Chapter Fifteen: Lights of a roadside gas station

A hand on Calin’s arm woke him up with a start. He sat up, but relaxed as Evany motioned for him to calm down.

Watching her for any sign of what was going on, he kept silent.

After she glanced toward the door, she whispered, “Okay, get out quietly and get those wet clothes off, I left some dry ones on the couch.” Without saying anything else, she left the room.

He wanted to leap out of the water with joy, glad to finally escape the cold prison. But he tumbled to the hard floor as he tried to put his weight on his numb legs. He grimaced and awkwardly got to his knees before rubbing his aching side. Silently without a word, he began to undress. The clothes stuck to his skin and only egged on his frustration.

After a minute or two, he sighed in relief as he got his briefs off and sat behind the couch and donned the dry briefs and a pair of dark blue denims, almost black. It wasn’t a familiar pair, must belong to Tyas.

Next, he reached for a collared T-shirt. It was a dark emerald colour. He savoured the moment as the worst of the cold started to seep out of his body.

While he was dragging the socks onto his numb feet, Calin realized the shoes left for him were heavy duty hiking boots. It was slightly baffling, but he figured it was the only dry shoes Tyas could offer.

Just as he was lacing up the heavy boots, Evany’s low voice came from beyond the door.

“Calin? Can I come in?”

“Yeah sure, I’m just about done.” Calin said as he struggled with the odd way to lace up hiking boots, it was totally different to what he was used to with normal sneakers. With a grunt he finished as Evany came to stand next to him.

He raised an eyebrow as he noted that she was in hiking boots too. But before he could ask her about the need for such boots, the pins and needles flashed through his legs. He cringed with the uncomfortable sensation and waited for it to end, before he dropped his curiosity and asked.

“So what now?”

“Jerry is out back with Tyas. They’re waiting, so we should hurry up.” Evany was already standing at the door as she said it.

He slapped his legs and arms to get some life into them, stood up and silently followed Evany through the door.

It was impossible for Calin to glance back to the coffin and not shudder. If ever I have to get into a coffin again, I better be dead. Not wanting to stay there any longer, he hurried after the girl as she moved through the old house.

After a few seconds, Evany flicked the back door open and signalled for Calin to go. She placed her finger to her lips for him to be quiet as a warning. Outside, the alley was dark.

There were no street lamps back there. It was unsettling that he now associated being outside with being in danger. His eyes flittered left and right just to be sure nothing waited for him. With another glance to the right he finally spotted the old sea green pickup truck.

Jerry sat on the open back with a jacket already pulled tight around his shoulders; a small blanket covered him up to the waist. The boy waved at him to be quick. It wasn’t necessary, but Calin nodded anyway and stayed low as he ran towards the truck. Evany was shuffling close behind.

As he reached the truck, a quick hop sent him through the open door into the passenger side. The truck’s seats were one long seat. He got in the middle and settled into the black leather with Evany pressed in next to him on his left.

Evany tried to close the door softly, but it still made a fairly loud noise, Calin peeked out into the alley, hoping their passage would go unnoticed. It didn’t help much as Tyas fumbled with the keys, and Calin couldn’t help but whisper anxiously to Tyas.

“Hurry and start the thing.”

Tyas twisted the key, but the engine didn’t start, and with another twist, nothing, again.

The third time the engine rumbled to life and they all sighed as the truck started down the alley, going east to the main road that eventually leaves the town.

***

The truck slowly rolled on the cobblestones, the suspension not hiding the fact. Every bump was evident in the hard seats. Calin looked around at the dark buildings passing by. They slipped into the main road.

What bothered him the most was the fact that all the nights events had happened without anybody in Lamb’s Crest realizing. The town looked almost serene. But those creatures and the men were somewhere within its confines. Waiting for their chance.

He pushed it aside and peered through the window, he made out the broken door to the electrician shop.

A deep sigh escaped him. He hoped Darly and Eric would be alright, they wouldn’t understand why he had to leave. It might even have hurt them.

It tore at his heart at the thought and the further the truck went down the road the more doubt started seeping in.

But somehow one reason was absolutely crystal clear. To keep the people safe from those nightmarish things that wanted him, he had to leave, at least until they could find a way to stop his hunters.

With some effort, he tore his eyes away from the building as they drove on. A few seconds passed and the road opened to the farms on their left. The barn stood like a silent reminder beyond the grain field. The moonlight didn’t show what was hidden in the shadows, that which hunted him.

