yellow and blue, her hair actually reaches to the middle of her back, her nose is strong with a bulbous tip, and has darker lips which are plump.
"Hi I'm Sammy." she said, reaching out her hand.
"Hi..... I'm Will and that's my brother Tim." I reply with uncertainty and point to my brother who has now stopped in his tracks to see the commotion going on behind him. I touch my hand to her, and give it a firm shake. Her hand is so warm against mine.
"Yeah I heard you talking to my grandmother, and I may have been watching y'all through the windows, but not in a creepy way I swear! It's just I'm never allowed to leave the house and you guys look like you're having fun." She blushed, while observing the ground.
Time spoke out. "What are you doing here though? Miss Backstrom said that you weren't allowed to come out."
This thought occurred to me as well. Selfishly I was only worried about what that old lady would do if she found me hanging around her granddaughter. Why I ought to start writing my obituary and getting my will in place now! Knowing Miss Backstrom though she wouldn't even give me the sweet relief of death. She would do something much worse.
"She changed her mind, deciding I needed to get to know the place in case she needed something," said Sammy.
"Alright then, well we were about to go to the convenience store in town, that is a pretty important area to know directions to do, so follow us. It'd be my pleasure to get you a soda too if you'd like one." Tim suggested.
He had that flirtatious smile that I'd seen him give the girls round our school. In church we were taught to not want what others have, that envy is one of the seven deadliest sins that will send you straight to hell, but I couldn't stand to watch Tim. He gets everything he wants. He gets the girls, the looks, the attention from mama and father, everything. What does that leave me with?
Sammy had graciously agreed, so she started to follow us down the road and through parts of town. We all made small talk, asking one another what kind of soda we all liked and our favorite outside game. Tim told her about mama and father, moving into a new house, and all the renovations he and our father completed. I stayed quiet while they talked, only answering a few simple questions to have some interjection in conversation. The breeze trickled on my skin leaving chilly kisses. I wish I had brought a light jacket with me to wear. Tim and Sammy strolled ahead of me and the two of them had a warmth emit from their bodies. You couldn't take your eyes off them, it's as if the sun shines down on them on purpose. They were in the center of the world and they didn't even know it. I had so many questions scattering through my brain. While Sammy's narrative made sense I couldn't shake the nerves. Why was her grandmother so angry? Why wasn't Sammy allowed out of the house even with Miss Backstom's surveillance, and what would she change her mind now. Especially the fact that she let her go alone with two boys, one whom she hates. That made me extra suspicious of the story Sammy told. Also why is she even living with the demon who controlled that house, where are her parents?
"Sammy, why do you live with Miss Backstom?" I blurted out.
Sammy halted immediately. Why am I so stupid! Who asks that, it was wildly inappropriate. The air became thick as molasses. Neither me or Tim dared to break the silence as Sammy gazed into the cracks on the pavement. Even the breeze stopped whispering. After a minute of this silence Sammy spoke.
"My mom passed away before I came to live here. Before, I was living in Rochester, New York. My mom was a nurse at a general hospital there, and while treating a patient the patient got violent and knocked her over. She hit her head off the metal counters in the room but she was fine. She came home and we ate a late dinner together like we did most nights. In the morning I found her collapsed on the floor, she was already dead by the time help got there. They said it was an unknown brain bleed that killed her. Ya know who would think a nurse would die from something like that? Maybe she ought to have known or at least thought to check." By this point tears were pouring out her eyes onto the pavement like a summer rain shower, but she continued.
"My dad wasn't ever around, he left when I was real young. He was from Jordan, a country in the Middle East. Miss Backstrom is my maternal grandma, and she hated my daddy because of that. Leaving my mom like that when he found out she was pregnant only fueled her hate more. That's probably why Miss doesn't like me, she tells me I look too much like my daddy." Her eyes were bloodshot and her ears turned a rose red. Her cheeks were puffy as the stream left behind by tears glistened in the sunlight.
"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked something like that. I don't know what drove me to blurt out such a thing!" I covered my face with my hands as I felt the heat rise to my face.
She looked up and said, "Don't worry about it. I understand the curiosity you boys have about me."
