The Eternal Child - Episode Four

1

“Get out of him this instant.” Betty screamed at Peter’s corpse.

“I don’t understand what’s going on” said Christopher as he climbed to his feet.

Peter’s corpse turned to Christopher raising both his arms.

“I think I wasted this body didn’t I? All the things I could have done and all the things I could have become.”

“Don’t listen to him Christopher” Betty pleaded.

“Instead I just sat there and let it all pass me by, watching life like it was a television show I couldn’t partake in.”

“Peter?”

“But now it’s too late isn’t it. Now I’m just going to rot like all the others.”

“I’m sorry Pete”

“Hold me Chris, please, one last time before I go.”

Christopher opened his arms out and walked up to Pete’s body.

“What are you doing?” screamed Betty. “That’s not Peter.”

Christopher didn’t listen, he embraced Peter’s body. They held onto each other tightly.

“I’m sorry Pete”

“It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”

Christopher just closed his eyes and held onto Peter’s body even tighter.

“Oh Christopher” Peter laughed and as he did his voice changed, deeper, darker, nastier. “It’s as I said. Easy Meat”

Peter’s free hand grabbed Christopher by the neck and lifted him up off his feet.

“Please let him go” Betty pleaded. She didn’t know what else to do.

“The only need I have for him is being out the way.” It laughed as Peter’s Body throw Christopher with such ferocity. He flew across the room and slammed into the opposite wall like a rag doll before collapsing to the floor in a heap. Betty ran over to him.

“Is he dead?” It asked.

“No” said Betty defiantly. “He’s just unconscious.”

“Shame”

The creature studied his new body a moment before looking back to Betty.

“It’s always fun when you try on a new outfit” the creature laughed as he spoke, mocking Betty all the way. “But you know, it’s not the outside that’s the most interesting.”

“What do you mean?”

“Whenever I get into a new body, there is always, how should I put it, a lingering memory? It’s like sometimes a memory is important enough to stain the body. Like a bit of blood you just can’t scrub out the carpet.”

“While you’re in that body, you can see Peter’s memories?”

“Only one, and it doesn’t stay here, I’ve already seen it. It becomes part of me now, buried in the back of my mind.”

“You keep talking but you still haven’t told me what you want with me? Why don’t you just kill me already?”

“But Betty, you simply don’t understand how important you are to me.”

“What?”

“I knew you were special, I could feel the connection.” Peter’s body started to step towards Betty. She backed off and ran up the few stairs to the door and started to bang on it.

“Why are you running away?” It almost sounded upset. “You came into my home. I followed you through every room. Every body you got close too, every pair of eyes you stared into, I stared right back.”

Betty felt a shiver down her spine but didn’t stop her assault on the door. She could hear a voice from the other side of the door. It was David.

“David, get me out” she pleaded.

“The doors locked and a corpse has swallowed the key.” was David’s muffled response.

“Then get the key out, now”

“You want me to dig the key out the corpse?”

“Yes hurry.”

David hurriedly searched through his pocket for his trusty pen knife. He pulled it out and extended the blade. He swallowed hard as he pulled up the corpse’s t-shirt, revealing the flesh he would have to cut through beneath.

I can’t believe I’m going to do this, David thought. I don’t think I can do this.

“Betty I can’t do this” He shouted through the door.

“Think of someone, something that inspires you. Just SOMETHING, NOW”

David looked up at the penknife in his hand, then down at the flesh.

Someone who inspires me, David looked back at the blade and smiled.

“Mcguyver” David shouted, “Just me and a locked door, a key in a corpse and my trusty penknife. I’m fucking Mcguyver.”

Betty could hear that infernal whispering again, like she had heard at the funeral parlour, it was starting to make her left eye twitch.

“You can hear them can’t you Betty” said the creature. “You’re like the lonely little boy. You hear whispers.”

“What are they?” Betty demanded. “It’s getting worse.”

“They are like what I once was, trapped in the nowhere place. They are my brothers and sisters, and they are coming home.”

Betty froze, stopped banging on the door and turned to face Peter’s body.

“You thought all these bodies were merely play things, outfits to prance around in, courtesy of victor’s dumb brother.” The creature laughed. “You’re as dumb as he is.”

“My god you’re raising an army.”

“Don’t be absurd. It’s not an army, it’s my family... my extended family. All they want is a world to live in, to feel the sun, the wind and the rain. Any world will do, why not yours?”

Peter’s body had reached the few steps leading to where Betty stood. He was so close to her now, and the door behind her wouldn’t budge.

“Fine then” Betty suddenly blurted out. “So you’ve got these bodies to raise your new race. What do you want me for?”

