E Minora in Dark Shade

Epilogue

10

George Holbrook couldn't bear the thought.

The plan was always to go back after Billy had gone home. George couldn't help but think of the last piece of the puzzle. If Billy had found it by accident. Anyone could find it. And despite having melted the key down into a useless shape to never open any doors again. He knew he couldn't sleep with that alone. No matter his silence. Marcy would haunt him until his final day. The policeman would be on his conscience. Travis and Maxine a different story. They had been a bane to him for too long. Even though he knew it would eventually weigh on him one day. He still wouldn't mourn them.

It was simple. The stairs that went down into that pit weren't very wide. Hell, he barely made it down with how thin he was. It would take a weekend or two to get it done. But he had to do it to be sure the thing that called itself Denny Zen would never be found. Old man McDougal's secret would be buried forever. Whatever its purpose whether a bunker or a prison. It would be a tomb for four human beings and a hideous thing that took glee as it killed.

Three trips in all for the tools, bricks, and mortar. The dirt that would fill it he could find later. Too much thinking on the logistics of the structure's construction to worry about now. The only other thing was to make a bomb, but how would he get that into the room without potentially letting the thing out? Same with opening the door and shooting it. It was too much risk.

Damn it did the questions surface at the worst time. How long had it been there? What the hell even was it? Could it even die if it had been in there for so long? What in the fuck was McDougal into?

One more thing before he began. He had no reason and was unsure why he was doing it as he crossed into the dark and approached the door. Ear to the rough steel as he listened for something, anything to tell him that maybe he had shot and killed it. A little further examination showed that there was a small slot. Something like to pass food through. Just small enough that you could barely see through if you had a light. Which George had brought just in case.

It took more courage than it was worth. Down on his knees with the gun sitting beside him and the light in one hand. The other opening to see inside. And there was something to see. The light went through, and he could see the back wall in the dark. It was a scalp on the wall. A long piece of bone with a golden badge wedged inside. A broken head with the twisted mouth of his stepson. Lastly, his wife's face stretched in the middle like a mask. The whole thing looking like some savage dream catcher.

Suddenly, something moved where the light didn't shine. Something that grinned and laughed silently in the dark.

It got George out of that pit and to work. The bricks he stacked as the mortar secured. Maybe he would make it two or three layers deep. Nearly to the top before he sealed it off forever when he peered through the hole to see something down there. It gave him the shivers as he took the light and shined it through one last time. The slot was flipped open. And two silverish eyes peered out at him.

The voice was faint behind the brick. But George heard it clear as day.

"Please, George. Please, don't leave us down here. We're sorry for how we were. We can be better. All you have to do is let us out. Please, George. We love you."

It was the voice of his deceased wife.

George Holbrook slathered the last line of mortar and gripped the final brick. He looked back into those eyes behind the steel in the dark where it would remain.

"What the hell are you?" George asked, raising the brick to lay in place.

The voice changed from that of his wife to that of a child. "I am the evil inside you, begging to be free."

The last brick sealed it. George would call it a day. He wouldn't sleep tonight. Maybe not for a long time. But he would come back to see this through. To seal this place away. Hopefully, forever.