Until Next Time.

The abandoned streets were still against the black backdrop of a starless night. A small breeze stirred, rustling the dead leaves on the ground. The abandoned church loomed over the town, its aphotic halls damp with rotting wood. Grey stayed inside, pacing quietly. He knew better than to draw any attention, especially on a night like this. The sky was as dark as it could be, the moon a mere sliver of itself against the frigid fall air. Nights like this brought them out, piqued their curiosity about the stories they’d all been told. Knowing this, he lay in wait.

Just as the clock struck midnight, a susurrus stirred outside. The sheer curtain that hung askew in the broken window of the foyer fluttered. Grey shifted his weight and crouched down behind the pulpit. He held his breath, focusing on the faint noises coming ever closer. He held as breath as the heavy wooden door creaked open slowly, small beams of light from flashlights swirling around the walls beside him. He pulled his body close, making himself as small as he could.

“Shut up, Troy,” a girl whispered, her voice small and shrill. “I don’t want to disturb anyone or anything that may be in here”. Grey could sense the tension in her voice. She was scared. His pulse began to quicken.

“Oh, for hell sake, Sadie” a boys voice muttered, deep and throaty. “Do you really believe in all this shit? I mean, come on.” Grey assumed this voice belonged to Troy. He gritted his teeth.

Sadie and Troy, Grey thought to himself. His eyes shifted slightly, readjusting to the dark of the church. A small, wry smile curled over his lips. That’ll do. His heart thudded hard in his chest in anticipation. He loved nothing more than the chase and tonight would prove no different.

Another voice, trembling and nervous came next. “I really don’t like this, you guys.” This one was scratchy and thin, high and tight. She’ll be fun, Grey thought to himself, his eyebrow raising at the thought.

“Listen Alli,” Sadie replied. “You don’t have to stay if you don’t want but, I hope you will. I know Troy’s an asshole. I’m sorry.”

Still behind the pulpit, Grey waited with bated breath. pins and needles pricking at his skin with each word they said, the anticipation ever stirring.

“No,” Alli replied. “I won’t leave you here with just him.”

“I won’t hurt her,” Troy replied, his words dripping in sarcasm. “I promise.”

A loud squeal escaped Sadie’s throat, then a giggle followed by the sound of lips and tongues exchanging saliva. Grey closed his eyes, trying to drown out the noise.

“Hey, sorry I’m late.” This came from another boy, his voice deep but soft. “Did I miss anything?”

“Just these two being gross.”

“Hey, Justin, “ said Troy, slapping his hand against Justin’s back. “Glad you could make it. Alli was having no fun at all without you here.”

The sound of Troy’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard to Grey. He could not wait to watch him squirm, taking that voice away for good. All in due time, he thought. He thoroughly enjoyed the “tough guys” like Troy. They always scared the easiest. He chuckled to himself under his breath.

“Okay, everyone,” said Sadie. “Let’s all have a seat. Did you bring the candles, Alli?”

Alli set five candles in a circle on the floor just in front of the first pews, a few mere feet from where Grey was patiently plotting. Justin leaned over and struck a match, lighting each of the wicks. The smell of sulphur hung heavy in the air. Grey drew in a sharp breath, preparing himself as the flickering flames cast long shadows against the damp walls around him. Soon, he thought to himself, his heart racing.

“Now, everyone hold hands. Good. Now, close your eyes.”

“Oh, I don’t like that! I don’t want to close my eyes. I’m scared.”

“Alli, you have to close your eyes. That’s how a seance works.”

“Don’t be a baby, Alli. What, you worried something is going to get you in here?”

“Shut up, Troy! You’re fine, Alli. I’ll make sure I don’t let go of your hand. I promise.”

Grey listened to their conversation with intensity, honing his assumptions about each of them. Troy was the douchebag of the group, probably played some sport. Sadie was the pretty one, popular, maybe a cheerleader or something. Tonight was all her idea. Alli was the sort of geeky friend that Sadie took under her wing. Justin was the loner guy, broody and really into Alli. Typical, cliched and perfect for a night like this.  

“Oh, great spirits of Lake Otonomow, we call to you …”

Grey knew the moment was upon him. With an evil grin he moved slowly across the platform of the church, quiet like a mouse. He tiptoed along the rows of pews until he reached the heavy wooden door. Quietly and with purpose he turned the key and locked the door. The bolt slid into place with a loud bang. And so it begins, Grey thought to himself as he ducked in the shadowy hall surrounded by thick velvet curtains.

Alli gasped emphatically. “What was that?” she whispered, her face a ghostly white.

“I’m not sure,” replied Sadie. “I’m sure it was just the wind. Let’s keep going. Everything’s fine.”

Grey could sense the unease radiating off of Alli’s skin, almost like a thick fog clouding around her. Time to play, he whispered under his breath, turning slowly to make his way up the stairwell behind him.

