Okay, you found the treasure. Happy reading. Here's chapter one of Devil Comes Home.
Hell Comes Home
by
Prudence MacLeod
Kindle Edition, All Rights Reserved
Copyright, August 25 / 2014
This
ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may
not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to
share this book with another person, please purchase an additional
copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not
purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please
return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for
respecting the hard work of this author. Please enjoy the story.
Home
Melanie Rivers sat on her motorcycle,
staring at the passing waves as the ferry boat carried her across the
short stretch of water to the island where she had grown up. It had
been so long ago, it seemed like a lifetime. At length she took out
her notebook and pen.
“The endless sea
Washes away the past
Forgiving all sins”
Melanie re-read what she'd written
then closed the book and returned it to the pocket of her leather
jacket. “Let's hope so.” The boat was approaching the dock, it
was time to go. Time to face the music. She pulled on her helmet and
started the engine as the ramp touched the dock.
The road rose up a long hill and into
the forest. Melanie pulled over to let the traffic pass, then set out
slowly for the town a short distance away. An abandoned building
caught her eye and she stopped for a moment. Brighton Hotel. It had
been a thriving B&B when she was a girl, but it stood empty now,
probably had for years, by the look of it. The place had a haunted
look to it now and she shivered. She sighed and rode on. Melanie
wasn't looking forward to this homecoming.
A small diner caught her eye as she
entered the town of Brighton. Candi's Cafe. That wasn't here before.
Hungry, Melanie decided to stop and fortify herself. It had been over
twelve years, maybe no one would recognize her. Maybe folks had moved
on with their lives. With luck they had forgotten all about her. She
hung her helmet on the handlebars and went inside.
The sign said Have a Seat, so she did,
taking the only empty table in the room. The buzz of conversation
stopped as she walked in, but now it picked up again. She sighed
inwardly as she heard the strident voice of the woman at the next
table. “It is her, I tell you. That woman is Melanie Rivers. What
the hell is she doing back here in Brighton?”
“That's not our business,” replied
her male companion softly. “Keep your damn voice down.”
“The hell I will. I'm not going to
stand for this.” She turned her full attention to Melanie as she
rose from her chair. “What are you doing back here, Melanie Rivers?
Hasn't your family done enough damage to the good people of this
town?”
Melanie didn't even look at the woman.
Sadly, she couldn't even remember the woman's name. She sighed and
let her shoulders sag,but her silence gave the woman courage. “Well,
answer me, Miss Murderer Rivers.”
Melanie's voice was soft as she
finally spoke without making eye contact. “Please don't do this. I
just want a meal. I'm not here to cause trouble.”
“You are trouble, Missy; you earned
that nickname Devil. Your whole damn family is trouble, trouble we
don't need. We don't want the likes of you in our town.”
That snapped it. There was going to be
no way to reason with the woman. Her husband's feeble attempts to
shut her up only added fuel to the fire. Melanie shook her head.
“It's hard, isn't it?”
“What??? What the hell are you
talking about?”
“Not getting what you want. It's
hard to want something and not get it. That's how it felt years ago
when my family wanted the support of this town, but we didn't get it.
Now, according to you, the town doesn't want me here.” Melanie rose
and faced her attacker. The woman took a step back from the fire in
those eyes. “Well this time you won't get what you want either.
I've come home to stay. Suck it up and learn to deal. Now, get out of
my face.”
The woman shrank back into her seat
and swallowed hard. “What are you going to do, Melanie? Murder me
in my sleep too?”
“Don't tempt me.” Melanie sat back
down as the young server appeared.
“Please, we don't want any trouble
in here.”
“Me neither, girl. I just want a
burger and a coffee, that all.”
The girl searched Melanie's eyes for a
moment then nodded her head. “Will that be the deluxe?”
“Sure. Coffee black.”
“Coming right up.”
“Well, we're not staying here; come
along, Marvin.” Melanie's assailant stormed out, dragging her
husband behind her. No one else had said a word either way.
The server soon returned with the
burger and coffee. Seeing the empty table next to Melanie she stomped
her foot in frustration. “Dammit, they skipped out without paying.”
