Part 16 (2/2)

”Just keep walking,” Deem said.

After several more minutes they came upon a shaft going down.

”Do we have to go down there?” Winn asked.

”I don't know,” Awan said. ”The adit we're in continues on, so I think we'll just keep going on this level.”

”What's that smell?” Deem asked, peering over the shaft.

”I'm guessing bat guano,” Awan said. ”Let's hope they're all down there and not up ahead.”

They carefully walked around the shaft opening and continued down the adit for another five minutes. The shaft widened out into an area about twenty feet across. There was no exit. They'd reached the end.

”Alright,” Awan said. ”This is where my grandfather's journal said to go. I'm going to drop into the River. You're welcome to join me, or not, up to you.”

Awan sat on the ground cross legged and closed his eyes.

Winn looked at Deem. ”You going in?” he asked her.

”Yeah,” Deem said. ”Walked all the way in here, might as well.”

”Alright,” Winn said, joining Awan on the floor. ”Me too.”

Inside the flow, Deem immediately noticed four graves against a far wall.

Help us! she heard behind her, and she turned. Nothing was there.

Did you hear that? Winn asked.

The ghosts are here, she thought.

Three figures slowly appeared over the graves. They were bound at their hands and feet, and there were blood-stained burlap bags over their heads. A light mist swirled around the figures. Deem felt a chill go down her spine.

Awan stood and walked to the apparitions. He removed the bag from one of them. Underneath was the frightened face of a woman, her eyes wide. As he looked down on her, he knew something was wrong with her face. She looked up at him, and Awan saw that her lower jaw was missing.

Awan removed the other two burlap bags. One uncovered a man in his mid-thirties with a short beard. The other was a young boy, about ten. The boy was trembling.

Help us, mister! the boy said. He's coming!

Who's coming? Awan asked.

Him! the boy wailed.

John Sorensen, said the man tied up next to the boy. He owns this mine.

Is this your wife and son? Awan asked, pointing to the other two.

Yes, the man said. Please help us!

Where is her jaw? Awan asked, pointing to the woman.

Sorensen removed it, the man said. She screamed too much.

What do we have here? came a low voice from behind them. They turned, and a large man dressed in old dusty clothes walked into the area from the adit. Visitors? the man said to Awan. Come for a taste?

The man walked past them and pulled the woman to her feet.

Leave her alone! the woman's husband shouted.

This is Sorensen? Awan asked the man on the ground.

That's him, the monster, came the reply.

Who wants to know? Sorensen asked, forcing the woman to bend at the waist. The boy began to cry hysterically.

Deem was about to ask Sorensen what he intended to do to the woman, when Sorensen raised the woman's dress and threw it over her back, exposing her backside and legs. He pulled down her underwear, exposing her flesh. Then he moved his head toward her. The woman thrashed, trying to break the bonds that held her, but she was no match for the much larger Sorensen. When he pulled his face away from her, Deem recoiled in horror. Sorensen had taken a bite of her, just below her b.u.t.tocks on the right leg. The wound was bleeding, and Sorensen turned to face them, his mouth full of the woman's flesh. He chewed, staring at Awan, blood running down his chin.

Jesus Christ, Winn said, turning away.

Sorensen swallowed. Tasty, he said to Awan. The thigh is my favorite.

He eats you? Awan asked the man on the ground.

We're his neighbors, the man said. We've been fighting with him about water rights. He settled it by kidnapping us at gunpoint last night, and brought us into his mine. Then he eats us, alive. Buried us where I'm sitting.

The only thing around these parts worse than being a horse thief, Sorensen said to the man, is being a water thief. You stole my water, you sonofab.i.t.c.h. So now I'm getting what's mine in return. In blood.

Sorensen took another bite from the woman, enlarging the hole he'd already created. Then he stood and removed a leather canteen from his jacket. He opened the canteen and held it at the boy's mouth, forcing him to drink. The boy wrapped his lips around the canteen's spigot and drank hungrily.

This one's getting nothing but milk until I eat him, Sorensen said. It'll soften him up even more.

You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! the man on the ground shouted. You'll rot in h.e.l.l for this!

They've been doing this for a hundred and forty years? Deem asked Awan.

Looks like it, Awan answered. Behind them, Sorensen returned to the woman and took a bite from her calf, pulling flesh and tendons.

Do we stop him? Winn asked.

I'm just after the ghost matter, Awan said to Winn. This is going to be pretty distasteful, but I've got to keep focused on the goal here. So don't freak out over what I'm about to do. Remember, these people are long dead.

Awan turned to Sorensen. How much for a bite? Just one?

Sorensen looked up at Awan and smiled. A kindred spirit! Hungry, are ya? There's plenty to go around, just so long as you never tell. I get the woman and boy, you can have the man.

Awan looked back at Deem and Winn. Deem, realizing what Awan was about to do, turned to look away.

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