The Haunts

Levy and Deidra arrived in the park he used to hang out in with Sheryl. No matter how careful they were around the razor-sharp thorny brambles that were now covering them, they either got jabbed or slashed by them. The fine little cuts he received as they walked through reminded Levy of the Hell Tree he fought in the Fantasmica realm, and he wished he had his amour so that he could just walk straight through. Deidra, however, sought a solution. She fumbled in her pants pocket and withdrew a tissue along with a small lighter. She looked at Levy and winked before she lit the paper on fire and tossed it into the bushes. The bushes did not burn, but to his surprise, they withdrew from the path they sought to take.

“How is that even possible?” He looked around and squinted, wondering why the thorny bushes had done that. Could it be magic? He had to wonder. Could just her mere presence be enough to affect the grounds? Maybe she really is a God—an evil one, unquestionably, but still—a God.

“I came here a few times with my old boyfriend. There are lots of crazy things going on out here.”

“I can only imagine.” Levy followed her lead.

Just then, Levy’s foot crunched on something frozen in the dirt, and he glanced down. “Are those cat and dog bones?”

“This park is full of those.” Deidra waved it off as she bent low and retrieved a weathered pet collar with the pet’s name on its tag. “Over the years, people’s pets have gone missing, but for some strange reason, they all end up around here. Many people believed that a coyote or other wild animal might be to blame, but the traps set throughout the area turned up nothing. What’s even stranger is that none of the missing children have been found yet, nor have their bones, but you’ll find lots of ripped and discouraged clothing of theirs to be found here.”

Levy looked at Deidra’s face, trying to read it. Her tone was creepy and soft, like this was all normal. “You’ve been here many times.”

“After my baby brother Jonny went missing, I went through a dark period. My ex-boyfriend and I used to come here to fuck around.” She spoke low and kept a watchful eye out.

“Is that how you found her lair?”

“Not quite,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

“So how…”

Deidra stopped and turned on him. “What matters is that I know, alright? So let’s just leave it at that, okay?”

Levy felt like a little kid again, and he nodded. Not wanting to push it. When she was ready, she would confide in him. When it came to conscientious people, the truth always had a way of surfacing on its own.

“We should go this way around, off the beaten path,” Deidra pointed out. “It’ll get darker as we get closer to her lair.”

“I have no doubt about that since I’ve seen her control the weather.”

“Seriously, Dude? I supposed that would be reason enough, but the deeper we go into the trees, the thicker and denser they will be because this park has been left alone for a while now. Everyone avoids coming here if they can help it. Even the police refuse to come out here.” Deidra made a face. “So if what you say is true, that she can control the weather...” She looked back, wishing that she had never agreed to this. “Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, you brought along a weapon to use on her other than your good looks?”

“My weapon is right here.” Levy unzipped and then pulled back his parka to show off the dagger sheathed in his belt.

“That’s all you brought with you?” She hissed, “You didn’t bring anything else, like maybe a pistol?”

Levy gave a bemused laugh, saying, “That would be pointless.”

Oh, that’s perfect... Deidra shook her head. Now I’m going to have my face on a few gone-missing posters.

They took a long way around, and just when they felt that they’d never reach the lair of Cailleach Bhéarach, Deidra grabbed Levy, and together they hid from view. She pointed out the two minions that served the Hag Goddess. Levy caught his breath.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” She whispered.

“You see that slimy-looking fellow over there in the tattered police uniform?” Levy pointed with his chin and said, “He’s my dead friend’s father, Mister Fellman. He blamed me for the death of his daughter, and while he was under Hag’s control, he tried to kill me.

“You’re not going to lose it now, are you?” She squinted at him. “Because if you want...” She thumbed over her shoulder.

Levy grew quiet and squinted. The first minion that was on patrol appeared normal enough, but something about him was amiss. The way he smiled gave off a creepy vibe, and the way he moved didn’t seem at all human.

“What’s with the other one?”

“I dunno, he just acts a bit weird, huh?” Deidra pointed with her head. “I mean, no one I know smiles like that without some issues.”

“Look at the shadow he casts.”

The man's shadow was noticeably longer, and where his arms had been, there were a lot more tentacles in their place. Even the legs were bent at a funny angle. Like a cat, they were turned back.

She looked back at Levy and asked, “Is he familiar to you?”

Levy nodded once and said, “I’ve been to a place where monsters are as common as animals and plants.”

Levy’s hand started to glow as he reached for his dagger.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Deidra grabbed Levy’s arm. “I promised to take you here, not stand around while you go and get yourself killed. I can’t go through that again.”

“I am sorry, Deidra, but I must finish this once and for all. Too many people have died because of her.” Levy glanced down at Deidra and said, "You should go while you still can.” His attention went back to the minions. If he were stealthy enough, He’d have the advantage.

