My day started out like it always did, which is to say poorly. I spent most a’ the morning kicking my freshly dead horse. More outta’ frustration than anything the poor beast did. Was my fault anyway since I was the one who got run outta’ town and I’m the one who rode the horse ta’ death. Sometimes I forget that, on account a’ selling my soul, I tend not ta’ feel the affects a’ dehydration or fatigue like most living things.
I tired myself out a bit kickin’ the horse. I was breathing hard and that’s when it hit me. It was faint, but unmistakable; the stench of decay and rot. I looked at the horse as if it were the culprit, but it was too early for the horse ta’ put out a stink like this.
The sun was just high enough in the sky that it blinded me. After squinting for a while I decided I could, in fact, see a town in the distance. It was in the right direction. The right direction being the opposite direction a' the town I’d been run out of. I took what gear I could carry from the horse. I was sad ta’ leave the saddle, but it wasn’t worth the time or energy ta' to carry it.
As I walked through the morning two things became clear ta’ me. One: I definitely was walking towards a town, it was not a trick a' the light. Two: the stink was coming from said town. Today was getting better and better.
A wave of unease crept up my spine, giving me gooseflesh. I’d not seen hide nor hair of any living being. Far as I could tell there wasn't any movement in the town at all. If the houses didn’t look so well kept I'd think I stumbled on a ghost town. If that were the case I hoped the town was abandoned and not an actual town filled with ghosts.
Nobody should have ta’ deal with that more’n three times in their life.
Normally when I was around anything truly out of the ordinary like werewolves, vampires or the aforementioned ghosts, I got a peculiar feeling; somethin’ similar ta’ nausea. This time I didn't feel that. Instead it was general dread. The town was just bad.
Lookin’ around I started ta' get a headache. I felt it start in the back a’ my skull and spread all over. Then, as suddenly as it started, it went away. Coulda’ been sunstroke, but I doubted that because nothing in my life was ever that simple.
I drew my revolver and checked ta’ make sure it was loaded. Would hate ta’ have that happen to me again.
The town wasn’t big. A fair number a' buildings, but stretched down a single main street. I was approaching the town from the side. Ta' get to the street I had ta’ walk between two buildings. Outta’ curiosity I peeked in one a' the windows. I hoped ta’ see people moving about. It was unbearably hot outside, so it wasn’t beyond the bounds a' reason the townsfolk went inside ta' escape the sun.
I saw nobody. I walked closer ta’ the main street and came across another window. Peeked again. This time it paid off and, as terrible as my day started, made it much, much worse.
A corpse was sitting in a chair. ‘Cuz of the dress I figured it was once a woman. It was hard ta’ see any features since flies covered the face. The corpse was dressed in Sunday best. I didn't know how she died. No signs a' violence: no bullet holes, no stab wounds, no blood anywhere. Far as I could tell the person sat down and died.
If I didn't need water I woulda' run. It was true that I could go a long time before my body started failing from lack a' food and water, but it’s not a pleasurable journey. The times I pushed my body that hard I spent the entire time wishin’ I could die.
I slowly walked inta’ the main street and immediately wished I hadn’t. As much weirdness crept inta’ my life I, as a general rule, tried ta’ avoid it.
Dead horses lined the street, still tied ta' their hitching posts. Their corpses were either withered away ta' nearly bone or still rotting, covered in flies. People corpses littered the street in much the same way. Some were fresher than others. There wasn't any rhyme or reason ta' it. Men, women, children. Some sat in chairs on porches while others slumped over railings; most were crumpled on the ground. The stench of rotten meat was nearly suffocating. There didn’t seem ta’ be any reason for it. None a’ the corpses had any guns on them.
Outta’ all the weird and terrifyin’ shit I’d seen in my cursed life this was…well, it was in the top five.
At the far end a’ the street something caught my eye. It looked like three dead people sitting at a table too small for ‘em. There was a smaller shape, a child, walking away into a building. I walked down the street, careful not ta' trip over any a’ the bodies. The bodies at the table certainly looked dead until one a' the men blinked. Sure enough all three were alive, barely. They were all sorts a sun stroked and malnourished. They were all dressed in fine clothes, now torn and soiled.
Behind me the door to the saddle shop opened. I spun around and fired in the general direction. Luckily for the little girl in the doorway the shot went wide, like it tends ta' do whenever I fired a gun; I effectively assassinated a store window. If there was anyone left alive in the town they woulda’ been pissed.
The girl didn’t scream. She didn’t move at all. I expected her ta’ be terribly frightened, screaming and running. Instead, perfectly still. The teacups on her tray didn’t rattle at all.
I figured the girl ta' be about ten-years-old. I didn’t rightly know since I never spent too much time around children ta’ tell ages very well. They tended not ta’ cotton to me either; somethin’ about my soulless nature unsettled children much more than it did adults.
She was a pudgy girl, with a double chin that couldn't be explained away anymore as baby fat. She had bright blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. She was wearing what looked like somebody’s wedding dress. It hung off one shoulder and the bottom was raggedly cut off so she wouldn’t trip. The bottom part was nearly black from all the mud caked on it. The front of the dress was coated with spilled food and dried stains.