She then smiled at me.
"Let's go on and get those soda's! I'll race you!" She squealed and ran down the sidewalk.
Tim and I followed after her. Even with Tim's muscular legs that could keep up with horses, she still stayed a few feet ahead of him. I trailed behind as usual. This girl was so odd everything about her continued to surprise me. She was about the same height as me and yet she was able to keep up with Timmy's pace. She had a face and body that indicated she was blessed by Aphrodite. The way she was was so graceful; she was a rippling wave coming into shore with no plan on stopping until she reaches her destination. All three of us ran to the store, named Andy's Corner. Andy was the name of the previous owner, it's now run by his son. It was a quick trip with all of us grabbing a coke and sandwich and paying the cashier. We then made a detour to the park nearby to rest while we ate. Once we arrived at the park we sat at the cedar wood picnic table and started digging into our sandwiches and swigging on our cokes. I got a turkey sandwich with swiss cheese, lettuce, and mayo. Sammy and Tim both got ham and cheddar cheese. We talked and laughed as we ate. Tim told Sammy an embarrassing story from when I fell off the barn ladder into a pile of cow manure. I smelt for weeks and it was stuck in EVERY crevice of my body. While they chatted I dozed off into daydream, getting caught up in my thoughts. That's when I saw something in the bushes. It was tall and black, but gone by the time I blinked. I only caught a glance of it so I didn't know what it was.
"Hey guys did you see that in the bush?" I asked, my voice shaking a bit, which made my cheeks turn red.
Tim and Sam both looked at me, eyebrows furrowed and heads titled quizzingly.
"I didn't see anything, but I'll go check it out." Tim said.
He stood up and marched up to the bush in the distance. He bravely peeked into it and put his hand in, searching for a clue to what I might have seen. He then stepped over the bush into the more wooded area of the park, where he can barely be made out. I had to squint to see him this far away. An ear piercing scream had arisen from the place Tim stood. I rushed over to find him, wondering what monster he had encountered, yet when I got there he was on the ground holding his stomach.
He was breaking out in laughter. Tears threatened to break free from his eyes due the amount of his laughter.
"You should have seen the look on your face! It was priceless!I got you so good, I thought you might pee yourself from how terrified you looked!" He continued laughing.
"You're not funny! I really did see something." I shouted.
"What was it, a dog? Maybe a fat squirrel?" Tim mocked.
"No, it was tall and black. I couldn't make out the exact details because it was gone in the blink of an eye."
"You're just seeing things Willy. There was nothing there."
"It was there, I'm telling you." I argued.
Sammy had then piped up in conversation.
"No Tim, I think Will might be right. Sometimes late at night, I'll take a peek out the window and I see this figure there. It's tall and black. From what I can make out it's also strong with a white head." Her voice was breaking up as she spoke.
"Well then let's make a plan. Tonight we will all go outside and try to figure out what's going on. I mean it's probably just some town jerk pulling a prank on you." Tim concluded.
And with those words we developed a plan. At around 11 o'clock we would meet up by the gate opening with flashlights and water and stake out until this monster came out. We had a few hours to prepare ourselves for the night time hunt. Once we covered full details of this plan we all walked back in the directions of our houses. Once we reached our houses we split up to prepare. I grabbed a small bag to fill with water, extra flashlight batteries, and snacks. I place the bag under my bed to hide. At around nine mama comes in to sing me a song, and tell me goodnight.
"I love you." Mama breathed, then kissed my forehead and shut off the lights.
I listened for my door to close and grab the pack from under my bed. I waited until ten to sneak into Timmy's room. He was sitting up in his bed looking through animal identification books. He also had some water and a flashlight.
"What do you think it is?" I questioned.
"Well if it isn't some prankster then my best guess would be a black bear." He responded.
The image of what I saw came flashing back to me. The way it was spread out and its paws stretched over a five foot wingspan, and how its fur hung on its body like a piece of loose fabric. Yeah a black bear, that had to be it.
