The Wall People Read online

  Rusted paint appeared worn and cracked on the old antique. Underneath the chipped, peeling surface was an image of a log cabin in the woods. A tall, dark figure stood outside the window in the back of the home. Without warning, it began to move. Long outstretched arms reached toward the window. It continued to strike at the glass with its long claws. Katie could not tear her eyes away. The creature slowly turned its face until it looked directly at her. Its mouth turned up in a leering grin. Sharp, needle-like teeth emerged inside its gaping mouth. It moved and twisted along with the notes of the strange sounding music. As she strained to listen, she could hear the creature singing:

  “Every night when I get home

  The monkey’s on the table, Take a stick and knock it off,

  Pop! Goes the weasel.”

  Dark rust poured forth from the demon’s eyes and ran down the side of the box. Bennie stopped cranking the handle of the strange toy. The metallic music came to an abrupt stop. He turned to face her, gripping the old antique in his hand. Without warning, a sharp popping burst from the tin box. The lid sprang open along with a terrifying growl. A moldy teddy bear emerged from the container. Its one remaining eye glowed crimson red. Its stitched smile pulled apart with a tearing sound revealing a full set of razor sharp fangs. Once freed, its mouth began to open and close. Gore and decay spilled forth from its gaping jaws. The putrid aroma filled the room. Maggots began to emerge and crawl loose from the bear’s moth-eaten fur. Their swollen bodies fell onto the floor in pulsing heaps. Suddenly the boy awakened from his trance. He took Katie by the hand and screamed, “Run, Katie, Run!”

  She immediately took the boy in her arms and ran for the bedroom door. The moment they reached the entrance, the room became dim and out of focus. They found themselves surrounded within a dense and heavy fog. To her horror, she felt Bennie’s arms begin to slip from her neck. The child’s small form slowly vanished into the mist. The room went pitch black and she heard the child’s voice in the distance.

  “Get out of your house, Katie! The monster is coming. Run!!!!!”

  CHAPTER 29

  Katie suddenly found herself sitting on the end of her bed disoriented and bewildered. The sound of loud, piercing beeping filled the interior of the house. It was joined with the storm raging outside her cabin. The wind and rain pounded violently against the wall of her bedroom. She realized that her security system alarm had been set off. She groggily left her bed, her head still reeling from her nightmare, to find out why the alarm had been triggered. An icy gust of wind blasted the side of her face as she stood up. She turned to her right and realized that the large bedroom window had shattered. Glass shards glowed in the bright moonlight. Her heart pounded in her chest as she frantically tried to find the light switch. She reached up as her hand touched the wall; a hot burning sensation grazed her skin. She screamed out in terror and pain. Turning abruptly around, she came face to face with James Williams.

  He looked down at her with delight at her shock and confusion. The eyes shining in the moonlight were dark and soulless.

  “Don’t put on the light, my love. It will spoil the mood,” he laughed deeply.

  The nauseating scent of decay and old stale whiskey permeated the room.

  “After all, this is our wedding night.” He grabbed her painfully by both of her arms and pulled her tightly against his chest.

  The proximity of his body was both intimate and horrifying. His touch sent tremors of revulsion and terror. She struggled in vain to release herself from his cruel embrace. The aroma of whiskey was heavy as his grip tightened and he pulled her closer. Underneath the aroma was the unpleasant odor of sulfur. The moonlight faded from the room and she was suddenly falling through time and space. She closed her eyes and prayed Daniel would find her.

  CHAPTER 30

  Daniel stood guard outside Katie’s bedroom window. An eerie calm fell over the woods. The memory of his wedding day surfaced in his mind. Today would have been their anniversary. He watched the forest in silence. The harvest moon appeared like a swollen heart in the night sky. The wind whipped the trees and shook the branches overhead. Rain began to fall. As the storm gathered energy, another noise surfaced. He followed the sound until he reached a large oak tree. Standing in the moonlight was an old woman. She was dressed in black lace. Soft, muffled cries could be heard under her shimmering veil. Her wailing became louder and more urgent. The terrible sound seemed to emanate from her very soul. Daniel walked to her side and gently put a hand on the old woman’s shoulder.

