The Hollow Season Chapters 19-20
By: C.M. Clark
THE HOLLOW SEASON
Chapter Nineteen — What Belongs to You
The morning after Alex turned eighteen, there was dirt beneath his fingernails.
He noticed it while brushing his teeth.
Black.
Packed deep beneath every nail.
Alex frowned.
He hadn’t been outside.
Not since Steve dragged him home from the Buffalo.
He remembered Jessica locking the door.
Steve checking the windows.
Jyllian coming upstairs with him.
He remembered lying beside her.
Talking.
Her fingers tracing circles against his arm.
He remembered falling asleep.
That was it.
Alex scrubbed his hands.
The dirt wouldn’t come out.
‘What the fuck?’
Jyllian appeared in the bathroom doorway.
Alex jumped.
‘Jesus.’
‘Sorry.’
‘You can’t just do that.’
‘I walked.’
‘You don’t walk.’
‘Sometimes.’
Alex rolled his eyes.
Jyllian looked at his hands.
Her expression changed.
‘What’s that?’
‘Dirt.’
‘I can see that.’
‘Congratulations.’
She grabbed his wrist.
Alex winced.
‘Ow.’
‘Where did you go?’
‘Nowhere.’
‘Alex.’
‘I was with you.’
Jyllian stared at him.
‘Until when?’
Alex stopped.
‘What?’
‘I woke up at four.’
‘Okay.’
‘You weren’t there.’
Alex laughed.
‘Yes, I was.’
‘No.’
‘Jyllian.’
‘I looked for you.’
Alex’s smile disappeared.
‘Where?’
‘Everywhere.’
‘Then where was I?’
‘I don’t know.’
Alex looked at his hands.
Something moved in his stomach.
Fear.
Then irritation swallowed it.
‘Maybe I went downstairs.’
‘Steve was downstairs.’
‘Bathroom.’
‘You weren’t here.’
Alex yanked his hand away.
‘Then I don’t know.’
Jyllian looked frightened.
‘What?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Stop doing that.’
‘Doing what?’
‘Looking at me like I’m fucking possessed.’
Jyllian didn’t answer.
That was worse.
Alex stared.
‘Seriously?’
‘I didn’t say anything.’
‘You didn’t have to.’
He pushed past her.
Jyllian followed.
‘Alex.’
‘Leave me alone.’
‘I can’t.’
He turned.
‘Why?’
She stopped.
For half a second she looked incredibly sad.
‘Because I love you.’
Alex’s anger vanished.
Almost.
‘I love you too.’
Jyllian reached for him.
Then stopped herself.
Alex noticed.
‘What?’
She looked at her hand.
‘Nothing.’
‘You’re afraid to touch me.’
‘No.’
‘You are.’
Jyllian forced herself to touch his cheek.
Pain crossed her face.
Alex stepped away.
A red mark appeared across her palm.
Again.
‘Jesus.’
Jyllian closed her hand.
‘See?’
Alex stared.
‘See what?’
‘Something’s happening.’
He looked into the bathroom mirror.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same Alex.
‘I’m fine.’
Behind his reflection, something moved.
Alex spun around.
Nothing.
When he looked back, the mirror was normal.
Steve was already gone.
Jessica stood at the kitchen counter.
Alex looked around.
‘Dad?’
She didn’t turn.
‘Guess.’
Alex sighed.
‘Buffalo.’
‘Seven-thirty this morning.’
‘Seriously?’
Jessica laughed.
‘Apparently drinking before breakfast is acceptable now.’
Alex opened the refrigerator.
‘Maybe he likes it there.’
Jessica turned.
‘Of course he does.’
Alex heard the bitterness.
Normally he would have attacked it.
Today he smiled.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Nothing.’
‘You say nothing a lot for somebody who never stops talking.’
Jessica stared.
Alex took out orange juice.
‘What?’
‘Do you hear yourself?’
‘Constantly.’
‘You weren’t like this.’
Alex poured.
‘You barely knew me before.’
‘I knew enough.’
‘Did you?’
‘Yes.’
He drank directly from the carton.
Jessica’s eyes narrowed.
‘Glass.’
Alex drank again.
‘Alex.’
He put the carton down.
‘Happy?’
‘No.’
‘That’s sort of your default.’
Jessica closed her eyes.
‘I’m not fighting with you.’
‘Then don’t.’
Alex walked away.
Jessica said:
‘Your father is worried about you.’
Alex stopped.
‘Dad is worried about his next drink.’
‘That’s not fair.’
Alex turned.
‘Why are you defending him?’
‘Because I love him.’
Alex smiled.
‘He doesn’t love you.’
Jessica went still.
There it was again.
That little rush.
Alex felt it.
And this time he didn’t feel guilty.
‘He told you.’
Jessica’s voice was quiet.
‘Stop.’
‘Didn’t he?’
‘Alex.’
‘He loves my mother.’
‘Stop.’
‘Always will.’
Jessica’s eyes filled.
‘I said stop.’
Alex stepped closer.
‘I wonder if that’s why he spends every night at the Buffalo.’
Jessica stared.
‘Maybe he’d rather sit with a dead woman’s voice than come home to you.’
Silence.
Alex heard the words after they left his mouth.
Something inside him whispered:
Again.
Jessica slapped him.
Hard.
Both froze.
Jessica covered her mouth.