“It's okay. I'll cover it.”
“The hell you will.” The deep male
voice caused them both to turn to the older man at another table.
“I”ll cover it and Melanie's too.” He was grinning. “I've
waited years to see someone stand up to Janet Carter. It was worth
the wait. How you been, Mel?”
“Some good, some bad, Sheriff.
Thanks.”
“I retired five years ago, Mel. I'm
just Hank now.”
“Oh yeah? How's that working out for
you?”
“Boring as hell, Melanie. I owe you
at least a burger for livening the place up a bit.”
“I live to serve.” Melanie moaned
with delight as she bit into the burger. It was delicious and she was
famished. Hank chuckled.
“So, how's your mom and dad? You
ever see them?”
Melanie nodded then swallowed before
speaking. “They're living in the south of France; have been for
years. I haven't seen them in a long time, but I hear they're doing
fine. Is my grandmother still alive?”
“She is, but she's become a bit of a
recluse, as you might have guessed. Folks tend to give Ellen a wide
berth.”
“She still at the old house?”
“Ah-huh. Melanie, you're not here
looking for payback are you?”
“No, Hank, I'm not. Those old wounds
are all scarred over; no sense opening them up again.”
“So why did you come back?”
“I had nowhere else to go. My job
got shipped out to India, the bank took my house, and the dog moved
in with the neighbors. Thanks for the burger.” She dropped a ten
dollar tip on the table and left the diner.
Melanie turned slowly up the old
familiar street. She stopped by the rundown house with the boarded up
windows. It was much as it had been the last time she saw it, the
weeks after the murders.
Melanie's uncle had gone to the doctor
complaining of insomnia. He'd been put on anti-depressants which made
him a bit of a zombie. He didn't seem to care about anything anymore.
The family convinced him to go back to the doctor. The doctor upped
the dosage. On that dose he seemed to turn nasty. One week later her
uncle had entered this house with an assault rifle and murdered a
family of eight then took his own life.
Melanie took out her notebook once
again.
“It stands there
cold, empty, and forlorn
Accusing”
She sighed as she replaced the book in
her pocket then moved on to the next house farther down the road.
This place looked a bit rundown too, but still lived in. She parked
the bike then went to knock on the door. A cracked voice came from
within.
“Go away and leave me alone. I have
a shotgun.”
Melanie grinned, her first smile in a
long time. “Bet it's not loaded, Nana.”
The locks on the door snicked back,
and then it slowly opened. “Melanie? Dear god, is that you, Little
Mel?” The old woman stepped into her arms and hugged her fiercely.
“It's me, Nana, the one and only.”
Melanie held the old woman gently, tears of unnamed emotions
streaming down her face.
“Oh gods it's good to hold you
again, Little Mel. Come inside now before someone sees you.”
Melanie allowed her grandmother to
drag her inside. “Gees, Nan, I didn't think I was that ugly that
you wouldn't want anyone to see me.”
“Stop it child; you know damn well
what I mean.”
“It's okay, Nana; I stopped for a
burger at that new diner. Janet Carter was there. She told me to get
out of town. I told her to piss off, I'm home to stay.”
The old woman turned to gaze into her
eyes. “Do you mean that, Melanie? Are you home to stay?”
“Yes I am, Nana.”
“It won't be easy, child. People
here have long bitter memories.”
“I know, Nana. Nothing these folks
can do will scare me; not anymore.”
The old woman gazed into her
granddaughter's eyes for a long moment then nodded. She took Melanie
by the hand and led her into the kitchen, depositing her at the
table. She stepped to the stove and put on the kettle for tea.
“You've seen some hard years, girl.”
“Yes I have. I've seen a lot I wish
I hadn't and I've done a lot I wish I hadn't. It's a sick world out
there, Nana. I knew it was time to quit and come home when I could no
longer tell the good guys and bad guys apart.”
The old woman just nodded as she
brought the tea to the table. “I suppose you're like the rest of
the heathens now, wanting coffee instead of tea.”
Melanie grinned as she took a sip from
her cup. “I can adapt.”
“Will you be staying here?”
