Come Get Me Read online

  “Where the hell you been?” the kids asked. “He’s the freakin’ weirdo who lives out in the woods. Damn idiot lives in one of those old pieces of crap they used to call a house all by himself doing all kinds of weird stuff. He’s always trying to set fire to the woods or doing some other satanic shit. Probably sacrificing animals or something. At least that’s what my mom says.” Jim wouldn’t mind having a few words with this kid’s mom. “Cops are out there all the time,” the kid continued, “but they never do anything to him. He must’ve messed up big this time to deserve all this.” Jim wished he could just slap the spit out of this kids’ mouth just for being a smartass, who knows maybe it would knock some sense into him, but that probably wouldn’t work. All it would do is get him into trouble. Instead he just listened as the kids continued spouting whatever came to his mind.

  “Only time anyone ever sees that freak is when he comes to town to get food. You should see it! He so frickin’ funny. Everybody makes fun of him and calls him names. Its frickin’ hilarious. He don’t show his sorry ass around much but when he does its fun times!”

  Jim was pretty sure “everybody” meant this dumbass and his friends but unfortunately there was little he could do about it. Pete was his friend but he’d pretty much brought all this on himself by becoming the town hermit. There was no use in arguing with anybody. He wished there was someone else he could ask but when he finally reached the gaggle of people they’d already separated into little groups of their own. They gave him and the kids a wide berth though. Jim didn’t know if it was him or the kid they were trying to avoid. After hearing the crap coming from his mouth though he was pretty sure it was the kid.

  “There sure is some weird shit that goes on out there,” the idiot said after a few seconds gesturing down the road. Jim looked where he indicated and saw a faint orange glow illuminating the sky. “See what I mean?” The teenager said making full use of his high school education. “You see all kinds of lights and stuff out there. It’s just plain weird.” Jim could honestly say he now understood why the future of today’s youth wasn’t that good.

  Not wanting to be stuck with the garbage mouth for the rest of the night Jim quickly said his thanks and moved towards the police car stationed just beyond where all the groups were gathered. As he passed them he heard bits and pieces of conversation consisting of everything from rumors about the woods being on fire to aliens having finally invaded Pete’s house and taking him away. He almost hoped it was a fire or something but had a feeling it was probably closer to the one about aliens than anything else.

  He’d just about reached the police car when he did see an actual flicker of fire in the distance. That explained the glow in the sky he’d seen. Now that he saw where the fire was he noticed two more police cars further down from the one he was standing near and just a little ways beyond them, a house. The fires made the place look as if it were on fire but it must not have been since the police cars weren’t there. They were on the road before the house. Maybe that meant Pete wasn’t involved in whatever was going on.

  Jim could vaguely see a figure walking back and forth between the burning mounds around the house. The figure trudged back and forth pausing only to throw something on whatever fire he was closest to sending sparks spiraling into the night sky. It could only be Pete Jim thought as he wearily made his way toward the police officer stationed next to the car blocking the road. He hoped he could get through to make sure his friend was all right.

  7

  As Jim reached the first patrol car he noticed how cold it was outside. He was concerned about Rob and knew he shouldn’t be thinking about the cold but he couldn’t help it. The fires in the distance seemed like a good idea to him right about now. The sweat he’d worked up was quickly cooling in the night air. He wished he’d brought a jacket with him or better yet that he had driven his rental. If he’d done that, everything would’ve been fine. Nothing would’ve chased him, he wouldn’t have sweated from running and he’d be nice and warm. But no, walking had seemed like a better idea, so he being the idiot he was, had walked.

  Slowing down to a walk once again, Jim approached the car with one hand raised to shield his eyes from the flashing lights that were about to blind him and saw another person who liked like a deputy but who obviously wasn’t Rob. He seemed to be standing guard on the road. From the look of it he was pretty worried about whatever was going on out at Pete’s.

