A Gathering of Crows

TEN

The shadowy figures turned toward the sound of his voice. When they saw the source of the interruption, they shrieked. Levi imagined that the sound was probably like what one would hear if standing beneath a jet engine. Donny dropped Levi’s copy of The Long Lost Friend, slapped his hands over his ears and shouted something, but Levi couldn’t understand him. The words were lost beneath the cacophony.

Levi tried his best to ignore the noise and focus.

Levi’s heart beat once. Twice.

Then, still shrieking, three of the creatures swept forward in human form. The other two shape shifted into crows and soared toward him. Levi stood with his feet spaced at shoulder width and his hands in his pockets. His demeanor was grim but calm. He did not speak or flinch as they closed the gap. One of the birds pecked at his cheek. The sharp beak drew blood, but Levi didn’t flinch. Its feathers brushed against his skin as it passed. They were ice cold.

The other crow swooped at Donny. He dropped to his knees and scrabbled in the yard for Levi’s copy of The Long Lost Friend, picking it up at the last instant. The bird’s attack missed. Screeching, both crows circled around again.

“Leave the youth alone,” Levi shouted at them.

“Your fight is with me now. Face me as men.”

The three human-shaped figures stopped before him, laughing.

“But we are not men, little magus,” the tallest said. “We have not been men for quite some time.”

Which means that they once were, Levi thought, fighting the urge to grin. I might have been right. They might be some form of revenant—ones with the ability to change shape.

The two birds joined their brothers and resumed human form. The five figures surrounded him, hovering only an arm’s length away.

“Your quarrel is with me,” he told them. “I bested you earlier. Let the others go unharmed and face me again.”

The tallest gnashed its teeth. “You do not give orders to our kind, Levi, son of Amos. We will do as we wish.”

“Cowards.”

“Still your tongue, bearded one. We’ll feed until there is nothing left.”

“Levi,” Donny shouted, “look out!”

The shortest of the five slashed at Levi with its talons.

He sidestepped the attack and pulled one of his hands free from his pockets. In his fist was a handful of salt. Levi tossed it into the creature’s snarling face and yelled, “Ia, edin na zul. Ia Ishtari, ios daneri, ut nemo descendre fhatagn Shtar! God, guide my hand.”

The effect was immediate and remarkable. Hissing, the shadow-man recoiled as if Levi had splashed battery acid in its face. Levi grinned as his opponent flung its clawed hands into the air and screeched—a long, warbling, tea-kettle sound that rose in intensity and seemed to have no end. The dark figure stumbled backward, colliding with its brothers, and violently shook its head from side to side.

Levi held up another fistful of salt. “Come on, then. I have plenty to go around.”

The creatures held their ground, staring at him with unbridled hate.

Levi backed up slowly, not taking his gaze from them. He stopped when he reached Donny. Without turning around, he whispered, “Move with me toward the house. Don’t panic. As long as you have the book, they can’t touch you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about, dude. It’s you.”

“I’m fine. Now come on.”

He and Donny moved as one, shuffling toward the house. The three men in the doorway—Levi couldn’t remember if Donny had given him their names or not—had watched the confrontation and stalemate in horror, as if not quite believing what they were seeing. Levi and Donny moved slowly, circling around their foes. The dark figures turned with them, watching. Then, just as Levi and Donny had almost passed them, all five charged at once, flinging themselves at the men.

“Go!” Levi shoved Donny forward. The younger man stumbled but did not fall. For one terrifying second, Levi thought he might try to stay and fight, but he obeyed, running toward the house—a soldier to the end, following orders.

Heat flared in Levi’s back as one of the attackers slashed at him. The claws ripped through his clothing and into his flesh. Levi responded by tossing salt over his shoulder, and felt a vicious, satisfying thrill as the creature screamed in obvious torment. A blow landed on his left shoulder and Levi’s entire arm went numb. Moving quickly, he grabbed another fistful of salt with his good arm and spun in a circle, flinging it in a wide arc. Again, the attackers fell back.

“You don’t have an unlimited supply,” one of them croaked. “Already the bulge in your pockets lessens.”

“I have enough,” he said through gritted teeth, trying to ignore the pain in his back and shoulder. His left arm still had no feeling. It hung limp and useless. “Try me, if you like.”

“Bah.” The tallest of the five spat on the ground and the grass withered where the saliva landed. It took a tentative step toward him and Levi feinted with the salt. The creature stopped.