Eleven reaches soon enough and me and Tim go outside by the gate. Sammy shows up about five minutes after; she's wearing a baby blue pajama set. Not really stake out, monster hunt wear, but it fit her body perfectly, defining all of her curves. We set up behind a huge rock that sat in between the back of the houses. We waited patiently behind this rock for at least thirty minutes. By that time I was struggling to keep my eyes open. I had slow long blinks and would hang my head down, only to wake up and jerk my whole body back up. Finally sleep took over my whole body. I don't know how long I slept for but I woke up to Tim nudging my shoulder.
"Willy wake up. I think I heard something," said Tim in a hushed voice.
I open my eyes and see Tim and Sammy awake and shivering. I hear the rustle of leaves behind me too. My body freezes. What is that? We then all turn on our flashlights. We count down to face the creature behind us.
"One.......Two.....Three"
I turn around and we point out flashlights in the direction of the rustling. It's an orange tabby cat rustling through some leaves and garbage. It's either a neighbor's cat that got out, or a stray. I let out a sigh of relief. I can't believe we just got scared by a measly cat.
"Wow what a ferocious beast." I joked.
I heard no reply. I turn to look at the two sitting besides me. Their mouths hang open and eyes are the size of saucers. I look over to what they are looking at and I let out a gasp when I see it. It stood up, and its height had to be at least seven feet tall. It was covered with black fur, and hind legs that looked like a dog's but larger. Its arms were just as huge with paw-like hands at the end, and fingers probably seven or eight inches. However, its most distinct attribute was its face . The head didn't have any fur. It was white and looked like bone, as if it were wearing the skull of another animal, connected to this bone was long ivory antlers. Its yellow eyes looked empty as it stared at us down, then blood started to drip from its mouth that was layered with razor sharp serrated teeth. I screamed after I regained the ability to comprehend what was in front of me. This thing started to walk towards us.
"RUN!" I shrieked.
I grabbed Sammy and Tim by the arm and pulled them towards my house. We all started sprinting towards the door. I looked back behind me at this beast but it stopped moving. It's just observing us, and then it turns and starts walking in the opposite direction. We reach the door and dive inside the house, locking the door behind us. We sit on the floor and take a minute to catch our breaths.
"What was that thing?" I finally say.
"I have no clue" Tim says,
"Me either" Sammy chimes in.
"We can't go back out there. Not with whatever that thing is lurking out there. Sammy, you'll have to stay here until morning." I mumbled the last part.
"Miss is going to kill me for staying here, but yeah I can't go out there again." She agreed.
We don't move from in front of the door for another ten minutes. Timmy offers to let Sammy use his bedroom and he'll sleep on the couch but she refuses, and says the couch is more comfortable to her anyway. I go upstairs to my room to go to bed, but while I'm laying there every time I close my eyes but all I see is those yellow eyes staring back at me.
The next morning when I awoke Sammy was already gone and back to Miss Backstrom's house.
"Could you sleep last night?" I ask Tim. "All I could see was that thing."
"I couldn't sleep, but not for that reason" Tim has a giddy smile on his face when he announces this.
"What's going on, you're unusually chirpy?" This was extra strange considering last night's events.
"Well after you went to bed, me and Sammy got to talking, and well.... She kissed me!" He gushed.
I felt my stomach drop to my feet,I felt as if I was going to be sick.
"That's great." Was all the words I could assemble out in a false happy voice.
My whole body felt hot, and I could feel water prick my eyes. Why am I even upset? I could see this coming from a mile away. They were meant to be with each other, both the center of attention, the couple that would steal the glances of people walking in their vicinity. Of course Sammy would like Tim. He is able to provide for her, he'll get a good job, be able to find a house, do barn chores, and he's handsome too. No girl as extraordinary as her would ever want the no good little brother of someone like Tim.
There was nothing out of the ordinary that day. Tim went on helping father with a new project around the house, and I played in the yard watching Sammy from the open window. The day after that is where it took a turn for the worst.
Tim knocked on Miss Backstrom's door as we decided to visit Sammy, and talk about the beast more.
"Good morning Miss Backstrom, looking beautiful as ever, are we. I was just wondering if Sammy could come out and talk to me."