I holstered my gun and put my hands up. I smiled and she smiled back. The headache from earlier flared up again, worse than before. My vision started going black before the pain went completely away.
“Would you like some tea?” the girl asked. As she stepped forward I saw the tea cups were filled with a dingy liquid that could’ve either been poorly made tea or dirty water. Either way it looked delicious. I tried ta' cough out a response, but my mouth was so dry it made no sound. I reached forward, but she pulled the tray back, just outta’ reach. I nearly cried. I was so damned thirsty I would’ve drank a leper’s bathwater.
“That isn’t proper. We have tea at the table, like civilized people,” the girl spoke better’n most people I’d ever met. Her mama musta’ raised her proper.
The girl stepped around me and walked carefully ta' the table. On her back were two silky butterfly wings attached to the wedding dress. No matter how dirty the rest of her outfit was the wings were immaculate. I walked over ta' the table as the little girl sat down.
“Well, little missy, it don’t look like there’s anywhere ta’ sit. The table’s all full. Ya' want I should go fetch a chair from somewhere?”
“No, Mr. Carlyle has overstayed his welcome anyhow. You can have his seat.”
I had no idea what ta’ make a’ that. The fella’ she motioned ta didn’t look like he could make it five steps. Or even get up outta’ the chair. Even if I had any doctorin’ skills I doubted he was very long for the world. I was about ta’ pick him up when he stood.
He didn’t stand like a man ought to, but more like a puppet being maneuvered. He led with his chest while his head hung limply. When he walked away it was a sick caricature of life. His arms swayed too long and his knees lifted too high off the ground.
I was wrong. He made it six steps before he crumpled to a heap in the middle a’ the street.
“Dang it, that was one of my last dolls.”
Nothing about this town made any sense. There was something otherworldly, but I couldn’t place it. If the girl had any magic at all or was the least bit demonic I would’ve felt it. I stared intently at her eyes, but they remained clear blue, not pure black like my own. Even if it weren’t her I should’ve been able ta’ get a feeling a’ something off the recently dead man. No part of me believed any part a’ that was anything but supernatural.
The girl gestured for me ta' sit. I wasn’t too inclined ta' take the seat of the recently dead, but I figured if I wanted ta’ have a clue a’ what was happening in the town it was easiest option, even if the man soiled himself there.
I sat and reached for the tea cup in front of me only ta’ have the girl smack my hand away. She wagged her finger at me.
“Courtesy, sir. To your right is Ms. Jenny Watkins, the dressmaker. She’s who graciously let me borrow the dress I’m wearing. On your left is Mr. James DeKarl, a local rancher. The fella’ who left us was the town banker. I am Gabby Beam, princess of the fairies.”
She gestured towards me. I was speechless. All I could think was the demon who owned my soul finally came calling and I was in Hell. This was my punishment. It wasn't the fire and brimstone I expected. Really, I kinda’ wished it was. Fire, fucking brimstone. I once had ta’ kill a vampire who vomited leeches all over its victims, leaving only skeletons. Fighting that again, hell, a whole clan a’ those, would be preferable ta’ sitting where I was.
When I didn’t answer she glared at me. The headache roared back ta’ life. I shook it off.
“I’m Abacus Jones. I kill monsters.”
“Isn’t that exciting!” the girl exclaimed.
The woman next ta' me nodded and smiled, a horrible rictus grin that cracked her lips. Blood trickled down her chin and splattered on the table. The man clapped with loopy, drunk arms.
“Tell us one of your adventures.”
“I would, but I am mighty thirsty…your majesty. Would ya’ mind terribly if we had tea and then I regaled you with one a’ my stories?”
She nodded. I downed my “tea” like I was takin’ a shot of whiskey. It was water, dirty water that tasted of earth, full of grit. It was the best drink I ever had in my life. When I finished licking every last drop and a bit of soaked sediment outta’ the cup I looked around. Everyone wore a shocked, disgusted look on their face.
“Sorry. It’s… the best…tea I ever had. Pardon my manners, but I couldn’t control myself. I beg your pardon, Miss Gabby.” She sipped her tea and stared at me for a moment. “Did you make it yourself?”
Gabby finally smiled, “Indeed, I did. Nice of you to notice.”
“I liked it so much I wonder if you wouldn’t mind if I went inside and got a refill. Pardon my poor manners again. They are so…rusty from having ta’ deal with deviants and monsters that I fear they’re not as sharp as usual. I swear after one more cup I will tell you some tales you wouldn’t believe.”
“You may go have a refill. While you’re in there you may as well bring out the pot so we won’t have anymore interruptions.”
“Thank you, your majesty.”
So many reasons I was stalling. I did need more water. That was the most immediate. Beyond that I still had no clue what was going on. The girl was the key, if nothing else. It weren’t beyond the bounds a’ reason this was a very elaborate trap by one of the numerous enemies I made during my life, both before and after I became damned. Lastly I was at a loss about what story I was going ta' tell her. None a’ what I ever did during my life was suitable for children’s ears.
