"Hey!" said Lilly.
"Yeah, sprout?" said Park.
"You should have hit him in the nuts more."
"Maybe next time."
Angie shut the door, checking one more time. Everyone was there. Dalton stood in the corner with some of the younger children. Carly stood at one end of the room, clutching her clipboard.
Then a gun cocked.
Dr. Graham stepped from the kitchen. Holding a pistol, trained at Angie.
Sharon and her flock moved through the woods. She stepped softly across the snow, her bare feet leaving light footprints in her wake. Her flock was behind her, talking excitedly amongst themselves. Some of what they said was discernible. Some was devolving into gibberish.
"Soon, soon," said one.
"We will make them all feel this freedom, this blood!" said another, a naked old man who had ripped out hunks of his own hair. Blood coated his chest, dried in the pattern left when he had smeared it in ecstasy.
"Blood cold! Blood hot!" said a third.
And a fourth just grunted incoherently.
The mob of corpses surrounded Sharon and her flock. They staggered through the woods, their frozen rotten bodies dragging against trees and tearing off hunks of frozen flesh. They kept going. They were far too many to count. They were everywhere.
And they kept coming. One by one, corpses would stagger in from among the trees and join the group. Animals were coming too, falling in line with the others and walking along. Bears and bobcats and deer. Boars and elk and panthers. And a host of others, too small to register. All fell in line with the group as Sharon reached out to every animal and corpse nearby.
Yet around Sharon and her flock, a wide space stayed clear as they all moved along.
"You see?" said Sharon. "You are protected by me."
"Protected teeth!" said one. "Protection of knives and sinew!"
"They will all know freedom!" yelled a woman in the back, her young bare breasts smeared with blood and shit and semen. "The freedom of pain and fuck rot!"
They all grunted with contented approval. They, Sharon and the mob, moved along through the trees. Slower than Sharon would have liked, but it was the straightest line. Through the woods, over that old man's house, then back through the woods. It would have taken longer to go around.
Sharon thought maybe she should have let her corpses have their way with the house. It took time to crash through it and kill the old man inside. But her flock had enjoyed the show. It gave them inspiration for what was to come. And she had seen the one called Angela go to the old man’s house several times. If she had known who she was at the time, what she was hiding….
But there was no point thinking about it now. She had her army and she knew where and how to destroy Beulah’s plans. And if the old man had been an ally of the woman guarding the children, then it was best that he was dead.
The slow pace of the corpses was almost unbearable. At this rate, they wouldn't reach the town until the following morning. Her human flock would require food and sleep. She hated them for it, but it was necessary.
"Soon, my flock," said Sharon, answering their unspoken longing. "Soon we will have the children. Then we will take them from their hiding place and kill them slowly, one at a time. You'll like that, won't you?"
The flock grunted and moaned in joy. A middle aged man groaned right behind Sharon. She turned her head to look at him as she walked. His shirt was in tatters and his pants completely gone. He was stroking his large erect penis as he walked. He stroked faster and faster.
He moaned again. "When we get the children, can we fuck them?" Faster and faster, he pulled at his cock.
"Of course you can," said Sharon, smiling at him. The man moaned loudly as semen shot out across the snow in front of him.
Sharon turned back and they all kept walking.
She smiled bigger. "We will make the world chaos again."
* * *
Angie looked at the gun, then back at Dr. Graham. He stepped further into the room, keeping the gun trained on Angie.
"Doctor?" said Angie, trying to keep her voice calm so as to not scare the children. She knew it wasn't working.
"I'm sorry it's come to this," said Dr. Graham, looking like he was struggling to keep the gun steady. Like he was struggling to keep his resolve steady. "I tried, I really did."
"What are you talking about?" said Angie, walking in a short circle, hoping Dr. Graham would follow her with the gun. He did. Angie stopped when there were no children behind her.
Dr. Graham looked frustrated, like he couldn't believe Angie didn't understand what was happening. "Sneaking around at night, opening holes in the walls. All those people killed, just to get rid of you!"
Park positioned himself behind Dr. Graham. He nodded at Angie, then set his gaze on Dr. Graham's gun. "That wasn't Elton?"