“I'd like to, if that's okay.”
“Of course it's okay; this is your
home too. You know that.”
“Nana, my being here won't bring the
wrath of fools down on you will it?”
“No more than usual, dear.”
“Oh?”
“They claim I'm a witch now. I get
the blame for everything from an empty gas tank to the measles.”
Melanie just shook her head sadly. “It's all right, honey. The best
part is some of the come to me for favors, you know, love potions and
such. Why, just last week I got fifty bucks for a small jar of orange
Kool-aid with extra sugar.”
“Extra sugar; you mean pot.”
“Ah-huh, the secret ingredient to
all my potions.”
“Nana, you're a bad woman.”
“Girl's got to make a living,
Melanie. Geez.”
They spent the rest of the day getting
reacquainted, Melanie listening, gently prodding for more stories of
the old lady's life during the vanished years. For her part, Ellen
Rivers was content to talk and just enjoy the nearness of the woman
Melanie had become. A woman she had dared not hope to see. To have
Melanie home with her was a true blessing and she allowed some of the
stress to leave her as she relaxed in the warmth of the young woman's
love.
Melanie stopped to gaze around as she
entered her old bedroom. It was much as she'd left it over twelve
years ago. She sighed and shook her head sadly as she took note that
it had been recently cleaned. Obviously, her grandmother had kept it
that way all these years in hopes she might someday return. This was
the room of an innocent, a girl filled with hope for the future. She
would leave this way; maybe some of that past hope would rub off
again.
Pulling out her notebook, she thought
for a moment then wrote:
“Home,
loving, welcoming, embracing, and yet
Foreboding”
Now why had she written that, she
wondered, but she could not deny it. She'd had that sense of
foreboding since she'd gotten off the boat. Brighton was like a town
out of time, lost, alone, and angry. Melanie could no longer stall
the inevitable, she had to let her senses explore or she would not be
able to sleep.
She sat cross legged on the floor, her
back resting against the bed, breathing deeply. As her body sank into
relaxation she released herself to the island, to its energy, its
living soul. Frightened, uneasy, edgy, these were the emotions that
came faintly to her consciousness. Suddenly, there it was, wild,
evil, insane, hungry. Whatever spirit that was, it was centered at
the abandoned hotel.
Melanie pulled herself back from it,
retreating to her grandmother's house. It was calm here, defensive,
but calm, and protective. She smiled as she touched her grandmother's
energy. Nana had been exploring too.
Melanie opened her eyes and stretched.
Whatever that was, it would not approach this house. The old woman's
defensive energy was too strong, and now hers was added to it. It was
safe to rest. She reached up and pulled a pillow down with her,
stretched out, and went to sleep.
The next morning, Ellen Rivers made
breakfast then went upstairs to wake Melanie. The room was empty and
the bed had not been slept in, however there was a rumpled pillow on
the floor beside the bed. She fluffed it up and replaced it at the
headboard. “Where have you been, child, and what have they done to
you there?”
Returning to the kitchen, she found
Melanie at the table eating breakfast. There was also the smell of
brewing coffee. “You're all sweaty; were you out for a run?”
“I was, Nana. It's a bit of a habit
these days.”
“Where did you go? Down by the old
hotel?”
“How did you know?”
“You went exploring last night.
Whatever that thing is, it knew you were there. Don't stir it up,
Mel. It's been there for years. As long as people stay away from it,
nothing bad happens. Every once in a while some fool will go
exploring there.”
“And they die a horrible death soon
after, right?”
“Right. You know what that is, don't
you?”
“No, but I've encountered them
before. It's all right, Nana; I'll leave it alone. I just wanted to
make sure it stays put, if you know what I mean.”
“I do. Like I said, as long as
nobody bothers it, it stays pretty much at the hotel.”
“Nana, I'm a big girl now. I need to
know what happened here, what no one would ever tell me before.”
The old woman gazed out the window for
a long moment then spoke softly. “All right, Melanie. It started
back in the late sixties. I experimented with a lot of mind altering
drugs. One of them opened me to another dimension, a dark place. I
escaped, but have been able to see the creatures from there in our
world ever since that time. I can see that you have that ability now
too.”
