The Barrens & Others by F. Paul Wilson Page B

that had been nibbling at the edges of his consciousness all day.
    "What are you daydreaming about?" Martha said.
    Without thinking, Harrison said, "Annie."
    "Annie who?"
    "My sister."
    Martha put her fork down. "Your sister? Kevin, you don't have a sister."
    "Not any more. But I did."
    Her expression was alarmed now. "Kevin, are you all right? I've known your family for ten years. You mother has never once mentioned–"
    "We don't talk about Annie, Mar. We try not to even think about her. She died when she was five."
    "Oh. I'm sorry."
    "Don't be. Annie was...deformed. Terribly deformed. She never really had a chance."
    *
    Open trunk from inside. Get out. The Detective Harrison's house here. Cold night. Cold feel good. Trunk air make sick, dizzy.
    Light here. Hurry round side of house.
    Darker here. No one see. Look in window. Dark but see good. Two little ones there. Sleeping. Move away. Not want them cry.
    Go more round. The Detective Harrison with lady. Sit table near window. Must be wife. Pretty but not oh-so-beauty. Not have mom-face. Not like ones who die.
    Watch behind tree. Hungry. They not eat food. Talk-talk-talk. Can not hear.
    The Detective Harrison do most talk. Kind face. Kind eyes. Some terrible sad there. Hides. Him understands. Heard in phone voice. Understands. Him one can stop kills.
    Spent day watch the Detective Harrison car. All day watch at police house. Saw him come-go many times. Soon dark, open trunk with claw. Ride with him. Ride long. Wonder what town this?
    The Detective Harrison look this way. Stare like last night. Must not see me! Must not!
    *
    Harrison stopped in mid-sentence and stared out the window as his skin prickled.
    That watched feeling again.
    It was the same as last night. Something was out in the backyard watching them. He strained to see through the wooded darkness outside the window but saw only shadows within shadows.
    But something was there! He could feel it!
    He got up and turned on the outside spotlights, hoping, praying that the backyard would be empty.
    It was.
    He smiled to hide his relief and glanced at Martha.
    "Thought that raccoon was back."
    He left the spots on and settled back into his place at the table. But the thoughts racing through his mind made eating unthinkable.
    What if that maniac had followed him out here? What if the call had been a ploy to get him off-guard so the Facelife Killer could do to Martha what he had done to the other women?
    My God...
    First thing tomorrow morning he was going to call the local alarm boys and put in a security system. Cost be damned, he had to have it. Immediately!
    As for tonight...
    Tonight he'd keep the .38 under the pillow.
    *
    Run way. Run low and fast. Get bushes before light come. Must stay way now. Not come back.
    The Detective Harrison feel me. Know when watched. Him the one, sure.
    Walk in dark, in woods. See back many houses. Come park. Feel strange. See this park before. Can not be –
    Then know.
    Monroe! This Monroe! Born here! Live here! Hate Monroe! Monroe bad place, bad people! House, home, old home near here! There! Cross park! Old home! New color but same house.
    Hate house!
    Sit on froze park grass. Cry. Why Monroe? Do not want be in Monroe. The Mom gone. The Sissy gone. The Jimmy very gone. House here.
    Dry tears. Watch old home long time till light go out. Wait more. Go to windows. See new folks inside. The Mom must took the Sissy and go. Where? How long?
    Go to back. Push cellar window. Crawl in. See good in dark. New folks make nice cellar. Wood on walls. Rug on floor. No chain.
    Sit floor. Remember...
    Remember hanging on wall. Look little window near ceiling. Watch kids play in park cross street. Want go with kids. Want play there with kids. Want have friends.
    But the Mom won't let. Never leave basement. Too strong. Break everything. Have tv. Broke it. Have toys. Broke them. Stay in basement. Chain round waist hold to center pole. Can not leave.
    Remember terrible bad things happen.
    Run. Run way