Somehow not knowing where those people and their creatures were, unsettled him almost as much as the memory of the thing running after him. He shook the thought from his head to try and calm his heart that started beating faster.

The Jacobs’ house slowly came into view and he glanced at Evany. She was deep in thought and biting softly on her bottom lip. He placed a hand on her forearm and asked, “Evany… Are you sure? We can drop you off. It will make me feel much more at ease, I have to admi−”

He stopped talking as she looked at him and for a moment there was an anxious look in her eyes.

Then she let out a deep breath.

“Yes... I want to. And no, I have to do this. I have this deep feeling... a feeling that I was meant for something different than what my dad wants for me on the farm. He would never give me that chance,

‘I’ve always dreamt of working some other place away from farms, maybe even in one of the cities, but he doesn’t even listen to me when I try to explain to him. And yeah, I know the city is probably not for us small town people, but imagine the things we would see, the advances in technology. And the skyscrapers! That would be amazing. Don’t you feel the same way?”

Her question made Calin glance at Tyas. What the man had said earlier was true, there was something tugging at him to search for answers, but if I find my real family what will I do? What would it change? He inhaled deeply and decided something. I will come back to tell the people I’ve grown up with here.

“I think you’re right,” He finally said. “I wonder if we ever would get a chance to go overseas. Maybe work on a cruise ship as we cross the Atlantic Ocean or something.”

The last bit was to maybe get a response from Tyas.

The more he thought about the man being from overseas the more he was certain of it. Tyas looked Japanese through and through, but his strange eyes cast a bit of uncertainty over it.

No answer came from the man, solely focused on the road. It was worth a try. Calin shrugged and listened to Evany fantasizing about working on a cruise-liner.

A smile tugged at him and he looked over his left shoulder. But his smile faded immediately and his heart started to ache as the white walls and black roof of Misses Talsen’s house passed by silently. There was no use in taking the sudden frown on his face away as Evany spotted it. She became quiet instantly and whispered a soft, ‘Oh.’

At that moment he wished he could go back and tell Misses Talsen everything, but if he went back he would place her and the kids in grave danger. And there was no way he could do that.

The fear that letters might not do justice for this was real... but there was no other choice. Just then, the coppery taste of his blood filtered into his mouth. His tooth had pierced the skin of his lip.

A sigh escaped him as his shoulders drooped. He quietly vowed he would come back some day to explain the letter and his disappearance, he just wished they would go on without him until he could come back. The bright smiles of the kids flashed through his mind, forcing a shuddering breath from him to calm himself.

He was sure Jerry was taking it hard as well, and he tried to catch a glimpse of the boy’s face on the back of the truck. But Jerry’s shoulders were sagged while faced away from Calin. It only confirmed that the boy felt the exact same way as him, there was no doubt. Jerry would, however, stand by him in a tough situation, they were best friends.

Before he could say a word, the house faded from sight behind them. They drove away from the edge of the town, the lights dimmed slowly behind them.

The town he had grown up in for the last seven years.

His thoughts were all over the place because of it.

If he could, he would turn back time to when everything was normal, to go and give Misses Talsen a hug and tell her thank you for taking him in. But with the fading light so did the image of his wish.

The hills flowed past them and finally hid the town’s glow. All went dark except for the head lights. His heart was heavy as they drove on. He almost found himself asking Tyas to go back, but instead he kept quiet, this was for the best. It was for the safety of his people.

Somewhat uncomfortable on the seats of the truck, he shifted around, but was glad he didn’t have to sit on the back of the open roofed pick-up truck like Jerry.

Evany’s hand slipped over his knee and she asked, “Are you alright?”

Her smile was comforting, but he sighed and admitted what was on his mind as he said,

“I guess I’m worried that we won’t see this place again, but … Yeah you know what I mean.”

Evany stared at him, and then turned her face slightly to the window, but all that could be seen outside was the dark silhouettes of the forest.

Her face didn’t betray her emotions as she was deep in thought. After a moment she said, “I don’t know, Calin. I think we will someday. I have to, I guess, my dad won’t be too happy with me disappearing completely one night... Matter of fact, I think he would be beyond furious and Misses T as well. That’s why I think we will come back. We need to.”

She was absolutely right, they needed to, there was no choice in the matter.

But as she said that, Tyas muttered something next to Calin. He tried to catch it, but was too late. Waving it off, he asked the man, “So, where is our first stop?”

With the question Tyas relaxed his tight grip on the steering wheel a little and said, "We'll stop at the gas station a couple of kilometres outside your town. You know, that one with the bill board missing its E. There we’ll fill up and buy some supplies for our trip. I don’t think anything would be open in Drave’s town anyway. We have to make do."