“You’re like Victor. You can sense us and pull us through from that forgotten realm. Victor’s body, even preserved can’t last much longer. I fear it won’t be around when I’m ready to bring my family through, and you my dear are the only one like him I’ve ever met.”

“That’s nice.”

“Just allow me to kill you and wear you as my Sunday best. I promise I’ll look after you, no doubt better than you’ve looked after yourself in a very long time.”

“Probably one of the best offers I’ve had all week, but the answer is still no.”

“I’m afraid you don’t really have a choice.”

With Peter’s hand the creature wrapped his fingers around Betty’s neck and started to squeeze. Both Betty’s hands went up to her throat, trying to prize Peter’s fingers off but he had a ridiculously strong grip. As they struggled a red ember from the joint still between the fingers of her left hand dropped and landed on Peter’s hand. The creature screamed and pulled Peter’s body away.

To begin with Betty wasn’t sure what had happened, but once the hamster started running around on his wheel the realisation dawned on her. She grasped the joint in her hand like some kind of weapon and held it up pointing at her assailant.

“Scared of this are you” she said. With her other hand she delved into one of her pockets and pulled out a jiffy bag filled with grass. She then put her hand in, grabbed a handful of buds and proceeded to throw them at the creature laughing.

Nothing happened.

Then the proper side of her brain kicked in and it dawned on her it was not the contents of the joint the creature was so terrified of, it was the fact it was alight. Now realising what to do, Betty took an almighty drag on her new found weapon to make the red end bigger then continued to jab the air in front of Peter like it was a sword.

“I don’t want to hurt Peter’s body, but I will if it’s the only way out.” Betty cried as she started to walk towards her now backing away enemy.

“Very well” the creature hissed. “If you won’t give me your body then there is no reason to wait any longer. With what remains of Victor I will call my family now and you can all witness the birth of a new world.”

Suddenly Peter’s body fell to the floor, the creature was gone.

Betty looked at her half empty bag of grass, then down at the darkened floor. Trying to see if there was any clue as to where the projectiles had landed. She couldn’t see a thing.

“Bugger” she said.

2

During Betty’s victory David was not so lucky.

“Betty I’m sorry I can’t do it, I can’t cut him open.” David protested.

“What do you mean cut him open? He’s dead I doubt it even got that far. Just put your hand down his throat, it’s probably lodged in there.”

“That’s much better thanks.”

“You’ve got to hurry, It’s gone back into Victor’s body it’s going to raise the dead.”

“Which one?”

“All of them!”

“We need to tell Barbara then. But I got to get you out.” David felt into his pocket. “Where’s my phone gone?”

“That was probably Barbara, damn.”

“Why would she need mine? Wait a minute, Chris had a phone too.”

“How could I have been so stupid? Of course.”

Betty ran down the stairs to Christopher whilst David looked down at the corpse’s mouth. And wondered how far down there he had to go.

Christopher was beginning to stir, but not quiet quick enough for Betty, so she rummaged into his pocket and found the mobile herself.

“Oh well” David finally said from behind the door at the top of the stairs “Talk about deep throat.” Then thrust his hand down into the mouth of the corpse.

3

Back in the grand hall, Victor’s corpse finally stirred into life again.

“Finally” Barbara said. “It’s rude to keep a lady waiting”

“And we’ve all waited long enough.” Victor’s corpse smirked. “But alas, time has all but run out.”

“You’re on a time limit?”

“This body can’t last much longer, and Betty won’t lend me hers. So I have to do what I set out to do. Now”

“What do you mean” Barbara demanded to know, but Victor’s body did not listen. It closed it eyes and raised its arms up each side, as if in some kind of prayer or worship. He was mumbling something inaudible.

Barbara noticed a body near her move ever so slightly. And then another, and then another.

“How are you doing this?” Barbara demanded again, and again it fell on deaf ears.

“It’s time my family.” The corpse screamed “Time to enter this new world, time to come to your new home. I will show you the way.”

Barbara’s phone went off in her pocket. Another caller was trying to get through, the read out said Chris.

“Christopher, are you all right?”

“It’s Betty and it’s a long story.”

“Then be quick.”

                                                                                             *

David had his arm up to his elbow when the body he was within, began to stir.

“Betty, we got a twitcher.”

“Then hurry.”

As David pushed further, the corpse began to make a noise. It was gagging on his arm. David thought he was about to throw up. Finally the edge of his fingers touched something solid. He was sure it was the key. A bit further and he had it. The whole body was shaking like it was convulsing, throwing its arms and legs out uncontrollably in all directions.

“I’ve got it” David screamed as he pulled his arm out, treasure in hand. He quickly pulled it in the lock, turned and threw the door open. Beyond Betty’s face beamed back.

