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Stacie was appalled at the sight of Carl’s grotesque body. She raised her hand to her face hoping it would block the hideousness of what she saw. “His body, it looks...I mean, it appears as though....”
Jack quickly tried to finish her sentence. “Yeah, it looks like...it’s been....” But, he, too, was unable to verbalize the precise words.
Curtiss knew what they were trying to express, so he finished their sentences. “I think what you’re both trying to say is his body looks like it has been petrified.”
Jack nodded in agreement. “Petrified, yeah, that’s exactly the word I was looking for - it’s been petrified. But, there’s more to it than his body being petrified. It’s, it’s his face!” Jack cringed and turned his head away as he started to become somewhat uneasy about continuing to look at it. He looked at Curtiss. “It’s so gruesome.”
Curtiss added, “Of course it is, made that way because of the lanterns that were smashed on him and the fire that followed. Weren’t you listening to the tale?”
Jack became irritated, “I was listening! It doesn’t make it any easier for me to stomach the disgusting sight.”
Lester yelled at Jack, “Listen here, fella. It weren’t his fault he wound up looking like that. Blame them, hooligans, for what they did to him!”
Curtiss cut Lester’s rant off. “Calm down, Uncle. It weren’t the fault of these people either. They’re just here for.”
Vincent interrupted Curtiss, “Well, I’m glad you said that. I’m sure we would all like to know exactly what we’re here for?” He delivered his comment with great suspicion in his voice.
An equally suspicious Claudia spoke up as well. “I’m afraid Vincent’s correct. There has to be more to this than merely being here to see this ‘petrified’ man, as you call him.”
Stacie walked around in front of the others. “I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’ll lay odds the answer lies with none other than our fearless leader. She searched around until she finally located Eric in the background. “How about it, Eric? Wanna tell us what all this is really about?”
Eric emerged from the shadows and wryly smiled, “You know me all too well. It’s fitting though you used the term fearless.” He took in a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. “As most of you know, I have a penchant for pushing the team to its limits where fear is concerned. If we conquer fear, we can achieve greater things in our business dealings.”
“So, what are you saying? Seeing this disgusting figure of a man will help us conquer our fears?” Pointed out an equally doubtful Cora.
“No...no. Seeing him was only the beginning of the equation. It’s what’s coming that’s going to bring forth real fear from you. It will invoke fear and anxiety that will surface in every one of you. It’s going to “
Cole lashed out, “If you have more for us, then quit your yapping and let us have it.”
Eric was taken aback. “Well now, Cole, you ‘are’ bold aren’t you? Very well, then. You asked for more, and you shall have it....now.”
He looked towards Curtiss, who bit into a tobacco plug and spit.
“You see, Mr. St. Clair is right. Up until now, I’ve only told you half the tale. Now, you’re gonna hear the rest.” Curtiss’ eyes narrowed, and he fixated them deep into the eyes of the team. “Mr. St. Clair’s right. This part of the legend ‘will’ play on your fears. Make no mistake about that. Those fears will stay with you and make you think about your existence throughout the night.”
Vincent was getting fed up as well. “Enough with the build-up! Get on with the tale!”
Curtiss started walking around in front of his captive audience, “I told you how Carl was killed. But, I left out the most important part that says he can be resurrected!”
“Yeah, right! Every petrified man ever found can be.” Chuckled Jack.
Curtiss's face scowled, “Carl is no ordinary petrified man. The circumstances regarding his death became known to a certain person. She was called Wise-woman, known to many as a healer. She healed through the use of herbs and, some say, even with magic. Some called her a witch, but those that were brave enough to do so, disappeared from the area, never to be seen or heard from again.”
“You said Carl was killed over a hundred years ago. So, that means that bitch, I mean, that Witch is long gone.” Boasted Cole.
Curtiss went on, “Brave words from a brave man. I’ll continue with the tale if you’re not too scared to hear the rest?”
Cole let out a big laugh. “Go ahead. I’m shaking in my boots.”
“After the Wise-woman learned of Carl’s death, she let it be known there was a way for him to come back to life. She said only a drop of blood from a virgin can resurrect his body.” Cole could hardly contain himself.
“Virgin?! There ain’t a virgin for miles and miles from here.” Most of the group lowered their heads to avoid seeing each other’s faces.
Eric stood up. “Maybe so, but tonight every one of the team is going to shed a drop of blood for the ceremony.” He said intently.
“All my team members will prick their fingers and allow a drop of their blood to fall directly on the chest of the petrified man - Carl.”
Vincent stood and walked up to Eric. He recited in a mocking voice.
“Only the blood from a virgin can resurrect Carl?” He turned and looked at the others and said disparagingly. “Come on, people! Please don’t fall for it. This is nothing more than a block of stone that someone chiseled to resemble a very large man.”
Eric challenged Vincent’s opinion. “I say it’s true, and there’s only one way to prove me wrong. Now, I want everyone to prick their finger and allow blood to fall onto the body.”
Claudia scoffed. “You’re serious - you’re really serious.” She said in a highly dubious manner.
“Yes...I am.” Eric responded.
“Well, you can count me out,” Cole said as he began to walk away.
“This isn’t a situation where we’re drawing straws to participate in one of my events, Cole.” Cole stopped. “Now, listen and listen good! Everyone and I mean everyone, is going to do it.” Eric reiterated.
Cole walked up to Eric. “Like Vincent, I say this is silly - I’ll have no part of this!”
“You’re not listening. we’re all going to do it, including you!”
“And if I don’t?”
“If you don’t, you’re fired. It’s that simple. Oh, and trust me, after this weekend, no one is going to hire you. ‘That’ you can count on.”