  “What ails you, woman,” he asked. As he withdrew his hand, the veil fell open to reveal a nightmare. Empty, black sockets. A gaping hole where her mouth should have been, a terrible keening erupting from the dark opening. The force of the cries shook the trees. And then there was silence.

  The sound of shattering glass followed. Daniel hurried back to the cabin. The curtains from Katie’s bedroom blew through the shattered window. He rushed into her bedroom, sword in hand, only to find it empty.

  By the time Daniel realized Katie was missing, it was too late. The piercing sound of her alarm system raged inside.

  The stench of whiskey was heavy in the air.

  “No, this can’t be,” he announced angrily to the empty room. “Katie! Where are you?”

  A rush of hot, damp air blew against his face. Pieces of plaster and varnish fell from the blistered ceiling. He closed his eyes as the reality sank in. His greatest fear had come true. Without hesitation, he flew upward, entering the portal. The empty void embraced him. Out of the darkness, a pin of light appeared. It grew larger as he drew closer. Dense fog surrounded him. He was standing on a cliff. Below, an endless trail of people marched along the spiraling path. Their cries carried on the wind. Daniel flew down to the ground, landing on the dry, desert floor.

  A haggard looking man cried out in anguish, “I didn’t mean it. I never meant to hurt her. It was an accident. Just an accident.”

  An elderly man grabbed Daniel’s arm. He looked on pleadingly; his eyes overcome with despair.

  “Have you seen my wife, sir? I can’t seem to find her. Do you know where we are?” he asked.

  Before Daniel could answer, the old man had disappeared back into the mist. A teenage girl stood in his place.

  “Where is my baby brother? I left him alone just for a minute. Where did he go?” she asked in bewilderment.

  Daniel’s heart filled with pity for the lost souls. His wings outstretched before him and he flew back up into the oppressive sky. Looking on, he watched the endless procession descend further into the abyss. He searched for Katie on the trail. There was no sign of her anywhere.

  The sound of thunder erupted above. Hot droplets fell on his skin. The colorful prisms glowed like Christmas lights. They changed to deep scarlet red blinding him with their intensity. Losing his balance, he fell towards the earth. Through space and time, he journeyed for what seemed like an eternity. And then, in an instant, he landed abruptly onto a cold, stone floor. He slowly stood up, straining his eyes in the darkness. He groped blindly, his arms outstretched. Muffled voices whispered behind him. In his confusion, he called out for his beloved:

  “Katie, where are you?”

  And then… a faint answer, “Daniel, I’m inside Dunguaire Castle. I’m trying to find my way to the West Wing. But, I’m lost.”

  But the voice faded way and he found himself once again embraced by dark silence.

  CHAPTER 31

  When she finally opened her eyes, the alarm had stopped; she was no longer in her bedroom. James moved away from her and walked across the room. Her eyes strained to adjust to the candlelight and darkness. Slowly, she looked around and realized she was standing in a great ballroom. A grand, antique fireplace burned earnestly against the back wall. The aroma was not unpleasant. Two Irish Coat of Arms were placed on each side of the fireplace. Above the mantel was an enormous ornate tapestry of a vividly white unicorn standing in a meadow. There was something familiar about the scene
. Several large window alcoves were set deeply in the stone of the old room. The colorful glass took the brunt of the night’s storm. Sheets of rain lashed across the delicately painted images of violets, clover, and roses. She fought a heavy fatigue and confusion trying desperately to make sense of the bizarre situation, despite her overwhelming sense of panic.