‘Oh my God.’
Alex slowly turned his face back.
A red mark appeared on his cheek.
Jessica began crying.
‘Alex, I’m sorry.’
He looked at her.
No anger.
That frightened her more.
Alex smiled.
‘There you are.’
‘What?’
‘That’s who you really are.’
‘No.’
Jessica reached for him.
Alex stepped away.
‘Don’t touch me.’
‘Alex, please.’
‘Wait until Dad hears.’
Jessica’s face collapsed.
The thing inside Alex liked that too.
He went upstairs.
Jessica waited twelve minutes.
Then called Steve.
No answer.
Of course.
She grabbed her coat.
The Buffalo was nearly empty.
Dan put coffee in front of Steve.
Steve stared at it.
‘You’re becoming hostile.’
‘You’re becoming an alcoholic.’
‘Bit dramatic.’
‘You’re here before eight.’
‘Couldn’t sleep.’
‘Then buy a mattress.’
Steve rubbed his face.
‘I hear them at home now.’
Dan stopped.
‘What?’
‘Voices.’
‘At your house?’
Steve nodded.
‘Laura last night.’
Dan sat opposite him.
‘What did she say?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Then how—’
‘She was humming.’
Steve looked exhausted.
‘Song she used to sing when Alex was little.’
Dan said nothing.
‘Then Nora started.’
‘Same place?’
‘Hallway.’
Steve laughed without humour.
‘Jessica didn’t hear anything.’
Dan leaned back.
‘That’s new.’
‘Everything is fucking new.’
Steve looked toward the staircase.
‘And Alex.’
Dan waited.
‘Something’s wrong.’
‘Yeah.’
Steve looked at him.
‘You’ve noticed?’
Dan nodded.
‘Last night.’
‘What?’
Dan considered telling him about the compass.
Didn’t.
‘He felt different.’
Steve laughed.
‘That’s helpful.’
‘You asked.’
‘I keep thinking this is my fault.’
‘Why?’
‘Nora saved me.’
Steve stared into his coffee.
‘Whatever she did in 1975, she did it because of me.’
‘You were sixteen.’
‘Everybody keeps saying that.’
‘Because you were.’
‘And now Alex is paying for it.’
Dan’s expression softened.
‘You don’t know that.’
Steve looked at him.
‘Don’t I?’
The Buffalo door opened.
Jessica entered.
Dan saw her face.
Steve stood.
‘What happened?’
Jessica stopped.
For a moment she couldn’t speak.
‘Alex.’
Steve’s stomach dropped.
‘Is he okay?’
Jessica laughed through tears.
‘Depends what you mean.’
She told him.
Everything.
Including the slap.
Steve closed his eyes.
‘You hit him.’
‘I know.’
‘Jessica.’
‘I KNOW.’
Dan quietly moved away.
Jessica lowered her voice.
‘You didn’t hear what he said.’
Steve looked at her.
‘There isn’t anything he could say that makes hitting him okay.’
‘I know that.’
‘Then why—’
‘Because he knew exactly where to put the knife.’
Steve stopped.
Jessica wiped her face.
‘He said you’d rather listen to Laura’s ghost than come home to me.’
Steve said nothing.
That silence answered too much.
Jessica laughed.
‘That’s the problem.’
‘Jess.’
‘He was cruel.’
‘I know.’
‘No.’
She looked at him.
‘Not angry. Cruel.’
Steve remembered Alex in the Buffalo.
The moment his son’s face seemed occupied by something else.
‘Where is he?’
‘Home.’
Steve reached for his jacket.
Jessica stared.
‘You’re leaving?’
‘I’m going to talk to him.’
‘Of course.’
Steve stopped.
‘What does that mean?’
‘You always go after Alex.’
‘He’s my son.’
‘And what am I?’
Steve had no immediate answer.
Jessica smiled sadly.
‘Exactly.’
She walked to the bar.
‘Whiskey.’
Dan stared.
‘You too?’
Jessica looked at him.
‘Apparently it’s a family activity.’
Dan poured.
Alex found Jyllian in his bedroom.
Sitting on the floor.
Nora’s compass in her hands.
‘Dan gave you that?’
‘No.’
Alex frowned.
‘I left it at the Buffalo.’
‘I know.’
‘Then how—’
Jyllian held it out.
‘It was outside your window.’
Alex stared.
‘That’s not possible.’
‘Stop saying that.’
He took it.
The needle pointed at him.
Alex rotated the compass.
Still him.
He walked across the room.
The needle followed.
‘Cool.’
‘It’s not cool.’
‘Little bit.’
‘Alex.’
He looked at her.
‘Jessica slapped me.’
Jyllian stood.
‘What?’
‘Relax.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I was an asshole.’
Jyllian stared.
‘You’re defending her?’
Alex shrugged.
‘I deserved it.’
‘Nobody deserves—’
‘I said something horrible.’
‘What?’
Alex didn’t answer.
Jyllian understood.
‘You enjoyed it again.’
Alex looked at her.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Yes, you do.’
He sat.
‘I wanted her to hurt.’
Jyllian sat beside him.
Alex stared at the compass.
‘I knew exactly what to say.’
‘People do when they’re angry.’
‘No.’
He looked at her.
‘I could feel it.’
‘What?’
‘Her.’
Jyllian frowned.
‘Jessica?’
