by JB Abner
Our little orange Volkswagen beetle sputters to life on sweltering July summer day. My brother Joel and I pile into the hot sizzling black vinyl back seat to visit our aunt. Augh, in the 1970s, bugs did not have AC. This doesn’t bold well if you live near Atlanta in the summer. The humidity is so thick you choke on it, making it hard to breathe. My brother and I boil in the back seat, counting the minutes until we arrive to see Mom’s sister. Aunt Louise is a divorced mother of three. She has two daughters, Rice and Faye, and a son Josh. Being divorced back in 1978 meant life was not always kind to them. Mom would always bring a bag of groceries when we would visit. Fortunately for us, they did not live too far. Soon the little bug puttered into the apartment complex in time to keep from having a heatstroke. Aunt Louise was the first to greet us as she swung open the front door giving each of us a hug. “Y’all come into some air conditioning before you melt.”
It felt like heaven to finally be out of that blistering heat. We stand in her modest ground-floor apartment, wallowing in the cool air. Our Aunt’s apartment is small. A kitchen and living room with an old raggedy sofa and a scratched-up coffee table in the middle of the room. There was also a huge brown vinyl rocking chair that swiveled and a small TV dinner tray with a lamp. Along the front wall is a window with a big four-legged box RCA TV with long rabbit ear antenna reaching for the ceiling. The TV is blaring with Munster’s sitcom rerun. My Aunt and mom sit in two of the four chairs at the large wooden dining room table. Mom mentioned this was one of the few items she kept after her ex-husband kicked them out of the house.
Only two of my cousins still live with my aunt. Rice, the oldest, had moved out before the divorce was final. The younger two, Faye and Josh, still lived with my aunt. On this visit, Faye was the only one home. Josh was spending the week with his dad. Faye entered the room with a corky smile while Joel and I stood in the small living room.
She quietly asks, “Hey guys, what do you boys want to do?” We stared at her for a moment. One thing is for sure, we will not be going to her room. The last time we got too rowdy, she slammed the door on my fingers. So, I shrug. “I don’t know. What is there to do?”
With a mischievous smirk, she says, “Well, I suppose you can go with me to the hangout.”
Joel eagerly replies, “Sounds good to me.” Then he looks at me with a pleading expression waiting for my answer.
I shrug my shoulders. “Whatever.”
Faye attempts to leave the apartment, hoping to go unnoticed, when Aunt Louise warns. “Now Faye, don’t be taking them boys back in those weird woods, you hear me.”
Faye turns, “Yes, ma’am, we won’t.” Then pushes us out the door.
Leaving the cool AC of the apartment now seemed like a big mistake as the sun was again beating down on us. We follow in tow as she drags us forward. Near the front of their complex, Faye takes an unexpectedly sharp right into the woods. Joel and I stand there staring at her.
With hands on hips, she says, “Well, are you coming?”
Glancing at each other, we slowly walk through the briars. Which is challenging when wearing shorts. Finally, out of the sun and briars, the woods open to a large canopy of tall pine trees. A welcome breeze blew through the trees. Sigh, a much-needed coolness after such brutal heat. Another deep breath of relief as we stand in the shadows of the tall pines. We take in the cool relaxing breeze. Until I smell a scent of musty burnt wood.
Opening my eyes, I gasp. “You’ve got to be kidding.” Astonished, I look over at Faye while sweat still runs down my back. “Well? What is this?”
“What is what?”
“What do you mean – what?” Waving my hands all around. “This…this…what is this?”
Seeing me agitated, she responds, “Uhm, they did stuff like this. You know, weird stuff to trees.”
I crock, “Who did stuff like this?”
“Oh, umm, there used to be this cult that met around here. So, they’d light candles, chant, howl at the moon, stuff like that–”
“And you decided to keep this from us. Great…”
Why would someone burn the bottom of all the trees? Looking over at Joel, he seems shocked as well. A sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Seeing her smirk, now wonder if this was such a good idea. Clinching my fist, two things I know about Faye. One, she isn’t known for her smarts; two, she can be sly sometimes. Either way, it usually spells trouble. What I mean to say is trouble for me. I glared up at her. She stands there with that pouty crooked innocent smile.