  Jim didn’t even want to imagine what Pete might’ve done to get himself in this much trouble. True he hadn’t been around for the past few years but from what he heard Pete was capable of some weird shit.

  “What’s all the commotion about?” he asked the deputy as he got closer.

  The guy seemed almost startled that someone would ask him a question. Looking at him appraisingly for a minute before informing him in a voice thick with country accent that there’d been some type of accident down the road and that no one was allowed down there until it was all cleared up. Before he even started speaking Jim thought there was something familiar about the guy. The deputy reminded him of someone. Trying not to seem like some sort of weirdo Jim studied the officer while he spoke. Not being exactly close enough to get a good look at him Jim slowly shifted his body so that the lights wouldn’t be in his line of vision and so that he was a little closer.

  After a few second without the lights in his face his eyes adjusted and he realized who he was speaking to. It was Johnny Langill. The last time Jim had seen, or thought, about him he’d been a kid a grade behind him in high school. When Johnny’d finished talking Jim quickly stuck out his hand and told him who he was. Johnny shook his hand in return a little unsure at first but then, like a light going on somewhere in his head, seemed to recognize Jim and shook his hand a little more heartily in return. Johnny still looked edgy but Jim was sure that was probably because of what was going on down the road.

  “So,” Jim said now that he was a little more familiar with who he was talking to, “what’s really going on back there?” When Johnny didn’t answer right away he quickly added, “Pete lives back there from what I’m told and I’m a little worried about him.”

  “I’m not supposed to tell anyone,” Johnny answered after a few seconds.

  “Come on Johnny,” Jim pushed. “This is Jim you’re talking to not some guy off the street. You can tell me.”

  “I really don’t think I should,” Johnny answered then paused, “but, I, uh, guess it would be ok as long as you don’t tell the sheriff.” After getting Jim’s promise he continued. “I’m pretty sure something bad happened,” Johnny said looking over Jim’s shoulder to make sure no one else could hear them. “A little while ago we got a call from Rob over the radio saying he was coming out to check on Pete. He said Pete was out burning his fires again and he wanted to make sure everything was ok. Nobody thought anything of it until about an hour had passed and we hadn’t heard anything form him. Then suddenly the radio in the office seemed like it came to life. At first there was nobody on it but you could tell that the mike was keyed.” He paused for a second to run a hand over his face. He looked like he was about to cry before he got control of himself and continued. “Then we heard this horrible noise coming over the speaker. At first we didn’t know what it was. It sounded like static but after a few seconds we realized it was a scream. It was awful. We didn’t know what to do but we were pretty sure we knew who it was. The sheriff was out driving around so he got here first to check things out. When he got here he called and told me to come down here and secure the entrance to Pete’s road and not to let anyone down. I was on the other side of town doing a patrol over there and heard all the screaming over my radio. I told the sheriff I’d be right over and this is where I’ve been since. He hasn’t come up and told me nothing. Not even a peep on the radio or anything. I don’t know what’s going on.” He stopped and took a shaky breath.

  Jim was about to bolt down the road when the radio in the car shouted Johnny’s name. Wanting to run and
find out what was going on but also not wanting to miss what might be said he forced himself to stay. Johnny climbed in the car and shut the door so Jim couldn’t hear. After a few minutes he put the radio down and got back out looking a few shades whiter than when he got in.

  “The sheriff just said that the state police and the coroner would be here soon,” Johnny said as he emerged from the car. “He also said to make sure I didn’t tell anyone anything I wasn’t supposed to.”

  “But what about Rob?” Jim asked.

  “I asked if he was ok but he just ignored me and told me to do my job and to not ask so many questions. He said don’t let anyone but the police and coroner in.”

  “So he didn’t say anything?”

  “Now listen Jim, I’m not the smartest person in the world but I know when something isn’t right. You and I both know what a coroner is for right?”