Alex nodded.
‘Everything she was afraid of.’
Jyllian went still.
‘How?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘What did you feel?’
Alex thought.
‘That Dad doesn’t love her enough.’
‘You already knew that.’
‘Not like this.’
He closed his eyes.
‘She thinks she’s temporary.’
Jyllian stared.
‘She thinks one day Dad’s going to wake up and realise she was just what happened after Mum.’
Alex opened his eyes.
‘She thinks Dad and I are something she can never get inside.’
Jyllian whispered:
‘Did she tell you that?’
‘No.’
‘Then how do you know?’
Alex looked at her.
‘I just do.’
Jyllian backed away.
Alex laughed.
‘There. That face again.’
‘Alex—’
‘I’m not going to hurt you.’
‘I know.’
‘Then stop looking at me like that.’
Jyllian’s eyes filled.
‘I’m not afraid you’re going to hurt me.’
‘Then what?’
She whispered:
‘I’m afraid of what you are.’
Alex stood.
‘Get out.’
‘No.’
‘You don’t get to say that and stay.’
‘Alex.’
‘Get out.’
Jyllian didn’t move.
‘You want the truth?’
He laughed.
‘That’d be new.’
She flinched.
‘Something has been waiting for you.’
Alex stopped.
‘Since when?’
Jyllian looked away.
‘Before you came here.’
‘How long before?’
Silence.
‘Jyllian.’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Bullshit.’
‘Your whole life.’
The room became very quiet.
Alex stared.
‘What?’
‘I think it knew about you before you were born.’
Alex laughed.
‘That’s insane.’
‘I know.’
‘Why?’
Jyllian began crying.
‘I can’t tell you.’
Alex’s anger exploded.
‘THEN STOP FUCKING TELLING ME HALF OF EVERYTHING.’
The lightbulb above them burst.
Jyllian screamed.
Darkness.
Alex froze.
‘Jyllian?’
She turned on her phone flashlight.
Glass covered the floor.
‘Did I do that?’
She didn’t answer.
‘Did I?’
‘I don’t know.’
Alex looked at his hands.
Black dirt beneath his nails again.
He’d cleaned it away.
Now it was back.
That night, Steve didn’t come home.
Neither did Jessica.
Both sat at opposite ends of the Buffalo.
Dan served neither after ten.
They stayed anyway.
Steve occasionally looked at Jessica.
Jessica never looked back.
At 11:30 Dan said:
‘Go home.’
Steve laughed.
‘Which one of us?’
‘Both.’
Jessica stared into an empty glass.
‘Don’t really have one.’
Steve flinched.
Dan sighed.
‘Christ, you people are exhausting.’
Jessica almost laughed.
Steve did.
For a moment she looked at him.
There was still something there.
History.
Affection.
Maybe love.
Just not enough.
Three knocks sounded upstairs.
Jessica went pale.
Steve looked at Dan.
‘Ignore it.’
Dan nodded.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Then Alex’s voice:
‘Dad?’
Steve closed his eyes.
Jessica whispered:
‘That’s him.’
‘No.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Because Alex doesn’t call me like that.’
The voice came again.
‘Jessica?’
She stiffened.
Steve reached across the space between them.
Took her hand.
‘Don’t.’
Jessica looked at him.
Whatever else they were, they were frightened together.
Upstairs, Alex began laughing.
Not normal laughter.
Deep.
Wrong.
Dan looked towards the ceiling.
‘That’s new.’
At home, the real Alex was asleep.
Jyllian lay beside him.
She wasn’t sleeping.
She watched his face.
At 12:14, Alex opened his eyes.
‘Hey.’
Jyllian smiled.
‘Hey.’
‘Can’t sleep?’
‘No.’
Alex reached for her.
She hesitated.
Then moved closer.
He held her.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘For what?’
‘Everything.’
Jyllian rested her head against him.
‘I love you.’
‘I know.’
‘That wasn’t permission to be smug.’
Alex smiled.
‘I love you too.’
She closed her eyes.
His breathing slowed.
Eventually he slept.
At 2:06, Alex sat upright.
Jyllian woke.
‘Alex?’
He didn’t answer.
He got out of bed.
‘Where are you going?’
Nothing.
Alex walked into the hallway.
Jyllian followed.
‘Alex.’
He descended the stairs.
Barefoot.
Opened the front door.
Walked outside.
Jyllian grabbed his arm.
Her hand burned instantly.
She screamed and released him.
Alex continued.
‘ALEX!’
He walked towards Main Street.
Jyllian followed.
Alex never looked back.
No coat.
No shoes.
Temperature near freezing.
He didn’t shiver.
When they reached Main Street, the shops were dark.
The Buffalo glowed at the far end.
Alex didn’t go there.
He turned into a narrow alley.
Jyllian stopped.
‘No.’
Alex disappeared into it.
She ran after him.
The alley should have ended behind the buildings.
It didn’t.
It continued.
Downhill.
Impossible.
Jyllian knew immediately.
‘Alex, wake up.’
He kept walking.
The buildings disappeared.
Trees replaced them.
Then dirt.
Then darkness.
The town peeled away.
Jyllian followed him into somewhere Idaho Springs remembered.
Alex stopped beside the creek.
But there were no buildings.
No road.
No electric lights.
Empty land.
Jyllian stared.