“You are a worthless adversary,” it taunted. “Gone are the days when any of your kind provided us with a worthy challenge.”

“Oh, I’m sure there have been many of my kind who defeated you easily enough. We’re a resourceful bunch, us humans.”

“Only the red men. Their shamans were worthy. Even still, they retreated when we carved our master’s name in a tree to glorify him. That is because they feared us—and him.”

The red men! It took all of Levi’s will to keep from smiling with glee. The entity obviously meant the Native Americans. Another vital clue and a further piece of the almost-completed puzzle.

“You are from Roanoke.” It wasn’t a question.

“Your master’s true name is Meeble.”

The creature sounded surprised. “Well done, little magus. You know Croatoan’s real name, and therefore, I must surmise that you know what he is capable of, as are we, his faithful servants. And yet still you stand against us. Perhaps you are not so worthless an adversary after all.”

It all made sense now. Levi was overwhelmed by a sudden sense of frustration. How could he have not seen it before? Five shadowy figures—the five Roanoke colonists who had worshipped Meeble, now turned into some sort of psychic vampires, eating the souls of the living and carrying on their master’s work. His theory had been correct. They were revenants of a kind, and although he still didn’t know their names (he would have, if he’d had access to his library back home) he knew how to stop them. It was important, however, that they not know that he knew. Not until he was ready.

“You’re wrong,” he said. “I can’t stand against you after all.”

He turned and fled. Laughing, the five figures raced after him, sliding to a halt as Levi abruptly wheeled around and faced them again.

“And now, for my next trick…”

“What—?”

He pointed his index finger and focused his will.

“Hbbi Massa danti Lantien. I, Levi Stoltzfus, son of Amos Stoltzfus, breathe upon thee.”

“No! He seeks to trick us, brothers, as he did me, earlier tonight.”

Levi scattered the rest of his salt at his feet in a wide arc, holding them back just long enough to finish. “Three drops of blood I take from you. The first from your heart. The second from your liver. The third from your vital powers. In this, I deprive you of your strength and vitality. Now crawl on the ground like the worm you are. You’ll raise no hand against me.”

All five of the creatures collapsed on their bellies, faces pressed against the wet grass and dirt. They roared in anger, struggling as their movements slowed.

“That never gets old.” Levi winked at them. Then he turned and ran for the house. “Thank you, Lord. That was close. A little too close for comfort.”

“You know this is pointless,” one of the creatures howled. “It didn’t work before. It won’t work now. You will only delay us.”

“A delay is all I need.”

Levi leaped over the dead man lying in the yard.

His face was missing, and grass clippings stuck to the glistening musculature covering his skull.

One of the men standing at the front door called to Levi as he approached. His ruddy cheeks shone with wetness and his eyes were bloodshot.

“That’s my brother.” He pointed at the body.

“Help him.”

Levi slowed as he approached them. He recognized the distraught man as Gus Pheasant, one of the brothers who operated the town’s automobile-repair shop. They’d directed Levi to Esther’s boarding house when he first arrived in Brinkley Springs—a moment that now seemed as if it had happened in the distant past.

“I’m sorry,” Levi said. “But your brother is beyond my care. He’s dead.”

“Bullshit. Donny told us you’re some kind of voodoo doctor. Make him better. Do some witchcraft or whatever it is you do.”

“I can’t. It’s beyond my ability. I really am sorry.”

Gus began to weep again. He leaned against the grizzled mountain man.

“This is Axel,” Donny said, introducing an elderly man standing in the doorway. “And that’s Paul. And you already know Gus.”

Levi nodded, rubbing his still-numb arm. “Gentlemen. I’m sorry we couldn’t meet under better circumstances.”

“Donny says you can help us,” Paul said. His voice was gruff and serious—and tired. “I’d ask you if it was true, but I saw how you just handled yourself against those… whatever the hell they are. I reckon you can hold your own.”

“I can help,” Levi said. “But you need to do exactly what I tell you, and we need to move quickly. That won’t hold them for long.”

Donny handed Levi his book. “What’s the plan?”

“We need to run.”

“That’s what we were going to do,” Axel said. “Gus, Greg and Paul had a plan to get out of town.”

“You wouldn’t have been able to,” Levi said. “This town is enveloped in a soul cage.”

“I don’t know about any of that,” Axel replied.

“But I’m all for going wherever you think is best.”

“Good. We must leave right now.”