“Hello again Detective Harrison” Betty said as David helped her out. They could both hear Christopher moaning behind as he came too enough to finally try to get to his feet.

“Wait a minute Chris, I’ll help.” said David.

“But, but Peter’s body.” Christopher managed “and Adam’s.”

“I’m so sorry. But there’s no time. All the bodies are rising and Barbara’s about to start a fire, in a building mostly made of wood.”

Christopher wanted to argue but he felt really weak and he understood what David was saying. He had spoken to Peter at least. He knew he would have to mourn later, but now they had to get out, so he reluctantly agreed, and with David’s help, hobbled out the basement.

4

As all the bodies around Barbara twitched and lurched and slowly tried to make sense of their new solidity, she was too busy having a right old sort through her handbag, her whole head was nearly in it.

“I know you’re here somewhere, always keep a spare for Betty because of her mem.. ah here it is” And up she popped with a bronze lighter. She flipped the top open then using the side of her hand span the disc and lit the tip.

The rotted corpse just laughed at her. Barbara throw the lighter, it sailed through the air turning over and over on itself until it hit Victor’s corpse square in the face.

The effect was almost instantaneous. The flames danced across Victor’s face, consuming all. Down his body it moved like a waterfall, along his arms and covering his legs.

The thing still with his arms out stretched, cackled as the flames ravage through the last remnants of his body suit, of Victor’s body.

“No matter” it said over the crackle of the flames. “There are still so many to choose from. I don’t need this one anymore.”

And with that Victor’s body collapsed forward onto the table, the flames still eating away. But now they’d found new food, a road not travelled. The table cloth went up a second later followed by all the corpses struggling to get out their chairs that were situated around it.

“Okay that went up quicker than I thought.” Barbara said feeling the heat on her face as she watched the macabre sight. And for a moment, just a single moment she couldn’t pull her eyes away. It looked like the dead were dancing in the flames.

But Barbara had to focus, had to work out where it had gone and which body it had jumped into, this was a bit hard now they were all moving. And that was where her other problem came in, they were all moving, specifically towards her. Whilst she’d been watching the ones in flames go down, she hadn’t given a single thought to all the unlit bodies that had worked out basic movement and were piling in towards her from the rear. But now she noticed.

Barbara weaved through the bodies, going closer to the ones the less with it. She didn’t yet know what they would do if they caught hold of her. When she got into a safe spot, they were still quite slow, Barbara had a chance to catch her breath and call Betty.

“We’re coming Barbara” Betty answered with. “The bodies are starting to twitch out here too.”

“Betty, spot of bother. Surrounded by walking rot, whole hall aflame and the little sods jumped into a random body.”

“Usual day at the office then” said Betty. “What do you want me to do?”

“Did you manage to get Adam and Peter’s bodies?” “

“Couldn’t bring them. Chris is wounded, the dead are rising.”

“If you’ve got Christopher and David with you just get out. If I can keep that git from leaving this room it’s all over.”

“Barbara Huxley since when have you been a martyr? It’s not sexy and since when have you been that brave, or foolish.”

“You’re right, I’m not cut out for dying in the line of duty. Get your bottoms up here pronto and save mine.”

“Roger”

Barbara hung up and put the phone back in her pocket. She searched around looking for any sign of the thing, the puppet master. Or should she think of him as simply a parasite. It was getting harder and harder to see through the flames and smoke. But within it, the unmistakable shuffling silhouettes of the approaching hoard could still be made out. They had cornered her again. She was trapped between a wall, a table, and them.

Jumping onto the table that thankfully hadn’t gone up in flames yet, Barbara bolted across and leaped off the other side. She was now in a whole new awkward position.

“This is really starting to be a bother.”

Just then in the corner of Barbara’s eye, she spotted a corpse sort of slyly creeping towards the exit.

“No you don’t” Barbara said as she threw herself towards him, missed entirely and pushed over two corpses nearby.

Damn, she thought. He’ll get away. But something stopped him. He grabbed his head and began to shout.

“No. What are you doing?” He cried. “Are you fighting me for this body?”

Unfortunately Barbara never heard the reply. All she could do was pull herself free from the heap of bodies on the floor, and watch on.

“I can sense you now. But I don’t understand, I don’t know this, any of this.” still grabbing his head he twisted it this way and that. He got down on to his knees. Barbara couldn’t tell if he was in pain or just exhausted.

“You’re not my family, who are you? Get out of my head.” He screamed, than turned to Barbara, genuine fear on his face “There are so many Barbara, their number never stops. They are the Endless.”