"Haven't you heard? Sammy ranaway from here. That little twerp, I knew I should have kept her locked up tighter. She's probably off selling herself to make some quick cash, but I'm sure she'll return when times get desperate. I'm sorry though Tim, but you really shouldn't be wasting your time with a girl like her. Tell your daddy I said Hi. Have a good rest of your day Tim," and with those words she closed the door.
Missing? How could Sammy be missing? Tim stomped off the steps, almost falling to the ground on the last one.
"Missing..." He said in a faint tone.
"I can't believe it." I responded. I sit there and let all the worries I've been having consume me.
"Do you think it has something to do with that beast we saw yesterday?" I asked.
"It has to be, there isn't another explanation,but who's gonna believe us when we say a seven foot tall beast with a skull for a head took Sammy? They'll put us in some kind of institution."
"Maybe we can see if the library has any books on this creature to see if there is a way to kill it or to help us find Sammy." I propose.
"Good idea, let's go."
Tim and I storm off to the library. Once we get there we bolt into the library and head to the librarian to ask her where the book on beasts and legends resides.
"Good morning Miss, do you happen to have any books on legends and mythological creatures?" Tim questioned mannerly.
"Why I think so, you'd have to check section two A. Any creature in specific you are looking for?" The librarian said.
"One that's really tall, black, and has a skull for a face with antler."
The librarian's face dropped, "Well I don't know if we have anything on that but you can try." She mumbled.
We walked to the section she pointed to and scavenged the books for what would be this creature but there was nothing. We felt defeated after picking up the last urban legend book, only to discover that it wasn't in there. Maybe Sammy really did just run away. Then I found a newspaper article tucked inside a book. It was about the disappearance of another young girl, the article said she was around twelve,her name was Mandy Erving who went missing and was linked to other child kidnappings. She disappeared in 1976 and was never seen again. I wandered over the archives in the library, and started investigating the missing person reports section. Before this girl there was a boy, Jonathan Sweets, 1964, never seen again. Avery Brown, 1952, missing and never seen again. Peter Champer, 1940, he was found alive but barely. He was talking incoherently, and the stories he told weren't made since, talking about a monster coming after him. Doctors and police thought he was drugged and making up stories to cover up the trauma of being kidnapped. He was put in an institution, but he had to be released when he was eighteen. This was the man we needed, he saw the creature, but how much time do we have left to find Sammy. She could be dead already. I showed Tim the newspaper and he glazed his eyes over it.
"This could be unrated, coincidence , and we don't even know where to find this man, we need more information, and we don't find him in time to tell us. We don't even know who this is, he could actually just be some crazy man with delusions." He wearily sighed.
With all hope gone we exited the library and I saw a man I've only seen a few times before. He lived down the road and might be as old as Miss Backstrom.
"I heard you were looking for the creature that haunts this town." He stated
"How do you know this?" I asked.
"I heard you talking about it with the librarian there, and I know how to help, but you have to stop mentioning it to others."
"Why is that?"
"Because they already know about the beast."
Tim steps into the conversation, "What do you mean they already know?"
"They know what the beast is, everyone does, we help it."
"You help the monster that took my friend!" I could see the anger rising in Tim when he hollered this.
"Keep it down sonny, and we don't want to. The story goes that the major summoned this demon many years ago to get wealthy and come into power. However there was a cost to this deal. Every twelve years someone must be sacrificed to it, to keep it from destroying this town." the man narrated.
I felt a chill in my bones. Was this all planned by the town? Did they all know what was going to happen to Sammy?
"There is hope your friend is still alive though. The cryptid only eats on a full moon, so you have until tonight to find her."
"Do you know anything else about this demon?" I pried.
The ominous man replies, " They call him Mammon. After doing my own research I discovered he is the demon of greed. He can make all your dreams and desires come true but they do come with a price to pay and this demon won't wait a century for you to pay off your debts."
"How do you know this much?" I question again.
A slight smile tugged at his lips, "Don't reveal your secrets to just anyone in this town, kid."
"Thank you so much sir, really thank you." Tim thanks while shaking this man's hand, tears are welling up in his eyes again.
"No problem sonny, now you best be off, hurry." The man roamed in the opposite direction.