“Don’t you dare leave me, mister.” She tried to stop Levy as he rushed up behind the Cyclops, still in its human form.

Levy’s dagger was out and held a faint blue glow as it trailed across the first minion’s throat from behind. The creature gurgled out a shriek as it buckled to the ground and then unexpectedly reversed to its natural form to face its assailant. Its unnaturally full mouth was amassed with jagged, razor-sharp teeth. Its singular red googly large eye jiggled lifelessly in the centre of its head as it grew two-times bigger than it had initially been in its human form. As the creature opened its mouth, a long barbed tongue whipped out and wrapped across Levy’s throat. The human-like arms it had dissolved into lecherous tentacles that whipped the air around it.

Damn it all! With his free hand, Levy pulled at the toothy-ridged tongue that continued to squeeze tight around his throat. What I wouldn’t give for my sword and armour This thing doesn’t seem to die as quickly as I had hoped. He stabbed and slashed out at the waving tentacles that slashed through his second-hand winter jacket.

Levy’s eyes started to grow heavy from the lack of oxygen reaching his brain.

As he fought to keep from passing out, the second minion shuffled closer. It was, indeed, Sheryl’s father. The man had seen better days. The police uniform he wore was in tatters and stained with slime, blood, and grime. Good old Mister Fellman appeared to be in the process of decay, or at least, becoming something far more terrible than anything Levy could imagine. The man looked and smelled of rot as bits of mould decorated his dark and shrivelled flesh.

“You dare insult Cailleach Bhéarach with your presence.” Fellman gurgled out

“It’s me, you asshole,” gagged Levy, “don’t you even recognize me?”

“Ah, yes, of course. Who else would be stupid enough to come all the way here to die?” Mr. Fellman wore a permanent sneer that showed off what was left of his rotten teeth. His cataracted eye looked Levy up and down. He gave the other minion a nod.

“She said you’d return, didn’t she, Broccus?” He laughed and gave a body-shaking cough. “She said she saw you in a dream, and now here you are all full of piss and vinegar.” He gleefully rubbed his hands together, looking forward to the things he’d get to do with Levy. “I never forgot what you did to me, and for that, I should be thanking you. You helped make me the monster I am today, so He stiffly shrugged and said, "Maybe I should thank you for that.” Mr. Fellman lifted his fist, “just for old time’s sake.”

Deidra rushed up from her hiding spot and grabbed for Levy’s dagger as it slipped to the ground. She held it outward, ready to stab Mister Fellman. “Step back!” She slashed at him until he did so.

Broccus, the other minion, rose up on his haunches and continued to dangle Levy up like a hung man from his incredibly sharp tongue. Levy’s legs kicked in the air as he fought for breath.

“D-don’t…” Levy hissed out, “Get out of here.” He gargled.

“Now, now, missy...” Fellman had his hands out in front, trying to convey calmness and that he had control of the situation. “You don’t want to get yourself in a heap of trouble just because Levy here wants to make a ruckus now, do you? So all you have to do is just hand me that blade, and maybe I won’t eat your heart out. So what do you say?” He tried his best to smile.

“I said, get back!” She swiped the blade and removed three fingers from his left hand.

Fellman chuckled as he pulled his hand back to look at the damage she had done. A brackish black goo spilled down his arm from where the fingers had been.

“I can’t die, see?” He pointed to the neat little hole in his forehead and turned his head to show how the back of his skull was vacant of a skull and grey matter. “Praise Cailleach Bhéarach! Even after I shot myself, she refused to let me die.” He then lunged out to grab Deidra, just as she stabbed him in the heart. He stepped back, noticed her dagger jutting out of his chest, and backhanded her. The blow stunned Deidra, who spun around and fell to the ground.

“Aw, now you’ve ruined my new shirt.”

Fellman pulled the dagger out of his chest and looked it over. The blade was still glowing blue, and he recognized it instantly. “So this is how you managed to escape by slipping away like a coward?” Levy was on the ground after Broccus dropped him. The creature just stood back, waiting for the order to finish Levy off.

Fellman bent low to make sure Levy was unconscious and not dead. “Now, don’t you go and die on us. At least not until Cailleach Bhéarach has had her way with you. But as for your little lady friend, He stood up and looked over to where Deidra was last spotted.

Deidra had fled the scene.

“Son of a bitch!” Fellman snapped, “Broccus, go find the girl and bring her back unharmed. Got it?”

Broccus eyed Fellman before he turned away and hurried through the underbrush taking on his human disguise.

Fellman watched on as Broccus disappeared from sight before he reached over to grab Levy’s leg and then proceeded to drag his unconscious body towards his master’s lair.