Dr. Graham gave a little start, looking behind himself. When his head was turned, Angie took a step toward Dr. Graham and he snapped his head back to face her. She stopped.
Dr. Graham swallowed. "No," he said, the gun starting to shake, "Elton's not a traitor. He's just an asshole."
Park took a step toward Dr. Graham's back. Dr. Graham looked back and he stopped. Angie took a step toward him. Dr. Graham looked back to her. Angie stopped.
"Stop that!"
"Okay, okay," said Angie. "Will do."
"So," said Park, "What was that you were saying about being a traitor?"
"Oh yeah," said Angie, leaning forward on her cane. "How about that?"
"I had to!" yelled Dr. Graham. "She told me I'd get all the subjects I needed. She told me I'd get all the equipment I needed!"
"Who?" said Angie, frowning but thinking she knew the answer.
"She told me I could save the world! She told me I'd be a hero! A savior!"
"Who?" said Park, taking a step toward Dr. Graham.
Dr. Graham seemed to no longer notice Park. He seemed to no longer notice the gun in his own hand. "The woman in my dreams. She had dark hair and piercing eyes."
"Named Beulah?" said Angie, trying to keep her voice soft and soothing. She took a small step forward. She was close now, almost close enough to grab the gun.
"I..." said Dr. Graham, looking confused. The gun shook violently. "I think so..."
Park stepped up behind him. Both he and Angie were close now. Their eyes met and they nodded to each other.
"Beulah..." said Dr. Graham, looking completely lost. Angie prepared to move.
"Mother fucker!" yelled Dalton. He slammed in from the side, ramming his shoulder into Dr. Graham. Dr. Graham cried out and fell into a dresser. The gun flew from his hand and skittered across the floor.
Angie hurried to the gun as fast as she could on her cane. Dalton grabbed Dr. Graham by the shirt and pulled him off the dresser. He punched him across the mouth as Angie grabbed the gun and stood. She turned to face Dalton and Dr. Graham. She took a step forward to stop Dalton. Park shook his head and held up a hand. Angie stopped, watching.
"I trusted you!" yelled Dalton, punching Dr. Graham again and again. "We all trusted you! All that fucking testing! All that fucking blood!"
"I'm....I'm sorry!" said Dr. Graham, sputtering through the blood pooling in his nose and mouth.
"Shut up!" yelled Dalton, punching him again. "Shut the fuck up!"
"Dalton..." said Angie quietly. "I think...."
"No!" yelled Dalton, not looking away from Dr. Graham. He punched him again, hard across the jaw. Dr. Graham's head slammed sideways into the dresser. He groaned. "Shut up!"
"Dalton!"
"Not yet!" Dalton grabbed Dr. Graham's collar and pulled him off the dresser. He dragged him to the door and flung it open, then dragged Dr. Graham to the porch. Angie, Park and the others followed.
The crowd from before remained. Elton stood with the others, bloody from his fight with Park. They all stopped and looked at Dalton and Dr. Graham.
Dalton yanked him to the edge of the porch. "Tell them!" he yelled, shaking Dr. Graham's collar.
"I..." said Dr. Graham, sputtering blood, "I....can't...."
Dalton shook him hard. "Tell them what you did you piece of shit! Tell them what you pinned on my fucking mom!"
The crowd stepped closer, listening.
"I..." said Dr. Graham, then fell into coughing.
"Tell them!" yelled Dalton, shaking him roughly.
"I...it was me," said Dr. Graham.
Some people in the crowd were frowning. The ones who'd figured it out looked angry.
"I opened up the walls," Dr. Graham continued. "I let those things inside. It wasn't Angie's fault. It wasn't Maylee's fault. It was mine."
Dalton let him go and he slumped down onto the porch, shaking his head. "It was mine..."
Dalton stepped back, looking shaken. He looked at Park and Angie. He was starting to look like a young boy again. The rage was fading.
The rage of the crowd was not. Frowns grew deeper, glares grew stronger. A few of them stepped forward, toward the porch. Dr. Graham remained slumped in place, looking resigned. Angie debated what she should do. Her first and strongest instinct was to let the crowd have him.