I scowl. “Why am I getting a bad feeling about all this?”
She quickly grabs my arm. “Don’t worry so much. Wait till you see the house; it’s huge.”
I shudder, “House? What house?”
“I’ll show you. Come on, it’s right up here at the end of the trail.”
She pulls us deeper into the ominous woods. The further we go. The more it feels like being caught in a rabbit’s snare. We reach the end of the trail, which gives way to a vast clearing and a gigantic dark stoned house. This place has a massive structure. Adorned with large, busted windows and kudzu vines crawling over the stonework. Across the way is a pond and an enormous rock outcrop hanging out over the water like a diving board. This whole place nestled behind a thicket of woods, making it invisible to cars passing by on the main road.
Gleefully, Faye asks, “Well, what do you think? Cool, huh.”
Joel responds, “Cool as he takes off towards the house.”
My throat is dry as I try to gulp. Barely able to speak, I say, “Yea, not at all what I expected.” Watching Joel run is when it dawns on me, t – the kids? Kids are running around everywhere. Gathering my breath, I ask, “Where did all these kids come from?” Then I heard a very loud grunt from the roof of the house. Perched on the top are older kids who peer down at us.
A tall, lanky boy with dark recessed eyes hollers at us in a husky voice. “What are you doing here?”
Faye snaps back. “I can come here anytime I want.”
“Not you.” He points at me in a harsh voice. “Him.”
Pish, “He can be here too. He is with me.”
He snarls, “You know he shouldn’t be here.” With wild deranged eyes, he scolds, “You should not have brought him.”
She huffs, grabbing my arm. “Don’t listen to him. He’s a jerk.” Then whispers, “Nobody likes him anyway.” Then quickly pushes me towards the house.
Jittery over what the boy said, not to mention nervous, and a little weirded out by this. I say, “Maybe we should head back. This place gives me the creeps.”
“Ah, don’t let him bother you. Besides, I want to show you how cool the place is inside. Come on,” thrusting me through the front doorway.
Once inside, standing in a grand foyer with white columns and marble floors. A wraparound stairway encircles the large crystal chandelier. Staring up the stairs, this place is quite regal. A tug on my pants leg. Staring down I see a little girl. She smiles grimly up at me. I grind back at her. then she speaks. shocked, I gasp with fright at the unnatural sound that comes deep from inside her little body. A deep girthy growl, “You know you’re in trouble.” My body quivers in shock. Then startled I jump as Faye grabs me again. She pulls me further into this dark place gesturing for me to go upstairs.
Once on the second floor, I glance out of the nearest back window opening. Looking out over the vast backyard. It is odd, with random rows of shrubs and a big rusty fountain with scummy rainwater in the middle of the yard. Suddenly, a shiver comes over me as it dawns on me – the fountain is the shape of a pentagram. Making matters worse, Joel is playing around with it.
Impulsively I screech, “Joel, get out of there and come here now.” Hearing me, he jumps down. Seeing me in the window opening, he runs for the house.
“It’s time for us to go.” As I turn to face Faye.
I froze, frightened by the dangerous edge of her eyes. When she then metamorphoses into her infamous soft, pouty look. “But you’ve not seen the best part.” Then quickly reaches out and grabs my arm and leads me back downstairs.
Back on the main floor, she turns and peers at me. In a stern voice, she says, “Come on, I want to show you what is down here.” She quickly walks down a granite stone staircase, then looks back at me. “Well, are you coming?”
Suspicious, I ask, “Uhm, what’s down there?”
“Oh, it is cool. There are all these small rooms with thick wooden doors. Come on down and see for yourself.”
Taking another step forward, — my body stops working. I was unable to move, stand there paralyzed. Terror runs over me as I stare wide-eyed at Faye. I try to speak, “Eccch….” Suddenly, I grabbed my throat unable to breathe. Feeling faint, what is happening to me? I reach for my throat gasping for air.
I then heard Faye. “Hey – hey, calm down. You’ll be okay. I’ve been down here countless times. There really isn’t anything to worry about.” She says with a sinister smile.
“Uhm…I each feel….” I freak out, struggling to breathe, now unable to speak.