She knew this place.
Not personally.
From whispers.
From things older than her.
Alex knelt.
He began digging.
With his hands.
‘Stop.’
He dug faster.
Black earth packed beneath his fingernails.
Jyllian understood.
‘Oh God.’
Alex dug.
And dug.
Until his fingers found stone.
He moved it.
Beneath was a small round hole.
No wider than a man’s hand.
Cold air rose.
Jyllian backed away.
‘Alex.’
His eyes opened.
He looked around.
Confused.
‘Jyllian?’
She ran to him.
‘Don’t touch it.’
‘Where are we?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Why am I outside?’
Then he saw the hole.
Something whispered beneath it.
Alex leaned closer.
Jyllian grabbed him.
Her hands burned.
She refused to let go.
‘DON’T.’
Alex stared into the darkness.
‘Someone’s down there.’
‘No.’
‘Yes.’
‘Alex, please.’
He listened.
A man whispered:
‘Help me.’
Alex frowned.
‘Who are you?’
Jyllian screamed:
‘DON’T ANSWER IT.’
Too late.
The voice stopped.
Something far below shifted.
Then hundreds of voices whispered together.
Alex.
He froze.
The ground moved.
Not shook.
Breathed.
Once.
Alex remembered something he’d never experienced.
A dying man.
Blood moving uphill.
Hands beneath earth.
Eleven dollars.
A horse with mud in its mouth.
Alex screamed.
Jyllian pulled him backwards.
The hole whispered:
‘Ours.’
Alex clutched his head.
‘STOP.’
Images poured through him.
Ray Mercer dying beside his Harley.
Four college kids running.
Earl Whitcomb upstairs.
Nora kneeling.
Hundreds more.
Faces.
Deaths.
Names.
People Idaho Springs had kept.
Alex screamed.
Then suddenly understood something.
Not everything.
One thing.
He looked at Jyllian.
‘They’re still here.’
She stared.
‘Who?’
Alex looked down.
‘All of them.’
The world snapped back.
They were standing behind the Buffalo.
Modern buildings.
Dumpsters.
Streetlights.
Alex fell.
Jyllian caught him.
The back door opened.
Dan appeared.
‘What the hell?’
Steve followed.
Then Jessica.
Steve saw Alex barefoot and ran.
‘Alex.’
He dropped beside him.
‘What happened?’
Alex stared at his father.
‘They’re underneath us.’
Steve looked at Jyllian.
‘What?’
Alex grabbed Steve’s shirt.
‘Everybody who died here.’
His eyes were enormous.
‘They’re not ghosts because they won’t leave.’
Dan went still.
Alex whispered:
‘They’re prisoners.’
Three knocks came from beneath the pavement.
Everyone looked down.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Jessica backed away.
Alex began crying.
‘It keeps them.’
Steve held his son.
‘What keeps them?’
Alex looked toward the Buffalo.
Then shook his head.
‘Not the bar.’
Dan stared.
Alex looked down at the street.
‘The land.’
Silence.
Then something beneath them laughed.
Later, after Steve got Alex home, Jessica stood alone in the kitchen.
She poured water.
Her hands shook.
Alex entered.
She stiffened.
He noticed.
‘Hey.’
‘Hi.’
For once there was no anger in him.
He looked exhausted.
Young.
‘Dad said you slapped me.’
Jessica’s face collapsed.
‘Alex—’
‘It’s okay.’
‘No. It isn’t.’
‘I was horrible.’
‘That doesn’t make it okay.’
Alex stared at her.
‘I meant what I said.’
Jessica looked hurt.
Then Alex continued:
‘And I don’t know why I wanted it to hurt so much.’
She studied him.
He was crying.
‘I think something’s wrong with me.’
Jessica’s anger disappeared.
She stepped closer.
Alex didn’t move away.
‘I think something’s happening to me.’
Jessica touched his face.
The same cheek she’d slapped.
‘I am so sorry.’
Alex closed his eyes.
‘Me too.’
She hugged him.
After a second, Alex hugged her back.
For one brief moment, the resentment loosened.
And neither noticed the shadow standing outside the kitchen window.
Watching.
Waiting.
Because hatred was useful.
But love could be used too.
At 3:17 a.m., Jessica woke.
Steve wasn’t beside her.
He hadn’t slept there in weeks.
The hallway was dark.
She heard someone downstairs.
‘Alex?’
No answer.
Jessica walked to the stairs.
A figure stood at the bottom.
Tall.
Thin.
Wrong.
She froze.
The figure looked up.
Its face changed.
Alex.
Then Steve.
Then Laura.
Then Jyllian.
Then Jessica herself.
She covered her mouth.
The thing smiled with her face.
‘He doesn’t need you anymore.’
Jessica backed away.
‘Who?’
The smile widened.
‘Either of them.’
The hallway light went out.
Jessica screamed.
Steve woke on the sofa.
‘JESS?’
He ran.
Lights on.
Nothing.
Jessica stood halfway up the stairs.
Alone.
Steve grabbed her.
‘What happened?’
She couldn’t speak.
Alex appeared at the top of the stairs.
Jyllian behind him.
Jessica looked at Alex.
Then at the empty hallway.
She began sobbing.
Steve held her.
Alex watched.
And somewhere inside him, something whispered:
Soon.
Alex heard it.
This time he didn’t tell anyone.
