The Haunts

As the Imp’s poison dulled his mind, Levy found himself back in a park near his place on the swings all by himself. He didn’t think of anything in particular, he was just relaxed and enjoying the moment alone smoking the last of his joint. Kids in the distance played as the sun slowly descended behind the forest park trees. The night wasn’t far off, and the wind felt warm and dispersed the smoke that issued from his lips. It wasn’t a good day or a bad one; it was just another day passing into night. He felt solemn and calm, without reason for alarm. Levy wasn’t dressed up; he just wore a ratty old T-shirt and faded black jeans with his hair slicked back with hair gel.

“I figured you’d be here,” Sheryl came up from behind, took the swing next to him and gave him a sad little smile. She was wearing a flashy pair of oval sunglasses with a white frame and tinted black lens so that you couldn’t see her eyes. She looked pretty enough, but she wasn’t dressed up or wearing anything special. Her round pale face fought to convey a calm demeanor.

“I haven’t seen you without makeup on for like forever.”

Sheryl shrugged, “sometimes you have to give your pores a break. Besides, I was starting to get a lot of acne from wearing too much foundation on it.” She said with sincerity, then feigned a thin smile.

“That’s never stopped you before,” Levy held his chin up and then blew smoke out of his nose before he took the rolled joint and gave it over to Sheryl for a toot.

Sheryl took a drag then held the joint out in front with admiration. “You know the native Indians used to believe that smoking was a spiritual thing?”

“It just relaxes me,” Levy waited until she was done philosophizing, then gestured for her to give it back. “Also smoking helps keeps me thin.”

“My father says that’s all bullshit,” She exhaled.

“Did you ever ask him if he has ever smoked a joint?”

Sheryl laughed at that. “Now that would be something to see, him being a cop and all.”

“I’ll take that as a no then.”

“Why do you always come out here to the swings in the park at night?”

“It was one of the first places we came to meet after school. Besides, this place always seems to calm me after a day of insanity.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Sheryl smiled as she held herself.

“When the world is getting you down, you make the best of what’s still around,” Levy sang and then bent forwards to give her a wink.

“I love the Police,” Sheryl added wistfully. “They were part of my mom’s record collection.”

“I know. You brought their albums over once and played them on my Mom’s old record player. We even danced to them, remember?”

Sheryl’s smile waned as she turned away.

Levy squinted at her reaction and then looked away.

“We're still thinking about college or university again, are we? Don’t worry. I’m not planning to go anywhere. I mean, I might have to move somewhere else in the city or apply to attend a lesser trade college in the area, but we could still hang out on occasion, right?”

“Honestly, I don’t think any of that matters anymore, Levy.” She looked at him with a hint of sadness in her tone.

“What do you mean? Aren’t you planning to go away after graduation? Don’t tell me you got a scholarship in another country. But if you do promise me, it’s at least in Japan. If you can make it there,

“It’s nothing like that,” She started to play with her hair, curling it around with her finger until it spooled around it—a definite sign something was amiss.

“What is it?”

Sheryl looked away. “Did you ever love me?”

“What kind of question is that? We’ve known each other for years. Of course, I love you; you’re like my best buddy, my pal. You might even be my only real friend.”

“But you’ve never once tried to make a move on me or to cop a feel.” She looked down at her shoes and said, "You’ve never even kissed me.”

“What the Hell are you talking about?” Levy was unsure of where this was all going. “I’ve kissed you many times!”

“But not like this,” she turned to Levy, pulled him closer, and then gave him an open-mouthed kiss. Her tongue darted into his mouth, and he pulled back, aghast.

“What was that all about? Why did you do it?”

She turned away, saddened by his reaction. “Why do the young always think that they have all the time in the world? That they could do anything and everything they want?”

Levy thought for a while before he spoke. “Nanna used to say that most teenagers lack responsibility and accountability for their behaviour, all because they lack the maturity to deal with the consequences of their actions. So, I suppose it’s much too easy for us to be shortsighted about what’s to come. It’s like dealing with death; we never consider that it could ever happen to us—that it will happen to someone else. It only hits home until you start to see that we’re not as invincible as we think we are.”

“Like when you’re nanna died,” Sheryl added. “You grew more withdrawn. I can see now why.”