“I need to check on my dogs first,” Paul said. “We left them in the pen back at my place, before we knew exactly what was happening. I’ve been gone too long. I need to make sure they’re okay.”

Levi stared into the mountain man’s eyes and realized that, despite his no-nonsense demeanor, Paul was in shock.

“I’m sorry,” Levi apologized, “but if your dogs were alive when you left them, then they aren’t any longer. Our foes aren’t content to just kill us. They seek to snuff out every living thing in this town. I suspect that they can track us simply by our life force. They can see it the way some creatures can see in the infrared spectrum. That’s how they’ve ferreted out the survivors in hiding.”

“You don’t know my dogs. They’ve faced down black bears.”

“Our foes are not bears. I’m sorry, but your dogs’ fate is certain.”

Gus straightened up and wiped his nose with the back of his hand, smearing his face with snot. He seemed oblivious to it. “Why are they doing this?”

“Because they can. Because it pleases them to do so. And because this is what they were created to do.” Levi glanced over his shoulder and was alarmed to see that the five revenants were already moving. “We’ve got to go. Now.”

“Where?” Donny stared at the creatures.

“Back to the boarding house. I can deal with them there.”

“I can’t run that far,” Axel said. “You boys will have to go on without me.”

Donny turned to him. “No offense, Mr. Perry, but fuck that. We’re not leaving you behind.”

“Not to mention Jean and her boy,” Paul said.

“Who?” Levi asked.

“Jean Sullivan,” Axel said, “and her young son, Bobby. They’re hiding down in my basement.”

“Can the boy run?”

“They can both run,” Axel said, “but I’ll just slow you down. I can’t walk ten steps without my arthritis flaring up, let alone run all the way across town.”

Donny gripped Levi’s arm. “Whatever you plan on doing, can’t you just do it here? Why do we have to go back to Esther’s?”

“I need to trap them,” Levi said. “The boarding house is already prepared. All it will take is a minor alteration. There’s no time to set a trap here.”

“Levi, son of Amos!”

They all stared at the revenants. One of them had regained his feet, and stood—hunchbacked and crooked, but standing nevertheless. It pointed at him.

“They’ll be free soon,” Levi said. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Perry. If we had more time.”

Axel waved a hand. “Don’t apologize, son. Just get the others to safety. I’ll fetch Jean and Bobby.”

“We ain’t leaving without you,” Paul said. “Bad enough I left my dogs behind. I daresay the same won’t happen to you.”

“Damn straight,” Gus agreed, staring at his brother’s corpse. “We ain’t gone through all of this just to leave you behind, Axel. That wouldn’t be very neighborly. Wouldn’t be very Christian, either.”

Donny turned to Levi. His eyes were pleading. “There has to be something you can do. We can make a stand here.”

Levi glanced back at their foes and sighed long and mournfully. Then he turned back to them. His expression was grave.

“Take me to the woman and her child.”

“And?”

“And then do exactly as I say.”

Axel shut the door behind them and led the group back through the house and down into the basement. A lone candle burned. A young, pretty woman and a young boy who looked exactly like her sat huddled in the corner. The woman was stroking the boy’s hair and whispering in his ear. They looked up as the men entered, and stared at Levi in confusion.

“You can call him Levi Stoltzfus,” Donny said. “He’s here to help. Levi, this is Jean and Bobby Sullivan.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jean said. Then she turned to Donny. “And I’m sorry about your mom. I haven’t had a chance to see you since you came back.”

“Yeah,” Donny said. “Hell of a homecoming.”

“That it is, hon. That it is.”

“You lit a candle?” Paul pointed.

“I had to,” Jean explained. “Bobby was scared. I figured one wouldn’t hurt.”

Levi focused on their surroundings, studying the layout of the cellar and quickly inventorying its contents. He talked as he walked around the room.

“The universe is a lot bigger—and a lot more complex—than any of you know. Consider for a moment that the universe is infinite. Then consider the number of planets that infinite space must contain. Staggering, yes? And yet, that is only a very small part of what makes up the universe. There are other dimensions and other realities, and each of them are infinite, as well.”

He paused in front of a door and peeked inside. It opened into a shallow closet, inside of which were three shelves overflowing with old board games and forgotten winter clothing. He closed the door and continued.