“Yeah, I do. I came by it
differently, but I do.”
“How did you come to that, Mel?
You're way stronger than I am.”
“I was in the military, special
training, experimental stuff, and special supplements I'm sure. Now,
don't ever breathe a word of that, or men will come and shoot us
both. Go on with your story.”
“Well, one of those things came and
had possessed the manager of that hotel. The drugs they gave your
Uncle Gary were making him crazy. I tried to help, but what I gave
him, along with what they had given him, opened his eyes.”
“So he killed the whole family.”
“Yes, and then himself. He was such
a gentle soul, but those damned anti-depressants made him violent.
Mel, I don't think that one at the hotel is the only one around here,
but I can't pinpoint any others. I can feel them though.”
“Yeah, there's more of them; I can
sense them too. Dammit, I'd hoped to be rid of them by coming home. I
guess it was too much to hope for.”
“What are they, Mel? What do they
want here? Why do they possess some people and not others?”
“I don't know, Nana. I have no
answers, only questions.”
Just then a car pulled up in the
driveway, followed by boots on the steps. “Now what the hell does
that moron want?” The old woman rose and went to the door.
“Morning, Sheriff, you here for a love potion at this time of day?”
“Really funny, Ellen. I hear your
granddaughter Melanie is back in town. Is she here?”
“Maybe. What's your interest in
Melanie? You're a married man after all.”
“You're a riot, Ellen. Tell Melanie
to get her ass out here. I want to ask her some questions.”
The man's tone sent Melanie out of the
kitchen in a hurry. “What do you want?” She stepped between her
grandmother and the police officer. Instinctively he flinched and
stepped back.
“I want to know why you came back
here, when you plan to leave, and why the hell I can't access your
file in any of the data bases.”
“This is my home, I plan to stay
indefinitely, and you don't have the clearance to see my file. What
else?”
“I want you out of town by sundown.”
“Won't happen.”
“The good folks of this town don't
seem to want you here, why is that?”
“You'll have to ask them.”
“I did.”
“Then you already know the answer to
your question.”
“I run a quiet town here, Rivers. I
want to keep it that way.”
“I'm in full agreement with you
there, Sheriff. I didn't come home to cause trouble; I came to be
with my grandmother. She's all the family I have.”
“Just keep your nose clean.” He
sneered then walked back to his car.
“Dipshit,” muttered Ellen as she
turned back into the house.
“Second that.” Melanie closed the
door then turned to follow her grandmother.
“He'll cause you trouble, Mel.”
“He can try. Who the heck is he
anyway? I don't recognize him.”
“Big city detective looking for a
soft job. He showed up when Hank retired, got himself elected, and
has been a pain in the ass ever since. Come back and have some tea
with me.”
While Ellen made the tea, Melanie took
out her small notebook.
“Authority denied
Angry, confused, vengeful
Frightened”
“He said he can't access your file,
Mel. What have you been up to? Are you still working for the
government?”
“No, I'm not, but they sealed my
file, all our files. We spent years tracking things like what's out
at the hotel. We were mandated to find out what they are, where they
come from, what they want, and how to stop them. We were a long way
from successful. The team was disbanded and sent home, but we
secretly kept on hunting them. Our former boss was reassigned, but we
all stay in contact with him and he helps us where he can.”
“So what's the plan? Are you going
after that thing out at the hotel?”
“Not if I can help it. Nana, I don't
even want to think about where all this will go if somebody starts
messing with it. I plan to leave well enough alone.”
“Could you get rid of it?”
“Maybe, I have before, but it isn't
easy. In fact, it's bloody dangerous. Too many people have died every
time we mess with those things.”
“Then we'll leave it alone. No sense
asking for trouble. Have you any plans for the day?”
“None at all.”
“Good, then you can help me in the
garden.”
Melanie spent the next three weeks
helping her grandmother get the old house back in order, doing all
the jobs the old woman was no longer able to do. They had just
finished the last of the fence painting and were standing back to
admire their handiwork when the sheriff returned, a fancy car
following close behind.
No comments:
Post a Comment