  Outside the winds and rains roared --a roll of thunder echoed off in the distance. Bright light exploded within the room. Her eyes slowly adjusted. Pewter candleholders were placed throughout the space. Dramatic, ornate sconces lit up the walls. She walked toward the center of the room. A grand table was covered in white lace. There were two elegant table settings on each end of the long table. Several silver platters of various meats including fowl, venison, and pork filled the space. In the middle of the grand banquet was a silver antique plate. On top was a body of a large boar, head and all. A dark red apple rested inside its grinning mouth. The animal appeared to have been cooked over a spit. The rich aroma smelled pungent. She was not sure what was more horrifying, that there was a spread of dead animals on the table, or the fact that she had been kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night. The thought was so absurd it nearly made her laugh aloud. But she stifled the urge. Out of the darkness, James appeared holding a large bouquet of pink roses. His boots echoed loudly on the stone floors. When he reached Katie, he bowed and held them up to her.

  “For my lady.”

  Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of it all. On the one hand, her captor appeared in human form, which was better than the horrific manifestation from their last meeting. If his demonic appearance showed itself again, she feared that her mind would snap from the insanity of it all. Her survival instincts had been triggered the moment he made himself known in her bedroom. Perhaps she might appease him and keep him from losing his temper. Everything in her wanted just the opposite. She desperately yearned to scream in his face and attack him, though that would only get her so far. She took a deep breath and tried to stifle the anger.

  “Thank you, James. They are beautiful,” she quietly remarked. She took a small curtsy and looked down to the ground.

  Her meekness in attitude seemed to work its magic. James smiled brightly and clapped his hands together like a small boy.

  “Well, Ms. Katie, you finally remembered to call me James. Isn’t that marvelous. This is much more pleasant than our last meeting. I’m afraid we got off on the wrong foot,” he laughed loudly as he seemed to recall the memory. “But then again, young lovers are bound to get into little arguments now and again. Am I right, dear?”

  She stared at him in complete disbelief. It was beyond comprehension that he could trivialize the violence and pain he had inflicted on her past life.

  “It’s been a long time since Ireland, my love. What do you think? Is it everything you imagined?”

  As he said this, Katie’s shock began to loosen its grip and she realized that they were inside Dunguaire Castle. This was the grand ballroom where her wedding reception was to have taken place many years ago. She had visited the castle with her parents as a child. Lady McClain had always been a kind and benevolent hostess during their visits.

  She looked up and took in more details. Old antique ribbons, crepe paper, and white satin bows were decorated throughout the room. The decorations glowed and sparkled in the candlelight.

  “We can finally have our wedding reception like we planned so many years ago,” he grinned gleefully.

  Startled, she looked up at his face. His dark eyes were a mixture of excitement, pain, and absolute insanity.

  “Do you like it, my dear?”

  Katie regained her composure and replied, “Oh yes, it’s very beautiful, James. I like it very much.”

  The words felt obscene on her tongue. Self-preservation and instinct was moving her along.

  “Oh, silly me,” he laughed. “I almost forgot. Here, have a seat, my dear.”

  He walked over to the table and pulled out the old antique chair. Katie gingerly sat down on the velvet cushion.

  “I have a special surprise for you.”

  He moved to the opposite end of the table. He returned holding a large box wrapped in white satin bows, and placed it carefully on her lap. “Open it, my love.”

  His eyes were wide with excitement and anticipation. She looked up and forced herself to smile at him. It was actually painful.

  “Oh, James, you shouldn’t have.”

  With shaking hands, she unwrapped the ribbons and slid the container open. An ivory wedding dress was folded neatly inside. She carefully pulled out the dress. Tears rose in her eyes as she realized that it was the wedding dress her mother had made her.

  “I had it cleaned for you. I’m afraid it was, well, a little dirty from our silly quarrel that day.”

  He reached down and grabbed her right hand and kneeled on the floor. He looked up earnestly.

  “You will be relieved to know, Katie, that I forgive you.”

  Her eyes widened as he spoke.

  “You forgive me?” She asked in complete astonishment.

  “Yes, I have had many years to think it over. Believe me, the years have mellowed me,” he said, once again laughing in his high-pitched tone. “I realize that you were just playing hard to get. I’m afraid that I lost my temper with you. It’s silly really,” he laughed.