“There is a way to move between all of these different worlds in all of these various dimensions and realities. It’s called the Labyrinth. Think of it as a dimensional shortcut of sorts. It weaves through time and space, nowhere and yet everywhere all at once. It connects to everything. Everything. Many supernatural beings—creatures beyond mankind’s knowledge—use it to travel between worlds and traverse dimensions. Some humans have traveled though it, as well. Sadly, for them, such an endeavor usually leads to tragedy. Normally, the only time we’re meant to see the Labyrinth is when our spirit has departed our body and we travel to the realms of existence beyond this one. But there are ways to pass though it while still alive. Safe ways. All it takes is the knowledge of how to open one of the doorways.”

“Sounds like an episode of Doctor Who,” Donny said.

Levi frowned. “I’ve never heard of it. I don’t watch much television.”

“I hadn’t heard of it either until I went to Iraq. A buddy of mine used to watch it on his laptop. Guy flies around in a phone booth and goes to different worlds and stuff.”

“A friend of mine,” Levi said, “a reporter named Maria, told me that scientists call this string theory— different dimensions stacked up against each other like membranes. They are partially right. It sounds like this doctor program is partially right, as well.”

“Not for nothing,” Paul said, “but how does any of this help us?”

Levi pulled out his compass and studied it. To his dismay, the needle simply spun in a circle, not settling on any one point. He wondered if this could be some sort of residual effect of the soul cage, or if the compass was simply faulty. He put it back in his vest pocket and turned to Axel.

“You wouldn’t happen to own a compass, would you Mr. Perry, or anything else that I could use to determine direction?”

“No,” Axel replied, “but if you need to know which direction is which, I can help you there. If you turn round, back to that broom closet you were just snooping in, you’ll be facing due north.”

“Excellent.” Levi glanced at the ceiling. “And there are no eaves or decorations over our heads. Were it not for everything else, this would be absolutely perfect.”

Donny shook his head. “Everything else?”

“Normally, I would fast before attempting this working. Also, I’m missing some of the ingredients. Understand, I’m not a novice. I can do this without them. It just makes me uncomfortable—uneasy—to do so. These are forces that it’s better not to tamper with.”

“I don’t have a fucking clue what you just said.”

Levi chuckled. “That’s okay, Donny. It’s probably better that you don’t.”

“Just do whatever it is you’ve got to do,” Paul said.

“I need a minute to myself.”

“Do we have another minute?” Gus asked. “Will those things stay stuck outside that long?”

“Let us hope so. Could one of you snuff out the candle?”

Paul did as he’d asked. Levi fell silent. He stood in front of the closet door, bowed his head, folded his hands in front of him and then closed his eyes. His breathing grew shallow. He remained like that for a moment, feeling their gaze upon him.

“The hell is he doing?” Gus whispered.

“I don’t know,” Paul said. “Heck of a time for a nap.”

“Maybe he’s praying,” Jean said.

“Leave him alone, guys.” Donny’s tone was stern.

“I’ve seen him do things tonight that… well, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you, even with everything that’s happened.”

“None of this seems very Christian,” Gus said. “I thought Amish folks were Christians.”

Donny groaned. “You sound like Esther. She gave him shit earlier about that.”

“Oh,” Gus replied, “I ain’t saying there’s anything wrong with it. It just surprised me, is all. As for Esther, well… she’s old. Old folks are like that. Set in their ways.”

“Hey,” Axel said. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No offense. I didn’t mean nothing by it.”

Levi opened his eyes again, and the others fell silent.

His arm was no longer numb. His senses were once again sharp and alert. Without speaking, he walked over to the couch, pulled off the red blanket that had been draped over the back of it, and returned to the closet door. The blanket smelled of dust and disuse, and he idly wondered how often Mr. Perry used this basement before tonight. He spread the blanket out in front of the door and smoothed it out with his hands. Then he reached into his pockets and pulled out the rest of the salt. He poured this on the floor in a circle around the blanket. Finished, he motioned them over.

“I need you all to stand together, as close as possible. It’s very important that you be on the blanket from this point on. Whatever happens—even if our enemies break in here—do not go beyond this circle of salt. Don’t reach beyond it for anything. Don’t stretch beyond it, not even an elbow or the tip of your toe. If we are attacked, stand where you are. Don’t flee. If you have to sneeze, cover your mouth. Don’t even spit beyond the circle.”

Paul stared at him, clearly puzzled. “Why not?”

“Because nothing must break the circle. Do all of you understand?”

One by one, they nodded.