———————-
THE HOLLOW SEASON
Chapter Twenty — The Hollow
Alex could hear them now.
Not constantly.
That would have been easier.
Constant noise eventually became background.
The dead were selective.
They spoke when Alex was alone.
In the shower.
Walking upstairs.
Waiting for a webpage to load.
Standing in front of the refrigerator at two in the morning.
Never loudly.
Never enough to prove.
Just:
‘Alex.’
He stopped responding after the first day.
That didn’t stop them.
Wednesday morning he was making toast when somebody whispered:
‘Behind you.’
Alex didn’t turn.
‘Fuck off.’
Jessica entered.
‘Excuse me?’
Alex looked over.
‘Not you.’
Jessica stopped.
That answer would have sounded ridiculous a week ago.
Now she merely nodded.
‘Okay.’
Alex put bread into the toaster.
Jessica opened the refrigerator.
They moved around each other carefully.
Something had changed after the night before.
Not fixed.
Changed.
Alex watched her pour coffee.
‘I’m sorry.’
Jessica turned.
‘For?’
‘Everything.’
She leaned against the counter.
‘That’s ambitious.’
Alex almost smiled.
‘Specificity seems exhausting.’
‘Fair.’
He looked down.
‘I really have been horrible.’
‘Yes.’
Alex looked up.
Jessica smiled slightly.
‘You walked into that.’
‘I did.’
The toaster popped.
Alex jumped.
Jessica laughed.
Alex stared at her.
Then started laughing too.
‘Jesus Christ.’
‘Big scary eighteen-year-old.’
‘Shut up.’
For perhaps thirty seconds, they were simply two people in a kitchen.
Then Alex asked:
‘Do you hate me?’
Jessica’s smile disappeared.
‘No.’
‘You should.’
‘Probably.’
‘Jessica.’
She sighed.
‘Sometimes I don’t like you very much.’
Alex nodded.
‘Fair.’
‘Sometimes you don’t like me very much.’
‘Also fair.’
‘But hate?’
She shook her head.
‘No.’
Alex stared at his toast.
‘I thought you took Dad.’
Jessica’s expression softened.
‘I know.’
‘I know that’s stupid.’
‘It’s not.’
‘Little bit.’
‘Maybe.’
Alex smiled.
Jessica sat.
‘Can I tell you something you’re probably going to hate?’
‘Tradition.’
She looked towards the hallway.
Steve was asleep on the sofa.
‘Your dad was drowning when I met him.’
Alex didn’t respond.
‘I don’t mean because he drank.’
‘He didn’t then.’
‘I know.’
Jessica looked at him.
‘He was alive, but he wasn’t really living.’
Alex swallowed.
‘Because of Mum.’
‘Yes.’
‘And me?’
Jessica frowned.
‘No.’
‘You don’t know that.’
‘I do.’
‘How?’
‘Because you were the only thing that made him light up.’
Alex looked at her.
Jessica smiled sadly.
‘Every story was Alex.’
She imitated Steve.
‘Alex did this. Alex said this. You should’ve seen Alex when he was six. Alex hates mushrooms. Alex loves this movie. Alex thinks—’
‘Okay.’
‘It was exhausting.’
Alex laughed.
Jessica continued.
‘I was jealous of you.’
That surprised him.
‘Me?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Why?’
‘Because there was a part of Steve I could never reach.’
She looked at him.
‘You could.’
Alex sat opposite her.
‘I was jealous of you too.’
‘I noticed.’
‘You got the version of him that wasn’t always sad.’
Jessica shook her head.
‘No.’
Alex frowned.
‘No?’
‘He was always sad.’
That landed harder than he expected.
Jessica reached across the table.
‘He just got better at hiding it.’
Alex stared at her hand.
Then placed his over it.
Nothing supernatural happened.
No burn.
No voices.
Just warmth.
Jessica squeezed.
‘For what it’s worth, I never wanted to replace your mother.’
Alex nodded.
‘I know.’
And for the first time, he meant it.
Upstairs, Jyllian stood in the hallway.
She had heard everything.
She covered her mouth.
Not because she was sad.
Because she remembered.
A kitchen.
Different house.
Different face.
Eight-year-old Alex refusing cereal because the milk smelled funny.
Steve laughing.
A wedding ring on her finger.
Alex shouting:
‘Mum!’
Jyllian closed her eyes.
The memory vanished.
She leaned against the wall.
‘Not yet.’
Something whispered behind her.
‘Soon.’
Jyllian turned.
Nobody.
‘Leave him alone.’
The voice laughed.
‘Which one?’
Jyllian’s face went white.
Steve woke at eleven.
Alex was doing schoolwork.
Jessica had gone to shower.
Jyllian was nowhere visible.
Steve checked his phone.
Four missed calls.
Two work emails.
One voicemail from Aspen.
Life outside Idaho Springs apparently continued.
That felt insulting.
He made coffee.
Alex looked over his laptop.
‘Morning.’
Steve checked the clock.
‘Technically.’
‘Rough night?’
‘Your girlfriend talks in her sleep.’
Alex froze.
Steve smiled.
‘Relax.’
‘What did she say?’
‘No idea. Sounded like another language.’
Alex stared.
‘Dad.’
Steve stopped.
‘What?’
‘What language?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You heard her?’
‘Around five.’
