Chapter Eighteen

1

Ned swatted at the locusts that latched onto him, retreating to the kitchen as he screeched in agony. He stared at the flesh along his arms. The skin was shredded and slick with blood. It was too late to save his life; he’d be dead in moments. Then several hands latched onto his head through a kitchen window and yanked him forward. Ned bit into the hands until they released their clutches. Clumps of his hair were wrenched from the scalp in the process. 

The flashes of green in the room were a strobe light, stealing his attention. The clash of voices and the swarming of insects were disorienting. 

You have to destroy the house. 

There’s not a chance you’ll make it to the living room. 

Let the projector burn!

He gasped as many of the straight-jacketed and armed elderly approached him. He acted on an impulse, dropping his rifle and dragging the oven from it slot against the wall. He then picked up the rifle and aimed at the gas line. The blade of a chainsaw came into his line of vision and missed his throat by a fraction of an inch. Then an old man in a robe emptied a 9mm into his chest.

Falling back off his feet from the shot, Ned squeezed the rifle’s trigger on his way down, dead.

 

2

A great ball of fire erupted from the kitchen. It kicked up dozens of bodies that were engulfed in blue flames, literally thrown up in the air, and when landing, were left smoldering piles. The termites and locusts bumbled into each other confused by the sudden flames, cut down mid-flight. 

Andy fought to get closer to the projector and caught sight of the dead corpse standing guard. It turned to Andy when the projection screen caught fire. The dead man’s hands were already choking him, it moved so fast. Its teeth clamped down on the wound where the axe had been driven, reaping strings of pink flesh into its rotten black teeth. He smelled of soil and the fetid scent of decaying flesh. 

Andy head-butted the zombie and sent it reeling to the ground, not knowing what else to do. He collected enough momentum to take four steps. He gripped the film projector, yanked the plug from the wall, and flung it onto the ground, smashing, stamping, and pounding it into many pieces. 

He gasped when every figure in the room vanished. 

Then the roaring fire replaced his concerns. 

He collapsed, too weak to escape. The blood loss and physical exertion caught up with him. Heat and smoke billowed and blinded every exit. Rafters from upstairs collapsed, the house on the verge of becoming a deathtrap. He couldn’t breathe, choked by the smoke. 

Helpless, he closed his eyes. 

 

3

Something picked him up, carrying him up over the flames. “Hold on, Andy. I’ll save you.”

Soot blinded his eyes. He thought it was Ned, but by the way he’d been attacked, there was no way the man could still be alive. Perhaps help had finally arrived, albeit too late, he thought with a twinge of bitterness.

The whir of a fire truck’s siren blared from a mile away. He still wondered who was carrying him from the house. “Who…who are you?”

The figure didn’t reply.

Outside, the air struck him with relief. It was cold and clean. The person carrying him placed him in the grass carefully. Andy was able to open his eyes and could finally see. He reeled at Ned’s face, although it was blackened and ravaged by fire, his skin puckering and melting.

“Andy,” Ned began, “you can’t tell anyone about what happened tonight. The truth, I mean. No one will believe you. You’ve destroyed the spirits’ access into this world. The authorities are coming, but you must explain that you know nothing about how these people died. There’s nothing you can do for anybody. What’s been done has been done.”

“How did you save me? You’re falling apart!”

“I’m not Ned,” he said, the burned face smiling. “It’s Uncle James. I’ve crossed over to save you. I wish you well, Andy. I’m very sorry for everything that’s happened because of me. Regardless of everything that’s occurred, this must remain our secret. I hope you understand.”

After hearing those words, Andy passed out from exhaustion.