“Augh, why are you scared?” With an edge of annoyance in her voice.
“I – I can’t go down there – it’s not for me…I can’t.”
Seeing my condition, she gasps and quickly is back by my side. “Hey – hey, it’s okay. Are you okay? Calm down; what’s wrong with you?”
I barely whisper under my breath. “I – I’m not s – supposed to.”
“What? Of course, you can go. Come on, I’ll hold your hand.” She takes my hand and tries pulling me down the stairs.
“NO…I can’t go –” Pulling my hand from hers.
Her eyes widened then she snarled, “Okay – okay, calm down.” She lets out a deep disgruntled sigh of disgust. “Fine, we’ll leave. Joel, come on; we’re heading out.” Then she grabs me by the shirt. “Let’s go.”
Once outside with hands on my knees try to catch my breath. Cringing over the teasing that is sure to come…but doesn’t. Then, I notice it is uncharacteristically quiet. Looking over at Faye and Joel, they are staring forward. Raising my head, I see why. All the kids are standing there glaring at us with distorted gruesome smiles. A low, dark growling starts as they begin to chant.
“Should not be here… Should not be here… Should not be here.”
It becomes louder and louder as they look on with wild penetrating eyes. The tall, lanky boy raises his hand, stops the chant, then walks up to Faye. He harshly glares at her. Then chuckles, “He will not be happy with you.”
Faye winces, pish, “Huh, yea well, I had to try, didn’t I.” The tall, lanky boy goes silent and smiles darkly at her.
Clinching his jaw, “I suppose so.”
Confused, I give her a look of uncertainty. Mutter, “I’m ready to go.”
Staring him down, she says, “Me too.”
Walking back, Faye finally breaks the silence. “Glad the color is back in your face. You scared me there for a minute. Thank goodness, you didn’t pass out or something.” Then she snickers, “I wasn’t going to carry your ass back.”
Ahem, “Huh, I had no idea had that feeling, you know.”
“Yep, I know sensitivity on things.” Sigh, “Glad you’re feeling better. At least it saves me from explaining this to your mom.” She looks at me oddly. She can tell I want to say something. Augh, I need to tell her…she needs to know.
“Uhm, Faye?”
“Yea?”
“You should stay away from that place. Dreadful things happened there.”
Stoically she walks without looking at me. The heat drains us until we are finally back at her apartment.
Before walking in it dawns on me. I look at her. “But you already know that don’t you.”
She is unwilling to look at me. She frowns then opens the door. Mom and Aunt Louise greeted us right away.
Mom says, “Right on time, boys, let’s get going.”
We gave Aunt Louise a hug and climbed into the hot car. Faye was nowhere in sight. We settled into the blistering car seat. I chance a look back at Faye’s bedroom window. Faye is peering darkly back at me with a haunting smile. A cold shiver goes up my spine. Looking deeper into the window, I see someone or something dark lurking behind her. I quiver at the sight. My eyes widen. The hairs on my arm stand straight up. I grasp for air. I can’t stop looking at it. Then it grabs her shoulders while hiding its face in the shadows behind her. So engrossed, I jump when the little bug surges forward. Once out of the apartment complex. My breathing and heart rate become less sporadic as I calm down.
Heading home, a long-forgotten memory comes to mind. It was a conversation my Granny had with Mom. It was something I wasn’t supposed to know or hear.
Gruffly, Granny said, “That girl has a mean spirit. Your sister can’t handle her. I tried to help by keeping her with me but had to kick her out. She is too wild.” Uhm, “Looking at you with those dark glaring eyes.” Sigh, “That girl is disturbed.”
“Now momma, the whole family is a mess up. You know what she has gone through. She is dealing with the divorce, her dad, and now a teenager. She should grow out of it, you’ll see.”
Granny snorts. “Lynn, you’re not listening. She is dark. It’s not natural; that girl has devil eyes.”
Joel nudges me. “We are almost home. Whoooweee, thank goodness it’s hot as –.”
Ahem, I look at him sternly. Shaking my head, I quickly adjust my seat and take a deep breath as the little bug sputters home.
Stunned by today, sometimes things are best left unsaid…