Alex closed the laptop.
‘She wasn’t here at five.’
Steve stared.
‘Yes, she was.’
‘No.’
‘Alex, I walked past your room.’
‘She left around three.’
Steve’s smile disappeared.
‘I saw her.’
Silence.
Alex stood.
‘Where?’
‘Hallway.’
‘What was she doing?’
Steve thought.
Standing.
Facing the wall.
Whispering.
He hadn’t considered it strange at the time.
Everything was strange now.
‘Talking.’
‘To who?’
‘I thought herself.’
Alex grabbed his phone.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Find Jyllian.’
‘Alex.’
He stopped.
Steve hesitated.
‘Be careful.’
Alex almost made a joke.
Then saw his father’s face.
‘Yeah.’
He left.
Steve watched the door close.
The Buffalo crossed his mind.
Whiskey.
Dan.
Darkness.
Relief.
He reached for his jacket.
Then stopped.
Jessica came downstairs.
‘Going somewhere?’
Steve looked at the jacket.
Then at her.
‘No.’
Jessica was surprised.
So was Steve.
He hung it back up.
Alex found Jyllian behind the Buffalo.
She was sitting against the brick wall.
Barefoot again.
‘Dad saw you.’
She looked up.
‘What?’
‘Five this morning.’
Jyllian stood.
‘Where?’
‘Our hallway.’
‘No.’
‘He says you were whispering.’
‘I wasn’t there.’
Alex stared.
‘Then what was?’
Jyllian didn’t answer.
‘Fantastic.’
He paced.
‘I hear dead people. Dad sees fake versions of you. Jessica sees something wearing everybody’s face.’
‘It’s getting stronger.’
‘Why?’
Jyllian looked at him.
‘You.’
Alex laughed.
‘Naturally.’
‘I mean it.’
‘Everybody does.’
‘Alex.’
‘What?’
Jyllian moved closer.
‘It couldn’t do these things before.’
‘How do you know?’
She hesitated.
‘I’ve been here a long time.’
‘How long?’
‘Don’t.’
‘Fifty-one years?’
Jyllian looked away.
Alex’s anger rose.
‘That compass belonged to Nora.’
Nothing.
‘You knew Nora.’
Nothing.
‘Dad remembers a dark-haired woman in the Buffalo.’
Jyllian’s eyes filled.
‘Stop.’
‘Was that you?’
‘No.’
The answer came too quickly.
Alex stared.
‘You’re lying.’
‘I said no.’
‘You always say no.’
‘Because sometimes no is the answer.’
‘And sometimes it’s bullshit.’
Jyllian turned away.
Alex grabbed her arm.
She screamed.
He released her immediately.
A burn wrapped around her skin where he’d touched.
Worse than before.
‘Oh my God.’
Jyllian cradled her arm.
‘I’m sorry.’
Alex stared at his hand.
‘Why?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Why can I hurt you?’
She began crying.
‘Because you’re becoming something that can.’
Alex backed away.
‘What does that mean?’
Jyllian looked at him.
‘It means we don’t have much time.’
Dan watched from inside.
He couldn’t hear them.
Didn’t need to.
Jyllian crying.
Alex staring at his hands.
Bad combination.
He went outside.
‘Both of you.’
They turned.
‘Inside.’
Jyllian wiped her face.
‘I don’t want—’
‘Didn’t ask.’
Alex almost smiled.
Dan pointed.
‘Move.’
They obeyed.
The Buffalo was empty.
Dan locked the front door.
Alex noticed.
‘That’s reassuring.’
‘Sit.’
‘Everybody loves telling me that.’
‘Because you’re exhausting standing up.’
Alex sat.
Jyllian remained standing.
Dan looked at her.
‘You too.’
She sat.
Dan placed Nora’s compass on the bar.
Alex stared.
‘I thought Jyllian had that.’
Dan looked at Jyllian.
‘I thought Alex had it.’
Jyllian shook her head.
Alex reached into his pocket.
Pulled out the compass Jyllian had returned to him.
Everyone stared.
Two identical compasses.
Dan whispered:
‘Oh, shit.’
Alex picked up the one on the bar.
Same scratches.
Same cracked glass.
Same initials.
N.M.
‘That’s impossible.’
Dan looked at him.
‘We’ve retired that word.’
Jyllian was terrified.
She picked up both.
One compass needle pointed towards Alex.
The other pointed upstairs.
‘No.’
Dan looked at her.
‘What?’
Jyllian dropped them.
‘No.’
Alex stood.
‘What?’
She backed away.
‘It remembers things.’
‘What does?’
‘This place.’
Dan’s expression changed.
‘Explain.’
Jyllian looked around the Buffalo.
‘It doesn’t just keep people.’
Three knocks sounded upstairs.
Nobody moved.
Jyllian whispered:
‘It keeps moments.’
The lights went out.
Alex heard Dan swear.
Then Buffalo noise erupted around them.
Music.
Glasses.
Laughter.
People.
Alex blinked.
The lights returned.
But the Buffalo was different.
Smoke filled the room.
1970s music played.
Men with long hair.
Women in flared jeans.
Steve stood near the door.
Sixteen years old.
Alex stared.
‘Dad?’
Young Steve couldn’t hear him.
Nora appeared.
Blonde.
Denim jacket.
Alive.
Alex stopped breathing.