Inside I found the bucket Gabby had been getting the “tea” from. I drank ladle after ladle of it until my stomach twisted and I ended up puking it up. Then I drank some more. I was so caught up in my own business I hadn’t noticed the body slumped over the counter.
Like most a’ the others it looked like a skeleton with skin. It was another woman in a fine dress. She didn’t smell rotten. I figured she was a mummy until she coughed. I screamed. Couldn’t help myself. It was one a’ the alive ones, though God knew how she was still breathing. She kept coughin’. It finally dawned on me that it wasn’t a coughing fit. She was saying something I couldn’t quite hear.
I leaned in closer. She reached out and grabbed me by the collar. Her grip was tighter than I expected. I pulled my gun. The whole town was messed up. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if she turned out ta' be a type a’ zombie I never encountered before.
The living corpse finally let go a' me. Lost its strength, but she was still talking, very faintly. Curiosity got the best a' me. If she did turn out ta’ be a zombie then there was a good chance I could lose an ear.
I did stupid stuff like this sometimes.
“Youhaveta’stopheryouhaveta’stopheryouhaveta’stopher…”
“Stop who? The girl? She seems ta' be enjoying some tea. Granted, her company is nearly dead, that can’t be too healthy for anyone…”
I guess I rambled because she punched me in the jaw.
“Sorry. What happened here? The little girl is doing something. I can’t figure out what.”
“She’s my daughter. Something different about her. Always been. Me and Kevin never could say 'no' ta' her. Then…then she was able ta’ make us do things. Controlling us, moving us against our will. She started using us as dolls. ‘Cept she forgets we need ta' eat. Or sleep. As she got older she got more powerful. Was able ta’ start controlling more an’ more people until she had everyone in her power. By the time anyone tried to ta’ stop her it was too late. She, oh, God, she had us tear the sheriff apart.”
“This is…this is gonna’ sound like I’m sassin’ you and…I’m not trying ta' be impolite but, at any point in your life, did ya' have congress with the devil?” I asked.
She stared at me. “…what?”
“Is your daughter the spawn a’ Satan? It’s the only thing seems likely. Your husband have black eyes? Like mine? Ever take a lover who was irresistible, but unsettling at the same time?”
“You’re an idiot, aren’t you?”
“I’m just tryin’ ta help.”
“How are you walkin’ around free? Why isn’t she controlling you?”
The answer was so simple. The woman was right, I was an idiot. The girl couldn’t control me because I didn’t have a soul. Whether she was supernatural or not that was how she could work the townsfolk like puppets.
The answer ta’ how I was gonna’ solve the problem was both simple and hard. I started ta' walk back outside.
“Please don’t…kill…” the woman coughed out.
I leaned back in, hoping she had a better solution.
“Please don’t leave me here. Kill me.”
There wasn't any way she’d live. She was already dead, just taking a long way ta’ get to it. Least I could do was hasten her on her way if she wanted it. The gun seemed too messy, too brutal for how much she already suffered. I also didn’t want to alert Gabby.
I used one hand ta' cover her mouth and pinched her nose closed with my other. She struggled weakly against me until she finally stopped moving. Even still I waited another minute ta’ make sure. Half-killing a half-dead woman would be cruel.
Now I had a new bad feeling grabbing onto my gut. Nasty business ta’ be done. Outside was still blistering hot, nearing towards noon, but I was covered in a chill. I came down the steps and sat in my chair opposite Gabby.
“Where’s the tea?”
“Pardon?”
“The tea. You said you were fetching more.”
“Oh, yeah. Dammit. Guess I forgot.”
“That’s no bother,” she smiled at me, “I have ta’ freshen up anyways.”
She stood up and started walking towards the building. Had ta’ do it now, else I’d lose my nerve. The moment her back was fully towards me I drew my revolver and shot her. She took one more step before crumpling to the ground, another corpse in the dusty street. I couldn’t rightfully thank God, but someone deserved thanks for her not making a sound.
I rested the revolver on the table. My two nearly dead companions stared at me. They were slumped in their chairs, no longer being held up by the little girl. Even though it would’ve eased their passing if I shot them too I couldn’t bring myself ta’ do it. Too much killing today.
As I dug the girl and her mother’s grave in the middle a’ the street my brain kept tumbling around about what I’d done. Whether it was the right choice or not. Did the girl deserve it? Just because she had done evil deeds didn’t mean she was evil.
I’d also seen what power does ta’ people. If she could kill a town before her tenth birthday there was no telling what abuses the future held for her. I couldn’t take the risk. She’d only get smarter with her power. Or someone would come along and manipulate her just as she could manipulate others. Or. Or. Or.
Nothing I came up justified me shooting a child.
I'd have ta' account for this some day.
Once the two were safely in their plots I gathered up enough supplies ta’ last me a good long while. I couldn’t dig plots for everyone in the town so I did the best I could and pulled them in off the street inta' buildings. On my way outta’ town I lit a few fires.
Later I found myself on a ridge. As I looked back I saw the town was engulfed in flames. With any luck, once it burned out, the desert would swallow up the ruins.
I may not have had a soul ta’ stain, but this day was gonna’ be on my conscience forever.
End