The stairs, just like the infested walls were damp and moldy. Grey knew exactly where he could place his feet to make just enough noise to create an eerie creaking but not fall through the rotting wood. This was his playground and he liked nothing more than a fun game of cat and mouse. With his breath held tight, he placed his foot on the second stair from the bottom, putting just enough pressure that a deep creak escaped the stagnant wood.

“What the fuck,” Troy belted, jumping to his feet with a heavy thud.

How did I know, Grey thought to himself. Tough guys are always the first to break. He yanked himself halfway up the staircase, applying pressure to the third stair from the top, creaking the wood repeatedly; slowly at first, then at a rapid pace. He glanced behind him, half hoping to see Troy’s terrified face.

Their voices below muffled as Grey slid in between the velvet curtains on the upper level of the church, winding his way through narrow shafts for lighting. He stopped, dead center, just above the pulpit where he had first hid. He shuffled the curtains ever so slightly, peering out through two small holes he’d cut in the heavy material. He liked to watch his prey, especially as fear and adrenaline rushed through their bodies.

Troy paced below, a small hint of sweat on this brow glistened in the faint candlelight. Grey smiled, amused. Justin was holding Alli, her face still white as a ghost. Sadie, on the other hand, was resting back on her hands, legs straight out in front of her watching Troy, a look of irritation burning behind her eyes,

“I don’t know what you’re being so uptight about, Troy. This is a seance, after all. Aren’t we calling spirits to come and play?”

“Wait, you were terrified when we got here. What the hell? Now you’re all, I’m a ghostbuster, so deal with it? I don’t get you, Sadie.”

“You like me playing coy, Troy, so I did. This is why we came. Now that it’s working, you’re going to just puss out? Some man you are.”

Grey chuckled. He liked Sadie’s attitude. He couldn’t wait to see what she’d say when she finally saw him, face to face. Would she still be as nonchalant about their trip to the scary, abandoned church then? His pupils flared at the thought.

He watched the two continue to argue, picking up a small piece of old lighting equipment. He dragged it along the metal shaft he was standing on, the scraping sound echoed throughout the weathered building. Alli screamed and buried her face in the crook of Justin’s arm.

“Alright Sadie, enough’s enough,” Justin stated, making his way to his feet, all the while keeping his arms tightly woven around Alli. “We’re done here.”

Grey’s lips curled around his rotten teeth. Oh, but you can’t leave just yet, he thought to himself.

“Fine,” Sadie replied. “Whatever. You are all too lame for this, anyway. They’re just regular noises from an old, gross building. Seriously.”

As Sadie rose to her feet, brushing off her legs  Grey tossed a light bulb, shattering on the floor just a few feet away. She screamed and took off running for the door, slamming into it with a hard thud. She pushed and pulled to no avail. The wail of concern from her throat sent the running to her aid, grunting in fear as the door refused to budge. Panic began to set in as they looked around, realizing all of the windows were barred and the rear door had been welded shut years ago.

“This isn’t funny,” Troy shouted. “Let us out of here.” The terror in his voice stirred something inside of Grey. He pulled his hood up and made his way towards the end of the shaft, landing at the ladder that would set him down on the stage just off-center of the pulpit. It’s time, he thought to himself excitedly.

“Who the hell are you talking to,” replied Sadie, gripping Troy’s arm as tight as she could.

“Whoever the hell locked us in here. That door wasn’t locked when we got here which means that some twisted fuck is in here trying to scare us.”

“Who would do something like that,” asked Alli, her voice shaking. Justin pulled her in closer.

“I don’t know,” Troy replied. “But they better let us the hell out now or shit’s gonna get real in about 10 seconds.”

Oh, is it now, Grey thought to himself, his feet two rungs from the floor. We’ll see about that. He jumped, landing heavily on the hardwood floor just behind the velvet curtain.

Both girls screamed. Justin and Troy exchanged a terrified look. Troy puffed his chest and stepped forward. “Come on,” he yelled. “You wanna go, then let’s go. The sooner I kick your ass the sooner I can get the hell out of here.”

Grey’s eyes gleamed underneath his hoodie. He bent down and picked up a large, rusty machete. Let’s dance. He pulled the curtain back slowly with the blade, keeping his head low, looking up with just his eyes, wild and frenzied. As his lips curled once more over his rotting, yellowed teeth, he locked his gaze on Troy.

The intensity of the looming, burly man standing in front of them, dressed in black from head to toe wielding a rusty, blood stained machete sent the girls pounding on the door, screaming bloody murder in the dilapidated building, the sounds bouncing from wall to wall. Justin pulled on windows and locks, anxiously searching for any way out.

Troy stood frozen, his eyes concentrated on the figure before him. Grey took a step forward, dragging the machete against the wood, his heavy boots thudding against the floor. Another step forward. Troy couldn’t move. Two more steps and Grey was at the edge of the stage. As he stepped down the first stair, the machete clanging against the wood, the three at the door turned to stare in horror.

“Troy,” Sadie yelled, tears streaming down her face. Grey’s face shifted towards Sadie, squinting with his lips drawn tight. He lifted the machete towards her. She screamed and took off running up the stairs to the back room of the church. Alli and Justin followed suit. Perfect, Grey thought to himself.