Stacie got up and stood over Carl’s body. “Come on, Cole. It’s just a few drops of blood. You’re not afraid of a little prick, are you?”
“All right, but if I do....” He turned and got up into her face, “then you’re going to do it as well.”
Stacie smirked. “You’re brave, and just to show you, there are no hard feelings,” She took a small pocket knife and made a small incision on her finger. A couple of drops fell onto Carl’s chest. Cole took her knife and did the same. He looked at Curtiss,
“Didn't you say it had to be from a virgin to work?”
Curtiss answered, “That’s right.” Cole looked at Stacie and smirked, “Looks like you just wasted your blood, darlin’.”
Claudia stepped over Carl’s body and was about to pierce her finger when Lester leaped forward. “Don’t do it, I tell you. It’ll be the death of you all!”
Curtiss grabbed his uncle’s jacket. “Shut up, Lester!”
Vincent shook his head and laughed. “Can’t you see what’s going on? The boss paid these guys to say these things to scare us. He’s just trying to get a rush by seeing us all get flustered...come on... let’s get it over.”
He cut his thumb, and the blood fell. Jack pushed his way forward, backed away, and cringed.
“Want me to do it, Jack?” Stacie offered.
“If you don’t mind.” He answered.
She started piercing his finger. “One prick to another, heh, Jack?” Taunted Cole.
“Eat it, Cole.” He replied. As Jack’s blood dropped onto Carl’s chest, he smiled at Stacie, “Well, I always said Eric wanted blood from us.”
Ed turned and started towards the bus. Eric stopped him. “Just a minute, Ed. I said everyone would provide blood.”
“Hey, I’m just the driver. I’m not part of your team.”
Eric shook his head, “Tonight you are.”
Ed came back and defiantly surrendered his drops. He leaned in close and, under his breath, muttered to Eric. “You’ll pay for this, I promise.”
Eric grabbed his arm as he started to walk away, leaned in, and whispered. “I sincerely doubt it.”
Cora’s legs were shaking as she walked up to the pit. “I - I guess I’m the last one.”
“Just you and me,” said Eric. He reached out and took her hand. “How about we do it together? Sound ok to you?”
Cora gulped. “I suppose so.”
She pulled her hand back. “It’s not going to hurt, will it?”
Eric slowly pulled her hand back with his own. “Not the way I’ll do it.” He reached over and took her thumb.
“As they said in the movies, ‘Here’s looking at you, Kid.’”
Cora looked stumped. “They did? What movie was- - Ow!”
Hers and Eric’s blood dripped down on Carl.
Cora massaged her thumb. “I thought you said it wouldn’t hurt?”
Eric shrugged his shoulders, “There’s an excellent explanation for that - I lied.” He chuckled and walked away.
After everyone had given their blood, they waited. After some time, it was apparent nothing was going to happen.
Vincent had a stick in his hand and tossed it into the pit. “Like I said. He just wanted to get off on seeing us get scared.”
“Well, he’s succeeded.” Jack nervously admitted.
Claudia suggested, “Why don’t we get some sleep so we can get out of here in the morning?”
They all started back to their respective tents. As they did, Lester walked slowly past them and into the pit, where he covered Carl’s body with a tarp. He began to talk to it as he covered it, “I’m sorry, Carl. They ought not to have disrespected you that way.”
They continued to walk away - perplexed by Lester’s conversation with the stone figure.
Claudia leaned over to Stacie. “That, my dear, is the definition of weird.”
As they were about to enter their respective tents, Curtiss told them, “Now, don’t y’all be feared. Carl’s not coming back to life...or is he?
One last thing you need to think about....Will Carl rise from the pit during the night? And, the most important thing, how well do you know one another? You need to ask yourself this, maybe I’m not a virgin, but is it possible one of your coworkers might be? So, will Carl rise during the night if one of them happens to be? Admit it. There will always be a doubt. It’s that doubt that will prey upon your fear.”
He turned his back on them and started to laugh under his breath.
Jack squeezed Stacie’s hand. “He did say we’d be letting fear get the best of us....didn’t he?”
Stacie responded,” Something like that.”
Jack attempted to sound brave. “I’ll stay with you if you’re scared.”
Stacie chuckled. “That’s ok, I’m quite capable of putting myself to bed.”
“I’ll bet you are,” Cole said as he walked past them.
Eric stood at the entrance to his tent. “Oh, one last thing before turning in...Have a good night’s sleep.”
They all looked at each other a little differently before zipping up their tent doors.
Over the next hour, Stacie found she could not fall asleep. Like the others, she had allowed fear to get the best of her. She reassured herself, “Forget your fear, Stacie. Get over it. It’s nothing more than a legend.” Then she heard it. A scratching sound came from the entrance to her tent. She grabbed a rock as the zipper opened up.
“Stacie. Don’t be afraid. It’s me, Jack.” Jack was standing there, still dressed in his clothes.
“Why didn’t you get dressed for bed?” She asked. “For the same reason, you didn’t.” They both started to laugh but kept it as quiet as possible.
“I guess we both let it get to us.”
Suddenly, a loud blood-curdling scream roused everyone from their cots and brought them out of their tents.
“It came from over there - where the bus is parked,” Ed said.
“That was Claudia’s scream. I’d recognize it anywhere.” Stacie told them.
Jack's breathing was labored as they made their way towards the bus. He knew he had to speak. “I knew something wasn’t right about this whole thing. I knew it!”
They saw Claudia’s motionless body on the ground as they approached the bus. Ed cried out, “Claudia!”
“Everyone, don’t move!” Stacie warned them. They froze in their tracks.
Cora sobbed, “She’s dead. I just know she is.”