‘Nora.’
Jyllian grabbed his hand.
She didn’t burn.
Not here.
‘Don’t interact.’
‘That’s my aunt.’
Jyllian began crying.
Nora laughed at something David said.
Alex watched.
Something about her laugh hurt.
Familiar.
He didn’t understand why.
Then Nora turned.
Looked directly at him.
Everything stopped.
Music.
People.
Smoke.
Frozen.
Only Nora moved.
She stared at Alex.
‘Oh.’
Alex’s skin prickled.
‘You can see me?’
Nora walked closer.
Jyllian whispered:
‘This didn’t happen.’
Dan stared.
‘What the fuck is happening?’
Nora stopped in front of Alex.
She looked at his face.
Touched his cheek.
Alex felt it.
Warm.
‘You’re beautiful.’
Alex’s eyes filled.
‘Who are you?’
Nora smiled sadly.
‘You know.’
Jyllian screamed:
‘NO.’
The room snapped.
Modern Buffalo.
Empty.
All four gasped.
Alex looked at Jyllian.
‘What the fuck was that?’
She couldn’t answer.
Then he realised.
Jyllian was holding her cheek.
Exactly where Nora had touched his.
Steve heard the screaming from outside.
He had lasted forty-three minutes.
A personal record.
He entered.
‘What happened?’
Alex turned.
‘We saw Nora.’
Steve stopped.
‘What?’
‘1975.’
Steve stared at Dan.
Dan nodded.
‘I saw it too.’
Steve’s face drained.
‘Nora?’
Alex nodded.
‘She talked to me.’
Steve grabbed the bar.
‘What did she say?’
Alex hesitated.
‘She said I was beautiful.’
Steve laughed once.
Then covered his mouth.
He began crying.
Alex moved towards him.
Steve looked at Jyllian.
She was still holding her cheek.
‘What?’
Jyllian shook her head.
‘Nothing.’
Steve stared.
‘Why are you crying?’
‘I’m not.’
‘Bullshit.’
Alex looked between them.
Something inside him whispered:
Ask her.
Alex ignored it.
The voice came again.
Ask her who Laura was.
Alex froze.
‘What?’
Steve looked at him.
‘What?’
Alex stared at Jyllian.
She had heard it too.
He knew from her face.
‘Who was Laura?’
Steve frowned.
‘Your mother.’
Alex didn’t look away from Jyllian.
‘I’m asking her.’
Steve went still.
Jyllian backed away.
‘Alex.’
‘Who was Laura?’
‘Don’t.’
‘Did you know my mother?’
Steve looked at Jyllian.
‘What?’
Dan quietly stepped away from the bar.
Alex continued.
‘You reacted to her picture.’
Steve’s eyes moved to Jyllian.
‘You knew Laura?’
Jyllian shook her head.
‘No.’
The lights flickered.
A woman’s voice laughed upstairs.
Laura.
‘Liar.’
Nobody moved.
Jyllian closed her eyes.
‘Please.’
Laura’s voice:
‘Tell him.’
Alex’s heart pounded.
Steve whispered:
‘Laura?’
The voice laughed.
‘Stevie.’
Steve recoiled.
Nora.
Then Laura again.
‘Tell him.’
Jyllian screamed at the ceiling:
‘SHUT UP.’
Silence.
Steve stared at her.
Not frightened.
Not yet.
Confused.
‘How did you know?’
Jyllian looked at him.
‘Know what?’
Steve’s voice became quiet.
‘That it was lying.’
‘I didn’t.’
‘Yes, you did.’
‘Steve.’
‘You knew.’
Alex watched.
The thing inside him whispered:
Closer.
Jessica was alone at the house.
Again.
She stood in Alex’s room.
She shouldn’t have been there.
She knew that.
But the door was open.
Bed unmade.
Jyllian’s jacket on the chair.
Two glasses.
A photograph of Laura on the desk.
Jessica picked it up.
Laura laughing in snow.
Beautiful.
Alive.
Jessica stared.
‘I can’t compete with you.’
She laughed at herself.
‘Jesus.’
She put the photograph down.
Behind her:
‘No.’
Jessica froze.
Laura stood in the doorway.
Not Jyllian.
Not a shadow.
Laura.
Exactly as she appeared in the photograph.
Jessica couldn’t breathe.
‘You’re dead.’
Laura smiled.
‘Am I?’
Jessica backed away.
‘You’re not real.’
‘Neither are you.’
‘What?’
Laura entered.
‘Temporary.’
Jessica’s eyes filled.
‘Stop.’
‘Steve knows.’
‘Stop.’
‘Alex knows.’
Jessica shook her head.
Laura moved closer.
‘You’re the only one who doesn’t.’
‘Doesn’t what?’
Laura smiled.
‘Belong.’
Jessica ran.
She reached Main Street before realising where she’d gone.
The Buffalo.
Of course.
Everyone ended up there.
Jessica entered.
Steve turned.
‘Jess?’
She was white.
‘Laura.’
Steve stood.
‘What?’
‘I saw Laura.’
The room changed.
Alex stared.
Jyllian looked sick.
Jessica pointed at her.
‘She said I don’t belong.’
Jyllian whispered:
‘That wasn’t Laura.’
Jessica laughed hysterically.
‘No shit.’
Steve approached.
Jessica backed away.
‘Don’t.’