  James explained the event as if taking the life of Daniel and her were trivial, bygones. She realized that his grip on reality had been lost long ago.

  “I want you to put the dress on, Katie. I have the dressing area all set up for you.” He pointed to the back of the room.

  A curtained changing room was waiting. She could feel the blood draining from her face as she realized what he was planning.

  “Oh now, don’t you worry. I won’t peek,” he winked at her.

  His flirting sent chills down her spine.

  “There will be time for that later, on our wedding night.” His grin widened, as he appeared to be imagining it. Her stomach cramped in repulsion at the thought.

  “But first you must have some of the wonderful feast I had prepared just for you.”

  He picked up two razor sharp knives and began to sharpen them against each other. A flash of blue light sparked between the blades. The sound echoed within the walls of the castle. Slowly, he cut into the animal’s flank. To her horror, blood began to pour forth in a syrupy river, which pooled around the serving tray. He slid the chunk of flesh onto a polished ceramic dinner plate. He carefully set the dish down in front of her on the table. He smiled happily as he served her. The odor of the poor, deceased animal made her stomach roll.

  “I’m so sorry, James. I’m a vegetarian. I don’t eat meat,” she quietly remarked.

  His eyes narrowed and darkened. “You don’t eat meat? You’ve always been so difficult,” he hissed.

  He rushed over to the roasted pig and violently reached inside its gaping mouth; he freed the crimson apple inside. In doing so, a large chunk of flesh came off along with it. Holding the fruit in his left hand, he used his right hand to grab the animal’s head from its shoulders. He tossed it violently across the room. It skidded against the floor with a greasy thud. He moved wildly over to Katie’s chair and slammed the apple onto her plate.

  “Would this be satisfactory?” he asked angrily.

  She looked down at her apple and was immediately horrified by it. Pieces of bloody meat remained on its shiny surface. A thick tearing sound could be heard underneath its skin. The orb appeared to be pulsing, like a heartbeat. One unbelievably plump larva burst forth burst forth from the glistening skin and fell on the plate. It wiggled violently over the smooth surface. Her body went cold at the realization. Quickly she gathered her wits and tried her best to appease him.

  “James, you must forgive me, you see,” she hesitated, her voice shaking slightly, “I’m a little nervous about our wedding night.”

  She looked up innocently and tried her best to smile. Slowly the anger melt
ed from his face. His eyes took on a softer quality.

  “Oh, of course, my poor thing. Of course you are.”

  He sat down in a chair next to her and moved closer until they were facing one another. Taking her hands in both of his, he patted them gently. They were hot and damp. She tried her best to hide her revulsion.

  “Everything is going to be just fine,” he laughed softly. “In fact, I have just the thing to ease your nerves.”

  He reached inside his vest pocket and retrieved a small, silver flask. The ornate design was familiar. It was the same antique she remembered from her dreams. He took a wine goblet from her place setting and poured a generous portion into her glass. The pungent aroma of whiskey filled her nostrils.

  “Here, my love. Cheers to my lovely bride!”

  He lifted the flask for a toast. She hesitated for just a moment. This man, if that was what he was, fluttered from one emotion to the next. She was unsure of what would set off his temper. The thought of drinking something his lips touched was unsettling, though she dared not risk angering him again.

  “Cheers,” she said quietly.

  She lifted the glass to her lips. The intoxicating aroma was bitter. She sipped the dark liquid. The taste was putrid and warm from resting in his pocket. It rolled down her throat like heavy syrup and burned as it went. Its effect was immediate. Her mind became foggy and her composure was lost. His smile widened as he realized the effect the whiskey was having on her. He stood up suddenly, taking her by the hand.

  “Come, it’s time for you to get dressed.”

  As she rose to her feet, her head swam in confusion. She had to reach for his arm to prevent from falling to the ground. He quickly steadied her by placing his arm around her waist. Together, they walked to the curtained changing area. He made his way back to the table to retrieve the dress. He carried it back to the vanity.