He turned his focus back to Troy, glancing down to notice that he had pissed himself. He grinned, the stench from his rotting teeth permeating towards Troy, whose stomach lurched at the scent. As Grey drew closer, mere inches from his face, Troy braced himself. Grey lifted the machete and swung hard. With a splatter of blood and a heavy thud Troy’s head rolled in between two of the pews next to him. His body collapsed on the floor, blood pouring onto the disintegrating carpet.

Grey stepped over the body and headed towards the staircase that the other three had gone up. He took his time, dragging the machete behind him along the corridor towards the sacristy. He stood in the doorway, his breath heavy. He stepped one foot inside. Justin grabbed his ankle and yanked hard, sending Grey backwards to the floor. Nice, Grey thought to himself. I like fiesty prey. He swung the machete swiftly, connecting with Justin’s wrist in one seamless motion.

Justin let out a guttural howl, quickly yanking back the remnants of his arm, blood smearing across the hardwood floor. Nowhere left to hide, Grey thought to himself, amused. Grey stood and stepped inside the doorway to find Justin curled up on the floor, cradling his stumped arm. A look of terror washed over his face as Grey brought the machete down hard in the center of his skull; a loud crack echoed through the room.

Grey’s attention shifted towards a rustling behind the bathroom door. Gotcha, he thought to himself, a dark smirk creasing his face. He dragged the bloodied machete behind him, slowly making his way to the door. He turned the knob to find it was locked. Clever. He lifted the machete and thudded against the door with the metal tip, softly, slowly. Behind the door he could heard the muffled sobs of both girls. His sinister eyes danced with delight.

Grey began whacking the machete against the door, the wood slowly starting to splinter under the pressure. As the machete split through the wood, Alli squealed. A heavy sob came from deep inside her lungs. Grey’s stomach stirred. He yanked the blade from the door and with one final blow broke the entire door in half. With ease he reached his arm in and unlatched the lock. He swung the door open and stood, looming over the trembling girls huddled in the corner near the toilet.

“What the fuck is this,” screamed Sadie. “What kind of psycho does this to people? You freak!”

With that Grey lunged forward and shoved the machete clean through the center of Sadie’s throat. Blood spurted out from either side of the blade, showering Alli with the warm red liquid. Grey shifted his eyes towards Alli’s, agonizing terror beaming from them. He curled his lips over his rotten teeth once more and leaned towards her. Alli screamed violently as Grey wrapped his cold, gnarled hand around her throat.

Grey lifted her straight off the floor. Gasping for breath Alli did her best to kick and scratch at him, hoping she could find a way to save her own life. Grey lifted her overhead, her face turning a slight shade of blue. He looked up at her, satisfied at the level of horror she felt, the rush of adrenaline pulsing through her veins. With one swing of his arm he brought her down head first, crushing her skull against the side of the cracked toilet.

The sound of blood dripping from the porcelain on to the tiled floor was the only sound that remained, save for a gurgling of blood as Grey yanked his machete from Sadie’s throat. The clock in the tower chimed; 3am, the witching hour. Grey slowly made his way out of the sacristy, along the narrow corridor and down the stairs. He slowly lumbered to the front door and unlocked the deadbolt. I’m waiting, he whispered, sliding into the pew at the very back of the church.

No more than 10 minutes had passed before the heavy door creaked open, it’s hinges screaming into the cold night. In walked three giant, brute figures; they reeked of death and mildew, their eyes a fierce, translucent green. Behind them sat a very large black box, intricate and detailed with gold filigree and dense hardware. The one closest to Grey dragged the box inside the vestibule. It crashed loudly against the tiled floor. Another took a key to the heavy, oversized lock and leaned the top of the box back. They all reached in, one taking a bone saw, one a chainsaw and the other an axe. They made their way up the stairs, one after the other.

The moment the whir of the chainsaw started above him, Grey made his was over to Troy’s body. He whacked his machete through pieces of his corpse, splaying blood across every surface. Once the limbs had all been dismembered he placed each inside the giant box. The bottom was filled with a pungent liquid. As each limb descended the stench became viler, bubbling around the flesh before sinking to the bottom.

The three figures made their way down the stairs, careful of each step so as not to fall through the rotting wood. They placed the remains of the other three helpless corpses in the box as well. The stench grew with each of their remains, the foul smell hanging heavy in the air. The figures then closed the box, sealed the lock and left, heaving the box behind them. Once outside, Grey closed the heavy door with a thud, sliding the deadbolt back into place.

A faint whisper snaked its way through the vestibule. “Job well done.”

Grey smiled, lifting the hood from his head, revealing his swollen brain oozing from a crack in back of his skull, the torn flesh wounds on the left side of his neck; his black eyes, dead as night.

“Until next time, my child,” the voice whispered once more.

Grey curled up on the pew, satisfied. He had satiated the hunger of his master. He happily closed his eyes, seeking slumber. Until next time.