“I guess I did.” Levy moved back and forth on the swing, pushed by his feet. “I knew she was dying, but to see it happen with my own eyes, it affected me profoundly. It made me see the world differently. It was like suddenly, I saw this hourglass in my head, and every grain of falling sand was a moment I was either wasting or trying to contain. I felt even more vulnerable and helpless, and I’m utterly mortified of what’s to come.”

“So you would say that Cailleach Bhéarach had something to do with the death of your nanna?”

Levy made a face. “I never mentioned Cailleach Bhéarach once to you. How could you?

Levy’s face went blank. “Oh no, don’t say it’s true.”

“She came for me through the open window late last night. I tried to resist, but for an old lady, she sure is inhumanly fast and so damn strong. She tossed me around the room like a stuffed toy. I think she broke my right arm, shattered my left knee, and broke a few ribs. After she shoved my head into the dresser mirror, I saw that my head was a bloodied mess. I tried desperately to escape her wraith. So I limped my way to the stairs to make my escape down to the front door when she grabbed me by the back of the neck and snapped it like a twig. Now I’m here, talking with you. Father wasn’t home at the time, and even if he were, I doubt that even he could’ve prevented it. Levy, she’s so full of anger and has such incredible power.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t just a nightmare?” Levy reached out, grabbed her hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You’re here with me now. Maybe it was just a forewarning? You know, like a premonition of what would happen?” He fought to keep from crying, but a single tear escaped his guard.

“Oh no, Levy, I’m quite dead. That much I’m certain.”

“So that means...” Levy baulked and placed his hand over his mouth. “Where I am is...”

“You’re not dead yet, silly,” she laughed. “But I am, and I came here to warn you about her.” Sheryl then removed her glasses and showed Levy that she had no eyes. Just hollow sockets with black veins stretching outward. Her lips grew cracked and dry, with a paler shade of red. Her hair was a mess and full of dried blood. His skin looked bruised in places and pale as bone. When she spoke again, it sounded hollow and lost, like she was talking from within a well or a deep chasm.

“You’re still trapped in the Haunts, and we’re conversing through a dream, a deep one.”

“But why would she take you?” he started crying, “When she wants me? She should’ve just come for me!” He started to pound his chest in helpless anger.

“She wants that gift she gave to your relatives for worshipping her many centuries ago. You’re the last of the line to carry it, and she will do anything to reclaim it.”

“I don’t even have a clue as to what it is that she wants or who would give it to her. It just doesn’t make sense. None of this makes any damn sense.” Levy stood to emphasize what he was roaring.

“Maybe so, but all I know is that she wants it back, or everyone you know and love will suffer for it.”

“Then she’ll never get it at this rate.” His thoughts went to his mother, and then his father, and then... there was no one else except maybe his uncle.

“Maybe not,” Sheryl started to fade away, “after all, you are close to dying alone and forgotten in the Haunts.”

“Then, if there is an afterlife, we could still be together,” Levy blurted out. “And at least she’ll never get that power she so desperately seeks.”

Sheryl sadly spoke as she disappeared: “If ever there was a chance of an afterlife, either way, we’ll never get to see each other again. I’m afraid she has other plans for my soul. Goodbye, my friend; I’ve always loved you.”

“Please don’t go.” Levy cried. “I need you to stay with me. Please don’t leave me here all alone.”

Levy tried to get to her before she vanished. His hands went through her as he broke into a crying fit. His knees buckled out from under him, squeezing his eyes shut and screaming. His voice sounded muffled, the dream around him faded, and reality set in. Conscious of his new whereabouts, he opened his eyes in horror, and all he saw was darkness and felt a wet heat like he was trapped in a confined space with little or no ventilation. He tried to speak, but it sounded weird, like he was stuck in a box or a container of some kind. Any effort to move was exhausting, for he felt both starved and dehydrated. Any attempt to protest he made felt useless and unreal. He wanted to cry out for help, but all he could manage was a loud cry.

Then, unexpectedly, above the unmistakable sound of wet suckling, there came a faint but persistent rapping and the muffled sound of his name being repeatedly called over and over again.

“I’m here,” Levy hoarsely tried to cry out. “I’m still alive.” He uncontrollably began to laugh, and then he wept.