“In a moment,” Levi said, “I’m going to tell all of you to close your eyes. When I do that, you’ll need to keep them closed until I tell you to open them again. I can’t stress this enough. It’s even more important than not breaking the circle. We’ll walk together, hand in hand. I’ll lead you. It will be very quick, but it might not seem that way to you. You may hear things. Smell things. Even feel things. Ignore them. Whatever happens, do not open your eyes.”

“What happens if we do?” Gus asked.

“Remember how I said that traveling through the Labyrinth has adverse effects on people?”

Gus nodded.

“Keep your eyes closed and you won’t find out why. Now come. I sense our attackers are almost free.”

They moved onto the blanket and huddled together, jostling one another in order to fit. Jean picked up Bobby and held him. Levi checked the floor, making sure all of their feet were within the circle. Then he collected four candles from across the room and sat them down beyond the edge of the line of salt at different positions—north, south, east and west. The wax was still warm and pliable. He pulled a lighter from his pocket and relit them.

“Don’t do that,” Paul cautioned. “The dark men will see the light.”

“In a moment, that won’t matter. This procedure requires candles. Technically, they should be red, like the blanket, but I think I can make do.”

“But you just had me snuff one out.”

“Correct. And now I need some that are lit.”

He stepped into the circle, and they had to crowd together even tighter in order to make room for him on the blanket.

“Don’t anybody fart,” Gus said.

Bobby giggled at this until Jean shushed him.

Levi stuck his thumb in his mouth and bit down hard until he tasted blood. The others gasped and groaned, but held their positions. Taking his thumb from his mouth, Levi held his hand out over the blanket and squeezed out three drops of blood. As each drop fell, he repeated the same phrase.

“Ia unay vobism Huitzilopochtli. Ia dom tergo Ha thor.”

“If that don’t beat all,” Gus whispered. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

“Quiet,” Donny said.

Levi bowed his head and pressed his thumb against his pants leg until the bleeding stopped. When he spoke again, it was in a strong, authoritative yet apologetic tone.

“I stand, rather than sit in the appropriate and required manner, but I am safe inside a circle of protection, and I humbly ask that you not molest me. I come with great humility. I cannot pay proper homage, for my enemies are beset against me, yet I pray I do not offend. I come here to open a gate. Despite my meager offerings, I come with awe and respect. I come seeking passage. I call upon the Gatekeeper, who gave to us the Nomos, which is the Law. I call upon the Doorman, who is the Burning Bush and the Hand That Writes and the Watchman and the Sleepwalker. I call upon the voice of the Tetragrammaton. I call upon him who is called Huitzilopochtli and Ahtu; him who is called Nephrit-ansa and Sopdu; him who is called Hathor and Nyarlathotep. I call upon him whose real name is Amun. And thus, by naming thee and offering my blood thrice, I humbly request an opening. Those with me in the circle are under my protection. By following the Law to the best of my abilities and with limited resources, and by naming thee, I humbly ask that you grant us safe passage from this place. I humbly ask that you protect us, and that we not be harmed or molested by those who dwell between the walls or within the halls, or the denizens of Heaven nor hell, or the realms between them, or the Thirteen, or the things that live in the wastes beyond the levels. I humbly ask that you guide us so that we do not end up wandering and lost in that realm beyond the Labyrinth, the lost level, in which there are no exits save death. I beg of thee, and hope that so shall it be.”

Levi paused, aware that the others were holding their breath. Outside, the revenants howled, free of the binding spell.

“Okay,” Levi said. “I’ll need to get to the door, so make a little room for me—without breaking the circle. Everyone hold hands and close your eyes. Stay together. Don’t let go of each other and whatever you do, don’t open your eyes until I tell you it’s okay. I’ll lead the way. Donny, you’ll bring up the rear.”

Donny nodded. “That’s better than taking point.”

“Can you shut the door behind us? Remember, you can’t open your eyes, so you’ll have to do it by feel.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

Jean put Bobby down beside her and held his hand tightly. He reached up and took Axel’s hand. Axel smiled down at him.

“I forgot the Mrs. Chickenbaum stick, Mr. Perry. I’m sorry. Maybe we could go back and get it?”

“That’s okay, Bobby. I think Levi might have some better magic of his own.”

They carefully changed positions until Levi was closest to the door. Outside, the sounds of fury increased. Levi grasped Jean’s hand. Axel took Paul’s. Paul grabbed on to Gus’s hand and Gus took Donny’s.