Calin nodded and sat back in his seat, letting his mind wonder at what happened that day. So many things needed to be sorted out, but in the end when all is said and done, there will only remain one option, to come back to give those who are dear to them answers.

***

The sudden halt of the truck sent Calin’s stomach reeling. They had arrived, quicker than he expected. He shot a glare at Tyas but the man ignored him and got out.

A second later, Tyas leaned back in and said, "Calin I need you to go buy something for me."

Calin patted Evany's knee and got out. The man was already filling up the car as he approached, the smell of the gasoline always made his head spin a bit.

In an attempt to clear his head, he shook it, "What should I get?" he said, as much to distract himself from the smell than anything else.

Tyas’ hand disappeared in his pocket and withdrew some cash. "Here is a 50, go buy a couple of lighters, and at least two duck tape rolls, it’s normally in the right hand back corner if I remember correctly."

Nodding, Calin walked to the back of the truck. In the dim flickering light of the gas station he made out Jerry that looked like he was about to freeze. It was hard not to sympathize with the boy, but he smiled instead. Jerry had helped Tyas to throw him in that accursed cold coffin, so some payback.

With a tap on the freezing boy's leg he said, "Enjoying yourself?" Jerry glared at him and Calin couldn't help but chuckle as he ventured away from the truck.

The shop was seventy meters away and the short trip was a bit uneasy as the dark night seemed to seep into the lighted area, especially with the flickering lights.

Shrugging it off, he walked up to the doors of the little shop. He pressed against the door and it gave a nice warm blast of air. It was welcome in the cold.

Inside, he spotted three isles and the counter on his left. The man behind the counter was slightly on the large side, more chubby and a lot of muscles than fat. He guessed the man could pack a punch if there was any trouble.

The attendant grunted a hello at Calin and went back to watching a show on the small TV on a corner stand. The noise from the thing was a welcome thing after the situations of the night.

While in the closest isle he studied the worker. The man's attitude was somewhat understandable. Must be boring to work the grave yard shift.

A picture on the wall caught Calin’s attention. It was of the big man holding a pretty brunette woman lovingly. Both had nice smiles in it.

He silently browsed through the rows of bare essentials and finally located a nice set of iron lighters. He picked one up and flicked its flint to check if it worked. The flame sprang to life before disappearing again. The duck tape was easy to find. Calin took an extra roll for himself. Duck tape had a huge amount of handy uses. He headed for the counter.

It took the big man a moment to realize Calin stood there, but he quickly got up and punched in the total before shifting the ring on his finger to more comfortable place. Out of curiosity Calin asked, "Quiet night?"

The burly man's deep voice startled him with the accent that was not from the island. "Ya, name’s Jim by the way, there was only three sets of customers in the last three hours, there was an odd looking fella in here earlier looking around, searchin for something. But before I could ask any questions a small group of them drunk ones came barging in here. That was about an hour ago, they started making trouble, but I threatened them well enough till they left."

The man lifted a baseball bat from behind the counter. It was hard to think that people were stupid enough to mess with this man. With a quick shake of his head at their stupidity, Calin smiled and said,

"Yeah, sadly there will always be those types. My name is Calin. Do you have famil—"

The door burst open and a figure stomped inside. "WHEW!” Boomed the familiar voice of Tyas.“Quite a cold wind picking up outside."

His hand slapped down on the counter with a few notes of cash. The large man grunted and took the payment for the gas.

Calin shook off the adrenalin that had rushed through with the door bursting open. He rolled his eyes and reached for the lighter and duck tape and was startled to realize Tyas already had it in his hand. Calin’s eyes flashed in amazement at how quick the movement had been and he started to ask, "Tyas how?... Never mind, is that everything?"

Tyas nodded and left the shop.

Calin shook his head again and turned back to the man behind the counter and said, "Good luck with the rest of the night. It was good to meet you." Jim smiled a toothy smile through his beard and Calin returned the smile as the man said, "Safe travels. And you watch out for them drunk ones. They can be mightily dangerous on the road."

“Will do!” He waved a goodbye and moved towards the glass doors. Across the clearing he could make out Evany scooting to the middle seat just as Tyas got into the drivers’ seat of the truck.

He paused, not entirely keen to leave the warm shop; but a few seconds later, he braved the cold wind and stepped outside. It wasn’t strong but it bit through his jacket.

