May The Brave Stand Tall

The shop isn’t even that big, but by the drag of Luz’s feet, one would think the aisle was miles long. Stepping away from the Sci-Fi section and back to that daunting corner where the dim glow shines onto the dust bunnies' descent to the shelves. Pet Sematary in bold lettering on display with a “most recommended” white slip underneath it.

Luz, on principle, generally doesn't read horror. But it was proving difficult to ignore the book beside it. Even at first glance, the man in the woods in the cover art was an almost replica of what had been haunting her at night. From what he was wearing to the beady eyes and eerie smile. It was enough to send her scurrying away the first time. Yet, there she was reaching for it.

Her father is always talking about how she needs to face her fears. What better way to start than by reading about them? Still, she had half expected her roommate to jump out from behind with a “GOTCHA” and eventually a “sorry” for what she hoped was just an ill-made prank. Sadly enough she knows there is no potential jumpscare waiting to happen.

There was no use overthinking it anyway. The longer she stood there with it in her hands the less determined she was to buy it, so she tightened her hold on the novel ever so slightly and stiffly walked up to where the old owner had borne witness to her struggle ever since she walked in after seeing the “New & Used Books Bought and Sold” sign on the shop window.

“All done?” the owner asks as she approaches.

“Yeah, how has your day been ma’am?” she responds.

“Oh, it's been just fine. Just this one?”

“Yes please.”

“Just got this one in, but I hear it’s a good read. Came with a sequel too.”

“Is it any good?”

“Haven't read it, but my grandson finished it in bout a day.”

“Well if it's any good I’ll come back for the second one another day.”

“I’ll save it just for you little lady. Just gotta pry it outta that boy's hands,” the owner snorts, “he’s been readin' it all day. You just missed him. Left bout an hour ago. Bet he’ll finish it by tonight too.”

“Oh wow, I don’t think I can finish it that quickly.”

“Well, I can’t. Can barely see such small lettering. I’ll hold onto it though. Know it’s waitin' for you here dear.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Of course. It’ll be 6.99. Cash or card?”

“Card.”

“Would you like your receipt?”

“Yes, please.”

“You have a nice night dear and be safe out there!”

“Thank you. You as well ma’am.”

Luz stuffs the book into her backpack, wraps her scarf tight, zips her jacket up, and with the chime of a bell slips out of the quaint shop only to be met with an onslaught of a small flurry of snow to the face. Its cold touch only encouraged her to walk faster to advance before it started sticking.

A sixteen-minute walk and a short bus ride later brings Luz back onto campus. Whereupon her arrival is the setting of the sun. Friday nights on campus are usually bustling with loud students, but with all the snow warnings many of them had returned home for the weekend. Making the walk back to her dorm an uncomfortably wet, but quiet one.

Before she opened the door, Luz knew her room would be just as blissfully quiet without her roommate there. With it being so cold out it doesn’t take her long to warm herself up with a shower and she, in no time, is dressed in cozy pajamas snuggling into bed with the book. “More, please.” the title read. Time passes in a blur as she follows the tale of a carnivorous man with an endless appetite and a desire to eat everything in his path.

At the stroke of midnight, Luz finds herself steadily losing motivation near the finale and decidedly drops the novel onto her nightstand before scooting to the other far end of the bed as much as possible. That is how she falls asleep.

After what felt like twenty minutes later she gets the unmistakable sensation of another bout of night terrors. With stone-heavy limbs and a closed-up throat; she sluggishly pries her eyes open. There, looming at the end of the bed, is the familiar godforsaken man who has been haunting her at night. Those same beady eyes trained right on her as he raised his arm in a wide arc, the glint of moonshine on metal making her heart pace faster.

Right as he swings down she feels that horrible weight lift off her. The sudden release of her limbs was a cause for reaction. On instinct, she rolls off the bed and away from where the pillow has just suffered sudden death by stabbing. Not willing to chance it, she books it and rips the door open. But instead of facing the fluorescent-lit brick halls, she is met with the sight of forestry. The sudden pause of surprise from the change in scenery proves itself deadly as a push sends her tumbling off the porch with a yell at what appears to be the house she just exited.

The rough landing shocks her, but the damp soil under her palms and the light midsummer breeze are what really rattles her. Before she can begin to contemplate the where and the why of the situation; a forceful yank on her braid brings her face to face with the beady-eyed man as he slowly brings his hand up to her face. Luz holds her breath as he briefly brandishes the knife as if to say, should I? Until he unceremoniously tosses it beside them. Then lightly grazes her face with that hand’s fingertips.

“Pretty,” he breathes into her throat.

Luz whimpers but all he does is briefly tighten his hold on her hair. Still, all she can do is tremble. Even when she feels his teeth nip at her neck. Less so when the hand caressing her face makes its way to her arm. She’s dizzyingly compliant as she watches through the haze as he raises her forearm to his mouth. Placing a gentle kiss on her forearm. Then just as slow, sinks his teeth in and moans around his mouthful.

For a moment, everything is still. Until a shriek rings through the air faster than he rips his teeth out. Taking a small chunk of meat with him. She knows it should hurt, but she has receded to the innermost corner of her mind. From that distance, she hears footsteps fastly advancing, and just as the beady-eyed man drops his hold on her – he is tackled down. A mysterious man landed atop him and swiftly brought a rock down onto the beady-eyes man’s head in two solid thumps.

As quickly as the mysterious man had dealt with the situation he was grasping at her shoulders. Saying, “We have to move. We have to go.”

A wailing is heard.

“Come on. We have to m-move. I promise I won’t hurt you,” he continues.

The wailing steadily gets closer.

“I know you're scared, but you need to s-s-snap out of it. I promise you can trust me. My name’s J-j-jay. We’re in lit t-toget…”. Jay’s voice fades out as a woman with black eyes kneels beside the beady-eyed man’s figure.

The woman is still wailing.

“C-c-come on, please snap out of it. Please. I can’t l-leave you here. Pl-please.” Jay pleads as he shakes her.

Behind Jay’s figure, Luz sees the beady-eyed man stir. The hallow woman still uncontrollably crying beside him. Her black hole-like eyes gushed tears of blood onto her palms. And not too many feet away from Luz is the discarded butcher knife.

“Luz!” Jay shouts.

Finally, Luz’s eyes land on Jay’s shoulder where his white tee is splattered with red. But she focuses on the leaking bite indentation where his neck meets his shoulder. Feels the trembling in his hands as he shakes her again. Turns her face upwards and meets petrified eyes. For a moment, Jay’s face morphs into her father's. And just like that the spell is broken.

“Okay,” Luz breathes, “We have to go.”

“Yes. Y-yes. We need to run,” Jay responds.

Behind him, the beady-eyed man is pushing himself onto all fours. A trickle of blood dripped onto the soil.

“No,” Luz says.

“No?” Jay exclaims.

“We’re not running.” Luz eyes Jay. “I’m done running.”

Jay makes a sound of confusion. But Luz has already shrugged his hands off her shoulders. Eyes locked on the prize a few feet away. And with a burst of anger. She moves.