“It’s nothing really. She started talking about flies.”
“Oh God.” I drag my hands through my hair.
“She’s better now, but I should get her home. Clay, do you hear me?” She squeezes my shoulder. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
“You don’t understand … Jimmy,” I say, my eyes veering back toward the Preservation Society. “Something happened to him back there. Something evil. His eyes turned black. He said something about being chosen. And something about the seed.”
She grasps my trembling hands. “I hate to even ask, but did you get what we came for?”
“Yeah, here…” I push the top of the cross to stop recording and take it off. “I got all the marks, but you might see some things you … well, things you shouldn’t—”
“The marks are the only thing we’re interested in. Don’t worry. I’ll delete the rest.”
I can’t believe how dirty I feel. I can’t believe I got caught up in all this. If I’d left right after the poker game, none of this would’ve happened.
“Because of you we might be able to save them in time. Save the whole town … the world.”
“You better hurry,” I say as I dig my keys out of my pocket. “Because if Satan doesn’t kill Jimmy Doogan—I might have to.”
25
I NEED a beer … or twelve.
Quick Trip is too risky this time of night. Dale’s probably staking the place out and the last thing I want to do is rehash tonight’s events with him. Merritt’s is still open, and nobody decent hangs out there anymore.
As I pull up, I notice a beat-up ten-speed out front. I think it belongs to that girl in Jess’s class. She’s always hanging around here, chatting up the clerk, Nick. He must be pushing thirty by now … no good reason to be hanging out with a thirteen-year-old.
The broken bell on the door clatters when I walk in. The girl’s sitting on the counter, dangling her legs over the side, her beat-up sneakers skimming the candy bars.
Nick’s wearing a tank top, probably just so he can show off those stupid sailor tattoos. Doubt he’s ever even seen the ocean.
I grab a six-pack of Shiner from the cooler and bring it up front.
“Aren’t you in my little sister’s class?” I ask the girl.
“Yeah. Jess, right?”
I look from her to Nick and back again. “Isn’t it a little late for you to be out on your bike?”
“No worries, my man. I’ll drop her home.” Nick winks at her as he rings me up.
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”
“Okay, Dad.” He gives me a sarcastic salute and the girl laughs.
I slap a ten down on the counter and walk out. This town. I swear. No wonder the Devil picked Midland. We’re already halfway to hell.
As I cross the lot, I see Lee Wiggins standing beside my truck holding a two-by-four.
I burst out laughing, beer dribbling down my chin. I wipe my mouth with my sleeve. “Believe me … you don’t want to mess with me tonight, Wiggins.”
He slams the plank into my taillight, busting it clean out.
“You little shit.” I drop the beer and he takes off running into the woods behind Merritt’s.
It’s so dark, there’s a thick mess of clouds covering up the moon and the stars. I’m weaving in and out of the pines, straining to hear him moving through the brush, but I can’t hear a thing over my heaving breathing.
“I’m done playing games with you,” I holler.
“Too bad, ’cause I’m just getting started with you,” a low voice says behind me.
Before I can turn, something smacks me in the back of my head. I stagger forward a few steps, like a bear that’s been hit with a tranquilizer gun.
Warmth oozes down my neck. I’m so dizzy I can hardly get my bearings, but my body refuses to go down. I twist around to see Lee standing there with the two-by-four, that sick smile stretched across his scorched skin.
“You think you’re better than me. You got the name. You got the looks. But you’re dead wrong. It could be me.”
Dropping to my knees, I tip over backward, my sticky head resting in the debris. My eyes are wide open, but everything’s gone hazy.
“Poor Clay,” I hear Noodle say.
“He’s not dead, is he?” Jess’s voice hovers over me.
Even though I know I’m slipping into unconsciousness, I want to call after them, plead with them to help me, but my lungs won’t work. Darkness creeps over me like a lead coffin.