And with those words we were running back to our house. My mind was racing. Where could they be keeping Sammy? The monster wouldn't have been able to eat her yet, so what would they do? We get back to the house and dash into Tim's room. Are our parents in on this secret? I don't even know if I can trust them. Come on, think Will. Where could Sammy be? I groaned frustratedly and hopped on Tim's bed, looking out of the window that pointed right at Miss Backstrom's house. Miss Backstrom. Miss Backstrom, that's it!
"Timmy, I think I have an idea on where Sammy is! She has to still be at Miss Backstroms, I mean think about it. She didn't even want Sammy to leave the house ever in the first place, and her windows are covered with these curtains that nobody can get into, and she has like five locks on her down. That has to be it." I jumped up. This has to be it.
"Willy, you're a genius! She has to be there! we have to go save her, but we need to be ready."
We came up with a master plan on how to save Sam. We grabbed flashlights, put on warm clothes, I grabbed my boy scouts pocket knife and Tim stole the handgun that father kept in his nightstand drawer. We had to wait until nightfall to execute our plan. We sat and waited impatiently. Tim paced the entire room for hours while we waited.
Finally the time came to carry out our attack. We snuck to the front door and slipped out making sure to be cautious and quiet. After this we walked to the gate and walked out that too, all the way to the front of Miss Backstrom's porch. Tim climbed up first to the door and slowly turned the handle. I didn't know what we were going to do if the door was locked. Luckily the handle turned all the way around and the door opened without a creak. We glided through and were greeted by stairs and a hallway. Tim signaled that he was going up the dark stained wooden stairs. I watched him walk up, and I followed the hallway. As I snuck further down this hall I heard talking and it got louder and louder. I reached a spot where the hallway is perpendicular to a room. I turned my head around the corner and spy on the people sitting in the room. On the couches was Miss Backstrom, the librarian, the owner of Andy's corner, some other from town, and the mayor. The mayor was dressed in a neatly pressed all white suit, and he stood tall with pride and arrogance. Right in the middle of the room is Sammy. She is tied to a chair, with her hands behind her back, and her ankles bound to the legs of the chair. Her mouth was gagged with a white cloth. We made eye contact and I put my finger to my lips to signal her to be quiet. I listened to the mayor's speech.
"As you know our town has been booming recently, all thanks to me and my production of wheat. We are going to become a place on the map, where all kinds of businesses will move in and more and more companies will hear about my ripe wheat production. This town will become rich! As you know though, this wealth does come with a small price to pay. This girl will be tonight's offering. She serves no purpose in this community, just some arabic trash found on the side of the road needing a home." He started to laugh maniacally.
"The demon Mammon will feed good tonight isn't that right!"
As the mayor shouted, I saw the terrible demon outside the back porch door. The mayor was heading over to let him in, and I couldn't stand to live with myself if I had to see her get sacrificed next. This could have been me if Sammy didn't arrive, I was disposable to the town. I jumped out of my hiding place.
"You stop right there!" I shouted.
Everyone's eyes turn to me.
"Well if that isn't William White. The boy who almost lost his life in the same way if it hadn't been for nice little Samatha here. You think you can stop this? It's too late for that, you're going to have to sit back and enjoy the show." The mayor cackled out.
I run to charge at the mayor but two of his followers have me pinned down.
"Aw nice try Will, but what's a little weakling like you gonna do? You are just as replaceable as the girl over there so don't think you can do anything to stop this."
A voice appeared, "Who are you calling a weakling! These are some of the greatest people I've ever known, nobody will ever be able to replace them!" It was Tim.
Next I heard a "Bang!" then saw the mayor drop. Dark crimson blood started pouring out of his shoulder.
"You'll regret that!" The mayor said.
His followers who had once pinned me down, rushed up to help the mayor up and assess the extent of his shoulder injury. While they had let me go, I scooted towards Sammy. I took the knife out of my pocket and started cutting away at the rope that was bounding her legs to the chair.
"It's gonna be ok." I whispered to her as I continued cutting.
The mayor and Tim were still fighting. The mayor's followers had stood up, but weren't rushing at Tim. He was the one with the gun, so for now much of the situation was in his control.