‘Jess.’
‘Everywhere I go, she’s there.’
Steve stopped.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘No, you’re not.’
‘I am.’
‘You love it.’
Steve stared.
‘What?’
‘Her voice.’
Jessica cried.
‘Every time it uses her, it hurts you and you still want to hear it.’
Steve couldn’t deny it.
Jessica laughed.
‘That’s fucked up.’
‘I know.’
‘I’m standing right here.’
‘I know.’
‘And she’s still the woman you want.’
Steve’s eyes filled.
‘I can’t change that.’
Jessica nodded.
‘Finally.’
Alex watched.
The darkness inside him stirred.
Jessica turned toward him.
‘I suppose you’re happy.’
Alex opened his mouth.
Something cruel waited.
He could feel exactly what would destroy her.
The words assembled themselves:
At least Dad finally admitted it.
Alex looked at Jessica.
Then remembered the kitchen.
Her hand over his.
Her telling him Steve lit up when he talked about Alex.
He closed his mouth.
The thing inside him whispered:
Say it.
Alex didn’t.
SAY IT.
He grabbed his head.
Jyllian moved towards him.
‘Alex?’
‘Shut up.’
Steve frowned.
‘What?’
‘Not you.’
The voice inside him screamed.
HURT HER.
Alex shouted:
‘NO.’
Every glass in the Buffalo exploded.
Jessica screamed.
Dan ducked.
Steve grabbed Alex.
Jyllian stared.
Silence.
Broken glass everywhere.
Alex looked at his father.
‘I didn’t do that.’
Steve held him.
‘I know.’
‘I didn’t.’
‘I know.’
Jyllian whispered:
‘Yes, you did.’
Everyone looked at her.
Alex stared.
She was crying.
‘But you didn’t want to.’
That distinction mattered.
For now.
They went home together.
All four.
Dan remained at the Buffalo.
Nobody spoke much.
Jessica walked ahead.
Steve beside her.
Alex and Jyllian behind.
Halfway home, Alex reached for Jyllian’s hand.
She hesitated.
Then took it.
No burn.
Alex looked down.
‘It stopped.’
Jyllian did too.
‘Why?’
Neither knew.
Alex squeezed.
She squeezed back.
They continued.
At home, Steve surprised everyone.
‘I think we should stay together tonight.’
Alex raised an eyebrow.
‘Family sleepover?’
‘Laugh all you want.’
‘I intend to.’
Jessica looked exhausted.
‘He’s right.’
They brought blankets downstairs.
Steve took the chair.
Jessica one end of sofa.
Alex the floor.
Jyllian beside him.
Television on.
Some terrible movie.
Nobody watched.
Around midnight Jessica fell asleep.
Then Steve.
Alex remained awake.
Jyllian whispered:
‘You stopped it.’
‘What?’
‘At the Buffalo.’
‘Stopped what?’
‘Yourself.’
Alex stared at the ceiling.
‘I wanted to hurt her.’
‘I know.’
‘Then I didn’t.’
‘I know.’
‘Why?’
Jyllian moved closer.
‘Because you’re still you.’
Alex turned towards her.
‘For how long?’
She didn’t answer.
He kissed her forehead.
‘I love you.’
‘I love you too.’
Alex closed his eyes.
Jyllian watched him sleep.
Her hand moved unconsciously to her stomach.
She frowned.
A strange sensation.
Gone immediately.
Jyllian lowered her hand.
Not yet.
At 3:17 a.m., everybody woke simultaneously.
Three knocks.
Not upstairs.
Front door.
Steve sat upright.
Jessica grabbed him.
Alex opened his eyes.
Jyllian whispered:
‘Don’t.’
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A man’s voice outside:
‘Alex.’
Nobody moved.
Steve whispered:
‘Stay here.’
Alex grabbed him.
‘No.’
The voice spoke again.
‘Alexander.’
Alex froze.
Nobody called him Alexander.
The front door slowly opened.
Locked deadbolt turning by itself.
Steve stood in front of Alex.
The door swung inward.
Nobody there.
Only darkness.
Then hundreds of people appeared in the street.
Silent.
Men.
Women.
Children.
Clothing from different decades.
Some injured.
Some bloody.
Some perfectly ordinary.
All facing the house.
Steve stared.
‘Oh my God.’
Jyllian stood.
‘The collected.’
Alex looked at her.
‘What?’
She immediately regretted saying it.
Outside, Ray Mercer stood among them.
Earl Whitcomb.
The college kids.
Faces nobody recognised.
Hundreds.
Perhaps more.
The souls Idaho Springs had kept.
None looked at Steve.
None looked at Jessica.
None looked at Jyllian.
Every dead face stared at Alex.
Then, one by one, they knelt.
Alex backed away.
‘No.’
Steve grabbed him.
‘What are they doing?’
Jyllian began crying.
‘I don’t know.’
But she did.
Alex knew she did.
The dead bowed their heads.
Then every mouth opened at once.
One word emerged.
‘Son.’
Alex screamed.
The door slammed shut.
Windows shattered.
Lights died.
Darkness.
When Steve found the flashlight, the street was empty.
Alex stood trembling.
Jyllian looked at him.
Her hand had returned to her stomach.
This time she knew why.
And beneath Idaho Springs, something that had been waiting for generations finally understood that everything was almost in place.
—————