“Won’t they be able to follow us?” Donny asked.

“No,” Levi said. “They can’t cross the circle.”

“But we can’t either.”

“We’ll be walking through a door. We’ll only step out of the circle for an instant. Now, everyone close their eyes. We have company.”

Upstairs, the front door crashed open, followed by the sound of breaking glass. Gus moaned and Bobby whimpered. To Levi, it sounded as if every window in the home had just imploded. Making sure that their eyes were indeed closed, Levi grasped the doorknob and opened the door. Gone were the shelves and the games and the winter gear. The door no longer led into a closet. Instead, it opened into a long, straight hallway that seemingly had no end. Each side of the corridor was lined with doors as endless as the hall itself.

“Now we have you, little magus! No more games.” The door at the top of the basement stairs was wrenched from its hinges by a powerful blow. Footsteps pounded down the stairs. Levi felt Jean squeeze his hand, hard.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the circle and led them forward.

“Somebody’s coming.”

Marsha’s eyes snapped open. She was amazed that despite their predicament, she’d almost dozed off on the couch. She’d been thinking about Donny— how angry she was with him for going with Levi, and how indicative it was of their entire relationship, and how she hoped, despite everything, that he was okay. Then her brother’s voice had roused her. She sat up quickly. Randy, Myrtle and Esther sat in the darkness. Randy was next to her on the couch. Esther and Myrtle occupied high-backed chairs across from them. Outside, the street was quiet.

“What do you mean, dear?” Esther leaned forward in her seat, staring at Randy intently.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “It’s just a feeling I’ve got all of the sudden. Someone is coming.”

“The killers?” Marsha reached out, took his hand and squeezed it.

Randy squeezed back. “I don’t know. Never mind. I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about… Oops. Sorry, Mrs. Laudry. Didn’t mean to curse.”

“It’s okay.”

“You could be right,” Myrtle said. “Perhaps you’re sensitive to these things. Levi seemed to think that you had hidden abilities.”

Esther rolled her eyes. “The boy would be much better off without Levi’s influence.”

Myrtle ignored her. “Did you ever notice anything before tonight, Randy?”

“Like what?”

“Feelings? Intuition? Maybe you knew what the questions were going to be on a test at school before you took it? Or maybe someone in your family lost or misplaced something, and you were able to tell them where to look?”

Randy stared at her as if she were crazy. “No. I’m just… me, you know? I don’t believe in that stuff.”

“It doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not. It’s still real.”

“I’m not special. That Amish dude is smoking crack or something. I’m just a normal kid. Brinkley Springs is my home.”

Myrtle pressed on. “But maybe you—”

“I’m not special!”

Marsha jumped, startled by her brother’s tone.

He released her hand and sprang to his feet.

“If I was fucking magic, then my mom and dad would still be alive. Sam and Steph… oh my God, Steph. You guys didn’t see her. She…”

He trailed off, unable to finish. Marsha stood and tried to comfort him, but Randy pushed her away. For a moment, she thought he was going to burst into tears again, but instead, her brother ran for the bathroom. They heard him bumping around in the darkness. A moment later, the toilet lid slammed against the tank and they heard him vomiting.

Marsha glared at Myrtle. “I think that will be enough, Mrs. Danbury.”

“I’m sorry, Marsha. I didn’t mean any harm.”

“I know you didn’t, but my brother has been through enough tonight. We all have. I don’t want you upsetting him anymore than he already is.”

“Of course, dear. Of course. I’m sorry about that. I just…”

“What?”

“Well, if Levi is right about your brother, then maybe Randy can help us. Maybe he can safeguard us, just in case Donny and Levi don’t return.”

Marsha fought to keep her emotions in check. She wanted to race across the room and pull the old woman from her chair and scream at her.

“Donny will come back.” She was aware of how cold and clipped she sounded, but at that moment, Marsha didn’t care. “He’ll be back.”

“I’m sure he will, dear.”

Marsha assumed that Myrtle was aware she’d hit a nerve, because she fell silent again after that. Esther hummed tunelessly and rocked back and forth. Her hands fretted with the hem of her blouse. Myrtle stared at the floor. Marsha sat back down again. The couch springs squeaked beneath her. After another minute, they heard Randy leave the bathroom and begin making his way through the dark.

“Are you okay?” Marsha called.

“Yeah, I’ll be alright. I just… Hey. What’s this light in the kitchen?”