"Once the ceremony is already in motion there is no way to stop it." The mayor stated.
"Shut up! I'm not letting you take Sammy. I- I'm in love with her! She won't be given to that demon no matter what!" Tim screamed back, he was crying and shaking while pointing that gun at the mayor.
The whole time they were arguing I was cutting, I was cutting the last rope on Sammy's arm, and took the gag out of her mouth. She leapt into my arms and was sobbing profusely.
"It's ok, I'm here for you" I rubbed the back of her head.
We needed to get out of her was all I kept thinking. I made my way towards Tim with Samatha pressed up against my side.
"We have Sammy! And we are going to be leaving here with her!" I yelled.
"Oh you think you're so smart do you? What are you gonna do when you get outside? The demon is a lot faster than the two of you, and it's a death sentence once you leave."
That's what it took for Tim to charge at the mayor with all his might. He took him down to the ground easily and overpowered him. He punched the mayor in the face repeatedly, and blood started to spew from the old man's mouth and nose. His nose looked crooked as if Tim had broken it with his punches.
"I hope you die a slow and agonizing death, and then you rot for all those people you've killed over the years!" Tim sneered, and then spit in the mayor's face.
It was clear the mayor was weak and not able to hold off Tim, and yet he still smirked.
"Oh but I won't be the one dying tonight."
That's when I noticed one of the townsfolk had opened the porch door.
The action happened so fast I had no chance to move. The demon made a straight line towards Tim. Its matted fur and white cranium was a blur as it moved at an inhuman speed.
"TIM!!" But it was too late by the time I yelled.
Tim looked back and saw the demon but he didn't move. As its long spindly paws reached out and grabbed Tim, he let off another shot into the mayor's chest, one that won't be revivable.
As soon as Tim pulled the trigger the monster stuck it serrated jaws into Tim's throat. I fell to the ground, unable to move. That would be the last time I saw my brother.
***
After that, the police interrogated me and Sammy for weeks, and we always told them the same thing. They never did believe us. The police had the townspeople as witnesses, but with a dead boy and mayor they didn't talk. The case was closed after a year. I barely could even think after fighting that monster. My brother, the boy who I'd looked up to my entire life, who was always invincible to me, was now dead. I moved away from that town as soon as I turned eighteen and I went to college to become a writer. I ended up getting married and having two of the most extraordinary kids. It's been 34 years since my brother's passing, and how the times have changed.
My reminiscing was interrupted by a turkey sandwich with swiss cheese, lettuce, and mayo and my glass of whiskey. My wife looked down at me.
"What are you doing?" She asked, with a voice that was honey to my ears. It was smooth and made it easy for me to listen to her talk.
"Oh nothing my darling" I replied, giving her a quick peck on the lips.
She looked down at the pictures and reports I had spread across the desk. A frown found its way upon her face. An atmosphere of melancholy surrounded the two of us.
"We all miss him." She said with sorrow filling her voice.
"He was my brother. He missed out on a life because of me, I was supposed to be the one in that house, and now..." my voice broke as I trailed off.
"It's not your fault Will. He was going to protect us no matter what it cost him, that's just the kind of man he was. The kind of man you are too. Brave, compassionate, calculative, and more."
"He truly inspires me. He does just as much as he does in death as he does in life."
"I know hun he does me too."
There was a moment of silence, but it wasn't awkward or sad. It was comforting and the air felt warm as if I was being embraced.
" Well come on, let's go to bed, it's getting late." She said.
"Ok, I'll be right up" I said, giving her another kiss.
She left my office and I put the manilla folder back into the cabinet. Her brown long hair was now cut short to about her chin, but her green eyes still carried speckles of blue and yellow. Her dark plump lips are the same shape, and they felt even better than I imagined when I met her all those summers ago. She is still the same beautiful girl I met when I was a child, and she was the girl I got to marry. I've changed though. I eventually grew and started to work out, and my pale skin developed a tan in the summer. When I look at myself sometimes I see my brother Tim. I miss him more than I've ever missed anyone, but when I see him in me I'm not just his shadow anymore. We are connected, and we stand by each other side by side.