  Jim hoped Johnny hadn’t been expecting an answer. If he had he would just have to go on hoping. Without staying to hear all of Johnny’s words Jim darted around the back side of the car before Johnny had a chance to do more than watch him disappear into the night.

  Speeding through the dark Jim could make out the sheriff’s car down the road only because of the flashing lights on to p of it. Focusing on them he poured every last bit of energy he had into making it to them as fast as his poor feet could carry him. Before a few seconds ago he would’ve told anyone he couldn’t another step if his life depended on it but knowing something had happened to Rob had galvanized him into action. Johnny must’ve called ahead because by the time Jim arrived out of breath the sheriff was standing in the road, arms crossed over his ample belly, waiting for him.

  Sheriff James Harden was a fifty something, slightly over weight gorilla of a man who was only sheriff because nobody in town had ever been brave enough to mess with him. Politically or personally. Nobody except for Jim and his friends. Harden had been sheriff for as long as Jim could remember and had been just another reason Jim had had for leaving. The place being a small town, Jim and the sheriff had known each other a lot better than either would’ve preferred. Jim’s group had quite a few of close calls with the sheriff back in the day. It was just dumb luck that they’d never been caught doing some of the things they’d done with a big emphasis on the dumb part. The sheriff suspected a lot but was never able to prove anything. Form the look on the man’s face they were about to have another run in Jim wished he could avoid.

  “Now what the hell do you want?” The Sheriff demanded angrily before Jim even had a chance to catch his breath.

  “What’s going on?” Jim asked ignoring the question. “Where’s Rob? Is he alright?”

  “You aren’t supposed to be down here boy. Didn’t you see the roadblock up there?” He shot back ignoring Jim’s question in turn. “I should lock your sorry ass up right here and now for trespassing.”

  “You can do that after you tell me about Rob,” Jim answered quickly. “C’mon” he pleaded, “I’m his friend. Tell me what happened to him, then you can throw me in jail all you want.”

  “Oh shit!” the man answered as if he’d just remembered he left the iron on at home. “Rob said you were back for a visit. I’d damn near forgot, what with all this shit going on.” He paused trying to decide. “Damn,” he began again as he took of his hat and ran a hand through his hair, “I don’t know how to put this so I’ll just come right out and say it but I don’t want you freaking out of me or anything. You do that and I’ll take your ass down faster than you can spit. You hear me? I have enough to handle as it is.” After making sure he was understood he said two words. “Rob’s dead.”

  Jim knew to expect something like this but actually hearing it felt like a slap in the face. There’d been a bad feeling rolling around in the pit of his stomach from the first moment he’d heard the sirens. This was just the perfect ending to a perfect evening.

  “I’m sorry to tell you like that but there it is. There’s no reason to beat around the bush when it comes to things like this,” the sheriff explained. “Rob came out here to check on your friend freak boy out yonder but we didn’t hear back for him for a while. Some of us were starting to get worried.” He said this last part like he hadn’t been one of the ones getting worried and Jim almost slapped him. Holding himself back he stood and listened to the rest of the sheriff’s story. “After a while some weird shit came over the radio. Like screaming or something so I came out to check on things. Didn’t know what to expect. The freak could’ve finally went of the deep end and decided to kill his buddy or something for all I knew. Anyways, when I roll up his car lights were flashing, the door light was pointing at the woods and he was lying on the ground in front of it all cut up.” He stopped talking for a few seconds to make sure Jim wasn’t about losing it before continuing. “It’s a sight you sure don’t want to take to the grave with you if you can help it. Real messy whoever or whatever did it. I shouldn’t tell you this but you being his friend and all you might know if someone, you know, maybe had it out for him or something. If not, it sure does look like it. In any case whatever it was seems to have gone at him with an ax or something, maybe even a hatchet. Soon as the Smokies get out here I’m going to see if I can go find anything useful out from freakboy.”

  Jim couldn’t bring himself to say anything. He was too afraid that if he did he’d end up in jail. How could something like this happen? This wasn’t a big city or something where things like this were commonplace. This was a small town. Things like this just didn’t happen here.