The creature let out an almighty scream then stood tall once more as wood and dust and god knows what started to fall from above. His face seemed calm again. He must have won the battle for the body. Barbara looked up. The flames had already ripped across the ceiling like a red sea and now hung over the two of them like a beasts mouth, ready to devour.

Barbara made it to the door first. She turned round and blocked the parasite from passing.

“You’ll die as well, if you stay just to stop me.”

“It will be worth it” said Barbara. “And to see you were tricked in the end as well, worth dying just to see that revelation”

“All these years”

“All these years. But I can’t let you leave. You’ll just start again somewhere else”

“But my family are still out there somewhere, they deserve freedom like I’ve felt freedom. And I don’t want to lose this. I’ve grown so attached to this world.”

“Freedom, you call this freedom? Trapped in a body in a room hidden away surrounded by the dead. This is a tomb.”

“A tomb is better than the nothingness that’s waiting for me back there.”

“It ends here for all of us.”

The whole ceiling seemed to be coming down all around them. It looked like it was raining fire. The parasite leaped onto Barbara sending her back against the wall. He had his hand round her neck and a huge chunk of debris in the other.

“I’m afraid Barbara, it just ends here for you.” He raised the block high above his head. “You’ve been so much fun, I’m almost sad to see you go. Almost.”

Barbara froze as she watched the parasite’s arm come down to greet her head. She closed her eyes at the very last moment, awaiting the pain. But there was none. She opened her eyes and saw the block half an inch from her face like it had been frozen somehow, or time had stopped. Barbara let her eyes look up. A hand firmly gripped her assailant’s wrist. Her eyes followed the hand up the arm until she finally saw who her saviour was. Jacob.

“Finally he shows up.”

Jacob freed Barbara from the corpse.

“Maybe it’s time you left, your friends are up ahead” said Jacob. “And I believe this belongs to one of you.” He handed Barbara back the mobile.

“Brother” the corpse cried to Jacob. “You’ve finally come back to help me. It’s all gone wrong we need to get out and start again.”

Jacob just stared back at what he knew was not his brother.

“Don’t you want to make me smile Jacob? All you want is for me to smile?”

Jacob pushed Barbara through the doorway and slammed the door shut behind. She could hear the corpse screaming. Maybe through pain, or maybe just knowing all hope was lost. Barbara wanted to take a moment, a breath. Unfortunately she remembered where she now stood, the corridor of flesh.

Strangely the corpses were still standing next to each other shoulder to shoulder. They were wriggling but they hadn’t moved from the spot. Then Barbara realised as one thrust forward to bite her, but something stopped it getting to close. Were they chained to the wall? Why would they chain them to the wall? On the plus side this meant Barbara could walk through hopefully unscathed and reach the other side.

Each hurried step she took along the corridor meant another corpse got excited and tried to grab for her. And the problem was, the chains on the arms were probably a bit longer then was comfortable. Fingers kept getting in Barbara’s hair or catching bits of her clothing. A few rips were audible as she went and she was sure one of them pinched her bottom.

Barbara could feel heat building up behind her. She turned to see the door was alit and wondered how sturdy or enduring it actually was, because once the flame touched the furthest body, it would devour the corridor in seconds.

Some of the bodies ahead seemed to realise their new lives were in jeopardy and began to pull at their bonds with a renewed vigour. They thrashed, they pulled and they wriggled. And then there was the sound of something breaking. Something suspiciously like a chain and somewhere just ahead of where Barbara stood.

“But really, really, really, Bugger!”

Barbara had no choice, she ran. Well a sort of sideways run in an attempt to take up less space, if Betty had seen her she would have told her not to bother.

Suddenly an arm swung round from the left wall. Barbara ducked and continued, avoiding it by a smaller gap then she hoped. Also on a side note her back may have made a slight cracking sound, there may have been pain but she wasn’t sure and she would sort it out later, if she remembered.

There was the sound of another chain breaking and another. The sounds came from all sides really, it didn’t sound good. Barbara tried to run the last section of the corridor but it was too late. Arms shot out from the left and the right, maybe even a leg, as she tripped and fell forward. She felt a hand holding her arm and another almost scalped her from above, so she was now frozen mid fall. She looked ridiculous and it was quite uncomfortable. Also it might be the last thing she ever did.

Barbara turned a final time to look at the flaming door at the exact moment it gave up the fight. The flames forever hungry grew from the open doorway to the first bodies either side. Then they ignited. Barbara watched the red tunnel move towards her engulfing all in its wake. It was finally over, Barbara thought. She felt more arms come around her and start to pull her. Too late she thought, too late. You won’t have me before the flames do. Barbra closed her eyes, she could feel the heat on her face as the flames approached, and hear the screams of the Endless all around her as their bodies were eaten away. 

To Be Continued