Just as he was about to start toward the truck, the closest light went out. It cast the whole right side of the gas station in darkness up until the woods that were a hundred meters away.

Startled for a moment he stared hard into the pressing darkness. He watched for any movement for at least half a minute before the light sprang back on, Calin sighed and shook his head at the flickering light and walked towards the truck.

Halfway there a clicking noise filled his ears, but he ignored it for the flickering light. Click click Click click.

Then it became louder.

What made Calin glance to his right was the difference between the click, to the sound of the flickering light. As his eyes drifted over to the edge of the dim forest, there stood the massive form of one of the black creatures. It was staring straight at him. Mouth open, baring its teeth as it stalked closer to the light.

Its claws clicked on the cement floor as it inched closer. Calin froze, his heart beat hammered wildly.

There was only a second to decide. Being halfway between the shop and the car, he weighed his options.

Not making any sudden movements, for fear of making the creature charge, he tried to figure out what he should do.

Without wasting another second, he jumped forward and ran for the truck, Calin yelled at the others.

"Start the truck!! Hurry!"

Loud scrapes on the concrete announced the fast approaching creature. He dared not look as he forced his body towards the truck in a burst of speed. The seconds ticked by like minutes, 1... 2...3 halfway there... 4 come on start the truck 5 ... Please 6 ...Then the first swing of the engine announced the key being turned. Hope surged in him and then to his dismay the engine died again.

Not able to keep himself from looking as he ran, he cast his gaze toward the creature. Everything seemed slow the moment he looked at it.

Its powerful legs propelled it forward, the distance between him and the monster seemed to fall away at an immense pace.

Calin pressed himself harder, 7... if he could only dive in and get the door closed he might stand a chance. 8... Almost there. A growl shook through him from the side and he jumped into the truck landing on Evany's lap.

Without a second thought, he twisted his body around and reached for the door. The cold steel met his hands and he yanked it close with force. But the broad black snout of the creature appeared inside the gap of the door, almost level with the window.

The edge of the door struck its nose as Calin drew hard on the door and his legs to keep it away from the massive snapping head. He tried to slam the door again while he shouted at Tyas.

"START IT, start it Now!!"

Evany screamed behind him in terror and Tyas’ anxious grunts weren’t comforting. The creature's snout was blocking the door but Calin kept slamming it to buy time. The thing’s loud growling and snaps of its jaws filled the air; he kept slamming the door with little effect. Just then he reached for his knife with his one hand.

Knife in hand he stabbed at the thing, but the creature shoved against the truck and the knife sliced through its lip. A few drops of blood splashed against the door and the creature jerked against the truck. The shock of it, however, sent the knife clattering through the gap in the door to the ground. Calin swore at the loss of his knife, but then the truck shook from the weight of the creature.

Finally the engine roared to life.

Tyas’ foot slammed the gas and it echoed for a moment before the truck jumped forward in a jerk.

With a hard slam, the door shut and Calin quickly shifted into his seat. Before they got a couple of meters the truck lurched to the side, the wheels on the left side lifting into the air for a brief moment.

Heart thundering away, Calin glanced out to see the monster's heavy body heaving against the truck. Another heave would send the truck rolling onto its side.

Through the chaos, there was a gun shot followed by the sound of it being deflected off of something hard. The bullet clearly changed direction when it hit the scales of the monster. Shortly after, a second gun shot filled the air. The creature yelped and the truck fell back to its wheels, making all of them inside jerk with the force. For a few seconds the creature stopped and Calin cast a frantic glance to spot the source as Jim the shopkeeper.

A gun! The elation of seeing a gun rushed through him. The creature needed to be stopped. All Calin hoped for was that the gun could do enough damage to the large monster.

But just as fast as the hope had surged in him, it turned to horror.

From the corner, a second creature came around the shop, the one with the white scar on its face. Behind him the big man with the rust coloured skin.

Desperately Calin shouted Jim to run and franticly waved his arms as best he could to warn him. But it was too late as the robed man pointed to Jim and said something to the creature and Calin could just watch as the monster jumped with immense power. Its entire body sailing through the air as it landed right on top of the shop owner, and closed its jaws around his entire head and neck.

Jim never had a chance; the man was dead before hitting the ground.

"NO!!!" Calin screamed and with the moment that was bought with Jim’s life, the truck sprang free and Tyas floored it forward.

There were furious growls behind them as the other creature leaped after them and Jerry was pounding on the back window for them to go faster. The boy shouted out and Calin opened the small window.

"WE’RE NOT LOSING IT!" Jerry shouted with panic in his voice.