  The town he grew up in was a quiet place. It was a place where people didn’t need to lock their doors at night. It wasn’t this place where murders were committed almost on a daily basis. This town he was in was like some twisted version of the one he’d grown up in. He just couldn’t understand what was going on. The silly theory of Grandma’s about some mythological beast killing everyone was starting to look better and better. At least then there would be someone to blame everything on. Right now there was nothing. No one to blame or take his anger out on. Just his dead friends.

  Rob was dead. He would never see him again and Pete had been just down the road when it happened and did nothing to help. Someone had gone after Rob with an axe and hacked him to death not a five minute walk from his friend’s house and now he was dead. First Tommy and now Rob. Both were dead and there was nobody to blame. The two people who’d been his life long friends, the two people who’d been like brothers to him and the two people who were now dead at the hands of some maniac, mythical creature or God only knew what. He didn’t know which was more unbelievable. His friends being dead or how it’d happened.

  It seemed like he’d just found Rob again after being away so long and now he was dead. Jim slowly looked down the road and saw the fires burning around Pete’s house. He could see Pete walking from one miniature inferno to another. Back and forth making sure they burned bright to keep his personal demons at bay.

  Jim looked blankly at the sheriff and without any words to him turned and started towards Pete’s house. He needed to find out what had gone so terribly wrong with his last remaining friend that he would standby and let someone who’d been like a brother to him be killed.

  8

  Jim approached the house with a creeping sensation he’d now become familiar with. He was being watched. Praying nothing would be following him in the dark like had happened before he stopped his headlong rush and peered back at the sheriff hoping it was just him giving Jim the uneasy feeling. No such luck. Unfortunately the sheriff had turned away from him to watch two state police cars pull up at the roadblock.

  Not happy in the least, Jim looked around. He saw nothing but inky blackness. The woods, for their part, remained eerily quiet offering him no help in finding the reason for his unease. If anything they made it worse. He felt that at any minute one of the branches were going to reach out, grab him and rip his head off. At least that’s what would happen if this had been a movie.

  Eyes becoming s
lightly more adjusted to the dark, Jim found the exact spot where he’d decided to stop was exactly where the road had decided to give up its fight against nature. He could see cracked and rutted pavement with bit of grass forcing its way to the surface, roots of numerous plants criss-crossing the road and nothing but trees reaching for him in all directions. Up, down, left and right. Nothing but the impenetrable, leafy darkness. The forest hadn’t just been making tiny forays into the world of men it had made an all out assault. It was more than obvious this road wasn’t traveled much by anyone other than Pete.

  The one bright and somewhat welcoming spot in all the gloom were the blazing fires around Pete’s house. They lit up the night like a beacon. The lighting thrown off from the fires lit the front windows, making the house appear to be an oversized jack-o-lantern grinning at him in sinister welcome. Jim hurried towards the supposed safety the light offered but as he approached he began to wonder if it was safety or something else the house was offering.

  Pete must’ve sensed someone coming up the road. He’d stopped his mindless walking from fire to fire and was staring out into the darkness in the exact direction of Jims’ approach. Jim, not knowing what else to do, slowly emerged from the shadows. He didn’t know what reaction he expected but seeing Pete suddenly racing towards him with two burning sticks in his hand definitely hadn’t been one of them. Pete raced at him swinging the brands for all he was worth and shouting like a madman, which Jim was quite sure he was at the moment, at the top of his lungs. Jim was quite sure he was going to die any minute.

  Pete was waving fiery arcs all over the place, at times coming close enough to hitting himself that Jim thought he was about to see another friend die. His friend looked like he would most likely set himself on fire long before he ever reached Jim. Wanting to avoid either scenario Jim hastily stepped back and called out to Pete hoping he could snap his friend out of whatever demented nightmare he might be caught in.