The women glanced at each other, puzzled. Frowning, Esther stood up.

“What light is that, Randy?”

“Right here.” His voice grew muffled as he moved toward the kitchen. “It’s coming from inside your pantry. Did you leave a light on?”

“No. The power is still out.”

Esther, Myrtle and Marsha made their way to the kitchen. Randy was standing next to the refrigerator. He pointed as they entered.

“See?”

Sure enough, a yellow-white light was shining beneath the pantry door. It was bright enough to illuminate the linoleum floor beneath their feet.

“My word,” Esther said. “What in the world is that?”

The four looked at each other in concern. Esther took a step toward the pantry door but Marsha pulled her back, put a finger to her lips and shook her head.

“Don’t,” she mouthed.

They turned back to the pantry and stared at the light. As they watched, it grew brighter, creeping out from beneath the door and spreading across the kitchen floor like a miniature sunrise. Marsha noticed that she could see the others clearly now. The illumination was enough for her to notice the dark circles under her brother’s eyes and the dried blood on his skin. The light continued to grow, glinting off the appliances and the collectible-spoon rack hanging above the dining table.

Then they heard the footsteps—quiet at first, but growing steadily louder. Impossibly, they sounded as if they were coming from inside the pantry. Esther began to tremble. Whimpering, Myrtle reached out and took her friend by the arm. Behind them, Randy and Marsha clustered close together. None of them spoke.

The footsteps came closer, and now they heard a murmured voice. It sounded as if it were coming from a great distance away, perhaps out in the street or from one of the neighboring houses. Marsha held her breath and listened harder. No, the speaker wasn’t outside. The voice was coming from inside the pantry. Soon she realized that there were other voices with it.

And one of them was screaming.

The footsteps were now right on the other side of the door. The light grew brighter still.

“Get back,” Randy said. He stepped in front of them, placing himself between the women and the door. “They’re coming!”

The doorknob turned. The breathless screams grew louder. The door rattled. Marsha, Esther and Myrtle clung to one another. Randy stood with his fists clenched, but Marsha saw his knees shaking. The door opened, crashing against the wall with a thud and flooding the kitchen with a dazzling, blinding light. Marsha threw a hand over her eyes and squinted. There were figures in the middle of the light and a long hallway behind them.

Myrtle shrieked.

Levi stepped out of the open door, followed by a group of people. Squinting, Marsha looked for Donny. She didn’t see him. She was surprised to see others with Levi instead. Jean Sullivan came first, followed by her son, Bobby, who was followed by old Axel Perry and Paul Crowley. They were all holding hands, and all of them had their eyes closed. Paul’s arm trailed behind him, as if he was holding someone else’s hand.

“Where’s Donny?”

If Levi heard her, he gave no indication. Instead, he turned and faced the new arrivals. “Hurry. Jean, Bobby and Axel, you can all open your eyes. Paul, just a few steps more and then you can, too.”

“I can’t,” Paul said. “He ain’t moving.”

“Levi,” Marsha called. “Where is Donny?”

“Marsha?”

She squealed when she heard him call her name, but she still didn’t see him. His voice sounded muffled and far away.

“Gus,” Levi shouted, “you have to keep moving. Come on!”

Marsha realized that it was Gus Pheasant who was screaming. She glimpsed him right behind Paul, on his knees and clinging to the mountain man’s hand. His other arm was outstretched behind him, as if holding someone else’s hand, as well, but the light was too bright for Marsha to see who that person might be.

“Donny?” She stepped closer.

“Gus,” Levi urged. “Come on!”

“They aren’t doors,” Gus screamed. “They’re windows on worlds. Windows on goddamn worlds!”

“Goddamn it, Gus!” Paul faced straight ahead, his eyes squeezed shut. “I’m very sorry about what happened to your brother, but we don’t have time for this shit. Quit fucking around and get a move on!”

Levi brushed past Jean and Bobby, who rushed over to Esther and Myrtle and embraced them. Randy shoved forward, trying to help Levi as he grabbed onto Paul and pulled.

“Don’t let go of him, Paul.”

The fear in Levi’s voice filled Marsha with dread.

“I won’t. What do you want me to do?”

“Look toward the sound of my voice,” Levi told Paul. “You can open your eyes now, as long as you don’t turn around. Just don’t let go of Gus.”

Paul did as Levi commanded. His face was pale and sweaty. He looked exhausted.