A sound came from one side, distracting them all from Dr. Graham. Angie and the others looked to see the gates swinging open.
Maylee staggered in from outside. She looked winded and somewhat battered, but okay. Angie's heart leapt to see it.
"Maylee...." she started, taking an unsteady step across the porch.
Maylee had her mouth open to speak. She closed it, looking around at what had transpired. "What'd I miss?" Then she shook her head. "Never mind. We gotta get our shit together. Now."
* * *
Beulah stood at the crest of a hill, hiding among a thick copse of trees. In the valley below, Sharon's army moved slowly through the woods. Sharon stood at the center, looking serene with the joy of what she had built. Her flock moved along behind her, grinning and jerking off in the wind, the crowd of corpses and animals surrounding them.
Beulah knew time was short. The worldwide ceremony was almost ready. Her outposts were moving into position, following timetables she had laid out for them years ago. They were surrounding the children, preparing for the moment. Preparing for the sacrifice.
Yes, time was running out. Beulah could feel it. If she closed her eyes and reached out to her outposts, she could see it. If much more time passed, she'd have to hold them back. All of them at once. It would require a considerable amount of power, weakening her if Sharon tried anything.
Anything like what she was apparently trying now.
She sighed as she watched the mob move past, oblivious to her. She wondered if Sharon could sense her. She should have been able to. Then Beulah realized Sharon was expending a large amount of energy controlling the army she'd made. Every corpse, every animal, was being held in check by Sharon's will, which meant Sharon was weakened herself.
Beulah wondered what good this information would do. She could sense that the doctor had failed her. He'd been caught and disgraced. Park had betrayed her, despite her careful plans to make him agreeable. Even the wild card, Elton, had failed. She knew she'd have to intervene herself. She'd have to take action on her own. She didn't like it. She didn't like breaking a plan she’d set up. It was crude and inelegant, but sometimes things had to be done.
She watched Sharon and company for a few more seconds, then turned to head into the woods.
* * *
An uneasy peace had settled over the house. The children were sleeping as best they could in the living room. Park was on the porch, keeping guard. Angie, Maylee and Dalton were in the kitchen. Maylee stood in the corner, leaning against the sink. Dalton sat in the chair. Angie stood between them, leaning on her cane.
"I'm sorry, Maylee," said Angie. "I didn't mean it. I didn't think it. I was being cold and mean and I am sorry."
"Mom, I...."
Angie could tell she wasn't getting it. She dropped her cane and stepped over to her. She grabbed Maylee's face in both hands. She ignored the howling pain in her ankle and forced Maylee to look her in the eyes.
"No," said Angie. "You listen to me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for snapping at you and making you ever,
ever
think I don't love you and accept you for who you are."
"Mom, stop," said Maylee, looking away. Her eyes were damp.
Angie kept looking her in the eyes. "I want you to know I love you and I don't care whether you're gay or not. I just want you to be happy."
"Okay, okay," said Maylee, quietly.
"Okay?" said Angie
"Okay," said Maylee, louder now.
Angie let go of Maylee's face. Maylee wiped her eyes. Angie grabbed her and hugged her tight. Maylee hugged her back.
Dalton sat quietly at the table, watching all of this. A few seconds of silence passed before he spoke.
"So," he said, his voice breaking the silence that hung in the room, "Maylee
is
a lesbian?"
Maylee chuckled, wiping her eyes again. "Yes, Dalton, yes. Jesus."
"Called it."
Angie moved to the table and sat. Maylee sat in the third chair. They all looked at each other.
"Well look at us," said Angie. "Back around the dinner table like old times."
Maylee and Dalton chuckled. Angie smiled and sat in silence for a second, soaking the moment in.
"But," she said, "I suppose we have preparations to make. You know it's dangerous, right?"
"Yep," said Maylee.
"Think I'm doing the right thing?"
They both nodded.
Angie grabbed a salt shaker and placed it in the center of the table. “The kids will be here, at the center of town, as far away from Beulah as possible.” She moved the pepper and other table decorations into position along the rim of the table. “The rest of us will be along the walls, keeping the corpses, animals, and crazy bitches out.”