“Levi,” Donny yelled from inside the light. “Something’s coming up behind me. I think they got through.”

“It’s not them, Donny. They can’t come through this way.”

“Then what the hell is it? It’s growling.”

“Just hang on a moment longer.”

“I saw a city,” Gus ranted as Paul teetered forward.

Gus’s eyes were wide open and blood leaked from the corners of them and ran down his cheeks. “I saw a big city with tall, silver buildings. The city covered an entire planet. There were robots living there instead of people. And there was another city, a different city, and it was made out of light.”

“Levi.” Donny’s voice was tinged with panic. “It’s getting closer. Do something, damn it!”

Levi turned to Randy. “Help me with him. Just don’t look directly into the light, okay? It’s like staring into the sun.”

Randy nodded, his mouth agape. Together, they grabbed Gus and dragged him forward. He reached for them with both hands. Levi gasped.

“Levi,” Donny shouted. “I lost my grip on Gus!”

“It’s okay. Don’t panic, Donny. You’re close now. Just walk straight ahead.”

Randy and Levi pulled the struggling auto mechanic out of the hallway. A moment later, Donny emerged from the light. Marsha ran to him and flung her arms around him as he stepped out of the pantry. His eyes popped open and he stared at her in disbelief.

“Marsha? Where… where are we?”

“Esther’s kitchen,” she said. “What happened? How did you…?”

“We took a shortcut,” Levi said, and reached for the door. As he did, the light faded. The corridor was still visible, but now it seemed to be superimposed over Esther’s pantry. Shelves of canned goods lined the walls, but they seemed transparent, as if both locations—the corridor and the pantry—were occupying the same space at the same time.

“There were zombies.” Gus rocked back and forth on the kitchen floor. “Zombies, just like in the movies. Zombies and clowns and dinosaurs. And there was something in the middle of it all. Something dark, like tar, except that it didn’t have any shape.”

Levi slammed the door and said, “Ut nemo in sense tentat, descendere nemo. At precedenti spectaur mantica tergo. Ia Amun traust nodrog. Amun, Amun, Amun.”

The light vanished. To Marsha, it felt as if a great, invisible weight had been lifted off all of them. Her skin tingled. She looked down at her arms and saw goose bumps. Then Donny put his arm around her and she forgot all about them.

“You left,” she whispered. “Just like before. Goddamn it, Donny. You left again.”

“I know, but I came back. This is where I belong, Marsha. With you. You’re my home. Levi helped me see that. And I promise you that I won’t leave again. Not ever.”

She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. She wasn’t sure how long they remained like that, but eventually, she became aware that the others were looking at them.

Randy grinned. “So are you two back together or what?”

Gus’s rambling litany continued. “Goat men and lizard men and snake men and elephant men. There were creatures made out of fire who lived in the sun, and a whirlpool in space and a giant monster with a fucking squid for a goddamn head.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Axel asked. “Is he… crazy?”

Panting, Levi leaned against the wall, removed his hat and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “He opened his eyes and saw beyond the doors.”

“Everything is connected,” Gus moaned. “All of it. It’s like this big old puzzle, and everything is a piece. I was on a beach and these things crawled out of the ocean and they were part crab and part lobster, but they had scorpion tails.”

“Hey, buddy.” Paul knelt next to Gus and squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “Settle down, okay? It’s all over. We’re safe now. Levi got us out.”

“The moon blinked. We were in there a long time, you know? We walked and walked and it watched us the whole time.”

“What?”

Gus leaned close, his face inches from Paul’s.

“The moon. It blinked at me. It’s an eyeball. It was watching us.”

Paul looked up at Levi. “Is he going to be okay?”

“I honestly don’t know. In truth, probably not. His mind has snapped.”

“How? What happened to him in there?”

“There are some things that aren’t meant to be seen. He opened his eyes and saw them. That was why I cautioned all of you before we left.”

“What is all this?” Esther raised her voice. “Where did you all come from? How in the world did you get inside my pantry? Is it all over? Where are the killers?”

Levi sighed. “If I had to guess, I’d say they’re tearing the town apart looking for us.”

“But they can’t find us, right?” Donny asked.

“This place is safe.”

“Correct. As long as the wards I drew earlier are still in place, we remain hidden from them as long as we’re inside the bed-and-breakfast.”

Paul stood up. “So what happens now?”

“Now?” Levi put his hat back on his head. “Now, you pray the dawn arrives, while I prepare to make a last stand.”